Dressing for Washington
 

Hi! <BR>We're heading to DC next week (May 18th). We were thinking shorts & tees/sleeveless shirts for touring. Is that ok- or are the museums freezing? Is Tourmobile air-condiitoned? <BR>Also, does it cool down much at night? <BR>Thanks for any help you can give us! <BR> <BR>Lynne <BR>North of Boston, MA

Yes, it will be slightly cool in the evenings when the sun goes down. If it were me I would take some pants and a blazer/sweater along with your shorts and Ts.

I grew up in the DC area and now live in Nashua, NH. Prepare yourself for "humidity". At the tourist sights and attractions, anything goes (you see folks in everything imaginable). Some places are "freezing", others have "systems" that can barely keep up. It doesn't "cool down" like we're used to in New England.

Washington weather is unpredictable. The last three days temperatures here have hovered around 95. Today it is supposed to be 83. Supposedly it is going to heat up again to the 90s next week. Shorts and tees should be perfectly fine. You can bring "warmer" clothes for the evening if you want, but don't be surprised if you don't need them. You certainly wouldn't have needed or wanted them the past couple of evenings. Also, it has been my experience as a docent at the Air and Space Museum that it really doesn't matter what you wear. Most of the Smithsonian museums are comfortably cool but not overwhelming.

Washington weather is ridiculously unpredictable, more so than anywhere I've ever lived. Two weeks ago we had highs in the 50s with lows in the 40s and constant rain. The past several days had highs in the 90s and humid, and it did not cool down that much at night. Normal highs for this time of year are in the low 70s, but my experience is that Washington weather never does whatever is "normal" for the time of year. Today it's in the 80s. Come prepared for everything!

I just came back from DC. It was unusually hot (they referred to it as "early summer weather").It was in the 90s and humid. I actually liked it because I'm from California where it is dry....It slows you down a bit around the early afternoon but the evenings were delightful and balmy. People were wearing linen with black slide-type shoes for women and men still had on dark suits professionally and polos for tourists. The last nightwe were there, The Three Tenors were giving a performance at the MCI Center and people going there still dressed up. Ladies were wearing black suits with heels and hose even though it was steamy outside. At Citronelle, a fancy restaurant, people wore dressy attire, but the tourists and students still came in in shorts, and jeans, but I noticed they got tables off to the sides. Buildings were air conditioned, however, you still stroll from monument to monument and in and out of shops, and you warm up and chill down as the case may be. The street around the White House is now blocked off to traffic and makes a lovely stroll in the evening. Dupont Circle was lively and had restaurants with patios. Georgetown and the campus were inviting. My Russian Restaurnat is gone, however, Luigis around 19th & M still makes great Italian food. The Tombs (in the cellar of the 1789) was adequate, not great. Used to be better.

Just came from there--95 degrees in the p.m. In the city, most people dress in short sleeves, or dresses, with tennies on - to go in to work, then they put on their day shoes. If you wear shorts, be prepared to lookk like a tourist. How about slacks, and a nice conservative T. Take a light sweeater.