DC/Maryland Counterculture

Question

A friend of mine is wanting to find ways to connect with the hippie-type counterculture (i.e., good vibes type of people, mellow, grounded, not into destructive type stuff) in the DC/Maryland area, (He usually hangs in Amsterdam and Frisco). I'm not really the type, so I had no suggestions. I'm thinking there must be bookshops, giftshops, clothing shops, music clubs that cater to a hippie, jam-band, rasta type of crowd... Help?

Answer 1

afromotive is an afrobeat band out of asheville that has fully emersed themselves in the jamband/hippie music scene.  they play a show tomorrow (thurs aug. 14) at the eighteenth street lounge.  the 9:30 club hosts a variety of genres, but they also cater to the jamband crowd on occassion as well.  check out their concert calendar.  The State Theatre in Falls Church, VA is pretty heady. they host reggae shows on occassion as well.  :)  good luck!

Answer 2

I'm not exactly sure I'd call it "counterculture", but the more alternative areas of the city are centered around U Street, 14th Street (north of P), and Adams Morgan. I wouldn't exactly call it Rastafarian, but the collection of small alternative music venues and clubs, shops, bookshops, etc. are all in the area.

Update: Takoma Park isn't so alternative... just very liberal. While the community itself is definitely more open, since it's mostly an older residential neighborhood, there isn't the collection of clubs/shops, etc. that I think your friend would be interested in.