What's a travelgirl to do in...washington, dc?

What's a travelgirl to do in... Washington, DC
By Helena Cavendish De Moura

We’re not talking about the Greek Furies or mere super-heroes, but of the women who flock to the nation’s capital on political conferences and business trips each year, marching confidently down Pennsylvania Avenue in their smart suits and heels to influence the powers to be and the powers that be. Not just movers and shakers, they are savvy travelers. Studies show they are growing in numbers, more engaging in a new environment than men and eager to turn a business trip into a life experience. The question remains, is DC ready for the invasion of this stiletto army, geared-up with credit cards and a lust for life?

A walk through L’Enfant Plaza and other convention-friendly parts of DC can hardly be described as an esoteric journey. Rows and rows of hotels crowd the scene; there is no doubt the capital has more accessible lodging than government buildings. Whether you are engaged in handshaking deals with government agencies, lobbying politicians or hitting the convention centres, DC is filled with conveniences for nearly every type of traveler on any enterprise. Public transport is accessible, fairly clean and safe. And depending on the season, it is also a perfect walking city.

However, sometimes too much convenience makes Jackie a dull girl. So why not take the road less traveled and venture through DC’s bustling little neighborhoods, filled with charm, character, and endless possibilities.

STAYS TO REMEMBER
The choice of hotels is key for the marriage of work and play. If your choice is limited by the company’s travel department and coupons, women of the world, rebel! Grab hold of your itinerary and create a convenient compromise that will allow for a more well-rounded experience of your destination. After all, life is too short for evenings comparing name tags in carpeted convention centers.

The Hotel George, on Capitol Hill, is certainly an alternative to the chain-brand of Washington hotels. Its spacious, stylish rooms are decorated with a mixture of cutting edge design such as granite desks and large modern beds. The George is also conveniently located a few blocks away from the Mall and all the museums, and two blocks away from Union Station, the DC visitor’s best friend.

A little closer to where the “action” is and you will find the grand, yet small Hotel Madera, near Dupont Circle and the embassy row. Its sleek yet eclectic design is inconspicuously elegant. Here, large comfortable beds and overflowing decorative pillows matched with the perfect dim lighting create a warm, welcoming feeling for the travelgirl and her four-legged partner. Yes, you can bring your dog to this posh hotel, and your only worry will be that your pet-turned-petulant might snub her regular bed back home.

Also in the boutique-hotel family, it is certainly worth checking out and checking into the Topaz, near Dupont Circle on N street. Its stylish, urban, and somewhat funky rooms give you that 1950’s lounge feeling that you’re the star in your own film noir, without the cigarette smoke.

Why is the Topaz a travelgirl-friendly hotel? It is not just their nice cordless phones in every room. They use all Aveda products and their linens look like they were hand-ironed. There are “fitness-oriented rooms” filled with VCRs and DVDs, and baskets jam-packed with yoga videos in case you left your Guru behind.

I could go on, but here is the ultimate pampering for the flower-child within: Topaz offers one-hour hot rock massages with cocktails to the sound of The Rolling Stones, aromatherapy massages and psychic readings. As with the Madera, ‘Fifi’ is allowed entrance, but here she gets to watch animal videos on her luxury bed for an extra cost, certainly a worthy distraction from chewing your new pair of Manolo shoes.

We can’t write about DC without suggesting the Mansion on O Street, where suites are decorated with fine art, antiques and furnishings purchased from journeys around the globe. Perhaps something to tack on to the end of a working trip, a weekend here can focus on romance, family or even television—one suite has eight TV’s, including one that’s six feet long! There are hidden entrances, antiques for purchase, and, if you must be a working girl, the latest in modern technology to keep you at the top of your game.

TIME TO PLAY
You know what they say about all work and no play, so now it’s time to head to NW Washington DC, away from the suits and name-tags, towards DC’s zone of groove: Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan, Georgetown, U street, and parts of Mount Pleasant. And by now, you are relaxed after a day’s work and a celestial spa treatment at Celadon.

You’re in a new state of mind, having tossed the suit for a more creative, urban chic style provided by a quick shopping spree at stores such as Wild Women Wear Red or Betsy Fischer on Connecticut near Dupont Circle. After all, you are in the heart of DC’s funky zone, an area that runs from Connecticut to Florida avenue, all the way to 17th and 22nd streets. Here you will find people of all types, incomes and sexual inclinations— and every type of shop and restaurant to please them.

