Home to the Catholic University of America since 1887, the Northeast neighborhood of Brookland has developed into a church, chapel and monastery-filled zone nicknamed “Little Rome.” But the popular neighborhood is also home to tree-lined streets filled with older homes and retro storefronts, and its central arts zone near the Brookland Metro stop offers galleries and performance spaces. Catholic University’s 193 tree-lined acres include Romanesque stone buildings and a grassy central lawn popular for sunbathing and frisbee-playing. It’s just across the way from the impressive, domed Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. It’s the largest Roman Catholic Church in North America, and one of the 10 largest churches in the world. Guided or self-guided tours of the massive edifice, which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, take in numerous shrines to her and a three-story high mosaic portrait of Jesus.

You can also tour the peaceful Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land of America, which was founded by friars in 1899. The Byzantine-style Church of Mount Saint Sepulchre is surrounded by cloisters, a garden with hundreds of roses and replicas of Holy Land shrines like the Grotto of Lourdes. Take a guided tour of the grounds or the church’s interior, where brown-robed monks lead you through the upper church as well into the crypt, with more Holy Land replicas and religious relics. This vibrant collegiate area moves to a creative beat, which you’ll see in action on the Arts Walk at Monroe Street Market. The galleries of local potters, painters and crafters line a brick-paved pedestrian byway; visit when they’re open (most weekends) and you can see them in action and buy their wares; think carved wooden busts, pillows decked with vintage souvenir pennants and paintings galore. Nearby, long-running Dance Place offers up 100 plus performances a year starring edgy contemporary choreography. You might catch a South American salsa troupe or local modern dancers.

Dining and drinking spots also dot the area, with offerings on old-timey 12th Street NE like funky gastropub Smith Public Trust (don’t miss its good-weather beer garden) and Steel Plate, which dishes up fancy cocktail and new American chow in a space decked with reclaimed wood and brassy light fixtures. On the arts walk, Brookland Pint pours dozens of beers (including two dozen mostly local ones on tap) in cool surrounds with a mural of the monuments and the National Shrine; a pubby food menu is on tap too.

[Source: Washington.org]