Washington DC
04/7/2013 - United States, Washington DC
04/07/2013 – UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON DC
Washington DC
It’s been a crazy two weeks in Washington DC!
First, and most importantly, we had marriage equality being heard at the Supreme Court! It’s about time!!! Second, we attended Easter services at the National Cathedral, a truly beautiful experience. Last, but not least, our friends Libby and Brandon visited us, and we got to play tourist all over again in our great city!
In honor of all of the above, I wanted to do my blog this week on my city: Washington DC.
We moved to the suberbs of DC in June 2012, and I can honestly say I believe it is the best city in the world!
We stay in DC about once a month. We like to enjoy the restaurants and wine without having to drive home after dinner so I have a variety of hotels, restaurants, and entertainment to review.
Let’s start with the hotels…
First, The Mayflower Hotel
The Mayflower Hotel is packed with historic charm! My husband and I have stayed here three different times, and it is our favorite in DC!!! We always get a one-bedroom suite that has a separate living room and bedroom making it perfect for entertaining before going out with friends for the night.
The Mayflower, known for quite a few historic events, was the hotel where Franklin Roosevelt wrote his “There is nothing to fear but fear itself” speech. Monica Lewinsky stayed there during her ordeal, and perhaps the most recent newsworthy story is that the Elliott Spitzer call girl story broke when he was caught at this hotel.
The Mayflower is now part of the Marriott Renaissance Collection so we can earn points while staying there which is a big bonus. All in all, this hotel is packed with all the beauty, history, comfort and charm that you could want.
Next, The Jefferson Hotel.
My husband and I decided to do an event at the French Embassy in DC for Valentine’s Day. We wanted to splurge a little so we used American Express points to stay the night at The Jefferson, a true 5 star beauty, which had been recommended by our friends Jason and Margi. (Side note, I love the Amex rewards program. We always use points when we want to splurge on our travel!)
The Jefferson is a 96-room boutique hotel that’s as elegant as it’s namesake. The hotel houses antiques, period artifacts and documents signed by Jefferson himself. Its restaurant Plume is one of the top restaurants in the city. (President Obama hosted a dinner there in March for 12 GOP Senators.)
We checked in and were escorted to our room by one of the white-gloved staff. The room was elegantly decorated in a Monticello style motif. The bathroom counter space was slightly small, but the shower was huge and made up for it. With the classical music station already playing when we walked in, we laid down on the perfect bed and felt transported back in time.
The next morning we ordered room service and dined in our robes. Very chic!
With pure class and elegance throughout, The Jefferson is a real treat!
Next up, The Hotel George, A Kimpton Hotel.
My husband’s friend Adam introduced us to this hotel. He is a big fan of the Kimpton Hotels. Being a Kimpton Hotel “virgin”, I did some research and decided to check it out.
Located in the heart of the Capitol Hill Business District, The Hotel George offers the perfect setting for a tourist looking to visit all of DC’s famous sites. The lobby has a cool urban hip vibe and a complimentary happy hour from 5-6.
Our room was nice and large and the bedding was soft and cozy. The best thing though, the robes in the closet were animal print. I was hooked, such a cute touch!
The only negative: construction started at 9:30 in the morning. Who schedules construction at a hotel on a Saturday morning?!?
I decided I liked the Kimpton brand well enough that I scheduled us to stay in another one in Minneapolis two weeks later.
Last, The Fairfax at Embassy Row.
With Libby and Brandon coming into town, I wanted to book yet another historical hotel and have a fun night out in DC. Hotels.com had a great deal on The Fairfax, billed as a 5 star hotel, so we decided to give it a try.
The Fairfax has a rich history filled with politicians, celebrities, and scandals. It started as a hotel for senators and their families. George H. Bush and Al Gore both lived at the Fairfax while their fathers were in the Senate. Gore’s family actually owned the Fairfax for the majority of its existence. (It is now a part of the Starwood Luxury Collection.)
Numerous celebrities have stayed there including Jackie Kennedy, Frank Sinatra, Jack Nicholson, and Julie Andrews. The Fairfax is also where Hillary Clinton launched her candidacy for President.
