what’s an american road trip without a stop in our nation’s capital, am I right? from the white house to the washington monument, everything in dc is synonymous with the good ol’ u s of a! while the city is overwhelmingly known for politics and history, we found it has so much more to offer. since it’s also home to the iconic smithsonian institute, you know some of the best and most innovative museums and galleries in the nation call dc home. with so many places to see and things to eat we had to get a list of recommendations from a local.

 

luckily, holly garner, well known dc based photographer and self-proclaimed cat herder, agreed to be our tour guide. she’s watched the city grow, change and evolve for the better part of 15 years, so she knows what’s up and showed us the best time ever! we recommend adding her favorites to your dc bucket list

 

keep reading to get to know our favorite cool cat lady (seriously, she loves cats) and our nation’s capital a little better.

 

hg: the simple truth is that I've never felt particularly creative myself. I went to school for art history because I love and appreciate art and creativity but I have never had a creative mind. so I'm always observing. I take photos of things that capture me. my education has taught me to recognize good design, interesting framing, the emotion of color, a unique perspective, etc. and I try to apply those elements into my photos. I'm always inspired to see how others push their own creativity and the boundaries of photography through staging, editing and manipulation and I certainly take notes and draw inspiration from them. little by little, I do try to experiment and move outside of my own box or style.

 

hg: I moved to dc for graduate school during the summer of 2001. I was lucky to experience dc before 9/11 and the security changes that came with the tragedy. it was a different city then, not better or worse, just different. I've enjoyed growing with the city as it has evolved from a politically-driven place full of suits and power lunches and into a cultural destination where local goods are celebrated and personal expression is rewarded and encouraged. it's really an exciting and richly-layered city now.

hg: we are lucky to have amazing coffee shops in dc.  I have recently been craving the iced chai from kaldi's coffee bar in silver spring. in dc, I always love the experimentation at la colombe in blagden alley and the classics at peregrine espresso in union market and baked and wired in georgetown.

 

 

hg: if I'm not running a photo event or out shooting with friends I'm likely spending time with my boyfriend and our dogs. we are constantly exploring the DMV area… after a leisurely morning at home, that is.

 

hg: strangely enough, dc means community and home. I've formed some incredible bonds here and finally feel like I'm a local in my adopted home. as big and metropolitan as dc can be perceived, it really is just a small town in disguise.

 

hg: yes! I'm super excited about a trip to iceland and scotland. I've never been to iceland and cannot wait to explore the landscape. scotland is magical and I'm especially excited about sharing it with family that has never been. It will be such a beautiful and inspiring trip.

 

hg: once you get past the politics and and intimidation of dc, the city is pretty small. I run into people everywhere just like I did when I lived in smaller towns as a child. the circle of friends I have destroy the perception people have of people here being cut-throat in their ambitions. there is an element of that, sure, but I've found there's a much softer side of dc now than there was when I first moved here. it's a more homey and welcoming place where people are proud to live here and not simply buying their time until they transition elsewhere.

 

hg: I don't follow sports much but I do enjoy the power and grace of gymnasts and the fast-paced swim competitions.

 

our thoughts: dc has definitely got it goin’ on! if you’re planning on heading to the nation’s capital anytime soon, don’t miss the greeks exhibition at the national geographic museum (if you haven’t picked up on this yet, we’re totally geeking out over the summer olympics coming up in rio. since this exhibit celebrates 5,000 years of greek history, including the birthplace of the olympics, you know it rocks).