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Stuff to do in D.C.

JOEJOEJOEJOEJOEJOE Posts: 10,483
in All Encompassing Trip
I am tagging-along with the Mrs. to a medical conference in May. Besides all of the government/historical stuff, what are some cool places to explore in DC? I am planning on going to a Nat's game, and hopefully there is a good show at the 9:30 to check out.

I was hoping to get tix to see The Replacements at the Echostage, but they sold out quite rapidly.

Comments

  • HobbesHobbes Posts: 6,418
    Check out Adam's Morgan. Really cool neighborhood. Tons of bars, ethnic restaurants, shops, cafes. People out on the street, hanging out, playing music. You get the idea.
  • HesCalledDyerHesCalledDyer Posts: 16,427
    Check out RFD near Chinatown/Verizon Center. Excellent beer bar, stone patio out back. Food is typical American pub food but it's decent and decently priced.
    Toki Underground, in the H Street Corridor area, is another place I recommend for great food. It's a ramen shop. Don't let the name fool ya, it's on the 2nd floor (1st floor is a dive bar called the Pug, convenient!)
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  • Attaway77Attaway77 Posts: 3,030
    JOEJOEJOE said:

    I am tagging-along with the Mrs. to a medical conference in May. Besides all of the government/historical stuff, what are some cool places to explore in DC? I am planning on going to a Nat's game, and hopefully there is a good show at the 9:30 to check out.

    I was hoping to get tix to see The Replacements at the Echostage, but they sold out quite rapidly.

    King Street in Old Town Alexandria Virginia is a cool area. 10 or so minutes away from D.C. (depending on metro/drive). The Hamilton has some cool music happening as well sometimes...
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  • JOEJOEJOEJOEJOEJOE Posts: 10,483
    Thanks for the info!
  • Empty GlassEmpty Glass Posts: 12,329
    How long are you in town? I'm only asking because all the "usual" stuff takes time. The Smithsonian could take a few days to go thru.
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  • JOEJOEJOEJOEJOEJOE Posts: 10,483
    Tues night through Saturday morning
  • Empty GlassEmpty Glass Posts: 12,329
    I could easily spend Tues and Wednesday in the Air and Space museum, but I'm a space geek :lol:

    Enjoy your trip
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  • deadendpdeadendp Posts: 10,434
    Hit the museums. We hauled and did as many as we could. The art museums, Air & Space . . . take a day and do those, if you can. A day isn't long enough, but you'll get a glazed over version and will be able to enjoy it. Do the walking tour. Go to Arlington National Cemetery and see the changing of the guard. See, see, see! When we got back, we were exhausted. My sister-in-law is a marathon runner and was running the Marine Corps Marathon. She flew us in and paid for accommodations (nice!) and we tried to pack in as much as we could. It was a trip that we couldn't do on our own. We took in as much as we could.
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  • ldent42ldent42 Posts: 7,859
    The cemetery & the American Indian museum were awesome. There was a place in capitol hill with awesome scones but i can't exactly remember the name of it. It was on a corner and I think the word java was in the name.The scones are like cookies!
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  • brianluxbrianlux Posts: 41,630
    JOEJOEJOE said:

    I am tagging-along with the Mrs. to a medical conference in May. Besides all of the government/historical stuff, what are some cool places to explore in DC? I am planning on going to a Nat's game, and hopefully there is a good show at the 9:30 to check out.

    I was hoping to get tix to see The Replacements at the Echostage, but they sold out quite rapidly.

    Sorry to hear you couldn't get 'mats tickets JOEJOEJOE. Bummer. I'll be missing the S.F. show myself.

    ldent42 said:

    The cemetery & the American Indian museum were awesome. There was a place in capitol hill with awesome scones but i can't exactly remember the name of it. It was on a corner and I think the word java was in the name.The scones are like cookies!

    I'm reading this incredible book called Everything You Know About Indians is Wrong by Paul Chaat Smith. Smith is a noted Comanche author and an associate curator at the National Museum of the American Indian of the Smithsonian Institution in DC and some of the pieces in this book refer to the museum. It sounds fascinating and I'm very much hoping to see it myself in 2016.

    Have a great time!

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  • Halifax2TheMaxHalifax2TheMax Posts: 38,311
    Sequoia at the base of Georgetown on the Potomac and part of the Watergate complex is a great place to grab a drink, lunch and or dinner and to see the yachts and the beautiful people lounging on them. Georgetown and the Excorcist stairs are cool and a walk from Union Station to the Lincoln Memorial, down the Mall, through the Korean War memorial is cool as is walking through the Roosevelt Memorial, to the left of the Lincoln. Also, walk through the Vietnam memorial and gander at the names and the items still being left behind. Chokes me up every time and I go every time I'm in DC. Such a colossal waste IMHO. If you're not afraid of being totally depressed but wanting to really feel the horror of the Holocaust, visit the Holocaust Museum. But be warned, you'll be bummed for the rest of your day. Not for the faint of heart. The National Zoo is fun but take the red line one stop past the zoo stop if coming from DC and walk down the hill to the entrance. The National Cathedral is also worth checking out if it's near your hotel or where you're staying. You could spend a week there and not see it all. Definitely check out the East Wing of the National Gallery and grab a beer or gelato at the basement cafe in front of the waterfall. A refreshingly cool pit stop. Enjoy!
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  • Jason PJason P Posts: 19,138
    Fence climbing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is always a good time and something the whole family can enjoy.
  • Empty GlassEmpty Glass Posts: 12,329
    you can buy weed starting today....I guess.
    I've met Rob

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    This place is dead

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  • mickeyratmickeyrat Posts: 37,764
    Ummm, show Congress how to work a job you get paid for. Thanks in advance.
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  • ldent42ldent42 Posts: 7,859
    Halifax2TheMax said:

    The National Cathedral is also worth checking out if it's near your hotel or where you're staying.

