Columbus Day Weekend - Mid thirties couple seeking advice

Hi all,

We have been soaking up all the great reccomendations this board has to offer, and was hoping to tap into some specific local insight with respect to locale %26amp; nightlife for a mid thirties couple spending a long weekend in DC, while thie kids visit grandma!!!!!

Arriving early Friday evening staying till Monday. While I think we have our sightseeing itinerary squared away, I have a few questions for less sedate pursuits.

Hotel

Washington Court Hotel - can book through priceline for for 3 nights with non-stop flight from boston for $700 total for 2 people. Any thoughts on this property? I don%26#39;t expect luxury, just need a clean convenient comfortable place to sleep. Is the hotel located within walking to Metro, restaurants, bars, etc..

Nightlife

As we are traveling without our children, we plan to take advantage of DC nightlife. Any suggestions where a relaxed crowd gathers for music, drinks, dancing? Open to any suggestions, enjoy all music, different veneues, diverse crowds. Just wishing to avoid the keg %26amp; frat scene. Would really appreciate an area or neighborhood where we could stumble between a few different places.

Finally , do you think DC will be somewhat deserted with all the locals cutting out of town for the long holiday weekend?

Thanks much for any insight you can provide. You uys are a great resource

DS67

Columbus Day Weekend - Mid thirties couple seeking advice

Apologies to all - just read my own post and noticed my spelling was awful. I should have proofed it before I went to press. DS67

Columbus Day Weekend - Mid thirties couple seeking advice

I think that%26#39;s a fine bargain, especially if it includes the taxes and surcharges which will add another 15% or so to the tab.

One place you might want to check out beforre you book with priceline is site59.com -- an agency which specializes in last-minute travel packages (you can%26#39;t make a resevation with them more than 2 weeks in advancey). I%26#39;ve found some wonderful deals through them and never had a snaful of any kind. When comparing prices, please note that site59%26#39;s quotes do include taxes %26amp; surcharges, and so, are indeed the true total.

For closer proximity to nightlife, it would be nice if you could stay in Dupont Circle or Georgetown, but I doubt you%26#39;ll find a package which inclludes a hotel in either 1 of those areas for anywhere close to the price you%26#39;ve snagged for the Washington Court.

Thanks for the advice. I actually started planning this weekend after stumbling on the Site 59 webpage. We were particularly drawn to a $250 advert for travel to Miami. While they had great prices for most dates, we found Colombus Day weekend prices were off the charts compared to their usual rates.

We really wanted a warm weather destination, but after days and days of surfing the web, it appears that the Priceline DC offer presents the only opportunity to travel to a popular destination for well under $1000 total.

So we are trading our swimsuits for fleece vests and walking shoes, and looking forward to our first adult trip to DC.

Thanks for the info

Washington Court is a very nice hotel. It is near Union Station Metro Station (Red Line). You have Dubliner and Kelly%26#39;s Irish Times as a few bars that might work for you. And they both have good food. They are just about 1 block away (not really) on North Capitol and F Street.

Washington Court has it%26#39;s own Restaurant Bistro 525 that is actually pretty good. They have good salads that are very large. Crab Soup is good, the Crab Cake sandwich is pretty good as well. You should enjoy this place.

-Restaurants other than the ones I named, you have the Hyatt Park Promenade which is across the street. Bistro Bis is a few blocks away. Union Station has B-Smith, American something and a few other places but mostly carry out type fast food places that are pretty decent.

-Nightlife, I think you might like Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan and even Georgetown. Don%26#39;t know your age range but all of those places cater to ';EVERYONE'; every age group every ethnicity, every music genre, etc. Georgetown isn%26#39;t on the metro line but you could catch a cab which is better since you might be a little ';tipsy'; when leaving anyway. You don%26#39;t want to have to figure out metro and how to get back to the hotel when you%26#39;ve had one too many drinks.

-DC will not be deserted on Columbus Holiday Weekend. Unlike Labor day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, at least half of my friends and my husband included do not get Columbus day off from work. So it%26#39;s one of those floating holidays that some companies don%26#39;t get off for.

Great tips MrsMaryland

I will look forward to exploring the neighborhoods you mentioned.

DS67

Also since you have a family, the breakfast in the hotel is good but I don%26#39;t know if it%26#39;s included in the price of the room or not. It can be expensive if it isn%26#39;t. So there are some options right around your hotel.

-Billy Goat Tavern on New Jersey Avenue. To the right and across the street from the hotel. They also have a bar with happy hour specials. Good cheap for breakfast and lunch if you are still in the vicinity of the hotel. Nice breakfast sandwiches and good lunch sandwiches as well.

-SunSpot Cafe: There are 2 locations. 1 is on New Jersey Avenue facing Mass.Avenue and the other is on First (1st) street. Just across the street and behind the building in front of your hotel. They have an excellent menu for cheap eats on breakfast and lunch. I do the platter which comes with 2 eggs any style, bacon or ham or sausage, grits or home fries, toast w/jelly for $4.39.

-Starbucks, just across the street on the end of the real estate building. Next to the Billy Goat Tavern.

Oh, just read, the kids are with Grandma, good for you.

Hi:

The Washington Court Hotel will be a good base for your daily tourist activities. At night, I%26#39;d recommend going to the U Street area.

The Black Cat (14th bt. S%26amp;T) is a music venue and bar - can be crowded depending on who%26#39;s playing (usually rock/indie types). Cafe Saint Ex and Bar Pilar (14th bt. S%26amp;T)

Busboys and Poets (14th %26amp; U)

If you%26#39;re so inclined, there also some good places to eat on U Street - it%26#39;s known for Ethiopian and soul food. For Ethiopian, try Dukem at 11th %26amp; U or Etete at 9th between U%26amp;T

Adams Morgan definitely has something for everyone, but beware the Frat scene. Some places to try would be -

Habana Village (Columbia Rd. off 18th Street) - if you like salsa/latin

Pharmacy Bar (18th and Kalorama) - I haven%26#39;t been there, but I think it might fit the bill.

There are tons of places - just wander the streets and see what hits you... from dive bars like Asylum to the more trendy places like Left Bank.

For a nice place to eat in Adams Morgan, try Cashion%26#39;s Eat Place - not cheap, but good food.

For more ideas and reviews, go to www.washingtonpost.com and check the City Guide. Have fun!

Thanks Mopsydog.

After having our hearts set on a sunny Florida vacation, and not knowing much about DC, I was getting worried that we would end up in a cold deserted city with little options for evening exploration.

Definitely looking forward to some of the fun spots you mention

DC67

If you%26#39;re looking to avoid the ';keg and frat'; scene I would probably avoid Adams Morgan or the Irish pubs closest to your hotel on the weekend.

Kelly%26#39;s in particular draws a Saturday night crowd from local schools for their ';all you can drink Miller beer'; specials from 8:00 to 11:00 and can be a mob scene. It%26#39;s a good place otherwise, or earlier in the evening. It%26#39;s actually my favorite Irish pub in DC but I tend to go earlier in the evening.

The Dubliner, next door to Kelly%26#39;s, is less of a ';college scene'; and might be worth a stop.

Adam%26#39;s Morgan, my opinion, is a zoo on weekends in particular. You could always wander up that way and see if it%26#39;s for you. But I think it%26#39;s going to be the frat party that you%26#39;re trying to avoid.

A branch of Chicago%26#39;s Billy Goat Tavern is right near your hotel, but i haven%26#39;t made it in there yet so I don%26#39;t have personal experience.

Another area of town not yet mentioned is Capitol Hill. Plenty of places to wander through along Massachusetts Ave NE and Pennsylvania Avenue.