Getting to Know the DMV: Penn Quarter

Washington, D.C., is more than the seat of the national government. The DMV-the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia-is home to broad, diverse communities and neighborhoods that offer history, good eats, parks and waterfronts-much of it a quick Metro ride away. Once a month during the academic year, Getting to Know the DMV will offer a glimpse of selected neighborhoods.

Washington, D.C.,'s Penn Quarter neighborhood is full of exciting restaurants, museums, shops and sports for those willing to venture north of the National Mall. This area lining Pennsylvania Avenue NW was considered a central hub of downtown activity in the mid-20^th Century.

Just a few Metro stops from Foggy Bottom, Penn Quarter is a great place to spend an afternoon or evening in the heart of the city.

What to Do:
Penn Quarter is known as an arts and entertainment district. You can plan a day around a concert or sporting event at Capital One Arena or just venture into the neighborhood for the great restaurants and must-see museums.

Sports on the Mind
Following a season in which captain Alex Ovechkin became the NHL's all-time goals leader, now is the perfect time to become a Washington Capitals fan. Go to a Caps game at Capital One Arena this year to support the team trying to win their first Stanley Cup since 2018. Who knows, you could be a good luck charm. If hockey isn't your thing, check out a Wizards basketball game.

The Original Portrait Mode
Check out one of the Smithsonian's coolest museums, the National Portrait Gallery, located at 8th and F streets NW. Don't miss the must-see exhibition of presidential paintings before heading down to the Arlene Kogod Courtyard, a beautiful light-filled atrium that would be the perfect place to settle in with a book on a rainy afternoon. Admission is free.

Explore Chinatown
Penn Quarter overlaps with D.C.'s historic Chinatown borough, an enclave of various Asian businesses and restaurants. Spend an afternoon exploring to find your new favorite Asian restaurant in the city and snap a photo in front of the Friendship Archway, built in 1986 near 7th and H streets NW.

Fight a mid-day slump with giant Jenga and shuffleboard at Penn Social, located at 801 E St. NW. (William Atkins/ GW Today)

Grab a Bite...or Two
Penn Quarter is full of delicious places to eat. Start the day with a latte and pastry from Chez Lilyand head over to José Andrés' Jaleo for an authentic Spanish lunch complete with small plate offerings. Here are some other options:

• Lucky Danger officially opened in May on at 709 D St. NW. This full-service Chinese American flagship by Chef Tim Ma features multiple areas-including a bar, intimate dining room, herbal-inspired cocktail lounge, and a mahjong parlor-and dishes such as allium pancakes with whipped tofu and caviar, blue crab lo mein and duck fried chaufa.
• Fight a mid-day slump with giant Jenga and shuffleboard at Penn Social. Located at 801 E St. NW, this spot is a great place to catch a sporting event or kick back with friends. Just remember, no one likes a sore loser.
• Craving the classics? Check out the Shake Shack on F Street and treat yourself to a ShackBurger and a delicious milkshake.

Step Back in Time
Penn Quarter is famously home to Ford's Theatre, where President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated during a rendition of "Our American Cousin" in April 1865. The theatre is only a few blocks from the White House, but Lincoln's condition was too critical for the bumpy carriage ride home on the cobblestone streets. His final moments were instead spent in a nearby boarding house. Ford's Theatre has been preserved so future generations can see where the story of the United States changed course forever. Timed entry tickets are priced at an affordable $5 online.

President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theatre while seeing a play in April 1865. Today you can visit this historical landmark at 511 10th St. NW. (William Atkins/ GW Today)

A National Treasure
National Archives is just past the boundary of Penn Quarter, but we'll let it slide. This Smithsonian museum is a history-buff's dream. Come to see original copies of the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights, stay for the interesting exhibits exploring the Vietnam War and the country's history of civil liberties. Like all Smithsonian museums, the National Archives is free.

How to Get There:

From Foggy Bottom

• Metro: Take Blue, Orange or Silver lines train from Foggy Bottom to Metro Center and walk or transfer to the Red Line at Metro Center and take the train to Gallery Place.
• Capital Bikeshare: Rent a bike at any of the several bikeshare docks in Foggy Bottom and bike the two miles to Penn Quarter. If you make the trip in 30 minutes or less, it will only cost $2. Make sure to follow all traffic laws.

From Mount Vernon campus

• Campus Shuttles: The Vern Express runs between the Mount Vernon and Foggy Bottom campuses. The shuttle will only make stops on campus, so once you are in Foggy Bottom follow the suggested travel routes mentioned above.