FriendlyChatter

Online commenting leads to offl ine community for loyal

followers of some local blogs 8

ALL WORK, SOME PLAY Shared workspaces cater to parents, writers and more 10

PERSONAL PEP RALLY Ex-cheerleader Molly Shattuck wants you to live vibrantly 11

UNBURY TREASURES How to fi nd gems among the junk at estate sales 12

FEBRUARY 16, 2014 | A PUBLICATION OF FGHIJ | READEXPRESS.COM | @WAPOEXPRESSTHINKSTOCK/EXPRESS ILLUSTRATION

2 | E X P R E S S S U N D AY | 0 2 . 1 6 . 2 0 14

Your Best Shot | Submitted by Angela Napili of Washington

Want to see your pic in print? Submit your

best shot by joining our Flickr pool at flickr.com/

groups/wapoexpress. Share a photo from the

Washington region, and it could appear here.

PRETTY BIRD: Washingtonian Angela Napili says the National Zoo’s Amazonia exhibit, which replicates the diverse ecosystem of a tropical rainforest, is a difficult place to photograph because of its low lighting. But, as she points out, it also makes for a dramatic background. Pictured here is a Roseate Spoonbill, a large wading bird.

eye openers

IMPATIENCE

She Wanted Her Slushie, And She Wanted It NowA woman in Manassas, Va., took a joyride from one

7-Eleven parking lot to another 7-Eleven about a mile

away last month. Police said Natasha Cook, 30, had

been waiting in the parked car while its driver was in the

store when she hopped into the driver’s seat and took

off. Cook was arrested and charged with grand larceny

and driving on a revoked license, Manassas Police said.

POPPYCOCK!

“I find naming streets after prominent persons does help me with wayfinding.”— D I N O D R U D I , AN ALEX ANDRIA RESIDENT, SPOKE OUT

AGAINST AN ORDINANCE PASSED BY ALEX ANDRIA’S CIT Y

COUNCIL LAST MONTH. IT REPEALED A REQUIREMENT THAT

NEW STREETS BE NAMED AF TER EITHER CONFEDERATE

MILITARY LEADERS OR PROMINENT PEOPLE OR PLACES IN

AMERICAN HISTORY, OLD TOWN ALEX ANDRIA PATCH REPORTED.

CONSTRUCTION WOES

Your Crack Is Showing …Bethesda commuters may have been startled to find

an 8-inch-wide trench running across Wisconsin Ave-

nue near its intersection with Leland Street last month,

BethesdaNow reported. The State Highway Administra-

tion said crews had been working overnight and did not

have time to cover the utility trenches left behind. It has

since been filled. (EXPRESS)

XX05675x3

express

If ad space were real estate, this wouldbe a trendy gastropub on 14th Street.

To advertise: 202-334-6732 or ads@readexpress.com

0 2 . 1 6 . 2 0 14 | E X P R E S S S U N D AY | 3

for what it’s worthT HE NE W S ,

A L I T T L E

ASKE W

WMATAFeb. 20, 1967

ToniBraxton

Oct. 7, 1967

25thAmendmentFeb. 10, 1967

Greatestcontributionto history

Mostembarrassingmoment

Midlifecrisis

The Metro system;

having the most

escalators of any

transit system in

North America.

1996’s No. 1 hit

“Un-Break My

Heart.”

Formalized the line

of presidential suc-

cession; allows for

an acting president

if POTUS is ill.

Dick Cheney was

acting president

both times George

W. Bush got

colonoscopies.

The Severn, Md.,

native’s dress

fell off during a

show last August,

exposing her rear.

In April 2004, then-

chief executive

Richard White said

Metro was headed

for a “death spiral.”

Stainless-steel rail

cars. “No more …

circus colors,” said

General Manager

Richard Sarles.

Starring in the

reality show

“Braxton Family

Values”; publishing

a memoir this year.

Colonoscopies.

CORRECTION: The Big Picture, “The Traffic That Time Forgot,” on page 2 of

the Feb. 2 edition incorrectly spelled photographer Jim Havard’s name.

STYLE

What the Catwalk Dragged In DC Fashion Week (Feb. 17–23, dcfashionweek.org) may lack the cachet of its New

York counterpart, but at least you don’t have to get into fisticuffs with a potato

sack-clad Olsen twin to snag a seat. Should you choose to go, you better look the

part. Express’ fashion editors provided this cheat sheet to what’s in, out and meh.

For What It’s Worth is produced by Marissa Payne and Rachel Sadon. Have suggestions for the page? Email us at fwiw@wpost.com or tweet us @WaPoExpress.

BIRTHDAYS

That Awkward AgeForty-seven years ago, President Lyndon Johnson signed a bill creating the

Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority. Before WMATA blows

out 47 track switches to celebrate, let’s look at its accomplishments so far, and

see how the agency measures up to other 1967-born locals.

HOLIDAYS

All the Presidential Men Don’t be sad if President Obama, or any former leader of the free world, turns down an invite to your Presidents Day potluck. Hire or visit one of these fi ne professional stand-ins.

Larry Graves came by the President’s good looks through genetics. The voice, though, took

some practice for this traveling impersonator, who’s represented locally by Cast of Thousands.

Patriotic props: Graves comes with two faux Secret Service agents.

Sounding the part: The biggest challenge of mimicking Obama’s unique cadence? “The

pauses. And the attack. Aaaaand youdowhatyoucan. Aaaaaand havefunwithit,” Graves said,

sounding very Barack-ish.

Similarities to POTUS: “Often people will hand me something to write to see if I’m left-

handed, and I am left-handed, so it works out well.”

Larry Graves as Barack Obama

Nationals Racing President Teddy RooseveltThe Nats’ long-losing, finally victorious Teddy agreed to field our questions via his

“representative” — so, probably a Nats marketing intern. Read more of “Teddy’s” thoughts on

Twitter at @Teddy26Nats.

