# DC: Observations and experiences **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 22, 2016, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042 "2016-06-22T13:39:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/21 "2016-06-22T17:48:21Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > [li] **Spring was amazing, though short.** [/li]After winter, seeing the leaves grow back and all of the colors I’d never seen before was spectacular. The cherry blossoms were gorgeous. It was all gorgeous. Loved it. And I’m still constantly pleased by how green things are in general compared to living in the desert. Next year, if you haven’t already, I would recommend getting out to some of the regional parks during the spring wildflower season. It’s great to walk through a deciduous woods that is just leafing out while the ephemeral spring flowers are springing up on the forest floor. > [@](#): > > [li] **I now hate tourists.** [/li]I always thought of LA as a big tourist city, but I spent most of my time in downtown LA, and there aren’t many tourists hanging out there. DC? Now that’s a tourist city. I had no idea how obnoxious it would get when you’re trying to cross a street and have to negotiate through a crowd of 20 people ambling toward you, not having any idea where they’re going and not paying the slightest bit of attention to anything around them. And now that schools are getting out, it can only get worse. > [/LIST] My office used to be in the Smithsonian Arts and Industries building on the Mall. It was always a nightmare during the summer trying to zig-zag across the Mall through the slowly ambling herds to get over to a meeting in another building. It was like a zombie apocalypse, except that they only rarely tried to bite you.🙂 > [@](#): > > Love, love, love Camden Yards. Yeah, it’s great. It opened when I first lived in DC and I would go up several times a season. > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Also, Adams Morgan is (or was) the place to find all finds of interesting and yummy ethnic restaurants. Right in the middle of the city – no need to travel out into the burbs. I agree. I used to live halfway between Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan. Unfortunately I haven’t lived in DC since 1992 so my restaurant recommendations wouldn’t be very up to date. > [@Peremensoe](#): > > **Asimovian** , you know about _Washington City Paper,_ right? > [@Peremensoe](#): > > The free weekly paper, found in boxes at Metro stations, and in stacks just inside various establishments. A good source for finding out about performances and events in the area, and occasionally essential reporting on local political and human interest stories. In addition, that was where I first encountered Cecil’s column. It apparently still carries it. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/22 "2016-06-22T17:54:47Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Next year, if you haven’t already, I would recommend getting out to some of the regional parks during the spring wildflower season. It’s great to walk through a deciduous woods that is just leafing out while the ephemeral spring flowers are springing up on the forest floor. We’ve been meaning to get to Shenandoah and just haven’t done it, yet. But it’s on the list. I like this idea. Also, **Colibri** ’s appearance in this thread reminds me of one of the other perks I’ve encountered. My wife set up a couple of bird feeders off the back deck, and we’ve been treated to views from our dining room table of many beautiful birds that I’d never seen before. Probably all commonplace to folks used to being out here, but my LA experiences never exposed me to birds with some of the brilliant reds and golds I’ve been seeing just in the last couple of months. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/23 "2016-06-22T18:10:36Z")
I must urge you to get out to Udvar-Hazy ASAP. It’s even better than the Air & Space museum on the mall due to the latter needing to be renovated so badly. My sister in Alexandria refuses to use the metro anymore. We took a taxi into the district and it was way quicker and really worth the extra cost. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/24 "2016-06-22T18:25:18Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > We’ve been meaning to get to Shenandoah and just haven’t done it, yet. But it’s on the list. I like this idea. There are lots of nice parks closer in. I used to enjoy walking the C&O Canal Towpath starting in Northwest DC. Great Falls Park is also very nice. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/25 "2016-06-22T18:27:17Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > There are lots of nice parks closer in. I used to enjoy walking the C&O Canal Towpath starting in Northwest DC. Great Falls Park is also very nice. We did a little bit of hiking at Great Falls (Maryland side) a couple of months ago, but it must have been before the bloom you were talking about. **Hypno-Toad** : I’m on it! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/26 "2016-06-22T18:53:26Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > We did a little bit of hiking at Great Falls (Maryland side) a couple of months ago, but it must have been before the bloom you were talking about. The best time for the ephemerals is probably mid-March to April. [Here are some suggested sites.](http://botany.si.edu/DCFlora/springflowers/flowerlocation.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/27 "2016-06-22T18:54:00Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > There’s a great (to me, anyway) hole-in-the-wall burrito place in Arlington, on Columbia Pike, called Petro and Vinny’s. Very cheap and huge burritos, that are very tasty. Be advised that they’ve had some health code violations. Cold items being stored improperly and getting too warm, for one. Might want to say “no” to that sour cream! ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/28 "2016-06-22T18:55:21Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > We did a little bit of hiking at Great Falls (Maryland side) a couple of months ago, but it must have been before the bloom you were talking about. The best time for the ephemerals is probably mid-March through early May. [Here are some suggested sites.](http://botany.si.edu/DCFlora/springflowers/flowerlocation.htm) Here’s a list by [flowering time.](http://botany.si.edu/DCFlora/springflowers/100springwildflowers.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/29 "2016-06-22T18:59:14Z")
