Parade of Lighted Boats Schedule (click above to view)

Fall is here and the weather could not be more perfect to enjoy by the waterfront.  Be sure to stop by King Ribs to warm up – still serving up the best BBQ in Southwest!  Also, mark your calendars for the annual Parade of Lighted Boats on December 3, 2011.  Last year’s event was so much fun; the boats in the marina light up with decorations while you enjoy s’mores by a bonfire right at 7th Street Landing!  This is a great event to kick off the holiday season, so don’t forget to bring the whole family.

One of the other great ways to get to The Wharf is by metro.  As a DC local I rely on the metro to get everywhere and I’m always interested in finding great places around metro stops to check out.  I recently was walking around the U Street Corridor and of course had to stop into Ben’s Chili Bowl for some classic chili cheese fries.  This iconic restaurant is located right across the street from the U Street/African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Metro (green line).  It is always packed with locals and visitors; be sure to check out all the famous people along the wall who have stopped by for a meal!  After a bite to eat, I jumped on the metro and headed straight to The Wharf.

The Waterfront-SEU metro is only 6 stops away on the green line which makes for a quick ride across the city.  Once you get out of the metro you’ll see the relatively new Safeway and recently opened Station 4 restaurant.  I walked down M Street for about a block which then turns into Maine Avenue.  The incredible Arena Stage is also located off this metro stop; I recommend stopping in to check out the building and schedule of shows.  After walking by Arena Stage, 7^th Street Landing is just one block on the left!

Taking the metro is great, especially when you are going from one DC Landmark in NW to another in SW…

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One of my friends lives in Georgetown and loves to hang out outside in this beautiful summer weather. She says that there is nothing really going on in Georgetown on Thursday nights, so I convinced her to come with me down to the Southwest Waterfront. I had told her all about the farmers market and the live music, but she always thought it was so far away. So we hopped on the wonderful Capital Bikeshare Bikes (how convenient are those things!?!) and took a bike trail almost the whole way down. 

If you want to look at the historic landmarks of DC in a different way, this is the way to do it. There is a great view of the Potomac River from a series of steps that makes it that much more beautiful. You continue on and see numerous volleyball courts which I had no idea were there. My friends and I will be heading there soon… At one point you need to get on the main road, but only because of the construction of the Martin Luther King Memorial which will be a great sight to pass now that it’s all finished. You pass a flowering garden that has some of the most gorgeous flowers I had ever seen and right behind it was the Jefferson Memorial. It was a picture perfect sight. A few more minutes on your bike and you are at the Southwest Waterfront. When we got there, The Wharf Farmers Market was in full swing with live music, food, and beer and wine. She couldn’t believe how close it was, how many people were there, and how much was going on. We took a total of 20 minutes to get to the Southwest Waterfront and I know we’ll be heading back down again.

Here is a map of the route:

Here is the video I made about our ride down to the Southwest Waterfront:

September schedule of events (click above to view)

Hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend!  Even though you are back at work, be sure to stop by the waterfront as the events and programs at The Wharf will continue through September.  The end of summer and beginning of fall is always a great time of year in DC, so kick off the change of season at 7th Street Landing with all new bands and seasonal produce at The Wharf Farmers Market!  Be sure to check out the schedule and head to the waterfront with friends and family.

Now that there are plenty of events and programs at the waterfront I made sure to find the quickest and easiest ways to get to The Wharf.  I was surprised at how accessible The Wharf is from all parts of the city.  The best part is all the unique and convenient modes of transportation and sights along the way.

I was amazed at how close it is walking from the Verizon Center in Chinatown; only 1.5 miles, or about a 30 minute stroll to the waterfront.  7^th Street will take you directly across The National Mall to 7^th Street Landing.  There are a ton of attractions along the way if you are walking.

On the walk down 7^th Street, be sure to check out the Chinatown entrance, local cuisine (over 20 restaurants), shops, and the Verizon Center (movie theater, bowling, concerts, sports events, and more).  You then walk straight across The National Mall for great views of The Washington Monument and The Capitol.  Also check out some of the Smithsonian Museums along the way if you have time (I recommend the Natural History Museum).  After The Mall, it’s just about 5 blocks to the waterfront!

There are tons of unique ways to access the waterfront, check back for our entire series on all the ways to get to The Wharf!  There are more than you think….

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Living in the city is great.  All the convenience, accessibility and energy right at your front door.  Combine all of that with an amazing view and a nice breeze and what do you get?  No, not a pent house hotel room…a houseboat!  I spent some time with a few residents in the close-knit community on the Washington Channel and was amazed how “normal” living on the water is for the close to 100 Gangplank Marina residents.

View of Gangplank Marina from deck of "Our Island"

Lanesye (“Our Island”), Chet (“Wind Dancer”), and Jason (“Argo”) are current residents at Gangplank Marina and gave me a personal tour of their homes and their first-hand experience of living on the water.  After spending time on the pier and aboard these incredibly unique homes I’ve come up with the “Top 5 Pros & Cons” of living on a boat:

Pros

1. Location – Located right in SW you have easy access to metro, Capital Bikeshare, and walking distance to downtown, but get to enjoy the peace and quiet of living on the water
2. Outdoor space – Watch the sunrise and sunset from your private roof deck every day…and imagine the parties!
3. Best seat in the house – No dealing with the crowds when you can experience the Fireworks Festival and Cherry Blossom Festival right at home
4. Convenience  – All the amenities of a home, complete with washer/dryer, dishwasher, home offices, and even space for pets
5. Nature – Where else in the city can you see turtles, fish, and birds right out your front door?

Cons

1. Storage – Not a lot of room for excess items, so pick and choose what you want and need – no pack rats!
2. Winter – The walk home on the pier can get chilly and you have to use water wisely when temperatures dip below freezing
3. Bugs – You are in mother nature; be prepared to embrace or at least tolerate spiders and other bugs
4. Sea sickness – There is a gentle rocking with the tide and movement of other boats in the channel that may take some getting use to; most call it soothing, others may not
5. Wind – If it isn’t tied down or doesn’t float, don’t expect to see it again!

Bright, open kitchen aboard "Our Island"

Dining area aboard "Wind Dancer"

The helm on "Argo"

Tons of light in "Our Island" living room

Pets, including Piggy, love life on the water

Private rooftop dining for parties or morning coffee

Washington Monument view from your front door

The houseboats on the Washington Channel are one of a kind and opened to the public for the first time this past Saturday.  If you missed it you can check out more photos on the DC Boat-Home Tour site.

One of DC’s greatest assets is the water, so head down to The Wharf and experience how accessible it really is to the city.

I was lucky enough to tour one of the Boat Homes that will be featured on the Gangplank Marina’s boat tour. From what I saw, I may be on that tour in a couple of years! The home of Laneyse’ Hook was absolutely beautiful, it made me want one of my own. I made this video to give you a glimpse of what her Boat Home looks like, but everyone should go take a peak at this little hidden neighborhood.

August schedule of events (click above to view)

August is here at 7th Street Landing!  Summer has flown by so far, but the events and programs at The Wharf are just getting better and better.  The Wharf Farmers Market, Food Truck Roundup, and Waterfront Workouts will all be here on the same days and times as July.  Check out the schedule for new bands every Thursday and Friday.  Stop by and enjoy the rest of the summer at the waterfront!