Race rituals: “After I win, I won’t change my socks and I will go without washing them until my

next loss.”

Nutrition regimen: “I carbo-loaded the night before I ran the 2008 Marine Corps Marathon! I’m

proud to say I am the only Racing President to have finished a marathon! 6:26:49!” Also, Teddy

only drinks red or blue sports drinks: “Not into those other flavors!”

Visitors to Mount Vernon might meet farmer George (left), General Washington or other

incarnations of the first president — it depends on historic interpretative actor Dean Malissa’s

attire of the day. For extra authenticity, Malissa sports his own white locks, rather than a wig,

just as Washington did.

Patriotic props: A closet-full of regalia, including a $400 farming outfit and $3,600 period suit.

How Washington would feel about the U.S. today: “His heart would be broken.”

Little-known fact: The father of our country “was never seen ‘naked’,” to which Malissa quickly

added, “Naked meant ‘without a coat’ in [Washington’s day].”

Dean Malissa as George Washington

J. MAURITZEN

JESSE EDWARDS

Eco-friendly threads; bold prints

MORE ONLINE: Go to readexpress.com for Springfield, Va.-based burlesque dancer ’Stache’s reflections on embodying George W. Bush.

Ruffles Basic black; Goth-inspired dresses

XPC0061 5x3

on the spot4 | E X P R E S S S U N D AY | 0 2 . 1 6 . 2 0 14

Mundy directs the New America Foun-

dation’s Work and Family Program.

SA

M K

ITT

NE

R

Can paternity leave help women succeed at work? That’s the argument Mundy makes in “Daddy Track,” her Atlantic story looking at the trend toward paid paternity leave. The leave, financed by workplaces or in some states by a payroll-tax contribution, gives couples time to split child care more evenly, which helps moms when they get back to work. She’ll talk with The Atlantic’s Ta-Nehisi Coates at Sixth and I.

So what’s the verdict?

Men are delighted when they can

get paternity leave, and that it’s

good for women.

How does leave for dads help moms?

When men are involved in the care

of a newborn and become confi-

dent in the care of a child, this has

permanent effects. Holding and

feeding and bathing and diaper-

ing: Patterns fall into place pretty

quickly. If a man is not home, the

mother becomes kind of the keeper

of these tasks. These routine chores

that have to be done day after day

have tended to fall to women in a

way that’s really stressful and can

hurt them in the workplace. [Help

from dads] frees women up to be

able to spend more time at work.

How long should a paternity leave

be to reap these benefits?

The longer the better. Three days

isn’t going to make a difference,

but six weeks can. The other thing

that’s really important is that it be

paid leave. When a child is born,

I think men feel their breadwin-

ning responsibility very keenly.

How have new dads historically

been treated at work?

In general, workplaces have tended

to reward men when they become

fathers. Men tend to get paid more,

they tend to be seen as more com-

mitted and responsible and pro-

motable, whereas the opposite has

been true for women.

If more workplaces are doing this,

why are states offering it, too?

The states make it available to peo-

ple who aren’t in white-collar work-

places — roofers and firefighters

and bartenders — who were not

going to get offered this by their

workplaces.

What will you and Ta-Nehisi

Coates discuss at Sixth and I?

When men are engaged fathers

and leaving work early, are they

stigmatized for that? That seems

to be a topic that studies are incon-

sistent on. BETH MARLOWE (EXPRESS)

LIZA MUNDY JOURNALIST AND AUTHOR

Sixth and I Historic Synagogue, 600

I St. NW; Tue., 7 p.m., $15; 202-408-

3100, sixthandi.org. (Gallery Place)

If so, nominate yourworkplace as oneof thebest inthe greater Washington area for Top Workplaces

2014: a special section of The Washington Postcoming early this summer.

washingtonpost.com/nominate

Workweeks FeelLikeWeekends?

XPN1244 5x6

0 2 . 1 6 . 2 0 14 | E X P R E S S S U N D AY | 5

PLAN AHEAD. STAY INFORMED. COMMUTE BETTER.

DC RiderDownload it for FREE today!

the essential iPhone and Android app for Metro ridersAvailable on iTunes or the Android App Market

XX

04

60

5X

10

.5

Get transitnews

Avoid painfuldelays with instantWashington Post

updates.

Catch yourtrain

Use the Metro map tofind the next train

arriving at your stop.

Find yourway

Find your best routeoptions (includingtransfer points) withour Trip Planner.

See it,say it

Follow riders’ Metro-related tweets andshare your ownwarnings andcomments.

6 | E X P R E S S S U N D AY | 0 2 . 1 6 . 2 0 14

02.16-02.22THE BEST THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK | COMPILED BY EXPRESS STAFF

‘Mutts Gone Nuts’“Two people and six dogs walk into the Atlas” isn’t the beginning of a joke. In “Mutts Gone Nuts,” a circus-inspired comedy act, pups literally jump through hoops — and roll on barrels, and jump rope — for laughs. The show also promotes local animal rescue groups. Atlas Performing Arts Center: 1333 H St. NE; Sat., 1:30 p.m., $12-$15; 202-399-7993, atlasarts.org.

MONDAY

‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’Not much will change for Jimmy Fallon, right, when he graduates from “Late Night” and starts hosting “The Tonight Show” on NBC Monday at 11:30 p.m. The Roots are still his house band, Steve Higgins is still his announcer, and his show will still tape in New York. Expect Fallon to keep his unbridled enthusiasm and his signature brand of musi-cal comedy, too. Will Smith and U2 are his fi rst guests.

SUNDAY

Maira KalmanIn her new

children’s

book, “Thomas

Jefferson: Life,

Liberty and

the Pursuit

of Everything,” writer and

illustrator Maira Kalman

doesn’t pull any punches. She

details our third president’s

love of ice cream along with

his political achievements and

complicated views on slavery.

