That's so DC

Quickies: State of the Union

2012-01-24T20:59:00.000-08:00

The State of the Union address is like the Washington equivalent of the Oscars.

DC Loves Studio Apartments

2012-01-18T21:06:00.000-08:00

"It's perfectly normal to have a party in your bedroom!" --Rachel

The studio apartment - a prominent hallmark of single city living. One room, many purposes. As is the case with most major cities, finding affordable housing in a desirable* location is an arduous task. So what is a young, single DC professional to do to keep a roof over his or her head without being relegated to the wilds of Northern Virginia or Montgomery County?** The answer is to sacrifice space for place. The answer is the studio apartment.

Granted, one can find housing on the cheap without living in a glorified shoe box if he/she is down with the roommate thang. You can find plenty of rooms for rent in very nice row houses throughout the city, but if you're looking for your own place, the studio is the way to go. The challenge, of course, is how to turn 400-500 square feet (or sometimes less) into "home." Some things to consider:

Natural light can really open up a space. Look for places with lots of sun-facing windows.
Total number of square feet is less important than how the space is laid out. 450 square feet can look a lot different from one building to the next.
Keep in mind that you probably are not going to be spending that much time in your apartment anyway. Between the 9-5 job you work to pay the rent for that apartment, the gym, happy hours, dates, and various social activities, the vast majority of your time inside those four walls will probably be spent sleeping.

My "Living Room"

I think I've done a pretty decent job with my studio in creating distinct spaces (e.g., a "living room" space, a "bedroom" space, a "dining room" space) to minimize the feeling that I live in a single room. It may seem silly, but psychologically, it makes a discernible difference.

Warming my "house" - April 2011

I also don't let my tiny abode prohibit me from doing one of the things I do best, hosting parties. While it may seem odd at first to host moderate to large groups of people for gatherings in your studio, it's not quite as weird as you may think. At a holiday party I hosted back in December, one of my guests joked about how it was *so* DC to throw shin-digs in the room you sleep in. "It's perfectly normal to have a party in your bedroom," she said. And she's right! With so many of us in the same residential boat, it's a non-issue. If anything, it brings everyone closer together (literally!)

Who says you can't have a fondue party in a studio apartment?

*Desirable can mean either or both of these things: (1) proximal to the places you like to go and the people you like to spend time with, and/or (2) a notable shortage of crack dealers on the corners.

**I kid. I have plenty of friends who live in NoVa and MoCo and they're both fine places. :)

Welcome to the Neighborhood: U Street Corridor

2012-01-13T04:42:00.000-08:00

As a musician, one of the first questions I had upon moving to DC was where Washingtonians went for live music. I was given two answers to this question, the first of which was "U Street." The U Street Corridor isn't actually it's own neighborhood, it's a segment of the Shaw neighborhood, but for all intents and purposes, it's a distinct entity. The U Street Corridor exists in the Northwest quadrant of the city and extends from 9th and U to 18th and Florida. It is bordered by Logan Circle to the south, northern Dupont Circle to the west and to the north, Meridian Hill (a hybrid neighborhood that's too far east to be Adams Morgan and too far south to be Columbia Heights).

View Larger Map
My good friend, Wikipedia, gave me all sorts of insights about this part of town that I will happily share with you now. The U Street Corridor is a historically African American neighborhood. Until the 1920s, it boasted the nation's largest urban African American community (until it was taken over by Harlem in New York). Duke Ellington is one of DC's native sons, having grown up on 13th Street between T and S. A period of neighborhood decline began after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968; the intersection of 14th and U became the epicenter of violence in the DC riots that followed the assassination. Consequently, the area's more affluent residents fled and the corridor fell into a period of sharp decline; by the mid-1970s, 14th and U had become a hub for drug trafficking. It wasn't until the mid-90s that the area began gentrifying. Development in the adjacent neighborhoods of Adams Morgan and Logan Circle ultimately spread into the U Street Corridor. As luxury condominium and apartment complexes moved in, rents and property values increased and U Street started to be considered an "up and coming" DC neighborhood. By 2012, I think it would be a fair assessment to say that it's "come."

U Street is where I go to dance. Every Friday, DC9 (9th and U) hosts Liberation Dance Party. Third Saturdays at Liv (11th and U) feature Fatback, the funk/soul "come as you are" dance party I mentioned in this previous post. The Black Cat hosts lots of interesting dance parties both on its mainstage and backstage. Cafe St. Ex (14th and T) can be a bit of a meat market in the basement after dark, but hey, some people are into that sort of thing.

