My friends and I stopped by Saturday afternoon around 2, and gladly partook in the offering of…read moregluhwein. For $8, you get to keep the mug, too! We were also joking on our way there that we wished the market would have heating lamps, but they actually had two or three! Quite fancy. Additionally, there were selections of jewelry, knitted things, chocolates, and carved things when we went. I picked up several ornaments for my friends as gifts. I checked the website before going, and expected food options ("European food," it said) but was sad to find out that there were no such vendors. Maybe the food vendors only set up camp during the evenings, in which case I would have scheduled our visit to be later. I definitely missed currywursts, pretzels, and other munchies for the complete European market-vibe! But still, a cute market you should definitely check out if you are in the area.

While the market is tiny I am glad Alexandria does this. We stopped by on a Sunday afternoon and…read morewere thrilled to find they had a Gluhwein tent! We filled up a mug of hot Gluhwein and explored the market . For as small as it is there were a surprising number of vendors with good variety of local crafts like Christmas ornaments, artwork, ceramics, clothing, etc. The market is perhaps and oasis amidst the myriad commercial stuff on King St. I also enjoyed the live music, which was just a guys playing acoustic guitar, but he was quite entertaining.

You've got to admire a Spite House. It's known as the Hollensbury Spite House and is 7-feet wide…read moreand 325 sq feet. It was built in 1830 and is considered to be the narrowest historic house in the U.S. So inquiring minds want to know -- why was it built? It was built to block an alleyway with too much traffic.

Cutest house and easy to find in such a charming neighborhood…read more Does someone actually live here?

Georgetown Glow is free public art with elements to captivate all ages & demographics. It can be…read morepaired with some history or can be enjoyed to captivate your Instagram followers. It is currently in it's fifth year, running from early December to early January. It looks like the installations change every year so there is something new to explore and enjoy. I won't go through every installation that I saw for this reason. There are some really instagramable moments, my favorite in 2018 was definitely Prismatic, but I have a big soft spot for Run Beyond as well. You should definitely plan to get out and explore a lot of the installations, just walking or driving by won't give you the full effect of some of them. Some of them also can't be seen from your vehicle, bundle up and explore! There are also a few that incorporate motion & sound. Here is the biggest "well duh" moment- see these installations after dark. Not during sunset, not at dusk- make sure it is really dark for the full effect. I mean- they are light installations, so maybe that shouldn't even be mentioned. I opted to see Georgetown Glow as part of a tour group (Free Tours by Foot DC) and our tour started almost an hour before sunset so I made a point to revisit the installations we saw early on during the tour- it was definitely worth the trip back to see the earlier installations. I thought taking the walking tour was a great way to see some of the installations and learn more about the history of Georgetown. Our tour guide was excellent, but was definitely a better Georgetown guide vs a Glow guide. She had great historical stories to connect to the themes of the art installations as we walked through Georgetown. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see all of the artwork during this foot tour, but we had plenty of time to explore the ones we did encounter on our tour. I would recommend doing Georgetown Glow both ways, take a tour if that's your thing, but really for the art itself I think you can easily enjoy every installation without the tour aspect and just read the information provided on the website to learn more. It is an outdoor, free, public display so expect that a few of the installations may have technical difficulties. I visited on the second night of the displays and noticed some light vandalism, most likely caused by careless spectators. It didn't take away from the overall effect though. One thing I appreciated is even though this is a December outdoor light exhibit, it wasn't Christmas themed. There is definitely plenty of holiday cheer to enjoy as you explore the city between installations. The art itself focuses on different themes giving you a brief mental break from the holidays.

I've been going to GLOW since the first edition and I just love it! I like some installations…read morebetter than others but it's a great idea and it's nice seeing people walking around at night in the Winter! It would be nice to have shuttle tours for people who can't walk as much. Maybe the Circulator used to do free rides? I can't remember. DC has so many free events and exhibits and GLOW is one of the best.

