42 Fairlady/September 2019
(That felt a bit patronising.)
Clearly, I was more interested in
fiction than reality. I’d been so
fixated on Shonda Rhimes’s version
of events that I’d missed the actual
White House!
Fortunately, the real world
would prove compelling enough
during my travels through the
capital – particularly because of
how affordable it is to have a great
time in the city. Here’s how to
enjoy (the real) Washington DC
without spending a dollar.Look and learn
There’s no charge to have a peek
inside Trump’s presidential
residence (he’s probably off
playing golf at Mar-a-Lago, so
you wouldn’t be disturbing him),
but that’s not all that’s on offer for
free. DC has more than a dozen
museums, all with no entry fee.
A highlight for me was theBikers in front of a statue of
Martin Luther King Jr.Top 8 finds in Washington DC
(besides the museums!)
- DUPONT
UNDERGROUND
This abandoned street-
car station features art
installations that use
light and sound with
the acoustics of the
tunnel. Go to http://www.
dupontunderground.org
to book a guided tour. - THE WHARF
This trendy water-
front development has
become the buzz of DC.
It’s home to a string
of restaurants, bars,
boutiques and even
a 6 000-seat music
venue all alongside the
Potomac River. - BREWMASTER’S
CASTLE
Grab some suds at this
national landmark that
has been making beers
for more than 100 years.
There’s also a monthly
event called History
and Hops where you
can enjoy a beer tasting
and a tour.
4. THE SPACE
WINDOW
This stained-glass
masterpiece at the
Washington National
Cathedral depicts stars
and orbiting planets.
Also, look out for the
Darth Vader gargoyle
on the northwest tower
of the cathedral.
5. BLIND WHINO
Home to the Friendship
Baptist Congregation
for almost a century,
this church has
been reimagined
into a technicolour
art space. It is now
a community hotspot,
where regular events
and art exhibitions
are hosted.
6. CATACOMBS OF
WASHINGTON DC
Located underneath
the Franciscan
Monastery of the Holy
Land in America,
these catacombs were
built in the mid-19th
century as a replica of
the one in Rome. This
is where you will find
the remains of Saint
Innocent, a child
martyr, displayed
behind glass.- THE EXORCIST
STAIRS
If you are a horror
movie aficionado
a must-see spot has to
be the stairs from the
film The Exorcist. You’ll
find the long, steep
staircase on the corner
of Prospect Street and
36th Street NW in
Georgetown. - MAINE AVENUE
FISH MARKET
The oldest continuously
operating fish market
in the US, this open-
air fish market is the
go-to for cooked and
raw fish dishes. Be
sure to grab a few local
favourites such as crab
cakes, clam chowder
and crawfish.