Hello, My Name Is...

...Devon Guralnick and I am freshman at George Washington University. From growing up in London I am already accustomed to the idea of a Starbucks on every street corner and other chains scattered throughout the city. However, amongst them were always the small, individually owned restaurants and cafes that had their own personality and character. Each one drew in a different crowd and offered something new. Whether it was the neighborhood pub that had its own cozy feel, a bar that served their drinks out of paint cans or a café in the side of cheese shop that offered a inimitable menu that incorporated various cheeses in almost every dish, they were all unique. These types of restaurants could be found everywhere throughout London, and more importantly, in every neighborhood. Coming to Foggy Bottom at first I thought it very similar to London until I realized I had to travel blocks before I could find places like I could find just down the street from me at home. Only after a semester of living in Foggy Bottom did I begin to explore the restaurants outside the domains of our campus (and within).  Since then I have began to appreciate the area that we live in more and think it is important that more people realize that our neighborhood has more to offer than the chains of shops run by the same people who run Gallery or the typical food of Au Bon Pain and Bertuccis.

- Devon Guralnick 

Hi!  I'm Josie Charrington and I am also freshman at George Washington Universty.  I moved to Washington DC from a suburb of Philadelphia and although it had its fair share of chains, there were a number of small neighborhood places that I had grown attached to.   As any person would, I quickly began to explore my new neighborhood of Foggy Bottom as soon as I got there.  I had high hopes of finding that great café, or cozy, hole-in-the-wall restaurant that you always pictured in cities.  You can imagine my initial disappointment when instead of finding these things I was bombarded with the all to familiar Starbucks and Bertuccis.  But like all places,you have to dig deeper to find all that it has to offer.  As I devoted more time to exploring my city, I was in turn rewarded.  I found my own places that I visit regularly and soon it all felt like home.  My only hope is that other people will take the time to discover what else their city has to offer, beyond the shallow corporate chains that seem to be everywhere!
-Josie Charrington