7 Best Things to Do in Washington D.C, According to a Local

If you haven’t visited recently, you should know that Washington, D.C., is not just the nation’s capital. It’s also a bustling, always-inspiring metropolis that attracts many of the country’s hottest chefs, most-innovative cocktail masters, greatest athletes, and creative thinkers of all kind.

And for much of the year, D.C. is one other thing, too: the home of Nationals star shortstop CJ Abrams. One of Major League Baseball’s brightest young talents, Abrams has speed, power, he can flash the leather—and he processes arguably the coolest nickname in sports: The Alien. We asked CJ where in D.C. he would take an actual space alien if such a thrill-hunting visitor dropped to Earth. And once again, the 24-year-old slugger came through in the clutch, with recs for the best places to eat, drink, shop, and take in a little culture along the way.

So grab an unlimited Metro and bus weekend pass (for under 34 bucks!) and hop aboard: here are CJ’s must-see spots in The District—no matter where you come from.

The Hamilton

In the shadow of the White House, The Hamilton is the perfect first stop on your capital tour. Upstairs, in an elegant dining room, choose from an excellent and eclectic menu—everything from sushi to grits is supremely tasty here. Downstairs: live music fills the club room many nights every week. The long wood bar and amber light that glows up the liquor bottles create a cinematic look. For CJ, it’s where he heads to impress out-of-towners. “If my family is in town, I’ll go there,” he says. “It’s a formal, nice spot to eat.”

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