Washington, D.C.: Where It's At

The most up and coming neighborhood in Washington is undoubtedly the H Street Corridor in Northeast. It’s not an exaggeration to say that just over a decade ago this part of town was an unvisited slum. In 2002, 51 percent of the buildings were vacant.

Now, it’s slowly but surely going through the same gentrification process we’re seeing in cities nationwide. Hip restaurants, bars, and music venues are intermixed with worn down storefronts and plots of cracking sidewalk. 

Gettin down at H Fest

The diversity of the community is illuminated by the H Street Festival. This free day of food, dance, and music attracts families and young professionals from every part of the city. Rather than the Patriotic sentiment at most events in the capital, this festival is all about the soul of this vibrant neighborhood. World music bands tear up the stage with Latin beats, jazz, blues, R&B, and reggae. Food stands serve up hearty southern favorites like collard greens, baked beans, mac n cheese, fried chicken, and ribs; an authentic representation of the homogeneous hyperlocal cuisine that thrived here before some trendier eateries started moving in. You can still find some mean Creole and Cajun inspired hole in the walls if you’re willing to follow your instincts instead of Yelp.

Horace and Dickie's Jumbo Fish Sandwich

This neighborhood is a refreshing change of pace. In stark contrast to the usual hustle and bustle of our nation’s political hub, the vibe on this block is as slow as maple syrup melting over the sides of a buttery biscuit. Make sure to explore it now. A street car is to set to open this year to encourage tourists and Northwestern residents to visit more frequently; who knows what this gem will look like ten years down the road. 

This year's H Street Festival is on Saturday, September 21 

For more information click here