Leadership and Executive Development for women of all races, cultures and backgrounds
Issue link: https://diversitywoman.epubxp.com/i/91258
DW Life Stepping Out > Washington, D.C. L by Joshua Gray ong known as a city short on nightlife and fine restaurants, Washington, D.C., is on the make— just like seemingly everyone in this buzz- ing town. Today, behind the political blood sports and the partisan chatter that char- acterize the nation's capital, Washington is full of cutting-edge art, quirky shopping districts, and great restaurants. Tere are pleasures aplenty to enjoy in the revitalized nation's capital, beginning with the thriving restaurant scene. Rasika, featuring contemporary Indian cuisine, mimics Spanish-style tapas by playing on rich Indian flavors with a chi- chi vibe. Te chef turns traditional curry dishes into the next top supper model. Rasika is in the Penn Quarter, so be on the lookout for your local Congress mem- ber or a huddle of hotshot lobbyists. Chocolate everything. Why not? You're on vacation. Co Co. Sala is the epitome of chocolate heaven. Te sleek, modern interior (in shades of chocolate and cher- ry) offers comfy seating from which to in- dulge. Te signature Chocolate & Bubbles Happy Hour offers dishes both savory and sweet, from four-cheese fritters with chipotle chocolate cream sauce to choco- late crème brûlée topped with a toasted marshmallow and graham crumble. If you want to detox from your choco- late overload, a menu of dishes made with sustainably farmed ingredients is the perfect option. At Founding Farm- ers, located downtown, you can choose from a selection of creative drinks, hand- www.diversitywoman.com made pastas, and signa- ture plates like low coun- try shrimp and grits. Perfect steak? Check. Power dressers? Check. Rubbing elbows with some of Washington's most powerful people? Check. Clearly, you are dining at BLT Steak House, two blocks from the White House. Some come for the power poli- tics, but most simply come for the finest cuts of steak in town. As you indulge, you may be seated next to a White House se- nior advisor or the Speaker of the House. Washington is a big art town, and it all begins with the National Gallery of Art (NGA). Te NGA showcases work by im- pressionist and postimpressionist artists such as Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin, and Amedeo Modigliani, as well as works in other styles and media. Current exhibits include Shock of the News, featuring pro- vocative art that has run in newspapers as political critique. Te next stop on the mall is the Nation- al Museum of American History. One of the museum's most popular permanent exhibits displays inaugural gowns worn by first ladies. Mamie Eisen- hower, Jackie Kennedy, and Michelle Obama are among the first ladies included. Before hitting the night scene, you may want to pick up a special something to U.S. Capital, above, Lincoln Memorial wear. Make your way to Maz- za Gallerie, a complex with Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and other stores. If you can't find anything there, walk a block to Chevy Chase, where Rodeo Drive meets Maryland, with high-end cou- ture shops such as Louis Vuit- ton, Gucci, and St. John. If unique and affordable is what you seek, visit the U-Street Corridor, where small bou- tiques like Ginger Root Design and Let- tie Gooch Boutique will put you in touch with the cutting-edge design scene, but also keep enough money in your pocket for the night's festivities. You can't leave Washington without at least one night on the town. Try the new restaurant/concert venue The Hamilton. It's the ideal place to enjoy eclectic Ameri- can fare and listen to live music such as jazz, gospel, folk, and bluegrass. In the mood to jump, jive, and swing your hips? Ten head over to the New Ve- gas Lounge, in Logan Circle, where you can dance to live bands covering James Brown's iconic song, Papa's Got a Brand New Bag, as well as other soul, blues, and jazz classics. DW Eats Rasika www.rasikarestaurant.com Co Co. Sala www.cocosala.com Founding Farmers www.wearefoundingfarmers.com BLT Steak House www.bltsteak.com Fall 2012 DIVERSITY WOMAN 69 THINKSTOCKPHOTOS