Okay, the Insect Zoo sounds cool!

I just called to reserve our rooms, and the Buffistas group-rate price block has apparently sold out. The rate the woman gave me was $170 a night (including tax).

(That's $42 for each of us on Saturday, Kate and meara; btw, we've got two queen-sized beds between the four of us and it's nonsmoking.)

There are more Starbucks.

As opposed to the trendy boutiques and arty coffee houses that I remember from 1968 or thereabotus?

Doesn't sound all that different.

And knowing there's an Insect Zoo doesn't really nudge me toward wanting to visit, for some odd reason. Maybe the memory of the bird-eating spiders at the London Zoo?

As opposed to the trendy boutiques and arty coffee houses that I remember from 1968 or thereabotus?

Yeah, you know the whole "chain stores eating downtown thing" that's made every town in America look the same?

It hit Georgetown, too. It's still a cool area to stroll, but I fear you might find it rather pedestrian compared to what you remember.

And I avoid the insect zoo entirely.

No no no, you should still get the group rate. I made a couple of phone calls in re your experience, RL, but I couldn't locate anyone who can make decisions. (It's only ~8PM back there! Where'd they all go?) I should have an answer tomorrow AM my time.

eta: do me a favor and email me your RL name so I can be sure you're getting the block rate?

I completely OD'ed on the Air and Space museum as a kid, so I'll be in the Zoo crowd. (Except that I also want to do other Mall stuff, like the Washington Monument and maybe an art gallery or two. I haven't seen the Peacock Room in years....)

No no no, you should still get the group rate.

When's the deadline to reserve a room with our rate? Because I need to, also.

I just called to reserve our rooms, and the Buffistas group-rate price block has apparently sold out. The rate the woman gave me was $170 a night (including tax).

Wait -- there are 4 people in that room, right? Then $170, including tax, *is* the group rate.

FYI, that's three different museums (A&S, Natural History, and American History)

Yep. I am kind of greedy. Also used to live in DC, so I've been able to see them all, so if it doesn't work out, I am cool with it.

Yeah, you know the whole "chain stores eating downtown thing" that's made every town in America look the same?

It hit Georgetown, too. It's still a cool area to stroll, but I fear you might find it rather pedestrian compared to what you remember.

Yeah. Almost everything on M is a chain. There are a bunch of good restaurants, but for the most part, the stores are right out of that "BoBos" book. There's a Barnes and Noble, a GAP, an Urban Outfitters, a La Madeleine, a CD Warehouse...

One used book store that's pretty good. Another small bookstore whose entire fiction section seems to consist of "beatnik books" and "books by 20-something writers from San Francisco or Brooklyn." A Lush. One poster store that's kind of cool. An art supply store that's incredibly overpriced. A little bit off M, the stores get more interesting, but there's still not anything where it's "only in Georgetown."

As opposed to the trendy boutiques and arty coffee houses that I remember from 1968 or thereabotus?

From what I've seen, I think those all migrated to Adams Morgan.

I've got no real interest in the zoo with a big group. I might go before or after the weekend since I'm in town for a week.

Air and Space sounds very good, I'll go hang out with MM and DX for a bit there. Also, shopping in Georgetown sounds good.