John Wall was never known as a shooter. But on May 12, 2017, in Game 6 of a second-round series game against the Celtics, he drained one hell of a 3, to the delight of Washington’s home crowd. I was lucky enough to be there, and it was a treat to see Wall stand on the scorer’s table, soaking in a rare chance to feel fully and completely adored by a crowd. (We didn’t know that was a high point for the team and the player—it has been tough ever since.)
The next morning, as I finished a run, it looked like every business was closed. That was a bummer, because I always hope to wind up at a coffee shop, order that satisfying post-workout cup, and then sip it on a cool-down stroll. But as I got closer, there was one place near the baseball stadium, in a row of sleek glass-fronted stores, that was open. And although it had a weird name—Philz—it did serve coffee. Sort of. The theme of the place is pour overs, which are a form of coffee that is elitist, time-consuming, expensive and … to my thi…
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