Let’s face it: the 8th graders are coming. Before they take over the Mall, the Smithsonians and the food court at Union Station, you should try to get in a few of the tourist things that made DC a cultural wonder that attracted 5.5 billion tourist dollars in 2007. So, this To-Do List will feature my suggestions for doing DC like a tourist — but not one of those tie-dyed CIA t-shirt wearing tourists; more the cool hip tourists who find the best things to do in a weekend.
Friday, March 12
Head straight from your office to Chinatown. The National Portrait Gallery is open until 7pm each evening. They’ve got great exhibits and a beautiful indoor courtyard. It’s a peaceful place to wind down from a busy week.
While you’re in Chinatown, head over to the Verizon Center to watch the Washington Capitals take on the Tampa Bay Lightening.
Saturday, March 13
Take a bus tour of Washington, D.C.’s television and movie sites. Start at Union Station at 10am and spend 3 hours exploring the sites featured in films including The Exorcist, The Godfather II, Mission Impossible III, and many more. The guided tour takes you on a journey of the timeline of filming in the nation’s capital and is led by actors and actresses who share inside industry information. If you order through Goldstar, it only costs $24 per person.
If you’d like to pretend you’re a little more “high brow” for your culture, head over to the National Gallery for the “Naked at the National Gallery Scavenger Hunt.” Every tricky question on this two-hour hunt involves nudity in some way, shape or sultry form. Highlights include naughty nymphs, a seamonster surfer, eye-catching codpieces, bathing beauties and the original Adonis. No knowledge of art, or nudity, is required. For adults only. The adventure starts at 2pm and costs $15.25 if you reserve your spot through Goldstar events.
Saturday night, head over to Little Miss Whiskey’s Golden Dollar at 1104 H Street NE to hear DJ Chela starting at 9pm. The Washington Post called the show “hot hip-hop, Latin and classic sounds from NY mixtape mixtress.”
Sunday, March 14
The Atlas Performing Arts Center hosts “WAM! Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart” at 3pm. The Washington Ballet’s Studio Company and In Series take a look at the life of Mozart.
What other activities do you suggest for this weekend?
