| So I'm off to our neighbour’s capital. Some people assume I'm going to be doing some protesting – they seem shocked when I tell them I'm actually going to see a bunch of bands and the Smithsonian and stuff. Then I feel guilty, like I should be motivated to make a statement on my vacation. I'll shake my fist as I walk by the White House, but that's about it – I'm on a tight schedule.
A city can only be as good as its nightlife. I intend to live at the Black Cat (blackcatdc.com) on my visit. A live music venue that offers a number of distinct spaces for whatever you're up for, from a small café to a 2,000-square-metre performance room, the Black Cat draws in some solid names. Past bands have included The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Blonde Redhead and Death Cab for Cutie. Tickets for most performances are under $20 US and can be ordered through Ticketmaster.
Book nerds like myself won't want to miss the opportunity to browse the Library of Congress (loc.gov), which boasts having "more than 130 million items on approximately 530 miles of bookshelves. The collections include more than 29 million books and other printed materials, 2.7 million recordings, 12 million photographs, 4.8 million maps, and 58 million manuscripts." Not to mention ongoing exhibitions, film nights and poetry readings.
If you’re still not convinced, try culturaltourismdc.com, a site devoted to Washington’s heritage and arts. You’ll find information on neighbourhood walking tours, attractions and a calendar of events so you can maximize your time in the city.
Now if only I could get around that whole sleep thing.… |
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