*The term weekend is slightly exaggerated because I went during Labor Day weekend, but everything mostly happened during the actual weekend anyway.
Friday
We left on Friday afternoon and took a plane to Baltimore because there was a train from Baltimore to D.C. and it was cheaper than flying straight to D.C. Unfortunately we got on the wrong bus and ended up taking a trip to the airport parking lot. There was so much confusion as we headed back to the airport, but it was pretty funny. We finally got on the bus that took us to the train station and the train ride was pretty short.
The airnbnb was a townhouse that was close to the metro and was spacious. There were 3 floors and they all had patio space. We dropped off our luggage and changed for dinner. We went to Yardhouse, which is a restaurant chain so there weren’t any surprises on the menu.
Afterwards, we made our way to the metro station so that we could head to U street to bar hop. The metro was a bit confusing because I’m accustomed to paying one price no matter what your next stop or direction is. However, in D.C. the prices of the ride change depending on your destination. Also, switching lines was a bit confusing as well. Thankfully, somebody in our party lived in D.C. so I just had to stay with the group and didn’t really have to know where I was going.
Bar Hop on H and U street
We went to three different clubs/bars that I do not know the names of. The first one had a fire place that was actually a secret door that led somewhere that I was not allowed to go. The place was relatively small and we had to climb some narrow stairs to get to the party space.
The second one gave out free drinks to all the ladies. We climbed stairs for this one as well, but they were super wide and there was more than enough space. This was a more upscale place with a veranda overlooking the street. The view was amazing, but there wasn’t much dancing.
The final place was downstairs and it was more techno. There was weird art on the walls and projections. It was a lot more casual and it was definitely a place for dancing. I had a lot of fun at this location, but we left when more people started to come in.
Saturday
We visited the National Portrait Gallery to see the paintings of Barack and Michelle Obama. The art in there was amazing, but I only had one mission. So I zoomed past everything else. It felt great to take in the beauty of the paintings in person. Sometimes when I see something on social media, I think only way I’ll get to experience this is through other people. But I got to see the paintings for myself and take pictures with them. Barack was in a room that had portraits of other Presidents. I’ll admit I wasn’t interested in looking at any of them. Michelle, on the other hand, was in an area with more interesting art. There was even a portrait of LL Cool J. I wished they would’ve place the Obamas together, but I guess being with other presidents is more important than being with your wife.
Visit a Museum
Next, we went to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. I was in absolute awe of all of the history of the black experience. I tried to read everything so I went really slow because I didn’t realize that there were four other floors filled with information. There was a floor dedicated to music that had artifacts and props from iconic musical performances. There were even interactive areas where you could try to make your own music or listen to digital albums. The floor for sports had giant statues of the athletes that you could take pictures with. The film and TV section played clips from shows and plays. They even had clips of the Boondocks. It felt good to be surrounded by black history. Black people are amazing. I need to go back and dedicate one visit per floor in order to soak it all in. And then return again just because. I encourage everybody to visit this museum at least once in their life.
Eat a Bean Pie
Outside of the museum there was a man that deemed himself the Pie Man of D.C. If you don’t know what a bean pie is then you have been missing out on a delicious dessert that I have been eating since childhood. My mother used to buy them from men of the Nation of Islam that would sell them at an intersection near my grandmother’s house. I was so young that I just thought they were men in suits. To me, bean pies are so precious that I’ll buy at least three if I ever encounter someone selling them because I don’t know when I’m going to see another bean pie. Bean pies are so rare that I haven’t had one in years and nobody sells them in the grocery stores, so when I saw this man selling bean pies of course I bought some. He had different flavors like apple bean pie, sweat potato bean pie, peach bean pie. My imagination was limited because I didn’t think that anyone could combine the flavors of two different pies to create an explosion of flavor in my mouth. My taste buds were happy and so was my stomach. He’s not just a bean pie man, he’s a bean pie wizard. If you live in D.C. then you have the luxury of buying pies from this wizard whenever you want. I, on the other hand, have to ask my cousin to smuggle me some pies on the plane when he comes home from dental school. That’s right! He goes to Howard! #minishoutout
Experience Busboys and Poets
For dinner, we went to a restaurant called Busboys and Poets. They have a bookshop inside so you can browse books while you wait to be seated. Or you could buy a book and read it while you eat. I bought two books: Eloquent Rage and Basic Witches. Busboys and Poets is for conscious people that want access to vegan meals and intellectual conversation. It’s perfect for college students or young activists. There wasn’t an event while we were there, but they host open mics and poetry slams.
Later, we returned home for a game night with drinks. We played Jenga and drunk uno. It got really intense, but the drinks had me feeling mellow.
Sunday
We decided to go to this place called Half Smoke for brunch. To be honest, I wouldn’t really consider this a brunch place. Although they have eggs, sausage, and cereal on the menu, I want to be able to order pancakes or waffles too. Most of the menu options had eggs in them, but they seemed like lunch meals with egg. The also had a lot of sausage options, but I don’t like sausage like that.
I may have had issues with their menu, but Half Smoke’s theme of adult childhood is the best. If I don’t return for the food, I’m going to return for the fun time. There were games all around the restaurant that you could play with your friends. Music videos from the 90s were on the screens. I saw so many Destiny’s Child music videos and I sang along to all of them. The names of the menu items included: Pinky and the Brain, Netflix and Chill, Boy Meets World, and Bad and Boujee. This place was literally made for people born in the 90s. There was also a photo booth, an outside patio area, and bottomless mimosas. Also, some lucky people received their meal in a tin lunchbox. When we received our checks, they were in VHS movie cases. My receipt was in a Mulan case. Half Smoke is the perfect place for adults that don’t want to grow up or who want to relive their childhood while still having adult fun.
See the Monuments
Afterwards, we went to see the Presidential Monuments. There have been plenty of photoshoots here so I decided to do my own. I saw Lincoln and MLK. I even took a picture in front of the White House despite Trump because the White House is the White House and my ancestors built it. Plus, I can take a picture in front of a building and not support the person inside.
We went back to U street to eat at Ben’s Next Door for dinner. I had the Jerk Chicken Pasta and some sweet potato cake. The pasta tasted great, but the cake left me disappointed. It was just a regular spice cake with no sweet potato taste.
The final stop of the night was Marvin’s Room. Not to be confused with Drake’s song, this is club with a lot of rooms. We climbed the steep stairs and found ourself in one bar. But I wanted to go deeper and see what else this place had to offer. Then, we ended up in a bigger bar area. Once again, I wanted to explore. Until, I found myself in the open air with the sky above me. I don’t know what it is about being on rooftops, but I love it. Nothing but the stars above me as I dance and vibe to good music. Marvin’s Room had a good mix of old and young people too.
As you can see, I enjoyed myself while I was in D.C. If there are other places that you would go, comment them below.
