For the Love of D.C.: Crossword

I learned a lot about D.C. in the making of District Fray’s very first crossword puzzle. Though I have lived in the metro area practically my whole life, I still found myself shocked to learn that there is a giant chair sculpture on Martin Luther King Avenue, or that there was an official D.C. cocktail. However, I really learned that making a crossword puzzle is not as easy as thinking up words and firing them into a computer. Fitting in D.C. sports references like THEBEAST, MYSTICS and DCUNITED next to community arts organization CULTUREHOUSE was no walk in Rock Creek Park. I hope that you all enjoyed putting your D.C. knowledge to the test with our inaugural crossword puzzle, the next one will be even better! See the answer key here.

Print the downloadable PDF here.

ACROSS

1. Multicultural neighborhood near 18th Street

5. Old Glory rugby player from South Africa (2 words)

9. Built in 1961, to be demolished by 2021

12. D.C.-original condiment (2 words)

15. D.C. native who shaped motown* (2 words)

17. Where bilingual signs are mandatory

18. Named a best live venue by Rolling Stone in 2018* (2 words)

19. Home to Embassy Row, eclectic coffee shops, and dive bars* (2 words)

21. Area of recreation and historic Patowmack Canal site (2 words)

22. Music venue in the Southwest waterfront (2 words)

23. Women-owned local cidery

27. Previously known as On Tap* (2 words)

30. Ben’s Chili Bowl delicacy* (2 words)

32. DJ-owned basement dance club and music venue (2 words)

35. K Street collaborative workspace (2 words)

37. Held during the fourth inning (2 words)

38. Tri-level hipster hangout and music venue

40. Local punk rock musician and activist* (2 words)

42. Founder of World Central Kitchen (2 words)

43. Industrial neighborhood in Northeast D.C. (2 words)

44. Perched on rooftop at the National Gallery of Art* (2 words)

45. WNBA champions

46. Occasionally called “the grand old ditch” (2 words)

DOWN

2. Craft brewery on Bladensburg Road (2 words)

3. Sculpture designed by Bassett Furniture*

4. You won’t find this on a D.C. map* (2 words)

6. Neighborhood in Northeast D.C. home to District Fray*

7. Emblem of the U.S.A.* (2 words)

8. Southern comfort food truck

10. Iconic hardcore band formed in the District

11. One of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods (2 words)

13. Houses the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum

14. Only one D.C. restaurant has a perfect 3* (2 words)

16. Local professional soccer team* (2 words)

20. March festival is dedicated to these trees* (2 words)

21. D.C.’s native cocktail (2 words)

24. Newest professional football league

25. Brightly-painted former church building (2 words)

26. Kennedy Center expansion (2 words)

28. Brandon Hill and Peter Chang make up this collective* (2 words)

29. 2019 MLB World Champions*

31. Known for its chili dogs, half-smokes, and milkshakes* (3 words)

33. 2019 hit featured Zayn, charted on Billboard

34. Vezina Trophy award-winner 2016

36. “Childish Bambino” (2 words)

39. The official music of D.C.*

41. Music house and record store on 18th Street

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