Friday Night Recap: Barbecue, Blessings, and Bongos at 6th and I

Happy Monday, everyone! That early morning alarm was certainly a brutal reality check after a fun-filled DC weekend.

Friday night, we co-hosted the Summer Intern Shabbat at 6th and I Synagogue. The night began with drinks and appetizers downstairs as interns and young professionals trickled in and mingled before services. The services, led by Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt from Yale Hillel, were different from any that I had experienced before. By that I mean the rabbi was accompanied by her colleague on the bongos. The atmosphere was inviting and not intimidating, perfect for a crowd filled with many people who do not normally attend Shabbat services, myself included.

After services, we went back downstairs where we were greeted by a barbecue dinner—hamburgers, hot dogs, cole slaw, etc. My burger was delicious despite its lack of cheese (I could never keep Kosher…), and the brownies that came out with dessert were spectacular! We went to work “engaging” the attendees: approaching unfamiliar faces and chatting with friends over beer and wine from the bar. I met a British Jew who taught me all sorts of entertaining British phrases and expressed complete bewilderment at Americans’ usage of “legit” in all manner of situations. By the time 10 pm rolled around, I found myself heading back to Foggy Bottom with three new friends.

The remainder of Friday night was spent at Ultra Bar with my roommate and friends, and Saturday night I had a long-overdue sushi date in Dupont at Uni on P Street. The rest of my weekend was filled with tourist-y activities: American History Museum, Air and Space Museum, National Archives, and Eastern Market to name a few. Oh, and a lot of sleeping in, which explains why 7:15 was really not a fun time to wake up this morning. Fortunately it looks like we have some fun things to look forward to this week! I’ll keep you posted.

-Marisa