RSS FeedA Day In The Life…Why I Moved To The Penn Quarter
Ed. Note: Today we have a guest writer. LiveAndWorkinPQ, a frequent commenter on PQ Living and a bonafide Penn Quarter resident, narrates about why living downtown is enjoyable.
I had an experience last week that reminded me about why I moved to the Penn Quarter and despite the complaints about tour busses, trash pick-ups and homeless problems, why I enjoy living downtown so much.
I had tickets to the Wizards vs. Knicks game one Tuesday night in February and an early morning meeting at work the following day. In the days of living in the suburbs (ESPECIALLY the old days of the Cap Centre), the evening’s schedule would have entailed leaving work early, rushing home or somewhere in between to meet my wife and then rushing to the game. Inevitably, this turns into getting stuck in traffic, irritated that I had to pay $20 for parking and eventually joining the game’s crowd mid-first quarter. Starting halfway through the 3rd quarter we would be looking at the scoreboard debating when we would leave…We’d agree, “If the Wizards are down by more than 10 points with 5 minutes left we leave.” or “If they don’t score this time down the court then we leave.” Even if we left early we’d have to wait to get the car out of the parking garage and then drive home (or ride on the Metro and then drive home from the Metro station). The next morning I would skip my morning workout because I was tired, had to get up early to beat traffic and get into work for my early morning meeting.
Flash forward to living and working in the PQ in the here and now…going to the Wizards/Knicks game meant leaving work at 6 pm to change clothes and eat dinner at home. We walked out our door at 6:50 pm and were in our seats by tip-off. Unfortunately, some things don’t change….the Wizards lost in overtime. Fortunately, other things do change. We enjoyed our 5 minute walk home, most likely sitting in our living room while some people were still waiting for a Metro train or getting their car out of a garage. I was able to get a good night’s sleep while still having enough time for an early morning run on The Mall before getting in to work while; many of my colleagues were likely sitting in traffic or on the Metro on their way in to work at that time.
I’m sure many people in other neighborhoods have similar moments, whether it’s enjoying a July 4th barbeque with friends in your backyard in Vienna, savoring a Sunday morning coffee at Dean & Deluca in Georgetown or being able to walk your children to the local elementary school in Bethesda.
This was just my moment…what is yours?
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Comments
Thanks for this…I’m hoping to move from further up in NW DC to PQ this year, and would love to hear more examples to spur me on, as well as what current residents would advise potential newcomers…
What a great post, what you’ve described is exactly what many of us feel when we’re out on the town in PQ.
I often feel like a cheerleader for the PQ, but I have those “I’m so glad I live here” moments all the time. A huge part of it is the convenience, a 30 min walk NW takes me to Dupont/Adams Morgan, 30 min walk to the East & I’m on Capital Hill. A few metro stops to the south & I’m at the Pentagon City Mall. A few stops north & it’s U Street, or Cleveland Park, etc.
But the majority of my time is spent either in PQ or on the Mall. I just love this area. So much to do, so easy to get to, no commuting time or traffic to worry about. All the little problems are so minor (to me) compared to the huge benefits of living in this neighborhood.
My glad I live here moments — running from my condo to the Washington Monument early in the morning, turning around and seeing the sunrise behind the U.S. Capitol.
Finding some extra time and popping over to the National Museum of American Art in time to hear a living artist talk about his work and leaving with a crush on the artist and a new appreciation for his work.
Being so inspired by the meals I eat in PQ that I have started taking cooking classes and buying the restaurant’s cook books.
Having the sweet Koreans running Gallery Market stop to pat my dog and then throwing in some chocolate with my purchase.
Enjoying international and ethnic diversity at every community gathering.
Banding together WITH my neighbors to fight crime and improve the community — key to this — we are getting to know our neighbors.
Aside from a great day-to-day life, there are wonderful surprises living in PQ. So many to mention!
Walking home a few months ago along H Street, and feeling the incredible energy as Barack Obama preached at an after-work rally at the site of the Old Convention Center.
The craziness in the neighborhood as the world showed up for the Mike Tyson fight. Same when we hosted the NBA All-Star Game.
On weekends, getting inspired by the glow on the faces of people who have finished a charity walk on the mall.
Hearing about the string of celebrities who have eaten across the street at Proof and IndieBlue (how do I always miss them).
Being offered last minute free tickets to Shakespeare plays from a person outide the theater who can’t make it at the last minute.
Walking by Olsenn’s bookstore and seeing a favorite author, or politian-turned author, signing books – and, for the hell of it, getting in line.
Walking one street over to the Verizon Center and geting to watch the ultimate upset as George Mason knocked out Connecticut to reach the Final Four.
Watching your “local” restaurants in your neighborhood (Teasism, Jaleo, Cafe Atlantico, MiniBar) show up on the Food Network. And, our adopted “local” chef has a cooking series on PBS. Ole!
The occasional marching band strutting through on a warm summer evening.
Crashing fancy parties at the National Building Museum.
