My old shoes barely made it through the weekend when I visited Washington D.C. for the first time a few weeks ago. I am not an amateur when it comes to walking in the city. I understand the subtle nuances of packing versatile fashionable shoes with good arch support and plenty of breathing room, but this time my flimsy Polo kicks didn't make the mark. I had shin splints within the first 4 hours, and swollen feet by the end of the long weekend.

Brunch at Le Pain Quotidien, a French bakery and cafe in Georgetown, was a highlight of my gastronomic experience. I started the lazy morning with dark coffee in hand thrown cups followed by a savory omelet and crispy buttered bread. My omelet was a mixture of fresh tomato, avocado, with a smooth goat cheese that offered a refreshing kick. The portions were generous and I didn't feel rushed through my meal.

After brunch we navigated through the Hirshhorn, the National Gallery of Art, the National Portrait Gallery, and American Art Museum. I was challenged and inspired by several pieces at each museum. Let's be honest, even though I was cramming too much into one afternoon, it was worth it. Some highlights include: Sol Lewitt's sculpture and paintings, a painting by Sigmar Polke, Magdalena Abakanowicz's sculpture of Girls, Alexander Calder's mobiles, and an incredible video installation about dreams and cinema by Anthony McCall. (There are too many inspiring pieces to mention, you must go for yourself.)

As you can imagine, after visiting the four art museums back to back my feet were almost numb and my stomach was growling. The air was crisp and a bit cold as I wandered to Chinatown looking for some hot tea and fresh dumplings. Although Chinatown is embarrassingly small in D.C. (a handful of blocks-really; the majority of the Asian community lives in the burbs) we found the best hole-in-the-wall restaurant in the city, China Town Express. I knew it was quality when I saw skinned ducks hanging in the window and chefs making homemade noodles and dumplings. After a steaming pot of Jasmine tea and rich egg drop soup, I scarfed soft doughy dumplings dipped in a concoction of soy sauce and Sriracha. I could tell the egg rolls were also fresh and tasty. To finish off the evening, Able's fortune read "you should be able to make money and hold onto it". Exhausted, feet pink, tender and bleeding, I dropped into my bed at the local International Hostel and quickly fell asleep.