With 14 restaurants throughout the Washington DC area, each having their own unique style, but keeping the same high standards for cleanliness, fresh produce and the finest meats, Clyde’s is a favorite among the natives and a must-stop for visitors. 

If you are in DC for a tour of our Nation’s capital, be sure to click to Clyde’s website prior to your stay.  A complete history of the restaurant and the founders, detailed information on each of the locations, including directions, hours of operation, methods of payment accepted, photos, customer reviews, special events, recipes and a downloadable menu with pricing! 

Before I tell you how wonderful the service and my meal was, let me just express my gratitude for the reservations I was able to make, via the Clyde’s Restaurant website. I made the reservations 3 days in advance of my trip and instantly received a confirmation email with the address and phone number, should I choose to change anything, such as the confirmed time or the number of people in attendance. On the day of my visit, I received a phone call to remind and confirm once again, which came at a perfect time… I was able to let them know I was running late due to the traffic during rush hour on the B-W Parkway (Baltimore Washington Parkway.)  And, since it was my first visit to Georgetown in DC, I was able to pull up the email from my iPhone and grab directions with ease. 

Fast, friendly and knowledgeable service set the stage for a wonderful dinner at the Clyde’s Georgetown location. Seating is somewhat tight but if you are visiting from a big city, such as NY, you are more than accustomed to making new dinner friends with the up close & personal tables.  Our dinner neighbors were very friendly… they even offered to take our picture. 

Now on to the good stuff… DINNER! We started with the fried green tomatoes, which have a crispy cornmeal crust and pancetta, sitting on a bed of shredded lettuce and buttermilk bacon dressing. Our main courses were the penne with Italian sausage and rapini, which included garlic and parmesan cheese with marinara sauce; and my partner enjoyed the BBQ pork tenderloin with asparagus and collard greens. An added bonus was the semi-sparkling glass of moscato, which in my neck of the woods is hard to find on a restaurant menu. 

Dinner was devine, the service was superb, the drinks were delightful and the company was captivating!

Washington, D.C.’s longest running, family owned accommodation, Hotel Harrington is a good choice if your trip to DC includes children.
 
Open since 1914, and still owned by family of the original founders, this hotel is centrally located for ease in walking to the many of the sites, such as the Capitol, the White House and Pennsylvania
Avenue.
 
There are 242 guest rooms, including 26 deluxe family rooms. Included within the hotel, is a full-service restaurant, a bar, a diner/buffet type restaurant, and a gift shop. You can also book tours from within the hotel.
 
Rates are around $170 per night for a room with a double bed, or if you prefer the deluxe family room, you’re looking at around $200 per night. If you are thinking to yourself right now that this is too expensive, go ahead and check out some of the other hotels in the DC area, Harrington Hotel is very moderately priced!  NOTE:  hotelcoupons.com offers a coupon for $129.00 per night!
 
If you understand that you are paying for prime location and not quality, you won’t be disappointed.  The hotel is one of the oldest in the city so the rooms are small and it’s a bit outdated, however it is clean and the staff is friendly.   The kids certainly won’t mind old doorknobs and outdated bedspreads.  No one ever uses the bedspread in a hotel anyway, right?
 
http://www.hotel-harrington.com/

For a modern day design on hotel closets, check out Hilton's idea:  http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Hotel%20Closets

Who:  LGBT and their allies in the wedding industry

What:  Expo to display creative ideas for your special day from photography to catering and venues along with all the details in-between

Where:  Washington DC

When:  March 2011

Why:  Leave the uncomfortability at home…  the uncomfortable feeling of meeting a wedding planner, photographer, or stationary consultant who is NOT familiar or even comfortable themselves with the idea of a gay wedding!  These vendors have the experience and the willingness to ensure your special day is unforgettable!  Head to the website for a full list of consultants!

Web:http://www.marrymeindc.com  







We were greeted by every vendor at the EXPO with a smile and pleasant conversation, not to mention a few laughs!  This event was creatively put together and beautifully designed!  It included informational seminars and ended with wedding ceremony!  Congratulations to Stephen and Jon!

Special thanks to Deborah Thomas and Sheila Alexander-Reid for making necessary waves in American LGBT Equality and the
breathtaking Washington Court Hotel for hosting the event!  Not from the DC area?  Remember that most of these wedding consultants travel the east coast so be sure to contact them when planning your special day! 

Connextions Magazine was pleased to attend this event!