12.16 - the best of me
what’s going on in d.c.
Friday: Christmas Illuminations at Mount Vernon features a fireworks show and wintry lights at the historic estate (5:30 pm) | Pop punk band The Starting Line performs at the Fillmore Silver Spring (8 pm)
Saturday: The Roost in East Capitol Hill hosts a WinterFest with Santa, carolers, and a canned food drive (11 am - 4 pm) | District Winery pairs cookies with wine (1 or 3 pm) | Ballston is home to the Barkin’ Holiday Bash featuring a photobooth and doggie presents (2-6 pm) | Downtown’s Franklin Park installs iceless skating and a train ride (4-6 pm)
Sunday: Atlas Brew Works in Ivy City is showing the world cup and adding a beer, breakfast tacos, and coffee for $20 (9 am) | A glow in the dark Chanukah celebration at Bethesda Row features menorah lighting, doughnuts, and latkes (4:30 pm) | The Green Zone in Adams Morgan adds a latke pop-up (5 pm)
all weekend: A winter lantern festival lands in Tysons with over 1,000 Chinese lanterns and displays (5-10 pm each night)
let’s talk food and drinks
my weekly best bite: panir tika masala at Bombay Street Food
Craving hot cocoa? Here’s 14 spots to try, including Urban Roast, Betehsda’s Maman, and Dolcezza.
what’s on our minds?
D.C. leads the country in office-to-apartment conversions and likely will surge further in the rankings with a significant retrofit planned off DuPont Circle. According to UrbanTurf, a Philadelphia-based firm will convert two large office buildings into 500+ apartments. Reuse of empty office spaces is gaining some traction given its ability to alleviate housing crunches in urban areas, add environmental benefits (versus new builds), and revitalize neighborhoods.
Quick links to other weekly #goodreads:
Can an Outsider Get Into DC’s Pickup-Basketball Scene?- per Washingtonian, “The risk of humiliation didn’t stop one DC transplant.”
Secrets of the Christmas Tree Trade - per Curbed, “Turf wars. Protection money. Scientology. And my boss, a man who’s half-convinced he really is Santa.”
A Fifth of American Adults Struggle to Read. Why Are We Failing to Teach Them? - per ProPublica, “The nation’s approach to adult education has so far neglected to connect the millions of people struggling to read with the programs set up to help them.”