Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe
Dupont Circle, Washington, DC NW
Kramerbooks and Afterwords Café, more affectionately known as Kramer’s by those in the know, is a very popular bookstore and café in the heart of Dupont Circle in the NW quadrant of Washington, DC.
The Kramerbooks and Afterwords Café's formula - an eclectic collection of books, cool bar, good food, and a variety of live events (music, book signings, readings) - has created an appealing atmosphere for an equally eclectic and hip DC crowd since 1976.
I paid a quick visit in May of 2010 while in DC for the CRS/NAR meetings. Kramerbooks and Afterwords Café has a special meaning for me, as I worked there as a bartender and waiter in the spring and summer of 1977 before and after graduation from the University of Maryland. Money was excellent (good since I put myself through school and had rent to pay), the crowd was always interesting (politicos, reporters, marketing folks, students, tourists, government staffers), employees were a varied bunch of college and post-college folks, and the live and recorded music (Fleetwood Mac was a fave during that era) ranged from jazz to classical, from pop and folk to rock.
It was quite a step back in time to walk in the door again, even more so since while it had the same vibe and some things looked the same, it had been through some substantial remodeling in the many years since I was last there.
But the best memory of Kramer's was meeting my wife there!! She worked in a nearby office and came by with friends to celebrate her upcoming graduation and I was their waiter. I’ll spare you details…if you REALLY want to know we’ll chat privately.
The other irony thing is during that particular DC trip I had a chance to meet up with Pat Kennedy. Turns out that Pat is a flutist (you may already know that), AND she was in a small group that played at Kramer’s years ago around the same time.
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