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Top 10 Must-Do in DCList for Blogalicious Attendees

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Top 10 Must-Do in DC

Table of Contents...............................................1. Hookah with friends at Chi-Cha Lounge! 4

.................................................2. Poetry and Jazz @ Bohemian Caverns! 6

............................................................3. Open Mic at Busboys and Poets! 8

............................................................4. National Museum of African Art! 10

.................................................5. Soul Food in DC @ Oohhs and Aahhs! 11

............................................6. DC Bike Tour @ Night with Bike and Roll! 14

............................................................................7. Eatonville Restaurant! 16

...................................................................8. Spend a Day in Capitol Hill! 19

................................................................9. Ben’s Next Door Happy Hour! 23

.....................................10. Washington DC Memorials and Monuments! 30


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1. Hookah with friends at Chi-Cha Lounge

hh Sunday evenings. How I hate thee! I mean Sundays

would be a perfectly wonderful day if not for the fact that I spend most of the day dreading going back to work on Monday.

So what to do to relax a bit?

Head to Chi-Cha Lounge of course!

Sunday evenings are perfect for Chi-Cha Lounge because you'll

enjoy yourself without the bustle of the Friday or Saturday

crowds.

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Chi Cha Lounge’s namesake is the traditional Latin American

drink from the Andes known as “chicha”, a concoction of corn

soaked in pineapple juice, cinnamon, cloves, cane sugar and the

house secret ingredient.

I tried it and wasn’t 100% sold. Let’s just say it’s an acquired

taste.

About the hookah, I wouldn't be surprised if you're saying,

“Hmm but excuse me, I don’t even smoke!”

Me neither. But I enjoy the taste and sweet aroma of Hookah, and the atmosphere and vibe at Chi-Cha. Hookah is the name

for the water pipe that is used to deliver the shisha ( flavored

tobacco).

You’ll have to try it to experience it. I’m completely new to the

scene, having only been there twice, but I love the entire

experience.

Read more about Hookah @ wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah

My last time there I got the Strawberry and Melon mix hookah.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookah




Food and drinks

For food we tried their Calamari, crab cakes, and plantain. The

plantains were a little dry, but the Calamari and Crab cakes are to live for!! They do a good job with their dishes, I think you’ll

like.

Cool Tip: When you enter walk directly to the back of the place

and you will find a small secluded room with three tables, dimly

lit with an awesome red light. It’s an intimate little spot for a

date or for you to catch up with a few friends.

Enjoy

Location

1624 U Street Northwest

Washington D.C., DC 20009

http://www.latinconcepts.com/chicha.php

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2. Poetry and Jazz @ Bohemian Caverns

top for a second and picture a classy and upscale jazz

location with a large performance space. Picture the type of

sofas that you just seem to melt into when you lean back. Hear

the gentle notes lightly tugging at your ears as your drink kisses your lips with every sip.

Sounds good?

Well this may NOT be what you’re looking for!

As far as I’m concerned though, Bohemian Caverns is even

better.

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Don’t expect super luxury, this place is about the experience!

Bohemian Caverns open mic on Wednesdays is a must

experience in DC.

The look and feel of the place is absolutely unique: It literally

looks like you’re inside a small cave. Best thing though, no

matter where you sit, you’ll be no more than 20 feet from the stage (which too is fairly small by the way).

The performances

Freaking amazing! Bohemian Cavern attracts a hosh posh of

various performers? Poets, Jazz musicians, pop singers, guitarist, dance/drum groups, free style rappers, you name it.

Picture a night at the Apollo meets Russel Simmons Def Poetry

Jam. Everything all rolled together for a sweet $8 cover charge.

It’s a tiny spot, so if you sit close to the stage it will be a bit

difficult to have a conversation with your date. No question

though, you’ll leave with a positive vibe and more energy than you walked in with.

I promise.

Grab a date or friend and enjoy! On my last trip I had the

Jamaican Jerk Chicken and pasta. (Mmmm,Mmmm good!)

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Location: 2001 11th St. N.W, Washington DC

(Corner of 11th and U)

Website:

http://www.bohemiancaverns.com/calendar/publicevent.cfm?

event_id=17827

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http://www.bohemiancaverns.com/calendar/publicevent.cfm?event_id=17827




3. Open Mic at Busboys and Poets

oetry and good food? I like them both. If you know me,

you’ve probably heard me rave about Bus Boys and Poets

and their Tuesday Night Open Mic events.

What an awesome addition to our list.

Busboys has quickly become an institution in the city for an

overall amazing experience. I discovered Busboys when I first

moved to the area and needed somewhere to burn a few hours to let traffic die down. I parked and wandered into this cool

looking spot a block from U Street and…

I’ve been hooked ever since.