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival in D.C. is a popular annual summer event, but this was my first…read moretime attending. The six day festival highlighted indigenous cultures and honored the 20th anniversary of the National Museum of the American Indian. I enjoyed the food, performances, presentations, and crafts. It's definitely worth a visit and is a nice event for the whole family. I was also really happy the festival was set up in shaded areas under the trees instead of the National Mall lawn. The heat was brutal today!

This marks my one year anniversary for moving to Washington DC. And one of the first things I did…read morewas attend the Folklife Festival. Last year it was a bit larger as it was highlighting China and Kenya. This year the focus is on Peru. Both years ave consisted of different showcases of traditional life in the respective countries. This year they had native Peruvians marking clay scultures, tin work, a Andean mountain rope bridge, boats,and other items. They also had different organizations (a native village's homegrown radio station for instance), traditional dancing and singing, and of course alpacas. They always have local restaurants which specialize in authentic food from the respective country(ies). Prices are cheaper for what you'd pay for food in the metro DC area so this is a welcome change for those working in the area to grab a quick bite to eat for lunch. Everything but the food and handicrafts at the marketplace are free. Come get a window on life in another country.

This race was so much fun. At one end was a stage where the drag queens performed. On the…read moreopposite end was the race finish line. I got to the finish line about two hours before because I wanted to see what the big deal was. The entire time you see the costumes of the runners as they walk up and down the street. There were a couple of Beyonces, Melania Trumps, Donald Trumps, the lasted comic characters, and some people I couldnt figure out what they were. Then the race starts. The drag queen who won looks like a professional runner. He was a light speed ahead of the other runners. He was in it to win it. You can go by yourself if you want. But if you do go, do not go with a bunch of people. Take one or two friends and preferably your tall friends. You will enjoy it.

Yes yes yes. This event was amazing. There is quite a crowd so short people might want to get a…read morespot early like an hour before. But what fun. For an hour before the race starts you start to see drag queens walk up and down the street (17th between P and R). There is music and laughter. This is an overall enjoyable event that breaks up very quickly after it is over. No bathrooms available unless you go into local businesses. No seating available, standing room only. You can request assistance if needed. The actual race only lasts 10-15 min but it is so exciting. It is so fun to watch people express themselves in different costumes from Halloween, pop, political, eccentric, movie themes, etc! Plenty of people took a tumble towards the end of the race. And in general, the contestants were okay with pictures. A must in the DC area around Halloween!

At the corner of 14th and R Streets NW is Nigerian-American artist Victor Ekpuk's The Dancer, a…read more10-foot bright-red cool abstract metal sculpture sitting on a square plinth. Come check it out!

TL:DR - A oasis in Washington, DC…read more While the phrase "hidden gem," is too often overused, the Tregaron Conservancy is place where that label is completely apropos. Located off Macomb Street in the toney Cleveland Park neighborhood, this is definitely a spot frequented by locals. Walking up to the small gate entrance, it's almost as if this a secret garden of sorts. Make you way up the winding path, and visitors encounter some of the most beautiful green spaces in all of DC. The Tregaron Conservancy and the associated grounds are joint tenants with the adjacent Washington International School (https://tregaron.org/news/washington-international-school-tregaron-conservancys-perfect-partner). Just be aware that while the main sections of the Tregaron are open to the public, the school portion is not. While the Tregaron is not expansive, there are many nice sections. There are benches down by the Lily Pond which I have often enjoyed a coffee and conversations with friends. The remaining grounds are kept pristine with slight hills which are perfect for an afternoon picnic or just sitting to enjoy sunny days. There is also the scenic Klingle Valley trail which winds through the woods and eventually connects up with Rock Creek Park after crossing through busy Connecticut Ave. Good information before you make the trip: https://tregaron.org/planning-your-visit My advice is to take the Metro to the Cleveland Park stop, and make the short 10 minute walk. There are many restaurants and bakeries where you can pop in, get a beverage and pastry to enjoy at the Tregaron. Bonus Tip: If you need to use a restroom, the Cleveland Park Library is at corner of Connecticut Ave and Macomb Street (https://www.yelp.com/biz/cleveland-park-library-washington?osq=cleveland+park+library&sort_by=date_desc) There aren't many "attractions" at the Tregaron...but that's really the point. It's a place to escape the concrete jungle that is DC and commue and appreciate nature, at least for a short while. If you are looking for an "in the know" place and want to impress long time DC residents and visitors alike, I highly recommend visiting the Tregaron Conservancy.

