DISPATCH: Rediscovering D.C.

“What would you recommend?”

I have lived 20 minutes outside of D.C. for my entire life. Yet, before this summer, if you were to ask me what I enjoyed about the city, I would have pointed to places in Old Town Alexandria, Va. — my hometown, where I spent years meeting friends at the same restaurants and walking the same path by the water. The regularity never concerned me. It felt comfortable. I knew where to park my car along the packed streets, how to find most cuisines, and where to go for a cold drink after a long day in town. The cafés changed occasionally, boasting the latest food trends, but generally everything remained the same. I ordered my go-to chai smoothie from my regular coffee shop, drinking up the feeling of consistency.

When I accepted an internship in D.C. for the summer, I was thrilled that I could commute from home. I imagined myself coming to the city for work but quickly heading back home on the Metro when the day ended and spending my weekends in Alexandria, just like my summers in high school. But as my college friends moved into the city for their internships, questions about how to spend their time in D.C. during the humid summer months came flying in — “Have you heard of this Ethiopian restaurant?” “What do you think of this farmer’s market?” — and I was at a loss. I had been to the National Mall for school field trips, but I had no recommendations that surpassed a general tourist guide. Despite living so close to the city, I realized I didn’t know it well. I was unaware of any “underground” spots or activities. My friends seemed more like the locals. I felt ill-equipped to navigate the intricacies of the city myself, let alone give anyone local insight.

During the first few weeks of my internship, I became more intentional about how I spent my time, following in my friends’ footsteps as a city tourist. I saw my first Washington Nationals game — despite not knowing anything about baseball — browsed the Eastern Market by Capitol Hill, and spent hours in newly discovered museums to escape the endless heat wave. I soon discovered favorite cafés and restaurants, keeping an ongoing list of places I wanted to return to.

On July 4, I saw the D.C. fireworks for the first time from the roof of George Washington University, a place where I discovered that many college students from around the world gathered to watch the sparkling display. It was some of their first times ever celebrating American Independence Day. As I stood in the middle of the crowd and heard gasps with each explosion, it felt like my first time, too.

As my internship and summer have come to an end, I realize that as much as I learned in the office, I also discovered more about D.C. and my place within it. Instead of going straight home after work, I lingered in the area, trying new restaurants or going to late-night museum events. It seemed like I only went back to Alexandria to sleep. Even on weekends, I gravitated to the city. I found comfort in a place that once felt somewhat overwhelming. In the past, I avoided navigating the various Metro lines, always frequenting familiar pockets of D.C. where I knew I could easily drive and park. Now, I visit different neighborhoods and memorize the routes, making a point to find go-to spots across the city.

In the beginning of the summer, if you asked me what to do in D.C., I would have said that you should go to a Smithsonian museum or get dinner in Georgetown — both still great things to do, but some of the only things I had ever ventured to explore. However, as the summer ends and I get ready to leave the city, I can tell you about the gardens at the National Cathedral where you can sit for hours and have a picnic, outdoor movies at Union Market with a view of the sunset from the rooftop, or the cupcakes at Baked and Wired.

Spending the summer in my hometown, I thought I would find comfort in routine. Instead, I felt uneasy when I realized how much I clung to the same spaces. Commuting in and out of the city for three months, among the people brushing past me with briefcases and detours brought on by national conferences, I found new spaces to occupy. When a place is so accessible, it’s easy to take it for granted. While visiting New York or L.A., I jump at the opportunity to navigate local transportation and never go to the same place twice. It only took me adopting the same mindset for a couple of months in D.C. to truly feel like a local. It feels ironic that I only appreciated my close access when my college friends came to the city. In between meals crowded around small tables in loud restaurants and walks in 100 percent humidity, I came to realize that D.C. could be a place for me too.

So now, you can ask me what I would recommend. I’ll have an answer.

Regina Roberts is an associate editor for The Prospect and contributing staffer for the Podcast section of the ‘Prince.’ She can be reached at rr8156[at]princeton.edu, or on Instagram @regina_r17.