I still haven't made it to U Street Music Hall (11th and U) though and I hear that's a fun spot to dance as well. Patty Boom Boom (14th and U) is supposed to be the spot for reggae in this city. As with any of my Welcome to the Neighborhood posts, I'll never be able to highlight all of the many destinations of interests, but can at least share a bit about the spots I've come to know and love since moving here. In addition, being my primary dance destination, U Street also has great dive bars (e.g., Dodge City, 9th and U), some of which also serve as great live music venues (e.g., Velvet Lounge, 9th and U).

The king of all live music venues in Washington is, of course, the 9:30 Club (9th and V), and I'm sure at some point I will devote an entire blog post to just this one place. I've seen many a show here, my all time favorite of which was Death Cab for Cutie. The Black Cat (14th and T) has the next largest stage in the area and also features some pretty great acts. My first DC show was actually at the Cat; I saw The Get Up Kids and it was a killer show. Velvet Lounge and DC9 are smaller, but more intimate, and typically host more local talent. My band, J Street (so named for the lack of one in the city, see previous blog post here), for instance has played at the Velvet Lounge twice and has our first DC9 show coming up on January 21st! #gratuitousselfpromotion

I take a lot of videos from live shows I attend, but here are a couple of highlights from my first and from my favorite (so far) DC shows, respectively, and a snapshot from my band's first show at Velvet Lounge:

My first DC show: TGUK at the Black Cat on March 1, 2011

My favorite DC show (to date): DCFC at 9:30 Club on June 3, 2011

My band, J Street's, first show at Velvet Lounge on November 18, 2011

I cannot in good conscience conclude this blog post without mentioning a true U Street institution, an establishment that will eventually get it's own post, the famous Ben's Chili Bowl (12th and U). After a night of consuming live music or dancing up a storm, you will no doubt be hungering for something of a less than healthful nature. This is where Ben's comes in. Starting around midnight, a line starts to snake around the building filled with hoards of drunk and hungry young people demanding half smokes and chili cheese fries (and yes, they have vegetarian chili!) It is the perfect end to a raucous night out in the District of Columbia.

DC 101: The Exercise Man

2011-12-08T15:34:00.000-08:00

It's a Friday afternoon at the intersection of 7th and H Streets NW, just outside Gallery Place, and there's a man spinning in the streets. Yes, spinning. His name is Cedric Givens, but he's known more colloquially as "The Exercise Man." He's one of many local personalities in this city. I don't know how many times I've seen him twirling in circles or jogging backwards singing loudly to whatever music he has flowing through his earphones, but I do know it was enough times that he deserved a spot in my DC blog. From what little I could find on the Interwebs about his existence, he lives on H Street NE and has been at this for at least a couple of decades now. In an interview he did with CNN, he told Anderson Cooper that he runs backwards because it exercises different muscles. He told DC photographer, Danny Harris, for a piece in his blog, The People's District, that he spins in circles to improve his endurance. He's apparently not crazy and/or a drug addict; the man is quite literally high on life. He just loves to run. Next time you see him, wave hello or give him a high five.

Here are some videos of the man in action (and there are plenty more where these came from):

Want to learn more about DC's Exercise Man? Check out the Prince of Petworth blog post about Mr. Givens from earlier this year or this feature on Penn Quarter Living from 2007. Or better yet, just head outside and catch him in action! He apparently runs the same route every other day: straight down H Street, past the White House to 20th Street, and then back the same way.

DC Loves Bikesharing

2011-11-08T06:01:00.000-08:00

I grew up in South Florida, a place where it is nearly impossible to get from Point A to Point B without a car. Public transportation is inconvenient, unreliable, or absent altogether. Suburban sprawl coupled with crippling heat and humidity and a landscape tailor-made for cars made transit by bike or foot a pretty grueling ordeal as well. I then moved to a college town in central Pennsylvania and was able to get around predominantly by bus, bicycle, or foot, but not exclusively. The transit system was designed entirely around the university, so if neither your Point A nor Point B were the campus, your commute became much more complicated. Cars weren't necessary, but were certainly helpful.

