TR - The DC GTG - April 2017
 

In 2008, a group of us in the D.C. area decided to have a GTG to meet the maitaitoms when they came to visit. The great time led to almost yearly GTGs since and some nice friendships.

Back in the winter, yestravel said, "Let's think about another GTG once the weather gets good." She put out the word and at least 50 Fodorites wrote, "I'm coming!"

yestravel and LouisaH worked on lists of D.C. restaurants that could accommodate our big group. With jubilada and then santamonica, these 4 got restos lined up for each night. TDudette kept a running Excel list--adding and subtracting names as the weeks went by.

Many got 6 advance tickets for the National Museum of African-American History and Culture ("NMAAHC"). Thanks to them, several of us to visit this amazing place. And, Ginny-Jo may be the first person who found a good rate at the Marriott Marquis Hotel so at least a half-dozen of us stayed there. Some folks actually live in the DC area, others have family and some just flew or drove in. Elizabeth-S and her DH drove from Ontario CD.

I'm going to start a trip report blog with photos and info from anyone who wants to share. Here's the first group shot furnished by ms-go! Just email me and I'll compile things. Come join us for a wonderful weekend.

http://dcgtgapril2017.blogspot.com/

TDudette - you rock! Thanks for doing this!

It was such a great GTG - thanks to the organizers!

Thanks TDudette. Enjoyed meeting you and the others. Looking forward to your report.

Thanks, and please add your own TR to this.

Day 1, Friday, April 28, 2017

Short:

<u>Hotel</U>: Marriott Marquis Washington, DC
901 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC
$523.80 for 2 nights included 2 $17 breakfasts, 2 $50 nights in the garage. Free wi-fi but signal lost on Sunday a.m. before I left.

<U>Lunch</u>: National Museum of African-American History and Culture (NMAAHC)

elberko had brisket sandwich, beet salad and peach chutney;

TD had fried catfish, sweet potatoes and cooked down beans. About $19.00 with water and tax. B for me, A for elberko.

<U>Dinner</U>: Acadiana
http://www.acadianarestaurant.com/

Pan Crisped Roasted Duck $25
Dirty Rice, Collard Greens, Pepper Jelly Glaze
2 Glass of red wine
$76 before tip. A for the meal.

Biscuits with pepper jelly/butter sauce passed first.

Long:

Day 1, long

On a good day, I ("TD") can make it to D.C. in 50 minutes. Other than, Saturday or Sunday a.m. at 8, there are few good days. It took about 1 hour and 10 minutes on this trip.

From rte 4, I took the Suitland Parkway. GPS took me to 395 N and directed to the correct lanes without trouble. Because of utility work at the end of the tunnel, a bottleneck occurred. We are deposited onto Massachusetts Ave. and it is 5 minutes to the hotel.

The parking lane was well-marked and my car and luggage were dispatched quickly. The foyer is large and airy. One sees a stand with water on the left. A bar ahead and a Starbucks to the right. Also, plenty of chairs and sofa type seats.

Check-in was smooth. I had reserved on the Marriott site but confirmed by calling the hotel in person during the week of my stay. When I asked if my room was quiet, clerk changed it to a view of the atrium rather than the street.

At this point, I have spent all of my dollars tipping the guy who took my car, the guy who took my bag, and someone else who I have forgotten. I didn't need help getting to the room and said so.

The key is a credit card that one must swipe on the elevator as well at one's room door. Some of the cards we encountered in Europe were to be inserted in a wall slot for the room's actual electricity.

My room 10-013 has 2 queen beds, a nice club chair, a bureau that doubles as a desk and a big closet. There are 3 outlets. Plenty for one person, but maybe not for 2. I have chargers for phone and camera, plus plug for Kindle (I didn't bring computer). Wi-fi was free. I think there are situations where it is $12.95 but desk clerk said ignore.

There is a coffee/tea station, an ironing board and a hair drier. However, the cord on the hair drier wasn't long enough for me to have reached my head! A nice bathroom with tub and shower. Hot water came immediately and stayed on!

elberko ("L") had gotten tickets to the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) for 2:30. She is coming by train from Philly and due in at 11:30. I hope she will add to this with her train experience.

