Accommodations: The luxurious Mayflower Renaissance Hotel is a member of Historic Hotels of America. Located in the heart of the city, this 4-star hotel offers state-of-the-art technology and a renovated fitness center. The hotel’s premier restaurant, the Café Promenade, features exquisite cuisine and afternoon tea.
Things to Do: If you’re interested in learning about D.C.’s African American heritage, a visit to the Smithsonian Institution’s Anacostia Community Museum is a must. It is located in a historic neighborhood and houses a collection of approximately 6,000 artifacts dating back to the early 1800s. The history of this neighborhood — which was also home to abolitionist Frederick Douglass — is featured throughout the museum. The Anacostia community is one of many areas of D.C. with roots rich in black history.
The legendary Duke Ellington’s influence is apparent throughout the city to this day, particularly in the U Street Corridor where he grew up and performed with other jazz legends like Cab Calloway, Pearl Bailey and Jelly Roll Morton. A neighborhood heritage trail points out important landmarks like the Lincoln Theatre, the African American Civil War Memorial and Museum, and the Thurgood Marshall Center for Service and Heritage, which is the site of the first African American YMCA. Howard University, one of the nation’s most prestigious black universities, is also located here.
Where to Eat: B. Smith’s Union Station boasts a plethora of dining options from Cajun and Creole to Southern cuisine, so there is something for every palate. The restaurant’s grand Beaux Arts style dining room with its 30-foot ceilings, period chandeliers and turn of the century décor, makes it the perfect spot for a romantic tête–à–tête.
The bar at B. Smith’s is a gathering place for Washington’s politicos, professionals, celebrities and people who just want to see and be seen.
–dawn posey
