Live Like A Local: Ben's Chili Bowl

Ask any Washingtonian to name one iconic food from DC, almost all will say Ben's Chili Bowl. Ben's has been a fixture in the DC food world since 1958. Ben's Chili Bowl is located across the street from the U Street Metro Station.

The history of Ben's Chili Bowl is the history of the city. "From the turmult of the late 60's race riots to the tough times in the 70's and 80's and finally to the revitalization of the U Street Corridor beginning in the 90's. Ben's has seen it all." Now, as the U Street area has been transformed into the place live, eat and party, Ben's stands proudly of what was and what will be the new 14th Street Corridor.

T
he inside of Ben's is a blast from the past. It has a gritty feel to it, but that is part of its charm. One of the first things you will encounter is the line. Every time I come, the line has been long, but it moves quickly. I would recommend if you come with a group, send someone to get a table, while others order.

Most people come to Ben's for the Chili Cheese Half-Smoke. The Half-Smoke is 50% Pork - 50% Beef, 100% Delicious Hot Dog.

The Half-Smoke is topped with mustard, onions and the famous chili sauce. Yummmmmmm.....

I always get Chili Cheese Fries with my Half-Smoke

And fruit punch. The Fruit Punch will rot your teeth, it's so sweet.

What I love about Ben's is that the food is greasy, sloppy, but oh, so tasty. My favorite part is the sting on your lips from the heat in the Chili. This is the type of meal that requires multiple napkins. Seating is a bunch of booths, tables, and the counter space. A little more seating can be found in the back.

The cost for my dog, fries and drink was about $15.00. Ben's has other items on their menu.

Next time your visiting DC, leaving the tourist trap and come to U Street to try Ben's Chili Bowl. A local place that opens its doors to anyone looking for a messy meal.

Bon Appetit!
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Live Like A Local: Opera In The Outfield

One of the tricks I use to stretch my budget on vacation is to seek out free activities. Almost every city has them from concerts and festivals to museums and walking tour. The hard part is finding what a city has to offer for free. One of the first places I look before traveling is the cities' local newspapers' website. Typically, newspapers allow groups to post free events in the lifestyle section. If I find nothing prior to arriving in a city, I immediately search out a small community paper as they always know whats doing within the city.

In Washington, DC, the Washington Post's entertainment section is a great starting place particularly the Going Out Guide. Similarly, the Thursday edition of the Express always has a great section about what is happening that next upcoming weekend. It was Thursday's Express newspaper that brought to my attention the 5th Annual Opera In the Outfield was occurring on Saturday night.

Opera In the Outfield is a collaboration between the Washington Nationals Baseball team and the John F. Kennedy center to simulcast a performance occurring at the Kennedy Center to an audience at National's Stadium. This year's performance was "Show Boat." The event was free and first come, first seated.

Gates opened at 5 pm for a 7 pm show. To get the best seats in the outfield, one needed to get to the stadium early. If you plan on sitting out on the field, bring a few blankets, as no chairs are allowed. However, it rained all day Saturday, so the "best seats" weren't really wanted:

Many people choose to sit in the stands under the overhang, in case of more rain.

The experience was surreal:

2012's show had 12,000 people attend. Last night's was closer to 1,000 most likely due to the cold weather and rain. Those who did not attend missed a great show!

During the bow, all the performers came out with National baseball caps, a nice nod to those of us watching from the stadium. 

It was a very cool experience. Where else can you watch opera, drink a beer and eat chili cheese fries:

I hope you can join us in May 2014 for The Magic Flute!

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 Have a question for us? E-mail us at chris@doitforthepoints.com or jd@doitforthepoints.com