a room with a view.

Something I've always wondered about style bloggers: Who takes the photos? Are you setting up a tripod everyday? Do you just live with a tripod setup? Do you simply have a person that takes pictures of you on hand? No one has ever given me a good answer. Just something I thought about today. Then I took some photos. I love my room--it's small but has nice windows and light. Best for watching the snow outside, reading, sketching and thinking about how long my flowers will live. Here are some photos featuring my favorite things: my pearl ring I found at my favorite vintage store in San Pedro, Casio watch I got at Tortoise General Store in Venice, brass bracelet made in Cape Cod, which I never take off, warby parker glasses that I sometimes love and sometimes hate, the windows, muji notebooks that just make everything better, my lipgloss, picture of California that I acquired from my one-month stay in Columbia Heights, heels I can actually walk in for long periods of time, a necklace my best friend gave me at her wedding, tote and Canon.

Listen: Shelter by the Temples

tree, biker, sunset -- photos from first Saturday of Spring

Spring Equinox

Equinox: occurs twice a year, when the plane of Earth's equator passes the center of the Sun. At this time the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun. Basically... It's the first day of SPRING!

The day started out dreary.

But I managed to find some sprouts on my way to work!

Then, to my surprise a fire drill forced our office out of the building. It's a tradition (happening twice justifies calling it a tradition right?) to spend our fire drill time in the U.S. Botanic Gardens - so off we went as soon as we safely left the building.

We found the Orchid Symphony exhibit in full bloom. I've been meaning to go, so this was fantastic. Here are some pictures from the exhibit!

If you're in the DC area, you should make your way to the Orchid Symphony at the U.S. Botanic Garden before it ends! It's great way to celebrate the coming of spring (don't even think about that predicted snow next week).

It's also a great warm up for the beloved CHERRY BLOSSOMS!

Environmental Film Festival: our day by day picks

With crazy weather swings, yet another snow storm and some confused birds flying around, it's perfect timing for the 2014 Environmental Film Festival to give us some silver screen escapism featuring our good friends global warming, endangered indigenous cultures, disappearing animal species and vanishing tropical sanctuaries. Optimists take along your most pessimistic friends. Pessimists look on the bright side, we still have movies!

Our day by day picks for this year's Environmental Film Festival:

Tuesday 3/18 CARPE DIEM: A FISHY TALE // (Canada, 2013, 52 min.) Watch out Asian Carpe, we know what you did last summer. Narrated by David Suzuki. Directed by Scott Dobson. Produced by Charlotte Engel.

Embassy of Canada 501 Pennsylvania Ave., NW 6:30 pm, free with registration

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Wednesday 3/19 ONCE UPON A FOREST (IL ÉTAIT UNE FORÊT) // (France, 2013, 78 min.) From the Director of March of the Penguins, Luc Jacquet dives into the tropical rainforest of the Peruvian Amazon and Gabon with ecologist/botanist Francis Hallé. In French with English subtitles. Directed by Luc Jacquet. Produced by Yves Darondeau, Christopher Lioud, and Emmanuel Priou.

Embassy of France 4101 Reservoir Rd., NW, Screening is currently booked, check site for updates

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Thursday 3/20 ANGEL AZUL // (USA, 2014, 72 min.) Explore the connection with the underwater eco-system through the documentation of life-like statues and the algae that overtakes their man-made reefs they spawn. Directed by Marcelina Cravat. Produced by Marcelina Cravat, Kath Delaney and Erik Johnson.

