The Girl's Guide to DC

Issue 17: What's Girl's Guide to DC for $200, Alex?

Aug 19, 2021

Welcome back! If you missed my last issue, find it here.

I want this newsletter to be about you, the ladies of DC, so tell me who you think has the best style in DC by replying to this email.

Ask Evie

I’m excited to share my first “Ask Evie” column. Submit your question anonymously via this form.

I’m struggling with knowing how to have fun without getting too carried away. When it comes to drinking, I notice some people are using alcohol to signal how sophisticated they are, or they party like they’re still in college. Is there such a thing as a middle ground? I feel like this focus on partying also plays into my feeling that a lot of guys I meet are immature. -Exasperated Extrovert

Dear Exasperated Extrovert,

There’s a lot to unpack in this question. DC is a work-hard-play-hard kind of place, full of twenty-somethings working stressful jobs and looking for ways to unwind. It can feel like you’re the only one who doesn’t enjoy a loud, crowded bar at 11 p.m. on a Friday night, but let me assure you, you’re not alone.

Starting when we’re teens, media definitely paints the picture that our twenties are for hard partying, at college and beyond. Take the original “Gossip Girl” series, for example -- golden girl Serena parties hard but always emerges from difficult situations unscathed, while bossy Blair avoids getting tipsy and is painted as uptight. We all know which one we’d rather be, right?

Serena Van Der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf of “Gossip Girl.”

But as we get older, we realize that we don’t have to fit the mold of some TV show to make friends and have fun. When it comes to social drinking situations, I have always preferred hanging with a group of friends at home over dancing at a club.

Unfortunately, Americans are known for having a rocky relationship with alcohol compared with citizens of other countries. If you want to learn more, check out Kate Julian’s essay “America Has a Drinking Problem.”

Julian profiles author Edward Slingerland, who studies how modern and premodern societies relate to alcohol. His thesis? Drinking is a shortcut to social bonding but by no means the only instrument of social bonding.

Julian writes: “As to how alcohol assists with [making friends], Slingerland focuses mostly on its suppression of prefrontal-cortex activity, and how resulting disinhibition may allow us to reach a more playful, trusting, childlike state. Other important social benefits may derive from endorphins, which have a key role in social bonding. Like many things that bring humans together — laughter, dancing, singing, storytelling, sex, religious rituals — drinking triggers their release.”

With that knowledge, I encourage you to take charge of your social life and find people who enjoy doing the same things you do. Not super interested in day drinking White Claws? Find friends who want to go on a Saturday hike. Not intrigued by the thought of being surrounded by strangers in a bar? Gather friends at your apartment to try a new recipe, and maybe enjoy a bottle of Trader Joe’s wine.

True friends will never pressure you to drink, or make you feel like the weird one for avoiding situations where people drink to excess. One of my pet peeves is when people single out the person at a party who’s not drinking. You never know whether someone has struggled with addiction, has a family member who’s struggled with addiction, or can’t drink because of health issues.

And now for the other part of your question, alcohol and dating. In case you were wondering, WalletHub rates DC as the 60th best major city for singles… behind cities including Cedar Rapids, IA, Springfield, MO, and Rochester, NY. Ouch!

Your twenties can be a confusing time to date because some people are still embracing their adolescence, while others want to settle down. Especially in DC, many young men prioritize career over relationships.

Instead of becoming jaded, I encourage you to cultivate the habits and attributes you want in a partner. If you want a guy who volunteers at a soup kitchen, you probably have to go volunteer at the soup kitchen to find him! Keep an open mind and be open to new experiences, and you never know when you’ll meet someone.

Interview with Brianna Weck

Meet Brianna Weck, an Arlington resident who appeared on Jeopardy! last week. She was on her school’s quiz bowl team growing up and loved watching the classic game show — so she applied!

Connect with Brianna on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter.

Brianna Weck opted for a green dress from Aritzia on *Jeopardy!* show #8463.

What was the Jeopardy! audition process like?

It was actually a pretty long process. I first applied to be on the show in 2018.

After doing that, I was called for an in-person audition. That was in June 2018. They keep your contestant file for around 18 months. If they don’t call you, you have to reapply to be back on the show.

