A D.C. Dream Day with local artist Rose Jaffe

In D.C. Dream Day, we ask our favorite people in the area to tell us how they would spend a perfect day in the District.

Rose Jaffe credits D.C.’s creative community as being a critical support network that helped launch her prolific art career. Known for her colorful murals around the city — including a depiction of Ruth Bader Ginsburg near the intersection of 15th and U streets in Northwest — she’s now giving back to the community through her Petworth studio, the Stew . It’s not only a workspace for Jaffe, but also serves as a hub for artists to connect and showcase their creations at public events.

“I found that creating spaces for artists to meet and connect and heal and express themselves was a great way to bring the community together,” says Jaffe, 31.

On her dream day, the full-time artist and Brookland resident would spend time visiting other art spaces around town — and getting some pho in, too.

I would wake up, make a cup of warm water, and do some mediation. Then, I would go to yoga. I love Bluebird Sky Yoga — it’s my new favorite neighborhood yoga studio because I live in Brookland now.

I would come home, change, and then go to Rock Creek Park. There is a walk by Beach Drive, behind Carter Barron [Amphitheatre], along the creek. I have been taking walks there with my family since I was a kid. I love taking a quick escape from the hustle and bustle and connect with nature but not have to go very far. If it’s warm, I would stick my feet in the creek for a bit.

And then, after that, I would go to my very favorite restaurant in D.C., Pho Viet. I love that it is kind of just a little hole in the wall and it’s not really a fancy place. It’s the best pho I’ve ever had. I eat a lot of Asian food because I’m gluten free, and it’s just delicious.

If I wanted to get inspiration, I would go to the National Museum of Women in the Arts, one of my very favorite museums. The gift shop is one of the best museum gift shops in the whole city. It’s not only because I have a huge mural in the gift shop. . . . They really work to highlight local artists in that gift shop, and also fun, feminist art. And then, the building itself — seeing its beautiful interior is a wonder in and of itself, and just the fact that it is a museum of all women artists.

Then I would maybe walk to the National Portrait Gallery. The Portrait Gallery is definitely one of the best places in D.C. Specifically, I would check out their rotating exhibition and then I love the third floor which is contemporary art.

If I had it my way and money were no object, I would go to some fancy restaurant. Equinox serves seasonal dishes and is working to eliminate food waste (something I care a lot about). I would get anything that is fresh, vegetarian and seasonal! My partner is also veg, so we might share something and have some wine.

To round out the night, I would go to an art opening. Ideally, my perfect day would be on the first Friday of the month because that’s when all the art openings happen. There’s First Friday Dupont with Hillyer Art Space, Studio Gallery and more galleries in the neighborhood.