Rachel Sadon
Instagram is the enchanted mirror, the field with the greener grass, and damn does this non-swamp look good through its rose-colored filters. For a relatively small city, there is a tremendous amount going on, and it can be hard to keep up with it all. Live vicariously, learn about the city’s history, or get ideas for future adventures from these 15 accounts.
@dcsoulrecordings: Kevin Coombe maintains a website that documents the history of D.C. soul and funk, and his Instagram account is full of photos of vintage local vinyl and promotional photos from once-loved bands whose records are now rare commodities. Nearly every photo will tell you something you didn’t know about the local scene: after the death of James Brown drummer Clyde Stubblefield last month, Coombe posted a photo of a record by the Young Senators, the proto-go-go band that Stubblefield joined for a year Brown fired him. — Pat Padua
@barbie_pond_ave_Q: One of D.C.’s more enduring mysteries is who exactly is behind the Barbie Pond in Logan Circle (at 15th and Q Streets NW), and by extension the manager of the Instagram account that tracks the dolls’ various exploits throughout the year. The bio reads: “bringing Logan Circle property values down since 2014,” and he has identified himself as a federal government lawyer who grew up in Northern Virginia. But the artiste’s semi-anonymity doesn’t diminish the joy of stumbling on the pond in IRL, where the scene typically rotates with the holidays (a personal favorite: naked barbies lounging in a Nativity hot tub). For those who don’t get to the area much, keeping up the the pond on Instagram is the next best thing. — Rachel Sadon
@blackbroadwayonu: The Instagram of the website of the same name, Black Broadway on U shows old and new photos about the history of U Street, D.C.’s Black Broadway. There are historical photos of performers and luminaries who lived or played on U Street, bygone clubs and events, quotes and photos from famous folks, and a bit on local businesses, mostly with a focus on jazz and nightlife of the past. It’s a fascinating way to get more connected with what happened here. — Andrew Wiseman
@exposed_dc: A spin-off of a DCist project, Exposed highlights awesome shots from local photographers and events from around the area and from the annual ExposedDC show, which includes both pros and enthusiasts. This year’s event is March 9th. — Andrew Wiseman
@loverockcreek: Rock Creek Park was the third National Park in the country, and still serves as an escape from the city with trails, wildlife, and history. The Rock Creek Conservancy cares for it through volunteer cleanups, invasive plant removal, events, and more, and their Instagram is full of photos of nature, happenings in the park, things you can do to help, and more. — Andrew Wiseman
@nasagoddard: Located in Greenbelt, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center doesn’t host launches, but they do a lot of research behind some of the most well-known space projects like the Hubble Telescope. The site also runs the Wallops Space Flight Facility in Virginia and their Instagram is full of spectacular launch photos, shots from telescope, and other space awesomeness. — Andrew Wiseman
@nationalbuildingmuseum: The photogenic National Building Museum has a feed full of pictures of the building, both in the modern day and historical shots from its days as the Pension Office for Civil War veterans. The account also posts photos of architecture and design from around the world. It’s a great place to go for highlights of recent exhibits if you’re feeling nostalgic—their collection of photos from The Beach make us with it were still here. — Andrew Wiseman
@thewonderlanddc: Wonderland, the mainstay of Columbia Heights social life, also has a hilarious staff-run Instagram full of jokes, deals, and shots of funny things in the bar and folks in sundresses from their annual Sundress Fest. They also sometimes put out amusing requests, like offering free rounds of drinks to the first person to bring the bartenders coffee and sweets. And sometimes, there’s Miley Cyrus dressed as a taco. — Andrew Wiseman
@acreativedc: The feed and initiative was founded in January 2015 by artist Morgan H. West with the goal of promoting and highlighting D.C.’s creative diversity, from food and fashion to art and dance. A Creative DC includes social media channels along with a newsletter and online resources from its editorial team, all featuring what it calls “the other side” of D.C. Posts are varied, calling out drool-worthy food and talented individuals to watch. Washington can feel like a small city at times, and it’s easy to get caught up in a routine or find yourself running in the same circles. Following @acreativedc is a daily reminder that D.C. is a city with plenty of discover and a damn lot to be proud of when it comes to arts and innovation. Posts from the community with the #acreativedc tag are frequently shared as well. —Travis Mitchell
@unionmarketdc: Union Market (1309 5th St. NE) is now in its fifth year of business and is going as strong as ever. It’s the go-to food hall and market in D.C. at the moment, making its Instagram feed a must-watch for anyone looking for local food, drink, or shopping inspiration. Yes, it’s promotional, but it’s also a way to stay abreast of tasty eats that might not be front-page news. Expect pictures of its more than 40 vendors as well as information on upcoming events and specials, including happenings at nearby Dock 5 and Lab 1270. —Travis Mitchell
@messhalldc: Many of the city’s small food producers owe success to time in the kitchens at this food incubator. Mess Hall’s (703 Edgewood St. NE) doors aren’t always open to the public, so the space’s Instagram feed is often the best way to see what new local food products are being cooked up for the market. You’ll impress all your friends knowing about the next best condiment or restaurant to hit the market. The small space also hosts public events now and then, such as Ramen World and New Kitchens on the Block, with information shared through the feed. —Travis Mitchell
@wethepeopledc: Though certain themes recur, no two days are alike on the WeThePeopleDC handle, which is held by a different Washingtonian every day of the week. The founders encourage about 5-10 photos throughout the day, offering a glimpse of other people’s pets, work spaces, coffee shops, apartments, hobbies, and favorite city spots. One person recently visited some of the city’s many presidential statues, and had them pose with protest signs. A journalist took followers inside the WAMU studios. Even the Barbie Pond made a recent appearance. “What’s amazing is the variety of the city and how much of a community it really is,” co-founder Katelyn Bryant-Comstock told DCist in 2015. — Rachel Sadon
@igdc: It doesn’t get much more meta or beautifully shot than this clearinghouse for local ‘grammers. Photographer Holly Garner created the account intent on creating a community both online and in real life, with meet-ups and organized photowalks. In between, the account celebrates great shots of the city with sincerity, enthusiasm, and encouragement. It’s a really nice thing to behold. — Rachel Sadon
@dcpl_literati: The Instagram account of the DC Public Library Foundation makes the city’s library system look as cool as it really is—which is to say, really freaking cool. Shots of punk shows, the cool toys in MLK’s makerspace, and scenes from Uncensored DC provide an excellent reminder of how much more DCPL has to offer beyond books (don’t worry, there’s plenty of those, too). — Rachel Sadon
@tinyfellas: Some of D.C.’s most creative art installations could be right under your nose, and you wouldn’t even know it. That’s why Becky Nissel and Jason Campos share photos from their “tinyfellas” project on Instagram. Last fall, the co-creators began placing tiny figurines—less than an inch tall—in places like parks and sidewalks across the city. One of the earlier exhibits featured a police officer poking a man who’s laying on a bench, and another scene showcased a group of people in camping gear outside of the REI store in NoMa. The Instagram page now has more than a dozen posts with hints about where the objects are so people can find them and share their own photos of the installations on social media.—Christina Sturdivant
