Now That's a Statue

National Harbor, despite looking creepily like a 1950s movie-set, is a new waterfront development on the shores of the Potomac River in Prince George's County, Maryland. National Harbor offers a multitude of upscale shops, restaurants and hotels. Events such as the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival seem to be held on a fairly regular basis, which makes sense--the waterfront is really a perfect venue for outdoor drinking. It's also the new home of The Awakening, the weird statue created by J. Seward Johnson that was originally installed at Hains Point in Washington, DC in 1980 for the International Sculpture Conference Exhibition.

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Landmarks • Extended Coverage Area

Escape From Reality

Brookside Gardens is only a short distance from the busy streets of Washington, DC, but it feels like a world away. Drop in to get away from it all and enjoy some gorgeous greenery, including an azalea garden, a rose garden, a children's garden, a formal garden, a fragrance garden, a Japanese style garden and a trial garden. There are also two conservatories that are enjoyed year round. And best of all, admission is free. The highlight of my visit was the "Wings of Fancy" Live Butterfly Exhibit--a covered garden of nectar plants which features hundreds of butterflies fluttering about freely, landing on a shoulder here and on a head there. As long as you don't mind getting up close and personal with the arthropods, this is an exhibit not to be missed. Unlike the other gardens, you'll have to pay for the privilege of frolicking with the butterflies. But don't worry, it won't break the bank. Admission is $4.50 for adults and $3.50 for children three to 12. Children two and under are admitted free.

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Art Galleries • Extended Coverage Area

Love Thy Neighbor: June 26

The Pink Line Project and Policy Brand Clothing Co. are showing neighborhood love this Friday with a trunk show happy hour presenting Policy's newest collection of DC inspired t-shirts, bags and retro jerseys with "Love Thy Neighbor." The second of Policy's trunk shows, the FREE event takes place from 6 to 10 pm with DJs Obeyah and Small Axe on the turntables all night long. Love Thy Neighbor honors neighborhood gentrification and is housed at a abandoned warehouse at 9th and North Streets with a chop-chop food bar by Chix and happy hour specials for guests. Additionally, Policy is going green with a new branch of the company called, Green Diamond Vintage. This collection will focus on the beauty of vintage baseball jerseys from years gone by. Beer and wine specials from $2 to $3 and all jerseys, t-shirts and handbags are on sale on site from $15 to $30. So if you dig your neighborhood, come snag a jersey and represent.

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Shopping • Logan Circle / U Street

Nicely Done Parks & Rec

There are only two official dog parks in DC. So what qualifies as a "dog park" in my part of town is a clearing in Rock Creek Park. And in the neighborhood next to mine, any patch of grass over one square foot is urinated and shat on by every four-legged creature in 2009. So imagine my surprise then, when I stumbled upon a DC public park full of happy pups romping around, off-leash, and on actual grass. Like, the full, soft, green, living kind. Those Kalorama Heights purebreds really have it good. And then I started to examine the rest of this alleged DC public park... It's teeming with hydrangeas and daffodils and half a dozen other varieties of blooming plants, has a play area for children, has tennis courts, offers plenty of unoccupied park benches (some which form a circle and perfect gathering place), has pretty picnicking areas, is shady, smells good, and is clean... What is this place?! No offense, DC Parks & Recreation, but how did Mitchell Park end up so freakin' lovely? For anyone not from Kalorama, I recommend coming here on a Sunday, strolling by some embassies, some multi-million-dollar homes, up/down the Spanish Steps, and pretending you're on vacation.

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Playgrounds • Extended Coverage Area

Mouth Numbing...In a Good Way

I have a terrible and obnoxious tendency to stop eating the foods of countries I've visited. So after I returned from India, a lot of the Indian restaurants in town seemed overpriced, flavorless, and just not up to the standard of Madurai street food. And after I came back from China, I just couldn't stomach the sesame chicken that I had once loved so much. Again, it seemed flavorless and gelatinous, instead of spicy and crispy. There's no doubt I was just processing my post-vacation sadness into being snotty, and that I was probably going to the wrong places. But then I went to the right place: Great Wall Szechuan House. This tiny spot in Logan Circle doesn't look like much, but inside they are cooking a variety of tasty "ma la" dishes--with a spicy kick that numbs your mouth in the most delicious way. It was kinda like drugs for my mouth, and just one taste got me hooked. For those who are not dependent on heat though, there’s also a regular menu of Chinese classics.

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Restaurants • Extended Coverage Area