DC Underrated - Part I

Washington, DC is often thought of as a rather bland city that doesn't have much to offer besides politics and memorials. Lo and behold, eclectic cafes, indie theaters and fusion restaurants are burgeoning throughout the city. In fact, DC has so many cool spots that I split the post in two sections. The first part of the series is on Cafes and Cultural Sights, and the second part covers Restaurants and Bars.

CAFÉS

Busboys & Poets (U-Street Corridor) 
2021 14th St (at V Street)
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 387-7638

Eclectic cafe and bookstore in the up-and-coming U-street Corridor, named for African-American poet Langston Hughes. Great for an afternoon coffee or a light lunch. I highly recommend the avocado panini and the falafel sandwich - both are very tasty.

Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe & Grill (Dupont Circle)

1517 Connecticut Avenue (across from Dupont Circle Metro)

Washington, DC 20036

(202) 387-3825

Great bookstore for the intellectually minded. The restaurant is located right next to the bookstore. It is a great lunch spot serving seasonal specials at very reasonable prices. My trips to DC always include a stopover at Kramer's for their books and their butternut squash ravioli.

Baked & Wired (Georgetown)

1052 Thomas Jefferson Street Northwest

Washington, DC 20007

(202) 333-2500

Bohemian-style coffee shop with very friendly staff serving delicious organic granola and pastries. Their classic cupcake offerings include red velvet and strawberry (made with real strawberries!), but they also have seasonal cupcakes such as pumpkin with buttercream frosting. Their cupcakes rival those of nearby Georgetown Cupcake and the atmosphere has a lot more character with local art displays and occasional poetry slams. Great for breakfast or an afternoon pick-me-up in Georgetown. Again, tables fill up fast here too!

Teaism (Dupont Circle)

2009 R street NW

Washington, DC 20009

(202) 667-3827

Lovely tea place located near Dupont Circle serving teas, light smoothies and infusions. A nice place to go to in the afternoon or after lunch at Kramer's, particularly on a rainy or cold day. Cozy place for studying but the tables can fill up quickly!

CULTURAL SIGHTS 

Newseum (close to The National Mall)

555 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest

Washington, DC 20001

(202) 292-6100

Unlike your typical museum, the Newseum is very well designed (the building architecture itself is worth seeing) and very interactive. You can have your five minutes of fame by broadcasting yourself as a news anchor on the steps of the Capitol or in front of the White House. You can then share your video online with family and friends. Very fun!

Woolly Mammoth Theatre (Theater District)

641 D Street Northwest

Washington, DC 20004

(202) 393-3939

Indie theater company with thought-provoking plays. If you have time, check out their performances. Discounted tickets for those under 25 years old. The theater is 2 minutes away from Rasika and Oyamel.

For more DC news and info on Arts & Events, check out DCist, an excellent insider's guide to Washington, DC.