2008 Official GLBT Travelers Guide - Pride in DC - (Page 21) Lafayette SqUare When it was named, Lafayette Square was a place of elegance, refinement and power – adjacent to the White House. Today it showcases buildings with dramatic architecture along with statues and sculptures whose fascinating stories reflect the history of the city and the nation. Prominence is the order of the day in this area of town, which is home to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, founded nearly 150 years ago for the purpose of “encouraging American genius;” Decatur House Museum, one of the city’s oldest surviving homes; the magnificent Beaux Arts Old Executive Office Building, Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery, St. John’s Church and DAR Constitution Hall. Metro: Farragut West, McPherson Sq. opening of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and the Portals, a luxury office and condominium development. Metro: Waterfront-SEU. U Street/ShaW The birthplace of Duke Ellington and the center of Washington’s African-American nightlife for much of the 20th century is once again thriving—and home to many gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses. Many neighborhood haunts are gathering spots, from the new Bohemian Busboys & Poets (named for Langston Hughes) to the landmark, soulful Ben’s Chili Bowl (Bill Cosby loves the half-smokes). On weekend nights, U Street rivals Adams Morgan for crowds, though with a slightly older vibe. GLBT residents and visitors feel right at home in nearby Logan Circle, home to edgy, evocative Studio Theatre. By day, travelers can discover the African American Civil War Memorial, Lincoln Theatre and Howard University. Designer home-furnishings stores, boutiques and music clubs abound near the junction of 14th & U streets. Metro: U St./African-Amer Civil War Memorial/Cardozo. SoUthWeSt/ Waterfront South of the National Mall is a neighborhood home to the award-winning Arena Stage (the first theater company to be awarded a Tony Award outside of New York), Benjamin Banneker Circle and Fountain, the Titanic Memorial and L'Enfant Plaza. The scenic waterfront area features a shimmering array of piers, sailboats, yachts, fishing boats, seafood markets, and restaurants. Sightseeing cruises depart from the marina regularly. Though once a working-class, immigrant neighborhood Southwest was revitalized through early urban renewal programs in the 1950s. Revitalization has come to the waterfront once again, with the WoodLey park/ CLeveLand park These charming residential neighborhoods are located in upper northwest Washington, DC. This part of town is family-friendly boasting the vast and leafy Rock Creek Park and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo - home to the now-worldfamous panda cub Tai Shan. Its tree-lined streets are lined with friendly boutiques, coffee shops and sidewalk cafés featuring cuisines from around the world. It’s also home to the architecturally stunning National Cathedral, the world’s sixthlargest cathedral. Metro: Woodley Park-Zoo/ Adams Morgan, Cleveland Park. U-Street Neighborhoods 21
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