- My very favorite thing to do in DC is walk the monuments at night. They're all so much more beautiful and powerful and lit up at night. Most powerful is the Korean War Memorial with its nearly life-size statues of soldiers on patrol. At night, lit from below, it seems that the soldiers are actually on their march. My favorite monument is the Jefferson Memorial. I love the view from the front steps, across the Tidal Basin, up the Mall or over to the White House.
- I'm always a big fan of Dupont Circle. From there you can wander through the spokes and stop in all kinds of little shops as well as some chain stores. I found a really great used-book store, one of many similar places in the neighborhood. For those looking for sometime a little different, try Beadazzled, on Connecticut Ave NW north of the circle. In this really unique store, beads of literally every color and kind are laid out on a long table in a room with accessories, jewelry-making utensils, and really beautiful scarves. When I say that they have every and any kind of bead, I mean there are penguin-shaped beads. I dare you to find penguin-shaped beads. The other place that is required on a trip to Dupont is Kramerbooks & Afterthoughts, a great, great (!) book store and cafe on the same block as Beadazzled. The desserts are fabulous! A little pricer, but definitely worth it!!
- As you may know, the Nationals is the baseball team that calls Washington home, and you may also know that the Nats are pretty awful. They did acquire an exceptional pitching phenom, Strasburg, who is rocking the National League. (Personal side note: I can't wait until the Nats play the Pirates in September, just for the chance to see him pitch!) But, the point of this bullet is that tickets to Nats games are really cheap. And let's face it, going to baseball games is more about the experience, the food, and the (overpriced) beer. The park is gorgeous, down near the Navy yards.
- Last, and most obviously, are the museums. All along the Mall, the Smithsonians can offer days of interesting entertainment, and for free! The Holocaust Memorial Museum is definitely something that everyone should experience at least once in a lifetime. If you're willing to spend a little cash, the International Spy Museum is a great time. Lots of hands-on, stuff and really fun information about spying around the world and throughout history.
- This last place deserves its own bullet because it is literally my favorite place in the city. Kellys' Irish Times on F Street near the National Postal Museum and Union Station is, in my opinion the single greatest public drinking establishment...probably ever. Pete Papageorge plays Irish drinking songs and other classics on Friday and Saturday nights. He's great! Hilarious! And on Saturdays, pay $15, get a wristband and it's all-you-can-drink certain bottled domestics from 8-11 pm. Great nights were had on several occasions! This is a don't-miss!!!
What is going to be exciting, you ask? Well I'm happy to tell you! In exactly 48 hours, I will be wandering happily though the city I love the most with some of the people I love the most! Yes, I am making my return to our nation's capital, but only for the weekend. I'm staying with a friend from Westminster who is a grad student at American, and spending the weekend catching up with other friends whom I met when I spent my semester in DC. So, in honor of my great return, I thought I would share some of my favorite places in the District.
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Carrie:-2010 Westminster College grad Archives
January 2015
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