# Visiting Washington, DC. Anything I need to book in advance? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 16, 2019, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608 "2019-06-16T14:30:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2019, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/61 "2019-06-23T21:09:49Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Right near the bottom of the steps, there was a liquor store named Dixie Liquor. When I was a kid, the drinking age for beer was 21 in Virginia and 18 in DC. Dixie Liquor was right across the bridge from VIrginia, so you could shoot across the bridge, load up on beer and head back to the burbs. > [@jaycat](#): > > We must have grown up together. Did I date either of you??? ROFL! Exactly what I came to post when I saw the stair photo. Dixie liquor is the real local landmark. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**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 23, 2019, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/62 "2019-06-23T22:17:56Z")
Bonus points if you ever went to Poseurs in Georgetown, or the 9.30 Club in its original location. A stamp on your left hand meant you could only drink beer and wine and a stamp on your right hand meant you could offer spirits. Another local landmark: Little Taverns. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/63 "2019-06-24T00:41:35Z")
I saw Sade at the Bayou, does that count? (Now ā€œSweetest Tabooā€ is stuck in my head.) ---
**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, 2019, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/64 "2019-06-24T01:20:04Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Bonus points if you ever went to Poseurs in Georgetown, or the 9.30 Club in its original location. Ah, the original 9:30 Club! You could always tell when someone had been there the night before because they still had ā€œthat smellā€ the next day. ---
**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, 2019, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/65 "2019-06-24T01:32:19Z")
BTW Itā€™s a freaking J. Crew now. ā˜¹ ---
**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, 2019, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/66 "2019-06-24T02:08:27Z")
Remember Commander Salamander? ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/67 "2019-06-24T02:18:58Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Remember Commander Salamander? Iā€™m old enough to remember [Yonderā€™s Wall.](https://www.google.com/search?q=yonder%27s+wall+washington+dc&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS797US797&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=ipYsBnfjTeqdmM%253A%252CpPFC8Mjd0Bn_xM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kTcfXjRKRqNIGUNJlzh46LmzVM9LQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwij49O2hoHjAhWCBs0KHafdDi0Q9QEwA3oECAUQBA#imgrc=ipYsBnfjTeqdmM:) ---
**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, 2019, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/68 "2019-06-24T02:20:52Z")
Yeah. It actually came up in the news last year because they recreated the facade for the Wonder Woman sequel. It was a block down from the original location but still a blast from the past that was cool to see. > **[Commander Salamander Makes a Surprise Return For ā€œWonder Womanā€ Filming -...](https://www.washingtonian.com/2018/06/12/commander-salamander-makes-a-surprise-return-for-wonder-woman-filming/)** > > For anyone who bought hair dye or skinny ties at Commander Salamander way back in the 20th century, it's a jarring sight: The Georgetown institution, which shuttered for good in 2010, has unexpectedly returned. But don't plan on doing any shopping.... ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/69 "2019-06-24T02:28:00Z")
I also saw Nena (99 Luftballons) in Gā€™town. I think it was at Cellar Door. And a big YASS! to Commander Salamanderā€™s. We all loved that place. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/70 "2019-06-24T03:01:10Z")
OK, I win this, 'cause I saw Sun Ra and his Arkestra at the Corcoran Museum of Art! ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/71 "2019-06-24T03:04:13Z")
And of course the Corcoran Gallery is defunct. The building is now used by Geo. Washington Univ.'s art department. ---
**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, 2019, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/72 "2019-06-24T12:53:39Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Remember Commander Salamander? My first thought was actually about the military blogā€¦ ---
**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, 2019, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/73 "2019-06-24T12:55:58Z")
My first concert was John Prine at the Cellar Door or at the Wax Museum, the details are hazy. I still remember the day that I realized that Captain 20 and Count Gore de Vol were the same person. