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