Politics and Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW; Sun., 2 p.m., free; 202-364-1919, politics-prose.com. (Van Ness)

TUESDAY

Black Joe LewisAustin, Texas-

based rocker Joe

Lewis brings a

vintage vibe to

the 9:30 Club

on Tuesday. The

singer/guitarist potently melds

funk, soul and blues — often

within the same song. Take the

gritty, funky and horn-driven

“Come To My Party,” from his

latest album, “Electric Slave,”

as example. 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW; Tues., 7 p.m., $20; 202-265-0930, 930.com. (U Street)

STARTS TUESDAY

Mandy Patinkin And Patti LuPoneSeeing “Gypsy’s” Mama Rose

duet with “Homeland’s” Saul

Berenson may sound like a

weird dream you once had, but

it’s real. Broadway superstars

Patti LuPone and Mandy

Patinkin are on tour together.

They have a good track record:

When they co-starred in 1980’s

“Evita,” they each won a Tony.

Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW; Tue.-Feb. 23; various times, $95-$150; 202-467-4600, kennedy-center.org. (Foggy Bottom)

AN

DY

KR

OPA

(G

ET

TY

IMA

GE

S)

STARTS TUESDAY

‘American Idiot’Green Day’s 2004 album isn’t

just the stuff of high school

angst, it’s also the basis for the

Tony Award-winning musical

of the same name. The 2009

rock opera tells the story of

three friends coming of age

in a post-9/11 America, where

they must come to terms

with war, relationships and

adolescent freedom. National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW; Tue. - Feb. 23, $48-$93; 202-628-6161, nationaltheatre.org. (Metro Center)

STARTS WEDNESDAY

DC Independent Film FestivalThe oldest independent fi lm

festival in D.C. celebrates

its 16th year of showcasing

documentaries, shorts and

feature fi lms from around

the world. This year’s festival

venues are all over the city,

from Chinatown’s Goethe-

Institut to Columbia Heights’

GALA Hispanic Theatre. Go

to impress a date or to use

words like “cinema verite” with

a straight face. Various locations; Wed. - Feb. 23; dciff-indie.org.

THURSDAY & FRIDAY

Colin JostWe’ll be hearing

a lot about Colin

Jost, left, in the

coming weeks

as the comedian

prepares to join

Cecily Strong on the anchor

desk of “Saturday Night Live’s”

“Weekend Update” on March

1. Jost, the current head writer

for “SNL,” will prepare for his

new job with a pair of stand-

up shows in Arlington. Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse, 2903 Columbia Pike, Arlington; Thu., 10 p.m., $15, Fri., 7:30 p.m., $24; 703-486-2345, arlingtondrafthouse.com.

CO

RY

WE

AV

ER

STARTS SATURDAY

‘Moby Dick: The Opera’If you couldn’t get through

Herman Melville’s classic novel

about one man’s obsession with

the white whale who took his

leg, try the opera version. The

Washington National Opera

jazzes things up with massive

nautical sets and dazzling

visual effects. Plus, it’s shorter

than the book. Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW; Sat.-Mar. 8, $25-$305; 202-467-4600, kennedy-center.org. (Foggy Bottom)

FRIDAY

Lady Antebellum& Kacey MusgravesLady Antebellum, above, and

Kacey Musgraves have nine

Grammy awards between them,

including Musgraves’ recent win

for Best Country Album. The

trio’s soft melodies hearken to

early 2000s country-pop, while

Musgraves’ rural twang hints

she could be the next Miranda

Lambert. Patriot Center, 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax; Fri., 7 p.m., sold out; 703-993-3000, patriotcenter.com.

TAKETHE KIDS

SATURDAY

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Simple.more snow. more terrain.WINTER ESCAPE PACKAGE STARTING AT $81For reservations please call 888-804-5341.

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cover story

Let’s Take This Offline

A happy hour for Internet com-

menters sounds like an oxymoron.

These are, after all, people known

for filling the space beneath blog

posts and news stories with per-

sonal attacks and the occasional

xenophobic screed.

So as I searched for a real-world

meeting of online commenters at a

D.C. bar one recent evening, I was

on the lookout for people hurling

insults and perhaps even drinks.

Instead, I found about two-doz-

en somewhat nerdy, mostly middle-

aged adults cracking each other up.

“We have a lot of Ph.D.s and

other well-educated people,” says

information technology manag-

er Bill Cuttitta, 50, who has been

commenting on Washington Post

writer Joel Achenbach’s Achen-

blog (washingtonpost.com/blogs/

achenblog) since shortly after it

launched in 2005. That same year,

a frequent poster suggested a com-

menter happy hour.

Cuttitta and other so-called

Boodlers (Achenbach once referred

to his blog posts as “the kit” and

comments as “the caboodle” —

hence the name) are drawn to

Achenbach’s wide-ranging report-

ing and his sense of humor. Their

online conversations tend to be

funny and leap from topic to topic,

often paying little mind to Achen-

bach’s original post.

Their real-life chats turned out

to be similarly eclectic. At the Boo-

dle meetup I attended, I eaves-

dropped on a debate about the heat

death of the universe, which collid-

ed with a conversation about fer-

rets at urinals.

“It’s like going to the bar on the

corner, where you know everyone,”

says Scott Burnell, 46, a longtime

Internet commenters aren’t all jerks. Some even form lasting, real-world friendships

Social Life

Boodler who is also spokesman

for the Nuclear Regulatory Com-

mission.

There’s at least one clear dif-

ference between the Boodle

happy hour and Cheers, though:

When commenters meet, every-

body doesn’t know your name, or

even your gender, before you show

up. What people do know is your

handle and any other information

you’ve shared online. When Snarky

Squirrel arrived, several people

were surprised she’s a woman. But

most everyone knew to congratu-

late her on her new Ph.D.

Achenblog fans may be a par-

ticularly tight-knit group, but they

aren’t the only local commenter

community that’s spilled into the

real world.

