Hill Rag | Summer in the City June 2005

Summer in the City - Hill Rag - June 2005

DC Style

Surviving D.C.’s Sticky Summer in Style

by: Catherine P. McEaddy

Growing up in South Carolina, I was certain I knew the hottest spot on earth—the parking lot in front of any K-Mart, Wal-Mart, or mall in the suburbs of Charleston, SC around 3 pm on a July or August afternoon. I figured I could fry an egg right there on the asphalt, if it wasn’t so sticky from the heat that I’d end up with bits of rock and dirt in my egg. I thought I was standing in one of Dante’s circles of hell, and I didn’t think there could be anywhere hotter.
But that was before I moved to Washington, DC, before I survived four summers with a heat so thick I could see it shimmering in the air, and before I watched the morning weather reports for air quality predictions. Now I know why Dante had more than one circle of hell.

But summer doesn’t have to be miserable with one hot, sticky day stretching into the next. With a little forethought, Washington, DC can be a wonderful place to spend the summer, with enough events and happenings to fill all of your days and evenings.

When planning your summer activities, take into consideration the following important factors, and you can experience DC’s sticky summer in style:

Transportation—When possible, public transportation is almost always the best option. Parking lots are expensive, parking tickets are expensive, and gas is expensive. Arriving via metro or bus is stylish and takes the worry out of your hands. (Check out the Metro website to plan your route and travel times by visiting www.wmata.com.)

Is your family coming to visit you from out of town again this summer? Do you dread riding on another bus tour or trudging down the Mall in the heat? Change up your routine by touring DC on a bicycle or even a Segway. You’ll get a whole new perspective on the monuments as you wheel past them, and your family will get a kick out of touring in style. (Visit www.bikethesites.com for more information on bike tours and www.segsinthecity.net for more information on touring the city on a Segway.)

Sun factor—Farmers’ Markets abound during the summer in DC and are great places to find fresh produce and organic food. Consider your skin’s health, too by putting on plenty of sunscreen and a hat before heading out the door. Sunburns are painful, itchy, and not stylish. But armed with a sun hat, some sunscreen, and a basket over your arm, you’ll feel positively European (and quite stylish) as you inspect the wares brought in from farms surrounding DC. (Find the farmers’ market in your neighborhood by visiting www.freshfarmmarkets.org.)

We all know we should wear sunscreen anytime we’ll be out in the sun. In addition to lathering up at home, it’s important to reapply if you’re spending all day outdoors. Slip a few sunscreen towelettes in your purse or pocket without fear of a spill or leaving a line of white cream across the top of your forehead.

Bug factor—The Screen on the Green Festival is a perfect event to invite your friends to share a picnic and relax after work. It takes place on the Mall from July 18-Aug. 15 and shows five classic movies on a giant outdoor screen beginning at sundown. While you don’t need to worry about sunscreen, you’ll want to have bug spray on hand to deter any bugs for joining in the festivities. Also, remember to include a blanket or two, as you’ll be sitting on the ground. (For more information about Screen on the Green, call the festival’s hotline at 877.262.5866 or visit their website at http://www.aolcityguide.com/Washington/screenonthegreen.)

Mosquitoes and other bugs have a way of ruining a good time, and mosquito bitten arms and legs will hamper your future endeavors to be stylish. Keep a purse or pocket-sized container of bug spray with you this summer, and you’re guaranteed to be popular with people and not bugs.

Durability—Sometimes is best to choose clothing for its practicality as opposed to style. If you’re planning on attending the National Capital Barbecue Battle on June 25-26, jeans and a patterned shirt that won’t show stains are going to work better than your new white pants and pink tank. Looking stylish can end up looking foolish when you have food stains down the front of your clothes. (For more information about the National Capital Barbecue Battle, visit www.barbecuebattle.com.)

Comfort—Outdoor happy hours spring up everywhere as bars open their patios up to welcome thirsty patrons looking to relax after a hard day of work. Seating is often limited, so consider shoes that will support you in comfort for long periods. And don’t forget that outdoor happy hours take place outdoors. Are you really going to be happy in the suit you wore to work without the benefit of air condition? Changing into lighter clothes will help you leave your work troubles at the office and allow for any breezes that makes its way through the crowd to cool you down.

Summer 2005 is jam packed with events designed to be fun and relaxing. Instead of hibernating in the air condition this summer, get out and explore DC. Being stylish in the heat is possible with some planning and creativity.

Catherine McEaddy is a freelance writer originally from Charleston, SC, but she now makes her home in the Dupont Circle area. You may reach her at cmceaddy@mac.com.


