Connecticut Avenue, Central Street of NW Washington DC, street of good people, good fun, good feeling

A walk through the liveliest part of  the Connecticut Avenue

This article attempts to give a brief description of Connecticut Avenue, NW DC, a central Washington Street in the part between Rock Creek River and the area around Dupont Circle. The word "central" does not suggest that this street is located just in the center of the town, but that it actually presents the backbone of the life of this city as a major avenue that stretches down the whole NW, Washington, passing through several DC neighborhoods and Maryland in which there, according to statistics and averages, most educated people of the United States and people with not highest, but above average and significant incomes. Exiting Washington DC, the Avenue moved to the north to another state, Maryland, and ends a lot of kilometers deeper enjoying the Leisure world park in the Maryland Montgomery County. Word the central also means that you have to visit it, at least the restaurants and bars around Dupont Circle, because you will most surely meet the good-hearted people. Many say that it is impossible not to meet someone in DC when you go out at night. For this reason, many of the visitors but also to the inhabitants consider this city the most beautiful city in which they were. Another reason is the architecture and history. All this is significantly contributed by this extremely long Avenue. Along it there are lined several major city squares and buildings and around it there are scattered settlements and striking characteristic points of the city.

In the part described here, Avenue crosses the Rock Creek River over William Howard Taft Bridge under which the river and highway pass, chained by the dense, typical North American forest. North along the street,  near the bridge is   located the zoo," The National Zoological Park" and further Woodley Park , Cleveland Park , and Chevy Chase, DC neighborhoods. In this section, predominantly present are residential buildings,  Edwardian style houses, as well as high-rise buildings of Art Deco era,  with accesses  teemed with plants, trees and flowers leaves passersby in an idyllic mood and full of a desire to stay there longer and longer but also to return one day. In autumn, dense foliage of the densely ordered trees, down the avenue and the surrounding streets, is winning those famous yellow and red colors.  The leaves from the trees are scattered all over  the street, and helped by the plants and flowers from the gardens on the stairs and driveways neatly trimmed and bulk in order or organized chaos, leave passers-by the impression that he is actually in the nature in which there is some house inserted, and not in the urban environment in which plants were later planted. In the end, as this and old neighborhood, maybe it was created by inserting houses into the woods, and the streets and other concretes arrived later. This feeling is especially strong in the neighboring streets such as 20th, 19th and 18th street, as well as Columbia Rd which leads to Duke Ellington Memorial Bridge and another crossing over the river. On the way up the hill, one passes by the embassies of many countries and buildings of interesting interior and exterior architecture. Area to the left and the right of the Connecticut Avenue is called Kalorama.   

Slowly we emerge at the corner with the T Street and hotel "Hilton Washington" in the form of an unfinished letter M, which dominates the veranda with T street and announces the change in the environment. Part of the Connecticut Avenue between T and M street represents the most vivid part of the avenue. First, at the corner of the street T is a there is monument and park of Major General George B. McClellan, then the "St.Margaret Episcopal Church" and a few houses that belong to the Russian cultural center with a bar and a restaurant in it.

Then a series of commercial and service facilities begins. We will try to give an overview of shops and windows on the both sides of the avenue. Going down the avenue one crosses numerous restaurants, bars, grocery stores or salons of beauty and health. It is here where it starts the hedonistic and   colorful splendor. 2 bistros of French cuisine are staged one across from other to show the French defiance and tender. Burger and pizza fast food restaurants, mainly on the left side of the avenue are elected by Washington's gourmets as best fast food restaurants in the town, pastry and ice cream shops are mainly on the right.   Going downhill you met Greek, Indian, Mexican, Japanese or Chinese food restaurants. Each meter is carefully caught with painted shop windows and colorful facades present all the colors from the spectrum interspersed irregularly. Here and there we ran to multiple bars, places where beer, wine or cocktail is reason for the gathering of many young people, especially on a Saturday nights, some beauty, hair or massage salon, or gastronomy shop. However, few places in this area should be highlighted:

