Here we go! It may not have felt very springy recently, but rest assured, warm weather will come eventually! And, maybe if I list the top 5 events we’re looking forward to in April, it will come even faster…

National Cherry Blossom Festival
Through April 13, the National Cherry Blossom Festival has plenty left in store for DC visitors and locals alike. On April 5, spectators can enjoy a beautiful spring fireworks display. The finale parade takes place on April 12 from 10am-12pm. And, of course, our Blossoms by Bikeand Segway into Spring tours are available daily throughout the festival!

Smithsonian’s Jazz Appreciation Month
Running through April, the Smithsonian Institution will be honoring Jazz Appreciation Month with a variety of special events. Check out this list of workshops, concerts, and activities you can take part in to celebrate the jazzy occassion.

Nationals Opening Day
Hey, batter, batter, swing! Washingtonians rejoice as the Nationals kick off their opening day on April 4, taking on the Atlanta Braves at 1:05pm. You may even want to stop by the stadium just for the awesome food choices (don’t worry, we won’t tell.) Hooray for spring!

Bike and Roll Opens Downtown DC Rental Location
As you may have heard, Bike and Roll DC will be opening up shop in downtown this April— a brand new rentals only location will pop up outside the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library in just a few short weeks! Look for our standard (aka amazing) rentals, along with a few special edition, retro chic “DC Cool” bikes.

Earth Day Celebrations
Boy, are we glad we live in a green-friendly city! Earth Day activities abound in the DC metro area— from a full day event complete with entertainment and giveaways at Union Station to National Mall and National Zoo celebrations, you won’t be short on fun things to do April 22!

Surprise!

2014 is certainly shaping up to be the year of big announcements for us! And here comes another one, hot off the presses: we are oh-so-excited to announce that we will be opening a brand new downtown DC location at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library, located at 901 G Street NW. The new location will offer a variety of bike rentals (including kids’ equipment) in an outdoor setting on the G Street exterior of the library. Phew, now that was a tough secret to keep!

An official historic landmark (cool, right?), the MLK Library is located on G Street between 9th and 10th streets NW. A quick 3.5 blocks from the National Mall, this central location is easily accessed by both Metro Center and Gallery Place stations, which collectively service all metro lines.

We think this spot is a pretty perfect gateway to both the National Mall and a variety of DC’s notable neighborhoods. Our new downtown DC location will be well positioned as a departure point to explore anywhere and everywhere in the city!

Along with our standard rental equipment, limited edition specialty/retro-chic bikes (just wait until you see ’em!) will be offered here in line with the city’s new “DC Cool“ campaign. Opening in April, all sales at this location will be credit card only.

So head downtown next month to see our new digs and rent some bikes!

So, you may have noticed there have been a lot of exciting changes going on here at Bike and Roll DC these past few months… (Oh, ya know— a new National Mall location, shaking things up a bit in Alexandria, a brand new Segway cherry blossom tour, and perhaps another location announcement to make in the very near future…) Needless to say, we’ve been some seriously busy bees!

Spring is always a fun time for us since it means the kick-off of a new season and National Cherry Blossom Festival tours to boot! But this spring especially has some wonderful surprises in store for our (amazingly awesome) customers. We are thrilled to announce a special partnernship and treat for this year’s cherry blossom tour-goers: Dark Chocolate Cherry & Sea Salt snack bars from This Bar Saves Lives!

Ever-so-aptly “cherry” themed (and all for a great cause!) This Bar Saves Lives makes delicious, all-natural, non-GMO snack bars. And for every bar sold, they give a packet of life-saving food (fantastically named, “Plumpy’Nut“) to a child in need. How’s that for smart snacking?

Just one more cool thing for you guys to look forward to… beyond the general awesomeness that our cherry blossom tours provide anyway!

It may not feel much like spring (at all…) but we promise (fingers crossed) that it really is just around the corner! As is the 2014 National Cherry Blossom Festival. Just this morning, the National Park Service announced that projected peak bloom dates for this year are April 8-12. Only a few weeks left!

As always, we are pretty darn excited to provide you guys and gals with the only official bike and Segway tours of the festival. That’s right, we’re bonafide! We’ll be running our belovedBlossoms by Bike rides and brand spankin’ new Segway into Spring tours (only 49 bucks!) from March 22-April 13. Both of those leave from our National Mall location in L’Enfant Plaza.

Our Blossoms by Bike River Ride will depart from the Old Town Alexandria Waterfront and run from April 4-April 12. This ride is a little bit longer than the others, and will give you a nice view from across the river.

We do recommend that reservations be made in advance as these tours are filling up quickly.

So let’s all collectively do our bring spring/think pink/goodbye winter dances together and get ready to celebrate the arrival of those beautiful blossoms!

