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DC Hotel Help: Where To Send A Stylish Teacher This Weekend

Where: 1155 14th St NW [map], Washington, DC, United States, 20005

Donovan House

HotelChatter Questions: In which, the intrepid HotelChatter editors and our hotel maven readers answer hotel questions that pop into our inbox. Have a question for us? Send it along. Think you have a better answer than we gave, or better yet, want to give a vote of confidence to our answer? Comment away below.

As hotel geeks we understand the concept of being teacher’s pet at school, which is why, this week, we’re helping out a teacher reader who’s looking for a hotel in Washington, DC. He writes:

I'm going to DC this weekend for Teach For America's 20th anniversary event. If anyone decides to annihilate DC off the map this weekend, this country is sh-t out of luck on the public education/social justice best and brightest front! Might try the Thompson Hotel (Donovan House) there; have you been and do you have a favorite DC hotel?

Yes, sir, indeed we have. We stayed at Donovan House when it was brand new, and we liked it a lot for its comfy beds, stylish digs, Kiehls amenities and, most importantly, its cocoon showers. And, of course, if you meet a lady teacher who gets you all hot under the collar (*Disclaimer: we know neither this reader’s marital status nor his sexual preference), you can smoosh in style at a teacher-friendly price.

Room rates are extremely reasonable, too – they start at $109 this weekend, and include free WiFi if you want to upload some photos to make your students jealous. In fact, the only thing we didn't like about the place, is that there was no view as such - you're looking at the street, and there's not much of interest on that street.

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Play First Lady With The St. Regis Washington D.C.'s Latest Offer

Where: 923 16th St NW [map], Washington, D.C., United States, 20005

With plans for a D.C. weekend this fall, we're totally psyched about seeing Michelle Obama's Jason Wu inaugural gown at the National Museum of American History. Now we're wondering if we should splash out and have a much more presidential experience, with the First Ladies: American Style at the White House package at the St. Regis Washington D.C.

Forget the Real Housewives! We want to live it up like a First Lady. So if we can rustle up the $509 a night necessary, here's what we'd choose to do over being tacky and crashing a White House party...

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Hilton Garden Inn in DC Kicks Off Curling Expo Today (Yes, Curling!)

Where: 815 14th Street NW [map], Washington, DC, United States, 20005

Looking to get your curling on this weekend? No, not hair curling. Real curling, the Olympic sport where people throw a kettle down a sheet of ice and start sweeping up immediately after it.

Ok, so maybe that isn't the most technical way to describe curling but if you are curious about this sport and want to learn how to play it, pop into the Hilton Garden Inn at 14th and I streets NW in Washington DC where the hotel will be hosting a three-day curling exposition.

This particular hotel is actually the official hotel of the US Curling Association and the hotel's general manager (a curling fanatic) has gone to great lengths to get the curling expo set up at the hotel, including making a few trips to Canada. But he still needed the help of others. The Washington Post reports:

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Washington Marriott at Metro Center Gets Spiffed Up

Where: 775 12th St Nw [map], Washington, DC, United States, 20005

In recent years, Washington DC's downtown has transformed into a destination you might actually want to hang out. Or at the very least, those safe-clean-friendly claims being made about it a few years ago are now much closer to being true! Think haute restaurants, quality theatre and galleries, and much, much more foot traffic. (There's even a trendier name for the 'hood: Penn Quarter.)

For Marriott's part, they've responded to the neighborhood's spiffier image with an $11 million renovation at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center, just in time to celebrate the hotel's 15-year anniversary. The 459-room hotel recently unveiled its new contemporary look and feel, which includes 32-inch plasma screen TVs, tech-friendly plug-in panels, and check-in self-serve kiosks. In the lobby, "semi-private seating nooks" give comfortable spaces for guests to work or mingle, particularly thanks to the free WiFi.

