The Girl's Guide to DC
Issue 60: Heard It Through the Grapevine
Hello and happy Thursday! I’m writing to you from my new home in [REDACTED]. Nick and I just bought our first house — and while we’re now in the far reaches of the DC region, we’ll still be spending time in the city.
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What They Don’t Tell You
Women are often told to beware gossip when they get to DC — and while this is good advice, it’s also pretty vague. Sometimes it can feel like receiving gossip (even if you don’t repeat it) is unavoidable. You’ll often hear others’ opinions on someone before you ever meet the person.
And let’s be honest — in a town like DC, having the latest gossip is like having a couple tickets to a Caps game in your pocket. Suddenly, everyone wants what you have. It feels good.
Unless you start plugging your ears and chanting “LA LA LA” when someone starts spilling tea, gossip will be part of your DC experience. You’ll hear things about people that you definitely don’t need to know, but there is a way to make sure you don’t fall under the spell of a gossipy person and start believing every negative thing they say about everyone.
Over the years, I’ve realized that smack talk about others tends to come in two forms: adjectives and actions. Adjectives are extremely subjective — “She’s stuck up” or “He’s weird.” Those claims could be true, or they could just be one person’s opinion. Gathering information about people from other people is only human — sometimes it saves us time or heartache.
But relying on mere adjectives from the first person you talk to can be a slippery slope. You can’t let Coworker 1’s low opinion of Coworker 2 prevent you from getting to know Coworker 2. Coworker 1 may be right… or they may still be mad that Coworker 2 forgot their white elephant gift at last year’s Christmas party.
But what about when someone tells you about a specific action that someone did? Sure, the goody two-shoes in you wants to say “no gossip!” but you need to know these things, right?
Most of the time, the gossip you hear has no bearing on your life. You don’t really need to know that your friend’s friend broke up with her boyfriend four years ago or that your two coworkers had a big fight last Fourth of July. But occasionally, you will find out that someone in your orbit did something seriously messed up that could affect the way you relate to them. You’ll want to verify that the information you received is accurate, and then react accordingly.
Situations like that are few and far between. Maybe it’s the journalist in me, but my M.O. when I hear a hot piece of “action” gossip is to assume that I’m only getting one side of the story. I’ve made the mistake of writing someone off because of another person’s petty grievances. You can avoid this vicious cycle by being slow to assume the worst about people — and remember that you want people to give you a chance no matter what they hear about you.
Interview with Ann Clare Levy
This week, I’m excited to introduce you to Ann Clare Levy, who might be one of the busiest women in DC! Connect with Ann Clare on Twitter and Instagram.
What do you love about your neighborhood?
I've lived in Old Town Alexandria for the past three years, and I don't plan on ever leaving. Even though it's right across the river from DC, it feels like a small town plucked out of a Hallmark movie. I love going for runs past the townhouses or walking along the river to King Street. Heck, walking to the metro is even a treat! But my favorite part is the Catholic community in the neighborhood. I'm within walking distance of two Churches and about a dozen friends. It's made Old Town into a real home.
What does your life look like right now?
Busy is the understatement of the year, but in the best way. I'm the social media manager at the March for Life, so my days are filled with building marketing campaigns, researching pro-life legislation, and preparing for our first March for Life in a post-Roe America! Outside of work, I keep myself equally active — hosting a weekly Bible study with some of the greatest girls I know and binge-watching Only Murders in the Building with my roommates. I also spend an unhealthy amount of time on social media, but with good intentions — running the DC Catholic Professionals social accounts, consulting for some pregnancy centers and this really cute Catholic toy company called Jesus and Me (JAM).
What’s your favorite DC landmark?
This might be super cliche, but I love the DC monuments, especially Lincoln and Jefferson. I have so many memories of dancing and singing around the Lincoln Memorial at midnight and picnics by Jefferson during cherry blossom season. Ladies, if you are looking for a hidden date spot, lay out a blanket on the backside of Lincoln. No one is ever there and the view of the Potomac is stunning.
What would your perfect girl's night with friends in DC look like?
I've had this one planned since before Covid. I would make my Girls' Night into a whole day affair. We would start in Georgetown for brunch and window shopping interspersed with frequent coffee breaks. Then we would walk the neighborhood and pick out our dream townhouses. Come golden hour, we would hop on the ferry for sunset pics and a ride to Old Town where we would do dinner, drinks, and karaoke. Finally, we'd walk to my place for a bonfire and s'mores.
What’s one book you think every woman should read?
Every young woman should have a copy of Theology of the Home by Carrie Gress. Not only is it beautiful coffee table decor, but it illustrates the importance of homemaking. DC is a transient city, often making it hard to feel connected to anything. Theology of the Home is filled with honest advice on how we can overcome these feelings and find rooting in both our homes and faith.
What's the biggest lesson you've learned over the course of your career?
Form friendships not networks. Relationships, both personal and professional, in DC can often feel hollow because so many are based on what we can get from the other. But you can be the one to break the DC mold! Go for coffee with a colleague and get to know them beyond the cubicle. Send your friend a job opening she's perfect for because you're genuinely happy for her growth and successes. Say good morning to your office building's concierge and ask her how her weekend was. Not only have these deeper relationships made my workdays feel more meaningful, but the best advice and opportunities I've received have come through these friendships.
The Haps
Help Rebuild Ireland’s Four Courts
There are still a lot of unknowns surrounding the car crash that started a fire at Ireland Four Courts and injured 15 people last week, ARLnow.com reports. If you’ve spent any time in the Court House area, chances are you’ve grabbed a beer at this classic Irish pub and gotten to know their lovely staff. Ireland’s Four Courts has already passed its GoFundMe goals to support employees and help rebuild after the crash — there will be an additional fundraiser organized by Samuel Beckett’s Irish Gastro Pub on Sept. 15.
The Lipstick Index Is Back
If you want to get me to pay attention to something econ-related, name it after makeup. Apparently lipstick and lip gloss sales are on the upswing, which may indicate that we’re headed for a recession — it’s widely believed that during economic downturns, women spend money on little luxuries like lipstick or nail polish, Insider reports. Umm, I just bought a new shade of L’Oreal lipstick at Target — does this mean the next Great Depression is coming??
Here are a few links to other things I’ve been reading this week:
Politics & Presentation: An Interview With Beverly Hallberg: Emily Cope, who is no stranger to DC, interviews my lovely boss Bev Hallberg about her tips for college students.
If You're A Type-A Woman, Then You Need A Man Who Meets These Requirements: I love an article that focuses on green flags instead of red flags! I think this list was written for the women of DC.
Ask Evie
Have a question you want me to answer in the newsletter? Click this link to send your question anonymously! You can read my most recent Ask Evie column on friendship by clicking here.
