Recently moved from Denver, where there really isnt any rain, to Washington DC, where there’s a lot of rain. Have an Aventon Abound AG, with panniers and almost 5 yr old daughter who sits on the rack with her feet in the panniers. I’d prefer not to have a huge Tern storm box on the back. Natch we have rain parkas but what other gear do yall recommend to have on hand?
I posted a couple weeks about coming back to DC after being in Denver for 8 years that got a lot of responses. Here are my quick thoughts being back for a week after pulling into DC last Sunday with my cat. Cat tax now included. She doesn’t look it hut she loves the two story rowhouse we’re renting in Cap Hill. She’s actually from the neighborhood, a rescue teen mom we adopted like 12 years ago. So she’s back too. On to the observations:
Traffic calming. Holy fuck it works. When I arrived, I took 270 in and as soon as I hit the beltway, it was a parking lot. So I got off at Conn Ave and drove that all the way in. It was now 2 lanes instead of 3 and everyone was going 25 mph and I couldn’t figure out why. The Wazee was chirping every 1/4 mile that a speed camera was ahead. Wow, it works. All the bumps, tables, circles, cameras, it all works. My Colorado driving brain is going to have to recalibrate and that’s a good thing. MD drivers still the worst tho.
Biking infrastructure. Wow there’s a lot of it now and a lot of it is protected which is awesome. I rode the kid to National Zoo and back yesterday, I would guess at least 50% was protected lanes, the rest had magic paint lines on the ground. That’s impressive. I guess I have to give Bowser credit for that. Riding my kid to school along Florida Ave NE protected is not a timeline i thought I’d ever be in. I know a cyclist that was killed on FLA Ave by a car in 2019. Here’s to you, David.
Grocery stores. So. Many. Options.
National Guard. I seen em. Look at these Meal Team Six motherfuckers waste time. However, being a person of non-white color, I’m still carrying my passport with me.
Volo. There are an inordinate amount of people wearing Volo shirts in this town.
Development. Yeah it’s nuts but they’re all the same four options of 14 story luxury apt building design so it’s boring. It’s funny to see where they fit em in tho. Biggest change I’ve seen is Union Market. I rode thru there after dropping off kid at school and took it all in. Did see one Korean wholesaler still there and the owner in a delivery van outside. Our eyes locked and I thought “Bet you wish you sold out now but now you’re that Korean lady who owned the beauty supply shop in Navy Yard.”
Dining. It’s gotten expensive around the country so DC is no different. I work from home so I’ve challenged myself if I go out to eat to only go to places where you can get something $15 or less, and I’ve been pretty successful. We went to dinner at The Roost on Friday with some friends coz apparently that’s where all Cap Hill families go to eat on weekends and it was whatever in terms of price.
Diversity. Feels so good to be back in a diverse and international city. It’s like putting on a favorite fall coat once the weather turns cooler.
I was indeed in and out of the Half St emissions test center in 15 min in early Friday afternoon. Amazing. We’ll see how the DMV trip goes. But loving being back so far.
Some cheeky fun as I know the leaving DC topic is posted a lot but my wife and I returning to DC after being gone for 8 years in Denver. So I wanted to start a thread about what we're looking forward to, knowing full well the city has changed since we left. I think it's dangerous to come back thinking it will be the same. Wife and daughter flew into DC today. I am currently in St. Louis making my way back to DC by car with our cat. I should be pulling into town while the bullshit Indy race is going on on Sunday. Joy. But after this list, what should we be looking forward to?
Life without Bowser. I have lived in DC during Williams, Fenty, and Gray administrations. And of course Bowser. I hate her so I'm excited to see a DC without here again.
Useable public transportation. I know people love to complain about WMATA but after being in Denver and dealing with their useless system, having access to rail, bus and cycling infrastructure again will be nice.
Free museums and National Zoo. That shit costs everywhere else and when you have a kid, you are acutely aware how much that shit costs.
Salvadorean food. It's funny, in DC it's Salvadorean restaurants claiming they have Mexican food. In Denver, it's Mexican restaurants claiming they have Salvadorean food.
Peruvian rotissiere chicken. Crispy and Juicy is still around yeah?
The C&O Trail. Having access to this from DC and being able to ride on a bike and just camp was so awesome. Looking forward to that again.
The produce and farmers markets. Miss this so much about DC. Access to great produce from VA, MD, PA and the surrounding area. So many farmer markets. Produce in Colorado is like being in the Soviet Union. It sucks.
Access to the ocean and beaches. Mountains are great. Beaches are better. Rebhoboth and thrasher fries, here we come.
Diversity and internationalism. Miss this so so so so so much.
Mumbo sauce. Not gonna lie, I love this shit.
Well after ordering this at the beginning of the World Cup this summer, I finally got the infamous purple Adidas Scotland national team track jacket that Ewan McGregor wore in the squad announcement video (the best of the lot imo) and can’t be found anywhere. I am not Scottish but rather a Korean American living in the US. But I have supported Scotland since 1998, I follow Hibbs in the Scottish Premiership, and Andy Robertson is my favorite Liverpool player, well I guess Spurs now who my wife supports.
Seeing the track jacket I just had to have it but like you all, couldn’t find it for sale anywhere through any Adidas channels not ebay, I have ordered from DHGate before for kits for my 4 yr old daughter but hadnt done so for a couple of years because of the Trump tariffs. But those are no longer a thing so I ordered their version. And finally got it.
Right off, the quality is not bad. The purple is paler imo but it has the full Adidas logo which the website can’t show. Hilariously it has an Adidas tag on it. Zipper works fine and the elastic cuffs are good. Has three stripes on the sleeves and the pockets zip. So the jacket is pretty good.
Here’s the bad: order big. I’m a normal XL in US sizing. All Adidas track jackets I own are XL. I bought 2XL from DHGate and it is snuuuuuuuug. So go at least two sizes up if you order.
There you go mates: enjoy!
Cmon Bandai, don’t leave us hanging!
Ordered three 8’ timber logs and a louvre door for our water heater closet. Picked them up from Lowes and clerk helped wheel it out to my car. He was like “Uh you plan on taking this in that??” Opened the boot and slid everything in like a boss. Love this car, 2013 Sport with 113k on it, hoping it lasts us 20 years or more.