While the rooms were large and the beds luxurious, there were certain amenities missing that didn’t make it a true 5 star hotel. We were not escorted to our rooms. We didn’t have a turn down service. There were no cups for water in the room, a light was out in the bathroom, and we had to open the heavy front doors ourselves. I know these are minor picky things, but it’s the details that determine a true 5 star rating.
What was 5 star about the hotel: the staff always being friendly and helpful. The concierge even went out of his way to print off a history of the hotel and give me a tour. What was even better: we arrived back at the hotel after midnight to discover their bar was closed. We caught the attention of the bartender who was cleaning for the night. He let us in, and we ended up spending the next hour having a wonderful political conversation.
If Hotels.com keeps having great deals on The Fairfax, we will definitely stay here again.
On to the restaurants…
There are so many amazing restaurants in DC. I’m just going to highlight four that are among my favorites.
1. Art and Soul
Being a long time Chef Art Smith fan, I had wanted to try this restaurant for some time and was so excited to get the opportunity on my husband’s birthday.
The restaurant is situated in the Liaison Hotel in Capitol Hill and specializes in southern cuisine. (For those that don’t know, Chef Art Smith is a celebrity chef who used to be Oprah’s personal chef. He has been on Top Chef Masters twice and has cooked for everyone from Lady Gaga to the Obamas.)
We walked in and were shown to our table. Stephen leaned over and said, “Isn’t that the chef over there?” I said, “Don’t be silly, he lives in Chicago.” Well…It was him.
Stephen asked the manager to see if Chef Art would come by the table. He was kind enough to oblige. I got to meet him and get a picture! He’s incredibly nice, his food was delicious, and I would recommend any of his restaurants anytime.
Thank you Chef Art for the wonderful experience!
For New Year’s Eve, we decided to go to a black tie event at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. We wanted to do something very “DC” for dinner before the event so I suggested the Bombay Club. It has been around for years and hosted presidents, celebrities, and foreign dignitaries alike.
Their pre-fix menu (since it was NYE) ended up being just the right amount of food. The restaurant was decorated with balloons, streamers, party favors and such. They had a pianist playing jazz tunes and the celebratory air enchanted us all.
Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj of the Knightsbridge Restaurant Group deserves his nod as a James Beard Semi-Finalist for Restaurateur of the year. The Bombay Club is divine!
Best burgers ever!!! After a Friday night out in the city, we usually leave our hotel, come straight here, eat, and then walk to Eastern Market to shop for fresh food for the rest of the weekend.
Located on Capitol Hill, Good Stuff was opened by the Top Chef Season Four contestant Spike Mendelsohn and his family. Although he is classically trained in French cuisine, he seems to know what he’s doing with just the good ol’ burger.
The restaurant is wildly popular and you usually have a long line, but the wait is worth it. Even the Obamas are known to frequent here. When you’re craving a burger, it’s definitely the place to go.
4. Graffiato
Okay so I am totally a devoted Top Chef fan, and I completely wigged out meeting Chef Mike Isabella.
Chef Mike was a contestant on Top Chef Season Six and was the runner up on Top Chef All Stars. He opened Graffiato in 2011 across from the Verizon Center in Chinatown, and it became a huge success. It’s the type of restaurant that even if you have a reservation, you will still probably have a wait when you get there so come thirsty and enjoy the energy of the vibrant bar while you wait.
Libby was in town, by herself this time, and we decided to check it out. We walked into the restaurant and luckily scored seats at the pizza counter.
Chef Mike was working in the open air kitchen so we were able to walk right up after our meal and get a picture with him. He was incredibly cordial and thanked us for coming. I thanked him for the amazing food.
Anybody that is in DC or going to be in DC, come try this place! You’ll feel like a local while enjoying some of the best food in DC! The wood-fired pizzas and the small sharing plates were all cooked to perfection!
Two other eating spots favored by locals in DC are the Eastern Market and the Maine Avenue Fish Market.
