Washington, D.C. Three Ways

Recently, on a flight, I saw article in the in-flight magazine featuring “DC Five Ways.” I disagreed with all their suggestions except one! So here’s how I’d tell you to do a day in my hometown, using a few of the categories they suggest.

Art Lover:
Where to Stay:
The Hotel George, on Capitol Hill, delivers a location not only close to powerful politicians, but close to powerful art as well. This funky Kimpton property delivers you practically at the front door of the National Gallery of Art & hosts its own impressive, DC-centric art collection (the last time I stayed there, a huge magenta colored print of a dollar bill was hanging above the bed).
E Street between North Capital & New Jersey, NW

Morning:
Spend the morning strolling the halls of the National Gallery of Art. The west building is full of traditional, classic paintings & sculpture, while the east building is a modern art lovers dream. A tunnel filled with hundreds of tiny lights connects the two. Best of all, since it’s a Smithsonian museum, admission is free!
National Mall between 3rd & 7th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW

Lunch:
Head toward your next destination in DC’s Chinatown area & grab one of Washington’s best pizzas at Matchbox. The classic pepperoni has the perfect amount of spice & the sliders (served in quantities of 3, 6 or 9) are a perfect start to the meal. Wondering what pizza has to do with art? Each table has an eloquently decorated match book embedded in it!
H St between 7th & 8th Streets, NW

Afternoon:
Two for one: the American Art Museum & National Portrait Gallery are both located in a magnificent marble building smack in the middle of the city. Make sure you stop by the presidential portraits flood to catch. Glimpse of Stuart’s famous portrait of George Washington. Best part? You guessed it: it’s a Smithsonian museum, so admission is free! 8th & F Streets NW

Evening:
I’ll agree with the article on this one: head to Bourbon Steak, located in the Four Seasons hotel in Georgetown. The hotel boosts over 1,600 pieces of art & the food at one of the president’s favorite restaurants is art in itself. Try the French fries three ways & any of the steaks. Weather permitting, grab a drink on the patio afterward & unwind from your day by one of several fire pits.
28th Street & Pennsylvania Ave, NW, east end of Georgetown

Foodie:
Where to Stay: Old Town Alexandria (disclosure: my neighborhood & I’m totally in love with it) has some of the best restaurants in DC. So stay here in Northern Virginia to close to all of them. The Lorien Hotel & Spa is located on the main drag, convenient to the Metro system (our subway), & is decorated in clean, modern whites & cool shades of blue. The hotel restaurant, Brabo, is run by celebrity chef Robert Wiedmaier. Stop by the bar on Sunday (or any day during happy hour) for a fantastic deal: steamed mussels, fries & a glass of white wine for $20.

Breakfast: For a quick cup of coffee, cross the street from the Lorien to the Uptowner. This truly neighborhood coffee shop makes a great latte & is meant for conversation or catching up on a good book: no wifi here! For a bigger breakfast, stroll down King Street all the way to the water (you can also grab the free trolley) to Chadwicks, which serves my favorite brunch every Saturday & Sunday morning. Try the frittata (you might have to ask for it) or the pancakes.

Lunch: Chef & entrepreneur Cathal Armstrong has a strong hold on Old Town & for good reason: his four restaurants are all very different & all very awesome. Restaurant Eve is an upscale bistro & tasting room by night, & a fancy place to grab a business lunch by day. But here’s a secret: if you arrive just prior to the start of lunch (around 11:45ish) on a weekday, you can grab a seat at the bar & have my favorite lunch in Old Town. For $15, you’ll get your choice of two menu items (including wine by the glass, salads, entrees & desserts). The entrees change daily, but one thing is always the same: the “Just Because” birthday cake – a mini birthday cake made just for you! I always get it, no matter what.

Dinner: Put on your fancy clothes & dine at another one of the Obama’s favorite restaurants: Vermillion (maybe this list should be called “Dine Where the Obama’s Dine”). A dark, romantic space with exposed brick & candlelit sconces on the walls, the food is as good as the atmosphere. Try the fish or the pork 4 ways. For dessert, you simply must have the Cookies & Confections: a plate full of artfully made childhood dessert favorites (Hostess Cupcake!).

Bonus dessert: Still hungry? A short cab ride away, literally a few blocks from my house, is the Dairy Godmother. Owner Liz (the godmother herself!) serves up authentic Wisconsin custard. They always have three flavors: chocolate, vanilla & a Flavor of the Day (my favorite is Caramel Heath bar, B’s is strawberry). If she has any ginger cookies in her treat case, you should definitely grab one of those as well.

History Buff:
Where to Stay: The Willard Hotel has played host to numerous presidents, queens & dignitaries. President Lincoln lived here before moving into the White House. This historic property has been carefully preserved & feels like walking back in time. Ready to splurge? Ask for the suite which has a view of the Washington Monument from the bathtub!

Morning: Contact your Member of Congress prior to making the trip out to DC: they can hook you up with staff-led tour of the Capitol & put your name in for a White House tour. The White House tour is brief, & self guided, but you will at least get to say you stepped foot in the president’s house – besides, you never know who is go to make an appearance! A Capitol tour takes about 90 minutes & is much more extensive than the White House. If the House &/or Senate are in session, you can obtain ticket to the public galley to see democracy in action.

Afternoon: After lunch at DC’s famous Old Ebbitt Grill (try the crab cakes!), jump in a car & head down to Mt. Vernon, George Washington’s sprawling Virginia estate. The price of admission is a bit steep ($17 per adult), but the newly remodeled visitors center will teach you everything you forgot about the founding of our country. As you stroll up the winding path to the home itself, you’ll see the area exactly as Washington saw it (the Ladies of Mt. Vernon have even purchase he land across the Potomac River from the estate to ensure that the view is always what Washington saw as he sat on his massive back porch).

Evening: On April 14, 1865, President Lincoln was assassinated while sitting in his box at Ford’s Theater, taking in a production of “Our American Cousin.” This historic theater has been fully restored to the way it was that night & even hosts a few productions a year.

If there isn’t anything playing while you’re in town, take the evening to walk the National Mall at night. The monuments to our presidents & veterans are particularly stunning at night (my favorite? The World War II memorial).