What I Love About DC

It seems that very few people are actually from DC, so there must be something that draws the best and the brightest to town. I fell in love with this city on a class field trip in the eighth grade, and when it came time to apply to colleges, I never seriously considered going anywhere else. There is so much to love about DC – here are a few of my favorites:

After graduating GWU, I stayed and found a job on the Hill, like many of my friends. I lived in Virginia for two years before deciding the commute from Alexandria was unbearable, settling first in Eastern Market, then near H Street, and now residing in Brookland. I commute to work and travel around downtown on Capitol Bikeshare by zipping down the Metropolitan Branch Trail. I run with friends or my running club, DC Road Runners, around the Mall and Hains Point, up Rock Creek and Beach Drive, out and back on C&O Canal or the Capital Crescent Trail, and race the streets during the St. Patty’s Day 8K, the Rock N Roll or Marine Corps Marathon, and the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler.

Tortilla Coast, photo courtesy of 2or3lines.blogspot.com

I take business lunches at Tortilla Coast, Bullfeathers, Hawk N Dove, and La Lomita Dos on the House side and Kyoto Sushi, La Loma, East Street Café, Thunder Grill, and Bistro Italiano on the Senate Side. If I never eat another salad or wrap in Longworth perched at my usual spot, I’ll survive. The sushi in the Senate cafeteria is better than you’d expect. I network at Penn Social, Vapiano’s, Public Bar, and Bar DuPont.

When I go out to H Street, I’m at H Street Country Club, Rock and Roll Hotel, Granville Moore’s, and Liberty Tree. I catch my favorite teams in Adams Morgan at Ventnor’s Sports Café; enjoy a drink at Smoke & Barrel; and I once went to Grand Central, but it was part of a prank.

I haven’t hung out in Georgetown in years and rarely make it out to Friendship Heights or Tenleytown. I’ve never understood the hype of Lauriol Plaza.

I may be too old for American Ice Company, but I go there anyway. I can be dragged to a birthday party at Local 16, but I will pout. I’ve seen concerts at the 9:30 Club and closed down Black Cat playing pool.

9:30 Club Stage (Photo from Eslmusic.com)

If I feel like a craft beer, I drink at Churchkey, Black Squirrel, the Saloon, and Dodge City. When I fill my growler, I can walk to Chocolate City or DC Brau. The best biergartens are Biergarten Haus on H Street and Standard on 14th.

Biergarten Haus, photo courtesy of WashingtonPost

If I want something more upscale, I’ll be at Jack Rose, the Gibson, or Bourbon. My favorite wine bars are Proof, Cork, Vinoteca, and Veritas. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the Russia House and Pizzeria Paradiso. If I feel like a scotch at a DC-type bar, you can find me at Off the Record or the Round Robin Bar. On the most special occasions, I’ll visit the Mandarin Oriental, Johnny’s Half Shelf, or Bistro Bis.

If guests are visiting, I’ll bring them to Old Ebbitt’s, Clyde’s, or Georgia Brown’s. For them, I’ll play tour guide, and I only visit the museums on the Mall when showing them the sites.

Nothing beats a summer day watching baseball at Nationals Park or catching DC United at RFK.

Nothing beats a National’s Game – photo courtesy of nationals.com

And yet, there are those days when I just love sitting on my porch with a cold beverage swapping stories with good friends, enjoying the smell of the grill, and petting my dog as she begs for food.

This is one of the greatest cities in the world. There are so many reasons why I love DC that I resist efforts to coax me to cross into Maryland or Virginia, because why would anyone want to leave DC? Thanks for reading my article, What I love about DC!

The post What I Love About DC appeared first on ClotureClub.com.