Eastern Market is DC’s Oldest Continually Operated Fresh Food Public Market. Located in the heart of Capitol Hill, Eastern Market is THE place to come for fresh flowers, produce, meats, cheeses, and bakery goods. All of the vendors are locals and all of the food is fresh. The South Hall has all the food, and the North Hall is filled with vendors selling art, jewelry, etc. We love to go on Saturday mornings and buy the fresh ingredients to make a special meal at home on Saturday or Sunday night.
Maine Avenue Fish Market is a true hidden gem in DC. I had lived here for seven months before finding out about it. It’s a big outdoor market comprised of about a dozen little floating seafood markets. It’s the best place to come get fresh Maryland crabs, salmon, swordfish, etc. It’s a seafood lover’s paradise! You can also pick up some hot foods like gumbo, spiced shrimp, and crawfish. If you love fresh seafood, definitely make it a stop!
Now that you’ve heard about the best spots for a good night’s rest and some amazing food, let’s talk about seeing the sites!
If you make it to DC, you absolutely have to at least see the White House, the Monuments, and US Capitol. They really are something to be admired.
I’ve never felt more patriotic than when I first entered the Lincoln Memorial. On the way up the steps, you can even stand on the actual spot where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his speech. I challenge you to look out over the National Mall towards the Washington Monument and the Capital. If you’re eyes don’t tear up a little, you must be made of stone. It’s truly an awe-inspiring experience.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the WWII Memorial, and the Korean War Memorial are all walking distance from the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall. The Jefferson Memorial is a little further off but well worth going to see, especially when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom.
The US Capitol building anchors the opposite end of the National Mall and offers tours on the hour with extremely knowledgeable guides. After a 13-minute film, the guide leads you through the Rotunda and the National Statuary Hall. With priceless paintings and a rich history, you’re bound to reflect on the great legislative feats that have taken place amongst the halls. If you have the time, definitely do the tour.
Many people only think of the monuments when visiting. Washington DC also has a plethora of theatres. (Lincoln was shot while watching a play, right?!?) My two favorites are the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the National Theatre.
I have had the privilege of seeing several shows at the Kennedy Center from musicals to ballets. Stephen and I joined the Patron’s Circle this year so I am looking forward to having many blogs about my upcoming times here.
The Roof Terrace Restaurant on the top floor of the Kennedy Center is worth the reservation. The view of the Potomac River is simply spectacular. We like to come early to dine and then walk through the Hall of Flags towards the theatre.
The Opera House is stately and gorgeous. I prefer the box seats (who doesn’t?!), but all of the seats are good. There are usually concerts in the hall before the show so even if you are not coming early for dinner, come early to stroll the hall and enjoy the pre-show entertainment.
The National Theatre, just three blocks from the White House, opened its doors on Dec 7, 1835. It is said that President Andrew Jackson came to this theatre after he paid off the National Debt. (Guess Obama won’t be coming here anytime soon!)
This theatre has operated longer than any other theatre in the US. It’s an ornately beautiful theatre with tiny seats made for the times when people were smaller. (But that’s also part of its charm.) We came here to see the tour of Les Miserables, and I have to say this version was much better than the movie! Check out their website for the current and upcoming shows. A lot of great tours pass through here!
Last but not least, I must honor the start of baseball season with my favorite baseball park Nationals Park.
Stephen and I have had the pleasure of attending quite a few professional sporting events this year. I have loved all the stadiums, arenas, parks, etc., but I have to say that Nationals Park is the most beautiful.
We attended the Labor Day game against the Cubs with my wonderful in-laws last year! We splurged for the club seats, and they were perfect!
I don’t know if it was the patriotic day, the Nationals winning, or those fabulous club seats, but I am now a Nationals fan for life!
A baseball game is a great outing for everyone. The club seats are a little pricier but well worth it. They include “all you can eat and drink” (including alcohol) with in-seat service!
Well, there’s a little bit about my city. I’m sure I’ll have many more blogs about DC to come. There are too many great things to cover here. Until next time, Go Nationals!
