Where to Spend Spring in DC

Even though it snowed earlier this week, it is technically spring. When you think of spring in the District, the first thing that probably comes to your mind is the cherry blossoms. Of course, this is something worth seeing, but if you've lived here long enough, you're probably ready for a change of pace. Thrillist has compiled a list of 11 springtime events that are sure to be a good time, and even better, you'll be away from cherry blossom tourists.

MAR 25 - APR 8
Union Market’s Test Kitchen
Union Market’s free demo series (yes, FREE), helps you up your culinary skills by learning from top talent, Wednesdays from 6-8pm. Spring classes include smoking meat with The BBQ Joint on March 25; knife skills with DC Sharp and Bidwell on April 1; and "something fishy" with District Fishwife on April 8. Reserve a spot, because they fill up.

APRIL 4
Braustomp II
Hit DC Brau for its fourth anniversary party, featuring food trucks and the DC Brau tapwagon, from 4-8pm. Of course while you’re there, you can fill up a growler, sip some pints, and go on a brewery tour. Pietasters and Frum the Hills will provide live music. Tickets are $15 and sell out quickly.

APRIL 6
Washington Nationals Home Opener
Everyone’s undefeated on opening day, so show up at the ballpark ready to officially welcome spring and a ball club full of hope. The home team takes on the New York Mets at 4:05pm. In other words, the Nats are guaranteed to go 1-0. Check out the full schedule for April.

APRIL 9
Best of D.C. 2015
Washington City Paper’s big blow-out celebration is back. Party at the Carnegie Library by visiting stations from more than 50 restaurants, plus 20 breweries and mixologists. Six entertainment stages will liven things up from 6-10pm. VIP tickets are $100; general admission $65.

APRIL 11
Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival
For one day only, Pennsylvania Ave gets transformed into a sprawling Japanese street festival, complete with two beer gardens. Don’t miss your chance to pound chicken yakitori and takoyaki to the tune of J-POP and Taiko drumming while ogling Americans dressed up the Harajuku girls. Show up between 10:30am-6pm.

APRIL 13
Taste the Nation
Elastic waistbands are a must, because your goal is to try a dish from all 80 restaurants represented. Bid on silent auction items before your sobriety gets more serious than a buzz, which will be challenging given 20 hot mixologists will be slinging cocktails. Tickets start at $120, and the party kicks off at 6pm for VIP ticket holders; 7pm for general admission. The event benefits No Kid Hungry.

APRIL 16
Sugar Showdown
The region's top pastry chefs will engage in a dessert battle using root vegetables -- think beets, parsnips, and ginger. For $25 you can try them all paired with sparkling wine from 6-8pm. There will be representation from host restaurant, Poste, plus 2941 Restaurant, RareSweets, Pearl Dive Oyster Bar and more. Tickets are $25 and benefit Brainfood DC. They’ll be available to purchase on the Poste website.  

APRIL 19
Crawfish Boil on the Bayou
Get to Pearl Dive Oyster Palace to throw down some sea critters at its Lowcountry crawfish boil house-party. Go back for seconds and thirds of Louisiana crawfish, suckling pig, grilled oysters, crawfish hushpuppies, pulled pork sammies, and Southern desserts from Chef Colleen Conrad. Tickets are $55 for unlimited food; $90 for unlimited food and drinks, like Abita beer, Hurricanes punch, and wine. The party runs 12-5pm.

MAY 2
Virginia Gold Cup
The Virginia Gold Cup brings people together who pretend to like steeplechase racing so they can toss on wild hats and drink juleps in Virginia horse-country. The fun runs from 10am-7pm. And yes, in addition to horses, Jack Russell terriers will also take to the track (sort of). Tickets are $85 (includes parking).

MAY 3
The Bloody Mary Festival
Let’s start by pointing out that something called "The Bloody Mary Liberation Party" exists. It's hosting The Bloody Mary Festival at Blind Whino, bringing together the DC-area’s top Bloodys. Think Range, Del Campo, Founding Farmers, and more. This is the perfect opportunity to party in a technicolor church. Tickets are $50 and include three hours of unlimited tastes (1-4pm), lunch, and live music.

