Washington DC advice....

[catesta]

I'm thinking about heading to DC for the Easter weekend.

Any suggestions on hotels?

Edited March 30, 2006 by catesta

[BeBop]

What're you willing to spend?

What do you want to do in town?

You cool with riding the Metro? (...perhaps the best metro in the US)

[catesta]

What're you willing to spend?

What do you want to do in town?

You cool with riding the Metro? (...perhaps the best metro in the US)

I'm not looking to spend $500 a night buy will go $200. I think I need more help with the best party of the City to stay in.

For me the main attraction is The Smithsonian.

And yes, I'm cool with Metro.

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

Chris, you should stay in Crystal City. In addition to the Hyatt, there are another 10-12 hotels clustered nearby in a 3 block radius (take your pick: Radisson, Embassy Suites, Sheraton, Doubletree, Holiday Inn, Marriot, Days Inn, etc) and most will have decent weekend rates. There are 2 metro lines Yellow & Blue that'll get you in and out of DC in 10-12 minutes. If you're flying into Reagan National, you can walk to these hotels in 15 minutes or less. I'm a mile from that Hyatt. Take it from me, it can't get any easier. Send a PM if you need additional info.

[BeBop]

Good advice. Two possible alternatives are:

Embassy Row in DC - a nice area, again with a Hyatt (nice Hyatts in the District) and other quality hotels, obviously closer to the heart of DC, though no quicker to get to Smithsonian - or

the Ballston/GMU area of 'downtown' Arlington - a little closer to DC, with another Hilton(s) and Hyatt (in Rosslyn, just across the Key Bridge from Georgetown, where you'll want to go) and perhaps a bit cheaper

Edited March 31, 2006 by BeBop

[bertrand]

Last time I checked (2 years ago?), the Marriott across the street from my house charged $100-115 a night on week-ends.

It's in Bethesda MD, and they have a shuttle to metro (there's also several bus lines). It takes about 40 minutes to get to the museums. You can also part at Grosvenor metro for free, if you have a car with you (the hotel charges $8 a day for parking). Downtown Bethesda (just minutes away) has hundreds of restaurants.

Crystal City might be a bit closer, but super-depressing. Just high-rises all over the place.

If you want to try some jazz gigs, we could do a mini-organissimo reunion. Twins jazz on U street has Jeremy Pelt that W/E - I was thinking of going.

Send me a PM if you want more info on the Marriott. I don't get a commission for recommending them, nor do I get a break on my gym and pool membership!

Bertrand.

Edited March 31, 2006 by bertrand

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

Super-depressing?? I can't let you get away with that...you, you, you Northern VA hater, you! Well, I guess he hasn't rolled through in awhile, 'cause, miraculously, all the 'high-rises' have shrunk down to 14 stories. I just went out for a sandwich and shot these quick pics standing in the main drag (Rt.1) that runs through it. Hey, is it paradise? Well, I'd rather recommend the Four Seasons in Georgetown, or the Hay Adams down by the White House for $400+ a night --- but if someone's looking for a good jump off point that's 10 minutes away, has a good place to catch a pint at night (Mackey's Public House), or some decent food after wandering the Smithsonian all day (McCormicK & Schmicks, Jaleo, Morton's, Ted Turners, Legal Seafood, Ruth's Chris, or any of the dozen places on 23rd street) this isn't a bad place to hang.

Geez, if Catesta was in town tonite, he could go see the Average White Band playing at the Birchmere down the street.

Bertrand, Did you go see John Hicks when he was at Twins in Feb?

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

....view toward D.C.

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

...bars & stuff looking toward Crystal city..

[RDK]

I'd stay in the city, within walking distance to the Capitol and museums. You might pay a bit more, but you'd save a lot of time.

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

......view from my upper porch down the street from 'super depressing' crystal city.

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

I'd stay in the city, within walking distance to the Capitol and museums. You might pay a bit more, but you'd save a lot of time.

Truthfully, if I was coming to DC for the first time, rather than hitting VA or MD, I'd do that as well. A nice place to stay is the Henley Park Hotel over on Mass and 9th, NW. They've got a nice little jazz lounge and have someone in there on weekends. Restaurant is also quite good. The weekend rates for a small room are okay too. The other place is the Hotel George up on Capitol Hill....excellent boutique hotel, outstanding restauarnt 'Bistro Bis'...had dinner there on Wed. night. It'll set ya back a few bucks, but.....

[Johnny E]

I have some advice for DC:

Change the damn name of your football team. It's 2006 already, it's embarrassing.

[Neal Pomea]

I agree, Johnny E.

I would try the Hinkley Hilton. It's actually the Washington Hilton on Connecticut Avenue, but that's where Reagan got shot, so it goes by that name.

Walking distance to Dupont Circle with some of DC's best restaurants, and Adams Morgan down Florida Avenue. Metro at Dupont Circle.

[catesta]

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

I think we will probably drive or take the train so she can see some of the country side.

Looks like the toughest decision may be picking an area to stay.

[Randy Twizzle]

Hope to return August or Sept. with warmer temps.

If you visit Washington in August, you'll be praying for those bracing cold winds. It's a hot and humid hellhole.

[catesta]

Do you drive with snakes around your neck?

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

For what it's worth...

* House of Dynasty on Telegraph Rd in Alexandria (Chinese)

Good God!! You were sent out to Telegraph Road?? Who did you piss off to get sent out there?? Solzenhitsyn said he'd rather get dropped back into a labor camp in the permafrost belt that go out there!! Catesta would wander out there and they'd find his bleached bones lying in the woods 6 months later!! Poor lad....no food...no water....bears got him. *

* I drop the kids at piano lessons once a week a mile up from that House-o-chow.

[Chuck Nessa]

Boy I hope Weezie offers you gallons of very expensive beer!

[Neal Pomea]

From the Hinkley you are in easy reaching distance of the following restaurants

Citronelle, maybe DC's best world class restaurant

Galileo, one of DC's best, a four star restaurant.

Obelisk

Pesce

Johnny's Half Shell

Sorry I don't know more about Adams Morgan, only that locals go there more than Georgetown.

Edited April 1, 2006 by It Should be You

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

Boy I hope Weezie offers you gallons of very expensive beer!

You should stock up on some. I mean, anything to replace those fifths of 70's 'vintage' Black Velvet you keep trying to pawn off on the guests.

[catesta]

What's the deal with the area known as Foggy Bottom?

[Son-of-a-Weizen]

Basically a low key little residential area (w/well maintained 00's-20's townhouses) that's bordered by the State Dept., GWU (George Washington U), Georgetown and the Kennedy Center. Not a bad place to walk around....quick access to Georgetown ....10 blocks to the White House and so. It's not an area that's packed with accomodations and I can't tell you anything about the handful of hotels and/or guest quarters that are located there....but I'd recommend it.

[catesta]

Seems as if the rates in the are really good.

Washington Suites Georgetown

The Melrose

Both of these places are under $200 a night.

What about Dupont Circle/Kalorama?

[Randy Twizzle]

I once went to a bar in Foggy Bottom and saw Amiri Baraka, who was then teaching at GWU, sitting alone in a booth and writing in a notebook. Next to me at the bar were 3 semi-intoxicated Secret Service Agents. I knew they were Agents from listening to their conversation. It was 1979 and in those days I guess they were allowed to talk shop in public while sitting next to a shabby looking kid like me.