As with Chinatown and Columbia Heights, where recent changes have felt almost explosive, Petworth has become a flourishing hot spot for 20-something creatives, single professionals and young families. Despite the neighborhood’s latest transformation, the rich sense of community remains palpable.
History buffs and Lincoln enthusiasts will enjoy learning about the home where the former president spent a quarter of his term and drafted the Emancipation Proclamation. It's a 15-minute stroll from the Georgia Avenue-Petworth Metro station. And be sure to swing by the visitor's center to see a pair of Honest Abe's slippers.
Lazy Sunday afternoons are best spent on a breezy patio with a plate of fried-to-order chicken and a large glass of sweet tea. "This is like the chicken you get at your grandma's house," says one satisfied Hyattsville, Md., customer. "This is real fried chicken." Don't skimp on the sides; the restaurant offers an assortment of Southern-style eats.
The eclectic "Alice in Wonderland"-themed hipster haven has a "Jackson Pollock approach" for its interior decor, says part owner Soren Essen. The walls are splattered with colorful, quirky and delightfully tacky prints. Though technically in Park View, Petworth residents have adopted it as their go-to watering hole, and rave about the bar's trivia nights and its Jim Beam and National Bohemian $6 shot-and-beer combo.
Philip's Shoe Repair
Repair, restore and resole your worn-down shoes and leather goods at this Petworth fixture. Philip Calabro, an orthopedic shoe specialist, has been working miracles on footwear since arriving from Sicily, Italy, in 1966. Old-school craftsmanship also calls for old-school payment: check or cash only.
Correction: A previous version of this story listed an incorrect price for the Jim Beam and National Bohemian shot-and-beer combination at the Looking Glass Lounge. It costs $6.
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