#FlyWashington Magazine Fall 2018 | Page 58

EXPLORE Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Blagden Alley/ Naylor Court Historic District has emerged as a booming ecosystem of commercial spaces including premium coffee shops, some of the most popular restaurants in the country, and craft cocktail venues that are sure to please the palette of just about any visitor. Once home to working class African Americans following the Civil War, this area later become home to the creators of D.C.’s underground art scene. Today you can find a series of rotating murals, including an oversized tribute to musicians Sun Ra and Erykah Badu. Designers, developers, and entrepreneurs clamor to Shaw for its rich visual appeal as well as the unique, pristinely preserved historic buildings. The city’s northwest quadrant has birthed a system of interior alleyways that house some of the hip establishments that draw many into Shaw, like The Dabney, and Columbia Room. Since its early incarnation as a 10-seat tasting room inside the Passenger, the Columbia Room has become a leader on the D.C. cocktail scene. Upon opening in 2010, the team made waves in Washington, exposing the city to new ingredients, techniques, and flavors, garnering national praise on “best of” lists including Bon Appetit and Esquire. To top it off, partners, Derek Brown, Angie Fetherston and JP Fetherston have been awarded