Washington D.C. Info Plz

**Rontele** · 03-16-2009, 06:59 AM

Tippster, I am looking in your direction...

Looks like Mrs. Rontele and I will be in D.C. for the AIPAC National Policy Conference May 3-5 (Sunday-Tuesday). However, since I have not been to our nation's capital since I was 7, we are going to fly in Friday and make a long weekend of it.

As of now, we are staying at the Westin City Center on M Street. I am not married to this hotel, just booked it at the suggestion of my boss's assistant. The rate is reasonable, but if you have any other suggestions that do not break the bank, I'd be open to looking around.

In terms of sight seeing, I definitely--acutally must--go to the Holocaust Museum. Other than that, I am thinking National Gallery, Smithsonian, Arlington National Cemetary. I will have all day Saturday and most of the day Sunday. Any other suggestions of places/monuments to see is appreciated.

Finally, we like to eat and walk around. We'll need a good rec'd for dinners Saturday night and Sunday. Would prefer not to be exorbinant, but nice and well thought meals are our forte.

**OSECS** · 03-16-2009, 07:25 AM

The American Indian museum is really very good.

For a kind of a sharp per person fee, the Spy museum just off the mall is a very cool museum. It'll take you about 3 hours to tour the whole thing. We went with a large group a couple years ago, and everyone loved this place. Some very cool exhibits. It's more about the stories you'll read while you're there that are the best parts. History of spying and espionage from colonial days right up to the present.

The "Newseum" just recently opened as well, and is supposed to be another great venue exhibit.

Old Ebbits Grill right next to the Whitehouse is a great restaurant (wasn't to bad price wise either) in the French bistro tradtion. We went last spring and saw lots of congressmen, a few senators. It's the historic watering hole of the elected officials. Tippster can probably give you other great eateries.

**Hong Jong Fuey** · 03-16-2009, 09:15 AM

Seafood - Kinkeads. A little on the pricey side, but restaurant has a great brunch and serves a mean lobster roll. Close to your hotel too.
http://www.kinkead.com

Pizza - 2 Amys. Pizza joint in upper Georgetown. Casual place that serves brick oven pizza and has a great wine and beer list. No reservations accepted, so there can be a bit of a wait at times. If you go, try the Norcia pizza (salami, pepper, mozz).
http://www.2amyspizza.com/

American - Clyde's. Also very close to your hotel on M Street. Always a good scene. Reliable food at fair prices.
http://www.clydes.com/main/Restauran...n&Section=Main

Southern - Georgia Browns. Fried green tomatoes, catfish, and fried chicken are cant miss items on the menu. Never been to the brunch special, but apparently its all you can eat and well worth the $35.
http://www.gbrowns.com/

**RootSkier** · 03-16-2009, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by Hong Jong Fuey

If you go, try the Norcia pizza (salami, pepper, mozz).

Dude, they're going to an AIPAC convention.

Good thing Rontele eats like a goy.

**Rontele** · 03-16-2009, 09:31 AM

The gala at the conference is the largest kosher dinner served in the world, FYI.

**RootSkier** · 03-16-2009, 09:36 AM

How do they pull that off? It must be a hudge process to kosherfy an enormous commercial kitchen?

**Hong Jong Fuey** · 03-16-2009, 09:41 AM

My bad. Just re-read my post and I actually offered 2 suggestions that wouldnt apply to someone who keeps kosher. My guess is that there arent too many AIPAC kosher members that will be lining up for the lobster roll at Kinkeads either.

**Tye 1on** · 03-16-2009, 09:42 AM

If you end up at Union Station, which you might enjoy on it's own, you are right across the street from two great Irish pubs. I'm drawing a blank on the nice one, that mrs rontele would like, but the other is the Irish Times, a gritty locals type of place. Another DC classic, as osex mentions, is Ebbitt's Grill, on 15th between F and G. Old DC, dark wood, fake gas lamps, packed at happy hour, great happy hour special on oysters.

One of my favorite 'tourist' things to do is go up the old Post Office. Take the Federal Triangle metro. Free, second highest building, next to the Washington Monument, with a kickass view. If you get stuck in the airport at National, there's a Legal Seafoods that, while a chain, kicks ass. I've had great fun dinners on Grillfish also, it's over by Kinkead's, but without quite the atmosphere or reputation.

If you find the statue of Einstein, on Constitution, and stand at the intersection of the universe and speak to him, he echos back. It is pretty damn freaky.

