Putting in the Work: The Donovan Hotel in Washington, DC
August 24, 2016
View from the Donovan
The Donovan has become our home away from home in DC mostly due to the fact that Steph Vogel (the GM) rocks. Room 1110 which we discovered on our previous outing here is well configured for a two day offsite.
We put ourselves to work. We got done.
Working in 1110
The multiple amenities and constant supply of sparkling water helped.
NPS has covered the room in previous entries, so here is a video tour instead.
Sadly everything was not perfect night one, but life rarely is. A trip to the top floor bar led us to the not-cut-out-for-bartending Joel. Some people just don’t know when to leave well enough alone! Suffice it to say:
By contrast, our visit to the Columbia Room was just out of this world. A fantastic evening indeed. Alex Levy was holding down the fort while JP and Derek jet set in Charleston.
Five Course summer menu at the Columbia Room
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Perhaps the Fernet shots and the 1938 Old Overholt pours were bad idea? LOL
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Thanks Alex!
Can’t wait to return to both the Donovan and the Columbia Room in the near future. Five showerheads and a well made Negroni to you both!
Maybe it was the late night Negroni that was the bad idea?
It was a perfect weekend in Virginia (if not hot). Lots of time in the river. An evening playing live music for friends. So how do ease back into work mode? Why with the help of the Donovan hotel of course. My home away from home in DC is particularly welcoming this visit!
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that is the shower pod
You see, my friend Steph Vogel has been holding out on me. But no more! Now we’ve been in 1110. YES!
Welcome
We will pretend that this is a flight of Pappy van Winkle bourbon.
Living room overlooking the circle
This suite is huge.
Bedroom
But the shower is what stands out. A nautilus design with a spiral. Very cool.
The nautilus shower is NPS approved
Without setting foot in an airplane, we’re somehow still pampered beyond belief. Five showerheads for the Donovan. Thanks for ending the weekend on a high note!
Back at The Donovan D.C.
December 9, 2015
No fly nöel is not all it’s cracked up to be this year. No airplanes is nice, but local meetings fill the agenda. After one whole week, we’re back in DC, this time at the Donovan. The Donovan is a Kimpton property run by GM Steph Vogel.
1010 at Night
View from the Donovan
No time this trip meant showing up at midnight. Dang. After dinner at Tabard Inn and a nightcap of Japanese Hirsch 16 bourbon at Jack Rose, the water was pretty much essential.
Thank goodness for sparkling water
Some of our favorite Kimpton things (thanks Steph): a glass shower, water, and power by the bed.
Five showerheads for the Donovan and a wish that this trip to DC were not quite so rushed.
Storm Clouds Gather: Eleven Trips on Deck
September 3, 2015
After a salubrious summer respite from travel, it’s back on the road in a serious way come mid-September. This is good and it’s bad. Let me explain:
1. Washington, DC = GOOD because Kimpton (The Donovan)
2. Boston = BAD because United; GOOD because Kimpton (Hotel Marlowe)
3. Bloomington, Indiana = BAD because United; GOOD because Grant Street Inn
4. NY = BAD because United; GOOD because Kimpton (The Muse)
5. Chicago = BAD because United; GOOD because Kimpton (Palomar)
6. Palo Alto = GOOD because Virgin America; ??? because new hotel
7. Seattle = GOOD because Virgin America; GOOD because Kimpton (Alexis)
8. Pittsburgh = BAD because United; GOOD because Kimpton (Monaco)
9. Denver = BAD because United; ??? because new hotel
10. Las Vegas = BAD because United; BAD because Las Vegas just sucks
11. Hartford = BAD because United; ??? because new hotel
Anyway, we can conclude that flying United is unavoidable when you are stuck flying out of Dulles. Too bad United just sucks. At least the cross country flights are mostly with Virgin America!
We can further conclude that Kimpton is a fantastic hotel chain.
And finally we can conclude that Las Vegas is a living hell, equal parts Disney, porn, and Walmart shoppers.
At each destination, we’ll seek out great cocktails and fantastic food.
Follow along as we blog up the 11 trips. Should be fun.