MAY 25
Oyster Shuckfest
City Tap House’s first ever oyster bonanza focuses on the cool pairing of oysters and mead (booze made from honey) such as Charm City Mead mignonettes and mead shooters. There will also be $1 raw oysters, fried oyster po' boys, and grilled oysters on the patio. In between slurps, take in the bluegrass band and play some corn hole from 2-6pm. 

Football Party Beer & Cheddar Dip

Image courtesy Nealey Dozier, The Kitchn

When you think of football, food also probably comes to mind. From pizza to wings to beer, the unhealthier the food, the better it tastes on game day! Whether you're hosting a party or attending someone else's on Sunday, this beer & cheddar dip (courtesy of The Kitchn) is sure to please! After all, it's the best of both football food worlds--beer and melted cheese!

Beer & Cheddar Dip

Serves 4-6

1 cup (8 ounces) evaporated milk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

10 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

1 cup amber beer

2 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Bacon crumbles and green onions, for garnish (optional)

Pretzels, pretzel bread, or crudités, for serving

In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, whisk together evaporated milk, eggs, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and half of the shredded cheese. Once the cheese sauce begins to warm, add the beer and cornstarch-water mixture (aka the slurry). Whisking frequently, gradually add the remaining cheese and cook until the sauce reaches desired thickness, about 10 - 12 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Keep warm over lowest heat setting, stirring frequently, until ready to serve. Garnish with bacon crumbles and green onions and serve with pretzels, pretzel bread, or crudités.

What are your favorite Super Bowl snacks and recipes?

Adjusting to a New City

"City of Seattle: One" by John Tregoning is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Moving to a new city is a brave step, whether it’s for a job or because it’s a place where you have always wanted to live. It can be a tricky transition from old life to new life, but if you go into a move like this with reasonable expectations and a plan for putting yourself out there and making friends, life in your new city will be more fun than you could imagine! Keep in mind these tips from Apartment Therapy.

Say yes to everything. You need either all or some of the following life essentials in your new city: friends, a BFF, a boyfriend/ girlfriend, and a job. You won't find these by sitting at home and ordering delivery while watching Bravo. Get out there! Go to everything people invite you to. Remind yourself that you are on a mission to find these life essentials!

Ask to be set up on friend dates... or date dates. Welcome to the way grown-ups make friends. We're not in college anymore. Ask your BFFs in your current city if they know anyone in your new city. Ask your family if they know anyone who might be a nice friend for you. Scour Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and whatever other social media you're on and find out who from your network lives in town. You might be surprised.

Join organized groups. From nonprofit volunteering to kickball leagues, even if you don't normally consider yourself a joiner, joining something is a way to meet new peeps. Start with a hobby and find a group. Even better: find something you've never done before. Being a beginner is a great way to connect with other people who are also beginning; you feel awkward, they feel awkward, bingo: new friend.

For your first 6 months, stay somewhere comfortable. You are in a new city, it's all strange and unfamiliar. You don't know where CVS or the grocery store are or who your BFF will be. You don't know the good neighborhoods from the okay neighborhoods from the bad neighborhoods. You don't know the secret side streets to cut around traffic. You don't know the cool bars, the cool restaurants or where the best farmer's market is. So instead of adding to the stress, I encourage you to stay somewhere comfortable for your first chunk of time... while you get used to your surroundings. "Comfortable" means something different to everyone. For me it meant splurging on a temporary apartment in a pricey area where I feel really safe and free to explore my surroundings. For you it might mean living with a friend or relative temporarily even though you know that long-term you want to be living alone.

Give yourself a year to acclimate. Anytime you start thinking "OMG, this was a huge mistake!," "I was so stupid for thinking this was a good idea!" or "I'm never going to like living here and I'm going to die alone!" — and, trust me, it will happen — remind yourself that things are still in transition, moving is hard, and you are giving yourself until you have a year under your belt before making any overarching judgements on the move.

Don't forget about your friends and your network from your former city. You have it easier — you left. I've always believed that the "mover" has it easier than the person left behind. You're out exploring a new city, having new adventures, learning new things. Your old pals are in their same routine and probably missing you. Don't forget about them. Make an effort to keep in touch and to go back and visit from time to time. Yes, it will be hard — you're not sharing all of their day to day adventures and even a small time difference call be awkward — but soon enough things will fall into place.