**iceman** · 03-16-2009, 10:22 AM

The nicer pub is the Dubliner.

Personally I think the American Indian Museum no es bueno. Much better to take in the art museums. I'm not a huge fan of the Natural History museum either. Air and space is pretty cool but seriously touristy.

The Brunch at Georgia Brown's is the best thing about the place, it's great.

Clyde's is meh. It's a chain and they also own the Old Ebbit Grill, which is also meh. Not bad, just not great.

The last guy who started a DC thread, I sent him to Central, which is really very good and still pretty reasonable.

Brasserie Beck is a nice bistro with Belgian food (read: mussels, steak frites) and good French and Belgian ales on tap.

Kinkead's is always a good choice, really there's a shitload of restuarants. Citronelle (same ownership as Central) is perhaps the best restaurant in the city, although Tipp and wifr and I and wife ate this week at Komi, which was outstanding. Tough getting reservations apparently.

I have a mental block on the name of the Turkish Tapas place but Tipp knows it.

Martin's Tavern in Georgetown is a classic, casual, good food, good bar, it's been there since the 30's.

There's been a few of these threads, search in advanced search with Washington as the keyword and search titles only and you'll find them.

Have fun, hopefully you'll get some decent weather, it's been pretty dreary lately.

**Shen** · 03-16-2009, 10:29 AM

Ice and Tipp sent me to Central and Zaytinya(spelling?)...both excellent!
DC thread
We stayed at the Hotel Monaco. Very nice.....it was on the GF's company dime..so I don't know the cost...but I assume it was on the $$$ side.

**Tye 1on** · 03-16-2009, 10:30 AM

I'm with Icedude on the Amer Ind Mus. I think it hits people strongly one way or the other. It's the other for me. However, their food court kicks some ass if you get hungry down on the Mall...

I've got PS7 on my list to try next trip to DC, anyone been?

Oh, and although obviously the mags know all, there's a couple great DC food blogs. http://amandamc.blogspot.com/ and donrockwell.com come to mind right away...

**DerJaeger** · 03-16-2009, 08:18 PM

That hotel is in a very convenient location to see the sights. If you're heading over to Georgetown, take the Circulator bus. Cheap, quick and very direct. When you go there, after checking out M St, wander North up Wisconsin for a few blocks to stop at Docezza for possibly the best gelato you'll ever try (I'm not kidding, it truly is something special).

DC isn't really a food destination, but there's a few gems - some places to google: Founding Fathers, Georgia Brown's, Palena, and Pizza Paradiso (for the beer list which includes quite a few very limited edition microbrews). 2 Amy's is an excellent recommendation, but kind of a haul to get to from where you'll be (its in Glover Park and not near a metro stop). For a light lunch near the mall, I recommend Teaism in Penn Quarter.

The Smithsonian museums are free, so there's no reason you can't pop into one or two and hit the highlights if you are short on time (e.g. the diamonds in the Natural History museum are a crowd pleaser). The best time to see the monuments is in the evening (naturally, don't go wandering off anywhere too sketchy late at night, this is DC after all...)

Most grossly overrated things in DC:
- Ben's Chilli Bowl
- Chinatown
- Lining up for cupcakes (Thanks NYC, thanks for bringing that here. Really)
- Ethiopian food (it's like eating baby food with a dish cloth)

**cramer** · 03-16-2009, 08:57 PM

I stayed at the Mayflower when i was there back in like 99-2000. Id need some dc mags to elaborate, but they pretty much told me dont venture far and take a cab directly to the monuments, etc. These were mid 40 lobbyists for the company i worked for. So take it with a grain of salt. They made it sound like crime was pretty bad and i shouldnt be venturing out alone. Might have just been the area i was in? The hotel was sweet, so im really not sure.

**Cyber Cop** · 03-16-2009, 08:59 PM

When did you and Max get hitched?

**Dudley** · 03-17-2009, 10:19 AM

SPY MUSEUM.... also, you could easily go for a jog and hit the washington, lincoln, jefferson, roosevelt, tidal pool, korean, etc. We used to do it after work and it is a VERY fun way to see the monuments and get a little sweat in.

Breadline is a great lunch spot, nothing crazy, just great sandwiches and good salads.

**CantDog** · 03-17-2009, 11:31 AM

I can't believe someone is saying ethiopian is overrated. Not open minded or don't like the idea of no silverwear?

