TPS Insider Tips

What book related to D.C. or a teacher elective do you recommend? 

My favorite book I read to prepare for this year’s “Theodore Rex and Princess Alice” and “The Other Washington Monument” study visits was “Alice Roosevelt Longworth: Princess to Washington Power Broker” by Stacy Cordery. Besides being an incredibly interesting book on such a great personality, the author had access to all of Alice’s personal journals. And Alice was a brilliant writer among many other things! 

What under-the-radar museum, exhibit, or landmark do you recommend visiting? 

The new version of the African American Civil War Memorial Museum is finally open and it was worth the wait! I highly recommend a visit. Make sure you check in with Dr. Frank Smith, founder and executive director of the museum and memorial and a longtime good friend of mine and Close Up! 

Where is your favorite place to eat in or around D.C. right now? 

As most of you know, I love my old-school Italian places, Carmine’s in Penn Quarter and Filomena in Georgetown. Carmine’s is wonderful for larger groups, Filomena is perfect for a smaller group. But my favorite newer spot is actually a French restaurant called Le Diplomate at 1601 14th Street NW. 

Is there a trail—historical, hiking, or otherwise—in or around D.C. that you love? 

My favorite local trail is along the George Washington Parkway, from Old Town Alexandria to Rosslyn, of course with a diversion across to the beautiful Roosevelt Island sanctuary.  

What’s one tourist mistake to avoid in D.C.?  

The biggest mistake many tourists make is they exclusively focus on the main tourist destinations and miss some incredible gems. One great example is visiting the Jefferson and FDR Memorials but missing the George Mason Memorial between the two. 

What’s the best place to sit down and get some work done? 

By the Bartholdi Fountain and Gardens on Capitol Hill, just a perfect little oasis. 

What book related to D.C. or a teacher program elective do you recommend?  

“111 Places in Washington, D.C., That You Must Not Miss.” This book will take you inside the capital from an entirely new perspective. Step away from the traditional sites in this city of politicians, diplomats, innovators, artists, and hucksters to discover intriguing and little-known places, artifacts, eateries, and other surprising stories.  

What under-the-radar museum, exhibit, or landmark do you recommend visiting?  

Planet Word Museum. This language arts museum features interactive exhibits on topics such as history of the English language, how children learn words, languages around the world, humor, poetry, and how music and advertising use words.     

Where is your favorite place to eat in or around D.C. right now?  

Western Market, located in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood. It’s a modern market steeped in history, located across from the original site of one of the three marketplaces in Pierre L’Enfant’s plan for Washington. Today, it’s an all-day dinning destination with indoor and outdoor communal seating, QR-code ordering, and eclectic group of vendors for sushi, lobster rolls, fried chicken, pizza, and more. 

What’s a “new” D.C. neighborhood to explore? 

The U Street Corridor in the Cardozo/Shaw neighborhood. From the 1920s until the 1960s, U Street was the city’s Black entertainment hub, once called Black Broadway and home to such artists as Duke Ellington and Marvin Gaye. U Street is now promoted as a “happening” neighborhood for upscale and eclectic dining, shopping, live jazz, and nightlife. It’s also home to the African American Civil War Memorial at 10th and U Streets NW.   

What’s the best place to sit down and get some work done?  

The National Portrait Gallery at 8th and F Streets NW.  

What book related to D.C. or a teacher program elective do you recommend?  

Lafayette Square, designed by Pierre L’Enfant and originally known as President’s Park, sits in front of the White House. There are wonderful and intriguing stories to tell there, including how it was previously used as a graveyard, a zoo, a slave market, and a racetrack. A book that’s a great companion to this exploration is Gil Klein’s “Trouble in Lafayette Square: Assassination, Protest & Murder at the White House.” Gil, the former president of the National Press Club, gives wonderful, juicy stories that breathe life into the heart of the one of the nation’s centers of power.  

What under-the-radar museum, exhibit, or landmark do you recommend visiting?  