Hey Hunks,

Time to thaw out those tear ducts because February is almost over! Hooray! It seemed like this month was going to last forever, right? I was prepared for a thousand more days of misery and an endless stream of tweets about unplowed bike lanes. But great news! March is almost here. Say it with me: March. Feels good, doesn’t it? Anyhow, Bethany asked me to write a blog about some of the many great things coming up in this new and beautiful month of March, so here are five “events” to which I am looking forward:

Friday March 14, 2014 – Spoonboy // Theo Grizol // Hot Tears @ Space Jam – $5 – One of my housemates is smooching a boy who lives at the Space Jam. One day last week I came home and found a little handbill for this show on my fridge. Wow! Spoonboy (David Combs of the Max Levine Ensemble) has been active in the DC punk scene since I was in high school. High school! That’s legit. He plays plan-it-x style pop punk. You will probably like it. Theo Grizol performs in Defiance Ohio. Cool. Also, a band called Hot Tears? Yes pls.

Saturday March 15, 2014 – Sadie Hawkins Team Alleycat – $10 – Put on in part by Stefanie Winzeler, one of the organizers of last fall’s dope 19th Amendment Alleycat, the proceeds from this race will go to benefit Women and Bicycles. Always good to shred for a good cause. From the event description: “Forget what you know about Sadie Hawkins, this is about getting more ladies cycling the city streets. Who cares who asks who to dance, as long as you get out there and mash. Only 24% of DC cyclists are women, but WABA’s Women & Bicycles program is changing that. This is an LGBTQA friendly event! Ride at your own risk, follow the laws and be safe.” Sick. Also remember, all teams of two must have at least one female rider. As Stefanie notes on the fb page: “if you show up as a team of two dudes, you’re doing it wrong. Ride a bike with a girl. We may have cooties, but we’re fast and experts at navigating the streets of DC.” Word.

Sunday March 16, 2014 – WCP’s Loose Lips Democratic Mayoral Debates @ Black Cat – FREE (I think?) – Did you know that I have over a year’s worth of Washington City Papers, stacked chronologically, sitting on my bedside table? I just really like the City Paper, okay?! I even have a tattoo on my chest that says Everything I Know About DC Politics I Learned from Loose Lips. I am constantly appalled by how little people know about local politics. Get informed, yo! There are going to be plenty of mayoral debates leading up to the DC Democratic Primary on April 1, 2014, but if you’re only going to attend one, attend this one. Then when you get bored you can go downstairs, get a tallboy, and play pool.

Monday March 17, 2014 – Pot ‘o GOLDSPRINTS @ Capitol Hill Bikes – FREE (I think?) – Who doesn’t like to get all hot and sweaty doing some indoor stationary track bike racing? This event is going to be super sick and you should probably go. The head bike tech over there is doing some great things AND he used to work for us! So, yeah, do it.

Saturday March 22, 2014 – Segway into Spring Tour @ Bike and Roll DC – $$ – Tears of joy! Okay so this is the obligatory self-promoting item on this list, but I am actually really excited about our new Segway into Spring tour. It is going to be so dope! Segway into Spring is shorter and cheaper than our regular Segway tour and will take you around the back side of the Tidal Basin so you can see all the pretty cherry trees in bloom. Our tour manager Aaron has planned a killer route and we’ve got some awesome and enthusiastic tour guides on board to take you out. You should probably sign up today. Did you catch that? Click this link and give us all of your $$$. Please?

Okay. TL;DR: March is going to be great. Here is the GIF of those dancing clouds again. Have fun, be safe, and ride your bike all the time.

(Drumroll, please…)

Introducing the newest addition to the Bike and Roll DC Segway Tour Family: Segway into Spring!

We are thrilled to present our customers with this one-of-a-kind tour for the 2014 National Cherry Blossom Festival. Keeping in line with the Festival’s energetic “Step into Spring” motif, Segway into Spring allows you to peruse the beautiful blossoms on a 1.5 hour Segway tour.

This cherry blossom tour will highlight the very best views of the storied trees. You’ll ride along the Potamac Tidal Basin, East Potomac park and more as you take in the majesty of DC’s beloved pink and white blossoms.

So don’t miss out— we expect these blossom tours to fill up fast! Click here to make your reservation today.

Note: must be at least 16 years old to participate. (Min. weight 100lbs, max 260lbs).

You know the guy who always has the latest city gossip? Or how about that girl who seems to know every back story to DC’s landmarks? Or maybe it’s you who loves giving all of your out-of-town pals a first-hand look at our nation’s capital. Well, here’s your chance to flaunt those amazing talents and join our team of rockstars! (Rockstar example A and example B.)

Bike and Roll DC (the pinnacle of bike and Segway touring awesomeness) is currently hiring full and part-time positions for the 2014 spring and summer seasons!

“Work hard, play hard” is our maxim, and entertaining customers from all over the world is our passion! We’re hiring guides to lead tours, assistants to set people up on their rentals and even a few wrenches to look after our two-wheeled flock. And, if we’re not hiring for your dream position at the moment, check back since we’ll be hiring throughout the season.

We look forward to welcoming you to the crew!

