"the older I get the more I realize / I'm becoming just like him / you can see it in her eyes"

[larryhammer]

I'll be in DC on family business for a few days mid-July, and while the exact scope of my commitments is not yet clear, it looks like I'll have at least a half-day free and on my own. So I'm looking for something to do.

I did grow up in the city, but I left two decades ago -- my touristing ideas are out of date. I mean, I could just pick a Smithsonian (Freer/Sackler is never a bad bet, and I might get more out of it now) or finally go back to the Corcoran Gallery, but there has to be Interesting Stuff I don't know about.

Any recommendations?

(Depending on how things pan out, I may also be available for meet-ups.)

---L.

Comments

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

The Folger!!!!

[larryhammer]

Oo -- good thought. I think I've been back only once since my English class took part in a drama competition there. (I played the Lady Macbeth's physician.)

---L.

[gillpolack.livejournal.com]

That's a good title "the Lady Macbeth's physician."

[stevendj.livejournal.com]

Venus in Fur at the Studio Theatre is very good, and running through the 24th. The Merchant of Venice is currently running at the Shakespeare Theatre.

[larryhammer]

Hmm. How are the reviews of Merchant?

---L.

[stevendj.livejournal.com]

I don't know, I've been in Laos for the last three weeks.

[barry-king.livejournal.com]

If you're headed around Connecticut/Dupont Circle anyway, there's always the Phillips Collection. They have some Kadinsky to show you. And then there's always Lauriol Plaza if you're looking for a good place to eat.

But if it's Smithsonian/Mall you want and It's been 20 years, there is the Museum of the American Indian and the Holocaust Museum.

[larryhammer]

I don't know if I'll make it up to Dupont Circle, but the Philips is something to keep in mind. Might even be worth going out of my way.

But then, I haven't been to either of those down by the Mall, either.

Hmm. Thanks!

---L.

[harvestar.livejournal.com]

I still want to go to the Dulles extension of the Air & Space Museum!

The Holocaust museum was very moving.

There's also the National Zoo!

[harvestar.livejournal.com]

And there's the WWII memorial.

[larryhammer]

I grew up a little more than a mile from the Zoo, and have made it back since then. I love the place, but it's not a gap in my sightseeing.

Where's the WWII Memorial -- around the Tidal Basin from Jefferson's?

---L.

[harvestar.livejournal.com]

WWII is on the main mall. It's big and impressive.

[larryhammer]

I just Googled -- the 17th St. end of the Reflecting Pool. Whcih always did need something to break up the flat space.

---L.

[behindpyramids.livejournal.com]

DC! *wags tail* If you're up for it, I'd love to do a meal. Erm, I haven't any idea what was around and wasn't 20 years about but I'm sure you know the area far better than I do...I haven't been the greatest about getting outside of the house.

Eats:
Lots of frozen yogurt places and cup-cakeries around. Red Velvet in Chinatown has delicious cupcakes. And China Express in Chinatown has handmade noodles (although if you're from NY you're not going to be impressed). Malaysia Kopitam by Farragut North has a pretty yummy Malaysian meal. Maoz is next door, they give you a falafal sandwich for cheap and you get to top it up from a bar. Nando's Peri Peri by Farragut North has melt in yo' mouth chicken, and Julia's Empanadas (Farragut North) are delicious, cheap and filling.

Kramer's books in Dupont is a must for book shopping.

I've only heard about Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown but it sounds spectacular: http://www.doaks.org/

Holocaust Museum? I've heard it's amazing, I got lost in it once and came out really rattled. Haven't had the courage to see it thoroughly.

A friend of mine works at the Shakespeare Theater and she said Merchant is pretty darn awesome. Or maybe that's just me ogling the trailer.

If you need a quick bite farmer's markets are Wednesday afternoon at Foggy Bottom, Friday until about 1:00 across from the Smithsonian metro, Dupont Sunday morning.

Oh god, most of my recs are for food. Tells you what I do.

[larryhammer]

A meal sounds faboo, especially with a local guide to good eats. My schedule is still not defined (currently it's looking like I'll have the morning of Sat the 16th to myself, until I have to head to BWI for a mid-afternoon flight) but I might be able to meet up the night before.

When things are a little more clear, I'll touch base? (Is the contact info in your profile good?)

(I don't think I dare go into Kramer's. That, or Politics & Prose.)

---L.

[rushthatspeaks.livejournal.com]

But you have the excuse of food at Kramer's-- one of the best and most reasonably priced restaurants I'm aware of in D.C. proper.

[larryhammer]

........ uh oh.

[rushthatspeaks.livejournal.com]

They've got the bookstore, a coffee bar room, and an actual sit-down restaurant. I've never done the coffee bar, because since you can take unpurchased merchandise into it, it is always standing room only. You cannot take unpurchased things into the restaurant. For lunch they are downright cheap considering the area, for dinner more expensive but still on the cheap side. I'd call it well-done hipster food, the last time I was there the dessert of the day was salted caramel cheesecake if you see what I mean, but it's an incredibly variable menu and the only thing I've seen on it twice is the (very good) hamburger. They also have the weirdest bathrooms in the D.C. metro region-- the waitstaff give you tokens to operate this gumball-machine-like thing that opens the door.

[larryhammer]

"Cheap" and "Dupont Circle" do not exactly naturally fit together in my mind, no.

That ... ough -- sounds really tempting, nonetheless.

---L.

[rushthatspeaks.livejournal.com]

Also, I am sad, as we appear to be failing to overlap in that region by only two weeks. *sigh*

[larryhammer]

It will be ReaderCon weekend, yes. :-(

---L.

[behindpyramids.livejournal.com]

Oh BWI! :) Let me know if you want any info on Baltimawr...it used to be my old stomping ground.

I'm not too sure of my schedule either, things are hectic, esp. since I'm trying to move, but I'd love to get together. I don't have contact info listed on my profile but I can ninja you my e-mail address.

[larryhammer]

I'll be visiting Bal'mer -- or at least, Towson, where aunt and uncle live -- but my time there will not be my own. Most of the trip, I'll be in DC and Arlington.

---L.

[maryosmanski.livejournal.com]

The Folger Shakespeare Library currently (through September 3) has a free exhibit of Shakespeare First Folios and related materials about the time period and the folios themselves.
http://www.folger.edu/wvoSummary.cfm?woid=661

[larryhammer]

Sounds like it's very similar to (what used to be) one of their regular cycling exhibits -- much like what I saw in high school. Not that I took in as much as I might now ...

---L.