The Tregaron Conservancy is a beautiful hidden gem for a short walk in a natural setting right…read moreinside the city. I'm amazing by how much of an escape it feels like as it's tucked on a very small land area. It may not be a tourist destination to make a trip out for, but I am so grateful to have this local spot. The area could be walked through very quickly, but I have also spent hours sitting by the pond and birdwatching or just enjoying nature. The park can be tricky to find, I access it from Klingle Valley Trail. Note - this is the Conservancy which is an outdoor park. I believe the "Estate" is now the Washington International School building and is not open to the public.

I'm so glad I attended this event. I had no idea that &pizza existed (AND was some awesome)…read more Fortunately, this event was very cozy. With only 6 of us (including Gretchen, Yelp NOVA's CM), we got a very personal, high-touch experience. James McNair, the General Manager -- a very sincere and passionate guy -- gave us a run-down of the company's history, philosophy, goals, and ambitions. He jokingly, but also seriously noted that they want to be the Starbucks of pizza. Initially, I was skeptical; but I will not be surprised if in 10 years, they have some serious presence in the country. He also gave us a lot of insider information on what's coming up (menu changes, gourmet salads, new locations in the DMV, and new cities they're looking at), which was really cool! Next, we were treated to a courtesy meal(!). Each of us picked our bread, sauce, cheese, and toppings. As you move down the line, you just keep adding whatever you want! (Or you can pick one of their signature pizzas). It was one of the tastiest pizzas I've had; and if I were paying full price, it wouldn't have even costed that much anyways. Price to value and quality is exceptional. We also got to try their other goodies. The dessert pizza and housemade sodas were phenomenal. I can almost still taste them. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the pizzelles. They've only had them for a couple weeks; and though the box and product look good, I have a feeling they won't be around for that long. It's no wonder &pizza's several locations each have awesome reviews. I'll definitely be back. Thank you Yelp and &pizza for a great food experience. Pizza is not something that I usually get excited about.

I loved this super intimate event - small enough for all of us to fit at a single table. It was…read moregreat to be able to have actual lengthy conversations with Gretchen, other Yelpers, and the GM of Springfield's &pizza - something that I've never been able to experience at a Yelp event. To me, the most impressive part of &pizza is how quickly they're able to create a custom-order pizza - about 5 minutes (including cooking time). They don't even roll the dough ahead of time, but put it through the dough flattener as you watch. And the machine they use to cook the pizza renders a fully cooked and DELICIOUS pizza in about 3 minutes. Amazing! I also love the very diverse, unique, fresh, and delicious toppings - fig malasa, falafel, shrimp, and even an egg that they can scramble in front of you before they add it as a topping. I went gaga over the dessert pizza - a thin layer of white chocolate, a berry sauce (with whole berries mixed in), and sweet ricotta cheese on top. I will definitely come back just for the dessert pizza, which reminded me of a delicious blueberry pie. The one disappointment was the pizzelles. I am a lover of pizzelles, but these were a bit too cake-like, and the almond, vanilla, and chocolate flavors were so subtle that they tasted very similar. I'm also surprised that they didn't offer the traditional flavor (anise). Overall, the GM was super enthusiastic and knowledgeable, the food was delicious, and the event was intimate. I had a great time!