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Can’t-Miss Clicks: The Best Blogs in Washington

Whether you’re commuting, eating, sightseeing, shopping, raising a kid, or researching legislation, Washington’s rich online world can help make life better, easier, and more fun.

By Garrett M. Graff , Catherine Andrews , Alejandro Salinas , Emily Leaman Published Monday, April 06, 2009

The Internet can seem endless; every niche imaginable is represented somewhere out there. But Washington, with its young and wired population, has an especially rich virtual world.

As former president George W. Bush warned us, all of the various “Internets” are awash with information. To compile this list of the region’s best blogs and other Web sites, we excluded many of the good ones focused on national politics—even though Marc Ambinder’s Atlantic journal, the Tribune Company’s Swamp blog, and Slate, to name a few, provide invaluable online coverage.

What follows are some of the Web sites that make us enjoy living in the area even more—from great new voices and observations about Washington to resources that make it easier to work, live, and play here. The District has benefited from initiatives launched by DC chief technology officer Vivek Kundra—now the White House’s chief information officer—who has opened up government data online and encouraged Web developers to make the information useful and fun to share. He has created a model that other jurisdictions would do well to follow.

This list isn’t comprehensive; it’s some of our favorites. What are yours? E-mail us at editorial@washingtonian.com and we’ll compile your nominations at Washingtonian.com.

Metropolitan Life

Brightest Young Things A site for, by, and about DC’s alternative scenesters, it covers everything from fashion, music, and film to food and drinks with a casual, often tongue-in-cheek attitude.

DCBlogs A blog-aggregating site, DCBlogs showcases some of the topics driving the conversation among Washingtonians and features a live update feed for those wanting to be kept in the loop at all times.

DCeiver Jason Linkin’s personal blog, DCeiver, is every bit as incisive as Eat the Press, the blog he writes for the Huffington Post. It offers a quick snapshot of Linkin’s musings on Washington, politics, and more.

DCist One of the pioneers of the Washington blog scene. If a blog can be called establishment, this is the one. It covers everything from commuting to sports to local politics—and now it has a full-time editor.

Going Green DC Writer Sacha Cohen offers information about all things local and “green”—from jobs to shopping to gifts.

Boldface Names

Above the Law This site—once based in Washington, now in New York—bills itself as a “legal tabloid,” and it’s nothing if not gossipy. Want to know how many Supreme Court clerks the firm across the street snapped up? Check it out.

FamousDC No one knows who the wry voices behind FamousDC are, but they offer a daily mix of gossip, politics, amusing YouTube videos, and funny Facebook updates from Washingtonians.

FishbowlDC Two new editors, Matthew Dornic and Christine Delargy, have taken over this longtime fixture on the local blog scene that covers media and journalists.

Potomac Flacks If you work in or around the PR industry, you’ll want to follow this site, which keeps track of everyone’s comings and goings.

Raw Fisher When Washington Post columnist Marc Fisher was moved from his prominent place above the fold on the Metro section’s front page, he went online—and the result is well worth reading.

Washington City Paper City Desk The City Paper might hate to be called “mainstream media,” yet its irreverent city blog is about the best cross between a newspaper and a blog you’ll find in this area.

Help With Daily Life

Capital Weather Gang The group behind this started a blog before the Washington Post hired it to write about all things weather-related. If you can’t get enough of dew points, high-heat-index days, and cold fronts, this is your place. Recent topics have included “Which is more pathetic: winter or the Wizards?”

Craigslist Washington, DC Buy or sell merchandise, find or advertise a job, post an apartment to rent, locate a group house, get a date—here’s the go-to site for just about anything you want to do in the area.

Cultural Tourism DC This site pulls together lots of helpful information about arts and heritage sights and tours across more than 250 Washington cultural and neighborhood organizations. Also check out DC Historic Tours.

DC CrimeMap The DC police and DC government have put together a surprisingly easy-to-use and powerful mapping tool that allows you to inspect reported crimes around any address in the District—good for figuring out why that house you’re considering buying is so cheap.

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Posted by: finally123, Jul 13, 2011 10:39:08 PM

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Posted by: Inder Dan Ratnu, Jul 24, 2010 10:58:57 PM

I wanted to share a blog I started chronicling my effort to find love within six degrees of separation here in DC. I’m attempting to go on 50 dates (i.e. 50 different men) by June 2010. It’s an adventure, with lots of amusing tales. It’s called 50 Dates.

www.50dates.wordpress.com

Posted by: Geeta, Oct 15, 2009 02:27:31 PM

Please burst my bubble and tell me you’re not talking about my blog??

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Posted by: Jessica Martinez, Jul 29, 2009 05:24:43 AM

The "More" Child: http://themorechild.com

Posted by: Weezer, Jun 28, 2009 08:49:45 AM

A funny blog about the "overclass suburbs" of DC, Virginia and Maryland:
<br/>
http://snoburbia.typepad.com/the_snoburbs/

Posted by: jetcat45, Jun 05, 2009 10:43:42 AM

Hi! I recently started a new website (http://crazygoose.wordpress.com) with which I am trying to raise awareness about animals in need of adoption. Twice a week, I will feature a new animal in need of adoption/help by raising awareness of them. To launch this website, I am looking for submissions for animals to feature! Know an animal that needs help? Email me at crazygooseblog@gmail.com and I may pick your suggestion! Please follow the guidelines below when submitting an animal in need.

