Idle Time Books

The Place: Idle Time Books

Where: 18th Street NW just south of Columbia Road NW

Why Live Near Here: Exposed brick, mismatched chairs, thriving house plants: This is Idle Time Books.

Small local bookstores, especially ones like this, are a rare and wonderful thing these days seeing as though ALL bookstores seem to be going instinct thanks to the digital age we’re living in. Yet Idle Time stays standing and is a delight for people who relish shops that remain true to themselves and remind us of the old Adams Morgan that many of us so fondly remember.

A. Litteri

The Place: A. Litteri

Where: Morse Street NE between 5th and 6th Streets NE

Why Live Near Here: If you grew up in an Italian-American family, we don’t need to give you much of a reason why you want to live near an Italian specialty shop like A. Litteri. But for the rest of you, here’s why: fresh grated parmigiano reggiano cheese, freshly sliced Italian deli meats, tasty sandwiches made to order, and an insanely good Italian wine selection. Don’t be fooled by the simple facade. Go inside and enter a whole magical imported world of deliciousness.

Chaia Tacos – Georgetown

The Place: Chaia Tacos

Where: Grace Street and Wisconsin Avenue NW

Why Live Near Here: You may be vegetarian or vegan, or you might not be, because the tacos here are delicious regardless of which kind of diet you subscribe to. To live near here means that in addition to being super close to the waterfront and all that it has to offer that you can have a healthy-ish non meat-based meal that is both affordable and delicious (and a welcome changeup from the normal salad game) at the drop of a hat.

Library Of Congress

The Place: Library of Congress

Where: 1st and Independence Streets SE

Why Live Near Here: There must be something really really cool about living close to the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States/the largest library in the world even if you’re not a huge bibliophile because the architecture and design in the Library of Congress is enough to keep a person coming back time and time again.

Dacha Beer Garden

The Place: Dacha Beer Garden

Where: 7th and O Streets NW

Why Live Near Here: Dacha started off as a small corner beer garden with some picnic tables and porta-potties and has since morphed into a bustling beer garden, cafe, and loft event space over the years. There’s something incredible about being able to stop off at a casual and fun outdoor watering hole on your way home from work and not needing to go out of the way, so for those of you who like drinking al fresco throughout the year, living near Dacha is for you.

The Wharf

The Place: The Wharf

Where: Maine Avenue between 7th and 12th Streets SW

Why Live Near Here: It would be hard to find someone who DOESN’T want to live near some nice, calm waters, if we’re being honest (and especially on a day like today). Those who want to live near DC’s SW Waterfront want to live in an area with a storied past and can take in the views whenever they want & can (hopefully) avoid the crowds, but also need to be ready to share it with lots and lots of visitors who come in on nice days to get their dose of fun in the sun.

Ben’s Chili Bowl

The Place: Ben’s Chili Bowl

Where: 12th and U Streets NW

Why Live Near Here: The person who wants to live near this DC landmark is likely a person who can stay up past 10pm and likes being in the thick of things in one of the District’s craziest bar scenes… and probably who enjoys a late night greasy spoon on the nights you’ve had a drink or two too many.

National Portrait Gallery

The Place: The National Portrait Gallery

Where: 8th and F Streets NW

Why Live Near Here: One of the great perks of living in DC is the fact that we have all but one of the free, always open (except Christmas Day and when the government is shut down) Smithsonian museums at our fingertips.  The person who wants to live near this gorgeous Greek Revival building is a fan of  everything from traditional masterpieces to modern art, and maybe has a thing for presidential portraits.

Washington Harbour

The Place: The Washington Harbour

Where: 30th and K Streets NW

Why Live Near Here: Who doesn’t want to live near a complex where one can dine at some top notch restaurants, drink at some fun outdoor bars, watch rowers skillfully scull past, or (from November to March) go ice skating with a penguin*?

*Ok ok they’re not real penguins but they’re skate aids in the shape of penguins. Still pretty damn cute…

Kramerbooks & Afterwards

The Place: Kramerbooks & Afterwards

Where: Connecticut Avenue and Q Streets NW

Why Live Near Here: The theme of a lot of the P&S posts lately has been “live near this Place because the weather blows and there’s not a lot to do, but this place is awesome not ONLY on crappy days but ESPECIALLY on crappy days…” and this place definitely fits into that category. Bookstores are the perfect rainy/snowy/wintery mix getaways, especially ones that have a full service cafe that can keep you nourished while you wait for the weather to let up so you can run out to catch your cab home. The person who wants to live near this spot is likely a bibliophile and one who enjoys a bookstore that, as Kramers puts it, has stuck around “through expansions, subpoenas, and innumerable neighborhood changes.”