D.C. - A Local’s (?) Guide to Capitol Hill

*This series follows softball junior Audrey Pederson through her 2020 fall semester as she works and studies in Washington, D.C. Each post represents the feelings, thoughts and motivations in her own words.

Okay so maybe I'm not a local… But in the weeks that I've been pretending to be, I've found a bunch of spots in Northeast D.C. that are must-try if you're ever in the area. Here is a college student's guide to Capitol Hill:

COFFEE

If you know me, you know I need my la Prima every morning on campus. Nothing has changed. I have scoped every single coffee spot Capitol Hill has to offer and I can confidently say there are two spots you need to try:

Ebenezer's Coffee House

Ebenezer's is directly on the route from the apartments to class, so stopping in here for coffee before a 3-hour lecture is inevitable. Slightly more expensive than other coffee shops nearby, all of Ebenezer's profits go to outreach projects led by National Community Church, so it's worth it. Coffee with a cause.

The Wydown Coffee Bar

Located in the lobby of a local apartment building, the Wydown is a chic new coffee bar with home-made everything. Even the vanilla sweetener. The staff is super nice, and you can mobile order ahead. Enough said!

FOOD

I'm not going to lie; Capitol Hill really does not have many food options the way the rest of the District does. That being said, I do have a few recommendations:

Maketto

If you like fresh and flavorful Asian food and a good espresso drink, Maketto is for you. They have a two-story outdoor patio, and they let you stay and get work done while you're there. The best of both worlds.

DC Harvest

DC Harvest offers several "farm to table" meals that are guaranteed to add some color and flavor to your meal. Not only that, but they offer both regular meals and breakfast all day. Are you sold? There's no indoor seating yet, but they have some outdoor tables and take-out options so it's definitely still worth a try.

Union Kitchen

Also known as the closest you can get to an Exchange sandwich. A mini convenience store/café on the corner of a residential road, it's the perfect place to get food made and sold by D.C. locals.

THINGS TO DO

Naturally as a student at CMU, I really do not have much time to get out and explore other than on the weekends. Thankfully, we are lucky enough to be a short 15-minute walk from the Capitol, so beautiful sights and architecture are a part of the day-to-day routine. Some other fun things to do are:

Eastern Market

Every Saturday, Capitol Hill's Eastern Market erupts into a street-long farmers market with local vendors from farms, art and thrift stores, and so much more. For any of my fellow Bostonian's – the market reminds me of a mini Faneuil Hall. There are a few other markets across the city, but this is easily the best one.

National Museums

DC has understandably taken its time reopening as the Coronavirus begins to fade, but one of the most recent sites to reopen are a lot of the National Museums. A lot of them are free, so making your rounds through the Smithsonian's is definitely a must-do before you leave.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Since D.C. stays warmer for longer than Pittsburgh (and sunnier more consistently), there are plenty of opportunities to explore different outdoor activities. From hikes, to bike trails, to kayaking on the Potomac River, there are so many things to do. Just ask the CMU WSP advisors, and they will make it happen!

Between my internship, classes, and softball, my days are jam-packed to say the least. That being said, living on H Street means having great food and entertainment a short walk away. It's all about taking advantage of the time you have and making the most of every experience. The spots I listed above will definitely help you do just that. Stay tuned for more options, ideas, and interesting perspectives as I continue to work my way into the D.C. lifestyle.