> [@Peremensoe](#): > > **Asimovian** , you know about _Washington City Paper,_ right? > [@Asimovian](#): > > The what, now? > [@Peremensoe](#): > > The free weekly paper, found in boxes at Metro stations, and in stacks just inside various establishments. A good source for finding out about performances and events in the area, and occasionally essential reporting on local political and human interest stories. Although nowhere near as good as it was when it still carried comic strips. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/30 "2016-06-22T19:17:12Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > We’ve been meaning to get to Shenandoah and just haven’t done it, yet. But it’s on the list. I like this idea… If you like canoeing/kayaking, the Shenandoah Valley is great. There are rental places in Front Royal and Luray that offer good beginner day trips. By August, the rivers are down quite a bit and it gets more challenging. If you go to the Shenandoah National Park, do yourself a favor and buy an annual pass for $30, it will equal the cost of the two of you entering the park once ($15 ea) and pays for itself in a single return trip. Fall is also lovely in the valley with the leaves changing. If you are at all interested in fly fishing, I can point you towards a lot of resources. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2016, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/31 "2016-06-22T22:10:49Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Although nowhere near as good as it was when it still carried comic strips. Notice [how that happened](http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/city-desk/blog/13057398/artists-fear-comics-apocalypse). ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/32 "2016-06-24T13:36:34Z")
One other observation: I’m pretty sure there’s only one Metro driver capable of correctly pronouncing “Judiciary.” But my wife and I get a great deal of amusement out of the daily variations we hear. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/33 "2016-06-24T14:03:48Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > One other observation: I’m pretty sure there’s only one Metro driver capable of correctly pronouncing “Judiciary.” But my wife and I get a great deal of amusement out of the daily variations we hear. You can _understand_ what a metro announcer says? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/34 "2016-06-24T14:04:58Z")
The last time I was on Metro, I could not understand any of the announcements at all, amid the squalls of speaker static. Good thing I knew where I was going. But I do remember fondly the times, years ago, when our train pulled into Elephant Plaza. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/35 "2016-06-24T14:16:46Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > You can _understand_ what a metro announcer says? 😉 > [@Peremensoe](#): > > The last time I was on Metro, I could not understand any of the announcements at all, amid the squalls of speaker static. Good thing I knew where I was going. There are days, and there are days… The funny thing to me is that most of them are perfectly understandable when they’re sitting down and driving, since they seem to have their face right over the mic. But when they stand up to open the door, they seem completely oblivious to the fact that NO ONE can hear or understand them. The other day when we were all kicked off the train, a lot of folks stood around puzzled because they couldn’t actually tell from the announcements what was happening. > [@](#): > > But I do remember fondly the times, years ago, when our train pulled into Elephant Plaza. Hah! I also am not sure I’ve heard a consistent pronunciation for Grosvenor, but I don’t hear that one said nearly as often. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/36 "2016-06-24T14:19:53Z")
Seeing as you’re on the Maryland side on the Red Line, you should check out Wheaton. There’s a half-dozen good Chinese restaurants (I like Full Key but they’re all about the same), a good spot to get great, cheap banh mi (Saigonese), an excellent Thai place (Nava Thai), and El Pollo Rico has a location there. If you’ve never had Peruvian charcoal chicken, you owe it to yourself to hit up El Pollo Rico, at any of their locations. There are charcoal chicken joints everywhere around DC, and they’re all good (one of the beautiful things about it is even when it’s not great, it’s still pretty damn good), but El Pollo Rico is unquestionably the best. Dim sum, the spot in Maryland is Oriental East across the street from the Silver Spring Metro, but they only have it Sundays, and it’s always packed. If you ever drive down East-West Highway past there, you will see a crowd out in front of that place. There are a lot of other places if you want to venture fairly deep out into MoCo and beyond. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/37 "2016-06-24T14:31:05Z")
I keep trying to find the great places I liked when I was growing up there. But they’ve all disappeared over the last 25 years. My sister keeps pushing the Ethiopian and Korean BBQ. Apparently Alexandria is a hot spot for Ethiopian. ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/38 "2016-06-24T14:34:12Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > If you’ve never had Peruvian charcoal chicken, you owe it to yourself to hit up El Pollo Rico, at any of their locations. There are charcoal chicken joints everywhere around DC, and they’re all good (one of the beautiful things about it is even when it’s not great, it’s still pretty damn good), but El Pollo Rico is unquestionably the best. This sounds like a win. > [@](#): > > Dim sum, the spot in Maryland is Oriental East across the street from the Silver Spring Metro, but they only have it Sundays, and it’s always packed. If you ever drive down East-West Highway past there, you will see a crowd out in front of that place. There are a lot of other places if you want to venture fairly deep out into MoCo and beyond. What is considered deep MoCo? It’s not uncommon for us to end up in Howard or Anne Arundel County on weekend jaunts. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/39 "2016-06-24T14:54:00Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > What is considered deep MoCo? It’s not uncommon for us to end up in Howard or Anne Arundel County on weekend jaunts. It used to be Rockville and north, but at this point it’s probably Gaithersburg or even Germantown and north. Honestly I haven’t gone for dim sum in forever so I don’t know where the best places are besides Oriental East, but there are tons of legit Chinese restaurants in Rockville and beyond. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/40 "2016-06-24T15:28:47Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > It used to be Rockville and north, but at this point it’s probably Gaithersburg or even Germantown and north. Honestly I haven’t gone for dim sum in forever so I don’t know where the best places are besides Oriental East, but there are tons of legit Chinese restaurants in Rockville and beyond. Is Oriental East worth it? I’m about a mile from there and I often marvel at the lines as we pull into the Giant parking lot, but I’ve never been in. **Asimovian** , the bit about hating tourists made me laugh on a grumpy morning. Tourists are the worst! No one else is biting, but I think a DC-area DopeFest would be fun. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042.md?page=3)