If you are attending the Women's March on Washington this weekend, determining where to get food at the March is probably an important component of your weekend planning (in addition to, of course, marching itself). Thankfully, many restaurants are seeking to make your DC dining experience social-oriented as well. Currently, over 120 DC restaurants have pledged to contribute portions of their inauguration weekend profits to a variety of charities aimed at improving the rights and lives of the disenfranchised.
The restaurants will make charitable donations through an initiative called All in Service DC, which was started in December and is run by an all female staff of volunteers. According to Vice's Munchies section, the goal of the initiative is to "highlight the diversity and compassion" of the service industry in Washington, DC.
All in Service DC's website includes a complete list of restaurants (as well as other stores and shops) participating in the initiative, organized by neighborhood, as well as provides information on to which particular charities proceeds from dining will go. According to Washington DC's CBS affiliate, WUSA9, the charities run the gamut and benefit a wide array of very worthwhile endeavors, including, "women’s health, the arts, LGBTQ issues, homelessness, food access, support for the local migrant community, and the environment."
All in Service's website also includes a helpful map of participating restaurants so you can identify which restaurants are closest to the Women's March staging area and parade route should you desire to eat immediately following the march. Of course, there are also plenty of participating restaurants outside of the immediate vicinity of the march area, so keep them in mind as options for dining or having drinks on Saturday evening.
Furthermore, do remember that if you are hungry during the march or do not want to venture too far outside of the parade and staging area, there will also be food trucks available to meet your needs. You can also opt to avoid lines by bringing your own food to the March, but make sure you adhere to March guidelines should you choose to do so. According to the official March website, food can be brought in a plastic bag that is 12" x 12" x 6" or smaller. A bag with a meal can be brought in addition to a small purse, tote bag, or backpack that is small and transparent.
Overall, while you will have many options for eating during the March, both due to organizers' intensive planning and the wealth of wonderful restaurants in DC, it would certainly be a fitting weekend endeavor to try to head to one (or several) of the restaurants participating in the All in Service DC Initiative.
Eating out at one of these establishments after a long day of activism would constitute a wonderful way to continue carrying out the message of the weekend, even during your leisure time.
