What’s the most popular holiday in DC?   From all of the talk and activities, it would seem to be Festivus! 

• Adams Morgan Kiosk - Go to the Grievances Pole at the corner of 18th/Adams Mill/Columbia Rd to post your greivance or see what others are pissed off about.  More pics here. 

• Tonic – On Saturday night, Tonic will be throwing a Festivus party complete with a Festivus Pole, feats of strength, and the airing of the grievances via a microphone passed around the bar. 

DC Concierge comments are now open for DC-centric airing of grievances. …

I’ll start:   The obscene amount of spit on the sidewalk in my neighborhood.

Laura asks:  I think I want a real Christmas tree this year.  Any tips on where to buy one?

I gather from your question that you are not looking for the whole Christmas tree farm experience, which is good, because you’ll have to go way out of DC proper for those.  But we do have grab and go!  Check out 9th Street by the convention center, just past the new location of Corduroy, and there is a large Christmas tree park at the corner of 9/N.   Or try Garden District at the corner of 14/S.  They are keeping holiday hours and staying open till 9pm on weeknights.

James asks: I like to take nature walks on Sunday mornings here in DC – or as close in as possible.  I have done Roosevelt Island, Great Falls, and Rock Creek Park.  I am wondering if you have other ideas for good places to see and enjoy some urban nature.

Stay off the statue

It’s November, the leaves are turning, and your opportunities for beautiful strolls are quickly dwindling, as DC gives way to the long, ugly mid-Atlantic winter.

So James points out the easy top three for afternoon Thoreau indulgences.  Roosevelt Island is a quick respite, offering magnificent views of Georgetown and the Kennedy Center from the middle of the Potomac – not to mention Teddy himself.  Great Falls requires a greater commitment, but its worth it for the isolation.  While I’m sure James is a regular Magellan, few have explored all of the nooks and crannies of Rock Creek Park - if Chandra Levy could be lost in there for years, then so can you.

But you’ve done the basics.  Hains Point provides an easy spot in the city to get away outside.  Battery Kemble Park, west of Foxhall, is more secluded and the C&O Canal is not just for bikers, with plenty of back trails.

If you’re really adventurous, take an underprivileged kid on a nature hike with the sierra club.

—– DC Sherpa

Well, as you can see, I got a head start on hanging with drag queens at last weekend’s Best of Gay DC event held at Apex.  The event was sponsored by the Washington Blade and featured a full award ceremony for the winners. 

My congrats go to worthy honorees, especially:

• B-ryan at Blondies Salon for men’s haircuts
• Gus Elfving at PetPeople for pet services (award went to PetSmart, but c’mon people, we gotta support locally owned gay businesses!!!)

Anyway, even all that drag couldn’t keep me away from braving the weather tonight to watch local drag queens strut down 17th Street at the Annual High Heel Races.  The Sarah Palins, Marge Simpsons, Cheerleaders, Dorothys, and more will be parading around for chat and photo-opps starting around 7pm.  The official race begins at 9pm sharp!        

Catherine asks: "The High Heel Race – What time does it start? I have heard conflicting reports of 8pm or 9pm.  This is my first year going, so I dont want to miss it!"

DC Concierge:  The "drag race" itself is at 9pm, but the parade starts at 7pm with plenty of crowd mingling and photo opps.  However, you’ll need to get to 17th Street around 5:30pm to get a decent postion (ie. window of a bar, front of the curb).  B level seats would be restaurant patios ( not quite A-level b/c everyone will be standing up on the street) and 2-4 people deep from the curb.  It gets to be hard to impossible see after that. 

For those of you who can’t make it tonight, some of the best drag alternatives are Drag Queen Bingo every Tuesday at Chaos or Drag Queen brunch at Perry’s every Sunday.

Work it, girl!

-DC Concierge