The Girl's Guide to DC
Issue 22: The Girl's Guide to Fall in DC
Welcome back! If you missed my last issue, find it here.
I want this newsletter to be about you, the ladies of DC, so send me your feedback (and bad date stories) by replying to this email.
The Girl’s Guide to Fall in DC
Fall in DC might be the most enjoyable but shortest-lived time of the year. Make the most of it with this rapid-fire list of the best fall activities and places to visit in the DMV area!
Take a hike
Demri Scott recommends hitting the trails when the leaves start to change colors: “GREAT FALLS is a good close hike… CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN in Maryland is also a good hike for when the leaves change! It’s a hidden gem.”
Don’t forget about SKYLINE DRIVE, the scenic highway running through Shenandoah National Park. Ellen Dunlavey says her favorite fall activity is to “drive, blast some tunes, and enjoy all the beautiful foliage.”
If you’re in DC or Maryland, Olivia Johnson recommends strolling through ROCK CREEK PARK. The stretch in Woodley Park is particularly scenic!
Pumpkin spice and everything nice
Nothing says fall like apple or pumpkin picking. Sophia Paulose recommends BUTLER’S ORCHARD in Germantown, Maryland, where apple and pumpkin picking starts on Sept. 25. Abigail Salomon recommends pumpkin picking at WEGMEYER FARMS in Hamilton, Virginia — click here to make a reservation.
Katie Johnson says she highly recommends COX FARMS in Centreville, Virginia, for their pumpkin patch, animals, corn maze, hayride and apple cider doughnuts! Separately, Katie recommends Old Town Alexandria GHOST TOURS: “The guides dress up and really get into it!”
Vineyards and more
Krista Mitchell has one word to describe the perfect fall activity: “Vineyards!! It’s the perfect time to show off your fall boots and dresses.” She recommends BLUEMONT VINEYARD in Bluemont, Virginia: “It is on this gorgeous hillside where you can see so far. They have incredible wine as well, I recommend the Sauvignon Blanc and Viognier.”
Mary Margaret Olohan shares her favorite winery is “STONE TOWER at sunset because the view is perfection.” Catherine Francois recommends PARADISE SPRINGS WINERY in Clifton, Virginia, and THE WINERY AT BULL RUN in Centreville, Virginia. She says: “I love the history at Bull Run and the outdoor setting. It’s always the most refreshing thing to drive way out of the city and hang out at a winery all day on a Saturday. I think it’s good for the soul.”
Interview with Mary Rose Corkery
Mary Rose Corkery arrived in DC last year after graduating from the University of Dallas! Connect with her on Twitter and Instagram.
What do you love about your neighborhood?
I grew up an hour south of Boston as one of six kids. Now I can see Catholic University from my apartment, so my area is like a suburb in the city. Things are easily accessible, but it’s not stuffy or cramped. It’s also surrounded by young people, a great place for walks and runs.
What’s your favorite restaurant in DC?
I’m still exploring DC since I moved during COVID last year. TTT is one of my favorite restaurants. It’s a fun rooftop where you can dress up and have a girls night out. Whenever I want some quality fries and a good Old Fashioned though, Ireland’s Four Courts comes to mind!
I also love Rasika! It has the best Indian food ever. If you go, I highly recommend the Murg Tariwala, chicken curry that's a little spicy, but totally worth it. They have a great array of appetizers, a great drink menu, and it's very aesthetically pleasing.
What’s your favorite way to unwind?
One of my favorite things to do is dance, I’m happiest dancing and singing (probably very off-key) with my friends. When I was in college, my friends and I went to rodeo dance bars, where we could switch from jamming to an upbeat tune to swing dancing to Jon Pardi’s “Heartache on the Dance Floor.” I also know a little Irish step and learned Greek dancing when I visited Greece with my college!
What’s your post-quarantine beauty routine like?
In terms of makeup, I love a good wine-colored lipstick, eyeliner and a brown-gold smokey eye! I also swear by Olaplex for my hair and don’t like blowdrying it.
How would you describe your style?
I tend to think I dress elegant with some spice. I’m very big into accessories, such as statement earrings, and I normally wear a pair of heels since I’m petite. I love fun necklines and sleeves: in the summer I tend to wear florals and in the winter I tend to like wine color and a good Audrey Hepburn-style turtleneck! Red, white and black are my staple colors.
Lately, Lulus has lately been my go-to. Their earrings are fun and they have great dresses.
The Haps
Kacey Musgraves Drops “Breadwinner” Video
Singer Kacey Musgraves released her new album “star-crossed” (and an accompanying short film) earlier in September. Fans were quick to notice one of the most popular tracks, “breadwinner,” isn’t featured in the short film.
Musgraves righted that wrong on Monday by dropping a behind-the-scenes music video for “breadwinner,” which I found more enjoyable than her highly stylized 50-minute film “star-crossed,” available on Paramount+.
In “star-crossed,” Musgraves is a jilted Juliet with Romeo nowhere in sight. Her latest work chronicles her divorce from fellow musician Ruston Kelly, and the short film’s visuals are anything but subtle. Musgraves and her girl gang demolish a wedding dress shop and loiter at the exit of a wedding chapel. Musgraves is even broken into pieces like a mannequin and put back together.
It’s hard not to compare “star-crossed” to Lana Del Rey’s 2013 short film “Tropico.” Both films are essentially strung-together music videos divided into three parts. “Tropico” is more concise and sticks to its biblical-mixed-with-Los Angeles imagery. “Star-crossed,” on the other hand, packs in references to Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo + Juliet,” David Lynch’s “Mulholland Drive,” and Quentin Tarantino’s “Kill Bill.”
Read more about how to watch “star-crossed” by clicking here.
Here are more links to what I’m reading and listening to:
Listen to Audrey Conklin’s appearance on “Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” this week. Audrey has been in Wyoming covering the Gabby Petito case. Find her most recent coverage of the case here.
Theresa Olohan published this piece in USA Today: “My parents have 11 children. Here's why I'm grateful to be part of a big family.” Connect with Theresa on Twitter here.
Ask Evie
Have a question you want me to answer in the newsletter? Click this link to send your question anonymously!
I can’t promise to have all the answers, but I will consult with the experts, a.k.a. the plotlines of my favorite 2000s romcoms.
Reader’s Corner
Reader Gabriella Hoffman is doing Hat Girl Fall right! If you want to copy her look, you may have to go West — all the way to The Cowboy Palace in Cody, Wyoming!
Before You Go…
I’m going to be on hiatus next week… because I’ll be on my honeymoon! Send your best wedding and marriage tips my way by replying to this email.
Got feedback? Email me at girlygirlsguidetodc@gmail.com.