Terra Cotta Warriors in Washington

When archeologists excavated the tomb of the first emperor of a unified China, they found thousands of life size clay figures – soldiers, archers, generals – even musicians and acrobats. Were they meant to guard the emperor’s rest or accompany him to next life? Come decide for yourself as the Terra Cotta warriors make their final stop in the United States at the National Geographic Museum at 17th & M Streets NW (Metro Farragut North) – a short walk from the Hamilton Crowne Plaza.

The exhibit runs November 19th through March 31, 2010. Daily 10 am – 6 pm. (Wednesdays extended evening hours until 9 pm.) Timed entry tickets are available in advance ($12 adults, $6 children, $10 seniors, students & military) and online purchase is recommended to ensure your preferred date and time. Audio tours are also available to enhance the experience. Free film screenings of The Real Dragon Emperor takes you inside the tomb and excavation of the first emperor of China

If you’d like to continue the Chinese theme of your day, you can enjoy a meal in one of the restaurants in Chinatown (Metro: Chinatown / Gallery Place) before heading to the National Zoo to visit Washington, DC’s most famous residents – Mei Xiang, Tian Tian, and Tai Shan – our giant pandas (Metro: Woodley Park / National Zoo).

White House Farmer’s Market

Last Thursday we took a walk up the block to 810 Vermont Avenue (between H and I Streets) to visit the new farmer’s market by the White House.  We found a host of local vendors selling

Produce at the market

the most tempting fresh and organic produce, local wool, flowers, gelato, baked goods (definitely try the cookies), locally made cheese, and milk. You’ll also find cooking demonstrations – in case you don’t know what to do with brussel sprouts still on the stem.

It’s a great place to put together a quick snack or a picnic for a walk over to Lafayette Park by the White House.

You might notice a lot of photographers at the market as well. Mrs. Obama has been spotted at the market. (Unfortunately during our visit, she was traveling.)

Right now, the White House Farmer’s Market is scheduled to run every Thursday afternoon from 3 – 7 p.m. through the end of October. Stay tuned – we’ll let you know if they extend it or renew it in the spring.

Follow the Lost Symbol

If you’re reading Dan Brown’s latest thriller Lost Symbol, you’re probably curious to trace Harvard Professor’s Robert Langdon’s route through Washington, DC.  Many of the locations in the book are easily reached from the Hamilton Crowne Plaza (and one is just steps away).

You can visit the new US Capitol Visitor’s Center, Statuary Hall and the Rotunda by taking the Metro. Explore the grandeur of the Library of Congress Reading Room. (Note: The Library of Congress stacks are closed to the general public.) There are free daily guided tours of the Library explaining the art & architecture and the highlights of the collection.   (Metro: Capitol South)

See the treasures housed at the Smithsonian Museums. Be sure to stop at the Castle first for a map and a tour. Don’t forget to stop and get your timed tickets for a trip to the top of the Washington Monument. (Metro: Smithsonian)

Visit Freedom Plaza and see the Washington DC street plan (Metro: Federal Triangle) before you head down to Alexandria to see the George Washington National Masonic Memorial. (Metro: King Street)

Take a short walk up 16th Street to the House of the Temple (weekday tours are available 10 am – 4 pm) where you can also explore the lovely residences of Embassy Row and Kalorama.  A little farther north, you will find Washington National Cathedral. (Metro: Tenleytown)  Check the calendar for tour times including the gargoyle tour.

Walk the four blocks to the White House, explore Franklin Square and see the Almas Shriner’s Temple next door to us.

Then when you’re done sightseeing and codebreaking, enjoy a drink and a snack on the patio of 14K where you can monitor all the action in the city at night.

Fun Fall Festivals in Washington DC

Are you planning a trip to Washington DC this month? There are some great fall festivals happening in September. And if you’re staying at the Hamilton Crowne Plaza, you’ll be right downtown with easy access to these events:

The Kennedy Center Open House Arts Festival is Saturday, September 12th and includes street performances, behind the scenes tours, and a children’s book festival with opportunities to meet the authors and illustrators. (Metro: Foggy Bottom. Free Shuttle Buses to the Kennedy Center)

Then head across the Potomac to Rosslyn for the Rosslyn Jazz Festival and enjoy free jazz in Gateway Park. Holly Cole is headlining the festival this year. Other acts include Spanish Harlem Orchestra and Lafayette Gilchrist.  (Metro: Rosslyn)

Or if you’re feeling more artistic, head  to Penn Quarter for Arts on Foot kicking off the fall arts season with an outdoor art festival plus cultural activities, cooking demonstrations, entertainment and a neighborhood showcase. (Metro: Gallery Place / Chinatown)

The 9th Annual Library of Congress Book Festival will be held on the National Mall on September 26th.  Authors are grouped into Pavilions by genre (Children, Mysteries & Thrillers, Fiction & Fantasy, History & Biography etc.) to read from their latest works and many authors will also be available for signings. Authors include Judy Blume, John Irving, John Grisham, Jodi Picoult, Sue Monk Kidd, Azar Nafisi and many more. See a complete list of authors. (Metro: Smithsonian)

If you feel like escaping the City (and the 21st Century), visit the Maryland Renaissance Festival in Crownsville, Maryland. Running every Saturday and Sunday through October 25th, the Renaissance Festival is a well known tradition in the area. This year, Henry VIII has just lost his 5th wife – Katherine Howard and is looking to wed. The festivities are taking place in Revel Grove. Grab a turkey leg, watch a joust, and enjoy the show.