Watching the raising of the Sir Norman Foster-designed glass roof at the National Portrait Gallery – and the excitement entering the courtyard for the first time.
And, knowing that there is more to come!!!
one night as i was walking home..i gave directions to lost tourists how to find the mall…a block or two later i gave directions to a couple who were looking for the convention center a few blocks later and i took a picture of a couple under the “arch” in chinatown… one more block and i recommended a parking garage… wow ..i thought..our neighborhood is busy tonight…and when i realized that there was NOTHING that night at the verizon center… i realized that our neighborhood had turned a corner… and… was itself a destination….
i was quietly happy for all of us that live here.. xoxo
Entering the National Portrait Gallery on F street, walking through new and old exhibits, walking through the atrium to exit the museum on G street to reach my home a few blocks away.
Calling in to one of my favorite restaurants, ordering a meal, picking up the meal on my way home from work, and enjoying a tasty meal all within about 30 minutes.
Picking up new outfits from H&M and Zara on my way home from work.
Stopping in Giffords to pick up a bag of caramels on my way home from work.
Meeting friends for drinks and calamari at the Zengo bar on my way home from work.
Walking down to the Sculpture Gallery to watch the ice skaters on Saturday night.
Just to name a few…
I am so glad to hear about the positive side of this neighborhood. I was beginning to think that nobody actually wanted to be in the neighborhood and we are all stuck here against our will.
My three favorite things about living here are jogging on the mall, popping into a museum for an hour and not feeling obligated to stay longer, and voting at the closest polling place to the Capitol in the U.S.
I love waking up EARLY in the morning, throwing on sweats, and just taking a leisurely stroll around our (atypically) deserted neighborhood. It’s the best time to peek at the new stores, restaurants and notable spots I’ve read about on this blog. The guys are usually hosing down the sidewalks, everything smells fresh, and the neighborhood is so quiet I feel as if I own the place. Even though most things are closed, it’s still absolutely lovely. It was on one of these peaceful mornings that I looked up and actually READ the huge engraving on the front of the Newseum. Believe it or not, a tear rolled down my cheek. “Man, I love it here,” said I.
thanks for the post!
the reasons I moved to the PQ…
1. alarm goes off at 7:30 am, at work by 8:30 am.
2. 12K miles on a car purchased in summer of 2005. it still has that “new” smell. now if those darn underground parking columns would stay out of the way, I’d be set.
3. walking 3.5 miles to work round trip counts as exercise.
4. a margarita or mojito at Rosa Mexicano (or insert your favorite spot here). no problemo! walko to condo! no driveo! arriba!
5. no lawn to mow. no lawn to mow. no lawn to mow.
the reasons I stay in the PQ…
1. contemplating which cheese to buy at Cowgirl on my way home from work. I usually go with the Mt. Tam.
2. brushing up on my Presidential history at the America’s Presidents exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery on a lazy Sunday.
3. 11:30 pm stroll to the CVS for some Dulce de Leche Haagen Dazs.
4. 11:30 pm stroll to the CVS for the next morning’s OJ.
5. sunny day runs around the Mall & Capitol Hill followed by a dunk in the rooftop pool.
6. one dollar-sixty-five, one Yellow line train to National Airport, one ticket on Frontier 721, one carry on bag, one short walk to the gate, one rental car, one Winter Park ski pass, one happy afternoon skiing the same day. substitute Alaska Air 5 for Frontier 721 and I’m lunching at Fonz’s in Manhattan Beach by 1:30 pm.
7. sunny weekend walks to Eastern Market.
8. serendipitously finding that elusive 2004 Bodegas LAN Rioja Edicion Limitada at Washington Wine & Liquor at 12th and E Streets for $3 less than at Paul’s of Chevy Chase.
9. ogling the Gene Davis paintings at the American Art Museum.
10. pizzas that blow your mind away at The Source. Matchbox is all that too.
11. I can catch the 80 bus straight to the Kennedy Center.
but best of all…becoming friends with all the great individual but like minded neighbors I’ve met downtown.
I could go on for a lot longer but I have to go to sleep.
I too am very happy to see such a positive post here. What a refreshing change from what often seems to be nasty sarcasm.
Alarm goes off at 7:55, I’m at my desk at 9 a.m.
It takes longer to go down the elevator and get out of my building than to walk to my office.
Coming home for lunch if I choose to.
Walking to so many great restaurants and bars—no designated driver needed.
The roof of my building
The view from my balcony
Lectures and films at the National Archives
Popping into a museum shop if I need a quick gift.
Getting a coffee and walking the streets
My new fav, Bistro D’oc
So, #6, care to elaborate about crashing the Building Museum parties?
Cheers
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I recently moved to DC from NYC and although I live in Logan Circle right now love Penn Quarter and want to buy a place there soon. One of the great things about DC neigborhoods like Penn Quarter is their affordability (o.k. compared to NY) and access to the sights and delights of downtown. To be so close to so much means you get a lot more for your money in DC than other large cities.