TPS Insider Tips

What book related to D.C. or a teacher program elective do you recommend?

The Manhunt: On the Trail of Lincoln’s Assassins elective had quite a bit of material to pull from when crafting the story. My two favorite books were “Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer” by James Swanson and “American Brutus: John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies” by Michael Kauffman.

Where is your favorite place to eat in or around D.C. right now?

Definitely Central Michel Richard. It has a great selection of French dishes and is right on Pennsylvania Avenue!

Where is a good place to people watch in D.C.?

The Bartholdi Fountain on Capitol Hill is a cannot-miss. Both a great park and a perfect place to people watch. You never know who is going to walk by!

What is one D.C. insider trick/tip you want to share?

Visit in the fall or winter! The weather is better, crowds are nearly nonexistent, and there is always something special going on!

What is a great venue to visit for live entertainment (theater, concert, special event)?

The Anthem at the Wharf! There is bound to be at least one good show while you are in town and the area is on the water with a ton of places to grab a good bite.

What book related to D.C. or a teacher program elective do you recommend?

“City of the Goddess: Freemasons, the Sacred Feminine, and the Secret Beneath the Seat of Power in Washington, D.C.” by Alan Butler.

Where is your favorite place to eat in or around D.C. right now?

Georgia Brown’s at 950 15th Street NW has the “Best Southern Cuisine in the City.”

What is your favorite D.C. park for taking in a nice day?

Rock Creek Park. It has something for everyone (golf, horseback riding, hiking)!

What is a great venue to visit for live entertainment (theater, concert, special event)?

As a jazz/blues guy, I strongly suggest hitting up Blues Alley in Georgetown and Mr. Henry’s on Capitol Hill (Wednesday night is open mic).

What is a “new” D.C. neighborhood to explore?

Adams Morgan is a very diverse neighborhood with a multitude of ethnic restaurants and great nightlife.

What under-the-radar museum, exhibit, or landmark do you recommend visiting?

An oldie but a goodie is Planet Word at 925 13th Street NW.

What is the best place to sit down and get some work done?

The National Gallery of Art (East Building) has a wonderful café with space to get work done. And some of the best paintings in the world are just steps away!

What book related to D.C. or a teacher program elective do you recommend?

For the Founding Families elective, I leaned on the book “Light Horse Harry Lee: The Rise and Fall of a Revolutionary Hero” by Ryan Cole.

Where is your favorite place to eat in or around D.C. right now?

Fogo de Chao cannot be beat, especially for variety (and quantity) of options. You may have one in your area but treat yourself while on Close Up!

Where is a good place to people watch in D.C.?

Sonny Bono Memorial Park! It may be tiny but it is worth a visit.

What is one D.C. insider trick/tip you want to share?

If you want a relaxed Smithsonian experience, head over to the Freer Art Gallery for some Asian art. It also connects to the underground complex featuring the Sackler Gallery of Asian art, the Ripley Center, and the Museum of African Art.

What is a history- or D.C.-related podcast you recommend?

“American History Tellers” is a fantastic podcast covering a wide variety of topics in American history. It is unique in that parts of the podcast are acting out moments from those time periods. The content is always well informed, writing above par, and topics covered very interesting. Give it a listen!  

Where is your favorite place to eat in or around D.C. right now?

Zeppelin is a fantastic sushi joint in the Shaw neighborhood. It is sleek and a great experience overall, especially if you are a sushi fan. American Ice Company just off U Street has amazing nachos! Great neighborhood spot and favorite of the locals.

What is a “new” D.C. neighborhood to explore?

Columbia Heights is a great place to explore, especially for a wide variety of Hispanic culture. It is Metro accessible and has many excellent restaurants, and the residential areas have some really cool architecture. 

Where is a good place to people watch in D.C.?

Logan Circle is a great place to people watch. Being between a few neighborhoods, the foot traffic is constant and variety of people moving through is ever changing!

What is one D.C. insider trick/tip you want to share?

Use Google Maps even when traveling on Metro. The train icon pulls from both Metro bus and train options. It provides walking directions to your stop and shows when the trains are coming, how long to be on the train, and walking directions from the Metro stop to your final destination. It is amazing!

What is a great venue to visit for live entertainment (theater, concert, special event)?

The Anthem, 9:30 Club, Shakespeare Theatre, Studio Theatre. 

What book related to D.C. or a teacher program elective do you recommend?

When crafting the Discovering Diplomacy: Zimmermann elective, I came across “The Secret World: A History of Intelligence” by Christopher Andrew. It is worth checking out!

Where is your favorite place to eat in or around D.C. right now?

You have to give Appioo African Bar & Grill a try! Not only is it great food but the neighborhood (U Street) is a favorite as well! 

What is your favorite D.C. park for taking in a nice day?

LBJ Memorial Grove: A Presidential Retreat on the river is fantastic if the weather is cooperating. While not Metro accessible, it is worth the Uber/Lyft to this spot. It is rarely crowded, so consider it if you need a break from the city! 

What is one D.C. insider trick/tip you want to share?

Do not eat on the Metro. The stop and start will eventually make you spill it on yourself. Even if you keep your shirt clean, a local will eventually tell you in no uncertain terms to put it away.  

What book related to D.C. or a teacher program elective do you recommend?

The D.C. connection is somewhat tangential, but David Grann’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” ties into the Villains? elective through J. Edgar Hoover and the early history of the FBI. It’s an excellently written account of the investigation into the Osage murders of the early 20th century. Also, for those interested in following up on the cryptology portion of Zimmermann, I would recommend tracking down “The American Black Chamber” (with Friedman’s marginalia) on archive.org.

Where is your favorite place to eat in or around D.C. right now?

Founding Farmers is a solid American restaurant with a few locations around the city. As the name suggests, it’s farmer-owned and the food is very good. For those looking for global cuisine, Ethiopic restaurant on H Street is a personal favorite. Just be ready to eat with your fingers!

What is a “new” D.C. neighborhood to explore?

The neighborhood part of Capitol Hill (east of the Capitol/north of Eastern Market) is a nice place to walk and has some interesting examples of old buildings converted to residential space, as well as lots and lots of townhouses.

What is your favorite D.C. park for taking in a nice day?

Lincoln Park on Capitol Hill has lots of space to sit and read or otherwise enjoy being outdoors. 

What is one D.C. insider trick/tip you want to share?

I’m a big fan of the Capital Bikeshare for getting around when the Metro doesn’t go where I want it to. D.C.’s bike lanes and other cycle infrastructure are pretty good, and if you tell Google Maps you want to use the Bikeshare it can point you to the nearest station and give you cycling directions to the station nearest your destination.

What is a great venue to visit for live entertainment (theater, concert, special event)?

The Birchmere in Alexandria is my favorite D.C.-area concert venue. It’s all general admission table seating and they have a good menu for food and drinks.