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Live Out Your National Geographic Dreams at the Loews Madison

Where: 1177 15th St Nw [map], Washington, DC, United States, 20005

We’ll admit, we’ve always been suckers for a good pile of in-room magazines. But the Loews Madison in DC is offering something even better — the chance to step into, literally, one of everyone’s favorite magazines, National Geographic. To coincide with the National Geographic Museum’s upcoming exhibit, “Terra Cotta Warriors,” the Loews Madison is celebrating its close proximity — two blocks away — with a package deal.

The “National Geographic Museum Terra Cotta Warriors” package features two premium “anytime” tickets to the museum exhibition, overnight “deluxe” accommodations, and a 20-percent discount at the NatGeo store.

The exhibit runs Nov. 19 through March 31, showcasing 15 terra cotta warriors and other artifacts from the tomb of China’s first emperor, from stone armor and weapons to coins and bronze vessels.

Package rates start at $149 and is available throughout the exhibition run.

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Buy Champagne, Get a Free Night's Stay at the DC Sofitel

Where: 806 15th St Nw [map], Washington, DC, United States, 20005

Few things make an ordinary evening sparkle quite like, well, good bubbly. (Not that we’re all that experienced in the realm of actual good-quality Champagne, mind you, but even the cheapo bottles of Andre always seemed to do the trick in college.)

So we imagine a nice bottle of Champagne would have the same effect on what might otherwise be a relatively ordinary — albeit, yes, fancypants — stay at the Sofitel in Washington, DC. The top-tier French hotel has paired with Champagne Pommery to inject DC with a double-dose of classic French luxury. Patrons of the hotel’s bar who purchase a $299 bottle of the Cuvée Louise 1998 Champagne will receive quite a nice reward: a free night’s stay at the hotel.

The offer fizzles Dec. 31 and is available with or without reservations (based on availability, obviously). Weekend rates for the next month at the Sofitel start anywhere from $175 (Halloween weekend) to $330 (tonight).

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Donovan House's Pool Looks Like More Fun Than Thompson LES's

Where: 1155 14th St Nw [map], Washington, DC, United States, 20005

Thompson's track record has been not so good with their outdoor pool scene. Well, back up: that's kind of a vast generalization based on the issues the NYC Lower East Side neighbors have (quite vocally) had with the pool crowd at the Thompson LES — namely, it's loud and obnoxious.

But mmm, doesn't this shot of DC's Donovan House's pool get you going a little bit? This space, which was (unfortunately or fortunately, depending on who you are) "modeled after the exclusive A60 at 60 Thompson in New York and ABH at Thompson Beverly Hills," is officially called Above D.C. (ADC). We're not quite sure what the scene is like up there during its first seasonal go-round (but feel free to tell us), but it sure does look posh, doesn't it?

It's rockin' a full service bar and lots of food from chef Susur Lee's Zentan, Brazilian Ipe decking and, yes, Cherry Blossom Trees — and you can sip on that infamous signature cocktail from A60, “The Thom”, while you're up there.

Meanwhile, we'd like to add this: Zentan needs to get its website together.

[Photo: InspirationDC]

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Donovan House's Zentan Restaurant Menu Revealed

Where: 1155 14th St Nw [map], Washington, DC, United States, 20005

As we announced somewhat exuberantly Monday, the Donovan House in DC has finally officially opened its embattled restaurant Zentan by chef Susur Lee. We’ll spare you another rehashing of the details, but needless to say, we’re all a little shocked the place finally seems to be up and running (they’re even on Open Table, like, um, a normal restaurant).

And there’s more! Though the restaurant's website remains black and white and a little creepy, Washingtonian magazine has revealed Zentan’s menu in its entirety, plus a few interior photos.

Check out the Washingtonian story for the full menu. For our part, here are a few highlights:

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Hotel Resaurants / Thompson Hotels / Susur Lee / Washington DC Hotels / → All Tags

Zentan at Donovan House Opens Today

Where: 1155 14th St Nw [map], Washington, DC, United States, 20005

An older rendering for Cha restaurant; now called Zentan.

