Alex: I moved to DC this past July for a job at the World Resources Institute (an environmental think tank-meets-NGO) after finishing my master’s degree at Duke. Even though DC is the go-to place for all things policy, I actually never imagined I would move here until I was in grad school. I’m a native Seattleite and had always lived on the West Coast. But after almost 6 months in my new home, I’m loving the city and glad I made the leap!
Alex: It would probably start with a bagel. I know this is no NYC, but I finally made it to Call Your Mother this past weekend and I can’t stop thinking about it. Later, I’d work off the bagel with some tennis. The afternoon would be spent jamming with friends on guitar and/or saxophone–my two musical pursuits. Then we’d get Ethiopian food for dinner (I love how much Ethiopian food DC has!). The night would end by biking around the monuments. I did that on my first visit to DC five years ago. There’s really nothing like pedaling from the Capitol to Lincoln with no one else around.
Alex: There’s a lot that I enjoy. Fresh air, beautiful scenic views, trails to stretch your legs on, a break from the sounds of the city. But my absolute favorite thing is watching wildlife. I’m kind of an animal nut.
Alex: My music. It’d be nice to be recognized professionally for my work, too, but having people know my music sounds way cooler.
Alex: Possibly hiking the John Muir Trail in California. The Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier would be a close second. Hiking backcountry in Yellowstone or the Tetons would also be up there. The funny thing about bucket lists is the more things you check off, the longer they seem to get.
Alex: Speaking of Call Your Mother… they also might have the perfect latke. Crispy, flavorful, steaming hot inside. I also like to make my own latkes. The secret is to serve the latkes with homemade applesauce. Applesauce is the easiest thing in the world to make, and tastes way better than the store-bought variety. Plus, it never fails to impress.
Alex: There will be bagels–and hopefully latkes, too!
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