This two story brilliant jewel of a store in Dupont Circle has the perfect mix of the three “things” that are better to live with than without.
In an era of e-readers KULTURAs books carries secondhand books in Photography, Art, Politics & Economics, Science, World and American History, some whose titles you may never again see in the physical book format. Towards the back of the store is the paperback Fiction and non-fiction, most at half price. The number of titles in French and Spanish, by now may well be unique in DC.
sort-of-vintage is a mixed bag of quality classic and quirky, big and not so big labels. A Roberto Cavalli floral on white mesh wench blouse with black waistband. A Jil Sander cervetto leather handbag, a Dries Van Noten fine weave wool wrap long skirt with ruffled vertical edge that can be transformed in 3 ways, and a Burberry raincoat, can all be found next to a Theory or James Perse T, a cool “no name” blood orange velvet skirt, this next to a long swath of emerald green silk skirt, and a selection of spring cashmere cardis. Designer or not, there is plenty to ratchet up the fun factor. The vintage feels right for the times with the perspective toward upcoming trends.
As you enter, to your left, on a brilliantly blue wall hangs a surfboard with a handpainted pair of bass. To your right, a 10 x 8 corrugated metal and acrylics painting by Andrew H. MacDonald with Shakespeare’s Hamlet to be or not to be written backwards, in gold paint, over two life-sized wrapped figures, as if in a biopod.
Besides KULTURAs, this city block has noteworthy restaurants, Bistrot du Coin, with bistro fare, outstanding mussels marinara, Greek seafood at Mourayo’s, Maddy’s, a 30 something bar with pub fare, New York vibe, and bluecheesy great mini-burgers appetizer, legendary Secondi Consignments, yoga studio, yogurt, ice-cream and coffee places and a corner Starbucks. All locally owned businesses, except for you know who. Missing but not forgotten is the neighborhood movie theatre.
sort-of-vintage clothing + KULTURAs books + on-the-wall (fine art)
1728 Connecticut Ave., NW
Dupont Circle
Wash. DC
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