For Greater Greater Washing-

ton (greatergreaterwashington

.org), which covers D.C.-area urban

planning, the trick to friendly in-

person relationships is a comment-

ing policy that maintains civility

while also encouraging lively dis-

cussions, says site comment mod-

erator Matt Johnson. That’s why

he’s always on the lookout for com-

ments that stymie discussion with

harsh criticism or name-calling.

“People know that when they

make comments [on Greater Great-

er Washington], they aren’t going

to get ripped apart by people who

are being mean,” he says.

As a result, the blog is a place for

high-level discussions about top-

ics like zoning and public trans-

portation, says regular commenter

and planning consultant Richard

Layman, 53.

“I don’t read DCist or Prince of

Petworth because most of the com-

ments there are drivel, and it just

bugs me that people say so much

stupid stuff,” he says.

Uncivil comments are com-

mon on most blogs and websites.

One study found that 53 percent

of comments on sites that allowed

anonymity included language that

was vulgar, racist, profane or hate-

ful — though that dropped to 29

percent when users were required

to give their real names.

Using your real face may inspire

even greater civility. Johnson can’t

remember a single raised voice

at Greater Greater Washington-

organized happy hours, which

happen every few months and

attract upward of 50 people. As

on the blog, real-life conversation

tends to be “very wonky and very

geeky,” focusing almost exclusive-

ly on urban planning.

At Haxville happy hours, on

the other hand, people don’t gen-

erally talk about Washington Post

columnist Carolyn Hax’s previous

advice columns (washingtonpost

.com/pb/carolyn-hax), says frequent

commenter and web designer Holly

Russo. Instead, they discuss their

personal lives, sometimes asking

one another for guidance.

Conversations tend to bypass

mundane pleasantries.

“When someone says, ‘How are

you doing?’ you don’t have to say,

‘Oh, I’m fine,’ ” Russo says. “You

DC Urban Moms And DadsDCURBANMOM.COM

This discussion board is perhaps best

known for flame wars about pricey

strollers, but it’s also a great place

to meet other parents. Looking for a

Lebanese-speaking playgroup? Or

maybe you want to commiserate with

other dads of twins over drinks? This

is the site for you.

Online communities have a long history of crossing over into the real world, says Colorado State University communication professor Ashley Anderson. “When people are regularly talking online, they often want to meet in person and continue that conversation,” she says. Here are a few local discussion groups that can help you make the leap.

DonRockwell.comWashington-area diners flock to

this site, created by shy computer

consultant Don Rockwell, for

restaurant news and reviews. It’s

also a great place to find others who

want to explore hole-in-the-wall

restaurants, as well as people

who are willing to drop serious cash

on dinner.

Washington AreaBike ForumBIKEARLINGTONFORUM.COM

Even when it’s cold and icy, the

zealots on this biking discussion

board plan group rides throughout

the D.C. area and beyond. Join them,

or just wear your bike helmet to one

of their happy hours. You’ll fit right in

and stay warm and dry.

Crossover Effect

M. M

CK

EN

NA

Writer Joel Achenbach, right,

talks with online commenters Tim

Livengood (whose online handle is

ScienceTim), left, and Scott Burnell

(ScottyNuke), center.

0 2 . 1 6 . 2 0 14 | E X P R E S S S U N D AY | 9

can say, ‘I’m not so great, because

I’m going through a divorce,’ or

whatever.”

The community’s support isn’t

just emotional. Last year, they

raised $975 for a commenter who

was undergoing chemotherapy.

The Boodlers are similarly gener-

ous — every Christmas they buy

presents for fellow commenters

who have lost jobs or might oth-

erwise be in need of some holiday

cheer, says veteran Boodler Tina

Gibson, 56, an editor and designer.

Gibson is as surprised as anyone

that the Achenblog spurred such a

tight group. When she was invit-

ed to the first Boodle happy hour,

in 2005, she skipped it because it

seemed “weird” to meet up with

strangers. Since then, she’s attend-

ed one Boodler’s wedding recep-

tion and two Boodlers’ funerals.

When Gibson went college

hunting with her son in Char-

lotte, N.C., they even stayed with

a Boodler. Gibson’s son didn’t end

up going to school there, but he did

meet his future wife on a subse-

quent trip. Neither of the newly-

weds spend time on the Achen-

blog, but Gibson has laid claim

to any future progeny.

“If they have children,” she says,

“they will be Boodle children.”

SADIE DINGFELDER (EXPRESS)

“When someone says ‘How are you doing,’ you don’t have to say ‘Oh, I’m fine.’ ” — H O L LY R US S O , WHO JOINS OTHER

PEOPLE WHO COMMENT ON CAROLYN

HA X’S COLUMNS FOR FRANK, IN-PERSON

CONVERSATIONS.

DC Theatre SceneDCTHEATRESCENE.COM

After you’re done complaining

about how D.C.’s high-profile

stages import all their talent from

New York, make a date with your

fellow thespians to check out the

area’s flourishing community-

theater scene.

The Metro Rider ’s Guide. Every secondand fourth Wednesday of the month.

Advertisers: Have a metro-accessiblelocation to advertise?

rentalads@washpost.com

add some green to your life(or blue, or red, or yellow).

0185 4X10.5

10 | E X P R E S S S U N D AY | 0 2 . 1 6 . 2 0 14

outings

There’s a Space for UsHave a kid? A dog? An unfinished novel? There’s a coworking option just for you

Productivity

These days, wired workers don’t

have to be tethered to an old-school

cubicle desk. Many of them are

flocking to coworking spaces —

shared offices where you pay for

only the time you use. As the num-

ber of coworking spaces grows, so

does the variety. In the Washing-

ton area, you’ll find lots of shared

office spaces that cater to partic-

ular types of professionals.

A Work/Play DateAt Sprout Co-Work Co-Play Studio

(3260 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; 703-

276-2355, sproutatsaffron.com),

there’s a space for kids to play or

take classes while parents work.