Date Nights DC 
Date Nights are back in full swing this February, so grab your guy or gal (or friend!) and head out on the town! From over 100 date ideas to a variety of hot deals and discounts,Destination DC can help spice up your cold February nights. And who doesn’t love saving a few bucks for Valentine’s Day?

Super Bowl Parties
Okay, okay— so we know the Super Bowl isn’t being held in DC (nor did our team fare too well!) but that doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate the game of the year at a DC bar or restaurant! Check here for a full list of participating venues that will be celebrating game day in true DC style.

Washington Capitals
C-A-P-S Caps! Caps! Caps! When Football season comes to an end, Washingtonians rejoice in shifting their attention to the beloved Washington Capitals. February is chock full of riveting matches held at the Verizon Center, so pull out your favorite jersey and get ready to cheer on the boys!

Chinese New Year’s 
This 15-day event culiminates on February 2nd with the Chinese New Year Parade and Festival in Chinatown from 2-4:30pm. Stop by H Street (between 6th and 8th) to witness the beauty of the traditional dragon dance, as well as live musical accompaniment and Kung Fu demonstrations.

Cupid’s Undie Run
We had to. It’s impossible to make a February list without including a good ole’ fashioned undie run! This charitable event includes a 1.75 mile run around the Capitol building wherein all participants are clad in Valentine’s themed knickers to raise money for the Children’s Tumor Foundation. See all the PG-13 action on February 15th from 12-4pm.

1. L’Enfant Plaza’s Rennaisance
JBG Companies has initiated a complete renovation of L’Enfant Plaza to include new retail, office, and cultural spaces that emphasize sustainability and green practices. Development of a 10th street civic corridor that would connect the Mall to the Waterfront is also in the works. (We suspect bike lanes will abound in this new design!) For now, one can still enjoy thehistoric architecture, La Promenade’s variety of dining options that will continue to grow in 2014, and Bike and Roll tours starting this March!

2. Southwest Ecodistrict Initiative
Though the plan has been in the works for several years, the SW Ecodistrict Initiative has picked up speed as of late. This urban renewal will revolutionize and revitalize the L’Enfant neighborhood (more specifically, the 15 block radius from 12th to 4th street, bound by Independence Ave and the Waterfront.) The project is focused on interconnectivity between the National Mall and the Waterfront that will be achieved through sidewalks, bike lanes, reconnecting avenues, and creating various pedestrian and park spaces along the way. We can’t wait to see this innovative vision take shape!

3. Proximity to the National Mall
Need we say more? Having the Smithsonian Institution Castle in your backyard is nothing to sneeze at! One block south of the National Mall, L’Enfant Plaza is just a short walk, or bike ride from all the major sites to see in Washington, DC.

4. Proximity to the Waterfront
Another benefit of being just south of the Mall comes in the form of the lovely SW Waterfront! Dubbed the Wharf, this area will also undergo exciting new renovations to transform the neighborhood into something more reminiscent of the Baltimore National Harbor or the Seattle Downtown Waterfront (with a DC flare, of course.) For now, the Waterfront still offers beautiful views, the legendary Fish Market, marinas, and Arena Stage.

5. Access to the Cherry Blossom Trees
Talk about direct entry to the cherry blossoms! East Potomac Park, Hains Point, and the Tidal Basin are just a stone’s throw (or roll…) away from L’Enfant Plaza. We’ll be able to take our customers to, from, and around the blossoms more efficiently than ever before thanks to our new location.

#RollingOn, #OnTheMove, #OurNewHome, #TheBigMove, #GuessWhere, #FindOutInJanuary…

If you’ve been following our cryptic hashtags for the past month, you may have thought to yourself, “Hey, it’s January! Can we find out where you’re moving now?” Well, ask and ye shall receive!

Bike and Roll DC is thrilled to announce that we will be moving our National Mall location from the Old Post Office Pavilion after 11 awesome (non-Donald) years to 955 L’Enfant Plaza! That’s right– the cat is officially out of the bag, so share away!

L’Enfant Plaza is a noted historic complex located just south of the National Mall in the flourishing Southwest quadrant of Washington, DC. The Plaza is located a block from Independence Avenue, between 9th and 12th streets SW. Named for Pierre Charles L’Enfant, the famous architect and city planner responsible for the original layout of our nation’s capital, L’Enfant Plaza’s look and architectural plan was designed by I.M. Pei.

Centrally located, L’Enfant Plaza provides us with the perfect starting point for our customers to begin their tours. Half a mile from the Washington Monument, less than a mile from the Thomas Jefferson Memorial and Capitol Building, and accessible by four metro lines, Bike and Roll DC’s new location is the ideal gateway to Washington, DC. Our new proximity to the Tidal Basin and Hains Point also offers our tour-goers unparalleled, direct access to the lovely Cherry Blossom trees.

Don’t miss out on all the action: we are now booking for Spring 2014 and the National Cherry Blossom Festival!