A 3 Day Weekend For Young Professionals

Description:

This typical American eatery, located downtown, will cater to all your gastronomic needs. Be it regular burgers and pizzas or Seared Duck that you're after, you'll find it here. Chef Geoff's Three Course Theatre Special is served daily between 4p and 6:30p; there are more than 12 beers available on tap, and 25 wines by the glass to complement your meals. The desserts will melt in your mouth - give the Chocolate Truffle Cake a try! Come by on Sunday for the live jazz Sunday Brunch, which offers favorites like Eggs Chesapeake and the Texas Scramble. If you are one for the outdoors, take your seat at one of the open-air tables. Chef Geoff's also hosts events, so if you are looking to organize a social event, look no further.

Description:

If Georgetown has a local bar, this is it. A neighborhood institution for decades, Mr. Smith's bills itself as the "friendliest saloon in town." Grab a burger or plate of fish and chips in the sunny dining area or out on the terrace. On weekend nights, live R&B bands play upstairs with no cover charge. But the most remarkable entertainment can be found in the basement level after 9p. Here you will find patrons singing along at the piano.

Description:

• This Washington DC hotel is one block from Dupont Circle restaurants and five blocks from Georgetown.

• Guestrooms feature complimentary wireless and wired high-speed Internet access, flat-screen TVs, and designer bath products.

• Hotel Palomar offers an outdoor pool with private cabanas, plus complimentary morning coffee and tea in the living room.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is one of the best monuments to view at night.

Description:

Located between the Lincoln and the Jefferson Memorials, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial (FDR) is unlike any other memorial in DC. Commemorative both the life and the times of FDR, the memorial includes four areas, each designed to remind visitors of the key events during each of FDR's terms. Unlike the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials that are confined by buildings, this memorial spreads out over a large, uncovered area. The memorial makes generous use of water and unique lighting techniques to bring to life to each of the outdoor rooms. The original memorial included a statute of FDR in a wheelchair partially covered by a cloak. More recently, a group of disability advocates commissioned an additional statue of FDR, clearly in a wheelchair. This statue now stands at the entrance to the memorial.

Description:

A stunning tribute to the 16th president of the United States, this memorial sits at the western end of the reflecting pool and the national mall. This famous memorial is featured on both the penny and the back of the five dollar bill. The Lincoln Memorial is also the historic site of the famous March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his "I have a dream" speech. A true must visit for any trip to Washington, DC. Inside the temple-like structure you will find a 19-foot tall statue of Lincoln seated, with a number of memorable speeches inscribed in the walls that surround him.

Description:

Located on the National Mall a few blocks from the Capitol Building, the National Air and Space Museum appeals to all ages. See the Wright 1903 Flyer, the Apollo 11 command module Columbia, and a lunar rock sample which visitors can touch. Children delight in the many hands-on demonstrations while IMAX Theater presentations and flight simulators engage the whole family. Fascinated with space? Explore the universe at the Albert Einstein Planetarium! Whether you visit for one hour or five, the large solarium-style food court makes this a convenient mid-day museum stop. Free admission. There is no museum parking, but public lots are within a few blocks (rates vary). Metro stations nearby: L'Enfant Plaza (blue/orange and yellow/green lines) and Smithosonian (blue/orange lines).

Description:

When this memorial was dedicated on May 29, 2004, 150,000 people attended: President Bush; members of Congress; Marine Corps General (retired) P. X. Kelley, who chaired the American Battle Monuments Commission, the group that spearheaded construction of the memorial; actor Tom Hanks and now-retired news anchor Tom Brokaw, both of whom had been active in eliciting support for the memorial; and last, but most important, thousands of World War II veterans and their families. These legions of veterans, some dressed in uniform, many wearing a cap identifying the name of the veteran's division, turned out with pride, happy to receive the nation's gratitude, 60 years in the making, expressed profoundly in this memorial.

Designed by Friedrich St. Florian and funded mostly by private donations, the memorial fits nicely into the landscape between the Washington Monument grounds to the east and the Lincoln Memorial and its reflecting pool to the west. St. Florian purposely situated the 7 1/2-acre memorial so as not to obstruct this long view down the Mall. Fifty-six 17-foot-high granite pillars representing each state and territory stand to either side of a central plaza and the Rainbow Pool....

