One of my favorite places to do just that in Washington, DC is Cantina Marina.

Okay, the above photo was taken in early April, on a Sunday morning, so the place looks dead, but it really does get a big crowd most evenings in warmer weather.

Situated in the Southwest Waterfront District, at the Gangplank Marina, the ultra casual and laid-back Cantina Marina offers 2,400 square feet of outdoor patio overlooking the Potomac, along with a small stage that has live music for happy hour and into the evening on some nights.

It’s perfect for an after work drink or to watch a sunset, but the crowd, usually younger professionals, make finding a seat challenging if you get there later in the evening.

Bayou inspired seafood sandwiches, po’ boys and a muffuletta, along with fried oysters, BBQ shrimp, fish tacos and a personal favorite, the blackened crab cake sandwich, make Cantina Marina a place where you can grab a bite if you’re hungry, but most people head there for a couple after work cocktails or a cold beer or two on a nice summer night. 

If DC’s heat and humidity get to you, you can dine in indoors as well.  But’s it’s usually more fun do enjoy the view from the patio.

Try one of their five varieties of margaritas or their tasty blueberry lemonade. But don’t expect fancy glasses on the patio — beers, wines and cocktails are usually served in plastic cups.

Cantina Marina
600 Water Street, SW at Water Street.
Washington, DC (map it)
202-554-8396

Hours – Open daily at 11:30 a.m., closes at 10:00 p.m. Sundays–Thursdays and 11:00 on Fridays & Saturdays.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Waterfront/SEU – Green line then long 3-block walk. (about 10-minutes) or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Paid garage is available at various lots and garages, but look for metered street parking on Maine Ave., Water or 6th Streets.

Images – singer, sandwich, exterior – personal collection – © 2008 – Jon Rochetti

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Post from: The DC Traveler

It’s a curious place for a statue to lobster fishing, considering Washington, DC and the Chesapeake Bay is prime crab territory.

The statute is a copy of the original statute, commissioned by the state of Maine, for display when it participated in the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City.  The state was exhibited the statute in the Hall of States, and intended to show the world what Maine was about and its impact on the global food supply.

Sculptor Victor Kahill created the larger-than-life bronze statue of a Maine fisherman kneeling while pegging a freshly caught lobster. To stop lobsters from killing each other in transit after being caught, a small wooden plug or peg is inserted into the joints of the lobster’s two claws.   Today, rubber bands are more commonly used than wooden pegs.

There are about 50 varieties of lobsters, with about 10 types commercially fished.  The largest lobster ever caught was an American lobster at just over 44 pounds.  The typical lobster on sale at your local supermarket or restaurant is between 1½ and 3 pounds and must molt at  least 20 times before reaching that size.

When the statue was initially unveiled, some Maine lobstermen were a bit disappointed about the fisherman’s clothing, as it was felt a sou’wester (waterproof oilskin overcoat) would be more reflective of a typical lobsterman from Maine. Fisherman also commented that the artist should have incorporated a dog with the fisherman, which was most typical of area fishermen  as well as had the model bending over, not kneeling, to peg the lobster.

The original versions were made of plaster covered with bronze paint, but the DC version was created in the 1970s using the classic Greek and Chinese “lost wax” process.

Victor Kahill Maine Lobsterman Statue
Maine Avenue and M Street SW, between 6th and 7th St., at the Waterfront
Washington, DC (map it)

Dates and Times – viewable 24-hours daily

Admission – None required, as the statue is on a public sidewalk.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – line, then a  block walk or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – metered parking is available.

Images – sign- Flickr - slack12, others from personal collection   © 2008 – Jon Rochetti 

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Post from: The DC Traveler