Zagat's 8 Must-Try Cheap Eats in D.C.

1.  Amsterdam Falafelshop
2.  Cava Mezze Grill
3.  El Pollo Rico
4.  Five Guys
5.  Shake Shack
6.  Sweetgreen
7.  Taqueria Distrito Federal
8.  Taylor Gourmet

What I’ve learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0033

1601.  Pay the cost to be the boss;

1602.  Remember the sun burns out in 3 billion years and none of this is going to matter; you might as well go for what you want;

1603.  Your actions and behaviors are manifested from the thoughts you host most often.  If you think a group of thoughts enough times with enough emotional intensity, they eventually become beliefs.  Once these beliefs are hardwired, all of your actions will be filtered through this belief system.  A strong belief system will lead to strong action and a long-term proactive outcome.  Weak belief systems will result in weak or non-action and low self-esteem, and restrict you from achieving your goals;

1604.  Sadly, it’s easy to take on weak belief systems and harmful mindsets.  Due to the fact that most of these mindsets and beliefs are picked up from the combination of modeling others and from our own positive or negative reference experiences, we often pick up mindsets that don’t serve us;

1605.  Your freedom lies in your ability to take control of your thoughts and engineer beliefs and mindsets that serve you.  Don’t be a slave to old mindsets and beliefs you accidentally absorb from those around you;

1606.  Compete only with yourself;

1607.  Set realistic goals.  Always have a list of small goals leading to your bigger long term goals.  These small goals will help you create momentum;

1608.  Competence builds confidence.  Remember that confidence is your mental capacity to rise above a mistake in that situation;

1609.  Be willing to try new things – push your comfort zones – that’s the only way you evolve;

1610.  Become self-correcting, but not self-punishing;

1611.  The Jack Rose Dining Saloon is only a few blocks away from Rosemary’s Thyme Bistro . . . and Adams Morgan is only a few blocks away from the Jack Rose Dining Saloon;

1612.  Even the sun sets in paradise;

1613.  The people in Cumberland, Maryland, are really nice;

1614.  I can say I’ve been off-roading;

1615.  There aren’t a lot of Asian, Persian or (for that matter) black hippies;

1616.  Hippies are pretty friendly;

1617.  When you go camping, remember to bring toilet paper;

1618.  People ride ATVs (i.e., all-terrain vehicles) instead of motorcycles in West Virginia;

1619.  (Some) hippies do like sports;

1620.  (Young) hippie girls are fit and thin (even though they drink like fish);

1621.  Hippies aren’t on their phones (i.e., taking pictures, texting, recording videos, etc.) during concerts;

1622.  (Some) hippies do have “real” jobs and careers;

1623.  It's probably not a good idea to take a swig from an opened bottle from a (total) stranger . . . especially from a hippie;

1624.  There is such a thing as hippie electronica;

1625.  Sleeping on the ground isn’t so bad with a sleeping pad;

1626.  It's amazing how (simply) brushing your teeth can make you feel so much better;

1627.  There’s a hard way to get to the Sunshine Daydream Memorial Park in Terra Alta, West Virginia, and then there’s the easy way;

1628.  Apparently, there’s “commercial grade” diesel fuel;

1629.  If there’s a wad of chewing tobacco lying next to a gas pump, you might be in West Virginia;

1630.  There are a lot of “Liberty” gas stations in West Virginia;

1631.  You’ve got a better chance at winning (concert and/or movie) tickets and other prizes from DC101 at one of their events than you do calling or entering online;

1632.  During the summer, Pentagon Row in Pentagon City, Virginia, hosts a free concert series (PentagonRow.com/Events) out on the plaza on Thursday nights;

1633.  District of Pi (Pi-DC.com) in D.C. has deep-dish pizza that isn’t swimming in grease;

1634.  Attraction is a feeling that manifests as a result of the emotional state the other person puts us in;

1635.  People buy for emotional reasons and backwards rationalize their purchase with logical reasons;

1636.  The Ritz-Carlton in D.C. (by Foggy Bottom) is really nice;

1637.  Cornmeal cookies are like shortbread cookies;

1638.  After regaining power, (most) HVAC (i.e., heating, ventilation and air condition) units wait (at least) five minutes before continuing to heat or cool. . . . It’s to protect against power surges damaging the unit;

1639.  (Most) HVAC technicians are paid (at least partially) on (sales) commission;

1640.  ALDI (ALDI.us) is really cheap;

1641.  Some hippies will tour ten months out of the year;

1642.  You should break up bagged ice before ripping open the bag;

1643.  The members of “DELTAnine” (and their friends) are pretty good camping neighbors;

1644.  “Molly” tastes awful;

1645.  When you go camping, remember to bring a jacket. . . . It gets cold at night;

1646.  Being the only person awake while camping on a cold, rainy day without anything to read or listen to is really boring;

1647.  Every Thursday, Lucky Bar (in D.C.) has baskets of fish and chips, cheeseburgers and fries and chicken tenders and fries for $5.75;

1648.  It’s okay to be scared; when taking on something new being a little scared is natural and can inspire you to prepare well and do your best.  It’s fear that we have to watch out for.  Fear is paralyzing and stops you from taking chances in life;

1649.  As a rule, the strongest frame in an interaction wins;

1650.  The Yards Park (YardsPark.org) in D.C. has a little something for everyone.  For the adults, it’s a great place for a picnic.  For the kids, they can run around and play in the water features.  And, for man’s best friend, there’s even a dog park;