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Hey everyone! I hope you had a great week! For the first time since I started traveling across the country, I regrettably missed last week’s blog. For my few faithful followers, I apologize and will get back on track by coming at you with a new blog every Wednesday (although it was probably a relief not having to read this foolishness last week). However, I did have somewhat of a reason for skipping last week as I went to Austin Texas for Consensus, one of the largest crypto conferences year after year.
During the conference, I was scheduling meetings, working the booth, pitching clients, and other quick phrases that make it sound like I did a lot there. Also, I finally got to meet my manager in person after working with him for over three months (shoutout to Sam if you’re reading this), my team member who I helped onboard (shoutout to Devon if you’re reading this), and many other NEAR Foundation colleagues (most of whom I only talk with over slack). So…it’s no excuse for missing the blog…but trust me, I was busy. Enough of that, on to what y’all are probably waiting for, my city review for Washington DC!
Overview
Just like every city review, I asked Chat GPT to give me quick synopses of Washington DC to get everyone up to speed:
Washington D.C. is the capital of the United States of America and is located on the east coast of the country, bordered by Maryland to the north and Virginia to the south. It was founded in 1791 and named after George Washington, the first President of the United States. The city has a population of around 700,000 people and covers an area of approximately 68 square miles (177 square kilometers). Washington D.C. is home to numerous historical monuments, government buildings, museums, and cultural institutions, including the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Mall. The city is also known for its vibrant neighborhoods, diverse food scene, and lively arts and music culture. Washington D.C. is a major center of politics, diplomacy, and international relations, and is home to many of the world's leading think tanks, advocacy organizations, and media outlets.
A quick note about DC: For those who don’t know, DC is the only other city besides New Orleans I’ve lived in for more than a week (before this journey obviously). Thus, I was kinda able to call my own shots of what to do and not do, and I will have a much better feel for this city compared to every other one I review.
Activities: 8.5/10
Favorite Activity: Monuments at Night
DC has tons to offer across a wide variety of interests, and no one should have trouble trying to find something they enjoy in the city. Although I did live in DC for back-to-back summers, this was the first time I could attend a Smithsonian museum the first weekend I was in town (was in DC for the Covid summers). Not only are these some of the best museums in the entire US, but they are also entirely free to the public. The only sad part was that the Air & Space Museum (my personal favorite) was closed for renovations.
It is also always sports season in DC through their five major sports teams: Commanders (NFL), Wizards (NBA), Nationals (MLB), Capitals (NHL), and DC United (MLS). Just like Charlotte, however, all the teams are currently not doing too hot (besides DC United I guess), so the city’s sports scene isn’t as lively at the moment, but games are always fun to attend nonetheless.
However, my favorite activity in DC will always be going to the National Mall (especially at night) and seeing all the incredible monuments, memorials, and statues. I get a feeling of awe every time I enter the Lincoln Memorial, or stand at the stairs of the Jefferson Memorial where you have a straight shot of the White House’s South Lawn and more.
Landmarks/Neighborhoods/Areas: 10/10
Most Iconic Landmark: White House…Capitol…Lincoln Memorial…etc.
DC is easily a 10/10 in this department, and think it is easily the top city in the country to go sightseeing in due to all the incredibly famous buildings and landmarks including (but not limited to obviously) the White House, Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and more. Not only that, but almost every block in DC that you walk down will have a building that has some importance in some way, shape, or form. For example, I used to live on the same block as the Sierra Leonne Embassy in DC. Although that building has absolutely no importance to my day-to-day life, it’s still cool that there are so many randomly important buildings.
Besides landmarks, DC also has a vast array of unique and fun neighborhoods that are awesome to explore. If you want to go shopping and look at some cool houses, you can go to Georgetown. If you want to enjoy some good food near a body of water, you can go to the Warf. If you are looking to go out on the weekend, you can go to Adams Morgan. The list can go on and on, but for a city that is not that big comparatively speaking, it is incredible how many incredibly fun neighborhoods there are.
Food: 8/10
Favorite Restaurants: Froggy Bottom, Cafe Milano, & Old Ebbit Grill
Local Delicacy: Cupcakes
Although not as much as other cities I’ve been to thus far (namely NOLA & Charleston), DC’s food scene would still be a delight to any foodies traveling to the nation’s capital. Although they are commonplace across the whole US, DC is known for its cupcakes, partly due to the hit TV show DC Cupcakes. If you go out to eat too often, you will see the hit your bank account takes, but it’s not too shabby overall.
One thing to especially keep in mind for DC’s food scene is that weekend brunch is the most important meal of the week. If you don’t have a reservation for an 11:30 AM brunch on a Saturday or Sunday, have fun waiting for at least an hour. Although I think brunch is slightly overrated, it’s still extremely fun to do if you can get a group of friend and do it, so I recommend giving it a try.
In terms of restaurants, one of my personal favorites is Froggy Bottom (take a guess what neighborhood it’s in), mostly for sentimental reasons, but it’s the perfect place to go if you don’t know what type of food you want (this place has basically everything). If you are looking for a fancy outing, I would direct you to Cafe Milano, which is an Italian restaurant in Georgetown where people who are people in DC typically like to dine (I sat next to the head of the treasury one time). Finally, Old Ebbit Grill is an incredibly historic place in the heart of downtown DC that is quite reasonable price-wise and couldn’t recommend it enough.