Mexican Cultural Institute 2829 16th St., NW, Screening is currently booked, check site for updates

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Friday 3/21 WOVEN LIVES: CONTEMPORARY TEXTILES FROM ANCIENT OAXACAN TRADITIONS // (USA, 2011, 76 min.) Documentary about the development of woven textiles in Zapotec communities of Oaxaca, Mexico. Discussion with filmmaker after the screening. Written, directed and produced by Carolyn Kallenborn. The George Washington University, Marvin Center, Third Floor Amphitheater, 800 21st St., NW, 7pm, free

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Saturday 3/22 SLUMS: CITIES OF TOMORROW // (Canada, 2013, 82 min.) Explore the inspiring and tenacious individuals in slums from Mumbai, India to a tent city in New Jersey. In French, English, Arabic, and Hindi with English subtitles. Directed by Jean-Nicolas Orhon. Produced by Christine Falco.

Petworth Neighborhood Library 4200 Kansas Ave., NW, 2pm, free

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Sunday 3/23 FIRE AND ICE (USA, 2013, 57 min.) Part of a 4-part series Standing on Sacred Ground, shows how indigenous customs protect biodiversity despite being pushed out by religious groups and threatened by climate change. Directed by Christopher McLeoud.

National Museum of the American Indian Fourth St. & Jefferson Dr., SW, 3pm, free

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Monday 3/24 THE HADZA: THE LAST OF THE FIRST // (USA, 2014, 71 min.) One of the last remaining hunter-gather groups has lived in the Africa’s Rift Valley for over 50,000 years. Directed by Bill Benenson.

Carnegie Institution for Science, Elihu Root Auditorium 1530 P St., NW, 7pm, $10

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Tuesday 3/25

Urban Legacies, Rural Traditions Short film program from journalists showing the social and environmental consequenses of urban industries.

Carnegie Institution for Science, Elihu Root Auditorium 1530 P St., NW 6:30pm, free with registration

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Wednesday 3/26 THE BONOBO CONNECTION // (Congo / USA, 2012, 32 min.) One of our closes relatives can only be found in the Democratic Republic of Congo and may be first to go extinct. Narrated by Ashley Judd. Directed and produced by Irene Magafan.

Georgetown University, Edward B. Bunn Intercultural Center 37th & O Sts., NW, 7pm, free

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Thursday 3/27 HAPPINESS // (France / Finland, 2013, 80 min.) Winner Cinematography Award for World Cinema Documentary at 2014 Sundance Film Festival, this film shows what happens when eight-year-old monk buys a TV-st. Directed by Thomas Balmès and Nina Bernfeld.

E Street Cinema 555 11th St., NW, 7:30pm, $10

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Friday 3/28 STOP! RODANDO EL CAMBIO // (Spain, 2014, 70 min.) Follow the crew along the Spanish countryside, France and Portugal to experience those that have chosen to live a simpler life. In Spanish with English subtitles. Directed by Alba González de Molina Soler and Blanca Ordóñez de Tena.

American University, Forman Theater 201 McKinley Building, 4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW, 6:45pm, free

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Saturday 3/29 NATUROPOLIS: NEW YORK, THE GREEN REVOLUTION // (France, 2013, 89 min.) How do mega-cities like New York incorporate nature and wildlife in urban settings? Directed by Bernard Guerrini.

National Museum of American History, Warner Bros. Theater, 14th St. & Constitution Ave., NW, 2:30pm, free

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Sunday 3/30 CALLE LOPEZ // (Mexico, 2013, 80 min.) See daily life on Calle Lopez in downtown Mexico City through the eyes of two photographers, shot in black and white. In Spanish with English subtitles. Directed by Gerardo Barroso Alcalá and Lisa Tillinger

AFI Silver Theatre, 8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, Md., 7:30pm, $12

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Exposed DC: 49 images from local photographers + opening reception, after party

Since 2006, Exposed DC has been working hard at getting local photographers' exposure and resources through meet-ups, a blog and an annual exhibition. This year, the Exposed DC Photography Show will have 49 photographs on view shot by local hobbyists and professionals alike. Opening night is Wednesday, March 19th and a $15 entry fee gets you access to a local's view (and taste) of DC with favorites like Bluejacket Brewery, Boxwood Vinery, Founding Farmers + Farmers Fishers Bakers providing food and drinks.

