All Articles
SPONSORED
Visiting the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial
What is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial and where is it? The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial, designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, is located at the base of Capitol Hill at 540 Independence Avenue SW. The four-acre urban park features a variety of pieces that symbolize Eisenhower’s inspirational feats during his time as the supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe during World War II and as the 34th U.S. president. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mary Laurin (@fiddlefun2) What will I see at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial? The memorial site itself holds a close and unique relationship to Eisenhower’s life-long commitment to public service. The federal entities neighboring the Maryland Avenue site demonstrate Eisenhower’s broad legacy of improved national infrastructure, the foundation upon which he worked to build “a peace with justice in a world where moral law prevails.” In honor of his military accomplishments, General Eisenhower appears with paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division before the Battle of Normandy. Behind the sculptures is a bas relief featuring Eisenhower that depicts the Normandy landings on D-Day, June 6, 1944. His time as president is memorialized through sculptures that symbolize the balance of security and liberty that Eisenhower worked to achieve. One features Dwight in the Oval Office surrounded by military and civilian advisors. A map of the world in bas relief stands behind, reflecting Eisenhower’s internationalism and role as a world leader. A life-size sculpture of young Eisenhower takes you to the beginning of his journey. The piece is accompanied by an inscription of an excerpt from Eisenhower's Abilene Homecoming Speech in Kansas on June 22, 1945, where he declared “the proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene.” A stainless-steel tapestry frames the entire memorial and portrays an abstract depiction of the Normandy coastline in peacetime to represent the peace Eisenhower won as supreme commander, then preserved as commander-in-chief. The iconic Pointe du Hoc landmark is featured at the center of the hand-drawn image. The one-of-a-kind piece is 450 feet long, supported by 80-foot stone-clad columns, and the image will appear differently throughout the day based on light and shadows. Free audio guides are available for your self-guided tour.
Discover Eastern Market’s Sights, Smells & Sounds
Nestled in the heart of historic Capitol Hill just north of Barracks Row, Eastern Market is a must-visit for arts and crafts aficionados and lovers of fresh, locally sourced food and drink. Designed to serve as the neighborhood town center, this popular community hub has attracted an eclectic group of shoppers and foodies since 1873. Good to know: the market is closed on Mondays and opens to street vendors on weekends. Step inside the South Hall Market and you’ll experience sensory overload. The large main hall is filled with merchants selling meats, poultry, seafood, baked goods, flowers and cheeses, and is often bustling with shoppers sampling their wares. Make sure to come early and beat the line for the Market Lunch’s legendary blueberry buckwheat pancakes. On the weekends, the streets and plazas surrounding Eastern Market teem with more vendors. Farmers from across the region set up open-air stands selling all sorts of local produce. Visitors can sample produce as they browse the rows and rows of brightly colored tomatoes, carrots, apples, peaches and whatever is in season. Walking through the market to the sound of live bands jamming to all types of music, weekend visitors will also discover a sea of tents filled with handmade arts and crafts from some of DC’s best local artists. From painters, sculptors and woodworkers to jewelers, potters and photographers, Eastern Market offers something for every taste. How do I get to Eastern Market? To get there, your best bet is to take the Metro’s Blue, Orange or Silver lines to the Eastern Market stop. The market is located at 225 7th Street SE, just one block from the Metro. Public parking is limited. Take note that the market is closed on Mondays, and is open 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and on Sundays from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern Market sounds really cool. What else should I know about it? Eastern Market is one of the few historic public market buildings left in Washington, DC, and the only one that has retained its original public market function. The historic market was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, and the South Hall Market underwent a major two-year renovation after it was badly damaged by fire in 2007. The first incarnation of Eastern Market was one of three public markets included in Pierre L’Enfant’s plan for the nation’s newly established capital, along with a Central and Western Market. The Eastern mainstay eventually fell into disrepair, and the current version was envisioned by renowned local architect Adolf Cluss, who also designed the Smithsonian Arts and Industries Building which you can see on the National Mall. Read on for more of the District's best farmers' markets, plus our guide to Union Market.