The Smithsonian National Postal Museum near Union Station. This museum is truly a hidden gem among the Smithsonian museums, where you can examine American history through the lens of the Postal Service and its importance in being part of the infrastructure, expanding communications, and moving products. 

Where is your favorite place to eat in or around D.C. right now? 

Martin’s Tavern in Georgetown, established in 1933. JFK proposed to Jackie Bouvier on Wednesday, June 12, 1953, in booth #3. Political figures such as Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, U.S. presidents from Harry Truman to George W. Bush, and others—there are plaques showing where they loved to sit. 

What’s a favorite D.C. neighborhood to explore? 

Georgetown. There’s M Street for shopping, Georgetown University, the C&O Canal, and the beauty of the older homes and streets. Georgetown is also full of African American history, as an important center of the community (it was one-third Black during the American Revolution) and the Underground Railroad (at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church and Female Union Band Cemetery). 

What’s the best place to sit down and get some work done? 

The atrium at the National Portrait Gallery. Not only is the museum spectacular, but the atrium is also a beautiful area that is architecturally designed for inner peace and relaxation while eating. There’s food and coffee, plus the dessert is really good! 

What book related to D.C. or a teacher elective do you recommend? 

One interesting book I read for preparing for the Barracks Row/Navy Yard neighborhood study visit was “Through A Fiery Trial, Building Washington 1790–1800” by Bob Arnebeck. It covers in detail most of the politics surrounding the creation of D.C. which includes the creation of the Washington Navy Yard. 

What under-the-radar museum, exhibit, or landmark do you recommend visiting? 

O Museum in The Mansion located at 2020 O Street NW. One must visit the website (omuseum.org) to take in all it offers and book tickets. It’s experiential learning on steroids, where you can walk in the footsteps of presidents, freedom fighters, historians, authors, artists, scientists, and scholars. There’s also the Rosa Parks room where she stayed as part of the museum’s Heroes in Residence Program. 

Where is your favorite place to eat in or around D.C. right now? 

One favorite is Martin’s Tavern on Wisconsin Avenue in Georgetown. It’s the place where JFK proposed to Jackie and many powerful people conducted after-hours business. Another spot is across the Potomac River in Alexandria. Fish Market on King Street is famous for its delicious New England clam chowder. 

What’s a “new” D.C. neighborhood to explore? 

The Brookland area around Catholic University, specifically the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America at 1400 Quincy Street NE. 

Is there a trail—historical, hiking, or otherwise—in or around D.C. that you love? 

The Billy Goat Trail in the C&O Canal National Historical Park, located on the Maryland side of the park near the Great Falls Visitor Center. The name of the trail indicates the skill level needed to experience it. 

What’s one tourist mistake to avoid in D.C.? 

Do not buy Washington Monument elevator tickets. There are no such tickets to purchase from anyone. This was a scam many years ago, but it would not surprise me if some scam artist tries to resurrect it. 

What’s the best place to sit down and get some work done? 

The underground complex of the Smithsonian that includes the Sackler Gallery of Asian Art, the National Museum of African Art, and the S. Dillon Ripley Center. One can make a wish at the “Monkeys Grasp for the Moon” fountain. It’s accessible from the Freer Gallery of Art and from above-ground entrances in the Haupt Garden on the south side of the Smithsonian Castle off Independence Avenue. 

What book related to D.C. or a teacher program elective do you recommend?  

“Alexander Robey Shepherd: The Man Who Built the Nation’s Capital” is a great read about a pivotal time in D.C. history. Not only was the form of city government in flux, the physical space was undergoing a transformation with Boss Shepherd, as he was known, at the center of it all. He was a force of nature and was responsible for the bones of the city we see today!   

What under-the-radar museum, exhibit, or landmark do you recommend visiting?  

The Holodomor Memorial near Union Station, just off the Capitol grounds, is both timely and striking. It serves as a memorial to the millions of lives lost due to the Soviet-induced famine in Ukraine during the early 1930s. The memorial is not large but its symbolism speaks volumes.  

Where is your favorite place to eat in or around D.C. right now?  

