Washington is full of very smart people with secrets to share. So we asked dozens of the area’s cognoscenti to dish. What are tricks for making great small talk at a party? What’s a sure-fire way to get out of jury duty? How can you get a meeting with someone powerful? In this guide, you’ll find advice on matters that confront just about every Washingtonian—whether you’ve always wondered how to get invited to a White House state dinner, how to tell if your neighbor is a spy, or how to ask someone that classic DC question “What do you do?” in a less obnoxious way.
1. How to Be Friends With Someone Whose Politics You Disagree With
Former senator Tom Coburn shares his expert advice. Read more…
2. How to Work a Room
Roxanne Roberts, a Washington Post reporter who regularly writes about the social doings of Washington’s elite, shares her pro tips. Read more…
3. How to Avoid Getting “Dock Blocked” On a Capital Bikeshare Bike
The Capital Bikeshare program manager shares her pro tips. Read more…
4. How to Get Access to Powerful People
A lobbying group chairman shares his tricks. Read more…
5. How to Talk Baseball With a Professional
Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals first baseman, shares his pro tips. Read more…
6. How to Get an RSVP to an Unanswered Invitation
Judith Martin, a.k.a. Miss Manners, the etiquette columnist shares with us her expert tips. Read more…
7. How to Get a Good Seat on a Crowded Amtrak Train
A redcap at Union Station lets us in on pro secrets. Read more…
8. How to Handle Snow Like a Pro
Snow advice from a Washingtonian raised in Buffalo. Read more…
9. How to Have a Good Conversation at a Party
NPR’s Ari Shapiro gives us four ways to make small talk less awkward. Read more…
10. How to Tell If Someone Is a Spy
A former CIA operative gives us a guide to spotting a spy. Read more…
RELATED: Four books to help you navigate Washington like a pro.
11. How to Get Into DC’s Hottest Clubs
Tip No. 1: network on social media. Read more…
12. How to Arrange a “Gift” of Marijuana
Since it’s against the law to buy cannabis from people in DC, the cofounder of Capitol Hemp shares how to properly “gift” weed. Read more…
13. How to Give a Killer Toast at a Wedding
A speechwriter for Vice President Joe Biden tells hows how we can nail it. Read more…
14. How to Take a Selfie With a Celebrity
The Chew’s Carla Hall dishes on how to do it the right way. Read more…
15. How to Make the Guest List for a State Dinner
A former White House social secretary shares her pro tips. Read more…
16. How to Avoid Getting Sick When You Meet and Greet All Day
Dr. Anthony Fauci shares his pro tips. Read more…
17. What to Say to Someone In the Middle of a Public Embarrassment
Anthony Weiner, a former congressman who resigned after explicit tweets of him surfaced, gives advice to those stuck in the middle of a public nightmare. Read more…
18. How to Get Out of Jury Duty
A renowned DC criminal and civil-defense lawyers tells us how to get of the hook. Read more…
19. How to Play a Game Against Your Boss That You’re Better At
Arne Duncan, who’s known to play pick-up with President Obama, says: “No mercy.” Read more…
20. How to Politely Say No to a Request
David Rubenstein demonstrates. Read more…
21. How to Ask Someone in a More Courteous Way “What Do You Do?”
An etiquette consultant shares how to ask without seeming rude. Read more...
22. How to See Stars in the Sky Close to DC
A NASA employee shares the best spots to stargaze around Washington. Read more…
23. How to Resolve a Dispute With Your Neighbor
We talked to a lead US negotiator in last year’s deal to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. Because there’s no messing around when it comes to settling a disagreement between neighbors. Read more…
24. How to Tell If Someone Is Lying
A former FBI assistant director shares four ways you can spot a liar. Read more…
25. How to Score the Best Spot at Your First Indoor Cycling Class
Four tips from a Zengo instructor. Read more…
26. How to Eat Dinner On 14th Street With No Reservation
A 14th Street resident shares her insider tips. Read more…
27. How to Look Crisp and Professional When You Commute to Work By Bike
A cyclist who has been riding to work for 20 years lets us in on his secret to staying fresh. Read more…
28. How to Bring Your Dog to Work (And Not Be a Jerk)
A congressman shares how to bring your furry pal to work without annoying everyone in the office. Read more…
This article appears in our January 2016 issue of Washingtonian.
Sherri Dalphonse joined Washingtonian in 1986 as an editorial intern, and worked her way to the top of the masthead when she was named editor-in-chief in 2022. She oversees the magazine’s editorial staff, and guides the magazine’s stories and direction. She lives in DC.
Andrew Beaujon joined Washingtonian in late 2014. He was previously with the Poynter Institute, TBD.com, and Washington City Paper. He lives in Del Ray.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
Michael J. Gaynor has written about fake Navy SEALs, a town without cell phones, his Russian spy landlord, and many more weird and fascinating stories for the Washingtonian. He lives in DC, where his landlord is no longer a Russian spy.
Marisa M. Kashino joined Washingtonian in 2009 and was a senior editor until 2022.
