Why yes, Congressman, it does turn me on (a little)

[yrmencyn]

Greetings from our nation's capital!  Kevin picked me up from the Baltimore airport last night, nice and late (all my upcoming flights are late -- what is that?).  Since he has to be at his internship at 9am, we pretty much fell directly to sleep.  I'm sitting in a Caribou Coffee half a block away, trying to figure out what to do with myself for eight hours.  So far I've written a couple of emails, and that's taken up... a half-hour.  Woot! 

The times I've been to DC before, it's always been to see friends or friends-of-friends, so I've never actually done the usual touristy, except for the Natural History and Holocaust Museums.  I think here in a bit I'll hike down to the Mall and do the monuments.  I mean, it's what you do, right?  And I've never actually seen some of them (e.g. Vietnam War, Lincoln), which does seem... well, a bit inexcusable, honestly.  So yeah.  But if any of you have any suggestions on things to do and see, feel free to reply with a comment or just call me.  I'm currently at 17th & L (for those of you that really know DC too well), but anywhere in the Mall/GWU/Foggy Bottom/Dupont Circle area is totally in range.  Not to mention the fabulous Metro can take me elsewhere!  (I really, really love subway systems.  I don't know why, but they just make so much sense to me, in a way that buses, for example, never have.  Set me down in an unfamiliar bus system and I'm lost.  Set me down in an unfamiliar subway system and I'm pretty much instantly oriented.)

Already on the list: Teaism, The National Cafeteria of the American Indian (our joking name for the caf in the Nat'l Mus. of the Amer. Indian, which serves all traditional foods, apparently), the Pride parade (and thus by extension the Dupont Circle area), the aforementioned national landmarks walk.

Comments

[rosepurr.livejournal.com]

DuPont Circle is so awesome. I went to a party in one of the townhouses there once. There is still lust in my heart for that place.

You should certainly do the spy museum too. Wacky good times.

And the Vietnam Memorial. It is neither wacky nor good times, but especially now, it needs to be seen.

[alstaria.livejournal.com]

Well, if you go to the cafeteria at the Natural History museum you can see the actual condiments sign that inspired "Oh look, condiments!" ;)

As for serious suggestions, the Library of Congress is actually quite amazing. The ceiling and walls have all sorts of literary quotes incorporated in their design.

[yrmencyn.livejournal.com]

Actually, I have been to the LC. Forgot to mention that one.

[daundelyon.livejournal.com]

The Magna Carta is following us...~_^

[blue-andromeda.livejournal.com]

Walking the Monuments is good
I recommend the WWII memorial its beautiful.

Also there is a Museum of the American Indian but i cant remember where it is...

[daundelyon.livejournal.com]

The zoo is supposed to be outstanding, and they have pandas. ^_^

[blue-andromeda.livejournal.com]

The baby panda is adorable.

[pixidala.livejournal.com]

Very close to the MAI are the Freer and Sackler Galleries of Asian Art. They're part of the Smithsonian, but unlike most of the SI these days, they are still free. There's also the Hirschorn Sculpture Gardens, which is a really lovely place to spend a day. It's between the SI Castle, the F&S Galleries, and the eastern section of the mall. I think you have to pay to get into the actual sculpture museum though, which sucks...

[(Anonymous)]

I actually did wander through the sculpture garden today, even though I hadn't yet gotten your comment. Quite enjoyable.

[yrmencyn.livejournal.com]

I actually did wander through the sculpture garden today, even though I hadn't yet gotten your comment. Quite enjoyable.

[elanova.livejournal.com]

I'm confused - are you talking about the Mitsitam Café mentioned on the website of the National Museum of the American Indian, or are you talking about Teaism, a tea house located at http://www.teaism.com/ ? They both look interesting...

[yrmencyn.livejournal.com]

Both. Two entirely separate things.

[talyr.livejournal.com]

Definitely check out the zoo....if you are up for a walk, its a nice hike up Conneticuit from the Mall past Dupont Circle near Cleveland Park. I've done it a few times, and you can always take the metro in one direction or the other. Also, walk over to Georgetown and just wander amongst the awesome houses, and check out the gardens at Dumbarton Oaks. And stop at Lush and buy me bath products, because i am a Lush whore (M street, across from Sephora).

[yrmencyn.livejournal.com]

Right, of course. Because your Lush habit needs enabling. But we do hope to go to the Zoo, and I think I'll probably wander Georgetown (and Adams-Morgan, just to really get a good hike in *rolls eyes*).

[leiamary.livejournal.com]

It has to be visited by metro, but you should really go to Arlington National Cemetery if you havent before. There are many things there that are worth seeing and paying respect at. Also, the changing of the guard of the unknown soldier is not to be missed. Its better than even the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.

[moomoogal87.livejournal.com]

Ah...I LOVE DC!! I'd always liked it but I fell deeper in love with the beauty of it all during my most recent visit in March.

My all time favorite monument is the Washington, but I'm not really sure why. It's just great. The WWII is also a nice one...probably one of the most gorgeous (if not the most) in all of DC.

As for the American Indian...we only had 15 minutes to look around there, so I really can't offer any insight. It looked fairly interesting for the short time I was there though...

My advice...take a leisure walk through DC with Kevin. Ditch the time schedule or list of places to visit. Just walk and talk...It's the greatest way to see DC. You'll feel less like a tourist, all the while being able to take in the true beauty of the city.

Have a great visit!
Lauren

[comixologist.livejournal.com]

That reminds me! Give me a call or toss me an email (comixology @ gmail) and let me know when I need to pick you up on Monday.