kayd

No need to rent a wheelchair for inside the museums, inquire about their loaners at the information desks.
The Dupont escalator is no steeper than the others, but it is a lot longer than most (Woodley and Rosslyn have similarly long ones).

Arabella

Wow! You all rock! Thanks for the insightful comments. My parents stayed at the old Jury's hotel in Dupont Circle about five years ago and really enjoyed the vibe ~ they even took that "scary" Metro escalator! They get a kick out of young people and are cool with ALL kinds of diversity. (Gray-haired doesn't mean close-minded!) That said, it sounds like cabs will be an easier way to get around, and The Willard does sound wonderful! As an FYI for anyone else who is traveling to DC with older folks, you can rent scooters at 888 441 7575.

Again, thank you!!

starrs

Have you seen the recent threads about the pedicabs in DC? That may be an option too.

Ackislander

I seem to be on the hook for using the word "diversity" and suggesting that it might be disturbing to some older people.

On my very first visit to DuPont Circle, I came out of the Metro to see a very large African American man holding a Glock pistol to the head of another African American man, who was pinned to the ground by a knee on his throat. AA man 1 was an undercover police officer, AA man 2 was a mugger caught in the act, but until I learned that, it was a bit dramatic for a business traveler.

I have stayed in Dupont Circle many times since then without similar drama, but I have been approached by aggressive beggars and seen drugs being sold openly around the fountain. That's sketchy, and while I find it interesting, I can't imagine anyone's 80 something parents would enjoy it, especially if they are not from a big city.

As to the accusation, and I take it as that, that I am anti-gay, that is simply laughable, and my many gay friends -- both genders -- would find it laughable as well. We belong to a welcoming church, are active in the arts and music communities, and are delighted to have wonderful gay neighbors (men) across the street and (women) four houses down, all of whom are welcome in our home.

sf7307

Ackislander, in all fairness, you were "on the hook" for using the word "sketchy" rather than for using the word "diversity". It might be diverse, but that doesn't make it sketchy. Drug deals under the fountain, well, that might make it "sketchy".

yestravel

Sadly DC has way too many homeless people thruout the commerical areas of the city- Dupont Circle is no worse or no better in regards to that. Many of the homeless people will ask for handouts.

Ackislander, just curious when were your visits to Dupont Circle area?

obxgirl

Ackislander, Most people here do not see you in the context of your home, church and art's community, only in your words.

You're all good with gay people.

So what was your "diversity" comment supposed to mean?

clarkgriswold

To me it means that even though he has a diverse group of friends, he realizes that not everyone who asks questions on a public message board might feel the same way about everything.

Ackislander

Thank you, clarkgriswold.

You got it.

I wasn't very happy with the way Christina was treated, either. While any individual might well be comfortable with the Q Street exit from the Metro -- and I don't believe anyone suggested that the Metro itself is unpleasant or unsafe -- it is equally possible that another individual, possibly the OP's elderly parents, might be intimidated by the long escalator, particularly since so much of it is open air. Many people feel intimidated by the long escalator on the T at Porter Square in Cambridge, MA, and by some of the deeper stations in the London Underground. Telling them they are wrong or being foolish is no help at all.

NewbE

We said she was wrong and foolish because she said the DC Metro is one of the scariest in the world. If she had said what you said, she would not have been slammed. What she said was and is utterly wrong.

As for your sketchy diversity issue: I am tired of people saying "Well, *I* am OK with all the (unusual, gay, not white, whatever) people in this area, but I understand others may not be." I do not give a free pass to prejudice, and I don't understand in the least why it's OK for you to assume others may not be as open as you are. Frankly, I don't care who you are in real life, I care about the advice given on this board, and your comments made Dupont sound undesirable and unsafe. Which is wrong.

sf7307

I think Christina was referring to the Dupont Circle metro station, not to the DC Metro in general. (I read it that way from her use of the words "that metro", as opposed to "the metro"). I do agree it might have been better to say "the Dupont Circle metro station escalator scares ME to death" (not me, her).

artsbabe

Well said, NewbE!

obxgirl

Ackislander, please stop being such a pussyfooter.

MikeT

Those of us in DC are very sensitive to the suggestion that "tourist DC" is dangerous, and using phrases like "sketchy" and "diversity" can be code for "dangerous" and "undesireables."

DuPont Circle is one of the most affluent and desirable areas of the city. Yes, there are street people. Yes, it once was the epicenter of DC's powerful gay community. But it is surrounded by million dollar condos, embassies, and some of the most expensive housing and commercial space in the city.

I'd actually argue the area around the JWMarriott is more "sketchy" at night than DuPont Circle. "Sketchy" in the sense there aren't a lot of people on the street, there are a lot of homeless who congregate at Freedom Plaza, etc. I definitely wouldn't consider it dangerous.

It's fine to suggest that people who aren't familiar with urban life might find certain neighborhoods "sketchy"--although I'd have a hard time labeling DuPont Circle that--but realize that in a city that is 60% African American and fights the reputation that the city is dangerous, code words are going to rankle the locals.

vjpblovesitaly

Dupont small p

MikeT

Pedantic correction sentence incomplete

kayd

DuPont is a chemical company. Dupont Circle is a location in DC.

MikeT

Thanks for that clarification. I'm fascinated with the need to correct people's spelling in informal, online conversation. Do you stop people at cocktail parties and correct them when they don't speak in complete sentences? If they misuse a word, do you halt all conversation just so you can correct them? Was the presence of an uppercase "P" really going to confuse someone so much in their travels that the correction was needed?

kayd

I threw that in because I thought it was information some non-DC people might like to know, not to criticize anyone. Sorry if I offended.

vjpblovesitaly

I am pretty sure you already knew it is incorrect. Why do you go out of your way to type it wrong?