OT: Going to DC for work this weekend. Any MGoBlog recommendations?
January 16th, 2022 at 2:50 PM ^
If you can swing getting a ticket you should 100% go to the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
January 16th, 2022 at 2:56 PM ^
+1 to this. If on limited time, I'd prioritize this museum plus a walk around the mall and then to the Jefferson, FDR and MLK memorials.
January 16th, 2022 at 3:33 PM ^
This museum is so cool.
January 16th, 2022 at 4:37 PM ^
No tickets available, however I saw on line that if you show up at the start of the tour sometimes there are no shows. I am going to make it a priority.
January 16th, 2022 at 4:41 PM ^
I also highly recommend this but I will tell you be prepare to wait a long time even if you got a ticket in advance. You need to try and get one when they release them at 8am. Otherwise you will stand in a long line outside. Once you get in we still waited almost an hour to get into the museum in a different line.
someone further down said air and space which is currently under renovation so it will not be open. So if you’re into that go to the hangar at Dulles in Virginia which has a lot of great stuff.
January 16th, 2022 at 9:34 PM ^
There is a good sized picture of Desmond Howard in the sports section of the museum
I would recommend one of the Jose Andres restaurants. Zaytinya is really good, right in the heart of the city. I also like Busboys and Poets, good food and drinks in a restaurant that also doubles as a bookstore. Bistro du Coin is a nice casual French place.
January 16th, 2022 at 2:56 PM ^
Jack Rose if you're a whiskey fan
January 16th, 2022 at 5:31 PM ^
Bring yo high limit credit card because you are going to spend a shit ton if you are a bourbon or scotch nerd
January 16th, 2022 at 2:57 PM ^
The wharf in southwest has a lot of great restaurants and things to do along the water. The Anthem is also a great music venue there.
January 16th, 2022 at 3:13 PM ^
Not to thread-jack, but I’m also headed somewhere new this week for a couple of days. Any suggestions or pointers for Louisville? I’ll be there for a couple of days to start the week. Staying at the Marriott Downtown.
January 16th, 2022 at 3:30 PM ^
The Louisville Slugger Museum is fun if you enjoy seeing how things are made, and the Bourbon Trail includes a few places in the area.
January 16th, 2022 at 4:17 PM ^
some food recs
https://www.biscuitbelly.com/
https://610magnolia.com/
A hot brown at the brown hotel
obviously the distillery tours downtown, give Peerless a try that was the best whiskey I had there
January 17th, 2022 at 9:34 AM ^
Nothing beats a good hot brown.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:23 PM ^
Agree with the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. Some great exhibits and things to do. Also, Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby Museum (just down the street from University of Louisville football and baseball stadiums).
January 16th, 2022 at 3:37 PM ^
Founding Farmers is a good restaurant and popular with tourists so can be hard to book. National Portrait Gallery is a nice place to visit.
January 16th, 2022 at 3:45 PM ^
Founding Fathers is pretty nice. They can make almost any specialty drink you can think of. And some you probably can't.
January 16th, 2022 at 4:08 PM ^
Don't miss this restuarant.
January 16th, 2022 at 3:45 PM ^
I hear storming the Capitol is a January tradition, not unlike the cherry blossoms in March.
January 16th, 2022 at 4:35 PM ^
Removed
January 16th, 2022 at 4:44 PM ^
Just kidding--very interesting work. I actually want to see the recommendations in this thread so I hope it doesn't go off the rails. . .
January 16th, 2022 at 5:04 PM ^
I see that. Not intentional. I have prosecuted and been a public defender for over 20 years. I just represent people not views. Really hope it does not go off the rails. Apologies in advance, I really am just looking for food and event recommendations. I am going to be in town 2 nights.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:06 PM ^
Give them the best representation possible and then hopefully that traitor to our country is locked up!
January 16th, 2022 at 5:59 PM ^
Which one? There are so many to choose from.
January 16th, 2022 at 6:47 PM ^
Just messing around Angry Dad. I think we can all agree that anyone charged with a crime should have access to good legal counsel. Enjoy the trip!
January 16th, 2022 at 3:52 PM ^
National Air & Space Museum
National Gallery of Art
January 16th, 2022 at 5:14 PM ^
Air and Space is closed for remodeling. Udar Hazy Annex is open and glorious, but is 40 minutes one way from the JW.
Would second the National Gallery (favorite in the city). The Phillips Collection of Dupont is a gorgeous museum with a fantastic underrated collection as well.
Eating, Zatinaya, Jaleo and DBGB are nice relatively reasonably priced places within walking distance of the JW. Filomena in City Center has a sterling rep for Italian but have not personally been.
Want to spend a bit more for a Michelin 1 star, Kinship (American) or Cranes (Spanish Japanese) are pretty close by. You won't get a reservation at Dabney (Southern Low Country) a month out. Bresca has the best duck in the City.
You need your vaccination record and a picture ID at bars and restaurants in DC as of yesterday. They check (went to Xiquet in Glover Park last night)
January 16th, 2022 at 6:03 PM ^
I haven't eaten out in D.C. much, but one place the family and I went to a few years ago was the infamous Comet Pizza. I had one of the best pizzas I've ever eaten there. Probably isn't close enough to where the OP is staying though.
January 16th, 2022 at 6:10 PM ^
Yeah, Comet is a PITA to get to from the JW. It's actually like a mile away from where we had dinner last night (Xiquet).