Launched as a coworking space

in 2012 by mom and former attor-

ney Rachael Galoob Ortega, now

an entrepreneur, belly dancer and

dance teacher professionally known

as Saphira.

The dance/yoga studio has

coworking lounges with free Wi-Fi

and printing, a conference room,

a cafe and private “repose suites”

with day beds for parents to relax

on (because parents need after-

noon naps, too!).

Supervised playtime is available

to kids between 18 months and 4

years old, while 3- to 8-year-olds

can partake in a variety of class-

es. Sprout is a license-exempt day-

care, which means parents have

to stay on the premises while the

kids are there.

“We created it because I didn’t

have it [when I had kids],” Ortega

says. “Everyone who comes in is

like ‘you had me at the nap room.’ ”

Rates vary depending on what

services parents want. A weekly spot

in a two-hour supervised playtime

for one child costs $85 a month.

For Dog LoversIf you can bring your kids to work,

it seems only fair that you be able to

bring your dog, too. Canvas Cowork

(1203 19th St. NW; 202-556-1203,

canvas.co/work), a loft-like space

in Dupont Circle, caters to creative

types like Web designers and devel-

opers. And to their dogs.

“It’s a natural disruption that

we kind of like,” co-founder Mar-

tin Ringlein says of having four-

legged friends in the office.

Ringlein, a Web designer him-

self, says coworking is about more

than just having a place to sit. At

Canvas, people often support and

collaborate with others they meet

in the space.

“We know what happens when

you get the right people in the

right environment,” Ringlein says.

“That’s where you start to see the

magic.”

Ringlein cautions that Canvas

isn’t for everyone. Because there

are no private offices, it’s not great

for people who make a lot of phone

calls or deal with customers all

day. Rates range from $30 a day

for basic access to $600 a month

for 24/7 access, a dedicated desk,

a mailing address and other perks.

Novelists WelcomeWorking on the next Great Amer-

ican Novel? Writers Room DC in

Tenleytown (4000 Albemarle St.

NW; writersroomdc.com) offers

workspaces to fiction and non-fic-

tion writers, including journalists,

with 18 workstations, 24/7 access

— so you can pull an all-nighter

on that thesis — and free coffee.

Co-founders Charles Karelis, a

writer and former academic, and

his son Alexander Karelis, a nov-

elist, say bringing writers togeth-

er creates a sort of positive peer

pressure.

“We’ve found that if there are

a whole lot of writers in a room,

they’re more productive — as long

as they can’t see each other,” Alex-

ander Karelis says.

None of the workstations face

each other in the small space, so

writers can capitalize on each oth-

er’s collective energy without get-

ting too distracted.

Writers Room DC costs $130

a month for a six-month member-

ship and $150 a month for three

months. The incentives to stay long-

term engenders a sense of com-

munity, Charles Karelis says, and

means less time spent on paper-

work for those who just want to

use the space for an hour or two.

Nicer Than a LobbyIf you do need a workspace for only

a few hours, the “touchdown” spots

at Carr Workplaces (multiple loca-

tions; 866-436-9214, carrworkplac-

es.com) may fit the bill. They look a

lot like the carrel desks from your

college library, says chief market-

ing officer Susan Lavington.

At Carr, these can be reserved for

the day or just a couple hours. “In our

Capitol Hill location, we have touch-

down spots for [people like] lobby-

ists who could just be in for the day.”

Other options include short-

and long-term offices and confer-

ence rooms, which are roomier than

the carrels and vary across Carr

Workplaces’ 18 metro-area loca-

tions. These high-end workspac-

es offer a little extra in the way of

concierge and administrative ser-

vices, Lavington says.

At the Capitol Hill location (300

New Jersey Ave. NW; 202-469-

3400), a carrel workspace is $50

a day. ERIN BYLANDER (FOR EXPRESS)

“We know what happens when you get the right people in the right environment. That’s where you start to see the magic.” — M A R T I N R I N G L E I N , C0-FOUNDER OF

CANVAS COWORK IN D.C.

At Sprout, Carissa Renee Melton makes use of the cafe’s free Wi-Fi, above, and

Tracy Yeager, below left, reads to kids while their parents get some work done.

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health

A Cheerleader’s Rules for Living

MO

LLY

SH

AT

TU

CK

Molly Shattuck used to cheer for

the Baltimore Ravens. And now

she wants to cheer for you.

In her new book, “Vibrant Liv-

ing” ($25, Hilton, vibrantliving

.com), Shattuck lays out a 21-day

plan to “transform your body, burst

with energy and live your life with

purpose.” The rules Shattuck has

developed are based on decades of

careful study — of herself.

“My experience comes from

my years of living,” says Shattuck,

who was a 38-year-old mother of

three when she picked up her pom-

poms for the Ravens in 2005, mak-

ing her the oldest cheerleader in

NFL history. Though she’s retired

her pom-poms (and turns 47 this

month), Shattuck hasn’t lost her

pep or impressive physique, which

explains why people are constant-

ly asking for her secrets.

Shattuck has never belonged

to a gym. She’s never hired a per-

sonal trainer. She’s never deprived

herself of dessert.

But she always carries around

a water bottle.

“Water is the wonder drug,” says

Shattuck, who first realized the

power of hydration after the birth

of her fi rst child. The more water she

drank, the more milk she produced

and the faster she lost the 50 pounds

she’d gained during the pregnancy.

Her recommendation for people

trying her program? Down at least

90 ounces a day. The fi rst 30 should

come within 40 minutes of waking

up, and before eating breakfast. Fin-

ish the second 30 before lunch, and

the fi nal 30 before dinner.

“You’ll be so much more awake,

and it keeps you from overeating,”

Shattuck says.

That’ll help you stick with her

21-day meal plan, which limits pro-

cessed foods

and loads up on

fruits and veg-

gies. And when

you want some-

thing naughty?

Just have a little.

