When you consider holiday traffic and the fact that everyone is going somewhere, it actually doesn't sound like the worst plan to stay close to home this Memorial Day. Luckily, one of our favorite annual traditions starts this weekend, which should soften the sting when your coworkers return with fresh tans and perfectly mussed, beach-y tresses.

The Corcoran Gallery of Art's Summer Saturdays event — where access to the gallery is free instead of the usual $10 — starts this Saturday. That means you can spend the day inside a cool, ultra-inspiring space, soaking up loads of visual inspiration without spending a hot cent.

Summer Saturdays are already a pretty good deal, but they'll get even sweeter at the end of June, when a new exhibition by artist Richard Diebenkorn opens, along with a collection of beach-inspired photos from the Corcoran's archives. Get the full rundown of events (including yoga sessions and creative workshops) here.

Where: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th Street NW; 202-639-1700.


Photo: Courtesy of Corcoran Gallery/Nicholas Nixon, "South Boston"

If you were online at all yesterday, you probably know that the trailer for Baz Luhrmann's remake of The Great Gatsby was released to major fanfare (just try watching it without getting goosebumps!).

Between the new film's buzz and the F. Scott-and-Zelda moment in Midnight in Paris, the literary duo have had quite a resurgence of late. So, you can imagine how over-the-top thrilled — and downright proud — we were to discover that the couple's final resting place is in our very own 'hood. That's right — the Gatsby author and his wife are buried together under a common headstone at a small church cemetery in Rockville. Not surprisingly, romantics and history fanatics alike are known to visit the spot and leave poems, gin bottles, and martini glasses behind.

We don't know about you, but we think it's pretty darn cool that one of the most celebrated literary figures of all time (and a current pop-culture hero) wanted to be laid to rest in the D.C. 'burbs. F. Scott once wrote, "I wouldn't mind a bit if in a few years Zelda and I could snuggle up together under a stone in some graveyard. That is really a happy thought, and not melancholy at all." We find it charming and absurdly romantic — particularly for a volatile pair like the two of them — that that's exactly what they did.

Where: St. Mary's Church and Cemetery, 520 Veirs Mill Road, Rockville; 301-424-5550.


Photo: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Not sure about you guys, but Memorial Day weekend totally snuck up on us this year. Seriously — the kickoff weekend of the summer is here, and if you haven't planned a thing to celebrate, you're probably not alone. Luckily, we did some homework for you and came up with three fun, fuss-free weekend itineraries that'll get your summer off to a solid start. We've covered it all — a beach trip, a food fest, a close-to-home cool-down — and we even whipped up three extra-haute outfits to make you look like you really had your act together this year. Don't worry — your secret's safe with us.

Delaplane Strawberry Festival
Looking for something that's not just off the beaten path, but truly a world away from Washington? Head to Sky Meadows State Park in Delaplane (roughly an hour's drive from D.C.) for the 19th annual strawberry festival, where you can eat your fill of the juicy summer berries while taking in live music, local crafts, fair food, and plenty of wide open spaces. You'll want an outfit that's equally cute and cool, with a little country charm, so opt for a feminine chambray top and cheery printed denim cutoffs. Classic sunnies, a walkable wedge heel, and a roomy bag to tote your farm-fresh finds are ideal finishing touches.

From left: Forever 21 Round Sunglasses, $5.80, available at Forever 21; Madewell The Caravan Mailbag, $62, available at Madewell; Old Navy Ruffled Button-Front Top, $19.94, available at Old Navy; Citizens of Humanity Chloe Printed High-Rise Stretch-Denim Shorts, $175, available at Net-a-Porter; Mossimo Black Pallas Wedge, $29.99, available at Target.


Photo: Courtesy of Delaplane Strawberry Festival

It might not look like it today — c'mon, sunshine! — but pool season has arrived. And while we've been regulars at the city's public pools for years, every now and then we want our weekend R&R to be a little more resort-y and a little less daycamp-y. Enter The Liaison Capitol Hill's Tone, Taste and Tan experience: $50 gets you an hour-long Vinyasa yoga class, breakfast for two at Art & Soul, and all-day access to the hotel's rooftop pool and bar. Considering you'll throw down $50 just for brunch in this town, we're thinking this is a pretty great deal.

The package is available every Saturday and Sunday through September 2, with yoga starting at 7:30 a.m. and breakfast served from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. You can swim from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and a pool concierge will get you set up with towels and seating in chaise lounges or a daybed. Just want to swim, without the extra perks? Snag a pool pass for $20 to get one-day access starting at 10 a.m., or wait until after 5 p.m., when it's free. Now, you just have to settle on a swimsuit.

When: Saturdays and Sundays through September 2.
Where: The Liaison Capitol Hill, An Affinia Hotel, 415 New Jersey Avenue NW; 202-638-1616.