Eighteen months was just about ending, and I was like, I’ll have to audition again, not a big deal. Then I get a call back in February 2020 wanting me to film in March 2020.

I was so excited to fly out. My taping date was in the middle of March, so the studio shut down. If I had been a week earlier, I would have been on one of the last few taping dates before the world shut down.

They said we’ll give you a call when we open back up in a month — it ended up being a year and a half. We filmed in May of 2021.

Brianna fulfilled a lifelong dream by going on *Jeopardy!*

You were runner-up to long-running champion Matt Amodio. What was it like playing against him?

I didn’t necessarily give Matt a run for his money, but I definitely was able to hold my own. They film five episodes in one day, so I was able to watch him play the first two games in the morning. I’m very glad I didn’t go first because those people had such a hard time against him.

I knew quite a few answers but wasn’t able to answer buzz in first. The problem with Matt is you really are trying to beat him on the buzzer. He might not have the answer on the tip of his tongue before he buzzes in. He definitely has a pretty killer strategy.

What are your tips for aspiring Jeopardy! players?

I’m really big on pop culture. I do like history a little bit and literature. I was actually surprised with the math category. With math, the way the questions were written I ended up knowing more than I thought I did. I think that’s a strategy for yourself. If there’s a category think you know nothing about, don’t count yourself out.

I think per capita the DMV region has one of the highest amount of Jeopardy! contestants. It’s kind of funny and says a lot about the DC-Maryland-Virginia area.

I recommend trying to go on… It’s a super cool experience be on the show.

When you get to the audition, they assume you know a lot of stuff. One thing that sets you apart is being very friendly. You don’t have to be outgoing if you’re not outgoing. Be yourself. They’re looking for people who are friendly and make for good television.

What do you love about your neighborhood?

I lived over in Cathedral Heights by American University for probably around five or so years. Now I’ve since moved with my partner. He and I moved over to Arlington, which we’re really enjoying.

I went to American University, so going to school at American, kids stick around DC. There’s a mindset of you gotta live in the city, and then there’s a slow but steady exodus to Virginia.

What are your favorite eateries in DC?

The LINE Hotel in Adams Morgan is one of my favorites for dinner as well as coffee and tea. Other places I love to eat at are Thip Khao and Bombay Street Food. I’m also a Bethesda Bagels fan over Call Your Mother, which I know is a controversial take.

What’s your philosophy on beauty/skincare?

I’m not good with consistency, so the thing with me is all of the stuff has to be pretty simple. I do use The Ordinary products a little bit. I have the glycolic toner. I used to have really bad eczema so I try to keep everything really simple — I’ve been using Cetaphil for 10 years for facewash and moisturizer.

I use Pond’s — the same cream my mom used. That’s why I got into it. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it!

How would you describe your style?

I used to work at a secondhand clothing store the entire time I was in college. I do really enjoy thrifting. I generally buy most of my stuff secondhand.

I try to wear dresses a lot. That keeps in line with my “simple” thing. You put on a really dramatic dress and people think you put a lot of effort into this style, and you’re like no, I’m wearing one item. I threw it on my head and it’s done.

I also I really like patterns… All my bottoms are patterned. I like doing a simple top and a pair of patterned bottoms. It looks dynamic… in reality it’s really simple.

This interview was condensed for length and clarity.

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The Haps

Iliza Shlesinger Is Expecting

Comedian Iliza Shlesinger and her husband Noah Galuten announced this week they are expecting a baby girl. I’m so glad that Shlesinger, who is known for a bit about her love of chubby baby legs, will no longer have to ask moms in airports to let her squeeze their babies’ legs.

Read about how Shlesinger broke the news during a stand-up set. Reminder that she’s coming to DC in November — I already have my ticket!

Chef Noah Galuten and comedian Iliza Shlesinger are expecting their first child.

YikYak Yikes!

YikYak is back, and if that phrase didn’t send a shiver down your spine, you weren’t a college student in the 2010s. The anonymous social media site, allowing users to interact with others on their campus, shut down in 2017. Now YikYak will be available for a whole new generation of students, and the platform promises to prevent bullying and other misbehavior (read The Verge’s story).

Here are more links to what I’m reading these days (aka The Washingtonian):