In a list of the top 25 American cities, what locale ranks number 4 in "intelligence," dead last for "fun," number 24 in attractiveness of its residents, but supposedly number 1 in "wordliness," "museums," and "architecture"? Why, it's Washington, D.C! At least according to tourists polled by Travel & Leisure magazine. Perfectly reflecting the malaise of D.C.'s upper middle class residents, who often feel marooned here to advance their careers, we politicos, non-profit toilers, and scheming lobbyists ranked ourselves first in only one category: "Historical sites/monuments." On the whole, Washingtonians prefer the museums in New York. We're unsatisfied with the weather (too humid) and bored by our shopping options (too mall-ified). We consider our neighbors hopelessly unstylish and lamentably unsexy, although every one of us considers ourselves an exception to those rules, don't we? Why, it was just last week that I heard one male journalist say to another, "The dilemma of being a young male journalist in Washington is that there aren't very many cute young female journalists here." I could not stop laughing -- internally. D.C. really is so special! After all, I can't think of another city sporting a popular blog that declares its self-hatred: Why I Hate D.C. Maybe it's no big surprise that one of the best ways to win the American presidency is to swear up and down that you have nothing to do with Washington. --Dana Goldstein
