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How I wake up Andy Shallal

Photo illustration: Axios Visuals. Photo: Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images Hey, Cuneyt here! Washington is a town of early risers. At least some of us are. I’m not the biggest morning person! So I set out to discover how prominent Washingtonians get up and get going. I’ll give you a window into the morning rituals of our local CEOs, creators, politicos, activists, and athletes. Maybe their sunrise habits will rub off on me. And hopefully, it inspires you to live a better morning. I first talked to Andy Shallal, the founder and CEO of Busboys and Poets. The Iraqi American has a vivid local footprint beyond his entrepreneurship, dating to his activism against the invasion of Iraq and 2014 campaign for D.C. mayor. Wake-up time: 6:30am, with the arrival of his nine-month-old German Shepherd Yara. First thing he does: Quick glance at his phone to make sure no emergencies have popped up. First person he speaks with: Marjan, his wife. Then it’s a brush of the teeth and a glass of water. First activity: Soccer in the backyard of his Kalorama home with Yara. Then a latte and a yogurt. Shallal’s house has a Miele brand built-in “professional grade espresso machine,” one of the big reasons he bought the place. Serenity: A 2.5 hour-walk across several city parks, Rock Creek Park, and the Georgetown waterfront. Shallal does calisthenics: pull-ups, push-ups, sit-ups, and leg raises. Yara splashes in the creek. “It’s very meditative watching her.” Emails: Not until he’s back home. And no headphones on the walk. Lately, Shallal has been learning Spanish using Duolingo for at least 30 minutes in the morning. 11am: His first meeting of the day. His ride: A silver 2020 Mini Cooper, which he bought because his garage holds about one and a half cars. Get more local stories in your inbox with .Subscribe Support local journalism by becoming a member.

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