In a few minutes, I’ll be on a one-way flight to California. (What a cliche, ha.)

It’s so bittersweet leaving DC, but the past couple weeks have been some of the best of my life. The friends I have here… let’s just say thank goodness for the interwebs, because this won’t be the last you all hear from me.

May you all remember me mid-karaoke song, with a whiskey in one hand, and a shit-eating grin on my face.

xo

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2012 is nearly a third over.

Isn’t that just crazy pants Magee?! And they’ve been four of the most insane months of my entire life to boot.

When I moved out of my apartment (and life) with Ben, and into my new place last December, I had absolutely no idea where I’d be right now, or what would be on the horizon. I assumed a lot of change was coming, but I never could have imagined all of this.

Last weekend, I flew out to San Francisco to meet my new team at Adobe (who I am already madly in love with), and find a place to live (success!) We also found an awesome new roomie to take over my apartment here, in the best house in DC , and stumbling distance from the best bar to boot.

A friend hooked me up with an incredible moving company who’s schlepping my few belongings (bed, clothes, TV… yup, that’s it) across the country for a more than fair price, and their customer service warrants about eleventy stars on Yelp.

I have an appointment with a wonderful vet referral on Monday to make sure Girl Cat and I get to California safely, when we fly cross-country on Southwest next Saturday.

[FYI, these are NOT paid links. Just honest thanks for their help and general being-awesome-ness.]

And tomorrow, I pack (read: throw away/donate 90% of what I own).

But tonight, friends, tonight… WE CELEBRATE.

We celebrate what’s been the best five years of my life, in what will always be one of my favorite places on earth, full of countless people I love, respect, and have thoroughly enjoyed the pleasure of drinking with for half a decade.

I know that the fact that it’s this hard to leave is a good thing – if it doesn’t hurt, then it didn’t mean anything, you know?

And just in case anyone doubts how much I truly love this city (and how hard I plan to rep you all on the west coast…)

If you’re local, come on out tonight and have one last whiskey with me (thank you Jack Rose for hosting!) Details here.

And every last one of you… I expect to see you in San Francisco.

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So, I suppose this is somewhat overdue. But for those of you not following me on Twitter or Facebook…

I’m moving to San Francisco.

In two and a half weeks. With nothing but my bed, my clothes, and my cat.

(Sidebar: flying across the country with Girl Cat should be interesting.)

I’m completely terrified, and twice as excited. I’ve wanted a change of scenery for a while, and I was looking at NYC and Chicago as well. Last week, in a freak of nature, incredible job offers came through in all. three. cities (like, jaw-dropping, super dreamy incredible offers, y’all).

I drove my friends batshit for a couple days trying to decide what to do, but finally decided:

I’m going for the biggest adventure.

Now is the time. I’m in my twenties, single, with nothing and no one in the world depending on me, except for one feline who’s along for this crazy ride.

So San Francisco it is, friends. I’m beyond excited about the job and the team I’ll be working with out there (the Community Engagement team at Adobe – you may have heard of them?) I actually already know and adore my manager Lauren from years of being Twitter buds and last year’s Bloggers in Sin City.

The interwebs truly are a magical thing, y’all.

So yes, I’m California bound. West side, and all that jazz. I’ll miss DC dearly, but I’ll visit often – I’ll always be an East Coaster (and Masshole) at heart, after all.

For those of you in the area, the obligatory Enormous Going Away Bash will be Friday the 13th (ha) on the roof of Jack Rose. As much as I’d love to get a last drink with everyone individually, it’s just not physically possible, so I hope to see you all there.

And with that…

 

PS: My basement apartment in the best house/neighborhood in town is available as of April 21st! (Details on Craigslist here.) It’s a huge one bedroom apartment at 3rd and U (gorgeous classic rowhouse, exposed brick/hardwood floors etc etc), about two blocks from Boundary Stone (aka DC’s best new bar). It’s an 8 minute walk from Shaw metro and 15 minute walk to the U Steet strip. $1050 a month, utilities split four ways with the three best roomies in the world who live upstairs (we share the kitchen and watch TV in the living room together). That said, there is a private bathroom, cable hookup and kitchen (no stove) downstairs in the apartment. I *may* have painted two of the walls turquoise, but you can decorate as you wish – though frankly, the turquoise looks pretty bad ass.

You’d cover my lease through May 31, then have the option to sign a new 6 month lease with the roomies (they’re all staying on). Let me know if you or someone you know is interested!

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When I moved to the Bloomingdale neighborhood in December, I fell in love. Quickly, and deeply. I’ve actually been having what might be called “a torrid affair” over the past few months; we see each other almost every night, and I think it’s definitely getting to the point where I’d call it serious.

Hi, my name is Rachael, and I’m in love with a whiskey bar.

Boundary Stone Public House isn’t just the closest bar within stumbling distance. (Although, hey, easy access never hurts, amiright?)

No, friends. This place is a magical haven for those in the neighborhood. It’s our very own Cheers; warm, welcoming, cozy to the point of never wanting to leave. The bartenders are talented, wonderful people you actually want to talk to. Their servers are fantastic, everyone knows their whiskey, and all the staff – from the owners to the kitchen – can be found at the bar after their shift. (And as someone who spent a decade in the industry, THAT’S the mark of a truly great place – when their own people want to drink there.)

Drinks and service and atmosphere; check, check check. (And bonus: a free jukebox!) These are all very important things to have in a local watering hole, to be sure. But what about food?

In short, the Stone’s food is stellar. The daily arancini never disappoints. The fish and chips is offensively good. The burger smothered in BACON JAM is – wait, didn’t you just hear me say it’s smothered in bacon jam?!

But their crowning achievement, for me, is the wings. Their honey hot wings will make you weep, they’re so good. The sauce… I dream about it, is all I’m saying.

And they’re up against a corporate behemoth in the Washingtonian battle for DC’s best wings.

I want them to WIN, guys. I want this for them, bad. They’re the greatest little bar in the world, and they just opened in September. It may seem trivial, but this would be huge for them. Put them on the map, so to speak.

So if you have the time, lend a click. Just ONE, and vote for them over this Korean BonChon place.

VOTE!!!

Go on… do it for the little guy. Who just so happens to be the best damn whiskey bar in DC.

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