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Bus Boys is one of the most comfortable spots in the city for me.

Part restaurant, part bookstore, part Freedom Fighter’s Meetup,

this spot is everything that is right about Washington DC. The

clientele ranges from the thriving U Street crowd to the out-of-

towners who stop by based on a friend’s recommendation.

Image courtesy of http://nijla1.wordpress.com/2010/07/

On to the poetry:

Poetry is billed to start at 9:00 pm on Tuesdays but you have to

be there on time in order to pay for your wristband: $4 per person. I advise you get there by 8:00 pm to be sure to get a

spot. Oh and be prepared for a full community experience. The

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Langston room where the poetry slam is held fills up quickly, so

chances are you will be sharing a table with strangers.

See it as a great way to meet someone new. Woot!

You are sure to find some great poets there and some fiery

poetry. I won’t get too much into describing the poetry (I’ll let

you experience it first hand), but chances are you may recognize

a poet or two from Russel Simmons’ Def Poetry Jam.

Cool twist: You get to contribute to the community poem.

performed by the host close to the end of the show.

What more could you ask for.

Enjoy the show, and grab some food while you’re there. I love their sweet potato fries and blackened fish.

Location:

14th & V Streets NW

http://www.busboysandpoets.com/

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4. National Museum of African Art

ashington DC is an absolutely wonderful place to be creative. No question! The city is filled with some of

the most talented artists you’ll find anywhere. This adventure

though, takes you on a voyage across the Atlantic to see art that

has been a continuous inspiration to our local artists.

An evening at the National Museum of African Art

You won’t believe what wood can turn into in the hands of a master.

Or how paint can dance effortlessly across a piece of canvas.

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Think for a second that these pieces were once held in the hands

of men and women from various tribes in Africa and massaged

and brought to life for our own inspiration and enjoyment years

later.

It’s so awesome to be alive in this moment in time. Go be

amazed.

The National Museum of African Art is part of the Smithsonian

Museum Collective, so like everything Smithsonian it’s

absolutely free. You’ll never look at a piece of wood the same

way again.

Location:

950 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington D.C.

DC 20560

http://africa.si.edu/collections/start

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5. Soul Food in DC @ Oohhs and Aahhs

ungry and cold, I shuffled into Oohhs and Aahhs

for the first time ever. Actually, on second thoughts,

this was my second time there. The first time I didn’t have any

cash on me and found out the sad way that Oohhs and Aahhs

was a cash only spot.

“Sorry, we don’t take cards”.

Shoot!

I didn’t have time to get to a less money-draining ATM (their ATM fees are so high, it would make Bill Gates think twice).

Needless to say, I had to abandon ship.

H

Second time around, I was prepared with cash in hand. On to

the Blackened catfish goodness.

To be clear I had no good reason to order the catfish except for

the fact that the 4 people in line with me all ordered the catfish.

So I figured, the catfish might be where it’s at.

“Can I get the blackened catfish as well? Oh, two sides?

Hmmmm……. macaroni and cheese and collared greens.”

By the time I got to order I had to make it back to work so I didn’t get a chance to eat upstairs and get photos of this soul

food restaurant in DC. But I did try to take a couple pictures of

the food for you guys.

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The fish was as good as billed. I mean really, REALLY good!

And I’m not even the biggest fish person. But with one bite I

instantly knew why so many people ordered the blackened

catfish.

Oh, and they don’t skimp on the portions either. It’s enough

food for two people if you ask me.

The macaroni and cheese was some of the best I’ve ever had. If

you like your macaroni cheese extremely cheesy, you’ll be in

heaven.

Took this shot to focus on the collared greens. These were ever

so slightly spicy and awesome.

Food is a bit on the pricey side (The fish with two sides came to

$16.00), but it was well worth it for a Friday lunch treat.

Chances are you’ll get two meals out of one anyhow.

Oh and the service can be a bit quirky. I felt like I was in line at

the Soup Nazi restaurant in Seinfeld.

But with food so awesome, I’ll be back. You should definitely check them out.

All in all I thought it was a great little soul food

restaurant in DC and a wonderful addition to our list. Get off the couch and get some Yum!

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Location:

1005 U Street Northwest,Washington D.C.

(202) 667-7142

http://www.oohhsnaahhs.com/

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6. DC Bike Tour @ Night with Bike and Roll

hat were your new year’s resolutions? If you’re anything like me at least one of them involved getting

into better shape and getting out in the city a bit more.

