Garrett "Did I mention I was the first blogger in the White House briefing room?" Graff joins Gawkeress Elizabeth Spiers on the list of bloggers to break through the medium barrier and join the staff of a glossy city lifestyle magazine. Of course, Spiers eventually left New York to run Mediabistro.com, which is, coincidentally, where Graff has been. No matter: Graff is joining the staff of the Washingtonian, and, frankly, we can't think of a more perfect fit.

His announcement follows after the jump. Good news: He's not leaving the 'Bowl and he wants a helper! Ability to summarize Hotline interviews a plus.

UPDATE: Graff lets readers in on the good news. [FishbowlDC]

Dear Friends/Colleagues,

I've been writing on my blog nearly daily this month about how many journalists in Washington are taking the slow days of August to change jobs. I didn't think I was going to be one of them.

Out of the blue last week, I was offered and have subsequently accepted a job at Washingtonian magazine as editor-at-large, the post left open this summer by Chuck Conconi's retirement. While not exactly filling Chuck's shoes (not sure anyone really could), I'll be doing many of the same things he was before he retired last month after forty years on the D.C. A-List: I'll be overseeing Capital Comment, their front-of-the-book shorts section, as well as writing long-form narrative pieces like my recent Howard Kurtz article.

While I've entertained a few job interviews over the past four months, I didn't really think that I'd be headed back inside the mainstream media quite so quickly. Nevertheless the days of commuting from my bedroom to my couch appear to be over. It will be a radical shift in my life: The ogres at Washingtonian have warned me that I'll be expected not only to come into the office, but ALSO to wear pants regularly. All told, though, this opportunity is too perfect to pass up. As the beat ranges from sports and entertainment to food, politics, business, the law, and, yes, the media, it's an excuse to learn and know everything about anything going on in the area and fulfill my deepest curiosities about all things Washington.

Although I won't be giving up writing Fishbowl D.C., I will need to take a step back, and we are currently looking for a part-time co-writer to share posting responsibilities with me. (If you know of anyone who would be so inclined, please have them contact me.)

I'll be starting at Washingtonian full-time in about ten days, and will send around my new contact information once I get there. You'll still be able to reach me here and on my cell phone, as always.

Sincerely,

Garrett