Photo: Courtesy of The Liaison Capitol Hill

Since we were introduced waaaaay back when she was one of D.C.'s first bloggers, we've been quite fond of Morgan Hungerford. The stylist, visual merchandiser and all-around creative force has been cooking up cool projects for years, the most current being Panda Head magazine, a digital zine full of original video, photography, artwork, and more. But the mag was put on pause after five issues, and fans have been waiting patiently for nearly a year for Issue 6.

Today's good news? It's finally here! Click on over to Panda Head to see the full issue, which includes a lovely spring fashion feature and illustrations by Lauren Friedman. ( Panda Head )


Photo: Courtesy of Panda Head

If we had to pick an absolute favorite food of all time, we'd have to go with ice cream — unequivocally, hands down, without a doubt, ice cream. We love the cold stuff in all its varied forms — fancy gelato made from so-fresh ingredients, frozen custard that conjures memories of a summer boardwalk, or old-fashioned creamy goodness that comes straight from a churn. (Admit it: You're craving it now, too!)

Whether you fancy a cup or a cone, we've got the essential guide to the best places in town to get your frozen fix — and for the next couple of months of sweltering heat, you've got a legit excuse to try every last one of these. Is that not the best news you've heard all day?

With the mega popularity of GIF-centric sites like What Should We Call Me and How Do I Put This Gently, animated files are taking 2012 by storm. Along the way, they're providing countless hours of distraction from all the things we should be doing, like, you know, our jobs and stuff.

Now, the trend has moved from the Internet to the iPhone, with the advent of an app called MyFaceWhen — developed by two D.C. locals, natch. The app lets you send personalized GIFs to your iPhone-carrying friends with little more than the touch of a button. Simply record a short video of yourself, and MyFaceWhen will convert it to a text-ready animation. Think of it like an emoticon on crack — why simply send a winky face, when you can send a GIF of yourself making the winky face?

The gang over at Mashable did a test-run of the program (complete with a fist pump), and they gave it two (animated) thumbs up. Now, if you'll excuse us, we're off to send high-fives to everyone in our phone book. (Mashable)

D.C. music fans must be radiating some excellent karma lately, because three recent college grads just blessed the city with one excellent going-out gift. DC Decibel, a live-music aggregator designed just for Washington, launched in beta earlier this year and we’ve only got one word to say in response — finally.

What does it mean for you? For starters, you’ll no longer need to keep eight browser tabs open every time you’re looking for a new show. And no more dealing with the frustration of missing out on must-see concerts or pre-sales, either. Basically, this site does what we’ve all been trying to do with Google docs and mailing lists for years — it takes all the best concerts from all the best venues, and lists them in one place. The DC Decibel team comprises co-founders David Kalikhman and Julia Senerth, plus web developer Alex Sleighter. We got the skinny on the newest addition to our Bookmarks tab from Kalikhman and Senerth, and hit them up for the intel on the shows you absolutely can't miss this summer, too.

What were you up to before DC Decibel? Any experience in the music industry?
David: "I graduated from Georgetown University in 2011 with a degree in Neuroscience. I spent most of my life in love with the arts, particularly painting, drawing, and architecture. I have been unable to reconcile my passion for art since my interests shifted to the realm of medicine and science, but DC Decibel was an outlet for a lot of that creative energy. I wanted it to be, as a journalist for The Washington Post put it, 'disarmingly simple.' The interface reflects that idea while maintaining a lot of functionality.

Julia: "I moved to D.C. in 2010, after going to college in Baltimore. In September of 2011, I elected not to apply to graduate school, and instead try to break into the music industry. I had no experience to put on my resume, no contacts in the business, and no idea, really, of where to start. I tried out a few things, like doing sound for an open mic event and writing about the shows I went to on my personal blog. Starting the web site happened really quickly, and it has by far been the most successful attempt to contribute to the live music industry and meet people who do similar things. Right now, I do research from 9 to 5 and DC Decibel from 5-to-11, so it's lucky I genuinely enjoy working on the site and have ready access to caffeine."

What inspired you to start DC Decibel?
Julia: "DC Decibel came about after I missed out on purchasing tickets to a sold out Gary Clark Jr. show at Red Palace. I have always loved going to see live music, and around here, it is so hard to keep [track] all of the different venue web sites. I decided to make a Google document of the shows that were happening that I could sort by date, venue, artist, and price. I sent it to Dave, and he made a mock-up of the front end of the site. I got in touch with Alex Sleighter, who is a friend from college, and he started programming it. Within about a month, we had a functional, albeit beta, version of DC Decibel."