For really nice restaurants, Brasserie Beck, Central, Georgia Brown's, Restaurant Eve, or if you have a car a drive to Frederick MD and trip to Volt. Basically look at the Washingtonian Magazine online and pick one of their top restaurants. Oh, cafe atlantico, and if you can, make a reservation at minibar. I can't remember if it's two months out or one month(if its two you are SOL).

My favorite spot going is Blue Duck Tavern, everything is small roasted dishes. They also have brunch and it's great. I'd highly recommend it, even over some of the more expensive/higher star offerings. It is also one of the nicest looking restaurants in DC if interior design/architecture is one of your things.

DC area is known for its Ethiopian, Vietnamese, Salvadorian, and Peruvian food. If you want to try some of these places, let me know. If I was coming home to DC, I would have one nice meal at Blue Duck, and spend all my other meals eating at little dives and getting ethnic food.

It is a tad early, but a trip down to the Maine Ave Wharf for people watching and to eat crabs is always a great activity, and is cheap.

Holocaust museum is awesome, who doesnt love piles of old shoes!

Biking if you want to rent/borrow as well.

**Tippster** · 03-17-2009, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by DerJaeger

DC isn't really a food destination

You're high or on a super tight budget. There are more outstanding restaurants here per capita than anywhere else on the planet. Granted there is no real "local" cuisine other than Crabs/Chesapeake bay seafood, but that's immaterial.

I absolutely second Cantdog's Blue Duck Tavern recommendation -- I just ate there for the first time 2 weeks ago and it was outstanding. Not cheap, but then you get what you pay for. Try the Bone Marrow appetizer. Super Cereal. Although it's on the corner of 24th & M it's still far enough away that you'll want to take a cab -- same goes for the Holocaust Museum (also on 14th St., but about 2 miles away on the other side of the Mall.)

Your Hotel is at 14th & M, which isn't really close to anything touristy. For some really good eats within walking distance I'd go down 14th St. to K and hit up DC Coast. You can also go to 14th & G and go to Ceiba -- really good South American cuisine with a nice bar. Icemang's suggestion of Brasserie Beck is also just 3 blocks away (13th & K.)

As Shen said the Hotel Monaco is a really nice place that's in the heart of a very cool area (Penn Quarter/Chinatown) and should be commensurate to the Westin price wise. Ask yer boss if you can relocate. Much closer to the National Gallery of Art and the Archives, and you have about 30 really good restaurants and bars within 5 blocks. Central and Zaytinya are still my favorite in the area, but if the Frau likes wine I'd say go to Proof. The rstaurant in the hotel, called Poste, is also very good, as is the one across the street in attached to the Spy Museum -- Zola. You can make reservations to nearly all of these restaurants on OpenTable.com.

Sightseeing I'd say you can do the Holocaust Museum and Arlington Natl. Cem. in a day easily, maybe followed by a stroll around the White House and a cocktail at Old Ebbitt Grill. Like Iceman said the food is OK, but the bar is gorgeous. Afterwards go "freshen up" at your hotel and then hit one of the Restaurants I posted. The National Gallery of Art (West Wing & East Wing) deserves a full day, maybe add on a trip across the street to the Archives to see the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Oh - the Westin and the Monaco are about equidistant from the Convention Center.

**Tye 1on** · 03-17-2009, 12:30 PM

Hotel Monaco is a great suggestion. I toured it once, classy. Beautiful renovation of, iirc, the original Post Office headquarters. I've stayed around 14th & M many times. Tipperoony hit the nail on the head. Not much for good eats or bars closeby, and, while not unsafe, does have a few sketchy characters hanging around at night, like the downtown of many cities...

**nvr2deep** · 03-17-2009, 12:56 PM

If you want to check out the air and space and have a car I would go out to the air & space udvar hazey exhibit near dulles airport. And if you and the wife like beer check out the brickskeller!

**TeleHoar** · 03-17-2009, 01:08 PM

Cool have fun!

Most Colorado people are pretty sick of American Indian Museums. Thats all we seem to have around here. At least I am.

Air/space and the American History Smithsonians are my Fav.
Also I never miss a walk through the Hirshorn and accompaning Sculpture Garden.

**Daywalker** · 03-17-2009, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by Dudley

you could easily go for a jog and hit the washington, lincoln, jefferson, roosevelt, tidal pool, korean, etc. We used to do it after work and it is a VERY fun way to see the monuments and get a little sweat in.

I second this thought for two reasons. First, it's good (running is the best way to get a feel for a city IMHO). Second, the thought of Rontele jogging.