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.

Incoming, Java. Thanks.

Steph, we're being sneaky and not renting a room with four beds but a room with two beds, i.e. a single, and so the group rate should be more around $150 including tax.

I'll say that I'll go, but then I'll end up sleeping in and not knowing when or whence people are leaving and just sit around talking all day instead.

cereal:

Steph, the deadline is/was supposedly April 23rd. (Java's post with the details is here.)

Steph, we're being sneaky and not renting a room with four beds but a room with two beds, i.e. a single, and so the group rate should be more around $150 including tax.

The 4-person rate isn't for 4 beds, it's for 4 people. The rooms still only have 2 beds.

Emily, does that mean you have decided to go? (Yay!)

I know and mentally understand all the conservation arguments and everything, I still have a bit of an, "Animals in cages! Free them!" reaction emotionally.

Hil is me. No zoo. I very much would like to go to the Viet Nam memorial. And I want to go to the dinosaur -ages of man part of the Smithsonian. Maybe a few other bits, but definitely pre-history.

Used bookstores are good, as is Lush.

sleeping in and not knowing when or whence people are leaving and just sit around talking all day instead.

Or this. I can do touristy stuff another time.