Description:

Designed by John Russell Pope, this Roman-style monument to Thomas Jefferson, the nation's third president and author of the Declaration of Independence, is elegant and simple. Jefferson's 19-foot statue stands within, surrounded by some of his most inspirational writings. This is a perfect after-dinner destination. At night, the view of the Washington Monument across the tidal basin is one of the most attractive in Washington, especially when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. Admission is free.

Description:

One of the most powerful and moving sights in the District of Columbia is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, located near the National Mall and the Lincoln Memorial. The main portion of the memorial, dedicated in 1982, was designed by architect Maya Ying Lin and contains 58,256 names of soldiers who either died or were classified as missing in action as a result of the conflict in Vietnam. The memorial consists of two long black granite walls that are sunk into the ground, inscribed with the names of the fallen. Visitors can walk along a path, viewing both the names on the wall and their own reflection simultaneously. In addition, a smaller bronze statue named The Three Soldiers stands at the end of the wall, looking back on their comrades. This addition was a compromise due to the negative reaction to the original design, and was dedicated in 1984. The final addition came in 1993 in the form of the Vietnam Women's Memorial, dedicated to the women of the United States who served in the Vietnam War.

Description:

This privately funded memorial, founded in 1995, honors those who served in Korea, a 3-year conflict (1950-53) that produced almost as many casualties as Vietnam. It consists of a circular "Pool of Remembrance" in a grove of trees and a triangular "Field of Service," highlighted by lifelike statues of 19 infantrymen, who appear to be trudging across fields. A 164-foot-long black-granite wall depicts the array of combat and support troops that served in Korea (nurses, chaplains, airmen, gunners, mechanics, cooks, and others); a raised granite curb lists the 22 nations that contributed to the UN's effort there; and a commemorative area honors KIAs, MIAs, and POWs. Plan to spend 15 minutes for viewing.

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In theater season, Jaleo's dining room fills and empties each evening according to the performance schedule of the Shakespeare Theater next door. Lunchtime always draws a crowd from nearby office buildings and the Hill. This restaurant and executive chef/partner José Andrés may be credited with initiating the tapas craze in Washington, where it remains popular 16 years after Jaleo debuted. Though the menu offers a handful of entrees (available only after 5pm), you really want to consider those tapas -- 60 at last count, but more are always being added. These include a very simple but not-to-be-missed grilled bread layered with a paste of fresh tomatoes and topped with anchovies; date and bacon fritters; torta es pagnola (a layered omelet); savory warm goat cheese served with toast points; a skewer of grilled chorizo sausage atop garlic mashed potatoes; a delicious mushroom tart served with roasted red-pepper sauce; and gazpacho. Paella is among the few heartier entrees (it feeds two to four). Spanish wines, sangrias, and sherries are available by the glass. Finish with a rum-and-butter-soaked apple charlotte in bread pastry or a plate of Spanish cheeses. The casual-chic interior focuses...

Description:

Oyamel offers an urban environment with seating capacity of 125, including a private dining room that can seat up to 60 guests, plus an open Ceviche Bar that seats six. Oyamel's menu will include house-made tacos, fresh ceviche, and antojitos(small plates). Guests will also be pleased to find the tableside creation of guacamole. The beverage program at Oyamel incorporates a variety of freshly squeezed fruits, signature drinks, including the Oyamel margarita, and traditional Mexican agua frescas.

Description:

This blues club gets crowded fast, especially when the "Out of Town Blues Band" is on stage. If the night is right, the band will indulge in a little audience participation or bring willing people on stage. The bar is small but friendly. Requesting table service is the best option. Patrons must be at least 18.

Our Local Expert Says:

Good inexpensive restaurants and crowded college bars make this a must for the post-4. collegiate DC crowd.

Description:

A true melting pot of DC culture, Adams Morgan offers a little bit of something for everyone. Centered at 18th street and Columbia Road, by day, it is the one of city's most interesting neighborhoods, with a large variety of unusual stores. By night, the true character of Adams Morgan emerges. Traffic comes to a near standstill as 18th street turns into one of the hubs of DC's nightlife scene. Adams Morgan has a wide variety of restaurants serving food from a variety of countries such as Ethiopia, Turkey, Mexico, El Salvador, Brazil, Italy, Vietnam, and Ghana. Almost every restaurant transforms into a bar or nightclub come sundown. At 3 AM, partiers flood the street again, looking for late night food including falafel and DC's famous "Jumbo Slice" pizza. Adams Morgan is a must-visit for those that want to experience one of the most diverse dining and nightlife areas of DC.

Description:

• This Washington DC hotel is one block from Dupont Circle restaurants and five blocks from Georgetown.

