Question for anyone familiar with downtown DC

[jlaspoq]

Hi! We will be in DC next Saturday (October 8) for the Paul McCartney concert at MCI Center. We are staying near 22nd and M at the Embassy Suites, arriving early Saturday afternoon and leaving Sunday.

I would love suggestions on two things - getting to the MCI Center (and back again late at night) and finding a place for dinner.

We had hoped to take the Metro to and from MCI, but the hotel is supposed to be about 4 blocks from a station - Foggy Bottom or Dupont. We don't mind walking, but don't know how safe it would be, especially for the return trip. Concert starts at 8pm, we figure we need to get to the MCI center around 6:30-7p - expecting security checks.

Dinner would be easy if it was just my husband and myself, but we are bringing DD13 & DD10, who both have pretty basic tastes. None of us like seafood, though. To top it off, it's our 21st anniversary celebration. Wouldn't mind eating close to MCI Center so that we won't have far to go after dinner. Thought about the DC Chophouse, but I'm not sure if it has a kids' menu. Also, I'm afraid that anything close to MCI will be packed already.

Not sure what we'll do Saturday afternoon - maybe a museum (air and space is a likely candidate since my DH works for NASA!) We'll likely be walking around most of the afternoon.

Thanks in advance for any help or advice!

ps - not our first time to DC - my folks used to live in Northern Virginia - so we don't need a crash tour, just some fun and food while waiting for the big concert!

 

[Patty3]

DH and DS will be at the same concert! DH works in DC, I could ask him about restaurants and the metro when he gets home. What type of food are you looking for?

 

[jlaspoq]

We are so excited about this concert! As far as types of food - american or italian cuisines usually work best with the girls. I am worried about getting in anywhere before the concert, and wonder if I need to make reservations. I waited way too long for hotel reservations, that's why we're a hike away from the center. Thank you so much for any help!

 

[Renysmom]

Foggy Bottom/Dupont area is pretty safe for walking to Metro. As always you need to be aware of your surroundings and you should be okay. There are now lots of places to eat, from fast food to top dollars around MCI .

Have a great time, DH wanted to go but poor boy we are here in Disney and he wont make it back in time LOL

Have fun!!

 

[jlaspoq]

Thanks, Kelly - LOL, I think that's funny that you're poor DH is stuck in Disney instead of at the Paul McCartney concert! Hope you're having a great time!

 

[Patty3]

I talked to DH and he thought that you would be pretty safe taking the metro back. He also thought that taking a taxi would be just slightly more expensive than taking the metro since there are 4 of you.

Depending on how much you want to spend for dinner, he had a couple of suggestions. If your children wanted pizza, try a place called the Matchbox at H St between 7th and 8th. DH said it does get crowded and he does not think it takes reservations. This place also serves American food. He says they have great pizza. For a more upscale Italian restaurant, on F St near 11th St, try Tosca. They do accept reservations. If you like Chinese, you are right near Chinatown and there are quite a few good places there.

 

[jlaspoq]

Patty3- Thank you so much! These sound good. I appreciate your help! Lori

 

[mcnuss]

Hi! We will be in DC next Saturday (October 8) for the Paul McCartney concert at MCI Center. We are staying near 22nd and M at the Embassy Suites, arriving early Saturday afternoon and leaving Sunday.

I would love suggestions on two things - getting to the MCI Center (and back again late at night) and finding a place for dinner.

We had hoped to take the Metro to and from MCI, but the hotel is supposed to be about 4 blocks from a station - Foggy Bottom or Dupont. We don't mind walking, but don't know how safe it would be, especially for the return trip. Concert starts at 8pm, we figure we need to get to the MCI center around 6:30-7p - expecting security checks.

Dinner would be easy if it was just my husband and myself, but we are bringing DD13 & DD10, who both have pretty basic tastes. None of us like seafood, though. To top it off, it's our 21st anniversary celebration. Wouldn't mind eating close to MCI Center so that we won't have far to go after dinner. Thought about the DC Chophouse, but I'm not sure if it has a kids' menu. Also, I'm afraid that anything close to MCI will be packed already.

