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WASHINGTON DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

by: The Paper Darlings

Illustration

DENIZ ARTEMEL Editor Owner

Photo by: Anna Campbell | i annameyerphoto

There is something unmistakable about Washington DC.

It is a city where conversations matter. Where relationships shape opportunity. While many proudly call DC home, it is also a global city, shaped by cultures and perspectives from around the world.

It is both intimate and international. That balance is powerful.

Volume 7 marks the return of The Scout Guide to Washington DC, celebrating the individuals and businesses who re ect the very best of it. Inside these pages is a thoughtfully curated collective de ned by intention, excellence, and integrity.

This book came together the way DC does... through relationships and connection. Conversations became collaboration. Collaboration became community.

I am deeply grateful to the extraordinary team who brought this vision to life. Molly became an essential part of Volume 7, bringing a steadiness and clarity that elevated the process and the pages themselves.

This guide is rooted in my family and in the friends who have become family.

It is dedicated to my sisters, Suzie and Sibel. We were not yet teenagers when the Yellow Line Metro opened, and we rode it immediately. Our mother lived in Dupont Circle in the 1980s. There was no car. We moved through the city by Metro and on foot. The neighborhood became our classroom.

Our father, a city planner and architect, taught us to see how cities are shaped and why they matter. Together, our parents gave us permission not just to live in Washington, but to belong to it.

As Turkish Americans growing up in and around the nation’s capital, we grew up between cultures. DC gave us room to be fully ourselves. This experience shaped the lens through which I see this city today.

Whether you call DC home or are visiting from across the country or across the globe, I hope this guide invites you to engage more deeply, connect more intentionally, and support the people who shape this city with style and grace.

Here’s to DC, and to the people behind it.

carolinefullerevents.com i carolinefullerevents

RESTAURANTS & BAR . SALTWATER POOL . SIGNATURE PROGRAMS GARDENS & WALKING TRAILS . FITNESS CENTER . LUXURY SPA

Caroline Ervin Owner & Landscape Designer

A cookbook club and food community with thousands of members across the DC area—hosting monthly events and seasonal markets.

Be part of our growing community! i cookbookcourtyard

Courtney Abrams, Vice President, Realtor Ellen Abrams, Senior Vice President, Realtor

e Abrams Group

i abramsgroupsothebysrealty

Ellen and Courtney, the co-founders of The Abrams Group, form an exceptional mother-daughter team catering to clients in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Their experience spans decades, and they are known for an incredible work ethic, unwavering integrity, and extensive market knowledge, earning them the utmost respect of their loyal clientele and colleagues. Ellen and Courtney go above and beyond to provide an unmatched level of service to all buyers and sellers.

Their outstanding performance as top producers and community leaders has consistently been acknowledged by their a liated ﬁrm, TTR Sotheby’s International Realty.

Each month, The DC Inﬂuence hosts events at local DMV businesses where content creators and inﬂuencers come together to be part of our vibrant community.

Creativity ﬂourishes, connections forge, and collaborations come to life.

I wrote this book because I’ve met too many brilliant, accomplished people held back by the stories they tell themselves about what’s possible. Let’s be real: achieving success shouldn’t require you to shrink.

DESIGN YOUR MINDSET

YOU BRING THE REASON TO GATHER.

WE HANDLE THE whimsy.

e Washington Winter Show, e Washington Antiques Show, was founded in 1955 for the purpose of raising funds for local charities serving the needs of at-risk children and families by sponsoring an annual show devoted to antiques and ne arts.

We invite you to get involved throughout the year with our engaging events, talks, and activities. washingtonwintershow.org i washingtonwintershow

Jack Shorb Realtor

DC'S PROFESSIONAL SPRAY TAN STUDIOS

Tori Rittinger Founder Talk Tiles to Me

Molly Hugo Founder MoCo Mahjong

Sallie Routh Co-Founder

Mahj Collective

TALK TILES TO ME i talktilestome

MOCO MAHJONG i mocomahjong

DC MAHJ COLLECTIVE i dcmahj

Join Tori, Molly, and Sallie as they host Mahjong games throughout DC!

WHERE WASHINGTON GATHERS

Design Cuisine x Events at Union Station

Trusted expertise behind the capital’s most notable occasions.

Design Cuisine shapes experiences as monumental as Union Station itself, while extending our culinary creativity and logistical expertise to landmark locations throughout the DMV. As Union Station’s exclusive caterer and a premier off-premise partner across the region, we bring the same precision, personalization, and seamless execution to gatherings of every scale, from intimate plated dinners to grand galas.

This is hospitality at the highest level.

Take meaningful risks. Be yourself. Make a di erence. O ering families an independent school experience, where learning is led by curiosity and students are inspired to develop passion and purpose.

Cagla Giray, Founder

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS IN DESIGN.

From in-home measurement and 3-D design to permitting, construction, and project completion, we manage every step in-house delivering turn-key remodeling and elevated renovations from concept to completion. KITCHENS | BATHROOMS | BASEMENTS | ADDITIONS | OUTDOOR SPACES | CUSTOM BUILDS

“Precious Jewels... Unlocking The Past. While Preserving The Future.”

Sherrie Beckstead Founder

i erikathebroker

Today’s M&A environment demands diverse thinking. The BPH Group empowers business owners to uncover their value early, scale with intention, and transition on their own terms.

christirich.com | i createdbychristi

PREMIUM

i SAVVYSLOTHSTRATEGIES

AESTHETIC DENTAL SPA

ALEX M. NAINI, DDS

Cosmetic Dentistry | Professional Whitening | Smile Design

Trusted by clients who value discretion, excellence, and luminous results.

703.827.8282 aestheticdentalspa.net i mysmileswag

Gwen Young CEO

mvcollectiveus.com i mvcollectiveus

Scan for a complete list of Deniz’s favorites conveniently located on an interactive map

A WEEKEND IN WASHINGTON

Some of my favorite spots weekend or anytime.

EARLY MORNING IN DC

Walk the Memorial Bridge to the National Mall before the city wakes. Watch the sunrise over the Capitol from the Lincoln Memorial. DC is best experienced on foot, especially at dawn.

ANYTIME

Start in Kalorama. Tree-lined streets, historic architecture, and a quieter side of the city. Take the Red Line from Dupont Circle to Union Station when you want a shift in energy, then continue on the Blue, Orange, or Silver toward Eastern Market or Navy Yard.

On a beautiful day, take the water taxi from The Wharf to Georgetown. The city from the river feels different.

MORNING

i callyourmotherdeli

I wish I could have one of their bagels every day. They’re that good.

i southblock

Go ahead and add peanut butter to that bowl!

MIDDAY

i yellowthecafe

The chicken pita is always my order.

i lediplomatdc

Shrimp salad and fries the DC lunch that needs no explanation. Just order it.

i coladashop