Well today’s addition to the list brings two birds to life with one bike. Sorry for the bad analogy, but I never liked the idea of killing birds with stones! :- )

Since it’s starting to warm up a bit, I thought it would be a good time to see the sites in a different way.

On a bike tour with the folks @ Bike and Roll. But at night!

W Bike and Roll’s location is in a perfect spot to get to the National

Mall. A few short minutes and you’re there. Most people don’t

realize how far some of the monuments are from each other, so

experiencing them on a bike tour definitely works.

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You have to admit that the monuments are awesome by night!

You’ll get to see all the major monuments : The Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, FDR

Memorial, the World War II, and even some of the lesser-know

ones like the Albert Einstein memorial.

At every stop, the tour guide shares some interesting tidbits

about the location and you browse around for several minutes

before moving on to the next site.

You’ll end up paying about $40 for the 3 hour tour. The price

includes the bike/helmet rental, and extras like a bottle of water,

a snack, a map, and a souvenir rack. Great Deal.

Plus the monuments are way cooler by night anyhow. Have a

blast!

Location:

The Old Post Office Pavilion Rear Plaza1100 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, DC 20004

http://www.bikethesites.com/

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7. Eatonville Restaurant

think it’s time to stop for a second. Let’s be clear, this restaurant would have made the list either way, because I

think it’s a genuinely awesome place (I’ll get to that in a

minute). But first I have to say that I’m truly in awe of Andy

Shallal the owner, and his contributions to the city.

Pause for a minute and reflect on his

initiatives with Bus Boys and Poets: green

products, wind energy in his restaurants,

providing a space for political activism, supporting poetry and the arts, his support

for fair trade markets, and on and on and

on. A few months ago, he was honored for

working for full voting rights for

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Washington DC. Good. It’s time we…

Gave this man his props!

Okay on to Eatonville Restaurant:

What Langston Hughes is to Bus Boys, Zora Neale Hurston is to

Eatonville. Zora Hurston is a popular folklorist during the days of the Harlem Renaissance who worked with Langston Hughes

on a project that turned out to be quite contentious. Eatonville

is actually the name of her Florida hometown. Thus you’ll find

the restaurant decorated with colorful murals reflecting the

town and some of its legends.

In some ways it reminds me of Bus Boys and Poets’ Langston room but upscaled a bit. Picture jazzy southern flair (with

rocking chair to boot) with a touch of U street cool.b And of

course Zora Neal Hurston is beautifully represented throughout

the restaurant in a gazillion murals.

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The food: Southern Fried Chicken, Gumbo, mac and cheese,

collard greens, all the standards. You guys already know I love

macaroni and cheese. So I had to do it:

And if you didn’t catch it the first time, take a closer look:

Oh and I loved their sweet tea. They serve it in some cool jam jars that I wish I could keep. Go with a few friends or with a date

and you’ll have a great time. It’s a popular place so reservations

may be a good idea on weekends.

You know, somebody asked what my New Year’s resolutions

were and I didn’t have an answer. I do now: I’m going to live an

epic life this year. And one way to do it is to get out and do epic

things in Washington DC.

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I challenge you to do the same and watch your relationships and

friendships flourish. Eatonville Restaurant is a great place to get

started.

Location:

2121 14th St NW

(between N V St & N W St)


(202) 332-9672

www.eatonvillerestaurant.com

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http://www.yelp.com/biz_redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eatonvillerestaurant.com&src_bizid=1Ced9aB0QSZqUtpoKguL4w&cachebuster=1299028940

http://www.yelp.com/biz_redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eatonvillerestaurant.com&src_bizid=1Ced9aB0QSZqUtpoKguL4w&cachebuster=1299028940

8. Spend a Day in Capitol Hillop 7 Things to Do in Capitol Hill

The day started with us getting some amazing parking by 7th

and North Carolina, right by Eastern Market. The weather was

lovely and folks were out in good moods and doing some

shopping. A people-watching extravaganza! Shoot, dogs too!

We ran into some of the coolest dogs we’ve ever seen. We have

a gazillion pictures and more details to share on this DC

attraction.

1. Check out the Eastern Market Vendors

T

2. Grab some coffee from Peregrine Espresso

Then we headed down 7th street to Peregrine Espresso for a quick cappuccino and hot chocolate. It’s a quick two minute

walk! Julia Christian from the Capitol Hill Chamber of

Commerce told us that this was a can’t miss spot and she was

right! At Peregrine their coffees are brewed individually. It was

really cool watching them pour the water over the grounds instead of the usual prebrewed coffee.