(Image lovingly borrowed from Google Images)

It's been a dream of mine for a very long time to be carless. Then I moved to DC, a land where owning a car was more often than not an inconvenience and an unnecessary expense. The car I owned was already paid off, but parking, registration, insurance, and maintenance expenses were ludicrous when compared to how little I would want or need to actually use the vehicle. Consequently, in March of last year, I did away with my 2003 Ford Focus and signed up for Zipcar. Several months went by and I'd used the Zipcar service a grand total of ONE TIME. Meanwhile, I started noticing the city's now ubiquitous red bicycles everywhere I went. The bikes belonged to Capital Bikeshare, a community bike sharing program wherein you "check out" a bike at one location, cycle to your destination, and check it back in at a station on the other end of your trip. Convenient and eco-friendly transit could be mine for one low annual fee of $75 (plus half-hourly fees for rides lasting longer than 30 minutes).

I had some reservations at first. I'm not an avid cyclist and in the past have only ridden a bike for recreation as opposed to transportation. I was also somewhat fearful of biking DC's hectic streets, but I decided if I was going to be a full-fledged Washingtonian, it was time to commute like one. I signed up for a membership and not long after receiving my little red "key" in the mail, I joined the red bike fleet.

DC really loves bikesharing. Here's a little history for you (acquired from the Capital Bikeshare web site): The District of Columbia was actually the first jurisdiction in North America to launch a bikesharing program. It was called SmartBike D.C. and offered 120 bikes at 10 stations in the downtown area. The operation only lasted for two years, but acquired 1,600 members in that time. Meanwhile, Arlington County, VA had been simultaneously working on plans for a bikesharing system of their own. Arlington parntered with DC and launched a new system in May 2010, the Capital Bikeshare that exists today. The program now claims over 1,100 bicycles and 114 stations across the DC-Maryland-Virgnia (DMV) area and continues to expand.

(Image lovingly borrowed from Google Images)

The program is not without its complications or growing pains. Occasionally you will arrive at your bike rack of choice to find it empty, or the reverse will be true; you will bike to your destination only to find no empty bike slots on that end of the trip. However, the purveyors seem to be getting better at shifting bikes around for better balance and I find these problems to be issues less and less frequently. Last September, Capital Bikeshare threw a big bash to celebrate its first birthday. Over a million rides have been taken since that time and the momentum doesn't appear to be slowing down any time soon. Ditch the car keys, hop on a bike. It's *so* DC.

(Image lovingly borrowed from Google Images)

DC Loves Politically Themed Establishments

2011-10-04T12:49:00.000-07:00

I suppose it should come as no surprise that the city that is home to the nation's primary executive, legislative, and judicial powers would capitalize (no pun intended) on these associations. Consequently, the District of Columbia is home to several politically themed establishments and I always find myself impressed and amused by some of the turns of phrase bar, restaurant, and shop owners have developed.

My friend, Joel, recently moved into an English basement apartment in Capitol Hill. A couple of weeks ago, I journeyed over to check out his new digs. While we were setting up his AV equipment, it became apparent that pizza and beer were necessary ingredients for this kind of work. He Googled pizza places nearby and laughed when he found the closest one, a lovely establishment called We, the Pizza. "Only in DC!" he remarked. "That's * so * DC," I replied. (If you're a mushroom fan, the Forest Shroomin' Pie is to die for, by the way.)

(Image lovingly borrowed from Google Images)

On what was perhaps one of the best first dates I've ever been on, I had an opportunity to patronize Policy for the first time. Definitely a little more upscale, nay pretentious, but I'm a sucker for good themes and accompanying decor. Policy's slogan is "Truth. Love. Liberty." The walls are decked out with graffiti inspired presidential portraiture and idealistic messages (akin to those in the slogan). Vibrantly colored chandeliers hang from the ceiling. The ambiance is extremely hip (not to be mistaken with hipster) and certainly gorgeous, but it's the kind of place where they likely call the bartenders "mixologists." (You've been warned.)

(Images lovingly borrowed from www.policydc.com)

I became curious about other DC establishments with politically themed names and/or concepts and came across the following:

I can only imagine that there are tons of others and that I haven't even scratched the surface. Be a pal and suggest some others in the comments!

