Letter From the Editor:

Two Zero Two DC is a website dedicated to publishing long form work, profiles, interviews, and walks, about the people and places that, in their own small ways, imbue DC with its own sense of place.

We are deliberately non-commercial. We aren’t going to push sponsored content nor are we looking to monetize the site. We think there are so many amazing local places to get capital “J” journalism that you should be paying for – The Washington Post, The 51st, Washingtonian, and 730DC are good examples. We are not a news site. Every publication we just named is publishing better writing that keeps you informed about real issues facing real people in the District every day.

Where does that leave us?

We want to take the deep dives, have the funky conversations, and talk to all sorts of people without needing to publish quickly or stay up to date on what’s happening. When we add a new interview, profile, or walk, we want you, the reader, to set it aside to read on a slow Saturday morning with a cup of coffee (and maybe a pastry or two). Or, maybe you see the newsletter pop into your inbox late in the afternoon on a Thursday and decide to save it for later, when you can sit with a glass of wine and a snack and enjoy.

Our goal is a slow, steady drip of good writing, thoughtfully prepared.

Sincerely,

Henry, Editor in Chief

Our Name & Logo:

Our name, Two Zero Two is a simple reference - it’s the DC area code (along with 771). The logo is designed to mimic some of the lettering you might find on a transom, the rectangular shaped windows above doors on the older townhouses. Originally designed to let in more light, transoms have evolved into unique, decorative, projects. If you walk around DC long enough you will start to notice that most transoms are different. It’s a small calling card to individuality. Some transoms are decorated with beautiful stained glass while others have elegant gold lettering. Some have traditional with gold scripted font while others are fantastical stained glass creations, passed down from renter to renter or family to family, over generations.

Part of what makes a city unique are the small things, deliberately done, that add a little thread to the fabric of a place. A transom is like having a little logo, a coat of arms for each house in a neighborhood. Of course, every house could have the exact same plastic black letters along the side of the door, conveniently shipped in less then two days from a massive multinational online retailer, but that doesn’t do anything to elevate the sense of place.

We love the idea that someone deliberately spent time and energy determining what font, design, or color (or all three) was the right fit for the house and then placing it at the front door. How amazing is it that little expressions of individuality, passed down, are with us all over.

Friendly Introductions:

We put together a list of other Washington DC blogs, DC focused national news sources, and just a couple of our favorite reads. Enjoy!