First time to D.C., I'll be here 3 days.

Any suggestions on sights to see or things to do before I leave? I'm trying to find a decent lounge/cigar shop but the search has turned up empty.. I'm about 2 blocks from the White House on Pennsylvania Ave.

:-)
[Reply]

You're walking distance from Drapers and Shellys. Both highly recommended.

BYOC to Shelly's - small selection and overpriced. But, no cutting fee and no concern for BYO - great food, high priced drinks.

Drapers is a good, old shop - can't smoke in there except on Saturdays, though.
[Reply]

Drapers closes at 6:30p, thats really early! Looks like no smoking there at all now, due to duct work repair.

I'll give Shelly's a try though... some of the reviews are shocking tbh.

Thanks for the suggestions!
[Reply]

If you enjoy beers from around the world, you could try the bar, Brickskellars. They have about 500 beers. I was there about 15 months ago. The decor was never special, but it was much dingier than I remembered from college.
[Reply]

I have been to Shelly's a few times now and I find it a good place to stop. I would totally follow Dave's suggestion though on bringing your own. A good stick in there is pretty expensive. I didn't think the drinks in there were too bad (for DC anyway) a glass of Makers Mark runs around $6.

Also, if you are looking to pick up smokes you could get over to JR Cigars, or Old Town Virginia. I'm sure if you google them you will see that they are pretty close via metro. I have been to both and they are decent.

As for things to do...you are seriously in a tourist city...everything is something to do. What do you like? Museums are all, 90% of them, free, so that is a good option. But mainly I like doing the National Archives, Library of Congress, Old Post Office, Arlington Cemetery types of things because they won't be too over crowded this time of year...plus you are totally in luck with the weather.

Anyway, if you have any questions let me know and I'll help you out a bit. I live outside the city, but work right down town.
[Reply]

Brickskeller closed down. There is a new beer bar in its place though. I can't comment on the new bar, but I never liked brickskeller. They had a menu of about 500 beers, but somehow every time I went my first five selections were out of stock.
[Reply]

There is also Regional Food and Drink (RFD),in Chinatown, that has a ton of bottled beers to choose from. Again, not far from the Whitehouse where you are.
[Reply]

I second RFD (Unless there is a capital game that night, because it'll be packed).

RFD is owned by the same group that owned brickskeller, but I always had a good experience at RFD.
[Reply]

Shelley's is a couple of blocks away and you do want to bring your own cigars because of the price or pick something up at Drapers to smoke there. You can alos take the Metro to Baileys Pub and Grill over at the Ballston mall which has a seperate smoking section.

Draper's reopened a block from their old location and smoking was back on until a couple of days ago. There's some issue with the office above them and some duct work that needs to be done. They are offering a 10% discount because of the non-smoking issue.
[Reply]

There's a lot of things to do in town as the museums are free. The Indian museum is supposed to have a good exhibit right now and the Natural History museum is one of my favorites. Air and Space is another stop if you haven't been to it.
[Reply]

Just got back from Shelly's... that place is great!

Didnt realize how good a Diesel UHC is, until I paired it with a 1/2 lb burger!! :-)

Thanks guys!
[Reply]

Love Shelly's burgers....just about the only food that I pair with a cigar.....yum......
[Reply]

Glad you liked it!

Did you get a chance to go see/do anything last night?
[Reply]

By accident lol..

I was following google maps walking directions from my hotel to Shelly's and for some reason at one point it wanted me to take a 1 block 'detour' when I could clearly see people walking straight.. so I followed the people. A few moments later I thought "wow there sure is alot of police in this area"... then turned to my right and I was in front of the White House :-)

So, other than that, not much else... I am here for work afterall... :-)
[Reply]