STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

If you could stand to wear pants in the hot and humid climates then I say go for it but I lived in Norfolk, VA for a while, it was about an hour and a half or 2 hours from DC (if I remember correctly, I only went there once) and I couldn't stand the heat It was so humid that I always sweating and felt sticky

I would suggest maybe some tanks, and capris if you don't like shorts. What about bermuda shorts or a couple of light and airy skirts?

Have fun on your trip

-- Edited by rosie_the_riveter at 03:12, 2005-07-22

I live in DC and don't think it's horribly hot...I am one of those people that is always cold though, so depending on how you are you might not want to wear jeans. (I have no problem with jeans and a light shirt, but that's just me). Depending on how dressy your skirts are you might be able to get away with them too- dc is a very "business" city and even on the weekend I see people wearing a more work-appropriate skirt with a tee.

Hi MissBean!

Hope you'll have a great trip to NYC and DC. Yeah, it's hot and gross but I am used to it. Typical weekend/walking around attire for me includes, as ILoveChoo said, some kind of skirt (today it's an old navy peasanty skirt) and a tank and flips. Just something light and cheap is fine - if you don't have, grab a cheap skirt or two like cc said from gap or ON. Or some kind of little sundress and flips. I find that skirts and dresses keep me coolest. I live right downtown and spend my evenings and weekends strolling the city, and pretty much everyone I see who appears to live here (not tourists - don't dress like them! they wear shorts and sneakers and look awful...) wears the same sort of thing I do. I live in sort of a hipster neighborhood (Logan Circle), so people are pretty laid back.

I am so into this dress dot recommended to me for europe and I wear it all over the place, too. It's really cool, both in attitude and temperature. I feel all sexy and casual when I wear it (either with flips or dollyannas) and I find it's great for day into night here in the city.



When I see people in jeans here in the summer, I just don't get it. It's steamy. DC is built on a swamp, no kidding. For night with sandals and a tiny top, sure. But during the day I'd personally be miserable. I do not think you need a sweater or wrap for nighttime either. Depends on if you're the type of person who gets cold, but frankly the nights here are rather sultry as well.

Hey, if you need any other ideas for DC, let me know. There's nothing I like better than giving dining/drinking reccs! (as you know, I am sure!)

Hi missbean!

I think the weather will be much mroe bearable the second half of the week, so that's good!

A few recommendations - I really suggest grabbing a drink one night at the bar on top of the Hotel Washington (think it's called the "Sky Terrace") . Best views in town, and sort of a summer must-do. Just grab a drink and go for dinner elsewhere.



(these Washingtonpost links might need you to register to view, but the info is really good and registration is free, so I highly suggest it!) Here's their advice re the roof terrace:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=entertainment/profile&id=1094192&typeId=5

I am sort of not the best person to advise on dance clubs, because I don't dance. The only piece of advice I have on that front is if you like salsa music and dancing... or just a great mojito. Habana Village (which I know DCShopper likes as well) is a bar that takes up a couple floors of an old row house in Adams Morgan with salsa dancing and music and a few quieter rooms tucked away. Awesome mojitos with big sticks of sugarcane as stirrers, too. If you don't dance salsa, it's fun just to watch. They do Salsa lessons for $10 Weds-Fri, which could be really fun & different. http://www.habanavillage.com

some info on frommers.com:
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/washingtondc/N22477.html

(registration req'd for this link:)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=entertainment/profile&id=798059#profile

As far as nightlife in general, the biggest concentration of clubs and bars is in Adams Morgan, and it's usually hopping on a Thursday night. As I said, Habana Village is there. I can also recommend Blue Room (DJ, chill vibe), Bossa (cool latin vibe), and Madams Organ (which can be a packed drunkfest, but it is pretty fun every once in a while and they usually have some good live music. I don't go there much myself, but I think someone visiting the city could have fun there because it'd certainly lively... Kris and I went there on a Saturday and it was insane, but Thursday ought to be ok). Just get a cab to drop you at 18th and Columbia Rds (NW) and walk down 18th and pick what looks fun. This is actually half the fun of Adams-Morgan, just cruising down the street people watching and deciding where to stop in - you can do a little bar crawl if you like. Oh, this new place on 18th called Chloe is hot (long lines on weekends) and it's a dance club I think. More info about that and other ideas here:

http://www.washingtonian.com/inwashington/buzz/2005/adamsmorgan.html

I don't recommend Georgetown for nightlife. Too many annoying college kids and social climbers hoping to glimpse the Bush twins at Smith Point. Yecccch. It sucks.

