Tidal Basin Paddle Boats

R: I had heard about people going paddle boating in the Jefferson Memorial Tidal Basin and wanted to go for a while, but always dismissed Mo when he suggested it because I thought it would take too much time/ be too expensive/ or be too complicated. One day he convinced me go and give it a try. Let me just say it was super easy, cheap and really fun! If you’ve never gone, I’d say its totally worth it.  

M: The only problem is that on really nice days it may be hard to find parking nearby, since the lot is not that big. There are plenty of boats to rent and it’s pretty cheap, $12 for a two person boat and $20 for a four person boat (which comes with a canopy for the sun) for a two hour rental. The area you can paddle in is pretty vast. Bring a camera and you can get some nice shots of the Jefferson Memorial, other monuments and planes landing at DCA.

R: Also don’t worry its pretty easy to paddle and most people can do it, its basically like biking sitting down. The only advice I’d give is don’t paddle super fast in the beginning cause you’ll tire out quick and  it’ll be dreadful getting back to shore in the end.  

M: This is one of the classic DC recreational activities. You always see paddle boats when driving down the side of the Potomac. Also if you want to be just as cool as us, make sure when you’re pulling into the dock at the end, to turn that shit around and back into the spot.

http://www.tidalbasinpaddleboats.com/

Ozio

M: O-ziiii-ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
R: I like the crowd, I like the feel, I like the music, I like the signature tree that’s on the wall on the top level ( and want one for my room), and I LOVE this rooftop.

M: And I love you.
R: Haha thanks, me too. Back to what I was saying, this was one of my favorite and unique rooftop bar experiences in DC so far. Its huge so there’s enough space to walk around, pretty ambiance, more than one bar so it doesn’t take overly long to get a drink and A/C (which is perfect for humid summer nights in DC). The rooftop is even retractable.
M: I was surprised with how big the place was. We’ve been to Eden but the rooftop area there is pretty small and its surrounded on both sides by tall buildings. Getting to the rooftop was like a little maze. Different staircases, different floors. There are four different floors to party on including a smoking floor. Make sure you’re on the guestlist so you can get access to the rooftop. You can do this by signing up on the website or through their Facebook page.

http://oziodc.com/ 

El Chalan

M: I heard about this place through my brother-in-law. He’s been coming here for over ten years. It’s his favorite Peruvian restaurant and after going here twice I can see why.
R: So when most people think of Peruvian food, they think of Peruvian chicken that you can get at Super Pollo and what not. It was a nice change to go to a sit down restaurant and be able to order traditional Peruvian dishes other than charbroiled chicken.

M: Super Pollo chicken is the bomb diggity but I agree. I’ve gotten the Llomo Saltado and Seafood Paella here, both of which are very flavorful and popular. With every meal, you need to make sure you order a Pisco Sour. I’ve ordered this drink at many different places and it’s one of my favorites. Nice lemon-y taste and topped off with frothy egg whites and sugar. May sound disgusting but it’s kind of like a drink with a top off of meringue. Pretty delicious. 
R: Be warned, there’s raw egg whites in the drink, so if that’s a problem for you like it was for one of our friends, don’t get it. For newcomers, I think a really safe and yummy choice is definitely the lomo saltado, once you’ve tried different things or feel more adventurous you can go for things like the seafood paella.
M: This place is only a few blocks from my office, so if you ever want to go, give me a call and treat me to dinner :)

http://www.elchalandc.com/