Comments on: APSA Advice

By: ab

ab — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 20:05:58 +0000

I’ve found the main tourist attractions pretty much self-explanatory, though I didn’t expect walking so much. I also was surprised by DC’s good metro system.

DuPont Circle, where I’m staying, is a nice neighbourhood. And KramerBooks really worth a visit. However, DuPont’s metro escalator is certainly not the longest in the world (though it’s quite long). But if you go to Holborn Station in London, which is near the LSE, than you’ll find a longer one (and there are a couple even longer ones in Moscow).

By: JRMurray

JRMurray — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 19:19:54 +0000

I don’t think anyone has yet mentioned Zorba’s Cafe on 20th street near Dupont Circle.
http://www.washingtonian.com/dining/Profiles/zorbascafe.html
It has pretty basic service (paper plates), however the Greek food is excellent and inexpensive. Kids would be welcome.

By: Jacob T. Levy

Jacob T. Levy — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 22:25:14 +0000

“Who else is going this year?”

I going, which is to say I’m already here, at the Hilton which is annoyingly hell-and-gone-away from the two other hotels. (And it tells you a lot about my attitude toward conferences that I’m annoyed about being away from the panels, rather than being pleased to be just off Dupont Circle.)

By: Anne

Anne — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 20:27:20 +0000

2 Amy’s on the corner of Macomb and Wisconsin has good pizza. Bistro Francais in Georgetown is a good late-night dining option. Zaytinia neat the MCI Center has amazing Mediterranean style tapas. Monmarte on the Hill is a cozy little french restaurant. Have drinks/apps the wonderful but pricey seafood place Kinkaids (at the GWU metro) and you will probably spot some political/news types.
Dumbarton Oaks in Georgetown is a nice side trip. You can also take the metro to Union Station, and walk up to the Capital, the Supreme Court and the Library of Congress, which in my humble opinion is one of the prettiest walks in DC. The bonus is that on your way back to Union Station, you can meander over to the Dubliner for a pint.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 19:31:24 +0000

For the person wanting kid-friendly restaurants, many of the above recommendations are great: Lebanese Taverna and Bistro du Coin especially—great food but crowded and noisy/casual enough so that a 4-year old won’t stand out. Have fun!

By: David Margolies

David Margolies — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 15:03:59 +0000

I second Kramer Books on Conn Ave, N. of Dupont Circle (also has a bar and a cafe). There used to be (and maybe still is) a second Kramers with a very good political/economic stock nearer GWU.

Do not miss the Dupont Circle metro stop across from Kramers, with what must be the longest escalator in the world (I always wanted to put a sign ‘Abandon all hope ye who enter here’ across from the start of the escalator.)

If you have half an hour at dupont circle, walk over to the Phillips Gallery (Mass Ave and 21st st—dupont circle is mass and 19th). The world’s best Renoir (really) and much else.

Way out Conn in Bethesda, there are two old style DC fish restaurants: Bish Thompson and O’Donnell’s. They serve sweet rolls before dinner and then lobster or fish or shell fish. When I was a boy in the 50’s, DC had about a dozen such restaurants (I loved the sweet rolls) but these are all that are left (assuming they do the same thing now, it’s been 6 years since I was last there).

By: David Palmeter

David Palmeter — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 14:44:06 +0000

I’m a resident of the neighborhood, and am partial to Pesto at the corner of Connecticut and Cathedral, an easy walk from the hotels. Good, slightly up-scale, Italian food. Good service. Some may recall Mrs. Simpson’s which was previously on the site.

By: Colin Danby

Colin Danby — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 05:22:40 +0000

ab: What kinds of bits are essential for you? If you want ceremonial buildings etc. most of note are within walking range of the Smithsonian and Capitol South metro stops. Depending on what you like to look at there’s a very nice collection of art museums, public and private, and the zoo, which is near your conference, is pretty good. If you’re there past September 1 I see Mose Allison is going to be at Blues Alley; look for listings for other interesting music and so forth. In my view, especially if you’re there in August, DC’s strengths are music, art, and food. Seen one marbled mausoleum and you’ve pretty much seen them all. And yes, the Metro is just what you need and taxis are pretty reasonable too.

