NoMa Street Sculpture
Credit : Dan Laughman
NoMa is quickly becoming Washington , D . C .’ s most talked about neighborhood , and it ’ s easy to see why . The area north of Massachusetts Avenue NE — hence the abbreviation “ NoMa ” — saw its first sign of growth in 2004 with the opening of the New York Ave – Florida Ave Metro , which is now called the NoMa-Gallaudet U station , and it has flourished ever since . In 2016 , the New York Times dubbed NoMa “ one of the most up-and-coming neighborhoods in D . C .” This is partly thanks to the revival of Union Market , which has been transformed from a neglected farmers market to a sophisticated food hall attracting culinary gurus from across the city . Local vendors sell everything from spices , meats , gelato , and fancy olive oil . To commemorate International Women ’ s Day in 2016 , artist Mr . Brainwash unveiled a series of colorful murals on Union Market ’ s walls . Yoko Ono debuted a mural along 6th Street NE as part of the Hirshhorn in the City initiative the following year .
Union Market
Credit : Joy Asico
A Latin American marketplace serving everything from Peruvian street food to Michelin-star cuisine , La Cosecha is part of the Union Market district that boasts its unique charm . Be sure to stop by Serenata for cocktails mixed by connoisseurs Daniella Senior and Juan Coronado , and visit El Cielo , where Colombian chef Juanma Barrientos combines fine dining with social activism by hiring former guerillas , war victims , and displaced indigenous people in the kitchen . La Cosecha also features an art gallery and event space , a full-service media lab for podcasters and producers , and an active events calendar featuring salsa dancing and tango lessons . Elsewhere in NoMa , those looking for a cozy American tavern on a chilly winter day should head to St . Anselm , where head chef Lindsey Flowers ( who took over from former Top Chef finalist Marjorie Meek-Bradley ) serves enormous portions of comfort food such as pork porterhouse , bone-in skate wing , and ax handle ribeye .
Much of the charm of NoMa is that new shops and restaurants are being opened in historical buildings so that the area ’ s heritage is kept intact . The Uline Arena hosted The Beatles ’ first U . S . concert in 1964 , then became home to the Washington Capitals ( under the name of the Washington Coliseum ). Since being abandoned and used for parking , it is now the location of Washington , D . C .’ s flagship REI store .
However , there ’ s much more to do at NoMa than just eating and shopping . History buffs can visit the Smithsonian ’ s National Postal Museum in the historic City Post Office Building on Massachusetts Ave . Ongoing exhibitions include a history of baseball told through stamps and Behind the Badge about the law enforcement staff of the postal service . NPR is also headquartered in NoMa , although office tours and the merchandise shop are closed to the public .
To burn off all those extra calories consumed at the Union Market , why not rent from Capital Bikeshare and cycle the eight-mile Metropolitan Branch Trail from Union Station to Silver Springs , Maryland ? The paved path follows the route of the Metropolitan Branch Line of the Baltimore and Ohio ( B & O ) railroad through exciting neighborhoods and connects to the National Mall .
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