THE SCOUT IS OUT! ✨
One of the best things that happened to me last year was meeting @denizati !!! From the moment we met, I knew we were going to create so many magical things together. She definitely is my fairy godmother 🌟✨
Being part of @tsgwashingtondc feels so special. I remember seeing @thescoutguide everywhere and now being featured alongside some of the most incredible people in the DC area feels like such a full-circle moment. The fact that this all happened because I took a chance on myself and started this amazing community over two years ago makes it even more meaningful!
So proud of Deniz, @mollyferrante and the entire @tsgwashingtondc team! I’m so grateful to work closely with you every single day (literally lol)
It only goes up from here and I cannot wait to explore all the possibilities ahead.
And of course… my gorgeous photo where it all started @solidstatedc by my favorite @sophiemacphoto 👑
Your after-work anti doomscrolling era in DC starts now.
If you’ve been defaulting to the couch after 5pm, this one’s for you. I rounded up the best things to do in DC that are actually doable on a weeknight.
We’re talking:
outdoor markets open past 6
classes to learn the thing you said you’ve always wanted to learn and 🏛️ museums open until 7 (and exactly where to walk after) plus🍸 happy hours you’ll actually make it to
Save this for the next time someone asks “what should we do tonight?” or honestly, just for yourself
DC girlie, your city is so good. We just have to actually use it.
things to do in dc after work · dc happy hour guide · what to do in dc in your 30s · dc local guide · washington dc things to do · dc restaurants to try · living in washington dc
✨Independent Bookstore Feature✨
I’m excited to share another independent bookstore feature today! For my May independent bookstore visit, I decided to spend part of my birthday weekend visiting a new-to-me bookstore in DC! I am lucky to live in an area that has an incredible number of independent bookstores, and in DC alone I was overwhelmed with options. I ended up landing on @solidstatedc , and I’m so happy I visited because it was such an amazing bookstore!
Solid State Books is a Black-owned bookstore located conveniently in downtown Washington, DC just a 10 minute walk from Union Station. I was amazed at the size of this city bookstore and the incredible selection of books. The left side of the store features a massive fiction section that I could’ve spent hours browsing. In the back, there’s a charming children’s section, and to the right there’s a large nonfiction selection, too. They even have a cafe that serves caffeinated beverages, wine, and beer in case you need a little pick-me-up while you browse the shelves! As an added bonus, Solid State is just a 15 minute walk from Union Market - so if you’re stopping by near lunchtime, you can easily walk to Union Market to grab a quick bite afterward.
Swipe through the slides above to learn more about this bookstore, including how they describe themselves on their website (slide 3). And be sure to stop by Solid State Books the next tome you find yourself in DC!
I hope you’ll join me in striving to support more independent bookstores in 2026! We can’t do everything, but we can do something, and giving money to a locally owned business instead of a big box store is an easy way to make a difference.
I’d love to hear in the comments - tell me about the last independent bookstore you visited!
We are giving away 3 donated tickets to this special event happening next Friday at @solidstatedc ! Friend of SPARTA Pride, author Dr. Rhea Debussy, will be doing a Q&A with our very own Program Director Cathy Marcello.
Want free tix? The first to email [email protected] get them! Whether you score the free tickets or not, we hope you’ll still join us! Dr. Debussy is a wealth of knowledge about LGBTQ+ military history, and we can’t wait to hear some of her stories and insight.
#dcevents #militaryhistory #militarybooks #lgbtqhistory #transmilitary
Announcing my final Read & Run on the Road before a summer hiatus, and I couldn’t be more excited it’s based on Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino!!!
Whether you’re a perpetual renter like me or have already gone through the dreaded house-buying process, you’ll be able to relate (only to a certain extent, I hope! 🔪) to the book’s protagonist Margot—who stops at nothing for the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood (and the perfect life??).
Paraphrasing Marisa, this book is a psychological unraveling, satirical, and truly absurd. You won’t be able to put it down.
Join me Sunday, June 14 at 9 a.m. for a run through Margot’s life in DC before she flees to Bethesda, MD. After the run author @marisakashino will join us for a discussion @solidstatedc (14th Street)
Space is limited and library copies are in high demand (great excuse to support your fav bookstore)—so don’t delay! Register using link in bio.
things happening in dc today (may 12) ↓
@profsandpints — “Nightmares & Creativity”
A talk on why nightmares happen, how creativity works, and the weird overlap between the two.
@wundergartendc — Trivia Night
Classic trivia night at Wunder Garten. Good for groups or just meeting people.
@codereddc — $1 Oysters
Cheap oysters + drinks. Hard to complain.
@redderby — Bingo Night
One of those “this sounds random but ends up being fun” kinds of nights.
@montenegrocomedy — “Sinfully Funny” Stand-Up
Live comedy show tonight featuring local comics.
@hotbedcomedy — New Material Comedy Show
Comics testing unreleased sets. Usually more chaotic/funny than polished shows.
@ladymadisondc — “La Vie En Jazz”
Jazz night with a really good atmosphere.
@solidstatedc — Craft Club
Lowkey creative night to make stuff and meet people.
join the DISCO waitlist to discover things happening in dc — and see who’s actually going.
sometimes the best reset is just a cup of tea, a book, and a quiet moment to yourself ☕️📖✨
pairing Burn the Kingdom Down by @addiethorley with lavender london fog because a princess seeking vengeance deserves something equally bold
shoutout one of my favorite local bookstores, @solidstatebooks 🤍
happy mother’s day to all the mamas out there — hope your reset today looks something like this ☕🤍
what’s your reset button lately? ☕️📚
Walked all the way to @solidstatedc for a treat and then had to rest awhile before walking home again 📚🦴
#adoptdontshop #smalldog #chihuahua #dogs #dcdogs
Later this month, I'll be at @solidstatedc for an author talk and Q&A about The Lavender Bans from @columbiauniversitypress . 📚
I'm so excited for my first book event in Washington, DC, and I'm looking forward to being in conversation with a wonderful colleague and friend, Cathy Marcello, from @sparta.pride . And of course, I'm also thrilled to reconnect with colleagues from the @humanrightscampaign and other advocacy organizations at the event. 🌈
P.S. If you aren't able to make it, signed copies are currently available at @thecozybooknookdayton in Dayton, OH; @clintonvillebooks in Columbus, OH; @littledistrictbooks in Washington, DC; Solid State Books (H Street and 14 Street) in Washington, DC; and more.
#newbook #lgbtqhistory #transrights #indiebookshop #authorevent
On my way out of DCA yesterday, I left one signed copy of FLY GIRLS at Solid State Books in Terminal C. Go and get it! She would be the perfect companion for your next flight. ✈️📚💯
“The go-to guy on minimum wage,” according to Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman, @arindrajitdube has spent more than two decades investigating why the labor market can stop working for so many and how to address these challenges.
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@groundworkcollab and EPI invite you meet Arin at @solidstatedc as he discusses his latest book—The Wage Standard: What's Wrong in the Labor Market and How to Fix It—how it helps shape the future of labor, and what his years of research have revealed.
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Attendees will receive a free copy while supplies last and are invited to a reception @tapori.dc to follow in celebration of the book’s release.
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It's free to attend but space is limited!!
👉 Register at our link-in-bio👈