For non political dorks, Comet Is where some rando nutjob rolled in with a shotgun to liberate the child sex trafficking ring Hillary Clinton was running out of a pool/pizza joint in Northwest.
My wife and I always chuckle passing by there.
January 16th, 2022 at 6:35 PM ^
It was an AR-15 and he opened fire. Just a miracle he didn't kill anybody.
January 16th, 2022 at 7:04 PM ^
I second Udvar-Hazy. I live around here and despite not being a huge museum or aircraft dork, I think it is one of the top three best things to do around DC. I'd say it is 2-3 times better than the Air and Space on the Mall. It's a massive museum and really terrific.
January 16th, 2022 at 8:09 PM ^
Both great museums. I think the best place to see is Ford Museum and Petterson house. The stuff they have in there was mind blowing best museum in DC
January 16th, 2022 at 3:53 PM ^
If you can get to Arlington, go to Burrito Bro’s if you like burritos. Used to be called Pedro and Vinny’s. Best burritos in genera area. Spice it 1-10.
January 16th, 2022 at 3:59 PM ^
Weekend? Good thing is if you'd like to get out and about, the metro (our subway system) is right around the corner from you (Metro Center Station). For a few dollars you're able to hit pretty much any other spot within the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
Eats? For a general list of ideas, I'd recommend simply googling "best eats Washingtonian Magazine". Your hotel is not far from BLT Steak (duh), La Bise (French), Mazi (New American?), Kellari Taverna (Mediterranean), Old Ebbitt Grill (American), Fogo de Chao (Brazilian - do NOT stuff yourself on that tasty cheese bread); no shortage of splendid dining options, regardless of your palate.
Short jaunt away from Foggy Bottom (George Washington Univ.)/Georgetown areas also; the latter being one of the preferred - especially around that Wisconsin Avenue/M. Street intersection - shopping/people watching districts.
+1 on the National Museum of African American History/Culture suggestions, and the entire Smithsonian Museum experience in general (Butterfly Pavilion in the National Museum of Natural History).
I'd be surprised if you didn't enjoy your time here, Shrinkage Watch for the weekend notwithstanding.
January 16th, 2022 at 4:06 PM ^
I have been to DC 3 times, all when I was much younger. When I go back, a primary thing I want to do is go to Ben's Chili Bowl. It's a small thing, but I really like notable local eats.
January 16th, 2022 at 6:29 PM ^
They have grown and now have a location at National Airport
January 16th, 2022 at 4:11 PM ^
I would not miss these:
-Go to the monuments at night for the first time, not during daylight. You won't believe how dramatic they are at night. The Lincoln and Jefferson especially.
-See the Iwo Jima Memorial.
-Make sure to park and walk around in Georgetown at some point, downtown Gtown.
-If you go to Arlington, stop at Teddy Roosevelt island, a little known and one of the better monuments in DC. Go there even if you don't to to Arlington. You can only do this during daylight hours.
-The International Spy Museum is excellent.
January 16th, 2022 at 4:20 PM ^
The Mall at night is fantastic.
January 16th, 2022 at 4:18 PM ^
Been a few years since I went but the Newseum was really cool.
any of the Jose andres restaurants
January 16th, 2022 at 4:22 PM ^
The Newseum is unfortunately no longer in existence.
January 16th, 2022 at 7:42 PM ^
Aw that’s a bummer
January 16th, 2022 at 4:48 PM ^
Get Ethiopian food.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:06 PM ^
Not the first time I have heard this. Never had Ethiopian food. Any specific places or dishes?
January 16th, 2022 at 6:33 PM ^
Go to the Adams Morgan neighborhood on 18th st between Kalorama and Columbia Ave, there should be a few of them right there.
January 17th, 2022 at 5:19 PM ^
You can’t go wrong in DC, but the area around U Street around 9th to 12th is generally better than 18th street. Dukem is a good choice.
I recommend getting a vegetarian combo. They do amazing things with lentils, collards, etc
January 17th, 2022 at 1:56 AM ^
Get Ethiopian food.
My first thought as well. Lived in DC in '08-'09 near the Shaw-Howard metro station, every place I tried was awesome. Most of them have standard sampler platters, can't go wrong. Every time I'm back in DC this is my first task.
January 16th, 2022 at 4:54 PM ^
Stay warm.
January 16th, 2022 at 4:54 PM ^
Don't forget to bring your Vax card and ID as you will need it everywhere you go now in D.C.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:02 PM ^
There's a restaurant that recently opened in Adams Morgan called Revelers Hour that I went to the night before the Maryland game that was good.
There is a restaurant called Farmers Fishers Bakers that is on the Potomac near Georgetown owned by the same people as Founding Farmers.
As for museums I like the Hirshhorn Museum and the Portrait Gallery because they have special exhibits that are interesting.
We took the water taxi from Georgetown to the wharf but it was during summer and I don't think the weather next weekend is supposed to be that good.
The Library of Congress and the Bureau of Printing and Engraving is interesting if you've never been there.
January 16th, 2022 at 5:03 PM ^
Zatinya. Great Greek/Mediterranean. Don’t live in DC but it was recommended by a frequent visitor.
January 16th, 2022 at 7:09 PM ^
Zaytinya is great. It's not new or a recent revelation, but is consistently excellent and feels like a good destination meal without being extremely pricey. Since so much of DC is not working in the office these days, it's a great time to hit nice downtown places that typically fill up fast, like this one.