For more information about any of these activities or for directions from the hotel, just ask the concierge or any of the front desk staff.

We’re multi-lingual

When you go to the Hamilton Crowne Plaza’s web site, you’ll notice we’ve added several flags in the upper left corner of the page.

If you click  on the individual flags, you’ll find  Chinese, German, French and Spanish language information about the hotel. And you can always click on the British flag to return to the English version.

The pages also connect directly to the Crowne Plaza’s multi-lingual booking engine.

Let us know what you think. And we’ll be adding more languages soon.

Download our Press Release

Summer in the City

Washington DC is a city that attracts a lot of summer tourists and we’re delighted you’re here visiting the nation’s capital. It’s a great time to come as many residents are on vacation and things are a little quieter. Here are a few hints to make your stay more enjoyable:

It’s called “rush hour” for a reason

DC is also called a “city that works” and it’s one of the few places where people brag about the number of hours they put in at the office. Do yourself a favor and stay downtown (we’ll immodestly suggest the Hamilton Crowne Plaza, located within easy walking distance of the White House and the Smithsonian museums) or stay off the metro until after rush hour ends at 9:30 a.m. Either enjoy a leisurely breakfast or explore your neighborhood. Then buy an all day Metro pass so you don’t have to worry about how much is on your farecard – you can ride all day after 9:30.

It’s still summer

While Washington is enjoying a wonderfully temperate season so far, it is still summer, and shade can be in short supply on the National Mall. Bring hats and sunscreen and try to plan your day so you’re inside at least part of the day.

Don’t try to do too much

Many people don’t realize that the Smithsonian isn’t a single museum, it’s actually 13 different museums all over the city (and Udvar-Hazy Center is actually almost an hour outside the city) and the offerings range from the Postal Museum to the National Zoo. If you want to be sure to hit the highlights, check out this Scavenger Hunt from the Smithsonian.

Some things need to be arranged in advance

If you plan to visit the White House or your Congressional representatives, be sure to make those arrangements well in advance by contacting your Congressional representative. Even if you are unable to arrange a White House tour, you should still stop by the White House Visitor’s Center and walk by the park in front of the White House for a photo.

Not everything is expensive

There are plenty of free (and nearly free) things to do in Washington including daily free concerts at the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center; National Theatre offers free family-friendly performances on Saturday mornings; visit Old Stone House  in Georgetown, the oldest building in Washington DC built before the Revolutionary War; or take a bike tour with a National Park Ranger on the National Mall (bikes not included).

Have fun!

Most of all, have fun while you’re here and enjoy.

We’re TAG Approved!

The Hamilton Crowne Plaza recently received notification that we’ve successfully completed the process to become a TAG Approved hotel. This approval from TAG (The Travel Alternatives Group) involved a review of our internal policies to ensure we enforce non-discriminatory practices and equal treatment as well as provide diversity and sensitivity training for employees.

We were especially happy to receive the news just as Capital Pride was getting started in Washington, DC where we’d donated a gift certificate for a stay at the hotel.

Bring your furry (or even feathered) friends along

Did you know that 63% of American households own a pet? That’s 88.3 million cats, 74.8 million dogs, 16 million birds, 148 million fish, and 29 million small animals and reptiles (statistics are thanks to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association). That adds up to 356.1 million pets!

In their recent survey 19% of dog owners indicated that they prefer to take their pets along when traveling. And sometimes it’s just a part of life – when you’re moving, for instance. And if my research is any indication, pet friendly hotels can be hard to come by or they charge fees and non-refundable deposits. (Isn’t that a fee?)

We like our pets too, so the Hamilton Crowne Plaza in Washington DC is a pet friendly hotel. We happily welcome pets up to 50 lbs. and the only fee you’ll find is a refundable deposit of $250 – no nightly fee. And we have a great park for playing and walks right across the street.

The only thing is the 4% of American households that own horses are out of luck – but if you call us in advance, we’ll see what we can do about rustling up some space at a local stable.

A Capitol Fourth

Planning a trip to Washington for the 4th of July? You’ll have a great time! Here are a few hints to make sure everything goes as planned:

4th of July Fireworks

Make your hotel reservations now. It’s a popular weekend and your first choice may be booked. (You’ll want to stay somewhere you can easily get around – we’ll go ahead and suggest that you stay with us at the Hamilton so you can be a short walk to the Mall for the concert, fireworks and all the festivities. See our specials page for the best rates.)