Re food I can confirm Indique’s excellence though it’s busy and pricey; if you’re prepared to take a taxi ride there are a couple of great South Indian restaurants in the Langley Park area (just over the DC border NE of you all), Woodlands and Udupi Palace. Definitely do at least one of the Ethiopian places in Adams Morgan; my standbys are Meskerem and Red Sea.

By: Matthew Krause

Matthew Krause — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 04:53:15 +0000

Lebanese Taverna really is as good as everyone has said--go! Georgia Browns (McPhearson Square on the blue/orange line...walking distance from the white house) has awesome Southern (Lousiana-ish) food although it's a bit pricey. I also like Jaleo, a Tapas place near Chinatown. Jaleo gets really crowded on weekends and they don't take reservations, so plan on hanging out at the bar for a little while if you go during peak eating times. Sushi-taro, which is on P Street (Dupont) has awesome sushi. There's a *little* Afgan place around the corner from Lebanese Taverna called Afgan Grill (no website..it's that small). The food is rather good, although the restaurant is microscopic. If you've never had Afgan food, it's definitely worth a try. I'd suggest passing on Pizza Paradiso. It's good for DC Pizza, but you can do much much better elsewhere (New Haven, for example). A bunch of the fancier restaurants (including Georgia Browns) take reservations via opentable.com, so you might get some ideas browsing that. The Washington Post has a handy entertainment guide that lists a ton of restaurants. The Washington City Paper has an even better Restaurant Finder. You should definitely check out Brickskeller, although it is true they're often out of many things on the menu. I've always wanted to go to the Round Robin at the Willard Hotel, but never got a chance..Its mint julips are supposed to be really good. The Georgetown hangout-bar is The Tombs (36th and N Street)..it just reopened after being renovated. For bookstores, you've GOT to check out KramerBooks (right across from the Dupont Metro on Connecticut Ave--reasonably close to the hotel). It's sort of a hip bookstore/bar/restaurant. The desserts are very good. Anyway, that's enough from me. I just left DC and miss it already (I've got the West Wing on :-)).

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 03:46:19 +0000

For public transport, the DC Metro system is excellent. I’ll be back in DC in December for MLA, and recently posted a list of restaurants, with linked reviews, that I’m looking forward to revisiting.

By: Laura

Laura — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 02:43:11 +0000

I’m actually feeling a bit disappointed about missing APSA this year. Must be a sign of age.

Who else is going this year?

By: ab

ab — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 02:15:34 +0000

Another question, besides food & books (as important as they might be):

I’m a first-time visitor to DC, and I’ve got one and a half, perhaps even two full, days for tourism.

Any advice on a good one-day tour of the essential bits of DC and something for the other, perhaps only half, day?

Any tips on public transport? (Full disclosure: I’m European!)

PS: Will there be any live blogging from APSA at CT?

By: vivian

vivian — Tue, 30 Aug 2005 00:39:19 +0000

Thanks Henry, and everyone else. Question: Where near the non-Hilton could we find a restaurant with adult-friendly food and yet appropriate to bring an active 4.5 year old (not destructive, but probably louder than your average academic)? Are any of the above restaurants suitable?

By: R Byrne

R Byrne — Mon, 29 Aug 2005 22:41:40 +0000

Food/Drink: In addition to Mourayo, I’d recommend:

Meze in Adams Morgan (18th Street; turkish food and fruity mojitos); * Palena in Cleveland Park (Connecticut Ave right near the Metro; sit in the bar and order off that menu); * Bistrot du Coin (smokers especially!; it’s at Connecticut and Florida); * Firefly (New Hampshire and N; terrific food and drink); * Mantis (Columbia and Mintwood; terrific if you like the late night DJ thing)

McLemee is coming very correct about Kulturas book store. I consistently find terrific stuff there, especially if you poli sci types are interested in the unacknowledged legislation of poesy. Also copped a cheapo edition of Farquahar’s Beaux Strategem there not so long ago…

By: Tim

Tim — Mon, 29 Aug 2005 21:52:34 +0000

My wife and some colleagues went to the Brickskeller about two years ago and tried to order about 4 or 5 different beers, all of which they were out of (“out of all of which they were?”). Is that typical, or were they just extraordinarily lucky?

Or did a beer ship sink in a typhoon that summer?