Century Ballroom, Capitol Hill

A wrenching breakup and a shameless addiction to Dancing with the Stars lead me to the Century Ballroom for the first time. One twenty-minute East Coast Swing lesson followed by a night of social dancing and I quickly kicked my cheesy reality show habit, trading it for a new obsession: Lindy Hop. Today, thanks to six months of lessons, countless dances (some graceful and some...well...let's just say I've occasionally come away with superficial bruising) and...

Sambar, Ballard

My birthday isn't until October, but I am already deeply engaged in strategic planning for my big day. It's not because of what the event is going to be, but where the event is going to be. I am definitely, without question, celebrating my birthday at Sambar. I knew it the minute I walked in and took one look at the chic, sleek decor. "This is where I want to turn twenty-eight," I thought, because...