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Posted by: Bobozazz, May 28, 2009 08:00:10 PM

A newer blogger, about D.C.s wealthier suburbs and overachievers - http://snoburbia.typepad.com/the_snoburbs/

Posted by: jetcat45, May 17, 2009 03:16:17 PM

Too late for this wish to come true, Garret has been promoted!

Posted by: DCinsider, May 16, 2009 04:40:05 AM

too late, Garret was promoted!

Posted by: woohoo, May 16, 2009 04:39:08 AM

not a bad list, but Craigslist isn’t really a blog, it’s more like a classifieds page/place for hilarious rants.

Posted by: andrew, May 01, 2009 01:54:05 PM

This is a great list, thank you. It’s especially helpful to know some of the "neighborhood" local blogs, since when you move to another area of the city, it’s an ’all over again’ process of getting to know what’s out there for you to explore in your neighborhood. We just moved from U street to Arlington, and it was great to learn about What’s up Arlington blog. Now we can see what’s going on at the foot of our house.
However, you did miss the whole bunch of bloggers who write for DC Examiner. I’m on of them. There are a lot of great people on Examiner.com, who tailor to specific subject matters in the city: from entertainment/celebrity sightings to politics, sports, food, beauty and travel. All tailored to DC/VA/MA residents:
http://www.examiner.com/x-2627-DC-International-Travel-Examiner

Posted by: Alisa Krutovsky, DC International Travel Examiner, Apr 29, 2009 10:34:31 AM

You missed a major player in the local food scene. DC Examiner blogger, Will Sullivan, covers all things related to sustainable food in the area (and there’s a lot of it!). It isn’t preachy at all, just fun. Cool events, restaurant news, day-trips, and more.

Check it out - http://www.examiner.com/x-2655-DC-Sustainable-Food-Examiner

Posted by: M.W., Apr 27, 2009 12:01:05 PM

MtnGrl Musing (On blogspot; I think the blogger is from the mountains but lives in the DC area) is a good one with irreverant and incisive takes on politics and life in general.

Posted by: Erin, Apr 20, 2009 07:21:44 AM

Drank, slept, ate or work at the flophouse? CHECK! you make the list.

Posted by: jen, Apr 14, 2009 06:42:36 AM

Smithsonian magazine has a good blog about what’s going on in the museums called Around the Mall http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/aroundthemall/

Posted by: Sarah, Apr 08, 2009 05:52:21 PM

Missed one, Graff; perhaps even more, I don’t know . . . but, you omitted DCRTV.com, which has always been where I first look for news and insight into’s DC’s radio scene (if one could call it that). And oh yeah, how IS it ethical to tout your own blog in this piece? I don’t think the Georgetown folks would think too highly of that.

Posted by: Hoya Journalistguy, Apr 07, 2009 06:00:31 PM

To add to DC Caller’s comments, uh... nice list but... some of these sites aren’t actually blogs. And I feel like something isn’t "news" if everyone already knows about it. Just saying.

Posted by: linz, Apr 07, 2009 01:13:10 PM

You missed Wonkette, which is a hilarious DC politics/gossip blog many of my friends in the city read consistently. Wonkabout, their "what’s happening in town" section, is great for finding an event any day of the week.

Posted by: WonkFan, Apr 07, 2009 11:16:53 AM

I think you missed some good DC blogs: DesignWonderland.net, ErinJackson.net, Deacon Does DC and even me, The Art of Accessories - the style section was really thin and there are so many fab DC blogs about style around and on Twitter! But you can’t list them all I guess...

Posted by: DWJ, Apr 07, 2009 09:05:36 AM

so disappointed when this listing came out, was looking for some cool local and off the beaten path of blogs. Metrocurean is one of my favs! Capitolb.net and Gregslist are great too...I felt the article was afraid to post competitors to Washingtonian’s content.

Posted by: Blog Lover, Apr 07, 2009 09:02:55 AM

I have read All About the Pretty and it’s a nice blog, but there are so many other DC style blogs out there than just that one. Can we get a little variety? You gave that one and Goodwill...really?

Posted by: Sara, Apr 07, 2009 08:32:45 AM

YAWN. SIGH. UGH.

If this is the future of journalism, journalism is dead.

Actually, this is NOT the future of journalism, factually, reality-wise and journalistically. Real journalism is much, much better than this.

Yawn.

Posted by: thefrontpage, Apr 07, 2009 05:50:44 AM

Uh... nice list but... wasn’t Garrett Graff involved with FishBowlDC? Didn’t anybody check the ethics of this before it went to print? At the very least a retraction is owed to those who buy the magazine. Oh yeah, and don’t have Mr. Graff do any more work for Washingtonian.

Posted by: DC Caller, Apr 06, 2009 09:42:39 PM

Can’t-Miss Clicks: The Best Blogs in Washington

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