A distinctively DC weekend?
February 4, 2025 7:44 PM Subscribe
I'm visiting DC as an adult after living there as a kid. Can you help me plan a weekend and learn more about my old hometown?
Way back in the 90s and early 00s, I was a kid in the northern Virginia suburbs. Since growing up, I've become interested in learning as much as I can about the Washington DC area (we never used to call it "the DMV") and all the people who have called it home.
After many years in the Midwest, I'm heading back to DC in early April to run the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler. Outside of race activities, I have lots of free time.
I'd love your suggestions for experiences that are about the DC area or increase my understanding of/perspective on/love for the part of the world where I grew up.
The Anacostia Community Museum is high on my list, as is a long walk through Rock Creek Park. I will likely go eat at Eden Center. I am naively trying to score a tour of the Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center. What else?
For visibility in future search results, I will use the term "hidden gems" but I'm specifically looking for experiences that center around local/regional history, culture, flora/fauna, etc.
I am also open to other suggestions that are not specifically DC-centric but are awesome. Thanks!
Way back in the 90s and early 00s, I was a kid in the northern Virginia suburbs. Since growing up, I've become interested in learning as much as I can about the Washington DC area (we never used to call it "the DMV") and all the people who have called it home.
After many years in the Midwest, I'm heading back to DC in early April to run the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler. Outside of race activities, I have lots of free time.
I'd love your suggestions for experiences that are about the DC area or increase my understanding of/perspective on/love for the part of the world where I grew up.
The Anacostia Community Museum is high on my list, as is a long walk through Rock Creek Park. I will likely go eat at Eden Center. I am naively trying to score a tour of the Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center. What else?
For visibility in future search results, I will use the term "hidden gems" but I'm specifically looking for experiences that center around local/regional history, culture, flora/fauna, etc.
I am also open to other suggestions that are not specifically DC-centric but are awesome. Thanks!
Welcome back, hope you have a great race! Atlas Obscura has a great list of 285 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Washington, D.C. and some of them might appeal to you.
posted by wicked_sassy at 6:47 AM on February 5 [1 favorite]
posted by wicked_sassy at 6:47 AM on February 5 [1 favorite]
There's a small but good little DC history exhibit on the top floor of the MLK library should you find yourself downtown.
Also, as far as other regional specialty food, going out for Ethiopian food is a must.
posted by mosst at 6:51 AM on February 5
Also, as far as other regional specialty food, going out for Ethiopian food is a must.
posted by mosst at 6:51 AM on February 5
By "glass-enclosed nerve center" do you mean the African-American History Museum? It's so good, definitely go.
The National Portrait Gallery and the National Building Museum are also favourites of mine and great for local history.
On a nice day, you can walk around Arlington Cemetery and take note of the graves of famous figures from DC's history, as well as the countless rows of stones for ordinary people who served in the military. A very DC thing to do is to find the sarcophagus of Pierre l'Enfant, engraved with his plan for the city, which sits high on a hill with a view.
I don't know if you visited the Zoo as a kid; I grew up with it and try to go back when I'm visiting. Some of the more long-lived animals who were my childhood faves have direct descendants living there now. I'm always cheered by how much better the animals' enclosures and living conditions are from the ones I remember.
Seconding the baseball recommendation as a way to talk to locals and experience the buzz of DC on a game night. The stadium is accessible by Metro. The best place by far is the bar wayyyy up at the top which has a great view, if you can get a cheap high-up seat near it.
posted by Pallas Athena at 7:56 AM on February 5
The National Portrait Gallery and the National Building Museum are also favourites of mine and great for local history.
On a nice day, you can walk around Arlington Cemetery and take note of the graves of famous figures from DC's history, as well as the countless rows of stones for ordinary people who served in the military. A very DC thing to do is to find the sarcophagus of Pierre l'Enfant, engraved with his plan for the city, which sits high on a hill with a view.
I don't know if you visited the Zoo as a kid; I grew up with it and try to go back when I'm visiting. Some of the more long-lived animals who were my childhood faves have direct descendants living there now. I'm always cheered by how much better the animals' enclosures and living conditions are from the ones I remember.