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3. Cooking classes or kitchen shopping at Hill’s Kitchen

The next stop was Hill’s Kitchen – This is just across the street from Peregrine on D street. This is the first retail store we’ve

listed on our “Things to do in Washington DC” list, but our

experience there was too amazing for it not to make the list. The

owner, Leah, is a Capitol Hill native who managed to create the

coolest little kitchen store on the east side. Leah also puts on great cooking classes on the second floor. This is a quaint little

location with a super nice staff and a wonderful addition to the

list.

4. Brunch at Montmartre’s French restaurant

Then we stopped in at Montmartre’s French restaurant for brunch. You should definitely give this spot a try. The staff was

friendly and attentive and the food was AWESOME! I’m an

Eggs Benedict fan and these folks do it right! I think you’ll enjoy

our full post on this awesome little French restaurant in Capitol

Hill.

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5. Take in ANYTHING at The Fridge

Our next stop on our awesome day! Hands down one of the coolest spots in Capitol Hill! The Fridge is an underground indie

art space, meets poetry spot, meets live band showcase, meets

acting basement…and on and on. Seriously, I don’t even think

this description does it justice. You have to be out to find this

spot or you’ll miss it. It’s in a little alley behind Belga Cafe. Whatever you do, try to check out an exhibition or show here.

Definitely one of those fun things to see in DC.

6. Check out Capitol Hill Arts Workshop

After checking out the Fridge, a quick left to G street and a right on G over to 7th Street (Corner of 7th and G), you’ll find Capitol

Hill Arts Workshop. This spot has been there forever and has

played a huge role in the lives of many Capitol Hill children.

Think arts education and cultural initiatives. I love what they do

and couldn’t resist adding them to our list! Expect some cool pics and fun stories on our post about them.

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7. Grab some $1 books at Capitol Hill Library

And our last stop for the day was the public library. We stopped by on a whim and found some great books for $1 and some

surprisingly cool stuff we think you’ll like.

The day in Capitol Hill was awesome. We’d like to thank Julia Christian, Executive Director of Champs – Capitol Hill’s

Chamber of Commerce for the awesome recommendations.

These are all within a five block radius of each other so it would

be a fun day with the family or with friends. After the day we

had, all we can say is Capitol Hill Rocks!

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http://twitter.com/capitolhilldc




http://www.champsdc.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=43695&orgId=champ

http://www.champsdc.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=43695&orgId=champ

9. Ben’s Next Door Happy Hour

emember when you first walked into Ben’s Chili Bowl? Were you thinking, “let me go grab a chili dog”?

Or were you more like, “Finally! I get to check out Ben’s!”

If you’re anything like me, it was the latter. You were excited

about the food AND the experience. Well, Ben’s Next Door

knocked both sooooo far out of the park, they shattered a

windshield in the parking lot!

Our U Street Restaurant Experience at Ben’s Next Door

To get the feel of Ben’s Next Door, imagine a restaurant/lounge that captures the U street vibe, with a lofty upstairs dining area,

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and a mile long sports-like bar, all done with the charm and

class that we’ve grown to love from the Ben’s folks.

And dare I say, they pulled it off without the pretentiousness

that keeps me away from some of the other U Street restaurants.

They won with Ben’s Chili Bowl, and now they’re winning with

Ben’s Next Door.

{Insert obligatory Charlie Sheen reference here}

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We went for lunch and sat at one of the little raised tables across

from the bar. Here’s a shot of a section of the bar from our

table, looking towards the door. Great beer selection! At happy hour you can get $3 and $4

drinks and also get special prices on awesome Ben’s Chili Bowl

food. Yup, they go grab it for you. Have your beer with chili

dogs and fries like a boss!

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Lunch started with their free little bread basket with bite-sized

corn bread and biscuits that we quickly destroyed.

Then our appetizers came. We had checked out some yelp

reviews and folks seemed to love their scallops, so we thought

we would give them a try. Yum! Ridiculously good. Whoever

made the sauce they came in should be up for some type of award somewhere.

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Next up was the She Crab soup. Seriously, anything I say about

this soup is going to come across as hyperbole, so I’ll just say

this:

“Daymnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn! ”

We got the shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles. I’m not

the biggest fan of grits as a breakfast food, but shrimp and grits

works for me. Theirs were well seasoned and the grits were

smooth and tasty. When I got shrimp, grits, and basil (I think that’s what it was) in my mouth at the same time, it was like a

mini explosion of exciting flavors.

I see why this is one of the most popular dishes on the menu.

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Their sweet potato fries as our second side order. You already know we weren’t going to go there and not try the

chicken and waffles. It would be like taking your first trip to

Paris and not checking out the Eiffel Tower. That would just be

uncivilized.

