A D.C. paragon is the Old Ebbitt Grill. It has been on our to-do list every time we’ve been here and we finally made it. This is an iconic dining establishment and historic landmark since 1856. Its Victorian interior represents Washington saloons at the turn of the century. The antique clock over the revolving door at the entrance is an heirloom and the marble staircase with an iron-spindled rail was salvaged from the old National Metropolitan Bank next door.
The Main Bar is constructed of magnificent mahogany. There are 3 carved glass panels depicting the Treasury, Capitol, and White House that separate the Main Bar from the main dining room. Old Ebbitt's is located 2 blocks from the White House and has been a gathering place for presidents and generals, lobbyists and theatergoers for over 161 years.
Around the corner from the Main Bar is the famous Oyster Bar, featuring paintings by marine artist, Peter Egeli and Chesapeake Bay watercolorist, J. Robert Burnell.
To the foyer’s left and up five marble stairs is the Corner Bar. This federal-style room is reminiscent of a downtown club with the spirit of the Chesapeake Bay. There are paintings of waterfowl and a collection of decoys that convey the relaxed and timeless comfort and camaraderie of an Eastern Shore hunt club.
The main dining room is illuminated by antique gas chandeliers. The wooden crossbeams on the 10 foot ceilings are accented by a style of pinstripe stenciling popular at the turn of the century. The dining room chairs are copies of antique Victorian bentwood chairs from a New York Central Railroad dining car. On the north wall are paintings by Kamil Kubik depicting festive, patriotic scenes near The White House and near the Supreme Court and Library of Congress.. Also, on the north wall hangs a large oil painting entitled “Three Bathers”. Beyond the English lace curtains at the rear windows is the Atrium Dining Room which is elegant and adorned with plush leather banquettes and cozy leather chairs and an original sculpture by Washington artist, John Dreyfuss.
Flanking the other side of the Atrium is Grant’s Bar with its ceiling mural of the famous Matthew Brady photograph of General Grant. Behind the bar is an oil of a reeling nude by Jean-Paul Gervais painting about 1900. This restaurant is so charming that we had dinner there twice within one week!
I was born far too soon for this generation. Twice today I heard blatant disrespect for a parent from a child. Case #1 - a little girl about 4 or 5 looked up at her mother with a nasty look on her little face and said, "Duh-h-h-h!" (spoken in 2 syllables!) Case #2 - a girl about 10 or 11 told her mother, "just shut up!" Neither parent reacted so suppose it a common way of being spoken to by their off-spring.
Bill and I cycled to Silver Spring, MD, by way of Georgetown and Bethesda where we stopped for lunch at a delightful sidewalk cafe. Sadly, the Georgetown Branch Trail connecting Bethesda and Silver Spring closed the day after we rode it in preparation for the Purple Line of the Metro to be built. It will be closed for 5 years and re-routed, not through the shady woods but along city streets and that's far less than ideal.
We got home just in time to grab a bite before heading to the Capitol for the final concert of the season by the National Symphony Orchestra. What a treat and with very patriotic overtures. Definitely not an event to be missed.
That provided a great day of cycling orchestrated and led for Bill and me by our Bike Friday friend, Charmaine. I thought I’d cycled the entire Anacostia Trail but she took us to the obscured part that I didn’t see as well as the Metropolitan Branch Trail that she takes on her commute to work. A word about this lady who’s a dynamo on a bicycle. She commutes RT 15 miles a day, rain, shine, sleet, or snow not greater than 3” deep. She takes her bike to all parts of the globe to cycle—alone or with a group. She doesn’t care as long as she gets to ride and enjoy the solitude of nature. Talk about a fit woman---she is just that!!!
Within 36 hours and unaccustomed to that distance, we cycled 50 miles. Charmaine probably thought she was leading a bike ride from the Old Folks’ Home but she was very patient with us—me, far more than Bill. He did a much better job of “keeping up”. We stopped along the Metropolitan Branch Trail for lunch at a sidewalk cafe. We were all in need of “fuel” at that point. It’s on the same patio as a bike shop who’ll repair while you eat or enjoy a cup of java for a caffeine boost. I love this city!
