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.

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…

Kennedy Center

The Place: Kennedy Center

Where: Between Rock Creek Parkway, 25th Street NW, and F Street NW

Why Live Near Here: You’re a lover of the arts who leans more towards the classics (opera, ballet, plays, etc), you want to live near the water and take advantage of a gorgeous Potomac outlook that’s always open to the public, and not dealing with parking every time you go there sounds like your version of heaven.

Baked & Wired

The Place: Baked & Wired

Where: Thomas Jefferson and M Streets NW

Why Live Near Here: Maybe it’s because I’m going into hibernation mode as it gets colder outside, but this is the second food-related Place I’ve featured this week and sorry I’m not sorry.  Personally, I’m not sure I’d ever live in Georgetown because it’s not my speed, but you know what?  I’d let that go because I’d kill to live next to or close to Baked & Wired: this place is the tits.

If you had said, “Alison, try the vegan oreo cupcake – you’ll love it!” a few years ago, the child of the best baker in the U.S. and a total addict of all things sugar + butter, I would have probably laughed at you.  But DAMN IF THAT CUPCAKE IS NOT ABSOLUTE INSANITY!

My opinion aside, Baked & Wired is consistently voted Best Bakery in DC in Washingtonian magazine, and unless you’re one of those freaks who don’t like sweets, duh, of course you want to live near it. This area in general is where you live if you want tons and tons of restaurants and retail, proximity to Virginia and the Potomac River, and is tucked away without the threat of a Metro “ruining” your neighborhood.

Key Bridge Boat House

The Place: Key Bridge Boathouse (formerly Jack’s Boathouse)

Why Live Here: You love the water and being on it or near it regularly is something that gets you into total zen mode. There are a bunch of boat houses scattered around the waterfront areas of DC, but this one has the spectacular backdrop of the Key Bridge before you even launch into the Potomac, and honestly, it’s a view that never gets boring.