• Guestrooms feature complimentary wireless and wired high-speed Internet access, flat-screen TVs, and designer bath products.

• Hotel Palomar offers an outdoor pool with private cabanas, plus complimentary morning coffee and tea in the living room.

Description:

This elegant and sophisticated restaurant-bar in Union Station is owned by former model Barbara Smith, whose books and TV shows have made her a celebrity. Located in the former presidential waiting room of Union Station, many Washington celebrities and politicians have been spotted here. The menu offers a wide selection of regional specialties presented with southern flair. Appetizers are creative, with choices such as fried green tomatoes and Cajun crawfish. Entrees include steak, pork loin and vegetarian specialties.

Description:

Georgia Brown's offers a wide variety of soul food and "low country" fare served with Southern hospitality. Select from the traditional dishes of South Carolina, such as fried catfish and seafood gumbo, or be daring and try the shrimp and grits or frogmore stew. In a nod to the health conscious, Georgia Brown's also offers vegetarian versions of the meat-filled entrees. For a special treat, stop in for Sunday brunch, which features live swing jazz and a generous fixed-price menu.

Description:

The layout of this beautiful building reflects the recent trend of sporting arena as mini community; within the complex is the multi-level Velocity Grill, serving drinks and live entertainment before, during, and after events. In addition, the Discovery Channel and Modell's Sporting Goods have large stores here. The 20,000-seat stadium is home to several teams: the NBA's Wizards, the Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association and the NHL's Washington Capitals. The Georgetown University men's basketball team also plays here.

Description:

James Bond wannabes will love this museum; it provides a fascinating look at the world of espionage and how it's affected our past and present. Check out artifacts and learn stories about spies from all over the globe as they perform their covert duties in various eras.

Our Local Expert Says:

Many DC locals think this is the best of the National Art Museums.

Description:

Famous and distinguished Americans are honored here in portraits, photographs and other visual media. A wide variety of politicians, artists, scientists and social activists are represented. This gallery is a remarkable testimony to the diverse figures the United States has produced, from Grace Kelly and Boris Karloff to George Washington, Mickey Mantle and Gertrude Stein. Photographs, prints, drawings and sculptures supplement the paintings. Of particular interest is the Hall of Presidents, which features a portrait or sculpture of each chief executive.

Admission is free.

Description:

It takes a unique talent to incorporate elegance with a tempered mood in a small location while maintaining good prices, but Matchbox in North West DC has accomplished it. DC's business professionals and mere passers by are greatly rewarded when finding this Vintage Pizza Bistro just on the outskirts of Chinatown. Equipped with some of the best gourmet pizza in DC, Matchbox lives up to its Bistro signature; yet its ability to combine a romantic ambience with food ranging from Filet Mignon to Pan-Seared Sea Bass, and finishing off with a "Quitting Time Cocktail" makes for an endearing evening.

Description:

DuPont circle is one of Washington's hubs of nightlife, shopping, and dining. The circle itself is filled with Washingtonians day and night, relaxing on the benches, snacking, or playing music or a game of chess. Around the circle, the neighborhood is filled with interesting museums, shops, restaurants and bars. DuPont, and more specifically 17th street off of DuPont, is considered the center of Washington DC's gay and lesbian community. The Brickskeller, home of the world largest beer list, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is located in DuPont. DuPont is also home to a large number of embassies, and one can easily access Embassy Row by simply walking north-west on Massachusetts Avenue, which intersects the circle. DuPont is also home to some of the most important think-tanks in the country, including the Brookings Institution and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the Johns Hopkins University's Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

Description:

Arlington National Cemetery sits on the Virginia banks of the Potomac River and overlooks Washington DC and the monuments clustered around Lincoln Memorial. More than 300,000 people are buried on the rolling 200-acre grounds of Arlington Cemetery including veterans from all of America's military conflicts, American explorers, astronauts, literary figures, presidents, Supreme Court Justices, and prominent figures from Black and Hispanic history. Visit the eternal flame of President John F. Kenney's grave, see the Changing of the Guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns, or simply walk the grounds and explore the final resting place of so many of America's own. Enjoy quiet pristine views of the Potomac and DC from the front lawn of the Arlington House (also known as Custis-Lee Mansion). Paid parking is available, accessible from Memorial Drive at $1.75 - $2.00/hour. The Metro blue line stops at the Arlington National Cemetery station during visitor hours. Tourmobile also services Arlington Cemetery.