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Explore Ethiopian Culture in Washington, DC
Ethiopians began immigrating to the United States in the 1970s, and many landed in the DC Metro area. They established communities in the Adams Morgan neighborhood and Shaw’s 9th Street corridor, which was abuzz with restaurants, markets and shops and became known as “Little Ethiopia.” In 2019, the DC government renewed its Sister City Agreement between Addis Ababa to enhance the collaborative partnership between the two capitals. A year later, a ceremonial resolution to officially honor the corridor as “Little Ethiopia” was approved by DC Council.
Exploring Historic Old Town Alexandria in Virginia
Tell me more about historic Old Town Alexandria Set foot onto Old Town Alexandria’s red brick sidewalks, and you could be fooled into thinking you have traveled back in time. The small city was founded in 1749 as a colonial tobacco port, and still boasts cobblestone streets, 18th-century buildings and even a town crier, all of which will make you feel like you’re in George Washington’s era. And that’s not a coincidence. George, whose Mount Vernon estate is nine miles down the road, frequented Old Town Alexandria businesses. Many of these places are still in operation today, like Gadsby’s Tavern (now a restaurant/museum hybrid) and Christ Church. His farm even sold produce at the Saturday farmers' market in Market Square, which has been operating since 1753 (it’s still a great place to buy flowers and a hot ham biscuit). There’s even a dramatic architectural salute to the first commander in chief: the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, a 331-foot-tall granite structure that holds exhibits on the president, a 17-foot-tall statue of him and a diagonal elevator that whisks visitors to the top of the tower. Other historic attractions include the Carlyle House, a grand, 1753 merchant’s house with a pristine city garden and impressive interior carvings, and the Athenaeum, a pink, neoclassical-style 1851 building that once held a bank but now holds an arts center. You can see these and other signs of the past on guided walking tours (including candlelit ghost treks close to Halloween). There's also Alexandria's Spite House, a must-see for Instagrammers and the skinniest historic house in America at just seven feet wide (it's a private residence located at 523 Queen Street). Dining, shopping and more But amid all that ye olde charm, there’s also a bustling, modern town known for its walkable streets, independent and national stores and a vibrant dining scene. You’ll uncover them on the main drag, King Street, as well as small side streets, where offerings range from fashionable shoe stores, chic home boutiques and worth-a-hunt vintage clothing and decor shops. More than 80 painters, sculptors and jewelers work and sell at the Torpedo Factory Art Center, a World War II-era munitions factory-turned-artist haven and cultural mecca. Restaurants and bars cluster along King Street and near the waterfront, where you'll find fine dining, speakeasies and international fare from Thai to Mexican. Many are located in historic storefronts or old shipping buildings, just adding to the throwback appeal. You can raise a glass of award-winning craft beer from Port City Brewing Company at most of the city's restaurants and pubs, or head out to the brewery in West End for a tour and special events (think: beer yoga). Still not enough? There are plenty of things to do along the Old Town Alexandria waterfront, from sightseeing cruises and romantic strolls to ghost tours and so much more.
Exploring Washington, DC's Alleys & Offshoots
Blagden Alley & Naylor Court Shaw Neighborhood Shaw's neighboring alleyways were designated a historic district by the National Park Service. The photogenic and hip Blagden Alley is home to the outdoor DC Alley Museum – a series of colorful murals painted on garage doors and building walls that includes Lisa Marie Thalhammer's LOVE mural, a massive musical tribute to Sun Ra and Erykah Badu and mosaic images that pay homage to the working-class immigrants and Black families that once called the street home. There's even more to Blagden Alley than meets the eye – the redeveloped carriage homes hide some of the most revered culinary destinations in the city, the outlines of which are visible within revamped entryways, restaurant walls or decorative murals. La Colombe's first coffee-roasting outpost in the District maintained many of its original architectural features, making it a must-visit in this famous alley's lineup of hidden gems. Through contemporary farmhouse doors you'll find The Dabney's wood-fired Mid-Atlantic cuisine. Identify the black-and-white parakeet mural on the side of Causa/Amazonia, which touts award-winning Peruvian food and a low-key rooftop bar. Next door, the bar at Hong Kong-inspired Tiger Fork can be viewed through an octagonal window inserted into a former garage door. For a secret and sultry basement cocktail, you'll have to pass a loading dock and cross through a kitchen to Never Looked Better. For a secluded garden vibe with an antique greenhouse, pop in Calico. Architects’ studios and private homes are prevalent along Bladgen Alley’s tinier, U-shaped neighbor Naylor Court. Keep an eye out for a vestige of former inhabitant E.J. Adams & Co. Stables, and don't forget to stop by Sundevich, which transports customers to a different city of the world with each menu item. Cady's Alley & Blues Alley Georgetown Neighborhood If Blagden Alley and Naylor Court cater to food gurus and art lovers, Cady's Alley is for design aficionados and people-watching. This brick- and stone-lined pathway is the heart of Georgetown's Design District, where 20 showrooms and boutiques inhabit the skeletons of industrial properties. Antiques, jewelry, luxury clothing and DC-brand SCOUT bags are among the treasures you'll find. Cady's Alley also contains plenty of options to cap your shopping excursion. Step into the modern Kyojin for a high-end, sushi-sampling experience. Or, keep it quaint with the old-school Kafe Leopold, where you can spend a European afternoon sipping a specialty Austrian coffee on the courtyard. Visitors can access the walkway from 3300 M Street NW or from M and 33rd or 34th streets. The next alley over sees less foot traffic – and fewer designer shoes – but has hosted many of the greats at its namesake destination: Blues Alley Jazz Club. The other occupant of this small street is Hinckley Pottery, a locally owned and run ceramics studio and shop that lives in a 125-year-old horse stable. Bonus: just before you hit the busy intersection of Wisconsin and M, turn into the narrow alleyway beside the Abercrombie and Fitch for a Belgian beer at The Sovereign. Library Court NE+ Capitol Hill Neighborhood Take a walk through the Capitol Hill neighborhood to discover some of DC's historic alleyways, planned by Pierre L'Enfant to provide access points for working class citizens to discreetly enter the homes of their elite employers. In the shadow of the Library of Congress between 3rd and 4th Streets NE is one of the most notable – and narrow – residential streets in the area. Three courts (Library, Millers and Frederick Douglas) give way to each other, barely wide enough to fit a car and, in some spots, with just enough greenery to suggest a path less traveled. The residential homes along these passageways provide a window into life between the District's busy streets; keep wandering the quaint streets and you'll likely land on a street with landmark status. Morse Street Alley NoMa Neighborhood / Union Market Between 4th and 5th Streets NE at the center of the former wholesale hub, you'll find an easy-to-miss gem within the 200-year-old Union Market District. On first glance, there appears to be only back entrances, garage doors and overgrown walls covered in colorful graffiti. Upon closer inspection, you'll find a curly white arrow painted onto the brick that indicates the door to Bread Alley – the bakery responsible for the famous bread served at Le Diplomate. Pearl Street The Wharf Neighborhood While most of The Wharf's small streets are closed off to traffic, Pearl Street best captures the hidden gem-feel of some of DC's hippest alleyways. In the evenings, outdoor tables spill out onto the street under crisscrossing string lights and music can often be heard coming from the two venues that call the street home: Pearl Street Warehouse and Union Stage. People-watch with a Cuban sandwich or cocktail in hand at Colada Shop, which has folding tables and a covered patio. Continue your tour of DC's colorful street art and throw in some other photogenic spots while you're at it.