    This is the one thing I didn't get to do. I don't remember why.
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  • Halifax2TheMaxHalifax2TheMax Posts: 38,311
    ldent42 said:

    Halifax2TheMax said:

    The National Cathedral is also worth checking out if it's near your hotel or where you're staying.

    This is the one thing I didn't get to do. I don't remember why.
    You have to check out the gargoyles when you're there. look up and check them out. Pretty cool.
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  • rr165892rr165892 Posts: 5,697
    How's the spy museum ?
  • Halifax2TheMaxHalifax2TheMax Posts: 38,311
    rr165892 said:

    How's the spy museum ?

    Not worth the $20 or $25 cost of admission, particularly in a city where most museums are free.
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  • what dreamswhat dreams Posts: 1,761
    Empty Glass said:

    you can buy weed starting today....I guess.

    It's legal for people over 21 to smoke in their own homes, but it's still illegal to buy and sell. There are no pot shops and will not be for a long time, I imagine, because of the federal politics. Individuals can grow up to six plants in their homes -- 12 plants if two adults live in the house.
  • what dreamswhat dreams Posts: 1,761
    My advice regarding the Smithsonian museums -- don't even try to do them all. I would pick one or two that really interest you, spend a half-day at each, and call it quits. The American Art Museum is the best one, in my opinion. It has an excellent permanent collection, and since it's off the beaten path, you can actually take your time to study the art. It's not on the Mall. You take the red line to Chinatown/Gallery Place and walk a block or two down. It's near the Spy Museum if you also decide to do that. I haven't been there because spies don't interest me, but everyone I know loves it. If you're in that neighborhood, Jaleo is an amazing tapas bar on 7th street.

    On the Mall, the Air and Space Museum and the Natural History Museum will be PACKED. Seriously, unless you really like airplanes or rocks, those two museums are best saved for winter when there are no tourists in town. I also think the American Indian Museum is over-rated, but to each his own. Someone mentioned the East Wing of the National Gallery, and I agree that's a good one.

    I do recommend the tour of the Capitol Building. Near there is one of my favorite places -- the Botanic Garden. I'm also a Shakespeare freak, so if you're a fan of Renaissance history, the Folger Shakespeare Library has a small gallery with rotating exhibitions, plus a small garden. It's next to the Library of Congress, both of which are right behind the Capitol. The Library of Congress has really interesting exhibits as well. You'd think there would be great restaurants on Capitol Hill, but not really. Old Ebbitt Grill is a famous spot for that near the White House. A couple of blocks up from the White House is Founding Farmers, another good place to eat.

    In Adam's Morgan, you can catch some good blues music at a place called Madame's Organ. I think they still do bluegrass every Wednesday, too, if you're into that. Most of the other clubs in Adams Morgan will be hip hop and dance music. (There is a lot of dance music in DC) Cashion's Eat Place is the restaurant to try in that neighborhood.

    The Black Cat also has good bands come through (I saw both Tres Mts and RNDM there). It's on 14th street close to U Street where there are a bunch of restaurants. On U Street, you may also catch some live music at a place called the Velvet Lounge. Bohemian Caverns is a "famous" jazz club. The 9:30 Club is not far from U Street so you can walk it before a show if you catch something there. You have to eat the obligatory half-smoke at Ben's Chili Bowl if you're on U Street.

    Also, if you like book stores and cafes, Kramer Books is the spot to be on DuPont Circle.

    My best advice is to check out the Washington City Paper the week before your visit.

    Have fun. The city is spread out, but the metro is super easy to navigate. Just be prepared to walk from your train stops to whatever your destination (except Nats Park -- they have their own stop right at the gate).
  • JOEJOEJOEJOEJOEJOE Posts: 10,483
    Thanks for all of the information!
  • HesCalledDyerHesCalledDyer Posts: 16,427
    what dreams said:

    ... Jaleo is an amazing tapas bar on 7th street.

    That's the one! I was going to mention it in my earlier post but I couldn't get La Tasca out my head.
    I guess living a short drive away, I've taken all the historical stuff for granted. I pretty much eat, drink, and go to concerts with an occasional hockey game thrown in.
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  • what dreamswhat dreams Posts: 1,761
    HesCalledDyer said:

    what dreams said:

    ... Jaleo is an amazing tapas bar on 7th street.

    That's the one! I was going to mention it in my earlier post but I couldn't get La Tasca out my head.
    I guess living a short drive away, I've taken all the historical stuff for granted. I pretty much eat, drink, and go to concerts with an occasional hockey game thrown in.
    I know, right? I'm like, what the hell do I recommend? I hate living here! DC sucks . . . LOL. I forget that it's fun when you're a tourist.
  • what dreamswhat dreams Posts: 1,761
    JOEJOEJOE said:

    Thanks for all of the information!

    Hey, Joe, that blue part in my last post is the link to the City Paper which I apparently didn't do correctly . . . lol
  • mickeyratmickeyrat Posts: 37,764
    so did you show the entire congress how to work for your check?
    _____________________________________SIGNATURE________________________________________________

    Not today Sir, Probably not tomorrow.............................................. bayfront arena st. pete '94
    you're finally here and I'm a mess................................................... nationwide arena columbus '10
    memories like fingerprints are slowly raising.................................... first niagara center buffalo '13
    another man ..... moved by sleight of hand...................................... joe louis arena detroit '14
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