According to founder Andrew Butters: “We’re the safest way to go right now.” We’ll see if the site catches on despite its fees.

Trying to furnish an empty house. I recently moved to a new place in Clarendon and Craigslist has been my best friend. I’ve been on it to find everything from roommates to TVs. Something I’ve noticed in my Craigslist travels is how much free dirt is available in the DC area.

Now I’m not dumb (well most of the time)- I realize people with their home improvement and gardening projects will have mounds of dirt leftover and wants someone to take it away. We’ve all driven by houses with signs advertising free firewood- it’s the same logic. However I can’t help but laugh at the headline- “free dirt.”

When I’m browsing through the listsings, I get excited about free TVs, Couches, or Pet Items. Free dirt just doesn’t get me as excited however. Maybe it’s because if I want dirt I just need to go into my backyard to get some.

Maybe I’m being ridiculous, but doesn’t anyone else gets a chuckle when they see free dirt on the DC Craigslist?

Union Station: A great place to shop. Or spend your money on a train to visit your mom instead.

Today brought snow flurries and a chill north wind, and it’s really beginning to feel a lot like that old Holiday gift giving season.  However, with the wholesale rejection of the outgoing administration’s admonition to go shopping, and with belts tightening, a lot of us are wondering just how this is going to work.

While there is an upcoming sales tax holiday (and the markdowns are just going to get better and better), my family is looking at this an opportunity to do some housecleaning.  I’m embracing Freecycle, with e-groups across the region.  I also recommend the “free” listings on craigslist because who doesn’t love a curb alert?  Help out a neighbor–and give yourself the gift of less clutter. 

Finally, giving of oneself is the ultimate in generosity.  Check out these opportunities, consider something more vampiric, or you can even barter your volunteer time for fun and profit.

Happy holidays?

Photo credit to zizzybaloobah on Flickr.

So if you’ve just come out from under a rock, this new guy got elected President of the United States.  A lot of people like him and want to come see him become the President.  Like millions of people.  So they are all going to come to our fair city and delay our Metro rides and hope to catch a glimpse of the magic that happens when the Barack Obama takes the Oath.

So many people are coming in fact that there is nowhere left for them to say stay-which is why people are renting out their rooms at incredibly extravagant prices.  No seriously-look here on craigslist.

So here I am:  Feet from a Metro stop, with a nice one bedroom in a huge three bedroom apartment, a Federal Employee with a four day weekend in January on one hand.  On the other hand I have the Super Bowl of tourist weekends with no reasonable way to do anything or go anywhere for four days while Barack-a-maniacs clog the tubes and roads.

Sounds like a perfect time to do some “What the Inauguration is like from another, warmer, city” blogging for the old DC Metblogs doesn’t it?  Don’t get me wrong-I know how cool this is, that it is a once in a lifetime event and all of that-I really do.  I just can tell you already I’ll be watching the show from my couch.  And if I’m watching it from my couch, I can watch it from any couch anywhere.

And why not advertise my room for the weekend as well and see if I can make a few grand in the process?

So I throw my room up there, pick a price in the middle (1500 a day or B/O), talk up the perks and wait for the money to start rolling in.  Visions of paying off a big chunk of my student loans or putting a great down payment on a place of my own dance in my head.  For one hour.  Then two.  Three hours go by, no responses.  Gotta keep the faith though-right?  Someone will turn up.

Then, hour four, I finally get what I think is a response from someone looking for a place to stay.  Instead, the person is part of the management from my building politely reminding me that we are not allowed to sublet during inauguration (or ever really).

Keep in mind that CL is anonymous posting-so they didn’t know it was me.  Clearly they are aware of the gold rush that is Inauguration and are scouring the CL postings to respond to any place that looks like it might be one of their properties.  I didn’t respond so they still don’t know it was me.

So with my building on high alert already I can only imagine what Inauguration weekend will be like.  My guess is that the adventure in subletting is over before it started.

Now to be clear-if anyone who is in charge of the leasing and management of my building (which will remain anonymous) is reading this right now-I knew that I wasn’t allowed to sublet my place.  I really knew that and had no actual intention of renting it.  Honest.  I was just curious and have very much learned my lesson…although since I wasn’t actually going to rent it out (cough cough) I guess I didn’t need to learn a lesson.  But I learned one anyway…Honest.

For you, gentle reader who is of a like-mind to me, the lesson might be twofold.  First, make sure you are allowed to sublet your place before you do.  As with my building you can get into some trouble if you do-maybe even get kicked out.  Secondly, while the prices look impressive on CL, doesn’t mean people are paying that much.  The returns aren’t necessarily there.  My guess (as informed by my educated roommate) is that come December (when tickets start to issue) the rush will pick up-but that you probably aren’t going to get some extremely crazy awesome price (unless you have some extremely crazy awesome place, that is).

Also realize-even if you do get the price you want and your building is okay with subletting that you are letting a stranger into your house.  Make sure to take some precautions regarding your personal safety and valuables if you do go this route.

Other than that, however or wherever you plan on being for Inauguration weekend, I hope you enjoy it.  I know I will-wherever I will be.  :)

Courtesy of Flickr User Kyle Walton

I just found this ad on the Washington, DC Craigslist:

We have two long running pickup ultimate frisbee games that are looking for a few new players. A number of the regular players have recently headed off to new and exciting lives involving international travel, marriage, grad school or longrunning saturday morning hangovers, so a few new regulars would be welcome.

The pickup games are ALL skill level and very laid back. We have everyone from overweight shorter guys to incredibly sneaky and fast women to 6 foot 5 former college athletes and total novices. We welcome all ages and genders, and we generally don’t keep score. The spirit of ultimate frisbee is collegial and fun, and we try to make sure that everyone has a good time. Its just good exercise and a ton of fun.

I’ve seen these guys playing on the Mall before and it always looks like they are having a great time. Stop by and get some frisbee in. You might just see me there one of these days.

Saturday Game Location
Saturdays from 11am to 1pm
In the Field of Garisson Elementary School on the Corner of S and 11th NW-two blocks from the U street metro

Tuesday Game Location
Tuesdays from 6-8 pm
On the Mall in front of smithsonian air and Space museum. Corner of 7th and Jefferson SW