Parking in DC=Not as beautiful
This past Sunday, I visited Washington DC for the first time since the pandemic started with my friend Meg. We started the day struggling to figure out parking (since parking in the city is never a good time). After almost illegally parking a few times, we decided to do some googling to save ourselves. I found this great app called SpotAngels which is a lifesaver. Basically, the app shows you parking spots near your target location and lets you know about metered parking, parking garages, cost, etc. Honestly, with the amount of experience we have adventuring in the city, we would have gotten towed without that app.
After what seemingly took hours to park, we decided to get some food! We headed over to the more touristy areas of the city. That walk over was WEIRD though–the streets were almost devoid of people. To see the city so dead was an unusual experience, though to be fair it’s likely because of COVID. We found a really cute place named Potbelly Sandwich Shop (similar vibe to Subway) and got some yummy sandwiches there. Then we walked to the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden and ate right next to the fountain. Unsurprisingly, the more we moved into the touristy area of the city, the more populated it got. Let me tell you though, that didn’t make the rest of the city feel any less haunted.
Wandering Around the National Mall
Once we finished up lunch we decided to check out the mall a bit and see what was open. Due to COVID, the Smithsonian Institute was closed but all the outdoor areas were open. Sooooo we decided to just wander around! We walked through some gardens, went up by the Washington Memorial, went past the reflecting pool (it was really gross– I don’t think they’ve cleaned it in MONTHS), and checked out the Lincoln memorial. Meg and I wanted to go to the top of the Washington Memorial but unfortunately, it was closed (COVID again).
The Washington DC cherry blossoms are a known wonder, but we missed them by about a week. That was honestly the letdown of the trip- I definitely want to plan that better next time around. There were a few cherry blossoms here and there around the city but not to the extent that you see when they’re in full bloom. We also tried going to the White House but Pennsylvania Avenue was entirely shut off and we couldn’t get in at all, not even to glance at the White House.
After that, we kind of gave up for the walking-around-part-of-our-adventure. Meg had some rough blisters and I had a raging headache in spite of chugging water the whole day, so we made our way back to the mall. We laid on the grass for a while, enjoying the weather and waiting for my Advil to kick in. Meg’s boyfriend Matt joined us and we started the long walk back to our cars. (TIP: Residential areas in cities tend to be free of cost so as long as you’re ok with a long hike back to your car, it’s definitely worth it–just double check to make sure it’s free. Don’t want to get a ticket, or worse, towed!) Meg and Matt decided to go home, but I wasn’t ready to leave just yet.
Struggling to Get Involved
After more Googling, I found some cute LGBT+ bars nearby and decided I’d take myself out on a little date. My mission quickly went awry. Between limited parking spots, the lack of air conditioning in my car, and the sweltering summer air, I was struggling. Spot Angels was a lifesaver again, and I finally managed to find a parking spot before passing out from heatstroke.
At long last, I made my way over to Larry’s Lounge near DuPont circle. They told me that they were full up and only had tables available for groups of two or more. The bartender was super nice though and recommended two places to check out nearby- Pitchers and ALOHO. I quickly learned I had to accept defeat on my queer solo adventure. ALOHO was closed, and Pitchers had the same rule as Larry’s Lounge, so I walked back to my car, stopping by Bandit Taco for a quick dinner.
On my drive home, a rainbow came out, which was really the perfect way to end my visit to Washington DC.
