About Winter Things to Do
Lace up skates, dine in an igloo, go stargazing, drink a hot cocktail. Here are lots of places and ways to delight in the season, whether you’re chilling outside or getting cozy indoors.
Looking to get out of the house? Try exploring an off-the-beaten-path museum. TikToker Noelle Harada (@noellemargaret8) set out on a mission to visit every museum in town, going beyond the Smithsonian. She recommends five hidden gems.
American Poetry Museum
716 Monroe St., NE
@noellemargaret8 Stop 73/83✅ American Poetry Museum #dctok #dmvtiktok #musuemtok #dcmuseum #americanpoetry ♬ Summer Background Jazz – Jazz Background Vibes
The Brookland museum doesn’t just showcase the works and personal histories of American poets—most of the exhibits have a visual-art component to highlight a given poem’s themes. There are also open mics, poetry readings, and jazz concerts on weekends.
DC History Center
801 K St., NW
@noellemargaret8 Stop 24/83✅ DC History Center #dctok #dmvtiktok #museum #dchistory ♬ Friends (Guitar Cover) – GuitarGheddu
In Mount Vernon Square, this extensive collection of artifacts details the history of DC the city. Harada recommends the “Big Picture” exhibit, featuring 74 panoramic images and a 40-foot timeline of 20th-century Washington.
Howard University Art Gallery
2455 Sixth St., NW
@noellemargaret8 Stop 80/83✅ Howard University Gallery of Art #dctok #dmvtiktok #howarduniveristy #artgallery #museumtok ♬ Lo-fi hip hop – NAO-K
Housed in the school’s fine-arts building, this gallery displays artwork created by former and current students. You’ll also find exhibits on African American and African art—Harada suggests a stop at the collection of wooden sculptures and masks.
Old Korean Legation
1500 13th St., NW
@noellemargaret8 Stop 39/83 ✅ Old Korean Legation Musuem #dctok #dmvtiktok #museum #koreanhistory ♬ Vlog BGM_03(953483) – Fujiwo
This Victorian-style mansion used to be the home of Korea’s foreign minister. The museum’s hidden-gem status means you can get intimate, one-on-one tours of the home, which includes a library, banquet hall, and small garden.
Old Post Office Museum and Clock Tower
1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
@noellemargaret8 Stop 62/82 ✅ Old Post Office Museum & Clock Tower #dctok #dmvtiktok #museum #clocktower ♬ Up Beat (Married Life) – Kenyi
From the top of the Waldorf Astoria, get a picturesque view of the Mall, Capitol, White House, Pentagon, and Supreme Court. Harada regards the vista from the clock tower—often reached without having to stand in a line—on a par with the Washington Monument’s.
This article appears in the December 2022 issue of Washingtonian.
Before becoming Research Editor, Damare Baker was an Editorial Fellow and Assistant Editor for Washingtonian. She has previously written for Voice of America and The Hill. She is a graduate of Georgetown University, where she studied international relations, Korean, and journalism.
