The Official-ish DC Thread

[Kangnamstyles]

Took the wife to Meadowlark for a mental health break a couple of weeks ago and then again yesterday for her birthday to see the peak blooms. The winds of sprin-ter were howling but thankfully the blossoms were alive and well. It was also a good opportunity to rock some cherry themed (shoe patina and gloves) menswear with the latest pandemic purchase (coat).

 

[smittycl]

Took the wife to Meadowlark for a mental health break a couple of weeks ago and then again yesterday for her birthday to see the peak blooms. The winds of sprin-ter were howling but thankfully the blossoms were alive and well. It was also a good opportunity to rock some cherry themed (shoe patina and gloves) menswear with the latest pandemic purchase (coat).

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Smashing pics!

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

Opening Day brunch at Yardbird Southern Table and Bar. Highly recommended . . . If you can get a table.

 

[gdl203]

Popping in to ask (given all the closures and restrictions) what y’all would recommend for things to do in DC this week for family with 12 yo boys and a doggo (we know we’ll need to have an adult stay out with her if we end up in museums etc... but any dining options would have to be dog-friendly). Staying couple blocks from Lafayette Sq so I’m thinking we can do a lot without the car? But maybe do a 1/2 day or day around Georgetown too? Thanks!

 

[smittycl]

Popping in to ask (given all the closures and restrictions) what y’all would recommend for things to do in DC this week for family with 12 yo boys and a doggo (we know we’ll need to have an adult stay out with her if we end up in museums etc... but any dining options would have to be dog-friendly). Staying couple blocks from Lafayette Sq so I’m thinking we can do a lot without the car? But maybe do a 1/2 day or day around Georgetown too? Thanks!

The Cherry Blossoms should still be mostly in bloom on the Tidal Basin. Sunny out today so walking around there and seeing Jefferson, FDR, and MLK monuments could be nice.

Lafayette Square is still closed off unfortunately and there’s no way to get to the White House. Smithsonian museums also closed. Outdoor sculpture garden is open by National Gallery of Art.

Great Falls National Park is open. The Maryland side is coolest and you can walk out over the branches of the Potomac and climb on rocks. Kids love that. Harper’s Ferry is just under an hour away. Scenic and historic town at confluence of Potomac and Shenandoah.

Eastern Market on Capitol Hill good for lunch on weekends. Union Market up by Gallaudet U is fun.

Georgetown waterfront is open and nice to eat outside if weather cooperates.

 

[smittycl]

Popping in to ask (given all the closures and restrictions) what y’all would recommend for things to do in DC this week for family with 12 yo boys and a doggo (we know we’ll need to have an adult stay out with her if we end up in museums etc... but any dining options would have to be dog-friendly). Staying couple blocks from Lafayette Sq so I’m thinking we can do a lot without the car? But maybe do a 1/2 day or day around Georgetown too? Thanks!

Baltimore’s Inner Harbor is worth a visit. Good chow around Federal Hill and other places. National Aquarium is open apparently and so is Fort McHenry.

Here’s latest on what’s open in DC from Wash Post:

“Now that spring is here, however, there are signs that museums are coming back to life. The International Spy Museum and the Museum of the Bible reopened in January. The National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden reopened on Valentine’s Day. The first week of March brought the reopenings of the Phillips Collection, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Hillwood and the grounds of Glenstone. The National Building Museum, Glenstone’s indoor Gallery, Planet Word and Tudor Place all announced early April reopenings.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2020/06/26/dc-museum-reopenings-coronavirus/

 

[gdl203]

Thanks! We'll spend a day in Baltimore too after DC and already bought aquarium tickets ?

 

[smittycl]

Popping in to ask (given all the closures and restrictions) what y’all would recommend for things to do in DC this week for family with 12 yo boys and a doggo (we know we’ll need to have an adult stay out with her if we end up in museums etc... but any dining options would have to be dog-friendly). Staying couple blocks from Lafayette Sq so I’m thinking we can do a lot without the car? But maybe do a 1/2 day or day around Georgetown too? Thanks!

Some of the others should chime in soon. Fav restaurants:

Georgetown has Martin’s Tavern, Clyde’s and Kafe Leopold.

Gallery Place has all of Jose Andres’ places like Oyamel, Jaleo, Zatinya, and China Chilcano. Rasika, awesome Indian chow, is also over there. All within walking distance of your hotel. Good chow along U Street and 14st corridors.

Hope you have a good visit!

 

[zalb916]

The monuments and memorials along the National Mall are pet friendly. The lack of food options around there is confounding, so I always think the Mall is good for picnics.

Rock Creek Park is in the middle of the city and has lots of hiking trails and picnic spots.