Seconding the baseball recommendation as a way to talk to locals and experience the buzz of DC on a game night. The stadium is accessible by Metro. The best place by far is the bar wayyyy up at the top which has a great view, if you can get a cheap high-up seat near it.
posted by Pallas Athena at 7:56 AM on February 5
I recommend these self-guided tours. There are other self-guided tours; you can google "DC self-guided tours." The tours I am thinking of have signs at the stops.
posted by jgirl at 8:35 AM on February 5 [1 favorite]
posted by jgirl at 8:35 AM on February 5 [1 favorite]
I assume the glass-enclosed nerve center is WTOP. It never would have occurred to me to ask for a tour, but OTOH I’ve been able to tour NPR HQ several times, so I respect the request.
A lot of what’s here is more national than local or regional, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make time for things on the Mall or one of the museums. They’re not really hidden, but they are gems.
For truly local things, seconding the People’s Archive at the MLK Library. Eat a half-smoke at Ben’s Chili Bowl. See a show at the 9:30 Club or the Black Cat. Get a jumbo slice in Adams Morgan (no link, because I can’t recommend any specific one from personal experience). Eat at Jaleo or one of José Andrés’ other restaurants. While you’re downtown, I assume you’ll run into at least one bucket drummer by the arena, so that’s a thing.
I could probably think of more, and I don’t really know the suburbs anymore, but that’s a start.
posted by fedward at 8:46 AM on February 5
A lot of what’s here is more national than local or regional, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make time for things on the Mall or one of the museums. They’re not really hidden, but they are gems.
For truly local things, seconding the People’s Archive at the MLK Library. Eat a half-smoke at Ben’s Chili Bowl. See a show at the 9:30 Club or the Black Cat. Get a jumbo slice in Adams Morgan (no link, because I can’t recommend any specific one from personal experience). Eat at Jaleo or one of José Andrés’ other restaurants. While you’re downtown, I assume you’ll run into at least one bucket drummer by the arena, so that’s a thing.
I could probably think of more, and I don’t really know the suburbs anymore, but that’s a start.
posted by fedward at 8:46 AM on February 5
Breakfast or lunch at Market Lunch, before or after you walk around Eastern Market.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 10:27 AM on February 5
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 10:27 AM on February 5
I work for the People's Archive - you can search our collections here and get an overview here. If there's anything you'd like to see (or just want to see a sampling of things related to an area of interest), MeMail me and I can have a cart waiting for you when you visit.
As noted, there are also exhibits related to go-go, punk, home rule/voting rights, and Marion Barry's life based heavily on our collections outside our reading room, and a fascinating one on the Negro Motorist Green Book on the first floor (immediately adjacent to the cheapest coffee and food options downtown). Right across the street at the American Art Museum is a small but worthwhile exhibit about the history of Chinatown. About a 10-12 minute walk away is the DC History Center, which has an interesting show of panoramic photos from their collection up now, housed in the former main central library.
There are other self-guided tours; you can google "DC self-guided tours." The tours I am thinking of have signs at the stops.
Cultural Tourism DC's various history trail walking tour guides are excellent - deeply researched and augmented with excellent maps and archival photos.
For a slightly off the beaten path (for most tourists, anyway) experience, I recommend checking out the self-guided tour of Congressional Cemetery - it's effectively a storage spot for a huge number of old Washingtonians, and there are very few aspects of the city's history that aren't directly related to it in some way as a result. After, head back down Pennsylvania Ave. and have lunch and a few drinks at Mr. Henry's*.
Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions while you're in town - I'm used to playing DC reference librarian / history concierge!
* My blood pressure immediately goes down just walking in there, and it's a reliable bastion of a kind of old, weird, anarchic DC that is rapidly disappearing while also being the kind of place where you'll see neighborhood parents and toddlers. There are excellent book and game shops - both extremely DC in their own ways - a short walk away if you want to keep going after lunch.
posted by reedbird_hill at 10:56 AM on February 5 [8 favorites]
As noted, there are also exhibits related to go-go, punk, home rule/voting rights, and Marion Barry's life based heavily on our collections outside our reading room, and a fascinating one on the Negro Motorist Green Book on the first floor (immediately adjacent to the cheapest coffee and food options downtown). Right across the street at the American Art Museum is a small but worthwhile exhibit about the history of Chinatown. About a 10-12 minute walk away is the DC History Center, which has an interesting show of panoramic photos from their collection up now, housed in the former main central library.