Here are some of our favorite shots:

You can view all the winning images in the Flickr Group 2014 Exposed DC Winners.

Opening Reception Wednesday, March 15th $15 ($20 at the door) Long View Gallery 1234 9th Street NW, Washington DC 6pm - 10pm

After party at The Passenger 1021 7th Street NW Washington, DC 8pm - close

Exposed DC Photography Show On view at Long View Gallery until April 6th, 2014 Wednesday-Saturday 11-6, Sunday 12-5

House of Cards Season 3: withdrawl remedy--read D.C. Noir 1&2

If you're into House of Cards, chances are you finished Season 2 weeks ago and are highly anticipating Season 3. As filming hasn't even started yet, it's going to be a while before we find out if Stamper is really dead, if the Underwoods will get away with it and if the fun text bubbles will ever come back.

What to do while going through House of Cards withdrawal? I could make a whole list of silly, useless pastimes, but instead I'm going to give you one really high quality answer.

Read a book

about DC

noir style

Yup, turn off whatever other show you've gotten into (because, it's just not that good) and pick up one of these gems: You can even get them at the library. Like the gorgeous Watha T. Daniel Library in Shaw, if you live in Washington, DC. (Or even the library of Congress if you work on Capitol Hill. Christina totally gets her books from the library of Congress.)

I discovered DC Noir 2 while browsing in the library and the librarian was sweet enough to put DC Noir on hold for me (I think she thought it was a part 1 and part 2 thing).

"Nowhere in the country is the race, class, and culture divide more obvious than it is in Washington, D.C. And the conflict does not bubble below the surface--this American experiment is dissected and discussed, in-you-face style, everyday."                                                                      --George Pelecanos, editor of both books

D.C. Noir is a collection of crime/noir fiction style short stories that explore all four quadrants (NW, NE, SW, SE). Authors are diverse--including an incarcerated man, a police officer, actor and journalists, of various races and ethnicities. The stories take place in familiar places like Capitol Hill, not-so-familiar places like Benning Heights, giving locals and non-locals alike a new perspective on the district.

D.C. Noir 2: The Classics is filled with notable and historic writers that have either lived in or written about the city. WIth names like Langston Hughes and Edward P. Jones, it does not disappoint. The stories are in chronological order by date in which they were published originally and by neighborhood.

Best part, because they are all short stories, you can read them on a commute to work or over coffee without committing to a whole book. Since each story is totally different, you won't get bored. You can even stay up all night and read the whole book, if you are the type that watches a series start to finish.

The first story I read in D.C. Noir  2 was written in 1900 by Paul Laurence Dunbar titled "A Council of State". It's takes place on R Street N.W., where I am sitting right now.

Here's a sneak peak:

Part I

Luther Hamilton was a great political power. He was neither representative in Congress, senator nor cabinet minister. When asked why he aspired to none of these places of honor and emolument he invariably shrugged his shoulders and smiled inscrutably. In fact, he found it both more pleasant and more profitable simply to boss his party. It gave him power, position and patronage, and yet put him under obligations to no narrow constituency.

As he sat in his private office this particular morning there was a smile upon his face, and his little eyes looked out beneath the heavy grey eyebrows and the massive cheeks with gleams of pleasure. His whole appearance betokened the fact that he was feeling especially good. Even his mail lay neglected before him, and his eyes gazed straight at the wall. What wonder that he should smile and dream. Had he not just the day before utterly crushed a troublesome opponent? Had he not ruined the career of a young man who dared to oppose him, driven him out of public life and forced his business to the wall? Is this were not food for self-congratulation pray what is?

Intrigued? Need some political action? Check out these books and let us know what you think!

There are two kinds of pain. The sort of pain that makes you strong, or useless pain. The sort of pain that's only suffering. I have no patience for useless things --Francis Underwood

Happy House of Cards waiting time!