Secret Washington DC ('Secret' guides)

A grotesque Darth Vader grotesque on a church, a giant chair, the longest escalator in the Western Hemisphere, a faithful replica of the Holy Land for those who can't make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, ingenious fencing forged from War of 1812 musket barrels, a yet uncracked cryptographic sculpture, the world's oldest continuously operating airport, the only state embassy in the nation...

Far from the crowds and the usual clichés, Washington, DC is a reserve of well-concealed treasures only revealed to those who know how to wander off the beaten track, whether residents or visitors.

Born at the University Hospital named for old George himself, Sharon Pendana left Washington after high school to pursue her fashion dreams in New York City where she unearthed sartorial treasures and created narratives through wardrobe for print, television and film. She launched The Trove to profile some of the fascinating creatives she encountered along the way. Returning to DC to care for her ailing mother, she set about to rediscover her hometown, uncovering hidden gems and sharing their back stories, just as she always has.