Never Stop Learning, Vol II

More so than any other U.S. destination, the majority of people who visit Washington, D.C., do the same darn thing:

Museums, monuments, Mall; repeat.

And who can blame ’em? If it’s ivory towers and portraits of dead guys in wigs you’re looking for, D.C. can’t be beat.

But it’s also an incredibly diverse and livable city, one flush with great dining, buzzworthy nightlife and a slew of under-the-radar gems — assuming you know where to look.

Thusly, we partnered with our good friends at GANT to showcase some of our favorite spots in the District, the scoops you can pick up from each, and the top-shelf gear that’ll carry you through in high style.

School’s in session – join us, whydontcha?

PRIMAL FITNESS

THE SKINNY
A gym in a historic firehouse that plays home to the American Parkour Academy

THE LEARNINGS

• Routines aren’t for everyone: rotate your workouts via an aggregator like ClassPass or Zozi to keep things interesting (especially when you’re on the road)
• Indulge your inner 10-year-old: no one wants to work out on vacation. Parkour class is more like recess with a side of pain and gain.
• Fundamentals first: Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither was James Bond’s stuntman. Owners Jesse and Mark break down complex maneuvers into building blocks anyone can master.

THE LOOK

MUNICIPAL FISH MARKET

THE SKINNY
D.C.’s freshest shellfish and seafood served straight off the boats that caught them

THE LEARNINGS

• Great place to take an adventurous client: this is the definition of a local’s spot
• Know your lobster-tail innards: Black, veiny tube? Digestive tract; bad. Sac of bright reddish globes? Roe; good. Greenish paste? That’s tomalley. Aggressive flavor, but diehards swear by it.
• You’re eating with your hands, and lobster can get messy — opt for crawfish if you’re trying to keep up appearances

THE LOOK

TRUNK CLUB DC

THE SKINNY
Stately brick-and-mortar home of the formerly online-only clothing concern where ace stylists will pour you a dram, pick some quality duds and send you on your way looking dapper and feeling fine.

THE LEARNINGS

• When it comes to the choosin’, tell these folks what you like and then let them drive — expert help’s what you came for, after all
• Have that drink — you’d be surprised how much it helps you relax and opens up the dialogue, and an open dialogue leads to a more stylish you
• Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone — one of the best things about working with a stylist is that they’ll choose things you wouldn’t for yourself, with compliment-inducing results

THE LOOK

NATIONAL ARBORETUM

THE SKINNY
The most slept-on of D.C.’s “National” destinations — think of it as a miniature National Park with floral and arboreal “exhibits” from all over the globe.

THE LEARNINGS

• Feeling chipper? Bring your running shoes or a bike — more than nine miles of trail wind through the grounds.
• Tuckered out? Bring a blanket and picnic under the Corinthian columns. Make sure you stow that bottle of white covertly.
• Make sure you check the blooming schedule before you go to see what’s in season; hit the bonsai exhibit regardless.

THE LOOK

MINIBAR BY JOSÉ ANDRÉS

THE SKINNY
A 12-seat, 25- to 30-course avant-garde experience (seriously: this goes way beyond meal) from one of the best chefs in the world

THE LEARNINGS

• March 1st, June 1st, September 1st, December 1st: write those dates down and plan ahead. Reservations open quarterly (via email) for the notoriously hard-to-book restaurant.
• Get the wine pairings. The cocktails are phenomenal, but you want your palate as clean as possible to savor the magic minibar’s chefs conjure up in front of you.
• If you forgot to make a rez, just go to barmini next door — it shares a kitchen with the foodie mecca and you can usually get a table on short notice.

THE LOOK

18TH STREET LOUNGE

THE SKINNY
A super funky lounge and music venue in an unmarked Victorian townhome run by downtempo pioneers Thievery Corporation

THE LEARNINGS

• Tuesday (tango lessons) and Thursday (latin jazz) are best for a killer date night. Wednesday (reggae night) draws a much rowdier — but tasteful — crowd.
• First rule of dancing well: have two drinks before you hit the floor. Second rule: don’t take a drink with you unless it’s in a bottle. Third rule: drink more than five and your moves will suffer, whether you realize it or not.
• Get there by 9 PM to avoid the line and claim a couch on the second- or third-floor lounge

THE LOOK

THE SPECIFICS