Dear Rock N Roll Hotel...

[akujunkan]

...Fuck you. It would have been nice to know you were discontinuing your shuttle service in 2011 two weeks ago, before I purchased tickets to that 9 pm show. As it stands now, I've got to decide if it's worth the ticket price + the $25 cab fare or the walk through ghettoland¹ DC to get to you.

No love. That will be all.

¹I mean it--I watched my first person die of a drug overdose while riding a bus through the neighborhood. And that was at noon.

Comments

[red-rapture.livejournal.com]

How far and to what extent does ghettoland extend in DC, if I might ask? I imagine even the worst places in Toronto pale in comparison.

I'm gonna be in Washington later this month for the NCSE's 'Changing Oceans' conference with my class, and was thinking about doing some exploring on my own. Any recommendations for a first-time visitor? I'm already stoked for the private tour we have arranged at the Smithsonian, but I think I'm more excited to wander around the National Mall and see all the buildings that I wandered through post-apocalyptic style via Fallout 3.

[akujunkan.livejournal.com]

In this case it's the area bound in by Florida, New York, and Maryland Aves in Northeast DC. It's fine during daylight hours, but walking 15 blocks to the Metro at 12 am alone after I've had a beer or two? Not so much.

I guess my first question for you concerning sightseeing is, What are you most interested in seeing? Most of the museums on or near the Mall are free (as are the monuments, Zoo, and National Cathedral). Georgetown has a lot of big brand name stores and some neat old townhouses. Dupont Circle is the neighborhood where the embassies cluster, and there are some cool independent shops and restaurants around the Metro station. Oh, and there are some nice trails through Rock Creek park if you're into walking or jogging.

Let me know what you're thinking of doing and I can give you some better suggestions. Glad to hear you're making the trip!

[red-rapture.livejournal.com]

We're only going to be there for about five days, some of which will be eaten by transit and at least a small portion by the conference itself. I'll have a full day on a Tuesday to myself minus the Smithsonian tour, and then the conference runs Wednesday to Friday. I'll definitely be going to some of the panels, but attendance is optional so I can skip if I change my mind.

Given the limited time, I think mostly I'm just gonna be wandering around the Mall, maybe checking out some of the museums and monuments. I do want to see the Gallery of Art, I think, and the National Museum of Natural History. There's one free walking tour I might try out (this one (http://dcbyfoot.com/)). I do want to learn some US and Washington history, but given my attention span for that sort of thing not too much or in too much depth. My one friend said the botanical gardens are nice, but I'm not sure if they're as good to see this time of year. Oh, and I also want to take the requisite pictures of the Washington Monument and the White House.

Cool independent shops and restaurants sounds good. And that's around Dupont Circle station? I also heard some good things from students that went last year about Georgetown and the university area. I think our hostel is near Chinatown if that helps you out any, I'm not sure if there's anything's neat to check out there too. I know I will want to be able to find cheap eats. My student funds dwindle fewer and fewer each year I'm in school.

[akujunkan.livejournal.com]

The great thing about the Mall is that unless you're wholly opposed to walking, it's really easy to see almost everything in a day. Even if you *are* opposed to walking, there's a bus called the Circulator that makes circuits of the place pretty much all day, and more cheaply than the DC city buses. Just make sure that you're boarding the Smithsonian bus, because there are about five other routes (including Georgetown and Adams Morgan--another place for independent shops and ethnic restaurants now that I think about it).

Those tours look pretty interesting. Oh! And if you have an mp3 player, I think there are some podcast tours online as well

The greenhouse at the Botanical Gardens is pretty small and there was still a lot to see when I went (in November) so I don't really think there's an off season. Plus they're right by the White House.

Unfortunately "Chinatown" consists of a Starbucks and a Bed Bath and Beyond with hanja signs, but there are some neat bars in the area. The metro and the big McDonalds there can get a little rowdy, but I've never been worried about being there in the evening. Depending on what your budget constraints are the cheapest eats will be $5 Blimpie subs, but there are a couple of local chains--Five Guys and ZBurger--that do really awesome hamburgers and spicy fries on the cheap. I'm a fan of both.

[red-rapture.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all the advice! I'll definitely be checking out some of the places you mentioned. I'm really looking forward to the trip!