Why I Love D.C. Cultural Opinion Last year, I read an interesting article written by William Norwich that referenced DC as the new social capital. Norwich wrote, “Sorry to break this news to any Manhattanites still in denial, but Washington, D.C., is the new New York. Even under the heavy blanket of recession, whether you are Democrat or Republican, there is energy in our nation’s capital that you used to feel only in New York, the blissful to the bumptious all in a D.C. minute now, a kind of youthquake, or “youthfulquake,” if you want to be generous about the ages”. DC Artists, Photo Source: Tracy Clayton Washington had unexpectedly become cool. To some extent, his observation is correct. A youthquake has occurred in the nation's capital, however, Washington has not taken away New York's swagger. In the early 2000’s, the majority of DC's nightlife was located in lounges on K Street, bars in Adams Morgan and Georgetown. During the Bush Administration, Smith Point, a Georgetown bar, hosted parties with social networking website, latenightshots.com, a member's only network that invited young and "elite" Republicans to join. Thankfully, their days are out numbered as the majority of young people here are independently-minded and less conservative. January 2009 marked the beginning of DC's revitalization from the Bush era. The faint memories of Late Night Shots and Bushisms left after the inauguration of President Obama, a viral figure in popular culture. The fascination about the First Family also introduced the Real World DC cast to America's youth last year. Unfortunately, MTV was unable to portray the “real” elements of the city as many businesses owners turned the cast and crew members away. The majority of the show was filmed in Georgetown, a part of the city that many consider to be it’s own entity. The city's youth culture was hardly exposed during the filming of the Real World DC. Photo Source: Yospyn The focus on Washington also caused growth in population, tourism and job openings.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city’s population increased with 10,000 new residents, marking 2009 as DC’s largest annual growth since World War II. This created a boom in real estate value and the rise in rent for prime neighborhoods in Northwest, the largest quadrant in the city. Consequently, younger residents searched for affordable housing in other locations, neighborhoods like Columbia Heights, the Atlas District, Shaw, Bloomingdale, Petworth or the Southwest Waterfront. The population shift and influx of younger residents provided opportunities for local business owners. New bars, galleries and venues were opened in different neighborhoods, stretching from the Northwest quadrant to the Northeast quadrant of the city. Owners also incorporated DJ booths, extensive drink menus and late night dining to entertain younger crowds, starting on Sunday to the end of the weekend on Saturday. Residents celebrate change in U Street, Source: Brandon Wu Our tech-savvy President and his young administration, ranging from 20 to 50 something year olds, can also be a factor in determining why he has more appeal to younger people then Senator McCain had during the Presidential election in 2008. The Mid-City District (from 14th through U Street) has transformed into a destination for social gatherings, creativity and entrepreneurship. New boutiques, music venues, independent galleries, theaters, yoga studios and a Jamaican themed bar (Patty Boom Boom) are all within walking distant to DC's very own, Ben’s Chili Bowl. By far, this area has gone through the most visible transformation.

Sarah Wilman, from the NYT, discovered that "53 restaurants, bars and boutiques have opened in the last two years in the area known as Mid-City (roughly from Thomas Circle up 14th Street through U Street, and along U down to Ninth). The election of Barack Obama — have met and married, helping to rejuvenate a night life culture that’s uniquely DC".

A few blocks from the White House, bottle service and guestlists expanded with more options for clubbers and socialites on K Street. Across town, UK based, Ping Pong Dim Sum, opened for business a few months ago, while the George V Entertainment Group signed a lease for Buddha Bar DC to open next month. The city appears to be sleeping less as events take place throughout the week for the city's Millennial generation; a mixture of yuppies, political types, hipsters, techies, environmentalists, college students, humanitarians, creatives and everything in between.  Inevitably, a panel of demographers, economists, geographers and authors selected DC as the “next youth-magnet city” compared to other cities in an article published in the WSJ. An excerpt from the article:

Government hiring is projected to grow fast, and jobs in lobbying, aerospace, defense contracting and professional services are also a draw. Mr. DeVol calls Washington the national leader in high-tech services, surpassing Silicon Valley. Washington's 4,000-plus nonprofits hold appeal for service-minded youth. And amid rising regulation of financial markets, says Barbara Lang, president of the DC Chamber of Commerce, "much of Wall Street is now moving to K Street." Richard Florida, an American urban studies theorist, wrote “the public sector is ascendant and, in the eyes of many, Barack Obama is America’s coolest boss. These factors will only bolster Washington, D.C., a city that is already a hotbed of young talent. 45.9 percent of Washington, D.C.’s workforce has a bachelor’s degree or more, and young people enjoy positions of influence on congressional staffs and at think tanks. And it is a center for media, journalism, and blogging as well as high-tech. D.C. is the top city in my own rankings of best places for young singles aged 20-29. If I was 23 or 24 again, it’s where I’d head”.

The federal government also employs the majority of the city's residents, including residents who live within the capital beltway in Maryland and Virginia.  The stable job market also placed six counties in Maryland and Virginia as the wealthiest counties in the country (a list comprised of 25 rankings in Forbes Magazine). Topping the list, Loudoun County, a suburb of Northern Virginia, has an annual median household income of $110,643.  Overall, DC, MD and VA (the Washington Metropolitan Area), has the lowest unemployment rate (at 6.2%) compared to the national average of 10%. Photo Source: furcafe A fresh crop of America’s youth came to Washington for something different last year.  Perhaps, it was the affiliation of living close to President Obama, the possibility of a new job or to experience urban living that caused a youthquake to occur in Washington.  These factors have altered the city's demographics but DC will always be a transient town to me.  Many aspects of Washington will be revived or preserved but unlike other cities, Washingtonians have always embraced change throughout different Presidents and administrations. It will be interesting to see who will stay in DC after the next administration. The most astonishing part about DC's "youthquake" is the rise of DC's creative class. As the city undergoes more urban development, I foresee the rise of DC's thriving creative community. The moment is now and there's an opportunity to change the perception of the city that goes beyond politics. *** To see more from Allicia, visit: http://evilmonito.com/author/atek/