“I hope it snows more; it really makes my commute to and from work so much easier,” said no one ever. Except perhaps on Opposite Day.
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Ah, Opposite Day. A whole 24 hours when up is down, right is wrong and traffic in Northern Virginia is considered a piece of cake. Tomorrow, Jan. 25, is Opposite Day. Today, however, is not. So take my advice today with full faith and we can avoid any confusing situations like “Well, she said today is Opposite Day, but if it’s Opposite Day, then what she said is false. But if what she said is false, then…”
We’re grown-ups. There’s no time for mix-ups like that. And since we’re grown-ups, we’re going to take a more mature approach to Opposite Day. We can’t wear our clothes backwards or drive to work the wrong way (sorry if that bursts any bubbles out there), but we can make choices that are contrary to those we’d normally make. Here are five magnificent ways to celebrate Opposite Day.
Try different foods and unfamiliar restaurants.
Are you stuck in a dining rut? Do you run in terror when you encounter a food you’ve never seen before? Not on Opposite Day! NoVA is full of award-winning restaurants and daring new food crazes. Check out our Eat This Now! guide for inspiration. Your favorite local celebs and politicians recommended their favorite foods in NoVA; maybe you’ll catch them at these restaurants.
Enjoy a night out in a new part of town.
If you normally spend your Friday nights bar hopping and raging in Clarendon, tomorrow you should slow down the pace. Grab a few friends and head to Reston Town Center for dinner at Clyde’s, a couple of hours of ice skating and a drink at Market Street Bar & Grill; you’ll especially need it if you hit the ice while you’re skating!
Oranges are for eating, not for seeing, silly. Netfalls - Remy Musser/shutterstock.com
Stay indoors / create a tropical oasis.
Take it all the way opposite: don’t even leave your house on Friday night. Pretend it’s not cold outside by creating an indoor summer night. Whip up an indoor picnic with homemade margaritas (or sweet tea for non-drinkers), dance around to the Beach Boys and watch a summer flick (“Dirty Dancing” and “Wet Hot American Summer” are modern classics). No bikinis or sunscreen necessary. You know, unless you just want to.
Travel to southern Virginia.
NoVA is awesome, but have you ever explored the rest of Virginia? Southwest Virginia is home to the very musical area known as the “Crooked Road.” Read our Crooked Road feature and then get out there to explore!
Be nice to people you’re not normally nice to (but don’t be mean to everyone else).
This one might be the most important “celebration” of all. Who knew Opposite Day could be the perfect time for self-improvement? Take the day to make a conscious effort to be kind and generous to those you less than adore. Trying it one day may inspire you to continue. Need some help getting started? Check out these resources.
How will you celebrate Opposite Day? Leave ideas in the comments section!