Where It's At: Julia's Empanadas

2011-09-21T05:23:00.000-07:00

On August 30th, 2005, my then boyfriend and I traveled to Washington, DC from State College, PA ("We Are!") to pick up our friend Jared and his then girlfriend and head to Merriweather Post Pavilion to see Green Day during their American Idiot tour. (Jimmy Eat World opened. It was a great show in case you were wondering...) At the conclusion of the concert, we headed back to the District and were staying with Jared at his place. En route, however, he had a hankering for a late night snack. "You guys want empanadas?!" he asked enthusiastically. We shrugged and said, "sure." Our indifference was a stark contrast to Jared's enthusiasm for savory pastry wrapped goodness. He had us stop at Julia's and he and I popped out to acquire our late night bites.

Fast forward six years. Jared still lives here (well, actually, he lives here again, a phenomenon that I've come to learn is also *so* DC). Recently, I was at a party at his house and someone was bad-mouthing Julia's, suggesting that these were far from authentic empanadas. Not more than 30 seconds after she made this claim, Jared's head spun around and he immediately sprang to Julia's defense. Having an Argentinian friend who makes her own homemade empanadas, I'll admit, Julia's isn't exactly the same, but it does definitely have a distinctive place in the DC late night/quick/cheap food scene. For less than $4, one of these delicious pastry wrapped delights can be yours. As a vegetarian, I appreciate that they always have a spinach and cheese empanada as well as a daily vegetarian special (which is actually typically vegan). My friend, Joel, is partial to the Chilean empanada.

Julia's has four locations within DC for your eating pleasure:

Adams Morgan (2425 18th St NW)
Brightwood (6235 Georgia Ave NW)
Columbia Heights (3239 14th St NW)
Dupont Circle (1221 Connecticut Ave NW)

Of the four, I've been to all but the Brightwood location. I patronize the Admo one the most frequently since it's only about a half mile from my place. Scoutmob recently had a deal for a free empanada at the Dupont location and I've certainly popped into the Columbia Heights one for a post-band practice meal once or twice.

What's your favorite empanada? Leave a comment!

(Image lovingly borrowed from Google Images)

DC Loves Safeways

2011-09-11T22:45:00.000-07:00

I know what you must be thinking... Safeways? Really? She's going to blog about a grocery store?

Answer: Yes.

DC loves its Safeways, or at least it loves nicknaming them. You see, each store within the District of Columbia has received a special nickname based on its location and/or reputation. They are as follows:

The "Social" Safeway
(1855 Wisconsin Ave NW)
Once upon a time, this was the grocery store to see and be seen at, where the DC elite came to buy their loaves of bread and canned goods. Now this demographic tends to shop at the Whole Foods that opened up in Glover Park. Nevertheless, it still retains the nickname.

The "Soviet" Safeway
(1701 Corcoran St NW)
So named due to its long lines and consistently sparsely stocked shelves.

The "Spanish" Safeway (a.k.a. The "Sandanista" Safeway)
(1747 Columbia Rd NW)
This nickname originates from the pre-gentrification days when the Adams Morgan neighborhood was a predominantly Salvadorian community, referring to the language most commonly heard being spoken in the aisles.

The "Secret" Safeway
(1800 20th St NW)
Located beneath a banner that reads "Townhouse," most don't even realize there is a Safeway there aside from the Dupont residents who like to keep it a secret.

The "Sixties" Safeway (a.k.a. The "Stinky" Safeway)
(3830 Georgia Ave NW)
I drove by this store for the first time last night and sure enough, it does look like it was plucked from the flower power years. (http://vilimpoc.org/research/map-safeway/DCP_2570.jpg)

The "Senior" Safeway
(2550 Virginia Ave NW)
This Safeway is located within the Watergate complex and is apparently frequented by a more geriatric crowd as well as GWU students.

The "Sexy" Safeway
(490 L St NW)
I'm not sure if this nickname refers to the structure itself or the clientele, but it certainly does encourage one want to find out!

The "Southwest" Safeway (a.k.a. The "Swanky" Safeway)
(401 M St SW)
Aptly nicknamed due to its location in SW DC, this Safeway is brand spanking new and a welcomed addition to the up and coming Waterfront area.

The "Un"Safeway
(415 15th St SE)
Located in Capitol Hill, this Safeway's nickname would have you believe that bullets whiz past you once you enter the sliding glass doors, but according to TBD, it's a pretty unjustified reputation.

Know of others or alternatives? Leave a comment!

Want to learn more? DC Safeway nickname lore abounds on the interwebs!

