In honor of our 44th President, here are 44 essential experiences in the Washington area, democratically ranging from eats to art, parks to pandas. In no particular order.

Food and Drink

1. Grab a signature Chili Half-Smoke (a half pork and half beef smoked sausage topped with homemade chili) at Ben's Chili Bowl, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary on U Street. 1213 U St. NW; +1 202 667 0909.

2. Sip organic/fair trade coffee, try out your latest poem at open-mic nights, or hear a talk on a topic of social justice at one of the three outposts of Busboys and Poets, an artsy community lounge, restaurant, and café. The original Busboys is located at 2021 14th St. NW.

3. Eat like a president at Cleveland Park's Palena, where former White House chef Frank Ruta offers Italian-leaning fixed price menus in the dining room and stellar hamburgers in the front-of-house café. (No reservations taken in the dining room.) 3529 Connecticut Ave. NW; +1 202 537 9250.

4. Step into the brownstone Dupont Circle town house occupied by Obelisk for an Italophile's five-course, fixed-price dream dinner, courtesy of chef Peter Pastan, who travels to Italy yearly for inspiration. 2029 P St. NW; +1 202 872 1180.

5. Get a taste of the Chesapeake on Capitol Hill with Johnny's Half Shell's lump crab cakes and fried oysters, considered by many to be the best in town. 400 N. Capitol St. NW; +1 202 737 0400.

6. Sip an assortment of tea from herbals to oolongs at one of the three Asian-minimalist locations of Teaism, D.C.'s best tea house. +1 877 883 2476.

7. Browse the brainy selection of books, then chow down on a $18 trio of "sharezies" (appetizers) at Kramerbooks and Afterwords Café and Grill, still Dupont Circle's late-night go-to spot. 1517 Connecticut Ave. NW; +1 202 387 1400.

8. Have a hard time choosing from over 50 varieties of chef José Andrés's spicy, garlicky, and succulent Spanish tapas at Jaleo in Penn Quarter. Don't forget a refreshing pitcher of fruit-filled sangria to complement the meal. 480 7th St. NW; +1 202 628 7949.

9. Pair traditional sushi with fine Burgundy at Sushi-Ko in Glover Park, Washington's first sushi restaurant. 2309 Wisconsin Ave. NW; +1 202 333 4187.

10. Experience world-class French cuisine at playful Citronelle in Georgetown, where chef Michel Richard's innovative menu has earned him a long list of accolades including a James Beard Award. 3000 M St. NW; +1 202 625 2150.

11. Enjoy neighborhood warmth and comfort food like butternut squash soup at Cashion's Eat Place in Adams Morgan. 1819 Columbia Rd. NW; +1 202 797 1819.

12. Splurge at a place that knows wine like no other in D.C., Proof. The tuna tartare on fried seaweed is addictive. 775 G St. NW; +1 202 737 7663.