The Eastern Market Metro is in Capitol Hill, in Washington DC. It's a great neighborhood, along Pennsylvania Avenue SE, literally eight blocks from the US Capitol Dome. It's the market area for the neighborhood, but also finds many tourists here. If you start walking down 8th St SE, you are now in the very middle of Barracks Row. Barracks Row itself has some businesses, but is best known for it's dining, the best favorite at the moment being Rose's Luxury, which will usually require a very lengthy wait, regardless of your diplomatic or VIP credentials. In some ways, we are all equal at Rose's Luxury.
On the way to Rose's Luxury from the Metro or from Penn.Ave, you'll notice a heavier than normal concentration of barber shops. Sadly, we've lost a few, though a few new ones have opened up. The tried & true & trustworthy is Brice's Barber Shop, just south of the freeway on 8th St SE (currently closed for renovations, so they are up a few blocks close to the Metro).
If you are in Capitol Hill, with fine dining and high & tight haircuts, you just know you are close to the Marine Barracks. And you are, which is how this got to be Barracks Row.
The Marine Barracks is the oldest post of the Marine Corps; this is the home of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, this is the home of the President's Marine Band. These military personnel are the cream. They provide security for the White House, Camp David, as well as other Washington prime locations. This campus includes several buildings, though mostly between G & I Streets SE and between 8th & 9th Streets SE. This campus does usually make the Halloween tours, and yes, it is a National Historic Landmark as this location was selected by President Jefferson and dates to 1801.
Their ceremonial duties are what interest us as tourists and neighbors. Every Friday night, crowds start to gather at 7pm for a seat at the 8:45pm Parade. If you are expecting to be in Washington DC on a Friday evening in 2015, see their 2015 schedule here; this year, May 1, 2015 to August 28, 2015.
The seating is free, and if you are unable to secure a guaranteed seat, try your luck with the general attendance standby line. Yes, the first come is the first served, and they do start showing up at 7pm, with a crowd of some 3500 spectators.
There is usually an honorary guest (a few weeks ago, it was Senator John McCain), who is most often a veteran or other military dignitary. The Parade includes a Silent Drill Team as well as the Marching Band and Drum & Bugle Corp.
If you'd like more information, the Marine Barracks website can help, and the Marine Barracks Facebook is also key.
Comments(24)