Nightlife/Social Scene: 8.5/10
Best Venue: Player’s Club & Shenanigans
Although I have lived in DC two times before, this past month was the first time there were absolutely zero COVID restrictions. Thus, I was finally able to fully embrace what the DC nightlife had to offer. Overall, the nightlife in DC is young, vibrant, and super fun. The main places people (my age at least) tend to go are Adams Morgan, 14th St., and DuPoint Cirlce, which each have their unique places to go.
The one place I went to the most by association (since my roommate Jack goes there every weekend) is Shenanigans. Being from New Orleans, you’d think I would’ve seen every crazy drinking deal known to man (even though it doesn’t matter to me). However, Shenanigans offers an unbelievable all-you-can-drink from 8-10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays for only $10. They also have a great bartender named Sam, so if you happen to go, tell Sam that Jack’s friend Will says hey. Player’s Club is another great spot with games like pool, foosball, pop-a-shot, pinball, and more (which for someone who doesn’t drink, is a godsend).
History & Culture: 8/10
In terms of history, there are very few cities that can go toe to toe with DC in that regard. Whether it be in the form of major political events (ex: Lincoln Assassination), culturally significant speeches (ex: MLK’s “I Had a Dream”), or the movies filmed there that only a crazy person would spend hours trying to recreate:
One thing that is quite ironic about DC (and multiple people agree with me on this) is that for being the capital of the country, it doesn’t have its own distinct culture. I think it’s pretty fitting given that DC is the place where everyone from across the country, rural and urban, is supposed to be represented.
One thing that I am not a huge fan of in the city is the overly political culture that exists. It’s something you should obviously expect given that it’s the hub of our nation’s federal government, but I think that culture can be someone toxic. This may not be exclusive to DC (but probably most common) but some people will base their entire opinion on you as a person simply depending on how you view specific issues. As someone who worked in politics for two summers, I have experienced this firsthand.
Natural Beauty/Outdoor Spaces: 8.5/10
In terms of being a big metropolitan city, DC has some incredible outdoor spaces. This is mainly because the whole city is built around a humongous walkway in the National Mall. However, it also has lots of squares scattered around this city like Dupont Circle (which I lived a block away from) and during this time of year, has some beautiful cherry blossoms blooming.
There is also some decent hiking available close by in Virginia at Great Falls, which I didn’t have the privilege of going to this time, but did in one of my previous DC stints:
Also, due to the natural beauty as well as all the important buildings in the city, I believe DC is the best place to go on a run in the US. This take will possibly be proven wrong as I travel around, but for someone who is not much of a runner, I thoroughly enjoy running down the national part every time I am there.
Transportation: 8/10
Similar to how I believe DC is the best place to run, I also think DC is the most walkable city in the entire US. For someone who works a remote job from home and barely gets up from their desk during the work day, I was still able to hit a 13.3k daily step count since I simply walked everywhere.
DC also has one of the best public transportation systems in the US through its Metro system. You can get to anywhere in the city with ease (besides Georgetown notoriously) and it’s super simple to add funds to a card, or you can even use your iPhone through Apple Pay to tap in.
The one thing that was new about my DC venture this month was that I had a car in the city this time. Let me tell you…having a car in DC is a nightmare. Although it is my fault, I got 4 parking tickets in my first 3 days in the city, one of which I got at 1 AM (the meter maids in DC are ruthless). Furthermore, if you are trying to go out and want to bring a car to make the travel back to your home easier, good luck. I tried going to Adams Morgan one night and simply had to park my car at the apartment and just walk there.
People: 6.5/10
One of my favorite parts about Washington DC is that you can meet and make friends with people from all over the country and many different walks of life. Although there are a ton of UVA kids (naturally), across the entirety of my time there, I became friends with a farm girl from Indiana, a city boy from Jersey, a dude from the middle of nowhere Texas, etc. and these people are some of the best people I’ve ever met.
However, similar to the culture, you do run into a decent amount of people who take politics (and also themselves) way too seriously. There are also some scummy political types who will be so full of themselves, and every time I talk with them, I feel like Pepper Potts from this scene in Iron Man 2:
Overall: 8.25/10
In conclusion, Washington DC is a city that offers an experience like no other. From the incredible monuments and landmarks that line the National Mall to the unique and vibrant neighborhoods throughout the city, there is always something to do in DC. Whether you are interested in exploring the city's museums, trying out some of the best restaurants in the country, or enjoying the vibrant nightlife scene, DC has it all. While the sports teams might not be doing too hot at the moment, the city itself is always buzzing with energy and excitement. DC truly is a city that everyone should have on their travel bucket list.
Thanks for reading! Now that I am finally back on schedule for writing, I expect to stay more consistent over the next few weeks unless NYC decides to throw everything at me (which would be expected in the city that never sleeps). Stay tuned for next week’s blog, and let me know if any of y’all reading this would like to meet up in NYC!
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