‘DSC_2512’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’

Last year, we started a tradition of sorts by telling all of our readers what we’re thankful for in the DC area. We invite our readers to share their own thoughts in comments.

BenR: It’s hard to narrow down what it is about the DC area that I’m thankful for, but I’ll give it a shot…

• The Washington Capitals, for finding success on the ice – and enthralling an entire city with them.
• Metro, for being not only a source of transportation but also a weekly source of head-scratching entertainment.
• The simplistic beauty of our national monuments.
• Area DC photographers and their openness and willingness to educate, critique, and share.
• Thought-provoking exhibits such as NMAI’s Brian Jungen and NatGeo’s Terra Cotta Warriors.
• The Tidal Basin during the blooming of the cherry blossoms.
• For everyone who works, lives, and plays in one of the greatest cities in the US.
• Finally, my fellow authors and all our readers – I’m so thankful for all of you; you make this site live up to its name, and then some.

Rachel: There are a few things that I will never cease to love about this city and am thankful for everyday. They include: The view from the Lincoln memorial steps facing the reflecting pool/Washington monument on a Sunday morning, my commute to and from work that consists of a daily tour of embassy row between Ward and Dupont Circle, and President Obama for picking Rahm Emanuel as Chief-of-Staff so that there’s finally a Cubs fan in the White House. Other than that, my friends and family hold the number one spot as far as what I’m actually thankful for this year — but that goes without saying.

‘August Blue Hour over Potomac and DC’
courtesy of ‘ianseanlivingston’

Katie:

• Long nights out in high heels with a cocktail in one hand and a fork in the other
• The buzz of 14th street on a Thursday night
• Salted carmel hot chocolate at Co Co. Sala
• Smart, savvy, interesting friends
• Butter
• The beer list at Rustico
• GChat
• The Columbia Pike Farmer’s Market
• Driving on Constitution Ave, the Whitehurst or George Washington Parkway, especially at night, especially while blasting Phoenix
• Virginia’s wine country

Cathy:

• Mushrooms at Zaytinya
• Walking to work
• Custard and hot homemade pies at Dairy Godmother
• Friends who care more about the cause they’re working for than about themselves
• Mount Vernon Trail’s running/biking path
• The ability to find new and interesting sites and sounds in DC on any given day
• Homemade hot chocolate at Buzz
• DC’s Chefs who willingly take Katie and I into their kitchens on a regular basis

‘Penn Quarter – Fall Colors – 11-15-09’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Jenn: Ah, those gingko leaves. So beautiful in autumn, heartbreaking really, scattered across the sidewalks, splattered in the rain. Beautiful that is, until I slip on their slick surfaces and twist my ankle. Thanks, gingko leaves. Seriously, this has been the most difficult year of my life, but one for which I am truly grateful. Life isn’t about complacency but challenge. Learning to embrace that has been made easier by living in a city that I truly love, and being surrounded by my “urban family” of loyal and free-spirited friends. It’s a crazy patchwork quilt of people who keep me sane, and I’m thankful to all of you.

Tiffany:

• Getting to work on the National Mall.
• Ben’s Chili Bowl, Los Tios in Del Ray, and Dino
• Great Country Farms
• The fact that there is something to do every night of the week.
• DC’s workaholic culture- I complain about it, but as a type-A control freak, I know I thrive on it too.
• Eastern Market

‘a hug on Riggs’
courtesy of ‘NCinDC’

Shannon: I’m thankful that I get to live in my favorite neighborhood and work three blocks from my house, and I don’t need to own a car to live in this great city. I’m also thankful for the District’s resources (free swimming pools, lots of beautiful running trails, and a growing number of bike routes) that helped me realize my dream of becoming a triathlete this year. And I’m thankful that I swam in the Potomac River in September and still haven’t seen any adverse side effects. But most of all, I’m thankful for the people in my life that make me love DC more and more every day.

Max: I give thanks to living in an area where getting a tech job is like shooting fish in a barrel, to the amazing shows that happen at the 9:30 Club on a nightly basis, to the local art and music scene, and to our close proximity to other cool cities like Philly and New York. I’m thankful for my great group of ever expanding friends, for the beautiful monuments that greet me as I drive back into the city every night, and most importantly, for the delicious margaritas at Lauriol Plaza.

Rebecca:

• The Ruebens at BreadSoda
• Two Amy’s Pizza
• Baked & Wired’s Carrot Cake Cupcake
• Washington Area Womens’ Soccer League (WAWSL)
• Napping on the lawn at the Washington National Cathedral
• Dupont Circle Farmers Market
• WeLoveDC
• The Circulator Bus (Union Station to Georgetown Route)
• May’s Gold Cup races

‘heron in low light’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Donna: I am thankful for many things, including the people nearest my heart, my ridiculously spoiled 16-year-old cat, and these elements of life in DC:

• The peace of the C&O Canal, with great blue herons stalking fish in the canal on one side, and the silvery river on the other.
• A friendly and strong community of DC greenies working to make things better for Ma Nature.
• The many varied backgrounds and cultures that come together and spice up life in our fair city.
• The wealth of farmers markets and easy access to fresh, delicious local food.Georgetown Cupcake, Rasika, and that wonderful dinner at Poste.

‘Snow!’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’

Jasmine:

• Exploring new parts of the city and trying new things, even years after moving here
• Dance parties
• Delicious off-the-menu cocktails at Bourbon Steak
• The Metro (despite its flaws, I still have love for it)
• All the street festivals
• Showing visitors to DC what I love about the city and having them fall in love, too
• Museums, especially the National Gallery of Art

‘Teddy Roosevelt Island’
courtesy of ‘ArlingtonKarl’

Karl:

• Living in a city where people from all over the world, and from all walks of life, come together for causes they believe in
• Being surrounded by tons of super smart, super passionate people, like no other place in the country
• The occasional morning when you can ride the Orange line without hearing the phrase “moving momentarily”
• Walking, walking and more walking. Walking around DC is the best thing ever. There is nowhere else on earth where you can see what we see just by going for a walk
• Eating yummy food from so many delicious countries, absoring the cultures of the world one DC bite at a time
• Being able to write about hard-hitting and immensely important local news like Super Pollo closing, lions attacking a deer at the DC Zoo and dressing up as the Swine Flu for Halloween

Corinne:

• incredible culture everywhere, all the time (and so often, for free!)
• moonlit monuments
• warm greetings from those who brighten my quotidian routine (Maria in our office lobby, the unnamed bellhop at the Madison)
• tourist-watching from a bench in Lafayette Square
• summers in Meridian Hill Park—alfresco yoga and invigorating bongos
• nostalgic eats like coffee cake at Tombs and pizza pies at Luigi’s
• intimate concerts put on by awesome talents at Iota
• sidewalks swirling with languages from every corner of the globe
• the Pulitzer Prize-winning photo gallery at the Newseum
• an amazing network of nearby family and forever friends plus those newer DC gems who continue to appear along my life’s path

‘Folklife Festival’
courtesy of ‘travelcorx’

Tom: This year, I’m thankful for:

• The coffee, and those who make it, at Chinatown Coffee Company
• Congress’ extension of the home-buyer credit so we can move into the District in 2010
• 16th Street north of U, and below Columbia Road in the Fall
• Days when I can see all the way to the Basilica on my way into the city
• Great Country Farms’ amazing food that’s still keeping us fed weeks after our CSA ended

And, special thanks to all of you readers out there who’re keeping us working on We Love DC. We do it because we love it, but you make it so easy to love doing this. Thanks for your patronage, and we look forward to new events, new stories and new relationships.