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/74 "2019-06-24T16:03:49Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > OP didnā€™t ask for opinions of what to see in NoVA or where to get good Italian food in the D.C. Metro area. > > Believe me, no-one is more [del]confused[/del] depressed than I in finding myself still living here. Iā€™m sure the white-sales are both popular and reasonably priced. > [@Acsenray](#): > > While you might say there are a lot of displays of patriotism in Washington, I canā€™t think of any that Iā€™d classify as kitschy. Well now, every Administration re-does that Bush-era white house museum. (Because no, you canā€™t tour the white house. Thatā€™s for the wealthy and the powerful and you donā€™t even look Russian. ) While I have not yet seen this Administrationā€™s ā€˜versionā€™ā€¦ if it is in anyway like the who/what the way prior mock-ups have been done, I canā€™t see it ever _not_ being kitschy. At the end, Iā€™d expect for sale a whole lot of ā€˜tchotchkesā€™ that directly come from or require you to visit some ā€˜family owned businessā€™. Maybe 50% off a meal after a day golfing at a resort? > [@Ludovic](#): > > **Wander**. > [@QuickSilver](#): > > About what? šŸ˜› Who wrote the Check for Loveā€¦? > [@QuickSilver](#): > > Youā€™re not here for the art, are you? šŸ˜‰ Some of us are just lucky to get off the Beltway and to find parking. Which reminds meā€¦ Someday some bright young boy is going to slam through the Georgetown Area with an MRAP truck equiped with a plow to knock all those crappy mini-coopers up onto the sidewalks and make those streets actually wide enough to drive through. I hope he gets a medal for it too. ---
**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, 2019, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/75 "2019-06-24T16:54:59Z")
> [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](#): > > Iā€™m sure the white-sales are both popular and reasonably priced. > > Well now, every Administration re-does that Bush-era white house museum. (Because no, you canā€™t tour the white house. Thatā€™s for the wealthy and the powerful and you donā€™t even look Russian. ) > > While I have not yet seen this Administrationā€™s ā€˜versionā€™ā€¦ if it is in anyway like the who/what the way prior mock-ups have been done, I canā€™t see it ever _not_ being kitschy. At the end, Iā€™d expect for sale a whole lot of ā€˜tchotchkesā€™ that directly come from or require you to visit some ā€˜family owned businessā€™. Maybe 50% off a meal after a day golfing at a resort? > > Who wrote the Check for Loveā€¦? > > Some of us are just lucky to get off the Beltway and to find parking. Which reminds meā€¦ Someday some bright young boy is going to slam through the Georgetown Area with an MRAP truck equiped with a plow > to knock all those crappy mini-coopers up onto the sidewalks and make those streets actually wide enough to drive through. > > I hope he gets a medal for it too. What an odd post. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/76 "2019-06-24T18:06:25Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > What an odd post. I had you in mind, Iā€™m sure. Monk, like the TV show? With Traylor Howard? As for me, youā€™ll get over it if your normal. Have some tea! ---
**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, 2019, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/77 "2019-06-24T18:07:25Z")
I donā€™t know if you were trying to or not, but that didnā€™t clear anything up. ---
**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, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/78 "2019-06-24T18:14:40Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I donā€™t know if you were trying to or not, but that didnā€™t clear anything up. Shhh, let the random word generator do itā€™s thing. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2019, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/79 "2019-06-24T18:24:33Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Sorry I wasnā€™t able to respond before I left on my trip, but I was busy cleaning, packing, and taking care of other last-minute business. Iā€™m in DC now and would be happy to report upon my impressions after I leave tomorrow. In the meantime, Iā€™ll just briefly tantalize you all with [a cryptic photo of my favourite attraction so far](http://files.nothingisreal.com/tmp/stairs.jpg). Nobody in this thread bothered to mention it, which is unsurprisingly, since architecturally itā€™s pretty unremarkable, though it is very close to a bunch of very beautiful buildings that probably _should_ have been mentioned. Iā€™m surprised the site is so popularā€”I was there for about half an hour, on two visits separated by a couple hours, and I was unable to snap any photos that didnā€™t have tourists excitedly snapping selfies on it. What did you like on Georgetown? By my lights it has one great building and one monstrosity and everything else is unremarkable. ---
**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, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608/80 "2019-06-24T18:34:58Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > What did you like on Georgetown? By my lights it has one great building and one monstrosity and everything else is unremarkable. Yeah even the Four Seasons is just a plain brick building. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/visiting-washington-dc-anything-i-need-to-book-in-advance/835608.md?page=5)