“Put seven

French fries on the plate, chew

them slowly and enjoy it,” Shat-

tuck says. Then, “walk away, drink

water, brush your teeth and be

done with it.”

You can balance out any extra

calories by embracing Shattuck’s

strategy of exercising daily. When

it comes to what to do, Shattuck

is open to any activity — and the

more you can mix it up, the better.

She recommends copying her

every-other-day pushup routine,

which she credits for keeping her

stomach taut. (“I’d heard of an NFL

player who didn’t lift any weights

and became muscular from push-

ups. I decided, ‘I’m going to try

that.’ Now I’m 100 percent con-

vinced,” Shattuck says.)

 In her book, she offers 21 days of

workouts. On top of that, she tacks

on an additional daily “knockout

move,” such as leg lifts and lunges.

Get up during commercial breaks

when you’re watching TV to check

those off your list, Shattuck sug-

gests. Besides the many other rea-

sons why sitting is bad for you, Shat-

tuck is convinced that pressure on

your rear end can make it get wider.

The last piece of her plan is

“unconventional,” Shattuck admits.

But “living for others” — by vol-

unteering in a soup kitchen, read-

ing books to the elderly or fi nding

another way to help out — has a

real impact on how you feel.

“I know it doesn’t sound as

important as exercise, but it ele-

vates your spirit and mood,” says

Shattuck, who is married to Mayo

Shattuck III, chairman of the

Exelon Corporation. She spends

much of her time volunteering in

Baltimore and Washington and,

in 2008, appeared on an episode

of “Secret Millionaire,” doling out

$190,000 to people in need.

Her mom duties never get in the

way of any of these principles, Shat-

tuck says, because she includes her

kids in everything she does. And

she’s taught them the first step

toward any goal: “Writing it down.”

Once something is on paper,

Shattuck is determined to make

it a reality. That’s good news

for anyone reading her book.

VICKY HALLETT (EXPRESS)

Molly Shattuck offers a hip-hip-hooray for four healthy habits

Books

After indulging in a treat, you should just “walk away, drink water, brush your teeth and be done with it.”

Molly Shattuck exercises with her trusty water bottle and dog, Lizzie Mae.

When most people say “bean

sprouts,” they mean alfalfa or mung

bean. But pretty much any dried

whole bean, grain or seed that

you find in the bulk-bin section of

your grocery store can be made

to sprout, says Lauren Mulcahy,

healthy eating specialist at Whole

Foods Foggy Bottom. Studies say

sprouted grains help your body ab-

sorb their nutrients.

What you’ll need: One or two tablespoons of beans,

grains or seeds; water; a glass jar

(a mason jar works well); a mesh

screen lid or a cheesecloth

How to: Place one to two table-

spoons of your bean/grain/seed of

choice in the jar and cover with an

inch or so of lukewarm water. Cover

the jar’s mouth with a mesh lid or

a cheesecloth secured by a rubber

band. Let the beans soak overnight.

The next morning, drain the

jar. Then rinse the beans in fresh

water and drain them again. With

the mesh lid or cheesecloth still on,

tip the jar so that it sits at an angle,

over a sink, dish rack or towel, so

any excess water can drip out.

Rinse the beans two to four

times a day (returning the jar to its

tipped position in between rinses)

until you see sprouts emerging from

each bean. It can take between 24

hours (for quinoa) and five days

(fenugreek seeds).

More info: Keep an eye out for

harmful mold growth. “The first

time, I tried this with the jar upright,”

Mulcahy says, “and that’s where

I got mold problems. You want to

make sure it can drain.”

TRACY KRULIK (FOR EXPRESS)

Grow Your Own Healthy Sprouts in a Jar

EASIER THAN YOU THINK

TH

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12 | E X P R E S S S U N D AY | 0 2 . 1 6 . 2 0 14

shopping

“What are those pieces of green

paper everyone’s grabbing from

that bowl?” I asked the man stand-

ing beside me on a recent morning

as we stood huddled in line, waiting

for an estate sale to kick off. The

advertisement on estatesales.net

said there would be “enough sew-

ing notions to start your own busi-

ness,” and I was anxious to get my

hands on some much-needed sup-

plies before the other craft fanatics

did. “Those are numbers. They dic-

tate the first 30 people who get in,”

he replied as a newcomer rushed

to snatch the very last slip.

Drat. I’d only been lurking out-

side the vacant Nebraska Avenue

colonial for fi ve minutes, and I’d

probably already blown my shot at

scoring that box of pink silk chiffon

I spotted on the Internet.

Estate sales usually last three

days, and are most often organized

by professional liquidation fi rms

that price the merchandise to move

quickly. That means Aunt Anne’s

fl awless midcentury mod dresser

or Grandpa Paul’s rare baseball

cards are all up for grabs, usually

for way below market value.

As are their stained table-

cloths, rusty wrenches, half-empty

shampoo bottles and burnt cook-

ie pans. “It’s a crapshoot,” says

for a piece of nostalgia to incor-

porate into their pads.

“We’re not seeing people col-

lecting tea cups or buying things to

put them in a glass case,” says Mat-

thew Quinn, principle of Partners

Estate Sales (partnersestatesales

.com) in Fairfax and an appraiser

on “Antiques Roadshow.” “People

want things they remember from

Grandma’s house. They want their

places to look like ‘Mad Men’.”

If you’re the type who prefers to

shop for items in neatly arranged

rows or gets put off by the slightest

blemish (ew, a scratch!), estate sales

may not be for you. But for those

who celebrate the eclectic and are

Shopping estate sales can unearth serious deals on previously loved items that might otherwise end up in a dumpster.

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A Moroccan leather pouf ($15) serves as extra seating or a foot rest.

An abstract watercolor ($15)

painting is groovy.

A sundress ($5) will come in handy this

summer.

Mixed drinks look pretty in a gold-tinted glass ($15 for a set of six).

