Before I fully leave the DC area, i wanted to share a few gems with you gals - the rest of my favorite things about my former neighborhood - Capitol Hill/Eastern Market, specifically restaurants since I am such a sucker for good food (who isn't?) 

Restaurants

Many of the bars in Capitol double as restaurants, however there are a few gems that I wanted to share before heading off to the great Northeast.

Las Placitas - El Salvadorean/Mexican style, probably the best margaritas and best staff in town. Go for the food - especially the plantains, the el tipico and the burritos - and the serice and be sure to be nice to the staff, they'll be nice right back. Las Plas (as known to it's regulars) is located at 517 8th Street SE.

Market Lunch - On the weekends there is a gem located in Eastern Market that creates lines that go around the block. Market Lunch is a stand inside the market that sells burgers, crab cakes, among other snack bar-esque food. On Saturdays they serve up the best brunch in Southeast until 11am including some of the fluffiest blueberry pancakes. Two rules: Get there early and bring cash. Don't be intimidated by the long line, it moves quickly and is well worth the wait.

Image via www.Weatherbrook.com, Eastern Market, DC

Hunan Dynasty - For some congressionally approved Chinese/Japanese food, head to this upstairs joint at 215 Pennsylvania Avenue SE. When Congress is in session, you're likely to run into a member or two grabbing a quick dinner or lunch between votes, no lie, there are photos all over the wall in the entry way to prove it - pictures of Hillary Clinton, former speaker Dennis Hastert, current Speaker Nancy Pelosi and many many more adorn the wall with their photos taken with staff at this affordable restaurant. I've long loved their steamed dumplings as well as their sushi. The lunch specials top off at a nice $6.95-$8.95 and vary daily. The best part? They deliver.

There are so many great places to eat on the hill, I couldn't possibly list them all so I'll stick with my favorites.

The Hill (as known to locals) is a fabulous place to live with access to the metro, great food, Eastern Market (the oldest market in America), great activities like Oktoberfest on 8th Street, and is within walking distance to the National's ball park located near the Navy Yard Metro. I loved living here. I loved every moment of it - from being able to walk to the Capitol in fifteen minutes, the parks around to take my dog to, the restaurants, bars, and the ability to be downtown in ten minutes.

I've lived on Capitol Hill, essentially since October 2006. I moved in with the now Hubs in October 2007, but really? I could count the nights spent at my own apartment in Pentagon City on two hands in that lone year. Now that Hubs and I are mere weeks (2!) from moving to Stamford, CT (expect the adventures of moving - including tips/tricks/etc...to be chronicled here. Now that my wedding-mania/job hunt mania has died down, I have more time for blogging!) I want to ensure that my time on DC is remembered in a good fashion which to me, means, passing down advice/reviews, and anything else that someone moving into Capitol Hill would want to know.

I've loved living on Capitol Hill. I've loved the nightlife, the homes, the architecture, the restaurants, and everything in between. So here's my list of my top Capitol Hill Bars. (Remember, Gals Guide does not condone underage drinking. You must be 21+ to get into these locations, or at the very least to be served as many double as restaurants.)

In no particular order....

Capitol Lounge 231 Pennsylvania Avenue SE - Any Hill staffer will tell you that Cap Lounge hasn't been the same since the fire. The second one really. The menu was recently revised, and the downstairs renovated but the Golden Fez Lounge just isn't the same. The food, I find, while decent for bar food (I'm a big fan of the chicken quesadillas), is slightly expensive. I've also found that the Happy Hour specials, in comparison to other Hill bars, are subpar.

Not to say I haven't had good times at Cap Lounge because I most certainly have, and definitely would advise anyone who doesn't want to party with interns to head on over here. Watch out in the summer time though, it's often taken over by softball teams.

Pour House/Top of the Hill 319 Pennsylvania Avenue SE -  If you want to class it up a notch, head upstairs to Top of the Hill for the comfy couches, the space, and the general atmosphere. If you're feelin' a little crazy? Head on downstairs for $1 beer night on Thursdays. Watch out for the "skinterns" and the sometimes-not-so-classy marines. Pour House is always a good time no matter what floor of this three-story establishment you're on. The food leaves much to be desired but the crowds are...energetic, if not rowdy on a night when the Steelers are playing and the happy hour specials are plentiful.

Hawk and Dove 329 Pennsylvania Avenue SE - What can I say about Hawk & Dove? Well, it's a great place. It's got an amazing historical background, just look around on the walls. It was my go-to place when I was an intern which tells you something else about it - during the summer months (I was an intern in the spring FYI) watch out for the underage kiddos trying to slink on in to go upstairs to the H&D DF. The bartenders are great here, and while I've never tried the food, I'm pretty sure it's standard barfare. The specials? Aren't too shabby either. Get there early on a weekend before the dancefloor is hoppin' and you can get a few requests in. Watch out for the bathrooms latenight, best to use the ones downstairs.

