Veteran’s Day

Posted on October 4, 2011 by lrosan

Veteran’s Day is a national holiday celebrating those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The National Holiday is celebrated annually on November 11, which is the anniversary date of the day World War I ended. Veteran’s Day is the perfect day to visit the War Memorials or Arlington National Cemetery. There will be ceremonies honoring soldiers. Please see the list of some of the ceremonies below.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial- The ceremony will commence at 1pm at Constitution Avenue and Henry Beacon Drive. The Washington, DC color guard will be there and some key note speakers before the laying of reefs begins.

Arlington National Ceremony- The National Veteran’s Day Service begins at 11am at the Arlington National Ceremony. There will also be a wreath laying ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier.

World War II Memorial- The wreath laying ceremony will begin at 11am and will take place between Constitution and Independence Avenues.

Enjoy!
Alexis, Innkeeper

American Guest House Bed and Breakfast
Washington DC’s friendliest Bed and Breakfast accommodations. We are located across from the Washington Hilton Hotel, 10 minutes walk to Dupont Circle metro/subway, 1 mile north west of the White House

A little walk to Georgetown

Posted on October 2, 2011 by lrosan

If you come to DC, you must go to Georgetown, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Washington DC.

Founded in 1751, the city of Georgetown was a major port and commercial center during colonial times because of its prime location along the Potomac River waterfront. Today, Georgetown is a vibrant community with high-end shops, bars, and restaurants.

How to go to Georgetown?

There is no Metro station in Georgetown, the closet metro stations will be Foggy Bottom-GWU, and Dupont Circle. You can also ride the DC circulator bus.

Georgetown Sightseeing:

- Canal Square Building, 1054 31st Street, NW, former home of the Tabulating Machine Company

- The Old Stone House, built in 1765, located on M Street is the oldest house in Washington, DC

- Tudor Place and Dumbarton Court

- The Oak Hill Cemetery, a gift of William Wilson Corcoran whose Gothic chapel was designed by James Renwick, is the resting place of Abraham Lincoln’s son Willie

- Healy Hall on Georgetown’s campus, built in Romanesque style

Enjoy your visit! Jonathan

The Hadeed Carpet Alexandria West End Art and Wine Festival 2011

Posted on September 30, 2011 by lrosan

The Hadeed Carpet Alexandria West End Art and Wine Festival is an annual event sponsored by local businesses in the area. The festival includes a variety of activities to choose from. There will be over 90 artists of varying media displaying their art, and artisans performing demonstrations and selling crafts. There will be a “Wine Gazebo” were of age participants may enjoy the variety of wines offered. Fifteen local restaurants will be participating, and the local sponsors will have booths and displays set up. What a great way to experience one of the oldest townships in the DC metro area.

This Wine & Art Festival will take place October 8th-9th at Brenman Park and the Old Gazebo at Cameron Station. These locations are located just across the street from each other. The venue is accessible by shuttle bus provided by the event at the Van Dorn metro station, serviced by the blue line. You could also rent a zipcar at the metro station or at several rental locations in Washington, DC proper.

Enjoy!
Alexis, Innkeeper

The Meridian Hill Park

Posted on September 29, 2011 by lrosan

The Meridian Hill Park is located between 16th and 15th Streets in the Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Columbia Heights. The park is approximately at one mile north of the White House, and half mile from Columbia Heights Metro station.

The Park which was designed and built between 1912 and 1936 has been taking care of by the National Park Service since 1933.

The park is divided into two principal areas: the lower park, with a water cascade of linked basins and a large reflecting pool surrounded by a plaza; and the upper park with an open mall, and a broad terrace overlooking the lower park with panoramic view on Washington DC.

A number of important monuments and memorials have been placed in the park since the 1920s. The Buchanan Memorial was one of the first planned and it remains the only memorial to President James Buchanan in Washington. In 1922, a statue of Joan of Arc was installed on upper level of the park. In a city of many equestrian statues, this is the only one with a woman.

Since the 1950s, on Sunday afternoons during the warm weather months, people gather from 3-9:00 p.m. in the upper park to dance and participate in a drum circle.

Jonathan, Innkeeper

Festa Italiana Washington DC

Posted on September 27, 2011 by lrosan

Festa Italiana takes place on Saturday, October 9th from 11:30am – 5:30pm on 3rd and F Streets. The festivities will begin with a Catholic Mass in Latin. There will be street performances, games such as Bosce as well as performers on the main stage. There will be entertainment for children, book signings, and cooking demonstrations. Food will be provided by local Italian culture societies, as well as some local Italian specialty shops and restaurants.

The Festa Italiana will be held at the Holy Rosary Church. The venue is accessible by the Judiciary Square metro station serviced by the red line. For additional travel information, please visit the metro website.

Enjoy!
Alexis, Innkeeper

Chinatown

Posted on September 26, 2011 by lrosan

Last night, I had a couple who asked me about Chinatown and if it was worse it to go over there. Of course I recommended them to take a look at this very interesting neighborhood!

Chinatown is located east of downtown and it’s representing by more than 20 ethnic Chinese and other Asian restaurants and small businesses along H and I Streets between 5th and 8th Streets, Northwest (served by the Gallery Place-Chinatown station of the Washington Metro).

