Inaugural “Golden Bachelorette” Joan Vassos is a born-and-bred Marylander who lives in Rockville, and she has a long list of favorite local spots.
The big picture: Vassos, who was previously a contestant on the “Golden Bachelor,” is originally from Olney and went to the University of Maryland.
- She’s worked in alumni relations at Bethesda’s Landon School, but is currently on a leave of absence due to the show, she tells Axios.
Here, she shares her thoughts on life in the DMV:
🌹 Favorite D.C. spots:
“I’m a D.C. girl. I think it’s important we do D.C. things,” says Vassos, who waited several hours to see former President Reagan lying in state.
- She loves taking walks on the Mall, especially when it’s cherry blossom season (her favorite monument is the World War II Memorial).
- She’s also into checking out art exhibits — she says she went to the interactive Van Gogh exhibit several times, and has also hit up the interactive Monet exhibit.
- She also loves hanging in Georgetown, especially because her son is a Georgetown grad.
Georgetown’s Cafe Milano tops her list of fave local restaurants. “There’s always people to see,” she says. “It’s where all the famous people go.”
- Also on the list: Millie’s in Spring Valley and Glenwood’s in Rockville (formerly Stanford Grill).
Plus: She loves hanging at a Nats or Commanders game.
- “Even when they’re not great teams, they’re great fun.”
🌹 Ideal D.C. date:
Vassos would take one of her “Golden Bachelorette” suitors to the Georgetown waterfront for a Potomac River cruise of the monuments.
- They’d also check out classic spots like the White House and the Washington Monument, and take a day trip to Annapolis.
🌹 Thoughts on leaving D.C. for a “Golden Bachelorette” suitor:
Not happening. “I always said from day one, I’m not leaving. I have my family here.”
- Vassos says she wouldn’t ask a partner to leave his home, either. “You have to figure it out in other ways.”
🌹 Thoughts on D.C. “Love Is Blind”
She hadn’t watched it yet when she chatted with Axios, but was planning to.
- “I kind of like being behind, because I love to binge-watch,” she says.