Mt. Vernon is a pretty short drive from the city and is very dog friendly. Old Town Alexandria is along the way and can be nice to walk around. Virtue Grain and Feed is a very dog friendly restaurant there.

On 14th Street, Garden District is a small outdoor beer garden and BBQ spot that is dog and family friendly and walkable from Lafayette Square.

No clue if it’s open now, but renting kayaks and canoes from the Ballpark Boathouse in Navy Yard is a nice family activity. Walking along the water in Navy Yard is very pet friendly. Salt Line (seafood) and All Purpose (pizza and small plate Italian) are two solid restaurants near the boat house that have large outdoor areas that likely are pet friendly.

Wandering through both the residential neighborhood and campus of Georgetown is nice. The commercial area is pretty blah. There is a location of Call Your Mother, which is a deli near the campus and off the commercial strip. It’s a darling of critics.

D.C.’s Call Your Mother Deli Is One of Eater’s Best New Restaurants in America

The Park View shop gets recognized for changing the bagel game in Washington

dc.eater.com

If you must get a cupcake in Georgetown, please avoid the lines at Georgetown Cupcakes and go to Baked and Wired. They are much better; although, I’ve noticed lines forming there now on weekends too.

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

All good suggestions here. The only thing I would add is that while in Georgetown, @gdl203 will have to pop into Sid Mashburn.

 

[zalb916]

Capitol Hill, which is where I live, is a big dog neighborhood, and dog people love the Congressional Cemetery. There are a few mildly famous people buried there, and there are self-guided tours.

Historic Congressional Cemetery - Washington, DC

Historic Congressional Cemetery is a burial ground for people of different religions. It also allows eco-friendly burials and inurnments. Click here to learn more.

congressionalcemetery.org

The cemetery isn't too far from Kingman Island. It's in the city, but you see some interesting wildlife out there, including bald eagles.

Smitty mentioned Eastern Market in Capitol Hill. The market itself is a good spot to buy picnic provisions. The cheese shop inside is decent enough, and there are a few other vendors with pre-made items. Radici is just across the street from the market. It's a friendly little Italian cafe/market/restaurant owned by an actual Italian that has pre-made sandwiches, salads, etc. I buy bread there instead of the market bakery, which is meh. The Duck and the Peach is a nice, but not fancy restaurant that just opened across the street from Eastern Market. I can't say for sure if it's dog friendly, but it's got a large outdoor patio that seemingly should be. Moorenko's is a local ice cream spot right by there too.

The National Arboretum is another pet friendly spot in the city. It requires a short drive and would take you relatively close to Union Market, which is a pretty cool, urban/industrial spot with a bunch of places to eat. There are some nice sitdown restaurants around the market. St. Anselm is a Stephen Starr place. Bidwell has been a Bib Gourmand selection. Masseria has a Michelin star. And the market itself has lots of interesting fast casual places where you can grab stuff and sit outside the market (there are some ping pong tables for the kids) or on the roof of the market.

 

[trafficjam]

Everyone has nailed all the good stuff, but if you need to burn a day, you can go out to Skyline Drive for good views and a variety of hikes, or see some of the civil war battlefields like Manassas. Both options great for an energetic kid and dog, but I doubt you'll need to exercise these options.

edit: also you should definitely eat peruvian chicken.

 

[smittycl]

@gdl203 good outdoor stuff as museums basically all closed. International Spy Museum fun for kids if weather closes in.

Driving Skyline Drive - Shenandoah National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

Great Falls Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Homepage

www.nps.gov

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)

At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry. Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your connection to the struggle for freedom, education, and civil rights at Storer College. Discover...

www.nps.gov

Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Preserving America's early transportation history, the C&O Canal began as a dream of passage to Western wealth. Operating for nearly 100 years the canal was a lifeline for communities along the Potomac River as coal, lumber, and agricultural products floated down the waterway to market. Today it...

www.nps.gov

International Spy Museum - Washington DC

Visit the International Spy Museum in Washington DC and step into the shoes of a spy. Experience DC's most immersive museum. Book your timed tickets online.

www.spymuseum.org

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

Everyone has nailed all the good stuff, but if you need to burn a day, you can go out to Skyline Drive for good views and a variety of hikes, or see some of the civil war battlefields like Manassas. Both options great for an energetic kid and dog, but I doubt you'll need to exercise these options.

edit: also you should definitely eat peruvian chicken.

And Ethiopian food. There are a billion & 1 Ethiopian restaurants in DC but I prefer the the no frills Habesha Market on 9th Street

 

[smittycl]

Just back from a nice ride on this breezy day. Blossoms almost gone after a few cold and windy days. Lots of folks out. Was tempted to stop at Dacha for German beer and a brat but it was getting a bit late. Next time!