“I’m a breakfast person. I can eat pancakes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So Unconventional Diner has become my go-to spot. Their blueberry pancakes are awesome. I’m not even a corned-beef person, but whatever they do to their corned-beef hash is so delicious. This is a really fun place—if you’re going by yourself or if you have guests in town—to go and have a really delicious meal.”

“Another bonus to living in the DC area is the Smithsonian! Most people have to travel miles and miles to see the museums here, but they’re right in my backyard. And all the museums are free! At the National Portrait Gallery, there’s a beautiful atrium area with a garden where you can sit and do work. You can be surrounded by art but also make it your own little office. It’s a beautiful museum for art and culture, and it’s super accessible—right off the Metro.”

“When I need a break from being a mom and I want to feel a little fancy, I go to the Eaton. It’s this massive hotel, so you can get a little bit of everything. They have a health-and-wellness spa, a beautiful rooftop where you can get a lovely cocktail, a restaurant...you can even have a workspace or office area if you’re into coworking. A lot of people like to go and have a drink here after work. The DJs are really cool, and it has a really great atmosphere.”

“Union Market is a great place to go for a quick bite or to meet up with friends outside. I’ll go when I’m doing my Sunday errands and need a quick bite to eat but want some place that’s a little scenic. Inside is a food court–type setup where you can get ice cream or a doughnut or really great tacos. They also have shops on the side.”

“Salt & Sundry is a gift shop at Union Market where you can find things made by local artisans. You can get really lovely hand towels, candles, and jewelry there. Usually, if I’m looking for a cute birthday gift for a friend, I go there. Or I’ll go there if I want some niche little things for my dresser or nightstand; I have a beautiful candleholder from there.”

“Because I love books, I always visit Black-owned bookstores in the area. I’m often buying books for my son—he’s almost two years old, so he has a ton of colorful board books—and they tend to have really great children’s books and puzzles here. They have great books, but they also have amazing merch for kids and for adults.”

“There are so many beautiful, historic landmarks here that people forget about, and the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site is one of them. You can go see the house that Frederick Douglass lived in, and it’s open to the public. I’m super in mom mode, so I think it’s great you can take your kids and walk around and talk about history and this incredible abolitionist. It’s one of the hidden gems of DC.”

“I’ve always been a big theater person. I absolutely love Woolly Mammoth. It’s super experimental; they tend to have unconventional productions that really take risks and try new techniques.”

“I like to go on walks, and one place I go to a lot is Rock Creek Park. It’s one of the most popular outdoor spaces in DC—a lot of people go there for hikes or to walk their dogs. It is a really awesome place to go and relax.”

"I went to Sankofa Video Books & Cafe so many times when I was in college. It's directly across from Howard University, so a lot of students go there to hang out. They have the best collection of classic backlist titles there, as well as sandwiches named after historical Black figures and filmmakers. I recommend the Julie Dash panini—she directed the Sundance award-winning film Daughters of the Dust."