Comments on: Arrived in Washington D.C. for ODTUG Kaleidoscope 2006

By: Dimitri

Dimitri — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 16:17:00 +0000

ok for me!
I also told to Scott, maybe he will join us too… (he knows a restaurant with excellent sea food, if you’re interested)
Sergio are you comming too? The Dutch aren’t playing, but it should be a lot of fun ;-))
See you tonight,
Dimitri

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 10:54:00 +0000

Wilfred, Dimitri
Wilfred – we might last night again, as we agreed let’s go out tonight with Lucas etc.
Dimitri – do you want to come along? I should be finished up around 7pm tonight, perhaps we can all meet up in the hotel bar or something around 7.30ish?

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 10:52:00 +0000

Matt – that sounds like a good idea (Tuesday night, Murphy’s of DC). I’ll try and catch up with you beforehand and confirm it.

By: Mark Rittman

Mark Rittman — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 10:51:00 +0000

Scott, Sergio, thanks for the tips. Right now, on Thursday I think I’ll get the metro down to the National Mall, and then visit the Lincoln Memorial, White House etc, finally going to the Old Post Office Pavillion as Scott suggested to get some photos. Looks like the Pentagon City mall is the best for doing the shopping, then I’ll go back over to Georgetown for late afternoon/early evening to get something to eat. Should be good.
cheers
Mark

By: Dimitri

Dimitri — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 17:13:00 +0000

Hi Mark,
I arrived on Friday and am staying in the same hotel too ;-)
My first night was terrible (there’s a 6h difference compared to Belgium)
I visited some things yesterday, I uploaded the pictures on google picasa, the link is on my blog.
Hope to meet you soon!
Dimitri

By: Wilfred

Wilfred — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 16:09:00 +0000

Hi Mark,
We already met during breakfast and we’re on for monday evening with the Amis guys.

By: Scott

Scott — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 15:51:00 +0000

Mark,
Welcome to Washington!
There’s a ton of places to see just outside of the Hotel. The National Zoo is just a few blocks north up Connecticut Ave – definitely worth checking out, although if it’s going to be as hot today as they say, you may want to wait until later in the week.
My favorite place to tell out-of-towners to visit is the Old Post Office Pavilion on Penn Ave, just past the White House. The Tower there offers the 2nd best view in the city with typically not more than a moments wait for the left. While the Washington Monument is much taller, the lines are much longer, and I believe that you need a ticket/reservation. If you don’t know someone in the Bush Administration or have reservations, forget the White House. :)
Georgetown is worth checking out as well. It’s much more than houses – plenty of shopping, hotels, shops, restaurants, etc. The Waterfront is really nice as well – just south of Georgetown and always very pretty this time of year. You will need to cab it from the hotel. DC Cabs do not have meters – you kinda negotiate your fare up front. And as sad as it is, cabbies will smell tourists and price the ride accordingly. From the Marriott to G-Town should be no more than $10 or so. If they say anything else, simply don’t get in and wait for the next one. :)
If you’re up for a bit of a walk, Adams-Morgan is about a mile to the east of the hotel. You can also take a shullte from the Woodley Park Metro. There, you’ll find a wide variety of ethnic restaurants & bars. My old haunt, Toledeo Lounge, is a decent place to grab a beer and people-watch.
There’s a new bus service called the DC Circulator. (http://www.dccirculator.com/home_page/) This service is only $1 and was designed to move tourists around downtown. It will take you to the Mall (the National one, where there are no stores), the Smithsonians, Georgetown, and Union Station.
There’s a small mall (by US standards) at both Geogretown & Union Station for shopping, but I’d encourage you to check out the countless other places. You can get a cheap T-Shirt & other memoriabilia on the sides on the National Mall from a street vendor, or you can pay a little more at the hotel.
I’ll be heading down to help kick off the BI Summit this afternoon – maybe I’ll see you at the Reception tonight! I’m anxious to hear about your experience with the MacBook, as I am only a couple of days away from getting one for myself.
Thanks,
- Scott -

By: Matt Topper

Matt Topper — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 14:49:00 +0000

Hey Mark,
Outside the back of the hotel (next to the metro) is a place called Murphy’s of DC. I think a couple of us are getting together there on Tuesday evening. They have a happy hour from 4-8 everyday.
Matt

By: Sergio

Sergio — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 14:23:00 +0000

Mark,
You should be right across the street from Lebanese Taverna, which is pretty good. I’ve also heard that Sake Club is good.
I know it’s hot (FWIW, DC is about the same latitude as Lisbon and it’s always uncomfortably hot and humid in summer), but if you follow Connecticut Ave. south, you end up in Dupont Circle, which has plenty of choices. Teaism, for example. You can also take the metro (red line, can’t miss it).
Georgetown is quaint for American standards, but for you it will look mostly like “houses”. There are, of course, plenty of shops, bars, and restaurants as well. The closest metro stops are Dupont Circle and Foggy Bottom. You’ll be in for a bit of a walk in this heat.
If you only have a few hours for shopping and want the convenience of a mall, Pentagon City is about a 30 minute metro ride.

By: Mark Rittman

Mark Rittman — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 13:23:00 +0000

Hi Wilfred
What time were you up this morning? I was in bed at 7pm last night, so woke up at 4.30am. Still, it’s given me a chance to do some catching up.
I think the Amis guys are over as well, we should at the least go for a beer in the hotel sometime soon. I’ve got stuff on until 7.00pm tonight and may well end up doing something with the CAB members, but how about tomorrow night (Monday)? Just drop me an email on mark@rittman.net or call on +44 7866 568246 if you want to meet up.
cheers
Mark