Geography Thrills - Ok, I admit it... I'm a total nerd when it comes to maps and cartography, especially when they involve urban planning. (I owned the original SimCity 1989 and even wrote a paper about it for my Geography and Public Policy class in college.) Since my Princeton roommate Adam shared a similar fascination, I just had to take him to the National Building Museum when he visited DC recently to show him their exhibit on the Anacostia Waterfront Initiative.

The thing is that this city (Washington) is crazy with people like us, who find inspiration in the likes of L'Enfant and McMillan. Take for example the guy who runs a website on redevelopment of his neighborhood south of the Hill. Then there are those don't just sit at home looking at maps but who get outside and practice the quasi-illegal hobby of urban exploration. Trespassing in a city jumpy about terrorists isn't the greatest idea, but I am sorely tempted by those secret rail tunnels beneath Capitol Hill. Okay, okay -- sorry about the "confession of a dork." I'm done now.