Am I the Rick Steves of the DMV?
Issue 138, featuring an interview with Anna Adamian
Welcome to The Girl’s Guide! I’m glad you’re here! Every other Friday, I interview an interesting woman, share a little something about whatever topic pops into my head, and break down the latest news at the intersection of pop culture and politics. Read the most recent issue here if you missed it!
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Interview with Anna Adamian
Today’s interview is with Anna Adamian, who describes herself as a Carolina girl with a DC address! Anna is the communications director for the House Freedom Caucus. Follow her on X by clicking here.
What does your life look like right now?
I would say my life is definitely very full at the moment but in a good way — there’s certainly nothing I would take off my plate. Communications is a 24/7/365 job so my days start very early — always with prayer to God for guidance and then a deep dive into the morning news cycle. I make every effort to exercise before work but if we have early morning media interviews (which is often), I give myself grace and try to double up on the weekends.
I am very blessed with a fascinating job so my work day is a mixture of handling media inquiries, booking media interviews, rapidly responding to breaking news cycles, and framing the message for any upcoming legislative issue. Church is also a central part of my life. Being able to be in God’s presence before the start of a week and committing that week to Him is something I not only lean on but look forward to doing.
What's your favorite internship you've had and what did you learn?
My first internship/fellowship was a tremendous opportunity that set me up for success on Capitol Hill. I was honored to be selected as one of American Moment’s inaugural fellows and through that, they placed me at the Republican Study Committee under the Director of Coalitions at the time, Alexa Walker. She was a wonderful mentor and the perfect boss to learn from in my early days. I learned how important it is to go above and beyond on Capitol Hill, to work very hard, and to make sure that the quality of work produced is the absolute best version it could possibly be.
What's the biggest lesson you’ve learned about friendship over the years?
While it’s important to be kind and gracious to all, I’ve learned to choose wisely when it comes to your inner circle. DC can be a transactional city, so not everyone necessarily has your best interest at heart. To cultivate loyal friendship, I’ve learned to be an avid listener.
What’s a passion/hobby/interest you have that surprises people?
A personal hobby that definitely surprises people is my love of fashion. I don’t think most would know, but I enjoy walking on fashion runways in my spare time. DC actually has a thriving fashion community of designers, photographers, and style artists, and I’ve had so much fun getting acquainted with the Capitol Hill fashion scene.
Evie’s Travel Blog
All right, you got me. Today’s title is definitely clickbait ‘cuz there’s no way I’m the Rick Steves of the DMV. I’ve got way too many spots on my bucket list that I have yet to visit — in the DMV and beyond. (For those of you who are not located in the DC area, the DMV refers to the DC-Maryland-Virginia region, not the Department of Motor Vehicles.)
But maybe I’m on my way to being the Rick Steves of the DMV, because I just crossed another spot off my list. Last week, we vacationed in North Beach, Maryland, a little town an hour southeast of DC that’s known as the “jewel of the Chesapeake Bay.” If you have yet to make it to the beach this summer, then a few days in North Beach is a solid way to go. I have to give credit to my in-laws Kelly and Steve, who came to visit and booked a cabin in North Beach for the six of us to make the trip extra memorable.
We stayed in a cozy cabin just a few blocks from the water and North Beach’s downtown shops. We were just five minutes from a Mexican restaurant, souvenir shops, ice cream shops, and a coffee shop. Our Airbnb host provided us with free beach passes, which was an awesome plus (check out this site for beach fee information). If you’re looking for a quick getaway this summer or fall, here are my takeaways from our trip.
Pros
Calm bay waters: Okay, maybe this isn’t a plus if you’re a surfer, but there are virtually no waves on the beach, which makes it very kid-friendly. It was like playing in a giant bathtub (with horseshoe crabs)!
Walkable downtown: When you arrive in North Beach, you hit the residential part of town first. Then you hit a couple of blocks of storefronts and restaurants, and then the beach. It’s all very compact and walkable, even with little kids in tow.
Lots of kid-friendly activities: Two ice cream shops on the same block, a nature park, a public library — there are plenty of options for beating the heat in North Beach with the kiddos. There’s even a slide and swing set on the beach just for kids.
Cons
No grocery store in town: You’ll have to drive about 15-20 minutes for the nearest grocery store, which isn’t a big deal if you’re a good planner and stock up on your way to North Beach. I am not a good planner. But luckily there’s always DoorDash and Instacart.
Slow Mondays and Tuesdays: We beat the crowds by staying during the work week, but many of North Beach’s restaurants and stores don’t open on Mondays or Tuesdays.
The beach is small: The actual beach area is pretty small, so it can get crowded on weekends. We actually had the beach to ourselves for part of the morning on a weekday, however.
In conclusion, North Beach is a great little hidden gem not far from DC! Let me know if this inspires you to visit North Beach, and please share your favorite destinations in the DMV by using the button below!
The Haps
The Kiss Cam Seen Round the World
Kiss cams are meant to celebrate love with wholesome fun, right? WRONG! They exist to catch cheaters at concerts and ball games!! And that’s exactly what a kiss cam at a recent Coldplay concert did when a CEO and his HR director were caught cuddling and immediately freaked out — while thousands of concertgoers watched. The married tech CEO has a lot of explaining to do at home and in the office. Read the Page Six writeup by clicking here.
Rest in Peace, Connie Francis
I love listening to music from the 1950s and 1960s when I’m in the kitchen with my kids, so that means that Connie Francis is definitely on our playlist. Francis was one of the top solo female acts of her day, and for good reason. If you’ve never listened to “Where the Boys Are” or “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” give them a listen now. The singer passed away Thursday at the age of 87. Read more from People by clicking here.
Here are more links to what I’m reading lately:
Wineberry July (Long Road Home): Drought has decimated all the wineberry bushes in my yard, so I enjoyed reading about
’s berry picking adventures instead. Maybe I’ll collect enough berries to make jam next year.Are Teen Summer Jobs Obsolete? (Commonplace): “Summer employment for teenagers is a tradition worth preserving” — and it’s uniquely American, writes Helen Andrews.
When Feminism On Film Works (Bad Trad Mom): It’s time for film school taught by
.Maslow for the Modern Workplace (Substack): We’d all be better employers and employees if we read this piece by
.
Ask Evie
Have a question you want me to answer in the newsletter? Click this link to send your question anonymously, or use the button below! You can read my most recent Ask Evie column, about friendships and political differences, by clicking here.
I love when Anna said, "Being able to be in God’s presence before the start of a week and committing that week to Him is something I not only lean on but look forward to doing." That's so well put! Wonderful interview and article, Evie! 🤍