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If you order the chicken and waffles you may need a take-out

box. It’s a nice sized chicken breast, and we enjoyed it

immensely.

Prices were reasonable for food this good. Everything came to a

little over $50. Not bad for one of the premier U Street

Restaurants. Here’s an idea of prices on their little daily special

board:

Oh and on Tuesdays they have live performances that you’ll

have to check out. You’ll find some of DC’s best independent

artists showcased here. And it’s all free. Yup, no cover charge.

Right up my alley!

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I really could go and and on about this place…I think I’m in

love! The staff was friendly and professional, the food was

great, and the vibe there was magical.

Ben’s Next Door BUM RUSHES our list of like they knew they

belonged all along. This experience was awesome… Have a

blast!

Location:

1213 U St. Northwest


http://www.bensnextdoor.com/

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10. Washington DC Memorials and Monuments

he Top 10 (minus one) Washington DC Memorials,

Monuments and Fun spots

You’ve probably seen a gazillion reviews and articles on

Washington DC memorials and monuments. So instead of the

usual, “Guide to DC” post, I wanted to bring you a photo tour of

some of my favorite spots in the city.

The most amazing photos I’ve seen of DC memorials are from

Angela B. Pan, an über-talented photographer with a knack for

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creating near-spiritual experiences with her images. (More on

Angela to follow).

Angela in all her awesomeness, agreed to share her photos here. So, on to our Washington DC memorials and monuments photo

tour.

1. U.S Marine Corps War Memorial: Iwo Jima

In honor of our fighting heroes, this monument pulls at the

heart strings. It’s a larger-than-life sculpture set against a

beautiful view of the city.

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http://district365.com/washington-dc-memorials-and-monuments/

http://district365.com/washington-dc-memorials-and-monuments/

An iconic image on its own but the clouds add an additional

emotional element

2. The Jefferson Memorial

Located along the Tidal Basin, the Jefferson Memorial is the

perfect spot for Spring. Not only can you learn about our

nation’s third president, you can enjoy paddle boating or taking

in the Cherry Blossoms.

This photo is magically framed by the cherry blossoms looking over the tidal basin. Amazing!

3. The Lincoln Memorial

Catch the best sunrise in DC at the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall. It’s well worth setting your early morning alarm

and grabbing your camera. You’ll avoid the crowds and enjoy

the mind-blowing architecture. It’s one of the most popular

Washington DC Memorials.

The sun light does amazing things to the Lincoln Memorial in

the morning. Perfect Lighting!

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4. The U.S Capitol Building

If you ever get the chance, do yourself a favor and go on the free US Capitol Tour. It is very informative and the interior is just as

beautiful as the exterior.

This image was so beautifully captured, it almost looks like a

painting.

5. The National Air and Space Museum

Located in Chantilly, VA, this two tiered museum gives you the opportunity to see airplanes and space shuttles up close and

personal. A wonderful experience!

Almost close enough to touch, the space shuttle looks like it's

getting ready for one last mission

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6. The Reflection Pool

It never fails, every time I’m there, I always hear someone say something about Jenny running through the water in Forrest

Gump.

A dreamy look at one of the most visually moving locations in

the DC area

7. The National History Museum

One of my all time favorite museums. I love learning about animals and rocks, but one of the coolest things is the imposing

elephant in the foyer.

I love views of large objects from an angle like this one.

Wonderful image!

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8. The Washington Monument

This centerpiece of the National Mall is photographed by thousands each year. To get a different perspective, take a look

at what it looks like from an ant’s point of view.

An imposing yet beautiful structure from a truly unique

perspective.

9. The White House

Currently, the Obama family home, if you’re lucky, you may see the first dog, Bo running around on the front lawn.

Simply the most beautiful image I've ever seen of the White

House.

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The photographer behind these amazing photos:

Angela B. Pan

"I am a DC native to the core. My interest in photography started

when I was in high school and

continued while I was at VCU (art

education and art history) and

GMU (marketing).

I’ve always loved to travel and I

really wanted to find a way where I

could make it my living. Photography was the perfect piece

to the puzzle.

I’ve been actively taking landscape and nature images for about a year now and I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Future goal: some how make it overseas with my photography

and to take a road trip around the US."

Why are Angela’s photos so amazing?

Angela uses a process called High Dynamic Range (HDR) where

multiple exposures are combined to get a more accurate perception of what the eye sees. You can see more of her

amazing work and purchase framed pictures here

http://www.abpan.com

Hope you enjoyed this photo tour. Now get out there and enjoy

the Washington DC Memorials and monuments. Have a blast!

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http://www.abpan.com/

http://www.abpan.com/

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