Metro is the way to go. It could be very hard to find a cab near the MCI Center after the concert. You will be perfectly safe in the neighborhood of your hotel. I've walked around there many times at night bc often I stay at the Westin around the corner. My firm's DC office is about 3 blocks away from the MCI center so I happen to know that neighborhood also! A cab ride from your hotel to the MCI Center will run about $15 each way.

There is a terrific tapas place , La Tasca, on 7th that my DD11 and I love. It's awesome bc you order lots of small plates and everyone shares. There is something for everyone - lots of rice & chicken & seafood. There is also Rosa Mexicana which has fabulous Mexican food. You can make reservations on opentable.com for either of these.

Have fun!

 

[jlaspoq]

Metro is the way to go. It could be very hard to find a cab near the MCI Center after the concert. You will be perfectly safe in the neighborhood of your hotel. I've walked around there many times at night bc often I stay at the Westin around the corner. My firm's DC office is about 3 blocks away from the MCI center so I happen to know that neighborhood also! A cab ride from your hotel to the MCI Center will run about $15 each way.

There is a terrific tapas place , La Tasca, on 7th that my DD11 and I love. It's awesome bc you order lots of small plates and everyone shares. There is something for everyone - lots of rice & chicken & seafood. There is also Rosa Mexicana which has fabulous Mexican food. You can make reservations on opentable.com for either of these.

Have fun!

Thank you for the info - I really appreciate it!

 

[snoopy]

Yup, you are fine walking in Dupont Circle/Foggy Bottom area....

I second mcnuss' suggestion of La Tasca -- I was just in there the other night. They have interesting tapas (and really great sangria ). Jaleos is another place nearby for tapas. Plus you have Chinatown right there if you all like Chinese. Some of the restaurants look like dives, but they serve most excellent authentic Chinese food. They also have chain restaurants in that area like Fridays, Cosi and Fuddruckers if that is more your style. You won't be lacking for places to eat.

 

[jlaspoq]

I talked to DH and he thought that you would be pretty safe taking the metro back. He also thought that taking a taxi would be just slightly more expensive than taking the metro since there are 4 of you.

Depending on how much you want to spend for dinner, he had a couple of suggestions. If your children wanted pizza, try a place called the Matchbox at H St between 7th and 8th. DH said it does get crowded and he does not think it takes reservations. This place also serves American food. He says they have great pizza. For a more upscale Italian restaurant, on F St near 11th St, try Tosca. They do accept reservations. If you like Chinese, you are right near Chinatown and there are quite a few good places there.

I just wanted to thank everyone for your suggestions and to let you know that we had a fantastic trip, despite the rain! We wound up going to Matchbox for dinner, which was very good. It was crowded though - we didn't get there til 5:45p... walked around in the rain for about 10-15 minutes trying to find it - I missed it the first time we passed that corner and then we looked all around trying to find it. The rain didn't help! They quoted 25-30 minutes wait for the 4 of us (parties of 2 were getting right in though.) At the 40 minute mark we were thinking we would need to leave and get fast food in order to make it to the concert, but then they seated us right after that. The food was great - it's a neat place! We told our server we were in a hurry, and she was wonderful - we got out about 7:20pm and made it across the street to MCI center with no problems at all.

Metro was perfect - red line from Dupont Circle to Gallery Place worked like a charm, and we felt perfectly fine even returning back to the hotel at midnight. The Embassy Suites by the way was very nice!

We spent the afternoon at the Museum of American History - great choice since it was raining and we could spend the afternoon indoors.

The McCartney concert was absolutely fantastic! Paul sang for 2 hours and 45 minutes - never left the stage except for the brief time before the two encores. He is an amazing performer! Our daughters were laughing and singing and dancing through the whole show. He did a wonderful variety of songs from his entire career - Quarrymen through Beatles through Wings through solo career through his current album (Chaos and Creation.) What an absolutely incredible experience!!!!! He was personable and funny, and sounds great!

If you ever get the chance - don't hesitate - spend the dough and go!

Lori