Saidu Yusuf

Navigator Saidu Yusuf has fully engrossed himself in the exhilarating cultural scene of Washington, DC since moving to the American capital from Sierra Leone. Starting out as a tour guide, Saidu quickly found himself answering questions from visitors concerned with what to do and where to go in the city. Now, after 14 years in DC, he holds all the answers. He enlists the support of a variety of sources to stay ahead of the curve — from credible blogs and websites to the recommendations of his own team. But Saidu knows that a true Navigator of a city as culturally rich and diverse as Washington, DC — where the low-slung charms of Chinatown sit just a stone’s throw away from the pomp and prestige of the White House — must make their own judgments. And so day after day he endeavors to see DC through new eyes. He begins with a two-mile run, keeping his eyes peeled for new openings and events along the way, and may end it with a drink in an underground cocktail joint or at his favorite oyster bar. In between he helps guests at his Penn Quarter hotel to experience the city like never before. Away from work, Saidu likes to keep it simple. He lists his hobbies as “cooking, working out, traveling and volunteering.” And then comes the curveball … “I'm coming to realize that I might sing and play drums at the same time. I just need to polish my vocal chords more!”