We meet and take a cab to NMAAHC and arrive at 1. Our hope was to eat at the museum's café. Our cab has let us out at the group entrance (14th and Madison) but main is on Constitution. Kind guard let us in. That made us wonder the timed entries were enforced.

One enters (after bags are scanned and you go through metal thing) into a vast area. When I tsk tsk all the wasted space, L reminds me that the museum can have after hours functions here. Makes sense and won't interfere with the exhibits.

The museum has 3 lower levels and 3 upper ones.

As so many of the huge museums, NMAAHC needs more than one visit. A local magazine suggests the following:

https://www.washingtonian.com/2016/0...istory-museum/

We went for lunch first. The Sweet Home Café

https://nmaahc.si.edu/visit/sweet-home-café

is separated into 4 sections plus a cuisine of the month. TD took Creole Coast and L took Western Range.

We then proceeded to the entry for the lower floors. It is on the same level as the café. We chat with guide who is studying for finals at Howard U. She has a badge that reads 'I heart Howard' and many non-DC folks have said, "Lucky Howard". L and I got separated almost immediately upon entering the level C3--"Slavery and Freedom".

This is great, TDudette. Thanks for doing this. I hope others will add their experiences in DC. I always love reading others views on DC.

Thanks, yestravel. Did your DH (and/or you??) get some shots to add to the blog?

No, neither of us took a shot. Sorry.

Stopping in to follow along.

A few of us (3 that I know of) joined in the Climate March on Saturday. What better time to celebrate climate change than on 92 degree April day!

There was quite a collection of colorful people - flamingo lady ("What the flock!"), huge Trump heads a-la-carnivale-style, the Speedo trio ("We're hot enough already").

It's lovely to see a face I recognize - yes travel from a GTG in Melbourne. Sounds a fun time

Hi northie! how are you?

TDudette, Thanks for this terrific report!

kwren, elberko and I walked along with the march on our way from Newseum to National Theatre but didn't see you (or the Flamingo Lady).

kwren and krns photos have been posted:

http://dcgtgapril2017.blogspot.com/

More pictures, please!

Nice photos. Of those who visited the African-American Museum, what are your impressions? As a local, I am waiting until the winter when it will be more quiet.

Hi all. I will post my impressions (thanks for this fun thread, TDudette), but I wanted to just say now that our hotel - the Marriott Marquis was GREAT - very nice rooms, good location, soaring lobby great for hanging out.

I just got a weekend rate for the Fall for $118/night! I'm going to DC to see the Vermeer exhibit at the National Gallery.

Tp. We have the same strategy re the Museum.

Can't believe the rates the hotel has-such a bargain for DC. Hope to see you when you're here, Phillyfan.

What yes said, phillyfan! And I totally agree about the Marriott.

trip, I was overwhelmed by the NMAAHC. It was quite crowded and there wasn't a good path (IMO) to follow. Lots to read and that slowed down walking along. As with other Smithsonians, it would take more than one visit to do it justice.

Food elberko and I had was very good, albeit over-priced.

I want to return to the 6th floor (L4) to find the area about medical strides made that didn't get full attention in our history books. Plenty about entertainers and athletes.

Day 1, long--con'td.

As mentioned above, I wished for as much about scientific and medical strides by African Americans as entertainment. I need to go back.

L and I caught up by phone at 3 ish and went to the gift shop. It was so busy and crowded, that a separate line was formed outside the shop. I saw a pretty pair of earrings--$400 beyond my budget.

We cabbed back to the hotel. When I realized my Kindle couldn't communicate with Fodor's Lounge, L kindly put out a "Let's meet" to the folks staying in the hotel.

At 6, we walked (one block!) to Acadiana. Our group of 23 (24?) had 2 long tables at this wonderful place.

http://www.acadianarestaurant.com/

It specializes in Cajun/NOLA food and everyone around me loved their meals. Beforehand, a plate of warm biscuits (baking powder type) with a butter/red pepper jelly sauce was passed. Oh, yums.

A group of us met back at the hotel bar and talked more.

Thank you TDudette. Fortunately for me, the museum is walking distance from work. I do enjoy spending an hour or two in one of the Smithsonians on slow winter days.

trip, DH and I spent many Sundays at the Smithsonian. Plus we spent our honeymoon in D.C.--great place to visit. We loved the Mint.

