I can’t talk about DC without discussing one of my favorite spots – Dupont Circle, otherwise known as “Dupont.” It is an ecclectic area, full of shopping, fabulous houses, nightlife and restaurants. I lived there for a while in the heart of the area and it was by far one of the best places I’ve ever lived. Allow me to show you around.
First let’s start with the arial view so you can get a sense of how the circle is laid out. (Picture courtesy of Wikipedia.) There are five streets that intersect in the middle: Massachussetts Ave., Connecticut Ave., New Hampshire Ave., P St., and 19th St.
Connecticut St., is one of the main streets that runs from one end of the city to the other and lies directly underneath the circle. Here Connecticut heads north into the more residential part of the city.
On the south side of the circle, Connecticut heads towards downtown DC. Here the area begins to change and in addition to residential space, office buildings line the street.
Dupont Circle lies squarely in the middle of this road and it is quite large, taking up several city blocks.
The circle is serves as a park and in the center of the park is a fountain. Originally, this was a statue of Samuel Francis Du pont, who served in the US Navy during the 1800s and who the area is named after. But in the 1920s the statue was removed and the Memorial Fountain took its place. The three sides of the fountain represent the sea, the wind, and the goddess of the stars.
In the summer, the fountain is full of water and people can be found sitting on its edge. During the cold winter months, however, visitors merely pass by on their way out of the park.
The entire outside of the circle is lined with benches. This is perfect for the hundreds of visitors who come to listen to music, have a picnic, or…
play chess. Chess tables are set up on the east side of the park and you’ll find chess enthusiasts gathered at all times of the year.
Because Dupont Circle is such a well-populated area, there are two separate Metro (subway) entrances, one on the north side of the circle and one on the south side.
These are well-used as thousands of people come to Dupont because the area is known as a popular and trendy place to visit.
There are markets,
bakeries,
and lots of shopping, with national chains like Benetton,
and more local stores like my personal favorite, The Proper Topper.
It offers everything from cookbooks and novels,
to jewelry and hats.
And we can’t forget the restaurants. Some of the best places to eat in DC can be found in Dupont, such as the Italian restaurant Odeon Cafe,
or Alero, a delightful Mexican restaurant.
And if you’re visiting the area, you have to stop by Kramerbooks, a unique bookstore coupled with a fantastic restaurant, Afterwords Cafe, that has been serving the area since 1976 and is open all night on the weekends.
This is just a small part of what makes up Dupont Circle, which is known for its diversity and alternative lifestyle. The area is also known for its beautiful and highly sought-after residential living.
The streets consist of rowhouses which are long, usually narrow, housing units that are attached to each other. Row houses are fairly typical in most large cities, but in Dupont they are especially attractive and have lots of character.
Residents make the most of the space, often having people living on each floor. English basements are quite popular, even though they are typically small.
With the front door of these houses right on the sidewalk, security is important. Most basements have bars on the windows and doors.
And because space is limited, driveways or alley parking is rare, so residents park their cars on the street wherever they can find space.
Limited living and parking space aside, this is a great place to live and visit. Just be sure to plan lots of time because in addition to the restaurants and shopping, there are plenty of museums, galleries, and embassies to keep you busy. I can’t say enough good things about the area. So if you’re ever given the opportunity, you should definitely come visit.
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