dml, will be there Tuesday (late) through Sunday morning. Camden Yards sounds great but I think my wife would not be happy. :( I hazard to press my luck beyond one ballgame.

Thanks obxgirl, your description sounds perfect.

In California, I miss the green leafy environs that I grew up with in Chicago and Minneapolis.

thereyet

I have an Aunt that lives in DC and she is already making plans as well, so some of the sights out of town will be reachable without renting a car as we will have a "local tour guide".

thereyet

ACK! Everything I just wrote disappeared!

Anyway, here are some of my suggestions for dining in DC:

Near Woodley Park:
Dino's Restaurant (Italian) - right across from the Cleveland Park metro station on Connecticut Ave on the red line. There are plenty other restaurants along Conn Ave that I'd want to try whenever I have time next.

Near the Mall:
Tosca Ristorante (Italian) - on 11th and F Streets

Jaleo (Spanish tapas) - on 7th & E Streets. One of my fav places in DC

Mitsitam (Native American) - in the National Museum of the American Indian. Good for lunch or a super early dinner. If the buffalo shank is being served, try it.

Georgia Brown (American Southern) - on 15th Street between I & K Streets

This is but a small list.

FYI - the FBI building is located on 9th and Pennsylvania Ave. If you want interesting spy stuff, visit the Spy Museum on 9th & E Streets.

:)

My Aunt mentioned the spy museum. I might be interested in that. As I was saying about my last trip to the FBI building...I got as far as the ten most wanted list when they ordered us to leave.

My Aunt who accompanied me and my brother remembers that it took us four hours to get home in Virginia but that there was no grid lock. Even though the City was rioting every one took turns at the stop lights which were out. She told me she was amazed at that.

mcnyc, thanks for your list. I will copy this thread and bring with to try a few.

Any other fun suggestions are always appreciated.

thereyet

Any suggestions where the Pols do power lunches?

thereyet

Capitol Grille remains THE power lunch spot in DC (even with the new rules)

http://www.thecapitalgrille.com/Loca...n=WashingtonDC

If you are interested in pol spotting, the less expensive COB cafeterias are a best bet - Cannon on Senate side - Longworth on the house side.

<i>If you are interested in pol spotting, the less expensive COB cafeterias are a best bet - Cannon on Senate side - Longworth on the house side.</i>

thereyet, is Congress in session when you're there? If not, the cafeterias will have more tourists than pols (trust me, been there).

dml, i don't know the Congressional schedule. Will have to google that one. I am hoping they are as I have contacted my congress members offices and requested visits and tickets to the WH.

bardo, Capital Grille sounds like just the ticket for lunch one day.

thereyet

I'll second the suggestion for Busboys and Poets. I like Jaleo, but think I like Zaytinya even more.

A classic spot for lunch is the Old Ebbitt Grill.

There are a number of great ethnic places near Woodley Park.

The first week of June should be a lovely time to be in DC. I love just walking outside among the monuments. Of course, there are many amazing museums as well.

3 other places for power lunches:

The Occidental - right off the Willard Hotel on Pennsylvania Ave, closer to 15th Street

701 - at 701 Pennsylvania Ave, right off the Archives station

All serve American fare.

For some power drinks (although I don't know how old your son is), there's the Round Robin Bar at the Willard. If you enter through the Willard's main door to get to the Bar, you will pass the area where the term &quot;lobbyist&quot; first originated. You can also get food and desserts there if you wish.

As for meorable places to visit, if it's not a humid day in June, I'd head over to the WWII memorial, which I usually walk to from the Smithsonian metro stop (walking towards the Washington Monument). It's the newest monument in DC, and is just stunning. Especially at night, when it's lit.

Bardo, what new rules are you talking about? For Capital Grille?

Oops. The 3rd place would be The Willard Room, inside the Willard Hotel.

mcnyc,

The new lobbying rules. They took effect this year and have sharply reduced the opportunities for congress to have expensive lunches. They still do of course but now that it comes out of their pocket, it is not quite as often.

Ah...thanks for the explanation. :)

Thanks agian mcny and Bardo,

I do plan on visiting the WWII Memorial (night time sounds good) and the Vietnam Memorial (it has been decades since I have been to DC so this is &quot;new&quot; to me.

thereyet

Congress is in session first week of June (all month, in fact). Also the Rayburn HOB cafeteria is the only one open to the public during lunchtime - sorry about that.

Hi Bardo,

I saw that there wasn't any home district sessions scheduled on the congressional website. Where did you find that they were actually in session?

thereyet

thereyet- Semper fi, Devil Dog!

Please remember to stop at the &quot;Women in Military Service to America Memorial&quot; at Arlington National Cemetery. You'll find it informative and inspiring-- what we &quot;pioneers&quot; had to do to &quot;serve&quot; our country! :) (I'm a charter member and my story is on file there, along with dozens of others.)

Have a blast! I love DC. So much history, so much to see and do. It won't be long enough! :)

Paula

Thanks Paula, I can't wait, and I will try to squeeze in every bit of touring I possibly can. I imagine I can do a lot of damage in four full days and nights. Arlington is calling me right now.

Thanks for the tip on the Women in Service Memorial. A tougher service there never was.

thereyet

Oh! And Semper Fi!!

thereyet

Oh, I just remembered that you're using the metro. Here's a system map of the DC metro.

http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm