What do Langston Hughes, Tallulah Bankhead, Ezra Pound, Roald Dahl and John F. Kennedy have in common? Find out at DC Writer's Homes, an epic online database of places connected to DC literati. What started as a quirky hobby for friends and literary historians Kim Roberts and Dan Vera resulted in a resource gathering facts which might otherwise have been lost over the years. Explore the impressive list by neighborhood, literary genre, or fun subcategories like 'radicals,' 'showbiz,' 'hosts of literary salons,' or 'spies and their families.'
The hours one could spend reading these fascinating tidbits about our famous residents are dwarfed by the steps you can rack up visiting the spots they laid their heads. JFK, for example, couch-surfed seven DC locations, from a house he shared during his time in the U.S. House of Representatives to the White House. The Y at 1816 12th Street NW has a re-creation of the single room in which Langston Hughes would have lived in 1925. (The nearby Busboys and Poets bookstore at 14th and V Streets, NW, is named for Hughes, who worked as a hotel busboy to subsidize his poetic life.) Two of Clara Barton's residences are open to the public: one in the Glen Echo Chautauqua and the other at 437 Seventh St. N.W., home to the Office of Missing Soldiers she helmed post Civil War.
To really nerd out, click 'Also of Interest' for other locations, like cemeteries, churches, parks, and restaurants, of literary import.
Find your way with 101 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
"GoodWood" in Washington DC looks like a general store, but it holds many vintage treasures. It's like an antique store that doesn't take itself too seriously.
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Everyone's been to "Cafe Citron" in Washington DC - for the lovely South American food, the free salsa lessons & Spanish conversation practice happy hour!
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"Bombay Street Food 3" in Washington DC features Indian and Indo-Chinese foods. Its street food versions have less heavy cream and more spice & herbs...
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There are a lot of places to dance salsa in DC, but "The Salsa Room" is one of my favorites. I like how patrons who show up are really here to dance....
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"East Potomac Golf Links" in DC is probably my favorite place to play golf in the whole world. The view is amazing - and it's surprisingly affordable!
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"Hill Center DC" is an events facility with all kinds of activities, from wine tastings to ASL & cooking classes. It's a real under-the-radar location!
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"The Bullpen" in DC is a great outdoor venue to go and hang out. I like going when they have special happy hour during Nationals home baseball games...
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There's an ultimate frisbee pick-up game that's been going on for years in a park across from the Pentagon City Mall in DC. It's so friendly and laid back there!
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"Port City" isn't just one of my favorite beer companies locally in Washington DC, it's one of my favorite beer companies ANYWHERE. Try their porter...
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The "Canal Park Ice Rink" in Washington DC is somewhat of a hidden gem in a quiet neighborhood but w/ plenty of nice things to do around...
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What I like most about "Yards Park" in Washington DC is it's a place that has everything. I come here most Saturdays to meet up with the run group...
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101 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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