A Day Exploring 17th Street NW
Morning
Begin your day with a tour of
Decatur House
, a gorgeous Neo-Classical mansion.
After the tour, turn left and walk to the end of the block; turn left
onto 17th St, NW, and continue one block to Pennsylvania Ave. The
Renwick Gallery
is on the corner. Don’t miss the luxurious ballroom on the second floor.
Continuing east on Pennsylvania, you can view the renowned north portico of
The White House
on your right. Reverse direction, return to 17th St, and turn left to take in the ornate
Eisenhower Executive Office Building
.
A block south is the
Corcoran Gallery of Art
with its superb American and European art. Have lunch at the
Café des Artistes
, in its Beaux Arts atrium.
Afternoon
After leaving the
Corcoran, turn right and continue down 17th Street one block, to D
Street. Turn right, and almost at the end of the block is the entrance
of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
In addition to the fascinating period rooms, the gift shop is a treat
for anyone with an interest in quilting, samplers, or porcelain.
End your day by hailing a taxi on 17th Street to the
Kennedy Center
and enjoy dinner at the
Roof Terrace Restaurant
, with its stunning river views.
Political Scandals
Benedict Arnold Arnold,
in the early years of the Revolution, was an effective military leader
on the colonists’ side. Yet, driven by money, he conspired to turn over
to the British the army installation at West Point. His name became
synonymous with “traitor.”
Benedict Arnold
Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings The
press commented in the early 1800s that Jefferson had an affair and
borne children with his slave, Sally Hemings. Jefferson denied the
accusations, but now DNA evidence makes the connection probable. Andrew Jackson and the Petticoat Affair Margaret
Eaton, wife of President Jackson’s secretary of war, was rumored to
have had a scandalous past. Jackson defended her honor and his enemies
attacked, threatening his presidency. ”Boss” Shepherd Alexander
Shepherd pushed the Board of Public Works to great accomplishments in
the 1870s, but he was later run out of town for bankrupting city
government. Whiskey Ring In
1875 it was revealed that liquor taxes were being evaded by distillers
and the officials they bribed. There were 110 convictions. President
Grant secured the acquittal of his private secretary. Teapot Dome The
oil fields at Teapot Dome, Wyoming, had been set aside as a reserve for
the US Navy. In the 1920s, oil interests bribed government officials to
lease the land to them, without competitive bidding. Watergate In
1972, President Nixon’s re-election workers broke into the Democrats’
Watergate offices planning to gather campaign information. Their arrest,
and the effort to contain the scandal, forced Nixon to resign in 1974.
Watergate Senate Committee
Wilbur Mills and Fanne Fox Mills,
chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, was caught
frolicking with his friend, the stripper Fanne Fox. He was forced to
resign in 1974. Iran-Contra Affair In
the 1980s, Ronald Reagan’s administration carried out plans to secretly
sell US weapons to Iran and use the proceeds to support Nicaraguan
rebels. The investigation revealed deception and corruption. Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky Clinton’s
denial of sexual relations with the White House intern led to charges
of perjury, obstruction of justice, and an investigation by the House of
Representatives.
Places to Eat
Blue Duck Tavern Chef
Brian McBride’s specialties are prepared before your eyes in an open
kitchen. Must-try dishes include thick fries cooked in duck fat and mini
apple pies. 1201 24th St, NW 202 419 6755
Galileo Exceptional modern Italian food. The kitchen has a small demonstration cooking area, where chefs prepare a tasting menu. 1110 21st St, NW 202 293 7191 Dis. access
Galileo
Equinox A
showplace for fresh local ingredients, Equinox is a pioneer in
sustainable cooking. The menu is seasonal and has the city’s tastiest
crab cakes. 818 Connecticut Ave NW 202 331 8118
Blue Duck Tavern
Georgia Brown’s Southern
cooking with very generous portions of both food and attention.
Chicken, fish, stews, corn bread, shrimp, and grits highlight the menu. 950 15th St, NW 202 393 4499 Dis. access
Marcel’s Award-winning
French and Flemish cuisine, including crispy skate wing and
pepper-crusted bison, wins rave reviews. Live music is played at the
wine bar nightly. Oodles Noodles Delicious Asian noodle dishes combined with meat or vegetable concoctions. 1120 19th St, NW 202 293 3138 Dis. access
Primi Piatti A northern Italian restaurant with fine lamb dishes and other staples. 2013 I St, NW 202 223 3600
Roof Terrace Restaurant At the Kennedy Center, this elegant restaurant has unrivaled views. Seasonal specialties change every three months. Prime Rib Steaks and chops dominate, also seafood and a vegetable platter. 2020 K St, NW 202 466 8811 Closed Sun Dis. access
Café des Artistes In the atrium of the Corcoran Gallery. Sunday brunch with live gospel music.
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