Though the name might suggest that this includes a museum, it is not. The United States…read moreGeospatial Intelligence Foundation is a not-for-profit organization that promotes geospatial intelligence. What is geospatial intelligence, you ask? Good question. It is basically the analysis of maps and satellite imagery. Imagine looking at Google Earth all day for your job. Geospatial analysis can also help with non-spook things, though, such as flood control, assistance with natural disaster, community planning, etc.. But, though this sounds like a cool museum and a place to spend a few hours during a long layover at Dulles Airport, it is not. It is just an office.

My sister chose this neighborhood over the 14th St Corridor (where she used to live) when she and…read moreher family moved back to DC from LA. It's quiet and right next to Rock Creek Park, but you can still easily walk to the hustle and bustle of Adams Morgan, Columbia Heights and her old neighborhood, 14th St. It feels like you're not in the city, but you are. Yes, the shops, cafes and restaurants on Mt. Pleasant are not trendy like the ones on 14th St, but there are some pretty awesome places like Ellē and Mount Desert Island Ice Cream Shop. There are a couple of small grocery stores, a couple of cafes, a Filipino restaurant, a few Mexican places, and a seasonal Farmers Market, as well as cleaners, liquor stores, and hardware stores on Mt. Pleasant. I spent a couple of weeks here in the summer and a week over the holidays and I love that I was able to walk to a lot of places easily. Call Your Mother in Park View was a half hour walk, Tryst in Adams Morgan was about 20 minutes and the Target at Columbia Heights was a 15 minute walk. On New Year's Day, the hubby and I took a long walk at Rock Creek Park and enjoyed the last night of Zoolights at the National Zoo. I like to walk all over 'cause it's really the best way to get to know a city. I can't wait to go back and visit my sister again. Definitely want to try more of the restaurants on Mt Pleasant and explore more of nearby Rock Creek Park on foot!

My family loved staying in this area during our stay in DC. Great for walking our pup and easily…read morewalkable to a metro stop.

The Social Security Administration is located in Washington D.C. Social Security has local offices…read moreall over the United States. Initially I had to visit the office to set up my retirement benefits when I retired. Since then Social Security has developed a website and made many technical improvements over the years. All of my business is handled online. I also get periodic emails from Social Security. Today to my surprise I received this email applauding the passage of the President's Big Bill. I have to admit I was hoping that the campaign promise made regarding tax relief for Social Security recipients would come to fruition. As much of a skeptic as I am, I'm not getting excited until the dollars are in my bank account! There's two things for certain DEATH and TAXES!

I am a guardian for a loved one. I had an appointment to have two details taken care of. It was a…read morechallenge to get a live person on the phone. I held for 45 minutes and then opted to get a call back. Someone called me back. The employee helped make an appointment. I thought I would have to make an appointment in the state my loved one lived in. That was not the case. So I made an appointment near me in DC. The appointment time was for 11:32, not 11:30 - but 11:32. It was explained that there might be a slight delay in between visits. I showed up an hour and a half early since I had a ride. The building is behind The Bureau of Engraving and Printing. I was happy to have been dropped off. There isn't nearby metered parking. Smithsonian Metro is close by. There is a check in kiosk when you enter. You can use the kiosk or check in on your phone. Cell reception was only noticeable by the window. You can scan a QR code to check in on your phone. I checked in at the kiosk. Numbers are not called in numerical order. They are called by your appointment time. There are approximately 60 metal seats that are relatively comfy. There is always a guard in the room and at the exit door. The restroom was clean. The only seat with an electrical outlet is the first one by the entrance (smaller section of seats). My number was called before my appointment time. Numbers are not called in any particular order. Number 19 could get called before number 2. The employee verified some details and then had me return to the lobby area. If you need to provide any information during your appointment, look it up before you go. My phone was in SOS mode until I left the building. I was called for my appointment on time. There was more privacy at the windows across from all the seats in the waiting area. The employee was very nice. He helped with all the paperwork I needed for my tasks.

"An Excessive Heat Warning (or Extreme Heat Warning) is issued by the National Weather Service when…read moreheat index values hit or exceed 105°F for two or more hours. This level of heat is life-threatening; immediately take action to avoid heat exhaustion or heat stroke by staying hydrated, staying in air-conditioned spaces, and limiting outdoor activity." How do we define oppressive HEAT? C- cooking like an oven, my body that is A- AIR CONDITIONER, WHERE ARE YOU?!?!?! L- lost, we walk like zombies, how can I use my body? Come to think of it, where is my body? I- I'm literally using the sidewalk to make my breakfast: eggs, hash browns and toast, coming right up E- excessive exercise can lead to.. What? PASSING OUT, THAT'S WHAT N- not a soul anywhere.. parking lot, expressway, sidewalk. T-Thermometer explosion E- Excuse me sir, why are you wearing a coat????? CALIENTE, brief summary of HEAT OVERLOAD

Nowadays there are many ways to get your weather forecast. National Weather Service renowned, and…read moresomething I grew up watching. Still a trusted source that I'll use time to time, and one worth checking out if you need a service to staying up to date on weather. Less used in my area, as it's practically sunny 340 days a year.

