Our humble effort on some places to see while you are here for the March on Washington.
Ben’s Chili Bowl
A Washington culinary landmark since 1958, these folks were one of the few to stay open during the riots and unrest in 1968. Bill Cosby, (he and the Obama family are the only ones who eat for free!), will grace the place tomorrow to help celebrate their 55th anniversary. Chris Rock, Bono, the late Chris Brown and MLK have all eaten here.
Cedar Hill Historic Home of Frederick Douglass
This puts you in Anacostia, a nice two-fer and great views of DMV.
King Memorial
You didn’t need me to tell you this one. We will add that there is a nice gift shop with books nearby.
BusBoys and Poets
With four locations now. The original near 14th and U has the historic poignancy but seems the 5th and K one is getting the better events. The one in Shirlington is a watered down version, quite frankly.
Guide
"The Guide to Black Washington" by Sandra Fitzpatrick and Maria R. Goodwin is a fantastic book with 15 chapters. Shaw and U Street stand out, of course.
Alexandria
In Alexandria, don’t miss the Freedom House and the Black History Museum, as well as the Alexandria African American Heritage Park. Steps away is the Edmonson Sisters sculpture.
My book has all the markers in Parker Gray and other African-American
related markers in Old Town.
Numbers 16-18 cover the Freedom House. 25 is the historically black Alfred Street Baptist Church
and 26 is the Contraband and Freedmens Cemetery Memorial Park. Work continues but you can see
the public art sculpture. Quite stunning.
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