Three beautiful things from the last week:

1. I decided at the last minute that I really did want to see the fireworks from up close so we hopped on our bikes to ride down to the Kennedy Center for a better vantage point. A block into our journey, sparks illuminated the sky. We rode down to the waterfront with bursts of pink and green and white lighting our way.

2. On the way from my event to the airport last Saturday, I stopped in Squirrel Hill to pick up some packing tape to seal up the boxes I was FedExing home. Across the street was a cupcake shop, so I picked out four to accompany me home: Vanilla vanilla (with Independence Day-themed decorations), chocolate cherry (a vegan option), East End Chocolate Stout, and Cosmo. All were delicious.

3. In an era where hotels charge you just for opening the refrigerator, let alone taking something out, Wyndham stands apart from the rest. If you join their free club, they will leave you complimentary snacks and drinks of your choosing. I arrived earlier than they’d expected on Friday, so when I returned to the room after running errands around the city, it was with great joy that I found they’d left me bottled water, Coke, and M&Ms.