Understand
K St is infamous, best known as the physical location where money and power in the U.S. collude. The "fourth branch of government": Lobbyists, special interest groups, contractors, and out of work Congressmen all engage in the extremely lucrative business of political influence. This impression isn't totally fairâfirst of all, plenty of the lobbying firms are pushing for noble causes, and secondly, many if not most of the suits are doing business unrelated to politics. But K St's infamy outside the city is matched by its local infamy as the most boring section of town. Office buildings dominate and everybody leaves after punching out, leaving the neighborhood empty and quiet, save for big business hotels and expense account dinners. There is some truth to this, but the caricature overlooks the fact that there are some incredible restaurants, Dupont Circle is creeping down past M St, and the McPherson Square area now has its own homegrown clubbing scene.
And then, of course, there is the White House. Famous around the world as the home and office of the world's most powerful person, it is the capital icon most associated with the American government. Surrounded by parks, Lafayette Square and the Ellipse, it's also surprisingly accessible to visitors, and makes a nice backdrop for a casual picnic surrounded by history. And just west of the White House and grounds are some great art galleries, especially at the Corcoran Museum.
To the southwest is Foggy Bottom, an old Washingtonian neighborhood home to George Washington University, and a prestigious stretch of waterfront home to the Watergate Apartments and the Kennedy Center. Foggy Bottom also houses several big international organizations, like the Pan American Health Organization, World Health Organization, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and the American Red Cross, as well as several embassies.