If you want to see a Hockey or Basketball game go to the Verizon Center, the sport and entertainment arena of D.C. and maybe go to see a movie at the Regal Theatre.

If you are more “culture” and museums, you can visit the Post Office Building on Pennsylvania Ave, near the FBI building. Also in the same area you can visit the nation’s first public institution dedicated solely to espionage: The spy museum. Or enter a crime scene to solve a case in a real crime scene lab and drive in a police academy training pursuit at the Crime & Punishment Museum.

And don’t forget one of the best Museum in DC, the National Portrait Gallery dedicated to the exhibition and study of portraits of people who have made significant contribution to American history!

Jonathan, Innkeeper

The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertainment Show

Posted on September 25, 2011 by lrosan

The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertainment Show is an annual tour that travels to three cities. This the 6th year the show has come to Washington, DC. This year’s all-star line up includes Food Network stars, Paula Deen, Giada De Laurentiis and Guy Fiieri. There will be cooking demonstrations by regionals chefs as well as some James Beard award winning chefs. There will be wine and food pairing demonstrations, and book signings by the celebrity chefs.

The Metropolitan Cooking & Entertainment Show will be held at the Washington Convention Center on November 5th-6th. The price for general admission tickets is $24.50. There are also specialty packages and VIP packages for special demonstrations with each chef (you may purchase them on the event website). The Washington Convention Center is accessible by the Convention Center metro station serviced by metro rail’s yellow and green lines. Please visit wmata’s website for additional travel information.

Enjoy!
Alexis, Innkeeper

Capital Segway Tours

Posted on September 23, 2011 by lrosan

Instead of being stuck on a tour bus already full, you may consider the Segway where you will have your personal space and enjoyed the freedom to be outdoor. The Segway tour is ideal for families with older children, adults looking for a fun alternative to walking.

Tours leave from 1350 I St. NW and it will cost you between $65 to $80.

The Capital Segway tour starts and ends with 10 minute training for riding around on the Segway, which is fun and easy to operate. During your tour, you will pass by Lafayette Park to the White House, down the Mall to the Capitol and past the National Air and Space Museum, National Museum of the American Indian, U.S. Botanic Garden, FBI, National Archives, National World War II Memorial and Washington Monument.

By the end of the tour, you will have seen the biggest sights on the Mall in a quarter of the time it would take to walk.

Other thing interesting: Segway Tours also proposes French, Spanish and German tours!

Jonathan, Innkeeper

Oktoberfest 2011: Washington DC

Posted on September 22, 2011 by lrosan

Oktoberfest, a beer festival that runs between 16-18 days long, beginning in late September running through early October. The festival originates in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. Washington, DC has a number of festivals held throughout the city celebrating beer, German food, music and dance. Washingtonians wouldn’t miss their chance to join in on the ”The World’s Largest Fair”. Please see some suggested venues below.

Biergarten Haus: This local Bavarian biergarten is located on the H Street corridor in NE Washington, DC. They will be offering special Oktoberfest drafts and will have live musical performance and food to celebrate the festival. The Biergartenhaus is accessible by metro bus X2 or the 90.

Das Best Oktoberfest: Will be taking place at the National Harbor. The celebration will take place on September 25th -26th. There will be international wines and beers. A home microbrew contest, German food and all sorts of contests. Purchase your tickets on site for $35 for Saturday or $55 for Sunday’s festivities. The National Harbor is accessble my metro bus and metro rail.

Blocktoberfest 2011: A Washignton, DC Oktoberfest music festival. There will be 10 bands featured as well as party areas and activities. You may purchase your tickets in advance online. The music festival takes place on September 24th from 2pm to 10pm, and is accessible by the Navy Yard metro station serviced by the green line.

For assistance travelling via public transit, please visit wmata’s website and travel planner.

Enjoy!
Alexis , Innkeeper

Great Falls Park

Posted on September 18, 2011 by lrosan

Summer is almost over and it’s almost time for us to welcome Fall. One of the great place in the Washington area during Fall is the Great Falls Park, an 800-acre park located along the Potomac River. AT only few miles of downtown Washington, DC, this park is one of the most popular with local residents and tourists who are visiting the area.

Great Falls Park offers a variety of activities including hiking, picnicking, kayaking, rock climbing, bicycling, and horseback riding. Above the Great Falls Park Visitor Center, you can follow the upper Canal Trail and view the head of the falls and the Aqueduct Dam. On the Maryland side, the Billy Goat Trail is one of the most popular scenic places to explore.

Great Falls Park is accessible from both sides of the Potomac River. The Virginia park is located at 9200 Old Dominion Drive, McLean, Virginia.

The Maryland side is a part of the C & O Canal National Historic Park and is located off of Falls Road in Potomac. There is not access between the two sides of the Potomac River.

Great Falls Park is open from 7 a.m. until dark every day except December 25th. The Visitor Center is open from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily, with extended hours during the spring and summer.

There is an entrance fee of $5.00 per vehicle, including motorcycles and a $3.00 fee for visitors entering the park on foot, horseback, or bicycle.

Jonathan, Innkeeper