New Years Resolutions for Capitol Hill Living

Originally uploaded to Flickr by KoalazMonkey

It’s January 8th and I’m just getting around to thinking about resolutions. Well, I did just mail the last of the holiday cards. As a long-time Hill resident, I’ve decided to make this the year to stop putting off getting to know unknown (to me) facets of life on the Hill.  Far too often I find myself thinking “I’ve been meaning to….” — this is the year to remedy that. If you have any suggestions to add to the list, please share them.

1. Get on the waiting list to reinstate my membership in the Canine Corps at Congressional Cemetery. I think there’s a new rescue dog in my future and there’s nothing quite so lovely as the combo of the cherry trees in the spring and blissed-out dogs.

2. Take advantage of the great concerts at the Library of Congress.Where else could you see an “inimitable pianist and master pedagogue” perform for free?

3. Join my neighborhood fleet feeters in the Capitol Hill Classic, traditionally held the third Sunday in May. I *think* it will be run May 16, but haven’t found online confirmation yet.

4. Finally see the Friday night Evening Parade at the Marine Barracks.

5. Stop taking the great food treasures in the South Hall of Eastern Market for granted. Make meals from Canales handmade  sausages and fresh ravioli at Eastern Market Grocery, and get real advice about cuts of meat from the butchers from Union Meat Company.

6. Indulge my inner band geek and see the Eastern High School Band perform; if they’re good enough for the Pro Bowl, they’re definitely worth a listen.

7. Expand my H Street experience beyond Granville Moore’s mussels and frites and Cru D’Or Belgian-style ale at Argonaut, and check out karaoke at StickyRice and bluegrass nights SOVA.

8. Take a free ballroom dance class at Ebenezers.

9. Attend my local ANC6-B meetings. Low attendance at these meetings means the voice of the minority often wields great power. And who could pass up an agenda like this? The first meeting of the year is Tuesday night.

10. Get an earful of the best of contemporary American writing. The Pen/Faulkner reading series at the Folger Shakespeare Library is filled with talented writers and poets. New Yorker contributor Susan Orleans and authors Isabella Allende and Walter Mosely are on the schedule this winter.

That will keep me busy — I think it’s time to check out Sharee’s SMART style resolution tracking!

Do you have your own neighborhood resolutions? Are there things you’d recommend to add to the list?