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DC Style
Surviving D.C.’s Sticky Summer in Style
by: Catherine P. McEaddy
Growing up in South Carolina, I was certain I knew the hottest spot on earth—the parking lot in front of any K-Mart, Wal-Mart, or mall in the suburbs of Charleston, SC around 3 pm on a July or August afternoon. I figured I could fry an egg right there on the asphalt, if it wasn’t so sticky from the heat that I’d end up with bits of rock and dirt in my egg. I thought I was standing in one of Dante’s circles of hell, and I didn’t think there could be anywhere hotter. But that was before I moved to Washington, DC, before I survived four summers with a heat so thick I could see it shimmering in the air, and before I watched the morning weather reports for air quality predictions. Now I know why Dante had more than one circle of hell. But summer doesn’t have to be miserable with one hot, sticky day stretching into the next. With a little forethought, Washington, DC can be a wonderful place to spend the summer, with enough events and happenings to fill all of your days and evenings. When planning your summer activities, take into consideration the following important factors, and you can experience DC’s sticky summer in style: Transportation—When possible, public transportation is almost always the best option. Parking lots are expensive, parking tickets are expensive, and gas is expensive. Arriving via metro or bus is stylish and takes the worry out of your hands. (Check out the Metro website to plan your route and travel times by visiting www.wmata.com.) Is your family coming to visit you from out of town again this summer? Do you dread riding on another bus tour or trudging down the Mall in the heat? Change up your routine by touring DC on a bicycle or even a Segway. You’ll get a whole new perspective on the monuments as you wheel past them, and your family will get a kick out of touring in style. (Visit www.bikethesites.com for more information on bike tours and www.segsinthecity.net for more information on touring the city on a Segway.) Sun factor—Farmers’ Markets abound during the summer in DC and are great places to find fresh produce and organic food. Consider your skin’s health, too by putting on plenty of sunscreen and a hat before heading out the door. Sunburns are painful, itchy, and not stylish. But armed with a sun hat, some sunscreen, and a basket over your arm, you’ll feel positively European (and quite stylish) as you inspect the wares brought in from farms surrounding DC. (Find the farmers’ market in your neighborhood by visiting www.freshfarmmarkets.org.) We all know we should wear sunscreen anytime we’ll be out in the sun. In addition to lathering up at home, it’s important to reapply if you’re spending all day outdoors. Slip a few sunscreen towelettes in your purse or pocket without fear of a spill or leaving a line of white cream across the top of your forehead. Bug factor—The Screen on the Green Festival is a perfect event to invite your friends to share a picnic and relax after work. It takes place on the Mall from July 18-Aug. 15 and shows five classic movies on a giant outdoor screen beginning at sundown. While you don’t need to worry about sunscreen, you’ll want to have bug spray on hand to deter any bugs for joining in the festivities. Also, remember to include a blanket or two, as you’ll be sitting on the ground. (For more information about Screen on the Green, call the festival’s hotline at 877.262.5866 or visit their website at http://www.aolcityguide.com/Washington/screenonthegreen.) Mosquitoes and other bugs have a way of ruining a good time, and mosquito bitten arms and legs will hamper your future endeavors to be stylish. Keep a purse or pocket-sized container of bug spray with you this summer, and you’re guaranteed to be popular with people and not bugs. Durability—Sometimes is best to choose clothing for its practicality as opposed to style. If you’re planning on attending the National Capital Barbecue Battle on June 25-26, jeans and a patterned shirt that won’t show stains are going to work better than your new white pants and pink tank. Looking stylish can end up looking foolish when you have food stains down the front of your clothes. (For more information about the National Capital Barbecue Battle, visit www.barbecuebattle.com.) Comfort—Outdoor happy hours spring up everywhere as bars open their patios up to welcome thirsty patrons looking to relax after a hard day of work. Seating is often limited, so consider shoes that will support you in comfort for long periods. And don’t forget that outdoor happy hours take place outdoors. Are you really going to be happy in the suit you wore to work without the benefit of air condition? Changing into lighter clothes will help you leave your work troubles at the office and allow for any breezes that makes its way through the crowd to cool you down. Summer 2005 is jam packed with events designed to be fun and relaxing. Instead of hibernating in the air condition this summer, get out and explore DC. Being stylish in the heat is possible with some planning and creativity. Catherine McEaddy is a freelance writer originally from Charleston, SC, but she now makes her home in the Dupont Circle area. You may reach her at cmceaddy@mac.com.