The "Board room" cafe – looks like a classic American bar, but this bar is not one. Although it is a huge bar which besides 7-8 types of draft beer serves a handful of stronger alcohol neatly lined up on the wall in the bar, a bar with numerous flat screens to enjoy sporting events, this bar is actually meeting place for lovers of board, social, table games and all those who want to amuse themselves playing some game or just staying in an atmosphere of bustle and good mood. Always full, some days completely full, the "Board room" is the perfect place to go out with friends, have fun with a game costing only two dollars, or just go out, meet extremely cheerful and good willing people, go out and watch the match, go out and drink beer, talk and watch the match. Every evening is good enough to go out to this bar. In Sunday afternoons especially. All those who have power to grab more drinks after Saturday night, come back here to clean up alcohol using alcohol, and those who do not have enough strength come here to stay lazy in a warm atmosphere of Sunday afternoon and in familiar environment around a table with friends, spinning cards or dices. More about this bar on their website and online reviews: http://boardroomdc.com/

Next to it there is the "Black Fox", a bar that hosts lovers of jazz. Musicians, often placed in the window of the cafe, play and advertise themselves. Music is always of high quality, and in addition to this small scene placed in the window there is a scene in the lower level of the cafe where the piano and leather comfortable chairs are placed. The food is delicious, and the menu emphasis drinks and cocktails. Here you can find strong alcohol varieties like in no other bars and alcohol from distant corners of the world. Using them the bar tender will make you some cocktail that is specialty of the house. The atmosphere is always cheerful, friendly, and complemented by the presence of people of different sexual orientation. More about the bar: http://www.blackfoxlounge.com/ .

On the other side of these two bars is ArtJamz. Founded in 2010 in Washington DC, ArtJamz is original American Public Art Studio and a living room gallery. It is the first space that combines socializing, drinking and creative speech, a space that allows you to unleash your inner artist.  How it works: in the club you have the ability to choose the canvas size and time space that fits you,  the paints  and different material is available and on your disposability. In addition to the canvas, you can choose among the Street Art Dolls and paint the white models instead. There are packages that include a drink or you can just drink “a la carte”. Who does not want to paint, neither on canvas nor on dolls, he can just come and buy some artwork that was made here, sign in or draw something on the wall, come and talk, socialize or enjoys. In the club, at any given moment, there is someone who can give you instructions on the basis of drawing  and painting and help you. They organize sessions  and lectures on art and techniques, as well as private and corporate events. Washington must do http://artjamzdc.com/ .

Downstream to the Dupont Circle on the left you pass by the Fraser Mansion which now hosts the Scientology church, an interesting buildings in red stone. Further many restaurants: Italian, American or Mexican, some fast food chains and bars with luxurious American and some other dishes.

And then on the very place where the Connecticut Avenue splits to the one that remains above the earth and orbits around the Dupont Circle and one that sinks into the ground in order to enter the tunnel that runs underneath the Dupont Circle, there is an unusual photographer shop. Claude Taylor liked to travel.  He also had the chance to work for the US government and like that made  it around the world. But Claude Taylor loves the scenes from his city and his country even more, and they make up the largest part of his collection, along with interesting slogans, signs, graffiti, or scenes of food. In this small and interesting shop at the number of 1627, you can find his photos in small, medium and large format. It looks that the work was done by big number of photographers, but actually 100% of the photos here are copyrighted work of Claude Taylor, who has visited most countries in almost all continents.  This is a good place to see those corners of the Washington DC city that you will not see in your short time stay and your short life, or which you will maybe not notice or find.

At this level, there should be noted 2 places for excellent bite. One is primarily for dining, with full service at the bar and on the stylized bar tables that are arranged in several rows inside the restaurant or in the pleasant garden  outside. "Circa Dupont" is restaurant of affordable prices for people who respect good serving and delicious combinations, healthy bite but necessarily not bulky one.

For lovers of somehow bigger portions and interesting flavors, one place indirectly calls for lunch with its name. Here it is offered just all you need to satisfy and full your stomach. Especially, if you take the dessert. The cooks are masters, not luxurious restaurant, in fact, not a restaurant, but a bookstore where one can eat. A waitress would say, "Here every meal is really good, I guarantee you."  And what is interesting, there is a recommended beer with every meal. With reason, always full "Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe" , http://www.kramers.com. Yes, they have a lot of books, quite a lot. And excellent pastries.

