about
Cassandra
Known for my breadth of knowledge, relaxed approach, and unusual anecdotes, I offer expertly guided explorations that blend historical depth with engaging storytelling and a touch of relaxed elegance.
I believe great stories transcend mediums, classic style is eternal, and pizza tastes better for breakfast.
my
Style
As a guide, I lead with calm authority and a love of precision. My work is rooted in scholarship, shaped by storytelling, and attuned to beauty and detail. I believe in unhurried exploration and the power of a well-chosen telling to paint vivid pictures and stir emotions. I believe in unhurried exploration and the power of a well-chosen word. Every tour is composed with intention—intelligent, evocative, and quietly immersive. I don’t just share history; I invite you into a deeper, more poetic sense of place.
my
Story
I am shaped by several jobs on Capitol Hill (exploring the attics and hidden closets back when that was possible), event planning inside the Supreme Court, and more than a decade of graduate studies. I’ve also trained as a guide at the Washington National Cathedral and, like many Washingtonians, waited tables here—a rite of passage that taught me just as much as the law books did. My tours are a window into a city I know intimately, tailored to your curiosity and guided by mine.
my
Method
When I took an aptitude test decades ago, it suggested I become a librarian—a fitting nod to my love of research, order, and intellectual depth. My tours reflect that same scholarly rigor: thoroughly researched, historically grounded, and richly contextual. I’ve done deep academic work in both U.S. political and legal history—my Vassar thesis explored the political forces behind Marbury v. Madison, the landmark case that defined judicial review. If I don’t know the answer to a question, I won’t improvise—I’ll investigate, and follow up with care and precision.
"I learned a lot, and I'm happy to have gained so much knowledge."
— PAOLA POLIDORI
"Historical accuracy delivered with a wealth of unforgettable anecdotes, Your knowledge is astounding."
— DOREEN VANDERHART
BEHIND
the STORIES
ENNEAGRAM 3w2, CREATIVE TO MY CORE, ARTIST, ROMANTIC, JANE AUSTEN fan
Before guiding others through the hidden corners of Washington, I was quietly uncovering my own. I used to joke that I moved to D.C. because I liked white marble—but I stayed because I fell in love with the conversations. I’ve always been drawn to ideas and the people who carry them. From cashiers to cab drivers, I’ve learned as much about the world from spirited debates and passing chats as I have from books. And my dates have been a geography lesson, too!
I’ve rowed the Potomac at dawn for years—part meditation, part rhythm, always grounding. I once owned a yoga studio in Georgetown, where I taught alignment, breath and balance. My early path was more formal: I worked as an attorney inside PBS headquarters, guiding producers and giving speeches about the non-commercial and educational mission of public television.
Some of my most joyful stories come from "Camp Cassandra"—a beloved, unofficial tradition where friends sent their teens to me for a week of curated D.C. wonder. We explored monuments, caught sunsets, and turned history into memory. I bring that same mix of care, curiosity, and imagination to everything I create.