ON THE ROAD

JTP, I can actually comment on both of your items.

Agree on Victory, it was a nice little place to visit. If you go, make sure you get good directions, as the place is really tucked in a neighborhood. Other food recommendations in Philly: soft pretzels, Tastykakes.

As for DC, Spy Museum is cool (so I've heard). If you've never been to the Capitol, call ahead to an office of one of your elected officials. They should be able to hook you up with a tour...ask them if they have any other events for people visiting. The gf's boss does weekly constituent breakfasts, but she says not everyone does that.

EDIT: For those of you that don't know, if you're travelling to DC, they have a law against using cell phones in cars without a hands-free device.

Also, Brickskeller has the largest beer selection in the country.

 

Re: LOUISVILLE, Ky.

I used to eat here a lot when I was fat.

Best pizza I ever consumed is at Bearno's. Several locations around town, including one downtown near the bridge.

Upscale dining: Jack Fry's (bring a sport coat) or Kunz's downtown. I like.

I heard the original Tumbleweed on Mellwood is closing. This is such a devastating blow to me and the wifey. We gained many a pound eating there. Oh how I miss you so, Weed...

LODGING: I love staying at the Seelbach downtown. I always ask for the Seelbach Suite once I arrive, which I actually get about 1/2 the time for no extra charge. I'm usually coming in real late. You want this room.

MISCELLANEOUS: There's a really nice skatepark near downtown. If you're into skating, this place is incredibly nice. And free.

 

I will second this. My brother and I called our rep to set up a tour... Got bumped when Tony Blair showed up to visit, but since we were still in town, the next day one of the staffers gave us a private tour.

In PHILADELPHIA (copying JTP's idea and adding to his solid suggestions), do the historical thing. I've visited Independence Hall twice, once in the summer and once in the winter, and heard different (and excellent, knowledgeable) spiels from each tour guide. Liberty Bell is right across the street; you'll have to go through there to get to Independence Hall. I was one of about three people at Franklin Court, Ben's old-homestead-turned-museum, on a cold Friday last January; neat time-killer. It's fun to just walk around down there.

The security checks, BTW, at all these places are so depressing. I know why, and I'm glad they do them, but still. The guys with the big-ass guns outside the Capitol, looked like they could halt an oncoming train: similarly depressing.

 

Granted, some of these observations of WASHINGTON may be more than a decade old, but hopefully they hold.

--The National Geographic museum is an underrated gem. Lots of kick-ass stuff.
--Another thumbs-up for Brickskellar. Great place to live a little and make wildly different choices in beer. Food's good, too.
--Hamburger Hamlet. Doesn't get much better.
--If you need to go to a mall, Ballston Common (easy access via Metro) is the best one I recall.
--And some theater in Georgetown had a midnight Friday showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show.

 

Sweet Mother Mary. What the fuck is a po-boy? Is that your dirty little name for a child sex slave?

 

Let me see if I can offer some perspective here.

Like Simon, I grew up in KC, which has nothing like Imo's. Like a lot of KC kids who come to Mizzou and taste their first St. Louis-style Imoh's, I didn't like it at first. The cheese is different. It's an aquired taste.

But, like many KC kids who learn to acclamate to Columbia's St. Louis leanings, I acquired that taste (and the companionship of a lovely St. Louis girl who has been my wife for 18 years) and now I like Imo's. I also like The Hill, the Cardinals and my in-laws.

Give it a chance, young Simon. It won't kill you to like Imo's just a little.

 

Any suggestions for San Diego?

 

The Newseum is moving to Penna. Ave. and 6th St NW in DC; in the meantime, they've closed the old location and the new place isn't supposed to be ready until '07.

Other than that, Headbutt's right on the money. Never been to Rumors, but made up for it by spending a bunch of time at Sign of the Whale.

 

doc, have dinner at hotel del coronado on coronado island. there are a few restaurants there. i ate at sheerwater.

 

Imo's is fine and all, but if you want a really good pizza in St. Louis, get Elicia's. And if you want the best food in the city, go to the Hill for Italian or head to the South City Diner on South Grand. It's been voted the best diner there forever, and it has great food.
If you decide to head down to Laclede's Landing, a little-known parking tip: If you park in the lot by the President casino, you can go into the casino after you're done drinking and get your ticket validated. It takes a one-time membership fee of $2, and sure beats the $5 or $10 they usually charge to park down there. This also wouldn't be a horrible idea if you're heading to the dome and didn't get a parking pass.
Just don't blow all your money at the casino, which is a pretty bad one anyway.