DC 101: DC Stereotypes

2011-08-29T06:49:00.000-07:00

In my inaugural blog post I suggested that the implication that DC was a city without an identity couldn't be farther from the truth. A few days ago, I came across a graphic that illustrated this point in a humorous, albeit trite and/or hackneyed manner. I give you the DC Stereotype Map:

(Image lovingly borrowed from http://socialstudiesdc.com)

It's definitely not the first map of its kind. I found this one a while back when I was searching for maps of the DC neighborhoods:

(Image lovingly borrowed from http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/)

While these maps are obvious oversimplifications (as is the nature of stereotypes in general), I like them because they illustrate the diversity in interests and personalities the reside within the beltway. One of the things I love about DC is how it can be so many things to so many people and how so many of its people are also into so many different things. While many large cities become adopted hometowns, the phenomenon seems even more apparent in the District of Columbia where nearly everyone here is from somewhere else. (I think I can count on one hand the number of DC "natives" I've met since moving here...) We each bring to this city the customs and experiences of our places of origin and create a microcosmic melting pot. Thus, DC's identity is in its many identities. Its cohesiveness is in its diversity and while these maps would suggest that each DC neighborhood could likely have its own blog based around its unique trademarks (i.e., That's *so* Columbia Heights or That's *so* Petworth), it is the combination and fusion of these lovable distinctions that is ultimately *so* DC.

Where It's At: Fatback

2011-08-15T20:28:00.000-07:00

Let me take you back to a cold night in February of 2011. I had just moved into my apartment in Woodley Park and one of my oldest and dearest friends, Jared, came by to help me assemble some Ikea furniture. At the conclusion of said assembly, he told me that I should meet up with him and some of his friends to attend a funk-soul dance party called "Fatback." Clearly, I was confused and slightly put off by the name, but he assured me that it was one of the most fun DC events he had ever attended. I've known this friend since high school and we remained fairly close over the years, so I took his word for it and agreed to tag along. We met up for dinner at the Teaism in Dupont Circle, pre-gamed at his friends' house nearby, and then cabbed down to the U Street Corridor to a club called Liv where this oddly named dance party took place.

Fatback's slogan is "No cover, no dress code, just a chance to do it right." This evening certainly lived up to those expectations. It was this utopic experience with a very "come as you are" and "dance like nobody's watching" atmosphere. The music was far from the standard Top 40 club mix and the DJs looked like they were having even more fun than the patrons (if such a thing were even possible). The energy in the room was optimistic and joyful. There was no judgment or shame, just a crowd full of 20- and 30-somethings loving life. I was hooked.

It was a few months before I made it back to another Fatback. (They take place the third Saturday of each month.) The second time I went I brought some of my friends from work along with me and made converts out of them as well. It happened to be Judgment Day (May 22nd), so I wore an ironic t-shirt to commemorate the occasion.

Joel, me, and Becca (and one of the Fatback DJs) "doing it right."

The third time I went I was on my own and had one hell of an adventure while there (though not the kind I'll share with the general public on a blog...) Suffice to say that it was a crazy and amazing night... ;-) The next Fatback will be August 20th and you better believe I'll be there until they shut the music off, turn the lights on, and kick us out onto the street. I leave you with a short video from the May Fatback that illustrates the unadulterated joyfulness of this fantastic DC gathering that has become a staple in my social schedule. Enjoy...

DC Loves Brunch

2011-08-15T14:35:00.000-07:00

You want to know what's *so* DC? Brunch.

I used to visit DC a lot before I moved here and learned very quickly that DC loves brunch. I'd even go so far as to say it's a DC institution. This breakfast-lunch hybrid is an integral part of most weekends for many in this city and the wait times at some of the more popular locations are proof of this city's dedication to mimosas and specialty omelets. No matter your fancy, there's a DC brunch for you.

Yesterday, I made the most of a ScoutMob deal and brunched at Nage near Dupont Circle; the breakfast burrito and bottomless mimosas made for a perfect follow-up to a night of dancing at the Black Cat's Cryfest party the night before. Not too long ago, I enjoyed a vegan brunch with one of my bandmates after practice at Sticky Fingers in Columbia Heights. My apartment happens to be incredibly conveniently located to a very popular DC brunch destination, Open City. (Their red velvet waffle is nothing short of sublime...) If you're brave enough to venture out into the wilds of Northern Virginia, I also think Eventide is worth a try.

