# 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:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**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, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/41 "2016-06-24T15:41:07Z")
> [@BetsQ](#): > > 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. If you’re really into dim sum, I guess, but personally it’s old hat to me. I wouldn’t wait in that line. Plus, you can get all that stuff at the Asian grocery store; you’ll just have to steam or fry it yourself. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/42 "2016-06-24T16:26:46Z")
> [@BetsQ](#): > > Is Oriental East worth it? I like the dim sum, but the rest of the menu, like for lunch or dinner? Tried it once and won’t go back. Panda Gourmet, which is in the Days Inn at Bladensburg and New York Ave in DC, is damn good, though, for authentic non-dim sum Chinese food. ---
**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 24, 2016, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/43 "2016-06-24T16:59:35Z")
One of my favorite Chinese places is Hollywood East which is in Maryland. It used to be a little hole in the wall in a strip mall, but now it’s in the Westfield Mall. They’re crispy duck is really good. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/44 "2016-06-24T17:44:12Z")
If you like to see flowers in bloom I always like the [National Arboretum](http://www.usna.usda.gov/index.html). It’s free, never crowded and you can drive or walk through it. I never see tourists there. I love their bonsai collection; I’ve never seen so many varieties in one place (bonsai sequoia!). ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2016, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/45 "2016-06-24T17:51:29Z")
Also, if you do have a view of the fireworks from your office building I highly recommend it. When my father worked downtown we always used to gather on a terrace at his building to watch them. So much nicer than being in the crowd at the mall. ---
**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, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/46 "2016-06-24T18:06:25Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > If you like to see flowers in bloom I always like the [National Arboretum](http://www.usna.usda.gov/index.html). It’s free, never crowded and you can drive or walk through it. I never see tourists there. I love their bonsai collection; I’ve never seen so many varieties in one place (bonsai sequoia!). It’s an absolute must-see when their holiday decoration is up. ---
**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 24, 2016, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042/47 "2016-06-24T18:14:31Z")
Do yourself a favor and experience the Mall on a weekday after tourist season. Don’t make any kind of plan, such wander along it during a nice fall day and pop in to a museum that catches your fancy and wander around, pop in to another one and then have a nice lunch. I grew up in the area and it is still jarring to me when I go to other cities and I have to pay to enter the museum, it completely changes the dynamic of the visit. When I had jury duty at the federal court near the National Gallery, I’d pop in during my lunch hour just to see an individual painting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dc-observations-and-experiences/758042.md?page=2)