Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC Downtown: Review of Guest Room and Amenities

This time the room didn't have a view. Well it did have one but it was of the back of all the other buildings behind the hotel. But it was not important since daylight was short in Washington, D.C. in December and I was in town for only two nights. The room itself is cozy if not remarkable in any way.

The best aspect of the room are the three appliances to help make the hotel seem a little more like home. Although I was unlikely to use the microwave, the refrigerator to keep bottles of water cold and the standard coffee maker for a morning cup of java were to be made of good use. The cabinet holding these appliances includes several spaces to store any pantry goods. Before you decide to turn this room into a kitchen keep in mind there are no utensils or napkins.

The desk provides ample room to work and the bathroom includes brand name toiletries from Neutrogena for travelers who haven't packed any. Despite the standard surroundings the room was clean and the bed comfortable.

The only things that were initially distracting were the wallpaper in the bathroom and the air-conditioning unit below the window. The first made the bathroom feel like it belonged in someone's grandmother's house. The second because it was an eyesore and it took a bit of adjusting the temperature before I found the right one for my first night.

By the way speaking of the non-view, the window curtains had to be kept closed anyway. Because the back of the hotel was L-shaped, I had a view into other rooms and I'm am sure they had one into mine.

Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC Downtown

Hilton Garden Inn entrance on 14th Street.

My hotel loyalty programs are with Marriott and Hilton so my searches for accommodations are usually within their hotel brands. Obviously I'm going for reward points. With Marriott, some of its brands include Renaissance and Courtyard. With Hilton, its brands include Doubletree and Embassy Suites.

For this December 2010 visit to the U.S. capital, the Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC Downtown provides the no-nonsense basic necessities that was needed for a stay that would last less than two days befitting its slogan: "Everything. Right Where You Need It." The hotel's location on 14th Street between F and G street in Downtown DC puts it within close proximity to the White House, shops and restaurants. A few more blocks farther south is the National Mall.

Hotel lobby (image: Hilton)

Ask the front desk for a map of DC which I found helpful and lists restaurants near city attractions. Upon check-in receive a coupon to redeem during your stay for two free bottles of water at the hotel's Pavilion Pantry Market. The pantry includes a variety of snacks, drinks and even frozen meals for the in-room microwave. Such amenities makes the hotel friendly for families.

With rates starting at $143 per night before taxes, the hotel is one of the least expensive Hilton Hotels in Downtown DC. During this weekend the hotel's lobby and restaurant was extremely busy which I learned was not only due to the usual tourists and business travelers but those attending games featuring the Washington Capitals at the Verizon Center.

More info at hilton.com. See the next post about the accommodations at the Hilton Garden Inn Washington DC Downtown.

24-hour Pavilion Pantry located near the front desk.

Hotel Video: Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Washington, DC

Washington DC: Less than 48 Hours in December

National Christmas Tree & Washington Monument (Dec 2010)

Few people would consider a vacation that lasts less than 48 hours. Even fewer would consider it if it requires to travel over 5,000 miles to a destination where the temperature is about 30 degrees in December. Such are the risks of travel with a purpose. This time it's for the Washington premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Sunset Boulevard" at the Signature Theatre.

Posting about this December visit to Washington, DC will also allow to report on some other attractions from a visit in 2008 which occurred during my break in blogging. So let the clock start counting from a Friday arrival at 1:00 pm at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to a Sunday departure at 8:30 am.

In general I've always extolled the value of visiting Washington, D.C. because almost every federal government attraction is free to visit. This would add up to substantial savings for an entire family or even a solo traveler. For example every Smithsonian Museum has no admission except for certain special exhibitions. Transportation is cheap via metro and reasonable by taxi considering that most government attractions are within a very concentrated area.

U.S. Capitol Building (Dec 2008)

Los Angeles: More than Amusement Parks

U.S. Bank Tower aka Library Tower

With the series of posts about Downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood, a visit to the city can be more than amusement parks and movie studios. Visit the series of these Los Angeles posts for ideas when planning your next visit to the city.

Venture to other attractions and sometimes heading to your a planned destination or nearby you never know what you may stumble upon that may warrant an unplanned stop or view.

For example when visiting the Disney Concert Hall, the U.S. Bank Tower was instantly recognizable in Downtown. Being a fan of disaster films, I remembered it being featured in several major motion pictures. Because it stands tall among its other towering neighbors, the building has the unfortunate distinction to be destroyed in the films "2012", "The Day After Tomorrow", "Independence Day" and even the Korean release "Dragon Wars."

The building is 1018 feet with 73 floors and among the ten tallest buildings in the United States.

Poster for Dragon Wars.

L.A. Music Center: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

Plaza fronting the venue.

This is one of a series of posts about the Los Angeles Music Center.

The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion had become well known to viewers of the Academy Awards telecast. The venue hosted the ceremony for the movie awards 24 times from 1967 until the Kodak Theatre became permanent home of the Oscars.

Venue lobby

Walking in the theatre lobby, it is obvious the interior design of chandeliers, wide curving staircases and rich decor in gold and white is a product of another era in contrast to the much modern Ahmanson Theatre and Disney Concert Hall which are all part of the Los Angeles Music Center. The venue opened in 1964 seats 2,400 and is home to the Los Angeles Opera.

Founders Room

One unique stop of the Music Center is entry to the exclusive Founder Room. Donors to the L.A. Opera or Music Center making contributions of $100,000 or more or an equal multi-year commitment are given membership. Benefits include access to the luxury room offering pre-performance dining, intermission service, special parking privileges, ample room to lounge when at the venue and access to the Founders Rooms in the Disney Concert Hall and Ahmanson Theatre.