One Mansion’s Trash …Estate sales can yield treasures if you know how to shop at them

Vintage

Michel Huebner, who organiz-

es D.C. area estate sales through

her company, Sage Consignment

(sageconsignment.com). “You just

have to keep your eyes open and

hope you spot something [the orga-

nizer] has underpriced.”

Yes, there’s something vaguely

depressing about estate sales, since

they usually occur when someone’s

belongings must be cleared from

their home due to death or down-

sizing. But shopping such events

can unearth serious deals on pre-

viously loved items that might oth-

erwise end up in a dumpster.

Because these sales reward

treasure seekers, they have long

attracted professional antiques

dealers and educated collectors

who know what to look for. But

they also lure amateurs hunting

willing to do a little digging, going

to the right sale can be like hitting

the jackpot.

Take, for example, that Nebras-

ka Avenue sale I fi nally wiggled my

way into. Martha Stewart herself

wouldn’t have known what to do

with all the spools of thread, balls

of yarn and fabric scraps in the

plastic tubs I saw in every corner

of the house. I was painstakingly

picking through a box of bobbins

when I made my second mistake

of estate sale-ing: lollygagging.

Another customer made off with

the box of silk chiffon I’d come here

for in the fi rst place.

In the end, I walked away

with some needles for my sewing

machine, a retro rubber stamp kit,

a never-worn sundress in ikat fab-

ric and a set of gold drinking glass-

es from the ’50s — for a total $30.

That absolutely won’t be

my last estate sale, though it

will be the last time I dawdle.

HOLLEY SIMMONS (EXPRESS)

KNOW WHAT YOU WANTIf there’s something that caught your eye in the estate

sale ad, ask the organizer where the item is located in

the house so you can get to it first. “The people who

know what they’re doing always walk in and ask me,

‘Where is X, Y and Z?’,” Huebner says.

MAKE AN OFFERIf you spot a velvet sofa you love but can’t afford the

$500 price tag, offer $200 and ask the organizer to

call you if anyone else tries to buy it. In the end, some

money is better than no money for sellers.

COME ON THE LAST DAYTensions and prices are highest on the first day of

an estate sale when there’s plenty of merchandise.

Typically, organizers lower prices as the sale goes

on. Pickings may be slim on the last day, but the

remaining loot is 50 percent off.

CHECK NEWSPAPERSSales on estatesales.net, estatesales.org and

Craigslist are often conducted by pros. But some

of the best sales are advertised in newspapers.

“Someone who’s 60 years old is going to put an ad in

the paper,” Huebner says. “And those are the people

who probably don’t know the value of what they’re

selling.”

BRING HAND SANITIZERUm, for obvious reasons. Some sales are tidy, and

others look like outtakes from “Hoarders.” H.S.

How to Shop An Estate Sale Like a Pro

WHATWE FOUND

0 2 . 1 6 . 2 0 14 | E X P R E S S S U N D AY | 13

shopping

Grab Bag is written by Jennifer Barger and Holley Simmons.

She Sells SerenityOn her blog, Pure Style Home (laurenliess.com/pure-style-home), interior designer Lauren Liess of Oakton, Va., shows a canny blend of rustic and refined, beachy and bohemian. She recently opened a shop, Lauren Liess & Co. (776-A Walker Road, Great Falls, Va.; 571-926-7825, laurenliess.com), hawking her finds and her line of printed fabrics ($120 a yard). Expect framed botanical prints, Indian kantha throws (made of recycled saris) and snazzy tribal rugs.

Vertical BlurizonMASSACHUSETTS ARTIST

James Soares, also known as “Spires,” creates colorful,

geometric graphics for surfaces as diverse as soda cans

and canvases. His latest collaboration, with decor decal

company Blik, puts his blend of hard-edged shapes and

soft-focus colors up against the wall. The self-adhesive

wall tiles feature earth-toned rectangles (shown, $50

for two 24” X 48” decals, whatisblik.com), blue and black

triangles ($50 for two 24” X 48” decals) and other color

combinations.

A Little off the PotWILLIAMS-SONOMA, the California cookware giant, sells $3,000 espresso

makers and $600 copper pots. But the baking/boiling/braising supply

emporium isn’t just for the top 1 percent of foodies. Its new Open Kitchen

line features 100 value-priced items, including a 10-piece cookware set

(shown, $300, williams-sonoma.com and stores), a sleek nylon spatula

($10) and bistro-worthy white soup bowls ($20 for four).

Haute HygieneCUT CARROTS! Serve cheese! A

wooden cutting board is so useful, it’s

hard to remember it can also serve as a

petri dish for bacteria and icky viruses.

Good thing Brooklyn furniture restorer

Christophe Pourny concocted a Cutting

Board Tonic ($22, Salt & Sundry, Union

Market, 1309 Fifth St. NE; 202-556-

1866, shopsaltandsundry.com). Pourny

blends vinegar with rosemary and

walnut oils for a conditioning, sanitizing

blend.

Lady Like MODERN FEMININITY isn’t about

fluffy pink dresses. For evidence,

look to Danish fashion house Just

Female (justfemale.dk), which has

lured women since 2007 with sharp

designs, saturated colors and raw

detailing. Its sole D.C. retailer, Redeem

(1810 14th St. NW; 202-332-7447,

redeemus.com), has its threads for

spring, including the Anton Jumpsuit

(shown, $120) and matching blazer

with zipper pockets ($120).

Make Things UpAFTER THREE YEARS of

development, Erwin Gomez (a favorite

hair stylist, makeup artist and brow

architect to Washington elites)

unveils a collection of cosmetics and

makeup tools available exclusively

at his West End salon, Karma

(1104 24th St. NW; 202-293-3333,

erwingomezcosmetics.com). Made to

flatter all skin tones, the line includes

pressed eye shadow in vivid colors

(shown, $20), replenishing lipsticks

with vitamin E ($20) and brushes that

promise precision ($6-65).

