As we start a new year, we at MensLifeDC wanted to take a moment to reflect on the top 5 DC events that affected Washington during 2016. While inarguably the presidential election will go down as one of the major event both nationally and here in Washington, we wanted to focus our attention on the local events that shaped the conversation around town. Here is our top 5 list.
5. The influx of new shopping in the DC area
The Washington DC area saw a host of new stores popping up all around. Men were the focus of this trend with the openings of J Crew Men’s Store, Suit Supply and Ministry of Supply. City Center DC continues to lure high-end shoppers to the center of town while new boutiques and shops are turning neighborhoods like Northend Shaw and U Street into popular shopping destinations. Other notable openings during 2016 included Moncler, REI, Uniglo and Sak’s Off Fifth.
4. The Washington Nationals making the playoff
The Nationals continued to show why baseball is America’s favorite past time. Baseball fever is alive and well in DC and only grew more steadily as the Nationals clinched the National East Title for the third time in five years. With the hopes of a World Series berth, fans saw their dreams dashed when the team lost to the LA Dodgers in the fifth game of the playoff series. Despite the lost, the winner take all last game was a nail biter and became the longest post season 9 inning game in baseball history.
3. Michelin awards stars to Washington area restaurants.
When the news that the Michelin stars would soon be awarded to area restaurants, foodies and gourmands alike began speculating which ones of their favorite hunts would receive these honors. Over the last few years, DC has seen its dining scene explode with star chefs setting up shop along side well established dining institutions to provide world class gastronomical experiences. When the awards were announced in the fall of this year, twelve restaurants received the coveted acknowledgement – 2 stars: Inn at Little Washington, Minibar and Pineapple & Pearls; 1 star: Blue Duck Tavern, the Dabney, Fiola, Kinship, Masseria, Plume, Rose’s Luxury, Sushi Taro and Tail Up Goat
2. MGM opens a casino and hotel at the National Harbor
While several other notable hotels opened up this year in Washington, DC, such as The Trump International Hotel and the Watergate, none opened with as much hoopla and fanfare as the new MGM in National Harbor. Following an opening gala, the new casino opened 3o minutes earlier than planned on December 8th and by noon the following day had already seen 50,000 visitors. Demand is so strong that most of the restaurants are booked solid through January. At a cost of $1.4 billion, the new hotel and casino boasts one of the largest casino floors, 50,000 square feet of meeting space, 234 guest rooms and 74 suites, a 3,000 seat theater along as well as world class shopping and dining. The new hotel and casino is sure to become one of the crown jewels in the MGM empire.
1. National Museum of African American History and Culture comes to the National Mall
In his opening remark, President Barak Obama said that the museum tells the American story, “one of suffering and delight; one of fear but also of hope; of wandering in the wilderness and then seeing out on the horizon a glimmer of the Promised Land.“ After years of anticipation, the National Museum of African American History and Culture opened its doors in September — and still remains one of the hottest tickets in town. Hundreds of thousands of people have already flocked to visit it and there have been no signs that the demand is stopping. The massive museum is five floors above ground and an additional four underground with 85,000 square feet of exhibition space currently housing nearly 3000 objects, 12 exhibitions, 13 different interactives with 17 stations, and 183 videos. The museum takes the museum experience to a new level taking the best aspects of other museums to tell the African American story.
Do you agree with our list and ranking? We’d love to hear from you, Please let us know your thoughts and let us know if we missed anything.