After the "Starbucks" and other restaurants or shops assorted here we come to the Dupont Circle square. This square was planned in the initial construction plan of Washington made by Pierre Charles L'Enfant. Once it was called the Pacific Circle, but in 1882 by the decision of Congress the square was  named Dupont Circle.

A beautiful park in the middle is  where you can relax and where you can meet people who engage in different activities, meditate, or enjoy doing something for themselves. The place also represents a gathering place of the LGBT community during occasional festivals. Unfortunately, one can find a lot of homeless people here. It seems there is always some here. They are smiling, friendly and usually rarely lonely, because people often pass through the square. Around the square within the larger office buildings there different stores, the popular luxurious "Bar Dupont,"  and "Books-a-Million" bookstore which can also be visited for a snack or for playing a game of chess or some other game.

And then when you cross or go around the Dupont Circle and continue along the avenue, and first refresh yourself with hot and fresh donuts and cross over the street to grab some good cup-cakes you become ready to step into the holy place of nightclubs and bars of Washington DC. One after the other you will find: “The Big Hunt" pub with 3 bars, more than 30 types of draft beer, 3 rooms and a terrace, screens for viewing the matches, juke box, organized performances and comedy nights; then "Citron" bar, bar of Latin music in which on Wednesday and Tuesday nights you learn salsa, and on Fridays and Saturdays experience the moments of the Latin heat with a sip of madness that is the consequence of drinks and atmosphere of this area. The atmosphere somehow culminates in this bar. Guests come and go from around 9 o'clock, many immediately starting to dance  because this bar offers several rooms, so while some people eat, others spend lunch calories. And then after 11 o’clock, some on the floor, some on the counter and some on the table, everybody swing. A large number of guests is originally from Latin America and their movements to the music are authentic; Then there is a "Madhater" with a large bar in the lower floor restaurant and a huge bar in the club on the floor. It is always full of people who care about their appearance (scantily dressed for winter temperatures which affect DC) and people who love good club atmosphere. Similarly, in the "Gryphon" bar you can meet those with a bit "deeper pockets". Good atmosphere with people of positive mood, different ethnic and social backgrounds, people who have no prejudice and know how to have fun and share the moments with each other, the warmest recommendations go to "18th Street Lounge" bar. If you read the reviews you will see why. Simple and good. Music - a mix of funky, drive, house and other styles familiar to the fans of modern sound. Every song forces you to dance, dance in pairs, in a circle, for yourself. In any case, you are supported by the environment, so let you impress the others and get what you want. If it is important to stress, then to point out that the decor in the house is as from the beginning of the 20th century. This contributes to the feeling of as being at the home parties. This bar is actually not located in Connecticut Avenue, but it is right next to it. During weekends there is a row. It is a place to be. You should respect some dressing code, but not too much and the owner and DJ will make it worth. It should not be skipped. http://www.eighteenthstreetlounge.com/

Further Avenue passes through the business section and connects to the "White House". Some restaurant break the monotony of large buildings, but we will leave this part for the business hours, we finish our story here.

Once again, here described was Connecticut avenue and Dupont Circle  as center of this beautiful and colorful area. Just everything in this part of the city leans towards this market. It is the place who will take you along the radial streets towards the most beautiful residential areas, embassy streets, streets with hotels. This square is a symbol of the whole area. It represents a symbol of the area of entertainment, nightlife and good dining. It is the central place of the neighborhood where you go out and within half an hour you meet people with whom you talk all night, with people which will immediately accept you, with people who will not be interested in your secrets or your history and who will be happy that you are there with them with good reason wanting to socialize. Unlike many other cities, where these acquaintances will finish in 20 minutes or after three sentences spoken, here you will meet people with whom you can be friends for much longer. It is interesting that there is a high chance that someone comes over and starts a conversation with you, even if he is already here with friends. Also what is interesting is that most people are well educated and versed in the world situations and the characteristics of different parts of the world. You should not be surprised if you start a conversation which is similar to the one you are having with your compatriots. In brief, in this neighborhood you can expect a cordial reception and a chance to quickly gain dear friendships and experience the stunning time, because in America everything is possible, even if you never knew how to have fun.