Tammy's Tidbits

This past weekend, my friend Angie and I decided to do something a little spontaneous and a lot of fun—we took a quick trip to Washington, DC for a calligraphy class. It was the perfect excuse to escape the everyday, catch up, and try something totally new together.

We started our Saturday morning the way we always do—at our favorite local coffee spot, The Local Cup. These coffee dates have become such a comforting routine for us, so it only felt right to kick off our adventure with caffeine and conversation. From there, we headed to the train station. We intentionally chose the train over driving because, let’s be honest, if you’ve ever dealt with I-95 traffic on a weekend, you know it’s not for the faint of heart. Plus, it gave us time to relax and catch up without white-knuckling a steering wheel.

I hadn’t been on a train since I was 20 years old. I’m 57 now. You can do the math—I’ve decided not to, because I’m still mentally processing that kind of time warp! But I have to say, the ride was smooth, scenic, and surprisingly peaceful. We arrived at Union Station in DC and quickly grabbed a taxi to our hotel.

We stayed at the Fairmont in Georgetown, and it was everything you’d want in a weekend getaway hotel—elegant, comfortable, and staffed with some of the kindest people. From the well-appointed rooms to the stylish lobby, everything felt like a little luxury. It’s now officially on my “would absolutely stay here again” list.

After dropping our bags, we walked to Founding Farmers for a late lunch. This farm-to-table restaurant is a favorite for a reason. Everything is made from scratch and the food is delicious.

With full bellies and comfortable shoes, we set off to walk to the O Museum in the Mansion, which was… an experience. I honestly don’t have the words to do this place justice—but I’ll try. Imagine someone took an eccentric hoarder’s house, cleaned it up, added secret doors (yes, actual hidden doors), threw in a bunch of Elvis memorabilia, vintage hats, quirky art, old books, and anything else you can imagine and then told you, “Go ahead, explore.” It’s organized chaos in the most entertaining way possible. They say you can visit dozens of times and still discover something new with each visit and I absolutely believe it. It’s one of those “you have to see it for yourself” places that pictures don’t fully capture. Trust me: Go.

After all that exploring, we decided to rent e-bikes to ride back to our hotel. It was such a fun and freeing little ride—like being a kid again—but of course, we were so wrapped up in the moment that we forgot to use the phone mounts to record it. Missed opportunity, for sure, but sometimes the best memories are the ones that live only in your head.

We spent our evening in the Fairmont’s cozy lobby, sipping cocktails, nibbling on a charcuterie board, and doing what we do best: talking. We talked about everything and nothing, as friends do, and it was one of those moments where you realize how important it is to carve out time for connection, even in short bursts.

Sunday morning was slow and lovely. We walked to Bar Angie for brunch, and the place did not disappoint. Great food, great service, and a really cool, vibey atmosphere. One of the best parts? No one who works there knows who the “real” Angie is that the bar was named after, so when our server found out my friend’s name was Angie, he jokingly asked if he was on Undercover Boss.

After brunch, we headed to Right Proper Brewing Company for our main event: a beginner calligraphy class. Neither of us had ever done anything like it before, but we were both excited to give it a try. The class was relaxed, informative, and so encouraging. The instructor, Tabatha, created such a low-pressure, welcoming environment that made it easy to learn and enjoy the process. I highly recommend her class if you are in the area (Sip & Scrip – Tabatha Torres). It was the perfect balance of creative and calming, and I’m excited to keep practicing on my own. Who knows, maybe handmade cards and signs are in my future?

We were only gone for 36 hours, but in that short time, we packed in a whole lot of joy, laughter, food, movement, creativity, and memory-making. It reminded me that adventures don’t have to be long to be meaningful. Sometimes, all you need is a good friend, a new experience, and the willingness to say “yes” to a little something different.

Now the only question is… where to next?