The front of the building was under construction when we attended a holiday party. The guards were…read morefriendly. After we finished with security, we took an elevator to our floor. There are elevators and stairs. The marble floors are beautiful.

I heartily enjoyed my my brief visit to DC city hall. The people there were super warm, friendly…read moreand helpful as they paid their respects to former DC mayor Marion Barry. I noticed that the entrance alcove and lobby was super clean, organized and well maintained even though the building is 110 years old.

The Japanese Pagoda is a small pagoda located near the Tidal Basin south of the National Mall. The…read moreattraction itself is not super big but it's very popular when the cherry blossoms are out and blooming. It's near the FDR Memorial and you might just miss it if you're not paying attention. The contrast was interesting seeing this tinier statue with the humongous National Monument in the background. It's a nice pagoda but I spent probably 30 seconds looking at it and taking pictures before we left. I would recommend checking this out if you're in the area for the cherry blossoms.

This is pretty any day, but especially when the cherry blossoms are in bloom. If you want to…read moreactually read the inscription or get pictures without tons of people, go any month except late March or early April. This is also an excellent sunrise/sunset photo opportunity. You can take the #1 Circulator bus from Union Station and get off at stop 6 or 7. It costs $1 per stop. You need dollars or your metro card.

AVOID THIS BUSINESS!!! I requested this business many times…read moreto remove their url webpage with my personal information on it and they refused to remove it. All other websites when asked removed my personal information!

Beautiful, modern, well-lit bookstore with all sorts of books, maps, posters, national park guide…read morebooks, and every other kind of publication produced by federal government agencies. A quiet respite a block from the Postal Museum and close to the Capitol, it even has a kiddie corner for children to read some of the children's books, and some comfortable chairs for adults, too. Their collection of military history, national park books, and small business books, as well as books on Congress and the federal budget are first-rate (and in some case, can only be found at the US Government Bookstore retail store or online at http://bookstore.gpo.gov). They occasionally hold book signings and book launches there with lots of press, (Watch for press releases from GPO at http://www.gpo.gov/newsroom-media/ or call them for special event schedules.) I particularly liked the Presidential Commission reports like Deep Water (BP Gulf Oil disaster) http://bookstore.gpo.gov/actions/GetPublication.do?stocknumber=040-000-00784-9 and the 9/11 Commission http://bookstore.gpo.gov/collections/911anniversary.jsp. Some teachers and businesspeople were browsing when I was there, while one mother was picking up the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans http://bookstore.gpo.gov/actions/GetPublication.do?stocknumber=001-000-04747-7 where they replaced the old food pyramid with an easier-to-understand dinner plate. I'd recommend stopping first at the FREE GPO 150th Anniversary Exhibit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFTu8a-PLao&feature=player_embedded) going on next door in the main Government Printing Office building. They have the original printer's proof of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation on display that the first GPO printers used to print the speech and other cool historical artifacts of government printing. Note: Both the exhibit and the bookstore are only 2 blocks from Union Station (out the 1st Street exit) so they're convenient for DC workers or tourists before or after a lunch stop. As you leave the exhibit, make sure you pick up the peach and turquoise Bookstore brochure/card with a 25% OFF COUPON at the exit before heading over to the bookstore to shop. Who said the government doesn't give a good deal? ;-)

This place is used for a multitude of activities from 5Ks to military functions and my personal…read morefavorite the weekly Farmers Market that runs through the summer. The pavilion is located near the Llewellyn gate inside Fort Meade. Parking is no problem as there are many paved spots and if the need arises you can park on the grass.

Queen Isabella Organization Of American States, 17th St SW - Even from the outside, this building…read morecaught my attention with its architecture and pleasant surroundings. The place feels representative, yet calm and dignified at the same time. Everything is well maintained, clean, and easily accessible on foot. I especially appreciate the central location, where one can pause, rest, and absorb the atmosphere of international cooperation and history. An interesting spot on the map of Washington.

Just off the National Mall are five "Statues of Liberators." This 1924 statue of the Argentinian…read moreleader is one. It's replica of one found in n Buenos Aires. Upon its dedicated in 1925, President Calvin Coolidge spoke.

The US Institute of Peace is supported by the US government with the goal of promoting and working…read moretoward global peace. Hundreds of dedicated staff members work in a beautiful building near the Lincoln Memorial in Foggy Bottom overlooking the National Mall and northern Virginia. They don't give public tours, but if you go to an event inside or have a friend who works there, you'll see it. It's a great tour where you'll learn about peacekeeping and see their amazing rooftop of the best view of the Lincoln Memorial (you feel like you can reach out and touch it!).

This building takes my breath away every time i walk by. I'm awed by the space and light. At…read morenight sit on cement mushrooms on the front corner in trying to burn the image of the building into my head. My descriptions and pictures really don't do it justice. I need to be in a helicopter to get the right picture. The USIP's building was designed by Canadian Moshe Safdie, who also did the Vancouver Library. The name US Institute of Peace, sounded like a joke from the Daily Show. I was pulled to USIP.org because of how stunning this building is to me. I wanted to find out more but there is nothing on their website about the architect or the story of how this design/building came to be. Once on their website, I found that the USIP was created and funded by Congress to promote international peace through conflict management, conflict analysis, and teaching and training. Actually that's a really short summary. You should see their mission page. http://www.usip.org/about-us Say "World Peace" to me and I think, "what is the most common answer given by beauty queens during their interview portion of the contest." GIven the many years of war we've lived through, the word "peace" sounds unattainable but god bless the people behind USIP for trying. USIP has free online courses open to the public like 1. Introduction to Conflict Analysis 2. Introduction to Negotiation and Conflict Management. Certificates are even given after completion of the course. Their site has lots of fascinating reads. The next time I hear "World Peace" from a Beauty Queen I'm going to ask for their certificate.

Beautiful office building. I only came here because my local congressman's DC Office is here. I…read moreneeded to show up to his office so that one of his staffers can provide me a tour. The staff was helpful. I didn't know exactly how to find my congressman's office when I got in there but they were nice enough to tell me what floor he was on.

Well would you look what I found in my pending drafts? I've…read morebeen to Longworth 1-2 times a year for at least the last decade. Actually, longer than a decade. I've been for congressional meetings and events. This is the building with committee rooms and congressional suites that serve the House of Reps. There are also over 200 offices. Neoclassical architecture with tons of marble. The basement has lots of stuff-cafeteria is pretty decent. There's a dry cleaner, post office, snack store, barber shop, and more. There are tunnels that connect underground to the Capitol as well as other offices. Just like all of the buildings on The Hill, you have to go through security to enter.