photo by Kimberly Graydon

I think what makes the cold of December so bearable is all the fun holiday events of the season. Christmas in Washington, DC is a sparkly time of year and I love writing this post every year to share how I celebrated the season. I wanted to thank all readers for continuing to follow my blog. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! A few items below have become a popular tradition of mine over the last few years. But first let me start the month with a quick trip to NYC.



1. New York trip 
It was 30 degrees and windy, but still Christmastime is the best time to visit NYC. It's truly a magical time of year there with all the pretty light displays. Saks Fifth Avenue has an incredible sound and light display plus such unique window displays. This is right across from Rockefeller center ice-skating rink. Bloomingdale window displays were also a sight to see.


2. Dance Classes
I'm going on another zumba cruise next year with a friend so I take weekly zumba classes and salsa classes. The salsa lessons are at a salsa studio and each week progresses on the next. When I go to Miami next year we're planning to go to some salsa clubs in Little Havana.
 


3. Christmas Pop-Up Bar
For a fourth year in a row this holiday pop-up bar is decorated with Christmas decor. The lines can be up to 2 hours long in 30 degree weather! The drinks have festive names but are small and pricey. You have to give you ID for a holiday cup. This is the place for all your gram worthy pictures.


4. Georgetown Glow
In the city's oldest neighborhood of Georgetown,  they have an outdoor light art installation that changes each year.
 


5. Wood Sign Class
I've done a handful of paint night classes but wanted to do something different and got the idea to do a winter painting on wood. With a couple girlfriends on a rainy Saturday night we learned how to stain wood and each painted a different winter scene. It fits perfectly in my entryway. I got the poinsettia and amaryllis from Trader Joe's, the amaryllis doesn't need any water it's grown out of that wax bulb!


6. Yards Park - Light Yards
For the fourth year they have a different spectacular interactive light instillation. The round discs changed colors as you walked on them.

7. Zoolights
The Smithsonian National Zoo is free to the public and during December they are open at night when all the animals are asleep. The trees are decorated with colorful twinkling lights which transforms the zoo into a winter wonderland. There's live music, winter treats, a gingerbread village, an obstacle course, an interactive light display, laser light shows, and holiday shopping.  I went to happy with friends first, then we walked through zoolights. We got lucky, the night we went to zoolights it was 60F!


8. City Center Ice Sculptures 
CityCenterDC is the location of the old convention center. They tore it down and built million dollar condos, apartments, office building, a hotel, fine dining and high end shopping. Palmer Alley turns into a whimsical winter wonderland with snowflakes and lights strung on top (see picture at top). It has my most favorite tree in the city.

photos by Kimberly Graydon

9. US Capitol Christmas Tree
Willamette National Forest in Oregon provided "The People's tree" this year on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol.  The White House Christmas tree lights have been shut off due to the government shut down but the tree at the Capitol is still on.

10. Fibbage
My friend hosted a holiday brunch and had us all play Fibbage. You go to the website on your phone, enter the game's code, and then we were all connected to play the game, it's super easy to set up. It's a lying, bluffing, fib-till-you-win trivia party game that's super fun!







December in Review 2017
December Delivery 2016
Favorite Christmas Activities