Vietnam Memorial Cloudy Sunrise courtesy of A B Pan

It is pretty dificult to put in words the various things that make me absolutely Love DC, and really an image of this picturesque place speaks volumes for itself. As cheesy as it may sound, this city and I have had quite the love affair. At first I was hesitant, restrained, even judgmental (being a third culture kid will do that to you). But it took very little time to start falling for it. And when I fell for it, I fell hard.

I was lucky enough to go to Georgetown, where a break from studying took us down historic cobblestone streets, past movie-set ready houses, to a buzzing M street with a range of bars, restaurants and shops to choose where to go broke from. But that was still the infancy of my relationship with DC, and we did have some great first dates. It was once I started exploring life outside my student bubble and into the real world that I truly began to appreciate the range of love this city had to give, and gave it back in return. As I have said before, Georgetown brought me here, but the city kept me here.  

fountain in fall courtesy of ekelly80

Good Morning DC courtesy of pablo.raw

I guess the longer you have been in this city, the more enamored with it you become. Finding a routine is easy, but exploring new places and meeting new people is even easier, which is why this place is so unique. Your perception, like you, begin to change in unexpected ways. 

One thing has always remained consistent. The people. Whether you work on the Hill, on K street or H street, there is an understated kindness. People are friendly, open, intelligent. People are aware of the world that exists around them and continously thinking of ways to give back to it. They are curious, hungry for knowledge, interested in other cultures and ideas. They hold on to their beliefs and do something with them. It is the perfect combination of a small town, big city. All meme aside, its an international city where people come from various backgrounds, making the District vibrant, dynamic, and ever changing.

Barefoot Meditation II courtesy of pablo.raw

The ability to walk and bike everywhere and be surrounded by some of the most beautiful man-made structures is something I will never take for granted. There are moments when I think I am looking at a poster, not with my own eyes. I will never get sick of the Mall, or of the drive back from National Airport that welcomes me home again.  And whenever we are celebrating a federal holiday, that patriotic punch just comes in stronger than ever. 

father & son courtesy of ekelly80

This is also a creative, artistic city. Whether it is graffiti on the wall or the countless art museums and galleries in the city- from the Phillips Collection to the Hirshhorn, from the National Portrait Gallery to Long View Gallery- your eyes will never be bored. And your ears have their fair share of venues too, from the epic 930 club to U Street Music Hall, to dance fests at Rock n Roll Hotel and Bossa.

I love DC and the various neighborhoords that each have their own distinct feel. From H street to Logan Circle, to Cleveland Park and Columbia Heights, each little hood has its own charm, and with time becomes your own.  And, if ever you want to escape the city and get back to nature, DC has lots of green to quench your outdoors thirst. Rock Creek Park, Billy Goat Trail, Great Falls, Harper’s Ferry- all a short distance away and serioulys rewarding.

onions courtesy of ekelly80

272/365 courtesy of ekelly80

But, ultimately, food is the way to my heart and DC made a grand entrance. From the various farmer’s markets across the city, to the pop-up dinners and supper clubs, to the food trucks and coffee shops, DC is climbing seriously up the food chain, and fast.

So I love DC, but I love lists as well. These are some of the few places that add color to the various reasons why I love this urban playground. For coffee fixes  to start the perfect morning:  Big Bear Cafe, Baked and Wired, Dolcezza, Filter, Peregrine, Yola. For top quality ingredients: Freshfarm Markets at Dupont Circle, Eastern Market, Maine Avenue Fish Market.

making coffee courtesy of Joe in DC

For dinners you never want to end: Tabard Inn, Toki Underground, Estadio, Cork, 2 Amys, Floriana, Komi, Seasonal Pantry, Obelisk, Vinoteca, Blue Duck Tavern, The Atlas Room, Dickson Wine Bar, Rogue 24, Birch and Barley. And for drinks you want to keep on coming: Bar Pilar, The Gibson, American Ice Co, Boundary Stone, 18th Street Lounge, Marvin, The Passenger, Jack Rose.

Capitol Sunrise courtesy of Tony DeFilippo

But what I love most about this city, is that it is a place I can call my own, even though thousands of other people share it with me, we all get to have it in our own way.

Natalia Moreno

While it was Georgetown that brought me here, it was the city that kept me here. I was born in Colombia but spent my teenage years in London, yet have never felt more at home than in the District. I believe the best way to get to know a place is through its cuisine, and plan my life around sharing good food with good people. Lover of lattes, bacon and bourbon. This is Why I Love DC .Follow me on Twitter or Email natalia(at)welovedc.com