By Special Request: 1 Day DC Itinerary
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CC: Phil Roeder
A special request has been made of the Urban Atlas team. A friend's cousin and boyfriend are coming to DC for 24 hours - arriving this Friday afternoon and departing Saturday evening. They are German, and in their mid-20s, and want the "full DC Experience." So Urban Atlas has put together this one-day itinerary.
Fridays, 5 PM - A Beautiful Evening on the Mall - Jazz in the Garden and biking tour the mall on Capital Bikeshare
Friday's weather is supposed to be perfect for an August Friday. Spending a DC summer evening on the mall is the perfect way to start a quick DC jaunt.
Start with Jazz in the Garden - it is a DC ritual and a unique opportunity to enjoy the National Mall. Every Friday during the summer - from May 19th through August 25th, the National Gallery of Art (NGA) hosts a free jazz concert in its Sculpture Garden. It's a great opportunity to take advantage of the (sometimes) enjoyable DC summer evenings. It also may be the only time to (legally) enjoy alcoholic beverages on the National Mall - available for purchase at the Pavilion Café. You can also bring your own food or purchase some at the Café. Be sure to get there early - it can get very crowded if you don't arrive early to carve out your own spot.
Once you've had enough Jazz, it's time to experience the rest of the National Mall. The Mall is best experienced out in the open. However, while the Mall is walkable, it isn't small, as the walk from the Capitol to the Lincoln Memorial is about 2.5 miles. Fortunately, there are a number of excellent and affordable ways to traverse the mall. For those interested in exploring on their own, Capitol Bikeshare unlimited 30 minute rides with stations near all the big sites along the mall (and throughout the city.)
Friday 9:30 PM - A Late Dinner with Andres
Famed chef Jose Andres kicked off his career by opening Jaleo in Washington in 1993 at age 23, helping to kick of the tapas craze in the United States. It has impressively remained one of the highest regarded restaurants in the city despite having been open for almost 25 years. Of course, Andres has become one of the most notable celebrity chefs in the country, with 19 restaurants in Washington, Las Vegas, Miami, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Puerto Rico. Despite the competition in DC, often coming from his other 8 Washington area restaurants, Jaleo remains an icon that people keep returning to. A few reservations are still available for this Friday!
Friday Midnight: Point of View
While DC has some iconic views, it does not have a particular notable skyline, except in rare cases. This is because of the strict height restriction on buildings in DC, leading to mostly uninspired views of the tops of buildings. One notable exception to that is the POV bar atop the W Washington. With rare views of the White House and other monuments, it is provides a unique view of Washington. While it is definitely an expensive place to get a drink, it’s hard to compete with view. If you are looking for a more traditional location for a drink and maybe a snack, Old Ebbitt Grill is just a block away and offers one of the more classic DC bar experiences.
POV: 515 15th St NW; Open until 2 AM on Friday and Saturday.
Old Ebbitt Grill: 675 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005; Open till 3 AM on Friday and Saturday.
Saturday 9AM: (Eastern) Market Breakfast
Like many older cities, Washington had many markets throughout town; through the years and downturn of center city, many were lost to history. Eastern Market, however, has been mostly in operation for 136 years. Rebuilt after a 2007 fire that required the 19th century building to be internally gutted and rebuilt, a new and improved Eastern Market emerged in 2009. 7 days a week the south hall houses a number vendors peddling fresh produce and flowers, to baked goods, meats, poultry, cheese and deli products. On weekends, the hall is joined just outside by a farmers market and vendors selling handmade arts and crafts and antiques. It’s a perfect place to grab breakfast and wander amid the vendors people watching.
Eastern Market: 225 7th St SE Opens 9AM Sundays, 7 AM Tuesday - Saturday. Closed Monday.
Saturday 11AM: Air and Space
When people think of the Smithsonian Museums, or see a Smithsonian Museum in the movies (Captain America 2: Winter Soldier), the museum they are thinking about is the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. The most visited Smithsonian Museum with 7.5 million visitors in 2016, this American icon on the south side of the National Mall is full of unique sites that draw in visitors including Apollo 11 module, the Friendship 7 capsule which was flown by John Glenn, the Bell X-1 which broke the sound barrier, and the Wright brothers' plane near the entrance. As it is the most popular Smithsonian, early arrivals are helpful as well as a well planned itinerary.
Just as a reminder, there is a second Air and Space Museum out by Washington Dulles airport, which is where the Space Shuttle resides. That is unfortunately a 45 minute drive away.
National Air and Space Museum: 600 Independence Ave SW, Open 10AM to 5:30 PM.
Saturday 12:30 PM: Capitol Views
One of the most notable landmarks in the country, the U.S. Capitol remains high on the many people’s visit list for good reasons - its combination of history, grand spaces and architecture, along with its current day importance, is tough to match. The only real way to see the building is by tour, which takes you through an impressive array of rooms and spaces, from the Capitol rotunda itself to the crypt where George Washington was supposed to be buried, to the whisper hall in the old House of Representatives chamber where former President John Quincy Adams was rumored to spy on his political opponents (now the hall of statues). To access the Capitol, enter through the Capitol Visitor’s Center, located on the east side of the building. The center is an impressive and expensive ($621 million) underground entryway to the Capitol that was completed in 2008.
Capitol Visitor Center: First St and E Capitol St NE. Tour reservations strongly recommended and best made online.
Saturday 2:30 PM: Wander Adams Morgan and Experience Ethiopian Food
This itinerary has been very focused on "traditional" DC, so let's take the rest of the time in this itinerary to get outside of "federal" DC and see something else. Adams Morgan, especially during the day, does not live up to it's party atmosphere. Even at night, the neighborhood has become much more relaxed. So it's a good place to wander, drop into a bar or a coffee shop and grab a drink, and to eat some food. On your way into Adams Morgan, especially if you are heading north from the Dupont Metro Station, definitely stop by Pleasant Pops for a delicious upscale popsicle, which will help keep you cool in the August sun. Definitely note the vintage stores and the "help" stores, but your final destination is one of the newly reopened and relocated gems of DC. Zenebech has returned to DC and has reopened its doors in the heart of Adams Morgan. It represents some of the best Ethiopian food in the city, and remains affordable and delicious. I can't think of a better way to depart, on a stomach full of injera.
Pleasant Pops: 1781 Florida Ave NW, Washington, DC 20009
Zenebech: 2420 18th street NW Washington, DC 20009