Tune Inn 331 Pennsylvania Avenue SE - Tune Inn is a townie bar, for as much as DC has townies. They have amazing burgers and were once voted in the top 100 bars in America (it's on the wall). The wall is filled with redneck paraphanalia (think deer antlers on the walls), they serve PBR on tap, and the staff has been there forever. Expect it to be busy on the weekends, the happy hour special says "$1 off all booze" on the board on the sidewalk, and the jukebox often plays anything country combined with the usual bar favorites. It's a great place for late night eats, and a place to not just throw a couple back but also to sit down and have a greasy, cheap meal.

Molly Malones 713 8th Street SE- I'm a little biased about Molly's. My favorite bar ever - Finn Mac Cool's - shut down so that Molly's could open up. When you walk upstairs, the sign from Finn's still hangs over the staircase. The beer selection is good, the food is amazing, but if you're looking for a good deal? This may not be the place to go. However, the food? Especially the Lobster Mac & Cheese as well as the Veggie Burger? Are definitely worth checking out.

Ugly Mug 723 8th Street SE- The Mug has never really...impressed me. However, on the contrary, I've never been super disappointed by the Mug either. It's a decent bar, usually has a good DJ and has pretty superb happy hour specials on both food and drink. It gets a little loud on the weekends, and the bar is often crowded. In the summer however, sit outside on a Friday night and you can get an excellent earfull of the 8th and I Marine Parades. I always enjoy the pizza's here, and the appetizers have never disappointed.

Lola's 711 8th Street SE- Owned by the same guy who runs Molly's, you get a nice vibe here. The food, again, is superb. The Old Bay Wings, the Sloppy Joe Sliders and the 4 Cheese Grilled Cheese? All worth giving a go. It gets a little crowded on the weekends, but the service is great. If you can, get a seat outside by the fireplace, it's sure to keep you warm on a chilly autumn night. The price point is similar to Molly's and the menu is slightly limited. Don't expect to find your "typical barfood" like mozzeralla sticks, etc.. here. The menu, like Molly's, is definitely classier which makes up for the lack of variety. Looking for a good drink special? You may want to look elsewhere. The happy specials are next to non-existant but the good selection of beer and wine is worth the extra dough.

Coming up next/later this week? Places to See!

When everyone heads to the beaches, their homes away from home when Congress is away, thats when the native's and those who can't afford a week on the beach come out to play.

Humidity aside, August is one of my favorite times of year - bosses let you leave early, happy hours are aplenty, and then there's Restaurant week.

This August, Restaurant week falls August 24th through 30th where at a number of restaurants you can get lunch for $20.09 or dinner for $35.09. Meals come with three courses, and do not cover drinks.This year, since I recently had a chance to visit the prestigious Charlie Palmer Steak House for lunch (on the house with the new job!), I'm planning on catching dinner there with Fiance. I've tried out Teatro Goldoni on K Street, Tuscana West where I went last Restaurant Week with my fellow DC Guide Elizabeth, and my book club tried out Zaytina in Penn Quarter for lunch last summer - two of my gal pals raved of the Blueberry martini. Definitely a place worth checking out.

Directly preceding Restaurant Week though? In it's inaugural year.... Beer week. I don't know what Beer Week is per se, but I am certainly curious to find out. Not to mention, check it out with the full list of participants here. I'm curious to try out some of the places on H Street NE, a new up and coming neighborhood (in case you weren't aware) including the recent addition H Street Country Club. I've heard rave reviews of Sticky Rice and Granville Moore's (with former Next Food Network Star contestant Teddy Folkman as it's chef it's gotta be delish!) and Pizzeria Paradiso (in Dupont and Georgetown) is always a great place to check out.

Some of the events during beer week are a little pricey (I probably won't be spending $75 for a five course meal from Granville Moores - however I'm sure it'll be incredible!) but the free ones (Friday night at RFD? Yes please! I'll be there!!) I bet are definitely worth it! Needless to say the next two weeks will be filled with good booze, and even better food.

Where are you hitting up for Beer Week and/or Restaurant Week? Any favorite spots??

I'm a certifiable bookworm. A gigantic nerd when it comes to all things book related, throw me into a book store and you'll be hard pressed to get me out of there in a decent amount of time. I was raised like this, it's in my genes.

So you can imagine my delight when I saw that the National Book Festival will be continued this year! After Laura Bush started it in 2001, it was uncertain if our new first lady would continue the tradition but it appears that with or without Michelle Obama's support, the book fest will go on.

The other day, the list of participating authors was released and my inner twelve year old heart went pitter patter when I saw that Judy Blume would be there, and I couldn't help but wonder if I could find my beat up and battered copy of Are You There God? It's Me Margaret. Still to be determined, but I will do my best.

Additionally, for my inner romantic, Nicholas Sparks will be there; my favorite Food Network star - Paula Deen; and finally, Jodi Picoult who is an amazing writer as well. 

I'm pretty excited about the book fest this year - last year I took my mother and future mother-in-law as the parents were down for some quality bridal gown shopping, unfortunately I didn't get much time to tool around the festival. This year? I'll be waiting in line to meet my favorite's.

This year, the book festival is on September 26th here in Washington, DC on the National Mall. I'll be there with a library of books to get signed....will you?