Bites & Sights

My time in D.C. has been flying by and I can’t believe I’ve already been here six weeks. D.C. has more than welcomed me, and I somehow seem to know even more people here than I do in Boston. Here are a few snaps of what I’ve been enjoying so far: drinks at Destino, hangs with coworkers & friends, dinner at Mr. Braxton, and cocktails at Lucha Rosa.

I admit, I landed in the city with some trepidation about how I’d feel adjusting to a new environment but it’s been easier than expected. One of the things helping me ease into D.C. has been the Latin dance scene. I’ve been dancing salsa for a year now, and I just finished taking Bachata classes at Salsa with Silvia in Northwest. 

A few weeks ago, my best friend and I checked out La Consecha for their Baila Thursdays. La Consecha is a Latin American Marketplace in the Northeast neighborhood with several bars and restaurants inside. At the center, they host cooking classes, dance classes, and this particular Thursday was Salsa Night. 

On a culinary note, I had my favorite meal thus far at Lapis, an award winning Afghan restaurant in Adams Morgan (highly recommended by Padma Lakshmi, thank you Padma!) The ambiance was cozy with each snug table lit by a candle.

My friend and I split the afghan dumplings, mini beef patties that looked more like kebabs, zardak, a dish of carrots, peas, and pitted plums, and lamb shank marinated in a herbed tomato sauce. This was one of those experiences where pictures don’t do the food justice. The lamb was tender and falling off the bone. And the next day, I was incredibly grateful that my friend gave me the leftovers to take home. Downstairs, Lapis also has two additional bars which I’d recommend if you can only stay for a cocktail.  After this dinner, D.C. is winning a lot of points with me.

My favorite activity was my visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Just wow. You begin your journey in the museum three levels down as the curators describe the development of African civilizations and the threat of slavery. As you ascend through the museum levels, you’re taken on an experience through the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and the struggle for Civil Rights, into modern times and the growth of AfroFuturism.

You can walk through a segregated train car (pictured below) and they have an interactive lunch counter where you can choose to participate in different civil rights demonstrations. It’s obvious the level of care and intention the creators put into the displays and education. The museum is a marvel. I was there for 4 hours and it still didn’t feel like enough time. On my next visit, I plan to stop by the Sweet Home Café (which has rave reviews).

I’m feeling really grateful for my D.C. experience so far. There’s an endless list of restaurants, museums, and things to do every weekend. I have a few weeks left to enjoy the city and I’m honestly wishing I’d given myself a little more time to explore. I’ll have one more update from D.C. before I’m off to my next destination, Belize!

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