As we cycled past REI, I heard it calling my name so we made a stop there for some much needed bike accessories to make our DC cycling more safe—or less vulnerable to traffic. The building now occupied by REI was originally built as the venue for the Beatles to perform decades ago, which accounts for the many Beatles posters inside the store. That’s on Charmaine’s route to work and she was able to watch the construction/re-construction of the building before its Grand Opening just a few months ago.
We rode past this amazing mural that she said was started and completed in just a couple of weeks by 2 artists. The medium they used is impervious to graffiti—it’ll accept it but is easily removed. It’s difficult for you to see all the intricacies of the painting but near the center, are the carving artists, the Piccirilli Brothers, hard at work. I love the silver-gray colors used in this beautiful artistic accomplishment. Notice the quote by Frederick Douglass, the freed slave whose estate we visited and the video about his life and accomplishments that I found so moving.
Dinner with Charmaine after a lecture at SAAM JFK exhibit. Fig and prosciutto grilled cheese for me and Apple and Gouda grilled cheese for Charmaine. Riding home after dark is beautiful.
One morning, I had the good fortune of attending a breakfast and interview with Wilber Ross, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, at the Washington Post. James Hohmann, interviewer for the Post, (of which I’ve become quite fond), is a national political correspondent who interviews decision-makers on the most relevant news having to do with their jobs. So this morning, it was 79 year old Mr. Ross on the stage with Mr. Hohhmann.
The two discussed the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the playing field for international trade, the tax reform push, and other pressing economic issues, including hurricane recovery. Mr. Ross commented on the relationship between the White House and business leaders; the disbandment of the president’s manufacturing and economic councils. “What’s sad is for business leaders to give up an opportunity to influence policy over some singular issue with which they disagree.”This was to begin at 9 AM and it did—on the dot!!! It ran about 5 minutes over but no one seemed to object as it was a very informative morning.
The two discussed the Trump administration’s efforts to reshape the playing field for international trade, the tax reform push, and other pressing economic issues, including hurricane recovery. Mr. Ross commented on the relationship between the White House and business leaders; the disbandment of the president’s manufacturing and economic councils. “What’s sad is for business leaders to give up an opportunity to influence policy over some singular issue with which they disagree.”This was to begin at 9 AM and it did—on the dot!!! It ran about 5 minutes over but no one seemed to object as it was a very informative morning.
Long ago when the old Post Office was just that, Bill and I toured it and went up into the tower so I was curious as to what it looks like now as a Trump Hotel.
I’d have never recognized it for what it used to be. Quite opulent but then what would you expect. The bar must have hundreds of bottles! I’ve never seen so much booze. I was happy to see that they kept the funny little circular radiators surrounding the columns and a few other original artifacts.
I’d have never recognized it for what it used to be. Quite opulent but then what would you expect. The bar must have hundreds of bottles! I’ve never seen so much booze. I was happy to see that they kept the funny little circular radiators surrounding the columns and a few other original artifacts.
A friend suggested I visit the Willard Hotel and it is so classic and pure grand old elegance. I love the old teeny tiny tiled floor. I’ve never seen tiles so small. Can’t image “back then” the back breaking job of laying those.
Charmaine invited me to her office for lunch in their cafeteria. This is an international legal firm of 2800 attorneys but in her building there are just a mere 1000. Instead of an office building it looks like a high end hotel and resort. Lawyer’s offices line each side of the halls—each of the 11 floors is laid out in a square, and are glass walls—no wood anywhere. The door to each office slides and when it’s closed, all mayhem could break out in there and you wouldn’t hear a sound. The cafeteria reminded me of the unlimited choices on a cruise ship. The good was quite appealing to my taste buds and tastefully presented. We took our meals and went to the roof where there are tables, umbrellas, comfy chairs, and a beautiful view accompanied by a cooling breeze. She works really hard but to come to work in a place this majestic and beautiful would be wonderful. The architects, decorators, and landscapers spared no cost to make this building a work of art.
Gotta scoot! Much more to see and do. Later!
Bill and Laura
Washington, DC
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