Oh - at Dupont Cirlce, Cafe Citron has an awesome happy hour and yummy yummy latin drinks and martini-esque things. On the weekends it's one big party, weekdays a happy retreat with good drink specials and some decent and inexpensive food. I haven't been in ages... geez, now I want to go:

http://cityguide.aol.com/washington/bars/venue.adp?sbid=102215453

You can research all of these on the washington post site if you register:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artsandliving/barsandclubs/index.html

Ok, on to food! A few good bets in your price range.... First of all, everyone loves to get tapas in this town. It's fun & affordable because you pick a few little dishes (my friends and I usually choose 3 each), get a pitcher of sangria, and share. Jaleo is where people generally go for tapas, and you can sit inside or out. It's near the MCI center, very easily accessible by metro:

http://www.jaleo.com/downtown.html

For a twist on traditional tapas, the same people operate another restaurant - Zaytinya - a few blocks away with the same idea, except the tapas are actually "mezze," the mediterranean version.. so you can expect things like babba gannouj, grape leaves, etc. The vibe there is very hip and groovy and they have nice outdoor seating. I am really into eating outdoors.

http://www.zaytinya.com/

Other places that are fun to eat and shouldn't set you back too far:

Bistrot du Coin - fun french place at Dupont Circle (another place I took Kris to when she visited). Service can be rather... French (i.e. a bit brusque), but ignore that. It's good hearty bistro food in a pretty authentic atmosphere - in the summer they sometimes open up the huge glass windows so the whole place is open in the front. It IS a loud and rowdy place, and people either love it or hate it. I fall into the love camp.

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/washingtondc/D48947.html

Lauriol Plaza - this is admittedly not a favorite of mine, mainly because it's very crowded and the food is just ok. But it IS fun and the space is beautiful. Plus, if you sit outside, the people watching is good and it can be very pleasant. I just can't justify waiting 30 mins for a table for average Tex-Mex food when I can go a block away to the more divey El Tamarindo for food that is just as good with no wait and a more down to earth vibe. Lauriol is slightly too big for its britches. And, ok, I am resentful because my ssister used to live on the same block and I could never park my car because of all the people driving in from the burbs and parking on her street! But again, if I were just visiting town I think it would be fun. An easy walk to Adams Morgan after dinner, just up 18th street.

http://www.lauriolplaza.com/

If you're into asian cuisine, I much prefer Straits of Malaya, directly across the street from Lauriol - same view, no wait. Mouth-watering malaysian food and a sweet little roof deck. A favorite of mine and my sister's:

http://cityguide.aol.com/washington/dining/venue.adp?sbid=137733&type=details

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=entertainment/profile&id=1094875&typeId=2&type=keyword

Another fun choice along the lines of Lauriol Plaza is Rosa Mexicano, which I think might be a chain, but they have this fun schtick where they make your guacamole right at your table, and the atmosphere is very cool. Slightly pricey, but a good time. Near the MCI center, like Zaytinya and Jaleo (that's an area with a lot of big & fun restaurants... it's slightly touristy, but that's ok. It keeps things festive.).

http://www.rosamexicano.com/washingtondc.html

Ok, if you like Indian food, Heritage India near Dupont Circle (right near cafe citron, mentioned somewhere above) is really fun. They have an Indian spin on tapas, or you can just order regular entrees. Be sure to check out the prints from the kama sutra in the bathrooms! (this caught me somewhat off guard the first time I saw it!). Yummy, yummy food, though service can be slack.

The location to which I refer is the one on Connecticut Ave (Dupont Circle). The other location is more old school.
http://www.washingtonian.com/dining/Profiles/heritageindi.html


Ok, I know I am missing a ton of stuff. These are just some obvious choices, so I am gonig to keep thinknig and let you know if I come up with anything else!

Thanks dc and DCShopper for all of the tips! I've jotted all of them down - I'm very excited!!!