It's Starting to Get Caliente...

I always know that summer activities in DC have begun when I'm immediately forced to go to the salon and get my hair relaxed with a Keratin treatment. Sad, but true; at work last week, I went to work with straight hair and left with a full-fledged Erykah Badu-inspired afro. But despite my hair woes, it cannot be denied that the spring months are perfect for enjoying the DC outdoors. While you're pretty much guaranteed an asthma attack walking outside for over ten minutes once July hits, take advantage of being able to wear your bedazzled Jack Rogers flip flops, barely there T-Bags dress, and enjoy the city's outdoor activities in style:

• Sit on the Georgetown Waterfront. Or drink. Or just people watch. Whatever the case, my neighborhood is the perfect locale to see and be seen when the weather gets nice (not to get all Gossip Girl on you, but it's true).
• Looking for a college boy? Mingle with some of American University's finest fraternity brothers at Guapo's on Wisconsin Ave. Despite being my AU old faithful bar (a quesadilla from there always did the trick if a guy pissed me off), this place has some of the best margaritas and chips and salsa in town. Though it's not very scenic overlooking the Best Buy, put on your old Greek letters and pretend you're in college again.
• Walk around the National Mall and act like a straight up tourist. Ride the carousel, buy popcorn, and maybe even pop into a Smithsonian. Or, bring a bottle of wine and a picnic blanket, and pretend you're looking at the Eiffel Tower instead of the phallic Washington Monument. 
• Browse the local art at Eastern Market in South West, and be sure to zero in on Quest Skinner's delicacies. Not much of an art connoisseur? A farmer's market takes up half the market. Even better, many of the farmers bring free samples of their fruits, so bring your appetite, as well.
• Enjoy the Disco Brunch at Cobalt in Dupont Circle alongside some of DC's most fabulous in the gay community. With unlimited mimosas and delicious french toast while people watching outside, you really can't go wrong.
• Sit on the deck at Lima and enjoy one of their insanely amazing mojitos. And featuring a Latin night every Monday, you can even enjoy a mariachi guitarist outdoors and switch to reggaeton inside.
• Go peruse the shops in Old Town Alexandria. With cute restaurants, boutiques, and a New England-historical flare all in the home town of George Washington himself, you can almost still hear the horses trotting down the street.... kind of....
• Get a spray tan at Solar Planet in Georgetown if you have really bad allergies but want to pretend that you've been social outside when the weather is nice. It lasts for ten days and won't put you at risk for melanoma, and what's better than that?!

Enjoy the warm weather!