The RECOMB Guide to Washington D.C.

We look forward to your visit to RECOMB 2002 in Washington, D. C., April 18-21. We have assembled some information and web links that we hope will assist you in the preparation for your trip.

Sightseeing:

• The National Zoo is a short walk from the Omni Hotel. The zoo is FREE and is proudly showing off its baby tigers and its baby elephant named Kandula, born in November of 2001, and the pandas, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, that arrived from China in December of 2000! The zoo is located between the Woodley Park and Cleveland Park Metro stops. From the Omni, walk a few blocks north (uphill) on Connecticut Ave.
• Adams Morgan is filled with inexpensive ethnic restaurants and bars. Walk east on Calvert St, starting with the bridge over Rock Creek Park, then turn south at 18th St.
• Dupont Circle is a fancy restaurant district. Walk or taxi 10 blocks south on Connecticut Ave, starting with the bridge over Rock Creek Park.
• Georgetown is a short taxi ride to the west. The area is full of historic buildings but also trendy shops, (particularly on M Street and Wisconsin Avenue). The George Washington University campus is to the south.
• Joggers can leave the Omni Hotel and head east through Rock Creek Park or west trough Dumbarton Oaks Park. Both are beautiful.
• The Federal Mall is a short taxi or Metro ride away. It is the area centered on the Washington Monument between the Capitol (Congress) Building, the White House, and the Lincoln Memorial. The Mall includes the Reflecting Pool and the Cherry Blossoms (which bloomed first week in April). Take in the national monuments: Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Roosevelt, Einstein, Vietnam, etc. Also see the U.S. government buildings: White House, Capitol Building, FBI, Bureau of Engraving (Mint). Note White House tour tickets are not easy to come by. The Mall is surrounded by the famous, FREE, and stupendous Smithsonian Institute museums. Tip: the museums have cafeterias, but there is a particularly pleasant one in the National Sculpture Garden between the Museum of Natural History and the National Gallery of Art.
• The National Security Agency cryptography museum is popular with computer scientists. But it is a drive away in Maryland at MD Routes 32 and 295 (Balt/Wash Pkwy). 301-688-5849.
• Great Monuments in D.C.: http://www.awildorchid.com/monuments.htm
• Washington, D.C. Monuments and Museums: http://www.si.edu/activity/planvis/sightsee.htm
• The Smithsonian: http://www.si.edu
• A different perspective/more specialized: http://www.exploredc.org
• General Monuments and a nice way to see them: http://www.tourmobile.com/
• Washington, D.C., The American Experience: http://www.washington.org/

Shopping:

• Fashion Center at Pentagon City, South Hayes Street and South 15th Street
• A true shopping mall!! - Nearest Metro Stop: Pentagon City http://www.fashioncentrepentagon.com/smt/servlet/SMTMall?mid=157&pn=ENTRY&rs=0
• Georgetown Park, 3222 M Street, N.W.
• Purchase $.50 ticket for Metro Shuttle at Dupont Circle Metro http://www.shopsatgeorgetownpark.com/
• Union Station is a majestic train station full of trendy shops. 40 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, D.C. Union Station.

Maps:

• Washington, D.C.’s Metro Map - Be sure to print the Color Printable version since colors are important! Metro is easy, cheap, convenient and safe. It is especially useful inside the District where there are stations nearly anywhere you’d want to go. Georgetown, however, is a good 15-minute hike from either Dupont Circle or Foggy Bottom Metro stops. http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.htm
• D.C. Sightseeing Map: http://sc94.ameslab.gov/TOUR/tour.html;
• Regional SmarTraveler map: http://www.smartraveler.com/scripts/wdcmap.asp?city=wdc&cityname=DC

Dining: So many restaurants and interesting places to spend your evenings and so little time! These choices are recommendations or have come from the Washingtonian Magazine reviews.