If you’re dining out with celebrities or simply feeling like one, Nora is a must. This understated yet luxurious restaurant is what fine dining should be all about. In a charming old carriage house, Nora’s is America’s first certified organic restaurant. But don’t expect granola and tofu here, Nora is a famous chef and her cuisine is exquisite beyond belief.

This is where you consume shrimp without iodine with organically grown vegetables, served as an art form. The flavour of these delicately-cooked vegetables prepared with fish, poultry, or beef, is out of this world. I spoke with the charming Austrian hostess, who is a known advocate for sustainable living around the world. An icon for women in DC, Nora deals with Amish farmers in the morning and with Washington’s intelligentsia in the evenings with her same strong, feminine charm.

“One of the reasons women like coming to my restaurant is because they feel comfortable here. We offer a lighter, healthy cuisine with a balanced, nutritious menu with the vegetables of the season,” says Nora in her Garbo accent. “I serve my clients what I would serve my family.”

Nora also owns Asia Nora; minimal and elegant, the menu is geared towards health and balance.

A few blocks away from Dupont, up Columbia and 18th, and we’re in the heart of the historical Adams Morgan neighborhood, named after two principals, John Quincy Adams, of a predominantly white school, and Thomas P. Morgan, of an African-American school, as a symbol of racial unity during the turbulent 1960s. The fusion resulted in what is now known as the “Greenwich Village” of Washington, DC- an ethnically-diverse neighborhood with a happening nightlife. The famous 18th street is a visual overload, with restaurants and nightclubs nearly piled on top of each other. Among some favorites, Cities, a restaurant and bar with a terrace-feeling. Its diversified Mediterranean menu and décor create the illusion of being somewhere in Saint Tropez. Although a bit crowded on the weekends, Cities is a great place to hangout for drinks and Tapas.

Eighteenth street is to Adams Morgan what the coronary is to the heart. Weekend nightlife has a visible pulse, with streets filled with bar-hoppers, window shoppers, activists, street salesmen and false prophets. There are fancy restaurants and dives, all-American and ethnic, discos and nightclubs. There’s a danger here of forgetting the whole purpose of your visit…it’s a street that never sleeps.

But if you’re searching for sanity, when the street crosses with Florida, you may find a welcoming little French café with wicker chairs and lovely hardwood floors, away from the busy streets and yet still buzzing enough to find interesting people. This is the L’Enfant café, where you can have your Stella beer au pression in a proper glass served by a friendly staff. The simple elegance and intimate atmosphere of L’Enfant makes this one of my favorite places.

Still in Adams Morgan, a must-do: watch the sunset disappear over the rooftops on the garden terrace of Perrys on Columbia and 18th. It is a great dining destination, but travelgirl, you might also find simple pleasure in just sipping a chilled Gavi and having appetizers by their lovely little makeshift garden. On Sundays, if you’re having a sluggish start, try Perry’s famous (infamous?) Sunday brunch, where men in drag will serve you some electrifying coffee and eggs benedict.

If you’re feeling culturally guilty that all of this bar-hopping, shopping, and pampering has kept you from experiencing some of Washington’s endless fantastic (and free!) museums, it’s not too late. You are actually near The Phillips Collection, located in the Dupont Circle area, one-half block off of Massachusetts Avenue on 21st Street, between Q and R Streets.

America's first museum of modern art, The Phillips Collection opened in 1921 in the home of Duncan Phillips. It is the perfect sized museum for any art lover, with as many great impressionist, fauvist and cubist masterpieces as one can absorb in one visit. From Braque to Mark Rothko, an afternoon in The Phillips Collection is a journey through the great minds and great periods with the help of brilliant items handpicked by one of America’s greatest collectors.

Also, check the status of the National Women’s History Museum at http://www.nmwh.org/ When it finds a permanent home, this promises to be a fantastic way for any travelgirl to spend some time in the country’s capital. In the meantime, visit the cyber museum and tour the website for
inspirational facts about where we came from and where we’re headed.

For more information about museums and women’s events in Washington, DC, go to: www.culturaltourismdc.org
 
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