The theatre is named for Dorothy Chandler who the driving force to persuade the county to build an arts venue for Los Angeles and helped to raise the majority of funds necessary for construction.

View of venue from First Street.

L.A. Music Center: Mark Taper Forum

Mark Taper Forum with its unique relief exterior.

This is one of a series of posts about the Los Angeles Music Center.

Each venue at the Music Center has a specific purpose on the kinds of arts performances staged. The Mark Taper Forum hosts experimental or smaller scale theatre productions. Productions have included the pre-Broadway tryout of the rewritten "Flower Drum Song" musical starring Lea Salonga and more recently "Harps and Angels," a revue based on songs of Randy Newman ("Short People", "I Love L.A.", music & songs of the Disney/Pixar films) starring Michael McKean and Katey Segal. Photos are from 2009 when a West Coast production of the Donmar Warehouse revival of the musical "Parade" (starring T.R. Knight of "Grey's Anatomy") was about to open.

The Mark Taper Forum appears to be be a theatre-in-the-round based on the circular exterior. However the auditorium is a thrust stage configuration with the audience seated on three sides. Opened in 1967 and renovated in 2008, it has seating for 750. The relief on the exterior is supposed to be a representation of dance. The theatre is named for L.A. real estate developer Mark Taper. His 1962 gift to the Music Center resulted in the theatre being named for him.

From a tour of the National Theatre in London, thrust stages are among the most intimidating performance spaces for actors because of how much of the stage is surrounded by the audience and often how close they are seated to the stage.

Circular lobby

Auditorium with thrust stage (above two image: Architecture Things)

L.A. Music Center: Ahmanson Theatre

This is one of a series of posts about the Los Angeles Music Center.

The Ahmanson Theatre is the center's main venue for theatre productions. The theatre hosts a subscription series that includes major musicals and plays as well as pre-Broadway tryouts. Click here for the post about the theatre when I saw the musical "Next to Normal" at the venue.

L.A. Music Center: Disney Concert Hall in Film

"Iron Man" (image: Paramount)

With such an iconic look and Los Angeles a center of film and television production, it was only time before the Walt Disney Concert Hall would appear on celluloid. Recent appearances of the venue in popular film include "Get Smart" starring Steve Carrell and Anne Hathaway, "Iron Man" with Robert Downey, Jr. and "The Soloist" also starring Downey and featuring Jamie Foxx.

Featuring local landmarks prominently in big-screen films especially if those that become box office hits provides advertising for the city. If the film is popular enough fans will seek it out. In addition to landmarks this also happens with restaurants and stores featured on film.

"The Soloist" (image: DreamWorks)

"Get Smart" (image: Warner Bros.)

L.A. Music Center: Views Via Disney Concert Hall

Los Angeles Cit Hall

Smoke from fires rise above the mountains.

Above & below: the skyscrapers of Downtown L.A.

This is one of a series of posts about the Los Angeles Music Center.

One of the attractions of the Walt Disney Concert Hall are the views from the park and walkways that wrap around the center high above the sidewalk below. The hall should include signs pointing to "scenic point" or "photo spot." All photos taken from the concert hall in 2009.

My opinion for any metropolis that relies on visitors is to build an attraction that will offer clear and expansive views of the city. It can become a hub for tourists to the city. Obvious examples are the Sears Tower, Space Needle, CN Tower, Stratosphere and Empire State Building. The London Eye in England becomes both ride and viewing platform. Businesses near these attractions reap the benefits of the visiting crowds.

L.A. Music Center: Concert Hall Cafe & Patina

The frosted walls and light projected sign of the Concert Hall Cafe.

This is one of a series of posts about the Los Angeles Music Center.

Sometimes finding simple healthy food in a comfortable surrounding is hard to find especially in a city you are not familiar. If visiting a museum or arts venue, inquire about dining opportunities. Many of these places are still there to gouge visitors offering run of the mill food. But many fine art museums and performing centers offer the contrary.

The Disney Concert Hall has two options: the fine dining restaurant Patina and the contemporary Concert Hall Cafe. The Cafe provided the exquisite gourmet cafe foods found at the Spotlight Cafe near the Ahmanson Theatre. Also on a Sunday afternoon this part of Downtown Los Angeles lacks nearby dining options other than those at the Music Center. Rather than having a meal, a modest snack of fresh fruit and sparkling French lemonade was my fare while I waited for my tour of the Music Center to begin.

The cafe is like a scandinavian bistro with wood, glass, metals and uncluttered lighting setting the atmosphere. This design blends seamlessly into the the concert hall. An experience of dining at Patina would have to be saved for another opportunity.

The Concert Hall Cafe is located on the lobby level. Hours: daily 11:30am-2:30pm. During evening performances: from 5pm until intermission.  

Patina Restaurant is located on South Grand Ave fronting the concert hall. Hours: Tues-Sat 5-9:30pm. Visit patinarestaurant.com information and menu.

L.A. Music Center: Walt Disney Concert Hall Community Park & Memorial Fountain

Some of the park's flowering trees

A sign announces this public state park.

This is the second in a series of posts about the Los Angeles Music Center.

Example of Royal Delft
Porcelain

One of the hidden wonders of the Walt Disney Concert Hall is a one-acre park rising 34 feet from the street. Offering a serene repose for visitors, the garden is an eden in stark contrast to the stainless steel and office towers surrounding it.

Of particular interest is the rose fountain covered by broken pieces of Royal Delft porcelain vases and tiles where water gently flows around the petals. Officially named the Lillian Disney Memorial Fountain as an homage to the center's benefactor by its architect, Frank Gehry, to her love of the porcelain and roses.

Above and below: Lillian Disney Memorial Fountain.