Locals Pick: 10 Things To Do in NoMa

November 21, 2014 | Neighborhood
Locals Pick: 10 Things To Do in NoMa

If you want to really get to know a place, you live like the locals do. That’s why we asked some of NoMa’s local personalities what they love about DC’s vibrant NoMa neighborhood.

“My favorite thing to do in NoMa is visit with my lovely friend Rachel Davis of the NoMa BID and to bike on the Met Branch Trail.” –Jonas Singer, Owner, Union Kitchen & Blind Dog Cafe

  1. Great BID or Greatest BID? NoMa’s BID has done a spectacular job at bringing businesses and residents in the neighborhood together to really achieve that sense of community. Events like their Lobby Project art installations, Summer Screen outdoor movie series and Nerds in NoMa speaker series get everyone out and enjoying the neighborhood. One last major perk: NoMa BID provides free outdoor WiFi throughout the neighborhood.
  1. Bike the Met Branch Trail. Jonas’ other favorite NoMa asset: the Metropolitan Branch Trail.  Eight miles of trail for biking and walking flow through DC’s neighborhoods and connect Union Station all the way up to Silver Spring. Even better: an entrance to the Met Branch Trail is right outside Elevation’s door.

Grafitti along the trail Processed with VSCOcam with lv01 preset

  1. Be a tourist in-the-know: “NPR’s headquarters are located in NoMa, and they give free guided tours of their building. All you have to do is RSVP online. You see everything from the tiny desk, to satellites, to bee hives on the roof. Not only is the architecture awesome, but you get some great views of the city from the top floor.” –Ali Newman, NoMa BID’s Marketing & Events Coordinator
  1. Say Om.My favorite new place: Yoga NoMa! It’s a yoga and pilates studio that just opened in the heart of NoMa with fantastic teachers and affordable prices.” –Ali Newman, NoMa BID’s Marketing & Events Coordinator
  1. Channel Frank Underwood. “Visit Dcity Smokehouse. It’s this awesome little hole in the wall place on Florida Avenue, where the staff is friendly and the BBQ is out of this world.” –Ali Newman, NoMa BID’s Marketing & Events Coordinator

 

Photo via Best Thing on the Menu

Photo via Best Thing on the Menu

  1. Get Caffeinated. Big Bear Cafe: great independent coffeeshop, a short walk to Bloomingdale from Elevation. On Sundays, the Bloomingdales Farmer’s Market sets up shop across the street.
  1. Treat Yourself. Uncle Chip’s Cookies: A hidden gem, for those with a weakness for sweet treats.
  1. Shop, Brunch, Movie or all of the above. Union Market: Technically just outside of NoMa, despite being two blocks over from Elevation, it wouldn’t be a NoMa guide without including Union Market. Retailers, unbeatable brunch options, artisan events, a pop-up Angelika theatre and so much more under one roof.
  1. Get Social Soon! Union Social: Slated to open in February 2015, this scratch kitchen and craft bar will take the ground floor of Elevation and call it home.
  1. Find The Artful Parts: NoMa’s a colorful neighborhood if you know where to look. Coming soon: the Underpass Project, turning a normally dark underpass into an art experience. Also don’t miss the Albus Cavus mural at Union Market! (below)

albus-cavus