Have a plan. What do you want to do? Watch the Independence Day parade? See the Declaration of Independence at the National Archives? Stake out the best spot for the concert and fireworks? Access to the National Mall starts as early as 10 a.m. No alcoholic beverages are allowed and anything you bring with you will be subject to inspection. The closest access point is Constitution between 14th & 15th Streets.

Walk or take public transportation. There will be a lot of street closings, so you won’t want to drive. Get an all day metro pass or walk. There will be large crowds on the trains so have a plan
on where to meet in case you get separated from your group. Make sure everyone in the group has the name, address and phone number of the hotel.

Stop by the Folklife Festival. If your plans take you to the Mall, be sure to visit the Smithsonian’s Folklife Festival. This year’s festival celebrates the tradition of music in Latino culture, spoken word in African American culture, as well as the culture and traditions of Wales. All events are free and open to the public.

Pack a picnic. And don’t forget to bring plenty of water and sunscreen – it’s often quite warm and shade is limited.

Enjoy the show. This year’s concert on the West Lawn of the Capitol features the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, Natasha Bedingfield, the cast of the Broadway show Jersey Boys, the National Symphony Orchestra and the Sesame Street crew including Elmo and Big Bird. Then just relax and watch the fireworks before taking a leisurely stroll back to your hotel.

Our Favorite Art in Public Places

One of the things we really enjoy about Washington, DC is its “walk-ability.” In fact, Prevention magazine named it one of the top 10 best walking cities. The city’s great public transportation system makes it easy for you to explore the whole District—and even some suburbs—on foot. And the Hamilton has a great parking included package, so you can park your car and not worry while you’re here.

While you’re walking around, you’ll be able to experience the world-class outdoor art around the city. Here are a few of our favorite places to enjoy:

Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden – The Hirshhorn houses the contemporary art collection of the Smithsonian, and that’s reflected in its outdoor sculpture garden. With works by Rodin, Matisse, Koons and Calder, it’s a great place to reflect and enjoy a summer afternoon by the reflecting pool. (Metro: Smithsonian)

The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden – also contains works by Calder as well as Oldenburg, Miro, Lichtenstein and many others. Perhaps the best known is Oldenberg’s Typewriter Eraser, Scale X . The Sculpture Garden is home to the Pavilion Café as well as host of Jazz in the Garden on Friday evenings in the Summer. (Metro: Smithsonian)

Less well known is the Sculpture Garden at the Organization of American States building at 17th & Constitution, NW. There are a variety of sculptures celebrating instrumental figures in the Americas including Pablo Neruda, Jose del Valle, Simon Bolivar and George Washington. (Metro: Farragut West)

Even the decoration of some buildings should count as art. Just look at the reliefs and carvings and the Court of Neptune Fountain at the Library of Congress at 1st and Independence SE (Metro: Capitol South).

Or look up the next time you’re at the Lincoln Memorial – you’ve probably never noticed the murals near the ceiling inside.

At varying locations around town you can also find some of the Party Animals-elephants and donkeys (symbols of the Democratic and Republican parties)—that were part of a larger city-wide public art project in 2002. Each of the animal statues were decorated by local artists and organizations and auctioned off at the end of the exhibition. A few of the party animals are still on display by the organizations that purchased them. (The Postal Service had my favorite-decorated with every stamp at the National Postal Museum.)

No city would be complete without murals decorating the walls of the urban landscape. DC is no exception – and particularly well known are the murals of the U Street neighborhood, starting with the “Community Rhythms” mural in the U Street Metro Station. While you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to find the Duke Ellington Mural at 1200 U Street and the Bohemian Caverns Mural featuring Miles Davis and Shirley Horn at 11th & U.

Even some of our bike racks are works of art – and gifts from Switzerland. On Bike to Work day last month, the Ambassador from Switzerland and the Mayor of Zurich presented the city with 10 artistic bike racks by Swiss-American artist Annina Luck. Keep your eyes open for them around the city including in Dupont Circle, Eastern Market and near the Building Museum – you’ll recognize them by their Swiss themes such as cows, Swiss cheese, the Alps, and the Swiss flag.

And June is Artomatic, the definition of public art – it’s an art show free to the general public and very inclusive. This year features nine floors of visual art, plus dance, music and street performances. You can even see the finalists in the Washington Post’s Peeps Diorama contest, in which contestants fashion fanciful and funny scenes out of—wait for it—Candy Peeps. Artomatic is celebrating its 10th year – be sure to stop by 55 M Street, SE. (Metro: Navy Yard, Ballpark Exit). Fair warning – not all exhibits at Artomatic are family friendly, but there are specific children’s events scheduled, so you can plan accordingly.

What other public art have you found walking around town? Share a photo.