Foggy Bottom - Washington, DC Area Guide

Foggy Bottom was the first settlement in the area that is now Washington, D.C. While no one is quite sure how Foggy Bottom got its unusual name, the most common explanation involves the damp fog that used to roll over from the Potomac River on muggy evenings to blanket the neighborhood. Today, the neighborhood has shifted from its industrial past to a lively area that also includes one of the biggest performing arts centers in all of D.C., The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This beautiful white building on the edge of the Potomac hosts a number of events, from Broadway plays and the National Symphony Orchestra to free live music events every Friday evening at 6 p.m.

Like most of D.C., eating out and nightlife in Foggy Bottom/West End revolve around brunch and happy hour. Pennsylvania Avenue, stretching southeast through Foggy Bottom, and M Street, running from Georgetown in the west into West End to the east, are the two main commercial areas. As evidenced by the weeks-long waiting list for a reservation, Founding Farmers is one of the most popular neighborhood spots along Penn Avenue. The delectable chicken and waffles here serve as a reminder of the southern influence in D.C. This place is bustling at all hours of the day, not just brunch. If you're there for dinner, make sure to try the fried green tomatoes before moving onto a main course of scallops and risotto. If those aren't to your fancy, the extensive menu can provide something for everyone. For a really nice night out, head to Blue Duck Tavern where you can try eclectic dishes, such as bone marrow and sturgeon pate, or more traditional fare, including beef ribs and french fries. This dimly lit and extremely sophisticated restaurant makes for a wonderful dining experience. Nightlife in this neighborhood ranges from The Bar at the Ritz-Carlton to the student-packed Froggy Bottom Pub. The latter has come a long way from its dingy basement, hole-in-the-wall past, but it's still primarily a college bar. Try the homemade Froggy Bottom Pub Amber for $3 during the daily happy hour from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The food menu provides an interesting mix of American pub food and Vietnamese cuisine.

Transportation in and around Foggy Bottom/West End could not be easier. Three metro stops are all within 10 minutes walking: Foggy Bottom, Farragut North and Dupont Circle. Together, these metro stops service the red, blue, orange and silver lines, allowing residents to get anywhere in the greater D.C. area very easily. Metro rides range between $1.75 and $5.90 depending on the time of day and how far you go. There are many bus lines that also service this neighborhood. The 31, 32 and 36 buses all run along Pennsylvania Avenue, moving east towards Chinatown and the National Mall and west into Georgetown. These buses cost $1.75 for a one-way trip, while the Circulator bus line that also operates in the neighborhood only costs $1. To get the best rates and most convenience on all of these public transportation systems, purchase a reloadable SmarTrip card, and simply swipe your way onto each ride. Cabs are also plentiful in the neighborhood and are always an option. Likewise for the immensely popular Uber cabs, which can take you to most places within D.C. for $10. Foggy Bottom/West End is also extremely walkable and bike-friendly. Residents can get just about anywhere they need on foot, whether that's a restaurant, bar, grocery store, metro or bus station, even neighboring neighborhoods. In fact, WalkScore.com gave the neighborhood a Walk Score of 92/100 and a Bike Score of 86/100. Parking and heavy traffic are the main deterrents to driving in this neighborhood. As long as you're headed somewhere reachable on public transportation, it's almost always a better option to pass on driving.

There are plenty of smaller parks in the area, Washington Cirlcle Park, Anniversary Park, and Edward J Kelley Park among others. As a neighborhood with lots of mid rise buildings, parks for dogs and other green spaces can also often be found within the property of the apartment and condo communities themselves. Francis Playground on 25th and M offers a few really nice amenities, including, a free public pool, a small baseball/softball field with bleachers and an open recreational lawn that are dog-friendly. No annual events or activities are held here, but just across the river at Arlington Gateway Park, there are a number of free events, such as the Rosslyn Jazz Festival every September and outdoor movie nights every Friday evening between May and August.

Foggy Bottom/West End is one of the more expensive neighborhoods to live in within D.C. The $2,346 average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is over 90 percent higher than the D.C. average of $1,200. Other common expenses, such as gas and dining, are on par with the rest of D.C., but both of those are still higher than the national average. Gas in D.C. sits at 12 percent higher than the national average, while a nice restaurant meal rarely runs under $15 and a beer at a bar no less than $5.

Shoppers living in this neighborhood simply need to walk a few blocks to the west along M Street to enter the shopping haven in Georgetown. Here you can find anything you need, from high-end clothing at Tory Burch or Ralph Lauren to budget-friendly options at TJ Maxx and H&M. Everything in between, from Anthropologie to Zara, exists as well. Back in the Foggy Bottom/West End neighborhood, Reiter’s Books remains a great specialty bookstore for those interested in publications related to trade. You wouldn't go here for the next Game of Thrones books, but you might pick up a professional journal or a non-fiction book discussing any matter of interesting ideas, from evolution to a human's ability to learn different languages. For more aesthetic-minded shopping, the Indian Craft Shop located inside the Department of Interior building displays and sells carefully crafted items made my American Indians from across the continent. This shop, which has been selling all sorts of creations, from jewelry to pottery and katsina doll carvings, since its inception in 1938, is well worth a stop. This neighborhood also benefits from two great grocery stores, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, both on Pennsylvania Avenue. For farm to table produce, residents can also head to the Foggy Bottom FRESHFARM Market, conveniently located at the Foggy Bottom Metro Station, open every Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.