‘August Blue Hour over Potomac and DC’
courtesy of ‘ianseanlivingston’

Now that I’ve joined the ranks as an author here at WeLoveDC, it’s time for me to prove that I do, in fact, love DC. No more just talking the talk, it’s time for me to walk the walk (er, write the write?).

It’s a bit of a rarity in this area, but I actually grew up in the DC metro region; though not what you may think of as DC. I hail originally from the quaint little towns of Shepherdstown and Harpers Ferry. That’s West Virginia. And while 70 miles out of the District, it’s still technically part of the DC metro. Full of natural beauty and more American history than you can shake a stick at, I grew up loving the outdoors and the history that surrounded me.

DC is so full of history it hurts – in a good way! History that didn’t even take place here is still on display 24/7 and around every corner. When I go up on my building’s roof in Ballston and overlook the District and the national mall at night, I fall back in love with this city every time. The Monument, the Capitol building, the Lincoln, the Jefferson – this is why I love DC. And we’re just getting started.

‘Washington Monument in the Fall’
courtesy of ‘SigEp NV Alpha ’03’

The museums are cool and great and wonderful and all that. But to me, the best way to appreciate the history that surrounds us is to simply absorb it. Go for a walk around the tidal basin, through the FDR, over to the Vietnam, Korea and WWII memorials. Find a spot in the grass to just plop down and look around. Pinch yourself – you’re not dreaming. You are sitting amongst some of the most important and amazingly symbolic statues, memorials and monuments in the entire world. Every last one of these structures stands for democracy. And we get to include them in our lives – every day. Every day! We get to wander around the national mall and play kickball in front of the Washington monument. We get to play softball at the Elipse in front of the White House and go for a jog to the Capitol, or even up the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court! Incredible. This is why I love DC. Just look around.

Contrary to the perception of many outsiders, DC is not just a tourist or government town. We have culture! One more time…We have culture! DC truly is a cosmopolitan city that features the food, people and style of numerous countries around the world, but at the same time still manages to establish its own unique and special culture in each little neighborhood around the city. As soon as you hear the words Adams Morgan, or Georgetown waterfront or Barracks Row or Cleveland Park, you can immediately picture the way life is there. The style of bars, the people watching, the scenery – it’s all unique. No matter what your mood, there is a place to go in DC that fits your needs and style. This is why I love DC. Its got culture.

‘Ben’s Chili Bowl’
courtesy of ‘whoopaggies03’

No matter what your palette desires, DC has you covered like chili on a half-smoke at Ben’s. This is the perfect city for foodies like me. Not foodies that necessarily choose expensive over cheap or fancy over dive; but for foodies that choose delicious over pretty much anything else. My kinda’ foodie is one that loves to eat damn good food, regardless of what country it originates from or how unknown the restaurant that served it happens to be. In DC, this wonderfully means food from everywhere. Ethiopian, Bolivian, Egyptian, Peruvian, Pakistani, Afghan and beyond. All amazingly delicious and all readily available right here. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’ve had a meal at least once from each of those in the last few weeks. (I just finished eating a very filling lunch from Super Pollo, and yet somehow this post is making me hungry all over again.) This is why I love DC. It’s freaking delicious.

‘Kitfo at Dukem’
courtesy of ‘Jenn Larsen’

Washington is a dream for those of us with type-A personalities. (And don’t you love how type-A people are always willing to self-identify themselves as such?) It’s not just a historical city of monumental proportions offering great diversity in its food and neighborhoods, it’s a city of passionate people people. Washingtonians love people! We know so many people and form so many personal relationships, it’s hard to even jump on the Orange line at Farragut West or go grab margaritas at Lauriol Plaza without running into someone you know. We place a high level of importance on both personal and professional relationships (other than the dating kind, per my last feature) and respect the value of a hand shake and a good look in the eye; increasingly regardless of your ethnic background or social upbringing. This is why I love DC. I love people.

‘Hart Senate Office Building’
courtesy of ‘markcbrennan’

I love so much about DC that I’m even going to leave out the whole political thing. I’m obsessed with politics and the going-ons of the Hill, but this city has so much more to offer that always gets overshadowed by the folks in that small group of buildings over by the Capitol. I’ve learned one really important thing from all of the places I’ve lived in and traveled to in my life: Never take DC for granted. Its sights, culture, people and food are beautiful in more ways than one and the city its self is a symbol to the world of democracy and freedom. And we get to live here, people! We. Live. Here.

That, my friends and soon-to-be frequent readers, is why I, Karl Johnson, love DC.

Karl Johnson

Karl is a Washingtonian who lives and breathes everything that is DC. Politics, ethnic restaurants, sad sports teams, the Metro and pretty much anything in between. Karl’s life is kind of like going to a Nats’ game while eating Ethiopian food and discussing the latest legislation to pass the House. Then cramming on the Metro for a ride home. That ’bout sums it up. See why Karl loves DC or check him out on Twitter.