Five years worth of DC life: 2017-2022, the twenty-something-year-old's big leap

Ah, what a five years I had in this crazy city/town...thanks for becoming "home" and for not many at all dull moments (no one needs more of those).

In no particular order:
-Attended Ruth Bader Ginsburg's memorial
-Walked on the frozen Reflecting Pool and scootered through the dry version
-Visited many embassies, including staying at the Peruvian Embassy and the EU in the US until closing and accidentally sitting next to the Malaysian ambassador
-Spent much time on the metro and Capital Bikeshare
-Participated in five years of Capital Life Church and DC Roadrunners and four years on the United Women in Business board
-Did six (overlapping) jobs/gigs and survived a global pandemic
-Savored the window seats at Un Je Ne Sais Quoi, made many Doi Moi visits, splurged at Compass Rose (RIP), developed an Agora bread obsession, reveled in the glory of Habesha’s vegetarian platter, frequented happy hour at Bua, discovered pho (with fried tofu), prioritized plantains to go from neighborhood holes-in-the-wall, and ate glorious Donna's BBQ pulled pork nachos and baked beans to-go on the rooftop for date nights during early COVID
-Walked to Lafayette Park on election night, toured the White House on the first day of the first Trump Impeachment, lived through January 6th, and drove down 16th Street the moment the church bells started ringing and people flooded into the streets after the Biden election
-Never missed a DC Restaurant Week! (even ate outside in the falling snow in January 2021)
-Attended the epic Australian Embassy closing party
-Accidentally invited myself to the Capitol Tree Lighting Ceremony
-Met the most interesting people just about anytime I talked to a stranger
-Finally did the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler in spring 2022, experienced the wettest marathon of all time (Marine Corps 2019), had a Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon streak, and placed top 100 in the Army Ten Miler
-Played Monopoly with a Supreme Court employee's kid while babysitting
-Enjoyed the International Day of Yoga three times on the National Mall (on the Capitol lawn and the Lincoln Memorial lawn) with the Indian Embassy
-Experienced many little joys at the Wharf: attended the opening ceremony, enjoyed the swings, learned to curl, belted 90s tribute songs, enjoyed cherry blossom District Donuts, played in the fountains in 120 degree heat index, and did a birthday outdoor concert (plus literary-themed drinks afterwards at Kramerbooks & Afterwords across town)
-Jogged down Massachusetts Avenue and Barracks Row and Kalorama, ran to see the cherry blossoms on my lunch break, and did costumed group Halloween and Christmas tree jogs
-Walked five feet from the car taking the Olympians to the White House on my commute and walked to the Nationals victory parade and Bush funeral processions just outside my office
-Toured NPR, the Supreme Court, the Capitol balcony/voting seats (thanks, St Jude!) and The White House Garden
-My favorite outdoor yoga class was regularly interrupted by the Vice Presidential motorcade 
-Walked past the Wonder Woman: 1984 filming
-Experienced many life moments at the Jefferson Memorial: not getting the job, participating in my first and only "elite" race, processing the breakup, and even winning the lottery the first week of the global pandemic (for a St Patrick's Day work celebration) 
-Accidentally sat next to an award-winning author at a birthday dinner
-Went to the regional coffee brewing championship, The Night of Ideas, The Long Conversation, and the DC Jazz Festival, as just a few of my favorite events
-Drove a free-upgraded red Jeep across the Mall
-Was in a Getty Images photo while sledding on Capitol Hill before work (in not-quite-enough snow)
-Experienced many great Kennedy Center moments, about two-thirds of them totally free: rooftop visits and supper happy hour concerts, yoga on the red carpet, cultural dance classes, engagement photos, last-minute NYC Ballet tickets, a DIY wedding cake tasting, the glorious Aretha Franklin New Year's Tribute concert, Anastasia, Opera in the Outfield, Mean Girls, The Disney Princess Concert and more)
-Met the local news fun-stuff-to-do expert Tommy McFly
-Participated in church small groups with people from the Secret Service, IRS, DOJ and FBI
-Got my Library of Congress card, accidentally blasted rap music while inside when my headphones malfunctioned and another time watched the Blair Witch Project with the movie directors on Halloween
-Did lots of dancing and people-watching at Nick's in Alexandria (RIP)
-Visited nearly endless farmers markets
-Made the news for a Lincoln Memorial workout with an Olympian (shout out to the November Project)
-Saw Kal Penn, Yo Yo Ma, Alessia Cara, DNCE, Jose Andres, Katie Ledecky, and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf all for free (I'm not even going to include all the glorious Capitol Fourth performers 2018-2019/2022 because I'd never finish)
-Ran into someone from college on Valentine's Day at the exact same metro door at rush hour and another person from college on a corner the exact moment I sat on a bench in a part of Capitol Hill that I was never usually in
-Splurged on a meal at Rooster and Owl, a Michelin star restaurant right down the street from my apartment
-Danced the YMCA with a four-star admiral
-Attended a particularly great concert in Dupont Underground
-Got to visit the African American History Museum three times (once through the employee entrance)
-Enjoyed the early almost-post-COVID Off The Record (relocated to the top floor) moments
-Watched National Treasure and did a themed scavenger hunt at the National Archives
-Attended a rooftop Mickey Guyton concert for work
-Celebrated the Fourth of July Georgetown kayak tradition four times
-Had a first date at the H Street Festival, officially started dating at the Hamilton, got interviewed by future best man Dan at The Old Ebbitt Grill, got engaged at the Alexandria waterfront, shared special times at the National Gallery fountains, splurged on the Willard Hotel (with Ethiopian takeout), and celebrated Georgetown graduation (first only in the mail and much later, live on campus)
-Finally visited Roosevelt Island
-Stayed at the JW Marriott on my friend's CDC work trip before work next door the next day
-Made many visits to the National Botanic Garden and Smithsonian, including the Smithsonian Summer Solstice event–my "night at the museum"
-Joined my first-ever book clubs and participated in my first Scrabble Meet Up
-Lent a PBS News Hour reporter my headphones during a climate march