There are other self-guided tours; you can google "DC self-guided tours." The tours I am thinking of have signs at the stops.
Cultural Tourism DC's various history trail walking tour guides are excellent - deeply researched and augmented with excellent maps and archival photos.
For a slightly off the beaten path (for most tourists, anyway) experience, I recommend checking out the self-guided tour of Congressional Cemetery - it's effectively a storage spot for a huge number of old Washingtonians, and there are very few aspects of the city's history that aren't directly related to it in some way as a result. After, head back down Pennsylvania Ave. and have lunch and a few drinks at Mr. Henry's*.
Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions while you're in town - I'm used to playing DC reference librarian / history concierge!
* My blood pressure immediately goes down just walking in there, and it's a reliable bastion of a kind of old, weird, anarchic DC that is rapidly disappearing while also being the kind of place where you'll see neighborhood parents and toddlers. There are excellent book and game shops - both extremely DC in their own ways - a short walk away if you want to keep going after lunch.
posted by reedbird_hill at 10:56 AM on February 5 [8 favorites]
You will love Mr. Henry's. The pesto burger, the stiff drinks, and brownie sundae are great. I loved the mezcal negroni I had on Friday night. Check the website to see when there's live music upstairs. Mr. Henry's Capitol Hill* is where Roberta Flack got her start, and there is a call box dedicated to her a half block away on Seward Square across from the Methodist church.
Go to Ben's to go, not to have the food. (Sorry.) And, yes, go to Capitol Hill Books! It's a bit less ... much, I guess is the word, than it was, but it is still unique.
The Cultural Tourism DC trails are the ones I was thinking about. One of the stops is on 7th across from Eastern Market.
*There used be one near GW, in Georgetown, and at Tenley Circle, covering three of the universities.
posted by jgirl at 1:13 PM on February 5 [1 favorite]
Go to Ben's to go, not to have the food. (Sorry.) And, yes, go to Capitol Hill Books! It's a bit less ... much, I guess is the word, than it was, but it is still unique.
The Cultural Tourism DC trails are the ones I was thinking about. One of the stops is on 7th across from Eastern Market.
*There used be one near GW, in Georgetown, and at Tenley Circle, covering three of the universities.
posted by jgirl at 1:13 PM on February 5 [1 favorite]
MuralsDC has been doing a lot of work around the city. They have self-guided tours of a couple higher-concentration areas. And there's a pocket of murals and other public art in Blagden Alley, near the Convention Center.
Also in Anacostia: Anacostia River Walk Trail and Anacostia River Explorers (but 2025 tour season info isn't posted yet).
posted by EvaDestruction at 7:44 AM on February 6
Also in Anacostia: Anacostia River Walk Trail and Anacostia River Explorers (but 2025 tour season info isn't posted yet).
posted by EvaDestruction at 7:44 AM on February 6
If you happened to live in the Braddock District, you might enjoy the local history book Braddock's True Gold [free download]. Worth a look even if only to learn how Dulles *wasn't* built at Burke.
posted by jocelmeow at 3:37 PM on February 7
posted by jocelmeow at 3:37 PM on February 7
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You could always do the touristy things like visiting the Smithsonians or writing your congress people for a behind the scenes Capitol tour that us jaded District denizens think we're too good for (we're not). They are only available in DC experiences.
The Nationals season starts March 27th and they should be in a home stretch around the beginning of April. That is always fun and can actually be affordable. Also a DC thing if you are into sportsball. If baseball isn't your favorite, there's also soccer, basketball, and hockey at that time!
DC's food scene has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few decades and we sport a ton of fantastic places to get food of all types and budgets. Eastern Market and Union Market have been totally refurbished since the aughts and are both great places to explore especially for tasty foods and drinks. You won't believe the changes on U street, sadly you are arriving too early for Pussy Riot at the 930 Club.
Any specific things you are into?
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 5:17 AM on February 5