Aims, Kalliope and I will most certainly be here in August. Depending on timing my availability my be limited because that is our orientation week. Ask Suzi about obtaining White House tix, as she just went through that not so long ago.

I'm in the same boat as Sparky (re: orientation week, not adorable child), but I would love to see you two!

I seem to recall that someone told me that your congressperson may be helpful in obtaining tickets, or maybe you have to go through them for the request, I don't quite remember.

For the WH, you do have to go through your congress person. Suzi's set her up with all sorts of other things, too, which I thought was very cool of him/her.

Aims, dinner for me is iffy. But I work about 5 minutes from the American Indian Museum, which has a good (if pricey) cafeteria. Lunch one day?

The American Indian Museum cafeteria really is cool -- they've got four or five different stations for different regions of the country, and each one has foods inspired by the food that Native Americans in that region eat or ate. Last time I was there, I got a fabulous winter squash and apple soup from the Northwest station. (They also have grilled cheese and chicken tenders, if Em isn't a very adventurous eater.)

Definitely the best food of any Smithsonian.

Aim's - I went to the web page for my senator, who has been in office for a while and has a very good staff, and followed the instructions to submit a request for the White House tour. It asked for the dates of my visits and if I was interested in any other tours. They were very responsive in letting me know they had gotten my request and when I could expect to hear back on the tours.

A couple weeks before our trip, they went me an intinerary with all the neat things they were able to schedule for us...White House, Pentagon, Library of Congress, Capital, Kennedy Center. Other than the White House, CJ and I were most happy to have seen the Library of Congress and the Kennedy Center. The Pentagon is massive but they rush you through everything so it is hard to take in all the art on the walls. When we visited the Capital it was overrun by other 8th graders and we had the world's worst tour guide.

Ohh, that is totally cool. I need to go there. That's one of the museums that has opened since my last visit to DC.

Another vote for the cafeteria at the American Indian museum--really yummy!!

Next time I go to DC, I'll definitely be looking into doing more touristy type things. The last two times I've gone, I was restricted on time (we couldn't get to the American History museum at all the last time, damnit!).

ETA: Oh, and I got a really excellent photo of the Capitol building from the front of the American Indian museum, like, it's almost framable it's that good.

NYC F2F-istas - ironically I may be running late. Because the universe has a sense of humor (appropriate for Towel Day) and so instead of working in the office where I can see the Algonquin from my desk, I'm working in the office that's clear on the other side of town.