• Lavandou – is recommended by Gene Myers (RECOMB 2002 Program Committee Chair) who lives in the area and has sampled food from many fine D.C. restaurants. Keep in mind that Gene eats well and isn’t averse to spending more to have very fine food. The setting for Lavandou is Provencal for an extensive, moderately priced menu of classic French dishes. “French restaurants are returning to those warm spots in our hearts and Lavandou is one reason why.” (The Washington Post). Entrée choices include filet mignon, sweetbreads wrapped in a thin lentil pancake, boudin noir, bourride, lamb steak with anchovy butter and brochette. Nearest Metro stop is Cleveland Park, located at 3321 Connecticut Avenue, NW – 202-966-3002.
• Cactus Cantina –is packed nightly with neighborhood regulars. It’s a “sprawling Tex-Mex cantina, with mariachi music bouncing off its concrete floors and cinder-block walls, that feels like a weekend fiesta”. Cactus Cantina is not only on the top-100 best restaurants in the D.C. area list, it is also on the “Cheap Eats” list with selections such as pork tamales slathered with chiles colorados, chiles rellenos overflowing with cheese, quesadillas stuffed with strips of mesquite-grilled skirt steak. The closest Metro stop is Tenleytown and it is located at 3300 Wisconsin Avenue, NW – 202-686-7222.
• Jandara – also on the Gene Myers suggested list for excellent Thai cuisine close to the Conference. Entrees to look for are a classic chicken with green curry, roasted duck with red curry, soft-shell crabs with three-flavor sauce, a searing stir-fry of broad rice noodles, chili, garlic and basil and Jandara’s version of duck salad tossed with scallions, fresh ginger, celery, chili paste and lime juice. Jandara is also listed in the “Cheap Eats” category, located at 2606 Connecticut Ave., NW – 202-387-8876, close to the OmniShoreham Hotel.
• Tono Sushi – also recommended by Gene Myers as very good Japanese cuisine near the Conference and on the “Cheap Eats” list of restaurants in D.C. In addition to their sushi, try the scallion-stuffed beef rolls called negimaki or the grilled mackerel or ask for a couple of bowls to split a generous cast-iron cauldron of one of the meal-in-a-bowl soups as a main course. The yosenabe – clear, delicate broth packed with assorted seafood, cellophane noodles, bean curd, Napa cabbage, spinach and onions and the Tempura Soba are special favorites. Located at 2605 Connecticut Ave., NW – 202-332-7300, it is also very near the OmniShoreham Hotel.
• Palena –American cuisine on the Top 100 Best Restaurants in D.C. list is a “special-occasion place that is serving some of the most original food in D.C”. Choices include a salad of roasted lobster and beets, a soup of black-trumpet mushrooms with scallop and lobster, small house-made sausages of pigeon or pheasant raised to elegance by the inclusion of foie gras in their stuffing. Desserts such as Danish-and-fruit bread pudding, cashew dacquoise with chocolate sorbet and pumpkin cheesecake (a mousse of pumpkin served over a creamy triangle of goat cheese) are not to be missed. Located at 3529 Connecticut Ave., NW – 202-537-9250, near (short walk involved) the Cleveland Park Metro stop.
• Kramers Books & Afterwords Café & Grill – interesting place, proud of its recent history, at 1517 Connecticut Ave., N.W. just above Dupont Circle, across from the Dupont Circle “Q” Street Metro Exit. This is a restaurant tacked on to the rear of Kramerbooks with waiter service and 15 minutes of free e-mail at the bar. Kramers has packed tables in the evenings, a multi-page menu with choices ranging from veggie chili loaded with fresh vegetables and black beans to massive bowls of pasta loaded with generous toppings to sandwiches too big to handle, a chicken and cheese quesadilla and plenty of selections of beer and wine. Live music Wednesday through Saturday nights.
• Jaleo – means “uproar, or revelry and merry-making”, located at 480 7^th Street, N.W., (7^th and E), one block from Gallery Place/Chinatown Metro stop – 202-628-7949. Has an extensive menu of 60 different hot and cold tapas, reflecting “the rich regional diversity of classical and contemporary Spanish cuisine”, in addition to their Paella that serves two to four.