What is the best show you've been to recently? And what shows are you most looking forward to?
Julia: "I went to the WU LYF show at Rock & Roll Hotel in late April. That was one of the first shows I put up on the site back in January. I had bought tickets immediately and had been counting down the days — they are a totally brilliant band, especially live. The show I am most looking forward to is My Morning Jacket with Band of Horses opening at Merriweather Post Pavilion on August 18. I like to plan ahead, and they are my favorite band of all time."

David: "I'm really looking forward to seeing Yeasayer (albeit not in the District) and Radiohead at Verizon Center in June."

What are the best popular venues in D.C.? And what about the hidden gems?
Julia: "Best well-known venue, I would say, is Black Cat. I think they do a really good job booking bands and provide a great concert experience once you’re there. Some shows I really enjoyed there: Sharon Van Etten, Grouplove, Phantogram, and Yellow Ostrich. Best hidden gem is hard — I'm not sure what counts. I think the shows that 9:30 Club is hosting at U Street Music Hall are great. I went to an Alex Winston show at 7 p.m. and it was totally amazing. Another really fun spot is the Gibson Guitar Showroom — they have showcases through All Things Go and it’s a really good time."

As full-on smartphone addicts, we consider ourselves something of Instagram aficionados. We love how it allows us to transform into professional photogs for a second — after-work cocktails, the view from our rooftop, and even our shoes become our subjects, and the perfect filter can make for photographic genius. And now, thanks to one local craft-queen, our pics can be memorialized on more than just our Facebook timelines.

Enter Stitchtagram, a D.C.-based business that creates personalized throw pillows using your Instagram pics. You select your best shots, they collage and assemble, and the result is a too-cute way to preserve your precious memories, without the hassle of learning to scrapbook. The company is the brainchild of District residents Doug and Rachel Pfeffer, a brother-sister team with a serious knack for the creative. We're longtime fans of Rachel's other pet project, jewelry company Rachel Pfeffer Designs, our go-to for rough-and-tumble rock crystal accessories.

We're simply smitten with these pillows, and their major gifting potential — think anniversary presents, bridal party favors, or even a 21st-century proposal. (C'mon, a pillow with all your cutest moments documented on it? Who wouldn't swoon over that?) And, we've got to give major props to the DMV for churning out this super-rad idea. The only question left is: Which filter to use?


Photos: Courtesy of Stitchtagram

Don't get us wrong, here. Our favorite part of election season is watching the debates (and not just when the likes of Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann are involved). We're pretty intrigued to see what's about to go down when two clever candidates like Obama and Romney (fingers crossed) take each other to task on the economy, the military, and health care. And this year, the issues promise to be even more incendiary than ever (gay marriage, anyone?). But, all of that being said, we feel like it's entirely naive to pretend that people vote solely based on the issues. Admit it: Attractiveness, likability, and wealth always seem to factor in just as significantly as economic recovery plans ever do. We latch on to sound bytes and then react to candidates based on gut instincts. Human nature, right?

So, with some help from our friends at Weatherproof® (hey, they're curious, too), we put together a little poll. We invite you to be honest and tell us how fashion, appearance, and all of the other pieces of likability contribute to your vote. And then, take to the comments with all of the questions you wish we had asked.

Photos: Courtesy of Romney campaign and Obama campaign

Summer in D.C. means a lot more than just heat, humidity, and hordes of tourists — thank goodness. In fact, there's so much awesomeness to be had around these parts that we could probably dream up more excursions than you could pull off in a season. So, we narrowed things down and whipped up a handy little guide to our absolute favorite summer pastimes — the food, drinks, parties, destinations, and outdoor escapes that make living here so special.

You'll know (and love) some of these picks already, but we're banking on the fact that some of them will surprise you — and who doesn't like discovering something new and cool about their own city? Of course, we want your input, too. So, click through to see the 29 things that have us completely psyched for summer, and leave your own insider tips in the comments, too.

Ever believe the outside-the-Beltway claim that D.C. lacks creativity? Think again. District photographer Jodi King and hair stylist Tyler Larish are out to dispel the infamous myth with their new photo project, Renegade DC. Treating Washington like a playground, this compelling photographic series features a variety of D.C. landmarks (think the U.S. Capitol Building, Ben’s Chili Bowl, and the Lincoln Theatre, to name a few) in all their glory. The city serves as a backdrop for a creative wonderland, populated with notables from the Washington Ballet, DC Roller Girls, and, yes, even a drag queen or two. But wait — it gets better: Every shoot was pulled off “renegade style,” meaning fast and furious, or with no permission at all. How’s that for out of the box?

We chatted with the production duo and wardrobe stylist Tara Papanicolas to get the scoop on how long it took to plan this creative exhibit, the inspiration behind the shoot, and why they got kicked out of the Smithsonian Castle. Click through for the artsy dirt and a sneak peek at some of images.

When: Now through June 1.
Where: Fotoweek DC, 1847 Columbia Road NW.