BY MARIA MCILWAIN
It’s APSE Summer Conference season, and that means it’s time for a guide of things to do. Every year, we have a wonderful time, thanks in part to one of these, and I hope this will help you plan your time between the panel discussions.
I’m originally from Alexandria, Va., around seven miles from our conference hotel, so this is a compilation of my favorite things to do and crowd-sourced intel from friends and family. I’ve broken this down into sections according to region: D.C., Maryland and Virginia — known locally as the DMV.
Transit
The area generally is accessible by Metro. The Crystal City station is a four-minute walk from the hotel and is served by the Blue and Yellow Lines. You’ll mostly be taking the Yellow Line northbound (toward Greenbelt) to get into D.C. or southbound (toward Huntington) to get to National Airport or Alexandria. To pay, you can just use your credit card or Apple Pay, or you can get a Smart Trip card at a kiosk or in your Apple Wallet. Whichever you choose, just MAKE SURE YOU USE THE SAME CARD UPON ENTRY AND EXIT! We also have buses! Smart Trip cards work there, too. The Metro famously closes at midnight, but Ubers are plentiful.
D.C.
Perhaps one of the most iconic things to do is hit up the Smithsonian Institute’s suite of museums. They’re free to enter (seriously, I was in high school before I realized that you had to pay for museums elsewhere). There may be long lines, particularly at more popular museums such as Natural History, so be prepared with sunscreen, water and a backup plan. “Stones and Bones” is one of my favorites, however, as is the National Archives. It’s a little different from National Treasure. The Air and Space Museum also is a favorite, and there are two locations: One downtown and a bigger one out near Dulles Airport (you can get there via the Silver Line and buses or Uber). To get to the D.C. museums, I’d recommend taking the Yellow Line to Archives/Navy Memorial. It spits you out right at, well, the Navy Memorial, which is really cool and (allegedly) contains water from all of the seven seas.
You also can’t miss the monuments, many of which are within easy walking distance of the museums. The Sculpture Garden is cool, too. They’re a little out of the way, but the zoo and National Cathedral are worth it if you have the time.
Speaking of nature, the George Washington Memorial Parkway starts in McLean, Va., and runs along the Potomac River across from D.C. and all the way to Mount Vernon — a must for any history buffs. It’s a gorgeous view for a walk, jog or bike ride, and there are places to rent bikes, notably in Old Town Alexandria (more on that later). When you’re out there getting your steps in, you’ll probably see plenty of boat people out on the water. We’ll be in the DMV during peak water sports season, and I recommend renting a kayak and getting out on the river if you have time. I grew up renting from Belle Haven Marina on the Parkway, but there are plenty of options on either side of the river, including the Key Bridge Boathouse in Georgetown. You can paddle around and then check out any of the trendy spots in this popular part of town.
If you want to splurge, recommended spots include Filomena (Italian) Chez Billy Sud (French). When in doubt, the Michelin Guide is your friend.
In addition to the Parkway and the river, you can also hit the East Potomac Golf Links. This municipal course recently was a subject of Pablo Torre Finds Out and includes a driving range, two courses, mini-golf and a solid restaurant.
There’s plenty to eat around town. Specifically, any of the José Andrés restaurants are iconic. Get the namesake margarita at Oyamel. It’s life-changing. For all my Columbia fans, Jaleo is a famous tapas place by Andrés with a range of tasting menus (and individual plates) and a great wine program. Other options include Carmines, which is great for a crowd. Ben’s Chili Bowl is a local institution, and you can get there by taking the Yellow Line to U Street.
If live concerts are your thing, the 9:30 Club is a legendary venue. Additionally, The Anthem is super popular. Both of these are directly accessible via the Yellow Line (with a bit of a walk). Get off at U Street for the 9:30 Club and the L’Enfant Plaza stop for The Anthem. If you want to see a Broadway-style show, Beetlejuice (National Theatre), Back to the Future: The Musical, and Mrs. Doubtfire (both at the Kennedy Center) will be running. You can also check out Ford’s Theater, though nothing will be playing there. Moon Rabbit is a highly acclaimed (but pricey) restaurant centrally located right next to Ford’s.
The Nationals won’t be in town, but the Navy Yard neighborhood around Nats Park is hopping (recommended bars include Due South, Electric Cool-Aid and The Bullpen).
Maryland
If you find yourself near the Parkway in any capacity, you’ll see National Harbor rising up from the Maryland shoreline. It’s got TONS of shopping, a casino (MGM National Harbor), fancy hotels, dining options galore and a cool Ferris wheel.
Additionally, Baltimore isn’t far, especially if you have a car, and Annapolis is picturesque and is home to the best crab cake in Maryland at Boatyard Bar and Grill.
Virginia
We’re in Crystal City, a neighborhood in Arlington, Va., and the 23rd Street corridor has plenty of options, day or night. Crystal City Sports Pub is three levels of vibes. I’ve watched many a Nationals loss in those hallowed halls, and the menu is pleasantly varied and well-executed. I’ve also heard good things about Freddie’s. Both are open until 2 a.m. The Portofino, an Italian restaurant also on 23rd Street, is older than I am. If you’re out really late, Kabob Palace is open 24 hours and remains a favorite of mine, even at my advanced age. There’s also a Lucky Strike nearby if you want to bowl. Farther afield, Clarendon is quite trendy, and the Westover neighborhood features Lost Dog Cafe, which has plenty of options for beer and pizza.
And if you have time to venture into Arlington, the Pentagon Memorial and national cemetery are poignant. Farther south into Alexandria, Dishes of India and El Pollo Ranchero were family favorites. Additionally, the Del Ray neighborhood is really cool, and The Birchmere is a fun live music venue that’s a short jaunt down Mount Vernon Avenue. Swing’s Coffee is a Del Ray institution, too.
And then there’s Old Town.
Old Town
OK, this just needs to be its own thing. I could go on forever, but we all know the average engagement time on a story is, what, 30 seconds?
Getting into Old Town can be a bit tricky, but you can take the Yellow (or Blue) Line to the King Street station and walk or hop on a trolley or bus. Or just Uber, that works, too!
The King Street section of Old Town has everything, from waterfront views to food, shopping, and even a bit of nightlife. During the day, you should definitely make time to check out the Torpedo Factory, an artist space on the waterfront. You can interact with local makers and buy their stuff or just peruse a range of artistic disciplines. Big Wheel Bikes is near the water and does rentals, and that’s a great way to get around, especially considering the lower few blocks of King Street are car-free. There are great waterfront dining options (Chadwicks, Union Street Public House, Virtue Feed & Grain) as well as options galore up the street (Vaso’s Kitchen, the Fish Market, Hard Times Cafe). For coffee, Misha’s is the best in town (source: me) and for dessert, hit up Pop’s for ice cream. There are plenty of options off of King Street, too, such as Momo Sushi and Royal Restaurant.
But to me, the crown jewel is Taverna Cretekou, a Greek restaurant right in the middle of the action on King Street. I’ll be there on July 15 for my 32nd birthday, and I hope to kick off the conference in style with you!
CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect that the George Washington Memorial Parkway runs entirely in Virginia and doesn’t start in Maryland, as originally reported.
