obx girl - AR was me, I logged in under hubby's name by mistake!
We love art (just had a quick glimpse of National Art Gallery last time - will def. return), theatre and music, but not classics/ballet, more middle road stuff ie S&G!
Agree with Arlington - we went last time. (Love historical stuff like that too)
Is that any help? Thanks.

You may also want to browse through the Tourist section of the Washingtonian for more info: http://www.washingtonian.com/tourist_page.html

For tickets to local events (including concerts, plays, The Spy Museum), you should check out www.ticketmaster.com. You can browse based on happenings in DC - just enter the city name or zip code (20016 will work) for local events.

Enjoy your trip!

Agreed, washingtonian.com is an excellent resource. Also check out the Arts/Entertainment section for an excellent rundown of the area's museums, galleries. historical houses. etc. If you enjoy art, the National Gallery can take up a lot of your time. You might also like some of the other lesses visited Smithsonian museums...Freer, Sackler and the Hirshorn. There is also the Corcoran Gallery (contemporary) and the Phillips Collection (impressionist/electic). You've received some great suggestions here already.

Washingtonian.com is also a great resource for dining. I find the reviews very reliable.

Just checked out that website - looks great, thanks. Will spend the holidays checking out all the info.

Merry Christmas everyone!

MRS AR, have you considered contacting the British Embassy for tickets to the White House, Capitol, etc? I have friends who received nice info packets from their embassy in DC when they asked for tourism help, but I don't know if they got actual tcikets.

Arlington Cemetery is really a wonderful place, I was there about 10 days ago and it was covered in snow. Very serene.

I must have lucked out becasue I showed up to the Washington Monument around 1PM on a Saturday and got a ticket to immediately take the elevator to the top. BUT I have read several places that the view from the tower at the old postal annex is even better (and no lines.)

DRESS WARMLY, it is really freezing out on the Nat'l Mall when the winter wind blows.

The National Gallery is stupendous.

I took a nighttime tour of the monumnents with a company called All About Town, it was snowy and really cold, the monuments were lit up and all but deserted that night. It was a magical tour with the snow, the Christmas lights, and the lack of any crowds. Lots of hopping on and off the bus, plenty of time to see it all. Well worth the $26. I was picked up at my hotel, ask your concierge.

E I hadn't thought of contacting the British Embassy, what a great idea!
Vivi, that nightime tour sounds wonderful, no atmospheric Christmas lights in February, but lots of snow I hope!

Mrs. AR, I don't think you'll want to miss the memorial to that staunch friend of Britain, Franklin D. Roosevelt. It's one of our newest monuments, a walk-through experience next to the Jefferson Memorial, with great quotes, many evocative statues, and a very imaginative and moving use of waterfalls. Like the other more well-known monuments, it may be most impressive at night. Maybe you'll feel something akin to what I did as an American when I visited Churchill's bunker near Parliament in London, and saw the bunk he slept in during the bombings. Long live our nations' partnership as exemplified by these two great leaders.

I agree, the bell tower at the old post office pavillion is the best view of DC anyone can get; Ive been there at different times of the day on weekdays/weekends and ive never seen a line there. just show up and go up! Great to take pics too!

Another reason MrsAR might visit the clock tower at the Old Postal Pavilion is to see the bells in the levels below the clock - the bells were a gift to the US from Britain.

The trip's getting closer, and in the U.K., security issues are big news at the moment: Air marshalls on 'planes, no queuing for toilets on inbound flights to the U.S.A., and the recent flight inbound to the U.K. from Dulles (the same Virgin one that we'll be flying home on), where a passenger was found carrying bullets in his pocket when he disembarked at Heathrow!
Have you heard about all this, and what restrictions can I expect? (e.g. in N.Y., you can't go up the Statue of Liberty anymore)
Would hate to plan a visit to the Capitol to find that tours have been stopped because of tightened security. Hope you can all help, once again? Thanks.

Ah, my second home! I am from Canada but have family there (well, in Bethesda) and while in University I did my internship at CBS TV. Now I frequent as much as possible with my husband and parents, etc... so much fun. Okay... for dinner, Georgetown, Fillemina's... not too sure about the spelling, but it is great. Shopping? Georgetown of course! Check out the new spy museum, so cool!

AR,
Please relax. The only airport with toilet restrictions is Reagan National (where you must remain seated for the last 30 minutes of the flight). There are no restrictions for fligts coming into Dulles or BWI. The only thing in DC you will have any trouble with is getting inside the white house (though you can still get a peek at the building from the back from the ellipse). But really, the white house is just one sight out of hundreds....
BTW, in what area are you planning to stay?

Don't miss the Phillips Collection, which has major Impressionist pieces; the Corcoran Gallery is good for American art in particular. At the National Gallery, ask for directions to the only Leonardo (as far as I know) in the Americas. It takes your breath away.

I responded on this thread but had trouble posting to the thread, so I put it up under "Culture Vulture in Washington, DC." It has suggestions about how to get half price tickets and my take on what you should see as a fellow "culture vulture".

Have great trip!

Thanks, lauren - will take a look.
Bardo - not paniking - the restrictions on queueing for toilets was U.K. news on all flights leaving the U.K. for America? They suggested we cut our drink rate on these flights!!
Thanks re. the white house, I was afraid that would be the case. (We're staying at the L'Enfant hotel)

MRS AR--have you thought about a visit to Mount Vernon (George Washington's family estate)? It isn't in DC proper, but about 10-12 miles south of town so you'd probably need a rental car or I think there is also a special bus that leaves from from the Huntington Metro station. Mt. Vernon is really interesting to visit from a historical perspective--the only drawback is the timing of your trip. The grounds are gorgeous in the spring and summer, so you'd miss out on that aspect of the experience by going in February (although I believe they do some special things for Washington's birthday in Feb). Their restaurant also serves excellent colonial-era food at a very reasonable price.

www.mountvernon.org