Jenny & Mark

Whaddya know, The Watergate was booked!

Ah, but we’ve reserved a block of rooms for our wedding guests at the most convenient spot in town:

The Hyatt Regency Bethesda
7400 Wisconsin Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814 (Map)
301-657-1234

This hotel, located in the heart of Bethesda and minutes from the Beltway, is within a short walk of our reception. Hotel amenities include: a rooftop fitness center, indoor pool, two restaurants, and hundreds of shops and other restaurants nearby. We’ve reserved a special rate of $149, good for Friday and/or Saturday night stays.

UPDATE: Our guaranteed hotel block has expired, but the special wedding rate will be honored for as long as rooms are available. So don’t forget to mention the Kyne-Malseed wedding when making reservations.

If you’d like to explore other places to stay, read on (more…)

For our guests who may have a day or two to spend in Washington D.C., here are a few suggestions of sights to see. The weather is usually pretty nice and warm in September. Daytime highs average in the 80s. And down by the Capitol the hypocrites are in full bloom.

Except as noted, all these sites are free and easily accessible via the Metro. Leave from the "Bethesda" stop on the Red Line (just steps from the hotel) and exit at the stops indicated.

Something Old

• Monuments, monuments, monuments. The Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln never fail to move us. Same with the Korean, Vietnam and World War II memorials, all clustered near each other on the National Mall. The light in early morning and late afternoon can be breathtaking. Blue or Orange Line to Smithsonian.

Something New

• The International Spy Museum. ($) One of D.C.'s newest attractions, this fun, interactive museum traces the history and tradecraft of espionage, with large exhibits on World War II and the Cold War. Also has a very cool gift shop. Red Line to Gallery Place/Chinatown.
• National Museum of the American Indian. The most recent addition to the National Mall, this Smithsonian museum chronicles Native American history and folklore. The large, striking yellow stone building sits next to the Air and Space Museum, near the U.S. Capitol. Blue or Orange Line to Smithsonian.

Something Borrowed

• Giant Pandas at the National Zoo. So they're technically on loan from China… That won't stop us from adopting them as our own. When Mark lived in Washington, the cute bamboo-eating bears were his next-door neighbors. They recently produced an adorable cub bear, Tai Shan, who turns 1 this July. Lots of other animals to look at too. Red Line to Woodley Park/Zoo.

Something Blue

• The Potomac. It's more of a brownish-blue, really. But lovely nonetheless, whether you take it in from the Georgetown waterfront, or along the hiking trails of Great Falls. Georgetown features historic homes, D.C.'s best shopping, and plenty of fine restaurants and watering holes along M St. and Wisconsin Ave. Take the Blue or Orange Line to Foggy Bottom (plus a ten-minute walk). Great Falls Park, which spans both the MD and VA banks of the river, is a 15-minute drive from Bethesda, but requires a car.

Keep on reading (more…)

If it’s the other kind of blue you’re looking for in Washington, we understand. Our Nation’s Capital has a colorful history of scandal and intrigue, and what could be more fun (or more Washington) than bringing all those skeletons out of the closet, oh, one more time.

This helpful guide from the Washington Post covers the best of D.C.’s scandal sites, from Watergate to Iran-Contra to Mayor Barry’s drug daze. Who knows, maybe you’ll create one of your own?