A day in Dupont

Every Sunday morning year-round, the local farmer’s market opens for business in the 1500 block of 20th Street, between Massachusetts Avenue and Q Street.  Head over this Sunday for some great harvest specials.

{mosads}A visit is not complete without a piece of its unique history, and Dupont is home to many museums. Consider a free tour at the Society of the Cincinnati at the Anderson House, the oldest private patriotic organization in the U.S., which was founded by the officers of the Continental Army after the Revolutionary War. Also for free are the Woodrow Wilson’s Historic Home, the Textile Museum, the Brewmaster’s Castle and Charles Sumner School Museum.

Another hidden historic treasure is the O Street Mansion, an art museum, luxurious hotel and English high tea rolled into one posh package.  Membership and reservations are needed for meals and club events, but the public can look around for a donation. 

Kramerbooks and Afterwards Cafe on Connecticut Avenue is a favorite hotspot for book lovers. Skim titles in history, culture, politics, language and world affairs, and smell the aromas from the Afterwords Café (and bar) open 24 hours on weekends, just like the bookstore. That means you can get fresh snapper with shrimp and grits, prosciutto and fresh fig salad, or the crap cake pasta specialty anytime. For dessert, try the salted caramel chocolate cake. 

Or if you’re in the mood for a stylish treat, walk a few blocks southeast down Connecticut Avenue and introduce yourself to Hello Cupcake, a neighborhood sweetery. They serve a mix of flavors each day, including fall flavors like pumpkin spice, s’mores and caramel apple that are so delicious you’ll be tempted to lick the cupcake paper just like a kid at a birthday party.

If you insist on dinner before dessert, you won’t be ruining the fun if you choose the Brickskeller Dining House and Saloon, a Dupont tradition.  Located on the edge of the Georgetown, the Brickskeller has been boasting a trademark beer menu (the “monster,” they call it) of 1,000 domestic and foreign labels since October 1957. 

Not the place to go for your usual Budweiser or Miller Lite. The list can be a little daunting for even seasoned drinkers, so ask the servers, who are well versed in flavors and prices. 

Vintage beer cans adorn the hand-fired brick walls, and jukebox tunes create the warm and gritty Brickskeller atmosphere. For dinner, try the London Broil or the Pentagon Cheese Board, but much of the rest is the standard burgers and fries, save their homemade guacamole. But the beer is what’s been luring customers to the Brickskeller for 52 years.

Dupont has many ethnic restaurants, grills and cafes that make it ideal for a dinner on the town.  Finish with flair at one of many exciting bars and nightclubs, many of which have no cover charge.

Café Citron is a fashionable Latin bar with a salsa mix, some original fruity drinks and Flamenco dancers on Monday nights. Catch their happy hour specials from 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday.  Other fun places include Bar Rouge, the Big Hunt, Colbalt Nightclub, Madhatter and Topaz.