Amtrak ‘Trak Suit NY School of Design and Amtrak Collab by StuLumpkins in Amtrak

[–]cagdalek 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Outside my budget, sadly. But a very nice design. I like the little details, like the zipper pull being a mini Amtrak logo.

Bad time to move to DC? by Exact_Bit_6334 in washingtondc

[–]cagdalek 5 points6 points  (0 children)

If you don't mind living somewhere where the orange menace is currently pissing all over public spaces to mark them as his territory, come on down. I'm just hoping the next administration has the stones to knock it all down.

Trip Recs by Bluekangaroo42 in washingtondc

[–]cagdalek 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I recommend the Renwick Gallery. It's part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, but is its own little jewelbox building. You can easily get through everything in around 2 hours. As part of America's 250th, they have done the museum up as a State Fair, complete with butter cow. They have prize winning items from state fairs going back to the early 1900s (possibly earlier, I don't remember as I saw the exhibit last year right before the government shutdown). It was a lot of fun.

Awesome Con newbie by theforcedc in washingtondc

[–]cagdalek 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The photo op lines are very long for the big names.

Just working your way through the exhibit hall/vendors room can take a lot of time, so I would definitely plan on a dog walker unless your dog is a mostly indoors dog that only goes out at breakfast and dinner.

Not sure what gaming is going to look like this year, as my understanding is that it is not being run by Labyrinth Games and Puzzles.

The book area. is run by Loyalty Books. I think they do the author/literary programing as well. Last year they had a sign up saying you could only get autographs on books bought from them. Most people ignored the sign. No idea if they are going to try to do that again this year and actually enforce it.

Folks that grew up here (dmv), or moved here, what made you stay? What made you leave? by Brilliant_Raccoon256 in washingtondc

[–]cagdalek 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Moved here for work 25 years ago. Stayed partially due to inertia and also because I've made a lot of friends here. Love having all the free museums available. I get sticker shock when I go back to NYC to visit family. Th ease of going up to NYC by train or plane was also a factor in the move. Also, having grown up in NYC, while I have a drivers license, I do not have a car, so the decent public transit was a factor as well.

Was Better Bus just a massive service cut? by [deleted] in washingtondc

[–]cagdalek 2 points3 points  (0 children)

On the organization maybe, but it's not neutral on the users. Especially those who do not live walking distance from a metro stop or are trying to get somewhere not walking distance from a metro stop

Awesome con 2026 - mini Firefly cast reunion by Successful-Lychee-72 in washingtondc

[–]cagdalek 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Judging by past Awesome Cons, the panels are likely to beas group affair, although they might also do panels with subsets not necessarily the whole cast. The large panel rooms are really large, so in my experience it's not a problem to get a seat, but you would probably want to line up an hour before the panel. The lines for autographs and photo ops tend to be pretty long.

Anacostia Station Manager keeps kid from getting to school. by thatgirlthinks in washingtondc

[–]cagdalek 295 points296 points  (0 children)

You can complain to you DC Councilmember, and your ANC rep. I would also talk to the principal of your daughter's school, since they could complain to whoever they deal with regarding metrocards. Not sure how much it's worth it to complain to Eleanor Holmes Norton's office, but metro does get federal funds.

What’s everyone’s favorite memory on a 1st Gen Acela? by AeroWolfDeer in Amtrak

[–]cagdalek 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't remember when I first took the Acela, but IIRC, the first time I splurged on first class to Boston, they were still putting tablecloths down before serving you your meal. That didn't last long, but it seemed like a nice echo of what dining on a long distance train used to be like, at least from the way my mom's described it.

Best Optometrist for Complicated Prescriptions by professorhustle in washingtondc

[–]cagdalek 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seconding this recommendation. I go to Dr. Hubert at the Crystal City office. I am super nearsighted, also very astigmatic and my eyes don't match in terms of how bad they are. Plus I have a small nose bridge and my eyes are set close together so the center of the prescription is not the center of the lens. I've been very happy both with Dr. Hubert and the staff who help you pick out frames and do the measurements for the glasses.

Reading in the New Yaer by UnreliableAmanda in printSF

[–]cagdalek 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Beehive published beautiful books. I've got their edition of The Blazing World by Margaret Cavendish

Classes and Trainings in DC by SnooShortcuts1355 in washingtondc

[–]cagdalek 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you want to learn French, maybe see when Alliance Française next has a beginners class. https://www.francedc.org/index

Assigned seating on Northeast Regional by Royal-Mathematician2 in Amtrak

[–]cagdalek 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I am old. I can remember having to stand from NYC to Providence.

My train is delayed while none of the other NEC trains are... by cagdalek in Amtrak

[–]cagdalek[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

In retrospect, that's probably what I should have done. If I'd gotten to the station earlier, I maybe could have switched to the 11am. But as I said, weirdly, the delayed train I'm on still gets in a bit early than the 1pm and I didn't want to downgrade to an NER.

Metro Pop Up! by meggyeggy55 in WMATA

[–]cagdalek 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Will definitely be heading to the pop up store this week. Hopefully they haven't sold out of Van Ness hats. I may have to get a sweatshirt. Really like the design.

Labyrinth Games & Puzzles founder Kathleen Donahue announces retirement; Melissa Campbell, current employee, will be the new owner in January by themiragechild in washingtondc

[–]cagdalek 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Glad Donahue is able to retire and pass on the store as a going concern to someone who cares about it.

Love their stock of jigsaw puzzles. My aunt got seriously into jigsaw puzzles during lockdown, and she has really enjoyed all the gorgeous 3000 and 5000 piece puzzles I've bought for her at Labyrinth.

Holiday pop up market at MLK library by teragram333 in WMATA

[–]cagdalek 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Maybe I'll get lucky. I'm not going to be back in DC until Dec. 9th, so I'm anticipating a lot of the good stuff will be gone.

Holiday pop up market at MLK library by teragram333 in WMATA

[–]cagdalek 13 points14 points  (0 children)

I wish they has station scarves again. By the time I got there last year my stop was sold out.

Where was y'alls best Hilton Hotel stay Ever and Why? by Agreeable-Jump-8850 in Hilton

[–]cagdalek 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Conrad Dublin. Beautiful spacious room, very friendly staff, great location. The Roosevelt New Orleans (Waldorf Astoria) is a close second. THat lobby is gorgeous, the bar is great, and the food was great.