For a really long time I never knew how to use public transportation, and living right next to D.C. I was truly disabling myself from some really cool experiences. By technicality I could say I live in D.C. but I didn’t know what D.C. was actually like, I was just scratching the surface with field trips and day visits every once in a while.
Within the last couple of years I have begun to navigate the metro and public bus routes to visit D.C. and parts of Arlington. It saddens me to know that I’ve had this opportunity for so long with it going unused but I am no longer wasting time.
This series is going to be a deep dive on D.C. and everything that comes with it. From M street to cool locations east of the river, there will be plenty of reviews of all of the cool shops and experiences in D.C., many of them being free and accessible to students.
I wasn’t always so comfortable with public transportation but I’ve learned over time (several times by ending up in Ashburn or Maryland) and have definitely improved. So I urge all of you to get your student metro cards and go visit D.C. ASAP.
Georgetown Cupcakes
I recently visited the infamous Georgetown Cupcake shop on M street in D.C., known for its picture perfect cupcakes that cater to every season and holiday. Word gets around and so do cupcakes, especially these ones. If you live in the DMV you’ve heard of Georgetown Cupcakes, but you may not have tried it. Unless you go on a slow Tuesday afternoon, its cheery light pink interior is almost always complimented with a line out the door and around the block. Some
people spend up to an hour waiting for a single cupcake for the steep price of nearly five dollars. So how good can these cupcakes really be?
I got a double chocolate cupcake with chocolate sprinkles, while my friends got a variety of flavors. The chocolate cake base was moist and sponge with a good amount of sweetness without being too rich. The icing was buttery and smooth but very (almost overly) sweet.
For 4-5 bites it really fills you up. Just one cupcake could equal the calories of an entire meal. While they’re very good, they’re very sugary…and maybe not worth the hype. Next time you’re in Georgetown I recommend checking it out, as long as you know your limits with sugary cupcakes.
Book Hill Park: A Hidden Gem of D.C.
This park is a tiny hidden gem of D.C. Although it’s small, it is very scenic. It has a long staircase up a grassy hill with draping trees at the top that are perfectly spaced for a scenic view down Wisconsin Avenue in D.C. What was once a 19th century reservoir was demolished in 1932 and eventually made into the Georgetown Public Library and Book Hill Park. The clear view of the library at the top of the hill is a great spot for photos, something you’ll often see people doing. Surrounded by cafes and shops, many people enjoy the beautiful view while eating and working. As beautiful as this park is, it wasn’t always so charming.
For the longest time, this park was heavily neglected, overgrown, and too hard to even try to manage. It was like this for a good long while up until the year 2000, when the Friends of Book Hill Park was established. This was a group of community members who had a hope to better the park and bring it back to what it once was. With the help of neighbors, they cleared the park and made it the beauty that it is today.
While not many people know about this park and its history, it is a gem of D.C. and deserves to be more recognized in the DMV
Taichi Bubble Tea
Right in the heart of Georgetown on Wisconsin Avenue, this serene cafe has some of the best ramen and boba I’ve ever had. The environment is peaceful and tranquil with a few people working vigorously on computers while sipping on brightly
colored boba drinks. The green and grey aura of the cafe is a nice break from the busy street outside. The amount of times I have walked right past this small shop without a second thought almost embarrasses me, but I’m glad I have finally made this wonderful discovery for myself.
I ordered a miso soup ramen bowl with chicken and tofu. This came with numerous vegetables and
an egg as well. I also got a strawberry lemonade with strawberry popping boba. The food was some of the best I have ever tasted. All of the flavors were balanced so perfectly and mixed with the warmth of the miso soup and the soft chewiness of the tofu it changed my life. The boba on the other hand had a great popping flavor with a tinge of lemon but the popping boba was a bit too chewy and not enough pop-y for me.
Nonetheless, the vibes and taste were immaculate, and the service was friendly and welcoming as well. I truly recommend this cafe for anyone who enjoys Chinese/Taiwanese cuisine.
After getting to experience all of these cool places in Georgetown I am excited to say that I feel like I know D.C. a little bit better. I am even more excited to move on to the next location and find more hidden gems in D.C. and to write about it along the way.