Alright, restaurant at Donovan House: let's try this again, shall we? The restaurant formerly known as Cha was soft-opening for a while and had Todd English's name all over it, but then English went bye-bye and Susur Lee, the Toronto Chef behind Thompson LES's Shang, took over the kitchen side of things.

And so now Zentan has been born — and the restaurant opens today. We don't quite know much about the menu, though, because the website doesn't seem to be up and running (er, or anything beyond totally skeletal black and white nothingness) but here is what we do know:

The restaurant will feature Chef Lee's bold and inventive approach to pan Asian cuisine, and the menu will feature favorites from Shang in NYC and his restaurant, Lee in Toronto. The menu will also feature a selection of sushi, sashimi and Asian crudos available at the rooftop lounge this summer.

We will wait patiently for that rooftop stuff to be happening; in the meantime, if you have a chance to check out Zentan, let us know what the scene is lookin' like. The resto's phone number is 202.379.7066.

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Cha-Cha-Cha Changes at DC’s Donovan House

Where: 1155 14th St Nw [map], Washington, DC, United States, 20005

Loyal readers know that we’ve been keeping a pretty close eye on the Donovan House in Washington DC — in particular the hotel’s trendy Asian fusion resto, Cha. And every time we’ve reported a delay, Hanson sighting, or soft opening, we’ve mentioned diligently that the place boasts chef Todd English at the helm.

But! DC is all abuzz about the latest news from Cha, in which Todd English is out, celeb Toronto chef Susur Lee is in. (Lee also heads up the kitchen at Shang at Thompson LES.)

For now, Cha is called, simply, Donovan House Restaurant and continues to operate as a sushi and cocktail bar. Word from Donovan House is that Lee’s full menu should be ready by the end of May. When that happens, the name will surely change though they’re not giving details yet.

Oh, and Zagat says to look for rooftop sushi this summer. But given past delays, we won’t hold our breath.

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Cherry Blossoms, with a Side of Do-Goodery

Where: 1177 15th St Nw [map], Washington, DC, United States, 20005

January’s inauguration may be just a history book lesson now, but in DC, hope springs eternal. Well, at least when it comes to cherry blossom cheer — from hotel packages to cherry-themed cocktails and menu specials.

We especially like the cherry blossom package at Loews Madison Hotel for its do-good twist. Guests who book the “Cherry Blossom Blooms” package help support the replacement and maintenance of the city’s cherry tree grove along the Tidal Basin, as well as the blossoms in East and West Potomac Parks, considering a portion of each package’s profits is donated to the National Capital Region Cherry Tree Replacement Fund. And if all that goodwill isn’t sweet enough, well, guests can gorge themselves with a pound of very cherry Jelly Belly beans.

Package rates start at $205 a night and are available March 28 through April 12.

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Donovan House's Restaurant Finally Open for Business

Where: 1155 14th St Nw [map], Washington, DC, United States, 20005

No question about it, Jan. 21 was a day of hope in Washington, D.C. Skeptics and optimists alike found common ground in the ushering in of a new era. We speak, of course, of the looong-awaited opening of the Donovan House’s restaurant by Todd English. Apparently, Cha quietly opened its doors that day to the public with a limited menu, explained by way of “soft-opening” status.

Cha, which means tea in Chinese, is being described as Asian fusion. So far, they’re only serving sushi but a grand opening is in the non-specific future. Mid-to-late February is our best guess, as seen in this Craigslist ad seeking help for its front-of-house positions.

This being a Thompson hotel, the place attracted its share of celebrities over inauguration weekend for exclusive events, including Jon Bon Jovi, Lenny Kravitz, and Sheryl Crow (as you might recall), according to local D.C. rag The Hill.

The Hill also reported that English bragged about apparently finding a fan in Bon Jovi, who raved about “off-the-charts” sushi and beef skewers. (Side note: Does anyone else wonder if it’s embarrassing to speak in rockstar clichés like “off-the-charts?”)

Cha opens each night at 5:30 p.m.