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14 | E X P R E S S S U N D AY | 0 2 . 1 6 . 2 0 14

ACROSS1 It goes up in

smoke

8 Sign on the ___

line

14 Spanish army

hero El ___

17 How many like

their beer

18 Producing a

deep, rich sound

20 Retro boot

21 Fight for a big

man or woman?

23 “Clair de ___”

(Debussy)

24 Gershwin or

Levin

25 Loiter

26 It’s in it for the

long haul

27 Hot dog (var.)

29 Exemplar of

lightness

30 Zeno’s portico

31 Baby food

33 Opposite of

frumpish

34 Impediment

to smooth sailing

36 Blind official,

in stereotypes

38 Small

songbirds

40 Host at a

roast

41 Nursemaid

43 Ocean

44 Yonder female

45 Medium’s

claim

47 Put two and

two together

48 Chinchilla’s

coat

50 Sheer cotton

fabric

52 Up to the time

that

54 Indication of

trouble

58 Small winning

margin

59 “Without

further ___ ...”

60 Activity for

65-Across

63 MacGraw of

“Love Story”

64 Fourth mo.

65 Drunk tank

regular

66 Needing a

refill

67 Essential

point

68 Christmas

carol

70 Spain’s Costa

del ___

72 Crafty

74 A third of

ninety?

75 Give

employment to

76 As many as

77 Color property

78 Common

Market letters

80 Hearty laugh

sound

82 Always, with

an apostrophe

83 Eat like a bird

84 Last word in

movies?

85 Victim of the

Bolsheviks

86 Fixed attitude

88 No longer

squeaky

90 Beginning

92 ___ chi

93 Bristle of

barley

95 Suffix of

ordinal numbers

96 ET’s craft

97 Things on

a list

99 Wet thud

102 Electric car

maker

104 Flowing, at

the bar

106 Take your

pick

107 Lie in wait

109 Like some

shoes and drinks

110 Congeal

111 “Fantastic Mr.

Fox” author Roald

114 Golfer’s

mound

115 Lyrical song

style

117 Decorated

with gold

120 Wander

around leisurely

121 Grazing land

122 Broadway

lights type

123 Ali, more

than once

127 Like Annie

Oakley’s aim

128 Kind of

witness

129 Turkey is part

of it

130 Equine critter

131 Be bitter

about

132 Engaged in a

petty argument

DOWN1 Some leg bones

2 Oval-shaped

wind instrument

3 Radiation

particle

4 Do something

5 Indianapolis

team

6 Gridiron gripper

7 Redolent

8 Cry from

Homer Simpson

9 Change from a

cashier, often

10 Beginning

of Hamlet’s

soliloquy

11 Nonsense

12 Borne by the

wind

13 Made a hole

14 Follow a losing

plan?

15 Struck a

match

16 Like Zooey

Deschanel

18 Pig’s place

19 Leave in

stitches?

20 Hint of light

22 Prepared for

hanging

fun & games

Last Week’s Solution

YOU LOSE! EDITED BY GARY COOPER

28 All thumbs

32 Fictitious name

35 Iron fishing

hook

37 Aches and ___

38 Insignificant

train station

39 Neural

network

42 Dance done in

grass skirts

46 Winter attire

49 Listing of

priors

51 Dairy farm

sounds

53 Something to

scratch

54 Accumulated,

as a tab

55 Dispense with

nuptials

56 Watching one’s

weight

57 Weather

prophet of Feb. 2

59 Pint contents

61 Blender button

62 Use, as

influence

69 Mischief-

making Norse god

71 Stayed in front

73 Positive votes

79 Belief

81 Start for sack

85 Porous

limestone

87 Type of pickle

89 They’re often

the best parts

90 Exists longer

than

91 Head honcho

93 Falcons’ home

94 Donners, as of

clothing

98 Squirrels away

100 Endure longer

than

101 Early delivery

103 Africa’s Sierra

___

105 Countermand

108 Telephone

panel

112 Distressed

113 Swimsuit

synthetic

116 Physicist with

a law

118 Greek harp

119 Kind of bed

120 1,000 G’s

124 Corny piece?

125 Have a little

lamb

126 Item

sometimes worn

backward

IN NEXT WEEK’S

Why are Washington-area street artists putting down their spray paints and picking up stickers?

Find out in next week’s issue.

0 2 . 1 6 . 2 0 14 | E X P R E S S S U N D AY | 15

fun & gamesWUMO | WULFF & MORGENTHALER

POOCH CAFE | PAUL GILLIGAN

PEARLS BEFORE SWINE | STEPHAN PASTIS

Last Week’s Solution

Sudoku DIFFICULT

Need more Sudoku?Find another puzzle in

the weekday Express,

the Comics section

of The Post every

Sunday and in the

Style section Monday

through Saturday.Published by Express Publications LLC,

1150 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20071, a subsidiary of WP Company, LLC

How to Reach Us

Who We Are

To place a display ad: Call 202-334-6732 or email ads@readexpress.com.

Spot a mistake? Email corrections@readexpress.com.The newsroom: Call 202-334-6800, fax 202-334-9777 or reach out to us on Twitter @WaPoExpress.

Publisher: Arnie Applebaum

Executive editor: Dan Caccavaro

General manager: Ron Ulrich

Circulation manager: Charles Love

Managing editor, features: Holly J. Morris

Managing editor, news: Lori Kelley

Creative director: Jon Benedict

Features editor: Jennifer Barger

Copy chief: Diana D’Abruzzo

Story editor: Adam Sapiro

Deputy creative director: Adam Griffi ths

Senior editors: Sadie Dingfelder Vicky Hallett Kristen Page-Kirby

Section editors: Michael Cunniff Rudi Greenberg Beth Marlowe Marissa Payne Rachel Sadon Sara Schwartz Holley Simmons Jeffrey Tomik

Art director: Allie Ghaman

Designer: Rachel Orr

Production supervisor: Matthew Liddi

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