Brunch, Boat, Play Ball!

By Danielle Dellerson

The National Capital Region—or the “DMV,” if you must—is perennially one of the top career destinations in the country.  We live in a sea of Ph.Ds and all manner of fancy degrees—the most of any metropolitan area in these United States.  All of this blurs the fact that you could easily justify moving here because it’s a helluva good time—if you know how to leave your suit at the dry cleaners and toss your government-issued Blackberry in the Potomac (or at least shut the darn thing off for a few hours).  There are countless ways to enjoy the city and its surroundings, but here’s one of my favorites: Brunch, Boat, Play Ball!

The boys of summer thankfully return to Nationals Park in the spring—when it’s still feasible to stand outside for 3+ hours without melting.  Our sea of Ph.Ds turns into a swamp somewhere around the middle of June, at which point your degree is best used as a fan (check back later for some of the best ways to beat the D.C. heat).  But while the humidity is blissfully low, take me out to the ballgame!  Better yet, take me there by boat!  The Potomac Boat Company runs a water taxi from Old Town Alexandria to the ballpark, dropping off passengers with just enough time to grab a snack and a drink before the first pitch.

Because I live just a short walk from the Old Town waterfront, I invited a few friends over for brunch at Chez Moi where we fueled up on frittatas and fruit. Reservations are difficult to come by, but worry not—Old Town has several great brunch spots apart from the one in my living room. A word of caution: brunch is a critical part of this plan but it also threatens to derail it.  We were enjoying ourselves so much that we very nearly missed the boat. Thanks to a dig-deep sprint, we made it just in time to board our trusty vessel, the Lady Josephine.

The voyage across the Potomac on a boat filled with Nats fans always makes me feel like a kid again.  The sense of excitement, camaraderie, and shared joy seems to bring out the best in everyone.  Or maybe it’s the beer they serve on board.  Either way, we made new friends and learned important game-related intel, like today was Bryce Harper’s one-year anniversary playing for the Nats.  Cheers!  And pitcher Stephen Strasburg isn’t starting today—but looks like he’ll be back on the mound soon. Cheers!

Disembarking from the Lady Josephine was bittersweet—one day I’ll have to just putter around the Potomac with no particular place to go.  But today, we had a destination, a team to cheer on, and many mouth-watering food stands to choose from.  That’s one of the best things about going to a Nats game—there’s something for everyone.  There are delectable choices for foodies like me and standard ballpark fair for traditionalists. It’s at once a family-friendly environment and a giant outdoor meat market.  Oh, and bonus if you like baseball.

On this bluebird Saturday, we took the holistic approach to baseball fandom, not worrying too much about watching every inning—or even half of them.  From our perch above the outfield, we soaked in equal parts baseball, people-watching, great food, and lively conversation.

After the Nats beat the Reds, 6-3, I returned home on the Lady Josephine, sunkissed and triumphant.  Anyone who moves to D.C. for a good job may be pleasantly surprised to find an even better life.
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