Saturday on the Town
Begin your day at Eastern Market, just south of
the Capitol. Your mission is to locate the famous Blue Bucks, buckwheat pancakes
topped with blueberries. Arrive early, or you'll wait in line.
Christmas shopping tops the list of today's activities, and your first stop is Union
Station. In the East Hall, you'll find favorite retailers, such as Ann Taylor,
Nine West, Joseph A. Banks, and Jones New York, among the souvenir shops and
boutiques.
Looking for more shopping? Hail a cab, and speed over to M and Wisconsin
Streets in Georgetown. Otherwise, walk to The Mall, and spend the afternoon
exploring your favorite museum. You can still shop for treasures at the gift
stores. Our favorite stocking stuffers are the lovely cards and stationery at
the National Gallery of Art.
Start your evening with dinner at the venerable Willard Room. The dining
room's rich oak paneling, gold velvet drapes, and plush chairs set the scene for
a fine meal. The menu features American cuisine with an international flavor.
No holiday celebration would be complete without a performance of The Nutcracker. The Bolshoi Ballet, Moscow's premier dance company, takes the stage
at the Kennedy Center for this holiday favorite (December 11-15; tickets range
$45-$110). After the performance, head for the terrace overlooking the Potomac
River, and drink in this spectacular view of the city.
If you miss the Bolshoi Ballet, you can still see The Washington Ballet's
performance of The Nutcracker, which runs from December 6 to 22 at the Warner
Theatre. Tickets are $33-$53.
Sacred Sunday
Resist the temptation to sleep in, and make your way to
the awe-inspiring National Cathedral for Sunday services. You'll be welcome
here, as the church seeks to be a national house of prayer for all people. Each
Sunday, the congregation salutes a different state and prays for its leaders.
Call ahead to see when your state is being honored, and plan to participate in
the ceremony. Before you leave, stop by the cathedral's gift shop. You'll find
gemstone crosses, Christmas music, and replicas of the West Rose Window.
Head back downtown for lunch at Old Ebbitt Grill, one of the oldest institutions
in the city. The food is not fancy, but the restaurant draws both tourists and
politicos, thanks to its location across from the White House. We like the
burger and fries for a quick, simple meal.
Enjoy a timeless tale of redemption at a matinee performance of Charles
Dickens's A Christmas Carol at Ford's Theatre. You'll leave with a smile when
Scrooge abandons his miserly ways and Tiny Tim utters his famous line: "God
bless us every one."
For more information: Contact the Washington, D. C., Convention and
Tourism Corporation, 1212 New York Avenue NW., Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005;
1-800-422-8644 or www.washington.org.