My Semi-Patented Event-Finding Method

A Capitol Fourth concert 2019

At this point, enough friends have called me their “TripAdvisor,” social coordinator, etc. and I’ve been told that “life is never boring around you,” so I’ll own it. I’m extroverted, active, seek to live life to the fullest and have had a blast enjoying tons of eclectic events in my chosen homes of Greenville, SC, Arlington, VA and Washington, D.C. over the last ten years. Here is how I’ve discovered and kept up with many of the events that bring me joy. I hope that you find some new favorites!

My Semi-Patented Event-Finding Method

1. On Facebook, go to the events tab and see what is coming up. You can see what your internet friends might be attending and receive suggestions based on your interests, location, etc. Click interested even if you aren’t sure you can go and you will both receive a reminder about the actual event as well as reminders for any future related events. 
2. While out walking, jogging, biking, commuting or meandering, you’ll probably see signs and flyers advertising the next special event. Take a photo or jot down the basic details and plan time to try them out. Bonus: you probably won’t have to work as hard to figure out the event directions.
3. Whenever you meet new people (or are chatting with newer people), ask what their favorite events or places are: you get to learn about them and while getting new ideas (or bonding over old, shared favorites) at the same time!
4. Keep up with your local newspapers and magazines on Facebook (click “follow” to make it official) and/or read the monthly or weekend print editions at least occasionally. Weekend editions or monthly features will include top restaurant lists, museums exhibits, upcoming concerts along with a little of everything else. 
5. When you find an event or group that you enjoy, pencil in their future events so that you can get into the rhythm of joining.
6. Those bulletin boards at the cool coffee shop, the grocery store and the gym? Read them.
7. Subscribe to email newsletters that share events that you like: for example, Active Life DC, 730 DC and DCist are some of my favorites in Washington, D.C. 
8. Volunteer: you’ll be able to have great experiences and will also probably get invited to subsequent volunteer events and/or other social and potentially behind-the-scenes events.
9. Filter Eventbrite for specific types of events: free stuff, workout classes, cultural events, educational events, comedy shows and everything else. Hint: if an event is free and requires a ticket, register immediately and add a plus-one if you'd like (and then cancel your ticket ahead of time if you won’t be able to attend). 
10. Track special events at nearby libraries, museums, universities, business improvement districts, theaters, stores that you love and other venues. First Friday art events, monthly Museum Days and annual holiday events are just a few of the things that I try to enjoy whenever I can.
11. Review Meetup groups and "join" any of interest; even if you don’t actually go with the Meetup group events, there are often great ideas. 
12. Some event websites are worth monitoring (there should be similar ones in many cities). Some great D.C. ones are DCOutdoorfilms.com, Thrillist.com and Thingstododc.com.

Feel free to share your experience and any methods that I missed. Enjoy each day!

Lessons Learned Planning My First Work Event

Last Friday I coordinated a board meeting that happens twice a year. It was a great experience, although a somewhat crazy couple of days.


What I Learned:

1. In the planning stage, ask several different people for their advice and opinions about event details and needs. The more well-informed you are, the less often you'll have to guess when making decisions.
2. Type out detailed written requests to caterers, hotels, etc. Talk to them on the phone or in person, and then follow up with the details in an email. I am grateful to have exact records for clarity and future reference.
3. As a follow-up to number 2, caterers don't necessarily do the things that you expect them to do (even if you have confirmed and triple-checked).
4. Before the event, stock refills as close to the place where they will actually be used as possible. For me, keeping non-refrigerated snack refills under the serving table was extremely helpful, and the extra chairs in an adjacent closet was a great time/stress-saver as well.
5. People like helping, so give them specific tasks to be in charge of (details and a reminder right before the event are helpful)...but don't be a diva, and be sure to thank them afterwards.
6. Beware: it is indeed possible to accidentally stab yourself with a ballpoint pen.
7. Alarms, "calendarized" to-do lists and calendars are absolutely essential. There are entirely too many things for any person to keep track of in their brain alone.
8. It is completely likely that people will drink more coffee than your overestimation of how much they could possibly drink. (Hello, last-minute brewing!)
9. People may actually show up 45 minutes early. (This never happens in my world, so it was a shock.)
10. Plans, hotel reservations and catering orders can be canceled in 2 minutes...a little shocking compared to the hours it took to make the plans. Just let it go.
11. A good event-planning motto: Try your best, but if something goes wrong, life will go on. 

Does anyone else have good lessons or advice for new event-planners?