Dog-Friendly DC: The Best Places to Bring Your Pets in Washington, DC
If you’ve brought your dog along for your trip to Washington, DC, have no fear: there are plenty of places that welcome and cater to canines. We’ve compiled a list of dog-friendly restaurants, hotels, scenic parks and shops that will be perfect for your pup. Places to Eat and Drink The acclaimed Rasika West End permits dogs on its patio and offers its famous Tandoori lamb chops for adults. Baked & Wired has dog treats in flavors like Peanut Butter Krunch, in addition to fresh baked bread, brewed coffee and espresso, pastries, muffins, cookies and quiche for you. Outdoor seating is dog-friendly. Right Proper Brewing Company in the Shaw neighborhood welcomes canines with open arms on its open air patio, where you can sip on brews and chow down on bar bites. Head downtown to Opaline Bar and Brasserie for French-inspired cuisine on the chic patio with your pup. Just outside of DC is the area's newest dog-friendly bar and restaurant, Bark Social, which features an off-leash indoor & outdoor dog park. If you’re looking for beer garden vibes that are dog-friendly, make sure you check out Wunder Garten in NoMa, which offers games and lounge chairs, and Dacha Beer Garden in Shaw, featuring farm-to-table fare and Bavarian beverages (there's also a location in Navy Yard that is well worth your time). Wet Dog Tavern is basically dedicated to doggies, with plenty of space and activities for the canines. You’ll dig the varied drink menu and burgers while your best bud runs wild. At Hook Hall, enjoy drinks, food and decor inspired by the venue's changing themes, while dogs drool over the Hook Hall Hounds offerings. When exploring the U Street corridor, have a coffee and enjoy some Cuban cuisine with your dog by your side on the gated patio of Colada Shop. Parks Your visit to the National Mall can certainly include your dog, as canines are welcome to join you as you stroll past the monuments and memorials and take in the view. The Tidal Basin, where you can savor beautiful cherry blossom trees in the springtime, is another scenic spot where pets are welcome. Theodore Roosevelt Island, accessible by footbridge from the George Washington Memorial Parkway, features two miles of trails along the Potomac River, perfect for an afternoon excursion with your pup. Meridian Hill Park is one of the city’s most popular parks and features plenty of real estate for dogs to stretch their legs. If your pooch likes rhythms, the park hosts a drum circle on Sundays. Note: the lower plaza is currently closed. Rock Creek Park offers roughly 1,800 acres of natural beauty, with more than four miles of trails, serving as an oasis in the middle of the city for you and your canine. Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, located along the Anacostia River, is another option, as it offers beautiful aquatic gardens to enjoy while taking your dog for a stroll. Tours Adventure DC Tricycle Tours has your dog-friendly tour option. Dogs are welcome in the cabs, and with your approval, their expert guides will stay with and even walk your dogs while you enter memorials that do not allow dogs. They have a free dog-friendly map (and other free maps) of the National Mall available for download, regardless of whether you use their services. Hotels Kimpton Hotels in the District welcome dogs for all sizes at no extra charge and even offer special amenities so that your pup can have the best experience possible. Dogs of all sizes are welcomed for no additional fee at The Ven at Embassy Row as well. The LINE DC makes for a worthwhile place for you and your canine companion to stay while exploring the Adams Morgan neighborhood. Pets stay free at this DC-inspired hotel housed inside a 110-year old church – and don’t forget to ask the front desk for courtesy bags, water bowls and treats. The Hay-Adams, one of DC’s most historic hotels, allows one dog weighing no more than 25 pounds per room for free. Pups that weigh 15 pounds or less can stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C. at no additional charge (you could even bring two). At The Jefferson, four-legged guests of any breed and up to 50 pounds are welcome and receive dog bowls, beds, treats and more. Over in the elegant Georgetown neighborhood, Fairmont Washington, D.C., Georgetown welcomes pets for free and offers handmade treats, maps to nearby parks and loaner leashes and collars. Other options: Sofitel Washington, DC Lafayette Square allows dogs up to 50 pounds for a refundable $500 deposit. The ultra-hip Eaton Washington DC allows two pets of any size for no additional fee. Both dogs and cats are welcome. Pet beds, food and water bowls are available upon request. Yours Truly DC allows dogs up to 70 lbs. for no additional charge, with complimentary treats from Doggy Style Bakery and special Bowser Beer for Dogs available upon check-in. Viceroy Washington DC allows two pets of any size for no additional fee, with both dogs and cats permitted. The hotel provides treats, bowls, beds, waste bags and pet-in-room door hangers for four-legged guests. Shops During your DC visit, you may need to get some shopping done. Here’s a list of local shops that allow your pet inside, and may even have a treat or two waiting for them: Warby Parker lululemon West Elm Bluemercury Room & Board Madewell Salt & Sundry Now that you’ve seen DC’s dog-friendly options, check out free things to do for families.
Experience the Whiskey Rebellion Trail in Washington, DC
The Mid-Atlantic region serves as the birthplace of American whiskey and its story is as complex as the distilled rye the area has produced. Whether you want to delve into George Washington’s role in the Whiskey Rebellion or mix it up with the District’s crop of craft distillers, the Whiskey Rebellion Trail in DC blazes the way. Whiskey Rebellion Trail Passports in DC One day, one neighborhood passport When it comes to spirit-making, the Ivy City neighborhood is DC’s distilling hub. Check out DC’s Ivy City One-Day Passport for a quartet of tastings, tours and cocktails, which you can comfortably pack into a day. For $39, you’ll get a tasting flight from Cotton and Reed, a cocktail from New Columbia Distillers, a tour and tasting at One Eight Distilling and a free cocktail from Republic Restoratives. The weekender or three-day passport The Taste of DC Three-Day Passport gives you a taste of history in addition to locally made spirits. Get access to George Washington’s Mount Vernon, where you learn about Washington’s rise from president to one of the largest rye whiskey producers in the late 1790s. In addition, you can explore free-to-visit sites such as Peirce Mill, a former distillery and site maintained by the National Park Service, and the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, where you can see the same sword and scabbard George Washington wore in 1794 when he led 13,000 troops to Western Pennsylvania to quell the rebellion. When it comes time to sampling, you’ll get access to everything in Ivy City from above, as well as a flight from Don Ciccio & Figli. The local-friendly, three-month-long passport If you live in the DC area or are visiting for an extended period of time, the All Inclusive DC & Beyond: 90-Day Passport is your ticket to soaking up distilled spirits and history in DC and nearby Baltimore. For $99, you can tip your glass to the end of the Whiskey Rebellion and the beginning of a new adventure with access to Ivy City’s five distilleries, and five noteworthy distilleries in Baltimore. The pass also comes with free access to George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Discover more about the Mid-Atlantic region’s Whiskey Rebellion Trail, from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia to Washington, DC and Baltimore.