***this review is about the cafeteria only***…read more The cafeteria is like Market-to-Market. It has hot food station, cold salad station, hot sandwich station, baked potato station, cold cut sandwich station, sushi station, coffee, tea, and all the bottled drinks (except wine) you can think of. You would think 17,000 people work in that building. Well...sort of... So I enter with my fed-id-badge (quite handy when there's hordes of giggly pre-teen tourist kids with vouchers swarming the food court at the Ronald Reagan building), walk up to the hot sandwich station, and order a "grilled cheese on heavily buttered white bread". The shamwhich prep lady looks at me, rolls her eyes twice, and says "white?" Um, yes. Thanks. White. Then she proceeds to take the brush, dip it in oil, smear that oil onto the grill, and lay my bread into it. Ugh. At that point, I rolled MY eyes twice. After a while, the spatula weilding, meat patty flipping, cooktop scraping shamwhich cook lays approximately a whole cheesehead's worth of American cheese slices onto my bread. Thank God. So the sandwich was warm and cheesy. But it wasn't buttery eventhough it HAD been on the grill. That's why I'm giving it two stars. I have been searching the lunchtime food purveyeors worldwide to find the quantity of cheese + the buttery, grillish-ness of the bread in the same sandwich. This one gets five stars for the cheese. Take away three stars for the lack of butter and there you have it. Two stars.

This is a beautiful facility. There are some historical corners that are amazing (if you're into…read morethat type of thing). There is a good library on the bottom floor that houses the actual (not a replica) hat and desk that belonged to former Commerce Secretary and President Herbert C. Hoover. The library also has beautifully hand-painted ceilings.

They were really helpful when we needed help with a problem. Sorry I can't be more specific, but…read morethink about the kinds of problems that people go to their representatives for and choose one.

I reached out to Rep Raskin's office for assistance with a passport. I emailed extremely late on a…read moreWednesday and was contacted by 10 am on Thursday. I received confirmation that my passport and upcoming travel were escalated on Friday. Hailey was extremely helpful and emailed me less the week later with the tracking number. She was very effective. She sent me the tracking info before the online passport status website was even updated. I was so very thankful for her help!!

This is one of the most beautiful DC Public Libraries, right across from Dumbarton Oaks. The…read morebuilding is beautiful inside out, and the staff were welcoming and very friendly. The children's corner has tiger and lion plushes on top of the bookshelves!

I attended an outstanding Washing D.C. African American genaeology event. I was excited to check…read moreout a book by a local author that has been on my list. Not only did they have it but I was allowed to take it as part of their regular programming of giving away books from local authors I believe.

Truly a hidden Gem at Reagan National Airport The Abingdon…read morePlantation display at Reagan National Airport is a hidden gem that most travelers never notice. I've walked past it for years without realizing it was there--the only hint is a small sign in front of what looks like a simple grassy area between the two parking garages along the walkway leading to rental pickup/dropoff area and counters. If you take a short break from your trip and follow the path up the hill, you'll be rewarded with something special: the preserved ruins of an early Virginia plantation, carefully presented with signage that tells the story of the site. The panels explain its ties to colonial history and even connections to the Custis family and George Washington. They have done a great job of the presentation with lots of display boards adn signage explaining it, great brickwork and a bench to sit and enjoy the view. Take a moment to find it. It's quiet, uncrowded, and gives you a very neat and interesting slice of history right in the middle of a busy airport. For anyone with a few extra minutes, it's well worth the detour to stretch your legs, enjoy a little green space, and connect with a past most travelers don't even realize is there.

I write with a simple public service announcement. Abingdon Plantation is a great outdoor pet…read morerelief area at DCA airport. That is not its intended purpose. But it fulfills the function perfectly. If you compare it to what is designed for dogs, it is lavish: 25 times the size, with grass, and scenery. My wife and I have used this several dozen times. We fly in and out of DCA often. Either pre-departure or post-arrival, we bring the pup here. You could not ask for better. I don't know that anyone searching on the internet, as we do, will come across this note or for that matter any notice about the utility of this place. I want to help out others. We always want the dog to be comfortable when we travel. If only other airports had a similar space outdoors. Kudos to DCA.