DC's More Soulful Side

Compared to New York, DC is not colored by the attitudes of fashion or the glitz of the financial industries. Instead DC is primarily a conservative city supported by the rational and scientific institutions like government, law, social non-profits, and so on.   In short, DC can be a little boring due to the nature of it's demographics and the fact that things close early.

However, as of late I discovered that DC does have a soulful, funky side behind the preppy cobblestone streets of Georgetown and the collegiate haunts of Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle.   The now revitalized hip areas of the U street and 14th Street corridors are historically and still presently Black American neighborhoods. The way I see it, the city is trying to preserve it's cultural heritage while still being cool and accessible to the public.  Maybe that's why there are such amazing little establishments like Bus Boys and Poets, a "restaurant, bookstore, fair trade market and gathering place where people can discuss issues of social justice and peace" so named after two opposing jobs held by Langston Hughes. And maybe that's why I was able to see free of charge the controversial Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio and local DC musician Matthew Hemmerlein.  The latter of which is amazingly talented acoustically or playing multiple instruments and managing the sound board as well with his toes.   His song No Fangs is a good example of this.  He's also kinda hot despite the Robert Pattinson-esque spray of untamed hair preceding him.  Check out his website here.

Matthew Hemmerlein on vocals and strings

They were really democratic about accommodating everyone to this free event so we were literally sitting at his feet on the steps to the stage.  This explains the weird angle of the photograph.

Kyp Malone of TV on the Radio

There are of course also speak-easies. This one is called The Gibson and is reservations only for crowd control purposes. It is nowhere as "secretive" as the New York ones though, hence the patio but they make really delicious cocktails. One of their specialties is a cocktail-gelato float like this cognac and champagne selection.  Maybe DC can be a soulful once it loosens it's collar a little.