The fact of the matter is, I could sit here all day and go through restaurant after restaurant and still not even come close to covering the full extent of brunch options in this city. Entire web sites have been created just around this one meal:

Not to mention, you can get the low down on DC's best brunch locales on all the major review and reservation sites as well:

Leave a comment if you have a favorite spot and/or dish to recommend. At some point in the near future, I'd like to check out Asylum's vegan brunch and the $10 bottomless mimosas at Sign of the Whale. So many brunches, so little time...

DC 101: Why is there no "J" Street?

2011-08-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

As a planned city, the District of Columbia has a very straightforward, logical layout and mapping system. The city is composed of four quadrants (NW, SW, NE, and SE) with the Capitol Building being at the center. Within each quadrant, there are numbered and lettered streets. Numbered streets run north-south and lettered streets run east-west. There are also diagonals that cut through, which are named after states. When all the letters are exhausted (they end at W, there are no X, Y, or Z streets), they go through two-syllable words that begin with the letters of the alphabet (e.g., Calvert Street is three blocks past the last lettered street, W Street). After the two syllable words are exhausted, they go to three syllable words. After these are exhausted, they move to botanical names (i.e., names of trees and flowers), again, all beginning with letters of the alphabet in sequential order.

In addition to the lettered streets ending at W, there are a couple of other idiosyncrasies I've noticed about the mapping system, the most notable of which is the lack of a "J Street," so I started asking around to see if I could figure out the reason for this anomaly. Several people told me that the original city planner, Pierre Charles L'Enfant, had a personal feud with John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and consequently omitted the "J" from the street system. While their dispute may have, in fact, been real, it turns out this explanation for the missing J Street is nothing more than an urban legend. Wikipedia led me to the actual answer...

In actuality, the reason there is no "J" Street is because until the mid-nineteenth century, the letters "I" and "J" were indistinguishable from each other when written. Additionally, many establishments on I Street write out their address as "Eye" Street to avoid confusing it with the number 1, and some on Q Street spell it out as "Cue" or "Queue" to distinguish it from O Street. While the L'Enfant/Jay dispute explanation is certainly more salacious, the pragmatic (and legitimate) explanation appeased my curiosity and provided me with the impetus to learn a little something about my new hometown. :)


The Original L'Enfant City Plan for District of Columbia

(Image lovingly borrowed from Google Images)

Welcome to the Neighborhood: Adams Morgan

2011-08-10T11:55:00.000-07:00

Like most great cities, DC is best understood by its neighborhoods. Slowly, but surely, I'm exploring the different parts of town and getting a feel for their unique identities. Today I'd like to introduce you to Adams Morgan, or "Admo" for short. At the intersection of 18th Street and Columbia Avenue is the hub of this community, situated in between Woodley Park (to the west), Dupont Circle (to the south), Columbia Heights (to the east) and Mt. Pleasant (to the north).

View Larger Map

Adams Morgan has a large Latino population, and consequently lots of fantastic and authentic Latin American cuisine and stores, including Mexican, El Salvadorian, and Guatemalan, among others. It's currently also home to a very large assortments of nightlife venues ranging from dive bars to hip and trendy night clubs. From what I've read on Wikipedia, this neighborhood is home to over 90 establishments that have liquor licenses. Consequently, I genuinely believe that the term "shit show" originated in describing Adams Morgan on a Friday or Saturday night. Case in point...

A Classic Admo "Shit Show"

(Image lovingly borrowed from Google Images)

18th Street is lined with drunken party animals from Columbia Avenue down to Kalorama Road. Some are there to catch live blues at Madam's Organ. Others are looking for a more chill evening at Tryst. Plenty are lined up to go dancing at Heaven and Hell. If it's late enough, they're also congregating at Jumbo Slice for one of the most enormous slices of pizza you've ever seen...

The Famous Late Night Jumbo Slice

(Image lovingly borrowed from Google Images)

My experiences in Adams Morgan have been fairly varied. The following is a list of establishments I can personally vouch for:

Tattoo Paradise - I got my first tattoo here from the very talented Mr. Billy Bennett. The staff are all very professional and friendly and made me feel super comfortable throughout the whole process.
Amsterdam Falafel - They only serve two things here, falafel and french fries, but they do both incredibly well.
Chief Ike's Mambo Room - Definitely not a dress to impress venue, this laid back bar has both live music (of which I've been one of the performers) and DJs and dancing.
Bourbon - I actually had the pleasure of trying one of their six Bourbon tasting flights. Try the "Method." I enjoyed it thoroughly. :)
Tryst - This coffeehouse/cafe/bar is all things to all people. The decor is pretty awesome, as is the food. I'm told they shut the WiFi off on the weekends, though, to deter patrons from taking up valuable space for long periods of time.
Julia's Empanadas - The Admo location is one of four across the city. Never lets you down.
Meskerem - Stupendous spot for Ethiopian cuisine.

