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Washington, DC Travel Guide

I was in Washington, DC last weekend for a calligraphy workshop with Meant to Be Calligraphy. Mum came with me on the trip (she’s an amazing calligrapher!), and although we were only in DC for a day and a half, we put on our tourist hats and went all around the city. It was my fourth trip to our nation’s capital – I love it there (pictures of our trip two years ago here). We didn’t get to go to all of my favorite spots, mainly due to time constrictions, but I’ve compiled a “Best of the Best” city guide (according to me). Do you have any suggestions for my next trip to DC? I’m off to San Francisco today! Cannot wait.

Best Restaurants

Rasika (Penn Quarter) – Hands down, the best Indian food of my life – you have to go, and you need to try the crispy spinach appetizer dish

Founding Farmers (Dupont Circle) – My favorite restaurant in DC due to their extensive vegetarian menu (both veggie burgers are amazing), innovative daily popcorn flavors, and ambience

Neyla (Georgetown) – Skip the entrees and order a ton of mezze and you won’t regret it (I’ve tried 6 or 7, and they’re all fantastic)

Austin Grill (Chinatown) – It’s rare for a Texan to want Tex-Mex outside of Texas, but Austin Grill is worth it! Try the Bevo Salad

Zengo’s (Chinatown) – The grilled edamame – enough said – but really, every thing you order is also delicious

SweetGreen (Capitol Hill) – My favorite salad bar style restaurant in the world – add falafel or tofu (or a million other options) as protein to your salad!

Ted’s Bulletin (Capitol Hill) – I’m not a huge breakfast person, but this place is good (tasty granola and 10 Grain Hot Cereal) and always busy

Busboys and Poets (Various) – Books, music, and great good (the trifecta) with a solid vegan and vegetarian menu – go for breakfast, lunch or dinner

Must-Do Activities

Walk around the Smithsonian National Museum of American History (free)

Spend at least 2 hours at the Newseum ($22)

Take your picture in front of the White House (free)

Go to the Jefferson Memorial at night when it’s lit up (free)

Take a tour of Ford’s Theater and see the room in which he died

Visit the Old Post Office Pavilion (before it becomes a hotel!)

Tour the Capitol – or at least take your picture outside (great view from the top of the Newseum)

Shop in Georgetown (try a vegan Georgetown Cupcake!)

Have a drink at the rooftop bar at the W Hotel

Sip a cocktail amongst the ritsy at the Willard Hotel’s Round Robin Bar

Walk through the bustling Chinatown (and eat – see list above!)

Visit the WWII Memorial (and snap a picture in front of your state)

Take the metro and walk around the Pentagon (or take a tour inside!)

Go to the Arlington Cemetery to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Walk down the Reflecting Pool to see the Lincoln Memorial

Absorb the chaos of Union Station

Visit the National Postal Museum (and make a stamp with your face on it!)

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Being touristy in front of the White House

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Sunset at the Capitol Building

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I still prefer Texas’ Capitol building (can I say that?)

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Get there early! The line at Ford’s Theater can stretch on and on and on

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In front of the actual theater where Lincoln was shot

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We LOVE snail mail

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Can you imagine my pure joy? An Anchorman exhibit at the Newseum? Biggest fan ever

Other city tours here:

 ParisDurango (Colorado)AustinHouston, Bali

Gray Malin on One Kings Lane

Joy to the world – a Gray Malin Far & Away sale on One Kings Lane! I have honestly clicked on each picture ten thousand times. I really want to get one for our living room, but I cannot decide which one to buy! The sale prices are amazing. I cannot get over how perfectly he captures these unique scenes from mountain top skiers to sheep in the desert. I only have four more days to decide. Which one of the prints is your favorite? If you’re not subscribed to One Kings Lane, you should!

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Previous Gray Malin post on S&MT here

Photo + Stamp Save-the-Date

I super, super love Antiquaria. Their store is to-die for. All of the rubber stamps are gorgeous, as well as their entire collection of paper goods. I found this unique save-the-date on Oh So Beautiful Paper and thought it was an excellent DIY option for a wedding, or even for a baby announcement (obviously what’s on my mind now)! Antiquaria has a number of stamps (this is my favorite), even this baby one and this too!. The step-by-step instructions for the stationery shown below are in the post here. I’m seriously considering this for baby Petrovic!

I’m also in love with this clay DIY save-the-date. It’s such a great idea. I wish I were that creative!

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Shapshots of 2013

For the past four years, I’ve made an annual Shutterfly book that covered all travel and adventures for the year. I just finished my 2013 book yesterday, and it was extremely tough to keep it at 111 pages! I literally had to delete 6 pages in order to complete it. What an amazing year! We went to SF/Napa three times (more pictures here), Durango, Dunton Hot Springs, Boston, New York City, Miami, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio, Minneapolis, and Bali. We remodeled a house that became our home, got married and are now expecting a baby girl in 2014. I’m almost sure that fits the definition for ‘whirlwind.’

How was your 2013? What are you most looking forward to next year?

Click here to view our 2013 in snapshots (pictures below by Ryan Ray).
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Click here to view my 2012 book. Click here to view my 2011 book.

San Miguel de Allende Weddings

One of my closest friends got engaged on Tuesday, and I cannot stop daydreaming about their romantic nuptials in a gorgeous city in Mexico next year. They still haven’t landed on a place (I mean, it’s only been a few days!), but one of their favorite cities is San Miguel de Allende. I headed straight to Style Me Pretty for reference purposes, and ohmygosh… this city is stunning.

The first Style Me Pretty wedding venue is Casa Capricho.

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I found this second wedding on photographer Stephanie William’s site. It’s perfect. The venue is Casa Chorro.

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I found the third wedding on photographer Brandon Kidd’s site. The venue is Casa de la Cuesta. More details can be found here.

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