Washington, DC & the Capital Region - Eastern USA - page 485

96 Bar Pilar E2
97 Brixton F2
98 Ching Ching Cha A3
99 Cobalt D2
100 Dickson Wine Bar F2
101 Filter C2
102 JR's D3
103 Marvin E2
Nellie's (see 97)
Patty Boom Boom (see 103)
Entertainment
104 9:30 Club F1
105 Black Cat E2
106 Discovery Theater E6
107 Kennedy Center B5
108 National Theatre E5
109 Shakespeare Theatre F5
110 Verizon Center F5
History
Like a lot of American history, the District of Columbia (DC) story is one of comprom-
ise. In this case, the balance was struck between Northern and Southern politicians who
wanted to plant a federal city between their power bases. As potential capitals such as
Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore were rejected as too urban-industrial by Southern
plantation owners, it was decided that a new city would be carved at the 13 colonies'
midway point, along the banks of the Potomac River. Maryland and Virginia donated the
land (which Virginia took back in the 19th century).
DC was originally run by Congress, was torched by the British during the War of
1812, and lost the south-bank slave port of Alexandria to Virginia in 1846 (when aboli-
tion talk was buzzing in the capital). Over the years, DC evolved along diverging tracks;
as a marbled temple to federal government and residential city for federal employees on