Very, very short trip to DC Fri-Sun; what's the sine qua non?

[Bossy Monkey]

The point of this was to go to the Smithsonian and eat Ethiopian food in Adams Morgan. The only burning need Smithsonian-wise is to see the Toulouse-Lautrec exhibit; secondary one is to visit the American Indian Museum (which ought to have a sic after it, but what can you do?) DCians, is there anything else electrifying going on? I'm fairly familiar with DC attractions already and Alice is very much so, so we don't much need to hear about the standard tourist stuff. We were toying with the idea of going up the Washington Monument, though, but checking out the website, I see that tickets are said to run out early, and early isn't our best thing. Oh well.

What sayest thou? Any replies will be much appreciated. Or you can just wish me happy birthday a day early.:P

[liberal N proud]

1. Memorial Day concert on Capital Lawn

I am not from DC but have been there on Memorial Day many times
Sunday night is the Memorial Day concert on the west lawn of the capital. Always cool.
Arlington Cemetery is always special this time of year, flags on each grave. It will hit you!
The Wall again special at this time of year. and I am sure the new WW II memorial will have something special to it for the holiday.

DC is a blast any time of year, but it is special on Memorial Day.

[Bossy Monkey]

3. Unfortunately, we're driving back on Sunday, but thanks

We figured the one day on Memorial Day weekend when traffic might be bearable ought to be Sunday. Also Alice is starting a new job, so we have to get back. But it's good to know this stuff, and thanks for the info.

[seemunkee]

2. Rolling Thunder will be coming in to town

All the vet bikers are going to be coming into town so be prepared for it to be pretty noisy. Not sure what else is going on this weekend. Check the Washington Post entertainment section.

[Bossy Monkey]

4. Thanks for the head's up; we were planning to use the Metro to get around

so apart from the noise, it shouldn't affect us much. But thanks for the information.

[CBHagman]

5. Happy birthday, and by way of reminder...

...the Toulouse Lautrec exhibit is in the East Building of the National Gallery, not any of the Smithsonian museums.

Link for the above:

www.parisonthepotomac.org

The West Building of the National Gallery has a Gilbert Stuart exhibit you might also want to take in.

www.nga.gov/exhibitions/stuartinfo.htm

[Bossy Monkey]

10. Thanks. So long as it's still on the National Mall, it's uh,

Smithsonianish, if you will. Anyway, I can find it.

Never knew National Gallery wasn't the Smithsonian. That's interesting to learn. And thanks for the birthday wishes!:hi:

[electricmonk]

6. Check out the City Paper

www.washingtoncitypaper.com/ It will update sometime Thursday to show what's going on this coming weekend or just pick a copy up once you're in town, they're all over the place.

I don't live there but about 3.5 hours south. I was up there last weekend and had a great time. I love that town.

Oh, and Happy Birthday!

[Bossy Monkey]

11. Thanks and thanks!

I'll be driving on my birthday, but fortunately, that constitutes a happy birthday for me.:P

[LizW]

7. A Tourmobile ticket is worth the price

I think it's about $25, but it's good for one whole day and it can get you around quickly to see more than you could ever see on foot. It stops at Union Station, too, which is a good place for fast food and restrooms. (Good for us because of the kids.)

If I only had time to see three things in D.C., they would be:

The VietNam Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial
The National Archives (the Constitution and Declaration of Independence)

All of these things made me choke up with emotion when I saw them last spring.

Happy birthday! Hope you have a fun trip!

[Bossy Monkey]

12. Thank you. The Wall just overwhelmed me the time I went.

We were planning on going by the Lincoln Memorial, though, time permitting.

Thanks for happy birthday wishes.:hi:

[driver8]

8. Mmmm...Ethiopian food in Adams Morgan. I used to eat at a place

called "The Red Sea." Is that restaurant still there? Amazing food.

I was a college intern in DC and a bunch of my friends came down for a college radio convention. They wanted to eat someplace "different" so I took them to The Red Sea. They absolutely loved it!

This happened twenty years ago and any time I run into someone who was at that dinner, they always say "Remember when you took us to that Ethiopian place?"

Enjoy!!

[Bossy Monkey]

9. I loved that place, too. Back in the day, you could always find an

Ethiopian place in a strange city (I mean, assuming the city had around a million people) by looking in the Yellow Pages for The Red Sea or The Blue Nile. My favorite place in Philly was called Red Sea, and the one in Adams Morgan was the first place my buddy in DC took us to. Subsequently, though, we went to Meskerem, and I think that's where we'll be heading to this time. Per this, Red Sea's still there, though: http://www.washingtonian.com/dining/Profiles/redsea.html

[faithnotgreed]

13. meskerem is about 2 blocks from where i live

hope you both enjoy yourselves immensely whatever you choose to do and best birthday wishes!

just so you know - it being that old american holiday memorial day - if you want some awesome ice cream theres a place just down from meskerem. its a diner at 18th & u (not to be confused with "the diner" up 18th st) and on the same side of the st as meskerem.

if its open its got the best home made chocolate or vanilla ice cream and also bread pudding you wont believe. pretty funky place but pretty loud if youre there in the evening.

[Bossy Monkey]

15. Thanks! If at some point this weekend, you hear a loud voice with

a southern accent call out in the night: "FAITHNOTGREED, YOU WERE RIGHT!" you'll know we made it.:D

[faithnotgreed]

16. woohoooo! if you can stop eating long enough to yell then ill hear you!

i see that youre from columbia. my partner is from there and went to usc, her father/step mother live there and he teaches i think at midlands tech

eta: sorry to disclose your undisclosed location!

[Bossy Monkey]

17. Not a problem. The screenname was always a joke on Cheney, only

Midlands Tech has three locations, but the old original one is about two blocks from here. Small world, huh?

[northzax]

14. Forget AM, come to "Little Ethiopia"

the 1900 block of 9th St (between T&U) Ethiopian and Eritrean food a gogo.