DC Stands for Depressed City? Vibes are Off.
We’re at mid-March, Spring is taking its sweet time to arrive. Getting snowfall barely days after we had 80 degree temps was a LOT.
Not that a random Snow Day isn’t fun, but it’s MARCH! In any case, the temps rose a little again afterwards, but we’re still a ways off from Spring proper.
Even so, it was nice enough to meet up with a friend for brunch yesterday and have a little wander around the city. I hadn’t really checked the calendar when we made plans, but it was the weekend before St. Patrick’s Day, the weekend of AwesomeCon and the day of a Caps game.
Any one of these things would make me rethink our location for getting together, but all three? In the vicinity of our chosen restaurant? It should have been a nightmare. …and it wasn’t. And that’s… weird.
I know the city, and the world, has been through a lot, and I’ve been mostly inside for a few months, but the downtown area just didn’t feel as lively as it used to. As we passed by many spots that used to be open and serve as good distractions, we found they’re now closed. People going to their respective events were sticking to venues right next door, which makes sense. But usually, there would be such a crush of people that you’d see people dining and drinking a little farther away before their events.
I can’t say that it’s all due to the change in the administration, but it does feel like, overall, the city’s a little less cool, a little down in the dumps. Still seeing military groups patrolling our streets is weird, even moreso given how dead quiet it is downtown.
Maybe the city’s mood will change with the Spring. The cherry blossom festival is still on the way, that usually brings crowds. But for now, I’m going to suggest we check out other areas of the city in a very unscientific attempt to test our hypothesis.
For now though… there’s some good urban art. That, at least, hasn’t changed.
A set of murals by Luther Wright in Downtown DC.
I’d like to hope that the city will awaken with the season, and Spring and Summer will feel different as people emerge from their homes, even if there may be slightly less places for them to hang out. We’ll see!
Until then, I’ll keep an eye on the weather, get ready to resume my daily walks and hope for the best. 🙂