I've also been to Savour for dinner and wasn't incredibly impressed, but they were in the process of switching chefs, so I'd be willing to give it another go. At some point, I'll also be making it to Stroga and Studio DC, as I purchased Groupons at each. Adams Morgan is easily accessible by bus, but the closest Metro stop is about a half mile walk away. I strongly advise against driving if you can avoid it; parking is very hit or miss (mostly miss).


18th Street - Adams Morgan

(Image lovingly borrowed from Google Images)

DC Loves Kickball

2011-08-09T13:59:00.000-07:00

DC is full of transplants. Each day a new young, eager, fresh-faced college grad makes his or her way inside the beltway to do his or her part to make the world a better place, but let's face it: social justice, environmental sustainability, affordable healthcare, and world peace are freaking hard, so thousands of young-DCites make their way to the National Mall after 5:00 to let loose with a game of good old fashioned kickball. Yes, that's right: kickball. It's the same game you played in 3rd grade recess, only this time there's copious amounts of beer at the end to both the winners and losers. Bottom line: kickball is a great way to spend some time outside (in a pretty fantastic location) and meet lots of new friendly people. There are several big kickball leagues in the city, including WAKA, DC Kickball, and the league to which I belonged, NAKID.

Games are played in locations other than the National Mall as well, but you have to admit... there's something quasi-patriotic feeling about playing elementary school games with the Capitol Building as your backdrop...

Thursday night kickball on the National Mall

Some leagues are more competitive than others (e.g., WAKA has a reputation as being pretty serious about their kickball, whereas NAKID has more of a "we're just here to have fun" mentality.) Ask your friends about their experiences and impressions. Kickball leagues also organize social events off the field for their members, like scavenger hunts, movie nights, and wine tours. Hopefully you're a flip cup fan, because DC kickball is often times more about the drinking games that come afterward than the actual game before; that said, the atmosphere is still extremely welcoming even to those who aren't the biggest fans of this beloved post-sport sport. Also, DC kickball is for kids of all ages; I'm nearing the big 3-0 and I was far from the oldest person on my team, so don't let age deter you from getting out there and having a great time. I'm considering signing up again for the Fall season, but opted to skip the Summer. (Have you been outside lately? It's just freaking hot...) Feel free to leave comments with your thoughts or anecdotes about kickball in DC!

Damn straight.

That's so DC

2011-07-17T11:41:00.000-07:00

Hey there, how's it going? My name is MJ. I live in Washington, DC and I absolutely love it. I've only been here for about six months, but I've noticed that this city gets kind of a bad rap. In various media articles and casual conversations, I've heard a variety of criticisms regarding its music, arts, culture, sports, nightlife, and residents, the worst of which, however, is that DC is a city without an identity.

Similar to that guy in the movie Anchorman who proclaims, "Nobody talks about my city that way!" after Ron Burgundy tells San Diego to go f*ck itself, I find that I get increasingly defensive about my beloved place of residence. DC is an amazing city with its own unique feel and energy, just like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Miami, L.A., and all other major metropolises are distinctive urban entities with particular vibes and undercurrents.

DC most definitely has an identity. The District of Columbia is a vibrant, young, diverse, and exciting city. DC-ites have unique proclivities and no shortage of things to do or places to go (and I'm not talking about visiting the Lincoln Memorial or the Washington Monument). I find myself remarking, "that's so DC" at various phenomena on an almost daily basis, so much so in fact, that I decided to start this blog in tribute to my new home and all the things that make it special.

Please join me and we'll explore and enjoy together. :)

That's *so* DC

Quickies: State of the Union

DC Loves Studio Apartments

Welcome to the Neighborhood: U Street Corridor

DC 101: The Exercise Man

DC Loves Bikesharing

DC Loves Politically Themed Establishments

Where It's At: Julia's Empanadas

DC Loves Safeways

DC 101: DC Stereotypes

Where It's At: Fatback

DC Loves Brunch

DC 101: Why is there no "J" Street?

Welcome to the Neighborhood: Adams Morgan

DC Loves Kickball

That's *so* DC

That's so DC

That's so DC