• Lebanese Tavern – located at 2641 Connecticut Ave. NW – 202-265-8681, located directly across the street from the Metro stop for the Woodley Park/National Zoo.
• Success hasn't spoiled this "family-friendly" Lebanese trio, which appeals with consistently excellent Lebanese comfort food and affordable prices. “Sample an assortment of the garlicky and delicious meze or let the dedicated waiters help you decide.” Gene recommends this place and says it’s always packed!
• New Heights – ½ block from the Woodley Park Metro Stop at 2317 Calvert St. N.W. – 202-234-4110. Known for its complex and succulent New American cuisine. Entrees include succulent sturgeon with yucca puree and caramelized cherry tomatoes, rib-eye of buffalo with herbed fingerling potatoes, asparagus and horseradish (otherwise known as meat-and-potatoes with a green vegetable, but much better than most). “New Heights manages to serve as both a neighborhood restaurant and a destination for consistently interesting contemporary food.” - Phyllis C. Richman, D.C. restaurant critic.
• Vidalia – la crème de la crème on the 100 Best Restaurants in D.C. about 2-1/2 blocks from Dupont Metro stop, 1990 M Street, N.W. – 202-659-1990. The Vidalia exudes genteel Southern charm while serving up pricey Modern American Cuisine with excursions into Asian and French flavors.
• I Ricchi – 1220 19^th St., N.W. – 202-835-0459, near the Dupont Circle Metro stop. I Ricchi is Tuscan cooking, rustic comfort food, which is part of the reason for I Ricchi’s popularity. Favorites include antipasto of prosciutto, ribollita, fresh pastas, wood-grilled skewers of chicken, sausage and combination platters of roasted meats. It is on the 100 Best Restaurants in D.C. list and is on the pricey side.
• Alero Restaurant – definitely a favorite of Liliana Florea (RECOMB 2002 Organizing Committee) who also lives in the area and enjoys a good meal and a good time as much as anyone, but doesn’t spend the big bucks like some (did I mention Gene’s name?). Alero, serving Mexican cuisine, is located at 3500 Connecticut Ave., NW, - 202 - 966-2530 just steps from the Cleveland Park Metro stop. They also have carry-out.
• Café Midi – another favorite of Liliana, a self-serve shop that will delight you with the smells of freshly prepared contemporary food like carrot salad and bow-tie pasta, one-hour lasagna and ribs. You can’t beat an average price of $9.00. Located at 1635 Connecticut Avenue in Dupont Circle – 202-234-3090.
• La Tomate – 1701 Connecticut Avenue, NW, just off the Dupont Circle Metro Stop – 202-667-5505 serving regional Italian specialties such as Filetto di Branzino al Finocchio Selvatico and Trota di Fiume Affumicata al Salmoriglio and a zillion different types of fresh and delicious pasta dishes, according to Liliana. ; 8am-8pm Sun
• BRICKSKELLER Dining House and Down Home Saloon – Last but not least, Brian Walenz (RECOMB 2002 Organizing Committee Web Guru) recommends the Brickskeller, located at 1523 22^nd St., N.W. – 202-293-1855, The Brickskeller has the world’s largest beer list and serves stuff like chicken tenders, burgers, sandwiches, London broil, etc. Sounds like a fun time for all and just a couple of blocks from Dupont Circle!

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There are many more restaurants, delis and places to explore in the Woodley Park, Cleveland Park and Dupont Circle areas. In Woodley Park, you will find the Woodley Park Gourmet, a small shop selling bagels and pastries across the street from the OmniShoreham. Close by, the International Café sells espresso, breakfast brunch and sandwiches in a very pleasant ambiance, and next door is the Manhattan Market, a mini-market for purchasing snacks and personal items. Follow our suggestions for restaurants or just walk down the street and pick one.

We hope you have a great time getting to know Washington, D.C. during RECOMB 2002!