ArtPlace has named the intersection of Adams Morgan, U Street, and DuPont Circle as one of the top 12 “ArtPlaces” of 2013.

ArtPlace describes itself as a collaborative effort on the part of 13 foundations, eight federal agencies, and six banks to invest in community art. ArtPlace believes patronizing the arts in this way “can drive vibrancy and diversity so powerful that it transforms communities.”

The top 12 ArtPlaces of 2013 are 12 “neighborhoods in the largest 44 metropolitan areas in the country where the arts are central to creating places where people—residents and visitors—want to be.”

According to a press release, the list was compiled using 6 criteria.

Four indicators measure the ingredients of vibrancy: the number of retail and service businesses; the percentage of independent businesses; the neighborhood’s Walk Score; and the percentage of workers in creative occupations living in the neighborhood. Two arts-related indicators were also used: the number of arts-related non-profits and the number of arts-related businesses. Finally, neighborhood scores were normalized for family income so that neighborhoods with the highest concentration of income did not skew the results.

Adams Morgan scored well in all of these categories, particularly in the percentage of independent businesses and the number of arts-related, non-profit ones. The detailed list of the 12 ArtPlaces reports that 88 percent of all businesses in Adams Morgan are independent, and 43 of them are non-profit or related to the arts.

D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray was confident in his belief that the neighborhood’s place on the list is well-earned, and indicates the broader trend of improvement within the entire district. “This recognition affirms the investments we have been making in the District’s livability and sustainability as well as the investments we’ve made in our creative economy by supporting artists, small businesses, cultural non-profits, retail and restaurants. These individuals and institutions, in turn, improve the District’s quality of life by creating safe, convenient, unique and thriving neighborhoods,” he said in a press release.

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After weeks of delicious home cooking over break, only free food and a little booze can cheer up the January blues.

Cupcakes may be the ruling food group in D.C., but you’ve probably not heard of the vegan bakery Sticky Fingers Sweets & Eats. Nonetheless, they’re the reigning champions of “Cupcake Wars.” They are defending this title on Sunday in “Cupcake Wars All-Stars”, and have invited the hungry public to join them at their viewing party. Complete with absolutely free cupcakes and encouraged heckling, the party will be held this Sunday from 7 to 10 p.m. at Bourbon in Adams Morgan. For a tasty pregame to your holiday weekend festivities, head over to Adams Morgan and be prepared to defend why Baked & Wired or Georgetown Cupcake offers truly the best cupcakes in D.C.

Not all that hungry and don’t feel like straying too far from home? Well, Dixie Liquor has you covered! On Thursday the 19th, they will be hosting a beer tasting of the local award-winning brewery Starr Hill, featuring the Dark Star Stout and the Northern Lights IPA. The tasting will take place from 6 to 9 p.m., so be sure to stop by for your free drinks for the day. Don’t forget photo identification proving you’re 21 years of age.

You’ve heard a little bit about D.C. as a whole. Now it’s time to explore her neighborhoods past M and Wisconsin. We don’t pretend this a comprehensive guide, but rather a little taste of what the city has to offer. Hold tight for Friday when we take on the top nightlife venues!

Dupont Circle (Metro: Dupont Circle)

With a combination of embassies, restaurants, shopping, and bars, Dupont Circle has it all, and it’s only a free GUTS bus ride away from Georgetown. Dupont Circle is also the closest Red Line Metro Station to Georgetown.

The main shopping street in this area is Connecticut Avenue northwest of the circle. Here you can pop into one of the largest independent bookstores in the region, Kramerbooks & Afterwords, which also has a café famous for its delicious pie!

Just off the circle on Massachusetts Avenue is Embassy Row, where the SFS Academic Council organizes trick-or-treating every Halloween.

Also check out the Phillips Collection. It’s not free, but there’s an excellent rotating collection of modernist and contemporary art.

Photo by Shubert Ciencia

Foggy Bottom (Metro: Foggy Bottom)

Just a 20-minute walk down M street, Foggy Bottom is home to George Washington University, the Kennedy Center, and the White House.

Adams Morgan (Metro: Woodley Park, 42 bus to 14th St./Columbia Rd.)

It’s hard to talk about Adams Morgan without talking about nightlife. But this area has a slew of great ethnic restaurants, from Ethiopian to Arab fare.

Sober or drunk, the tiny Amsterdam Falafel shop is your best bet for cheap, delicious falafel. This self-service shop let’s you stuff your falafel full of delicious toppings, and best of all it’s open late for the hungry bar hopper. And if you’re still thirsty afterwards, Tryst is a great place to listen to somber jams while sipping a sophisticated beverage.

A few blocks from the Woodley Park-Adams Morgan Metro Station, the National Zoo is free and makes a great daytrip in the fall or spring. The Zoo is one of only a handful of U.S. zoos that have giant pandas.

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