Top 5: Washington, DC

 Pluses

1. Plentiful employment

It’s the reason we moved here, and it’s still true despite cuts to government spending. In my case, Peace Corps service was particularly important, helping to secure my federal job less than a week after applying. Thanks, non-competitive eligibility!

Oh, and the DC metro area is now home to 7 of the top 10 highest income counties in the country. The District itself is rapidly changing–becoming whiter, younger, and richer. My neighborhood is traditionally Latino, so I’m not gentrifying anything, right?

2. Smithsonian museums and zoo

Yes, visitors, the Smithsonian destinations are all free–and they are all incredible. Most tourists will gravitate towards the most famous spots: the White House, the Capital, the Lincoln Memorial. But the Smithsonian museums are true gems. My favorites: the Air and Space Museum, Natural History Museum, Portrait Gallery, and the National Zoo (a 15 minute walk from our apartment).

And the most majestic building in DC? The Library of Congress, of course. It’s stunningly beautiful…

3. Ethiopian food

Ethiopian cuisine is equal parts communal and delicious. The spiced meats and vegetables rest on a platter of injera. Everyone sits around this platter, and digs in with their hands, using additional rolls of injera provided on the side like a wrap. I still haven’t figured out how to eat Ethiopian food without making a mess out of my face and hands, though.

DC has a large Ethiopian population, who serve the best ethnic food in the area. My favorites: Ethiopic and Zenebech Injera. Try the lamb tibs and the beef sega key wot.

4. Rock Creek Parkway

Rock Creek Parkway runs from the Lincoln Monument to just north of our neighborhood.

It’s the best way to drive through the city to Virginia, and it’s a gorgeous road too. Lots of trees, high-arch bridges, and creeks–even a tunnel.

5. Walkability

I love walking; Emily prefers biking. You can walk, bike, or ride a bus or train just about anywhere. A car is a liability in this city. The transportation system is cheap and runs late, but can sadly be unreliable.

 Minuses

1. Housing prices

Good luck finding anything under $300k outside the poorer neighborhoods. That money would buy you a renovated condo in our neighborhood; the average home here sells for almost $550k.

Rents are no better. Open houses are madhouses.

2. Traffic

Not only do we have the worst traffic in the nation, but also the worst drivers. Parking is terrible too. Case closed.

3. Politics

Living here, I can’t escape it. And it’s only become nastier, uglier, and better funded since I arrived.

To me, politics are like religion: Each person holds their own. No argument or reason will change that, so keep your beliefs private.

4. Tourists

They’re everywhere. They clog the metro escalators, always standing on the left–the passing lane. They ride their segways around town, all merry. Bastards!

In all seriousness, the worst part is that the city can often feel like it’s half tourists, and that it’s there to cater to them. Furthermore, a  large part of the population is transient–like us, here for work. As a result, the District seems a bit soulless when compared to nearby cities.

 5. Climate

Sticky and hot in the summer, short periods of great weather in the fall and spring, and relatively cold winters. That’s DC weather.