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Hey everyone. So my parents, my sister, and her boyfriend are coming to DC on Thursday & will be staying in a hotel in Penn Quarter. They asked me to make plans for the day to do some things that aren't the typical tourist things, but are still fun. I live on H Street so I don't really know what to do in Penn Quarter. I was thinking the National Building Museum & maybe Fords Theater. Also, what are some good non chain restaurants in the Penn Quarter/downtown area that we could take metro to? I was thinking Founding Farmers but am open to suggestions.
Hey everyone. So my parents, my sister, and her boyfriend are coming to DC on Thursday & will be staying in a hotel in Penn Quarter. They asked me to make plans for the day to do some things that aren't the typical tourist things, but are still fun. I live on H Street so I don't really know what to do in Penn Quarter. I was thinking the National Building Museum & maybe Fords Theater. Also, what are some good non chain restaurants in the Penn Quarter/downtown area that we could take metro to? I was thinking Founding Farmers but am open to suggestions.
Well, Ford's Theatre is about as typical a tourist thing as possible and the tour buses always seem to be parked on 10th between E and F. An alternative might be the Newseum, which is near the Archives station.
There are plenty of good restaurants. Jaleo has been around forever at 7th and E. Central is at 11th and Penn. Fogo de Chao is across the street. Zatinya is on 9th between G and H. Rosa Mexicano technically is part of a chain, but it's fun (7th and F).
Well, Ford's Theatre is about as typical a tourist thing as possible and the tour buses always seem to be parked on 10th between E and F. An alternative might be the Newseum, which is near the Archives station.
There are plenty of good restaurants. Jaleo has been around forever at 7th and E. Central is at 11th and Penn. Fogo de Chao is across the street. Zatinya is on 9th between G and H. Rosa Mexicano technically is part of a chain, but it's fun (7th and F).
I know Fords Theater is a typical tourist thing, but its the only typical tourist thing they haven't done. They have done the Newseum though & loved it, but I don't think they would want to go again. But thanks for the restaurant suggestions, I will definitely look into them
Everything around there is touristy. I liked the Spy Museum. Do one of the spy adventures if they have been already.
The Portrait Gallery is also very good and isn't one of the most visited Smithsonian museums.
Since they live out in Loudoun they have done a lot of stuff, including what you have mentioned. My current plan is to meet them at the metro station, take them to Fords theater since they haven't done it yet, take them to national building museum, & then do some shopping on F street before going somewhere for dinner. I know these are all pretty close together, but is the national building museum within a 10 minute walk of the archives, the station they will probably get off of?
Here's my list of activities I consider fun to do in Penn Quarter:
* Woolly Mammoth Theatre at 641 D St NW (Stupid F**king Bird now playing).
* National Portrait Gallery
* Harman Center for the Arts - Shakespeare Theatre (nothing playing this week but it's one of my favorites).
* Jazz in the Garden at the Sculpture Garden (every Friday, 5:30pm to 8:30pm). A Brazilian Jazz group will be playing on Friday, August 8th.
* District Architecture Center at 421 7th St NW (current exhibit is Local Designers Global Visions).
* German American Heritage Museum at 719 Sixth St NW.
* Summer Block Party Late Night at the National Building Museum. Open Thursdays from 5pm to 9pm.
As for restaurants,
* Zengo at 781 7th St, NW. Latin-Asian fusion. I especially like the ambiance of the downstairs bar.
* Asian Spice at 717 H St, NW. Pan-Asian.
* Proof Restaurant and Wine Bar at 775 G St, NW.
* Daikaya at 705 Sixth St, NW. Ramen.
* CoCo Sala at 929 F St, NW. The connected chocolate shop is awesome as well.
* Zaytinya at 701 Ninth St, NW. Mediterranean.
* The Partisan at 709 D St, NW.
Also, if you do go to Founding Farmers, make sure you make a reservation 10 years ahead. That place is ridiculous.
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