I just moved to DC, where I work as a writer/researcher for a financial publisher and a sales rep for the ESP-Disk record label. Please tell me cool places to check out in what George Clinton lovingly refers to as "Chocolate City."

The Washington Monument. I challeng you to make it more phallic than it already is.

Also, ESP-Disk? Lucky bastard. Very lucky.

Ben's Chili Bowl (here are some directions: http://www.benschilibowl.com/directionstest.html). It was one of the only places that survived the civil rights riots in the 60s. It's also situated right across the street from a nice monument about civil rights. The food is awesome! The neighborhood also has many other great ethnic and americana restaurants.

Yes ... Ben's Chili Bowl is the shit. In fact, the entire U Street area is great. There's the Black Cat, my favorite DC bar/club (good indie/rock bands play there). U Street is where you might find good jazz.

In Arlington, I like Murky Coffee, my favorite hangout spot (right near Orpheus -- I'm sad to hear it's going away).

While you're with ESP, see if you can track down the album Charles Gayle reportedly cut for them in the 1970s :)