How did you adjust to life in a new city after a move? Share your thoughts!

Host a Holiday Happy Hour

"Cocktail anyone?" by Dana Moos is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving or want to have friends and family from out-of-town over for a gathering, happy hour is the way to go! Why? It’s cheaper, more casual and less stressful - especially if you’re cooking Thanksgiving dinner, too. Follow this advice from The Kitchn for a happy Happy Hour!

1. Buy your appetizers.

The last thing you need is one more recipe to make! Pick up some shrimp and set it out with a quality cocktail sauce. Buy some nice pickles and ask a friend to set them out with good crackers. Keep it easy.

2. Ask someone else to bring the appetizer.

Or, instead of buying the appetizer at all, delegate your most prompt and on-time friend to get to your house a little early with a platter of something tasty.

3. Pitcher cocktails are the way to go!

If you want to go past beer and wine, then don't just set out a few bottles of booze. Make a pitcher cocktail the night before; no mixing, no shaking, and very festive!

Get a recipe: Perfect for Thanksgiving: 9 Fall Sangrias

4. Keep the appetizers very light.

Think crunchy and cold, not savory and hot. Think pickles, not cheese balls. Think shrimp, not hot dip. For our California Thanksgiving Outdoors we made some simple boards or relish trays with pickles, light chickpea dip with fresh vegetables for dipping, and some crackers. All very easy and pretty! Read some more of our readers' favorite Thanksgiving appetizers here:

Thanksgiving appetizers: What Are the Best Appetizers for Thanksgiving Day?

5. Designate a host to keep an eye on appetizers and drinks.

Last but not least, you shouldn't be refilling ice buckets or sangria pitchers while trying to make gravy. Designate your partner or a friend to play host and make sure everyone is having a good time with a glass topped off.

Plan a Budget-Friendly Weekend

"Piggy Bank on Top of a Pile of One Dollar Bills" by Ken Teegardin is licensed
under CC BY-SA 2.0

Maybe the pay at your job isn’t the greatest or you’re saving up for something special, but regardless of your current financial situation, we all have to cut back from time-to-time. Imagine a weekend where not only do you not spend money, but you also feel like you had a full, productive weekend, too. It is possible! Apartment Therapy offers these six tips for planning a zero-spend weekend.

1. Plan what the rules to a money-free weekend are for you

Some people go extreme — no spending money means not evening turning the air conditioning or lights on. Others just pledge to cut down on frivolous spending. Others really try not to swipe their credit card the whole weekend. You know your needs and your family needs — so make up the rules that might be a little challenging for you but still doable.

2. Tell your friends and family

Yes, telling friends and family about your money-free weekend plans can help keep you accountable, but it might also help take temptation off the table — they might not invite you to the newest brunch spot or be more open to joining you on a free activity to help you keep your goal.

3. Use the weekend to work on home

If you've taken our advice about making lists and buying supplies as you go...this might be a perfect time to work on an item that needs repair or a DIY project you've been wanting to tackle. But it's also a great time to clean, straighten up or tackle an organizing job that won't take any money spending to accomplish!

4. Cultivate your list of money-free activities

Free arts shows in your community. A visit to the local library. A walk around a park with a good podcast. There are a number of free things to do, and a great place to start is to consider your favorite hobbies — and how you can tackle them without spending a dime. Love cooking? Give yourself a challenge to create a meal out of only what you can find in your fridge and pantry. Love photography? Walking around and shooting interesting things is free. Make a list this weekend to keep on hand so you don't reinvent the wheel every time you want to not spend a dime.

5. Give yourself a reward or remember a financial goal

If spending is a challenge, promise yourself a reward at the end of this money-free experiment (might work best if the reward doesn't cost money, though). Or, write down a financial goal before you start you can refer back to it when you get the itch to buy something.

6. Give it a try before deciding it's not for you

Not spending a dime for an entire weekend might be too weird of a concept — or for some impossible. But if you can, give it a go. It might give you the distance to see any unhealthy buying habits you might have and make financial changes for the better!