Kimberly & William
Things To Do
National Portrait Gallery
Right across the street from the Hotel Monaco is the National Portrait Gallery. We recommend checking out Nelson Shank's "The Four Justices," which depicts the first four female Supreme Court Justices (including Cornell alum RBG!). Through May, there is also a super neat-looking exhibit on pivotal environmentalists throughout history that we look forward to seeing in person. In addition to the exhibits, their gorgeous courtyard is a great spot to read a book or get some work done!
Landmark's E Street Cinema
The Landmark shows a mix of new releases and more indie options. There's always something unusual or adventurous showing. Last year we went with Kim's parents to the theater's French Film Festival and had a great time.
Zaytinya by José Andrés
Any of Jose Andres' restaurants are a safe bet. Zaytinya is incredible, but Jaleo and Oyamel are other favorites nearby if you're looking for a bite or a drink!
Smithsonian National Zoological Park
While our famous panda friends have returned to China, the National Zoo has tons of other great animals (we love the Andean bear cubs, Ian and Sean). To get there, take the Shady Grove red line four stops to the National Zoo. Unfortunately, none of the zoo animals will be able to attend the wedding itself, so you'll have to visit them at the zoo if you'd like to say hi!
Tonari
Tonari is one of our favorite restaurants! Right on the other side of Capital One Arena from the Monaco and Hilton, Tonari is a Wafu ("Japanese-style") Italian restaurant and so good. Their pasta and pizza are amazing, but their cocktails especially are top-notch!
Union Market
The Union Market District has been a favorite of ours since we moved to DC. Union Market itself has so many delicious food options (our top recommendations are Banana Blossom Bistro for Vietnamese food; On Toast for fancy breakfast sandwiches and, oddly enough, Vienna Beef; DC Dosa; Parachute Pizza; ice cream from Union Creamery; and Vitis for a great bottle of wine), but La Cosecha a block over offers all sorts of options for Latin American food, drink, and shopping (Arcay chocolates and Arepa Zone are a must). Saint Anselm is one of our go-to brunches. Blue Bottle, Maman, and the Village Cafe are some great spots for coffee and a pastry too!
Solid State Books
DC has SO many great independent bookstores, but Solid State is definitely one of the best. We love H Street, where the original location is based, and beyond just books, we love to stop in for coffee (or dog treats if you're Chatham), greeting cards, and author talks.