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A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Washington, DC. Written by Chelsea Cirruzzo, Cuneyt Dil and Paige Hopkins.

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D.C. editor Kayla here! I'm stepping out of the editorial shadows to highlight my favorite holiday activity: ice skating. 

I started figure skating a few years ago because I was in desperate need of a work/life balance hobby, and I highly recommend it.

Here are a few of my favorite local ice rinks:

Editor's note: I sadly have not skated at every ice rink in the region, so several of these remain on my wish list.

Reston Town Center: 818 Discovery St., Reston

I've skated here every holiday since I was a kid. This is a lovely outdoor rink surrounded by shops and restaurants and decked out with more twinkle lights than you could ever wish for. Seriously, the scene looks like it's straight out of a Hallmark movie.

If you're not a fan of skating outdoors, check out Reston SkateQuest (the indoor rink where I practice) down the street.

Pentagon Row: 1201 S. Joyce St., Arlington

Pentagon Row boasts the biggest outdoor ice rink in northern Virginia and is a short distance from the Pentagon City Metro station.

Their rental skates aren't my favorite, but they're perfect for a few casual laps with friends followed by drinks at one of the many nearby restaurants.

National Sculpture Garden: Constitution Ave NW &, 7th St. NW

You can't talk about skating in D.C. without highlighting one of the city's most iconic spots. Accessible via multiple Metro and bus lines, this is a beautiful place to go for a glide in the evening or even during lunch break if you work downtown. 

I'll actually be skating here Friday night. Say hi if you see me. 👋

Enchant Christmas at Nationals Park: 1500 S. Capitol St., SE

Each year, Enchant Christmas takes over Nationals Park to transform it into a winter wonderland complete with sparkling lights, a Christmas market, and Santa himself. Skating aficionados can take it all in while gliding across the ice skating trail that winds through the park.

Have I skated here yet? No. Is my inner child filled with glee at the thought of doing so? Definitely!

Rockville Town Square: 131 Gibbs St., Rockville

The largest outdoor ice rink between D.C. and Baltimore, Rockville Town Square offers 7,200 square feet to slip, slide, and salchow.

This is another rink on my wish list. A lovely outdoor space and a big surface. What's not to love?

Email me to share which rinks you think I should hit up next!

Editor's pick: Favorite D.C. area ice skating rinks

Each year, Enchant Christmas takes over Nationals Park with a market, twinkling lights and Santa himself.

People ice skate at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden ice rink.

Washington, D.C.

D.C. editor <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kayla" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/KaylaNSharpe" data-vars-content-id="6d1bea47-016a-4a46-8460-5178d54c1fb7" data-vars-headline="Editor&#x27;s pick: Favorite D.C. area ice skating rinks" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/KaylaNSharpe" target="_blank">Kayla</a> here! I&#x27;m stepping out of the editorial shadows to highlight my favorite holiday activity: ice skating. I started figure skating a few years ago because I was in desperate need of a work/life balance hobby, and I highly recommend it.

Things to Do

Like so many Washingtonians, I was shocked Sunday night to learn of Bruce Johnson's passing. As a kid in Vienna, I grew up watching Johnson anchor on Channel 9, and as a Black D.C. journalist, I'll always be indebted to him.

I was lucky to connect with Johnson just last week, as it happens. My mother had attended an event where Johnson was signing copies of his latest book, "Surviving Deep Waters," and asked him to inscribe a copy for me. 

When she told him about my work at Axios, he did something else: He added his phone number and made her promise to have me reach out. 

We eventually got in touch via LinkedIn (his voicemail was full!), and made plans to chat. 

"[I] always make time for serious young journalists like you," he told me in a message last Thursday. 

Our call never happened — it was scheduled for Monday morning, the day after he died. Watching the social media tributes hail Johnson as a mentor who supported young Black journos in particular, I know I would’ve taken notes on every word. 

Remembering Bruce Johnson

Our team remembers veteran journalist Bruce Johnson, who died on Sunday.

👋🏿 Hi, editor Kayla here. Like so many Washingtonians, I was shocked Sunday night to learn of Bruce Johnson&#x27;s passing. As a kid in Vienna, I grew up watching Johnson anchor on Channel 9, and as a Black D.C. journalist, I&#x27;ll always be indebted to him.

Kayla Sharpe

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Remembering Bruce Johnson

Editor's pick: Favorite D.C. area ice skating rinks