District of Columbia...First Look
DC became my new city on June 11, 2008. At first I was confined to suburbia in PG county Maryland, and then, finally, as if with a great exhale, I was able to actually see what DC has to offer. It's only been a good 5 day immersion into city life here, but I can tell you what I have observed thus far.
Watch your hood....The city of DC is in quadrants. It is also in wards. Lastly, it is by named neighborhood areas. I have yet to understand the ward system. It seems a little out-dated, and hard for me to really remember. I prefer to deal with quadrants and hoods. The city is shaped like a diamond, and so I get the whole NE, NW, SE, SW references. I'm starting to recognize the areas by names such as Adams Morgan, Logan Circle, Capitol Hill, Howard/Shaw, Anacostia and Brookland. However, you can no longer easily identify the "old-perception" of these DC neighborhoods, because gentrification (I think fueled by the rising gas prices forcing the need to be closer to DC city jobs) is making a formerly sketchy neighborhood, the place to be...along with it rising costs of living. As in all major city life, in a turn of a corner you can be transported from trendy to risky. I guess the diversity of safety and comfort is just what makes a major city the animal it is.
Get Around...I LOVE the cleanliness of the DC metro system. They even tell you how many minutes you have until your next train. There is no eating or drinking on the system, and there are no performers dancing, singing or begging for money. It is what the NY system wishes it was. HOWEVER...negatives include the uber- confusing fare system where depending on where you are traveling from and to, you can pay $1.35 to 3$3.00. You also have to keep your card handy because you will need it to enter and exit the station. The trains are said to end at 2:00am, however the clubs and bars don't close until 3:00am or after. The buses in the DC/MD/VA areas are like every other city. Taxis have just started using the meter system THANK GOD! When I visited before they used the ward system, which was only understood by those who lived in the city.
D.Culture...The area is referred to (mostly on the radio) as the DMV (DC, MD, VA). Also, the region specific music culture here is "go-go" which has a funk feel created in DC in the 60's and 70's and now goes along with a dance called beat ya feet. An explanation of this is another blog all together. I have learned that it is better to just go with the flow on this one, and to learn that Chuck Brown is the godfather of go-go so respect it, bob your head and keep it moving. The accent here is a perfect combo of Northern east coast and the Southern east coast...but then there is what I call "the Baltimore." Listen to Mo'nique the comedian/actress and you will get a perfect dose of what it is. It irks me to the core mostly when they say "to", or "do", or "through." It's the equivalent to the teeth- grinding I experience when Canadians say "about."
The Outs...I have visited the famous Busboys and Poets (BBP) twice since being here, and have only been out to one club called The Avenue (which I was told was not a good representation of the city's club offerings). Both are okay. BBP is supposedly better on Tuesday's so I will check that out and report back my findings. I have, however, visited quite a few restaurants, namely, Creme, Ohhs and Ahhs, The Diner, Lauriol Plaza, Tryst and of course BBP. All of which are excellent and fun. The Diner and Tryst brings to mind Brooklyn Heights because of it's location on a strip in Adams Morgan reminiscent of the heights. Ohhs and Ahhs is probably one of the best soul food spots I've been to in a while. Except for the decor, it has to be up there with Roscoes Chicken and Waffles in LA and Sylvia's in Harlem. Creme (with it's bottom-less mimosas) has a definite LA feel...along with the long wait to be seated.
DC is becoming a real city to me now, and I'm excited to see what else it has to offer. The people, the places and the things. As I motion around the city and see all of the historic sites and new businesses I'm getting used to be living in the mid-atlantic east coast birthplace of the US.
Watch your hood....The city of DC is in quadrants. It is also in wards. Lastly, it is by named neighborhood areas. I have yet to understand the ward system. It seems a little out-dated, and hard for me to really remember. I prefer to deal with quadrants and hoods. The city is shaped like a diamond, and so I get the whole NE, NW, SE, SW references. I'm starting to recognize the areas by names such as Adams Morgan, Logan Circle, Capitol Hill, Howard/Shaw, Anacostia and Brookland. However, you can no longer easily identify the "old-perception" of these DC neighborhoods, because gentrification (I think fueled by the rising gas prices forcing the need to be closer to DC city jobs) is making a formerly sketchy neighborhood, the place to be...along with it rising costs of living. As in all major city life, in a turn of a corner you can be transported from trendy to risky. I guess the diversity of safety and comfort is just what makes a major city the animal it is.
Get Around...I LOVE the cleanliness of the DC metro system. They even tell you how many minutes you have until your next train. There is no eating or drinking on the system, and there are no performers dancing, singing or begging for money. It is what the NY system wishes it was. HOWEVER...negatives include the uber- confusing fare system where depending on where you are traveling from and to, you can pay $1.35 to 3$3.00. You also have to keep your card handy because you will need it to enter and exit the station. The trains are said to end at 2:00am, however the clubs and bars don't close until 3:00am or after. The buses in the DC/MD/VA areas are like every other city. Taxis have just started using the meter system THANK GOD! When I visited before they used the ward system, which was only understood by those who lived in the city.
D.Culture...The area is referred to (mostly on the radio) as the DMV (DC, MD, VA). Also, the region specific music culture here is "go-go" which has a funk feel created in DC in the 60's and 70's and now goes along with a dance called beat ya feet. An explanation of this is another blog all together. I have learned that it is better to just go with the flow on this one, and to learn that Chuck Brown is the godfather of go-go so respect it, bob your head and keep it moving. The accent here is a perfect combo of Northern east coast and the Southern east coast...but then there is what I call "the Baltimore." Listen to Mo'nique the comedian/actress and you will get a perfect dose of what it is. It irks me to the core mostly when they say "to", or "do", or "through." It's the equivalent to the teeth- grinding I experience when Canadians say "about."
The Outs...I have visited the famous Busboys and Poets (BBP) twice since being here, and have only been out to one club called The Avenue (which I was told was not a good representation of the city's club offerings). Both are okay. BBP is supposedly better on Tuesday's so I will check that out and report back my findings. I have, however, visited quite a few restaurants, namely, Creme, Ohhs and Ahhs, The Diner, Lauriol Plaza, Tryst and of course BBP. All of which are excellent and fun. The Diner and Tryst brings to mind Brooklyn Heights because of it's location on a strip in Adams Morgan reminiscent of the heights. Ohhs and Ahhs is probably one of the best soul food spots I've been to in a while. Except for the decor, it has to be up there with Roscoes Chicken and Waffles in LA and Sylvia's in Harlem. Creme (with it's bottom-less mimosas) has a definite LA feel...along with the long wait to be seated.
DC is becoming a real city to me now, and I'm excited to see what else it has to offer. The people, the places and the things. As I motion around the city and see all of the historic sites and new businesses I'm getting used to be living in the mid-atlantic east coast birthplace of the US.
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