Day 2, May 29, 2017

Long and short of it!

Breakfast at hotel buffet was very good. A big bowl of scrambled eggs are a bit runny but I think that was on purpose since they are under a heat lamp. There is an omelet station, a area with cereals, breads, pancakes, antipasto foods. Very nice. Great service and good coffee.

The group agreed to meet at 9:30. L and I will go to Newseum, the rest who gathered are going to NMAAHC.

We cab to Newseum and again get separated but will phone toward noon or whoever gets hungry first.

Phillygal (or was it amwosu?), who visited yesterday, had great reviews of Newseum so we are glad to go to it. And not disappointed. The history of newspapers is well-represented in this museum.

http://www.newseum.org/

Highlights for me were: A wall of enlarged front pages. These are changed <I>each day;</I>
A portion of the Berlin wall;
A section showing the top songs during earch presidency; and
A Twin Towers area showing a portion of a tower, interviews with reporters (who said how difficult it was to be a reporter and not a person), and the camera and last photos of Bill Biggart as he walked toward the 2nd tower.

There is an outdoor terrace and we can see the Climate March gathering.

L and I met and saw a 4-D movie then went to lunch at the Newseum. L had a huge salad, and a brownie, and TD had a burger at the Wolfgang Puck's station and cannolis. I give mine a solid B.

We then walk along with the demonstrators along PA Ave. to the National Theatre where we will try walk-up tickets. It is in the low 90s and humid. L's 3 inch advantage leaves TD behind but L stops every so often. We are able to get $58 tickets. It is so cold in the theatre that TD gets a leg cramp. Fortunately, our 2nd balcony seats are not crowded so a little walk is OK.

We love the play. On the stage are the playwright as an adult, as a child, and as a college student. Interwoven are her parents and 2 siblings as her life progresses. Although the subject is somewhat serious, the clever staging, music and dialog don't drag down the viewer. I give it an A.

We taxi back to the hotel to prepare for Saturday night's GTG dinner. There will be 42 or 43 of us!

Carmine's!

After months of calling by yestravel and LouisaH, Carmine's has a room that will accommodate our number at a reasonable cost.

http://www.carminesnyc.com/locations/washington-dc

yestravel will have to confirm this but I think there were 42 of us. We had about 30 minutes of cocktail time but took more. Several folks know each other from previous GTGs all over the world.

The tables seated 10 and it was impossible to hear across them. We filled the room with happy chatter. However, Tripplanner001, Tzarinna, and Welltraveledbrit were close enough for chatting.

Each of us stood and said a few words about ourselves. Wish I'd thought to ask who came furtherest. Elizabeth_S and her DH came from Toronto CD--anyone further?

Thank you, TDudette, yestravel, santamonica, and anyone else involved in planning or orchestrating this DC GTG! It was an enjoyable and memorable experience!

Thanks, Dave!

I forgot to mention that the Saturday night of our GTG found a mobbed Carmine's. People were seated and standing outside, and the indoor bar was mobbed. No doubt some of the day's marchers were there, but I think Carmine's is a popular place.

charsuzan and I were hot and pooped so shared a cab back to the hotel and I crashed.

Sunday, May 31, 2017

8:00ish, I found KRNS guest, J waiting outside the restaurant. He joined me and then KRNS joined us. Same good buffet as usual. KRNS found croissants (she said she has croissant radar!) but I was committed to potatoes.

K talked about her work with feeding and getting tagged/spayed feral cats. LouisaK came by before her next mission--and now I've forgotten--breakfast nearby I think.

Heard later that charsuzan attended a lovely brunch at Acadiana. Something to put on your list when you visit next.

Check out was easy and there were no errors. Every time I had passed the valet desk, it was empty....until I needed them to fetch my car. There were 3 ahead of me. But once the slow pokes got fixed up, things went smoothly. The paper lawn bags I forgot to remove from the back seat were still there!

I would give the Marriott Marquis an A-. Expensive resto, the short hair dryer cord, and no snacks in the fridge were minuses. With a hotel this large, it would be a huge headache to keep fridge stuff straight though.

Please send me your jpg photos and I'll add them to the blog! Let's do this again soon.

No Preview!