Old Ebbitt Grill, just a block from the White House, is a staple of the city and should not be missed! If you’re feeling adventurous and want something new, check out Tiger Fork, an upscale Chinese restaurant in Blagden Alley. The food is excellent and the setting, in an alley packed with street art and other dining options, is as unique as D.C. gets. 

What’s a “new” D.C. neighborhood to explore? 

Union Market was a longtime distribution hub for Washington’s incoming rail freight—think warehouses and loading docks. However, the largest warehouse was transformed into an amazing food hall and the surrounding area has followed suit with restaurants and shops. It’s a wonderful place to grab a bite, shop, and people-watch!  

Is there a trail—historical, hiking, or otherwise—in or around D.C. that you love?  

The Metro Branch Trail is worth a stroll, especially the Alethia Tanner Park section in Eckington. The park was designed to help leech heavy metals from the ground, a holdover from its time as a railway depot/dumping ground. The murals alone are worth the trip. 

What’s one tourist mistake to avoid in D.C.?  

If there are 2-4 in your group trying to get somewhere, it is always worth checking the cost of Uber/Lyft versus the Metro. In most cases, the combined Metro fare is only a bit cheaper than ride sharing. And with only so much time in the city, you want to get where you’re going faster!  

What’s the best place to sit down and get some work done?  

I’m always partial to working at coffee shops. The Coffee Bar in the Logan Circle neighborhood is perfect when the weather is cooperating; you can even take a quick stroll to Logan Circle itself, one of the city’s most picturesque traffic circles. If it’s cold and/or rainy, head to A Baked Joint in the Mount Vernon area of the city. The coffee is top-notch and the baked goods are not to be missed!   

What book related to D.C. or a teacher program elective do you recommend?  

My favorite book in preparing for the “Discovering Diplomacy” exploration was “Washington Goes to War” by David Brinkley. Brinkley talks about diplomatic life and the way Washington still works. For example, in September 1941, while FDR was still uncertain about where to put the military’s new headquarters, General Brehon Burke Somervell told the contractor to get started. When Roosevelt found out about this a month later, the Pentagon foundations had already been put in place. Brinkley is very knowledgeable, engaging, and easy to understand. 

What under-the-radar museum, exhibit, or landmark do you recommend visiting?  

The Octagon House, also known as the Colonel John Tayloe III House, located at 18th Street and New York Avenue NW. After the White House was burned by the British during the War of 1812, President James Madison and First Lady Dolly Madison stayed in the Octagon House. It was there that the Treaty of Ghent (ending the War of 1812) was signed. It is now the headquarters of the American Institute of Architects and is open to visitors.  

Where is your favorite place to eat in or around D.C. right now?  

Nando’s Peri-Peri, home of the legendary South African flame-grilled PERi-PERi chicken and sauces. The menu is great and the price is right! The restaurant is scattered across D.C., Northern Virginia, and Maryland. Notable locations are Penn Quarter (836 F Street NW) and The Yards (300 Tingey Street SE). 

Is there an outdoor activity in or around D.C. that you love? 

The Malcolm X/Meridian Hill Park Drum Circle. Live music does not have to cost a fortune. For over 30 years, local drummers and other musicians have gathered at this spot to play together every Sunday at 3pm in a colorful musical event. The result is a sound assortment of the musical talent D.C. has to offer. 

What’s one tourist mistake to avoid in D.C.?  

Many hotels claim to be a “ten-minute walk from the Mall,” “five minutes from National Airport,” and so on. Do not rely on hotels to tell you how close (or far) they are from major attractions. Look it up to verify. Be sure you at least know what you are signing up for.  

What is the best place to sit down and get some work done?  

The U.S. Botanic Gardens. Although there’s no food or drink for sale, there’s a water fountain and a bottle refill station as well as a restroom. Climb the stairs in the corner to the mezzanine level, you will find plenty of benches overlooking the jungle canopy. Green vines spill over the balcony railings, blocking whoever is upstairs from public view. Is this the District or the Caribbean?