A POLICE SUV ambled down MacArthur Boulevard yesterday, carrying a swarm of ... waving children.
It was a strange sight in a neighborhood in security-conscious D.C., but the car — led down the street by an officer on one of the department's new Segways — was just one of the sights that delighted onlookers at the Palisades Citizens Association's annual July 4 parade on MacArthur Boulevard.
While the neighborhood is within the District's boundaries, it feels light years away from the political wrangling in the city's center. Sure, there still might be talk of Karl Rove's appearance in 2003, but as usual, this year's Palisades' parade was all about local D.C.
Continue Reading "Local D.C. on Display at Palisades' July 4 Parade" »
For this installment of A Few Hours ... Express' Michael Grass travels to Brookland and discovers Roman catacombs, some really tasty tater tots and plenty of free wireless Internet.
Photo of the Franciscan Monastery's Rosary Portico in Brookland by Michael Grass/Express
ALTHOUGH IT'S JUST SIX STATIONS away from Metro Center and the center of downtown, the Brookland-CUA station on the Red Line can feel like it's in the middle of Ohio. When you step out of the station and into the modest-sized commuter parking lot within view of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and Catholic University, the landscape looks pretty empty.
But there's a reason why property tax assessments have increased dramatically in parts of Ward 5. The area is home to overlooked close-in neighborhoods like Brookland that feel they're a thousand miles from D.C. And this part of the city is poised to see increased development in the coming years. The 12th Street NE corridor — the area's main drag — has its own Main Street initiative, aimed to improve the streetscape and building facades as well as draw new businesses and life to an otherwise low-key commercial strip.
Before more change comes to the neighborhood, it's worth taking a trip to Brookland on a lazy weekday or weekend afternoon to enjoy the neighborhood as it is right now — an in-the-city refuge far removed from the frenzied nature of downtown. If you're seeking a quick escape within the District line, nobody will find you in Brookland.
THERE'S SOMETHING EXCITING about entering Eastern Market when it's cold outside. The sights and the smells that come with that first look inside what's been called the heart and soul of Capitol Hill make the chilly trek up 7th Street SE from the Metro worth it.
The season's thinner crowds may offer fewer people-watching opportunities, but there's also more room to browse and time to ask questions of vendors who are experts on their wares. And, like the building itself, the stalls and the experience of shopping at them are decidedly old-school — a nod back to the era before Safeway, Giant and Whole Foods stores muscled out the little guys.
One of the other pleasures of browsing through Eastern Market is grazing. A black and white cookie here, a dill pickle there, an empanada on the side — these are snacks that make a trip to Eastern Market such a treat. So we'll focus on places to nosh during your trip to the historic market as well as items to squirrel away for later.
OLD TOWN ALEXANDRIA'S a city center with a base of colonial charm topped with a hearty helping of suburban commerce. With its small galleries, ritzy restaurants and boutique shopping, it's easy to assume Old Town is a bland, staid, button-up place rich in little but history.
It's worth remembering, though, that when Dupont Circle was hinterland, Adams Morgan was covered in trees and U Street hadn't been cleared, everybody who was anybody in what would become the D.C. area — including partier-in-chief George Washington himself — used to shake their knickers in Alexandria. And to this day, the city still feeds the indulgences of residents and visitors alike.
Express contributor Scott Reitz points out three places to challenge the better angels of your nature, especially if you like the combination of nicotine and coffee, fried food topped off with sinful desserts and drinks.
They're all located on or just off King Street, between Washington and West streets, within a 10-minute walk of the King Street Metrorail station on the Blue/Yellow Line. King Street is served by a number of DASH buses, including the free weekend shuttle service between Metrorail and Old Town's Market Square.
Today, Express launches a semi-regular feature, A Few Hours ..., where we'll profile a particular neighborhood, place or street in Washington and its suburbs, giving you a look at the best the area has to offer. Contributor Melissa McCart kicks it all off with an evening out on U Street.
AS THE BIRTHPLACE OF DUKE ELLINGTON, an epicenter of jazz, and the city's locus for African-American intellectuals, the U Street corridor in Northwest D.C. has shaped the city's identity as much as its symbols of national political power. We're reminded of the old U Street in the Duke Ellington mural that looks down the way at everything that is new in the revitalized corridor, best symbolized by the a giant condominium building called The Ellington. Although the April 1968 riots and the construction of the Green Line subway may have done away with much of what U Street once was, you can still hear its rich history in the bleat of a saxophone drifting from Twins Lounge. You can see it in landmarks like the Lincoln Theatre. And you can taste it at eateries like the iconic Ben's Chili Bowl.
Combined with the onset of development and the influx of immigrants and other newcomers, today's U Street reflects the diverse, cosmopolitan, economic hub that the city has become since the days of Sir Duke.
And there are plenty of options for drinks, dinner and a little extra if you're in the mood for a laid-back evening out. What follows are our suggestions for a good evening in the area, accessible via Metrorail at the U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo station and the following Metrobuses: 52/53/54 (via 14th Street NW), 66 (via 11th Street NW) 90/92/93; 96/97; 98 (via U Street and 18th Street NW/Adams Morgan).
Photo of Cafe Nema by Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post
Addison Road