There's the Library of Congress - the old building (Madison?) was renovated/restored a while ago. There are museums of all sorts (fyi, the textile museum doesn't open until 1:00 on Sundays ... which I found out the hard way). The National Cathedral - religious or not, it's impressive (one of the altarpieces is by N.C. Wyeth). ooh! the Peacock Room at the Freer!

Good to know about the textile museum. You just know I'd end up there at 10:30, shifting from foot to foot.

Hm. The Freer. Never been there either.

The LOC is my mainstay, but I took her there last time. God, I love that place!

bonny, I just pimped your services to our Westlaw rep! (We were looking a Sass pictures, and she saw the Yappy Hour picture of you and Bartleby.)

You rock! In many, many ways. Thanks for the pimpage AND the pic. I love the way it captures what we do.

MWAH.

the Peacock Room at the Freer!

That is one of my favorite places.

I've heard the International Spy Museum is quite the thing to see. I don't know what the lines are like now, the one time I tried to get in was a few months after it opened and even though we got there within an hour of opening, the line was already halfway around the block and they were only letting in people as others left.

bonny, the Botanical Garden is down the hill from the Capitol -- there's a nice orchid exhibit there right now. And the National Museum of the American Indian is basically across the street (with a cafeteria that's a good place to splurge on lunch, if you're so inclined). Both are roughly at 3rd and Independence, S.W.

I always like to recommend Woodrow Wilson's retirement home on S Street near Dupont Circle.

The Asian and African museums (kind of behind the Smithsonian Castle, between the Mall and Independence just the other side of 7th Street) frequently have textile exhibits.

I can't remember who it was who linked, long ago, to the 70% chocolate cake recipe, but I want to publicly thank the linker, once again.

Trading on the 'If I'd known you were coming, I'd have baked you a cake' old saw...I made that cake last night and added roasted peanuts to the frosting. Oy. It is so, so very.

The Spy Museum was like $15 or $18 to get in when my sis and I went by there this January, which offended me in a place like DC so we walked off in a huff.

I always like to recommend Woodrow Wilson's retirement home on S Street near Dupont Circle.

Hm. Interesting...

The Peacock Room is completely on the list, as is the orchid collection. There is also an interesting lecture at the American Indian Museum we might hit. Plus, the Hirshorn is showing a shot-by-shot recreation of Raiders of the Lost Ark that two kids made between 1982 and 1986. Apparently, it is quite the thing. The only problem will be the line, I'm sure.

The Spy Museum was like $15 or $18 to get in when my sis and I went by there this January, which offended me in a place like DC so we walked off in a huff.

In as much as I might enjoy the Spy museum, this offends me as well. SO spendy for, what I'm given to understand is a lot of reading and not much wow.

Holy CATS. The tickets to the Newseum are $20!!! Wow. It's been a while since I've done the touristy thing. I had no idea.

Oh, but it so IS, what it is... (She's 38. Has an 18 year old, who has a four month old)

Who is this, AU Lorelai Gilmore? If so, I don't blame you.