125th Anniversary

Artful Stay

Dedicated readers of our blog may recall that I’ve written about the popularity of art hotels around the world and the start of something similar in Indianapolis. On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., I picked the Palomar, a boutique Kimpton Hotel, for my stay for just this reason.

The Kimpton Hotel brand seeks to give each of its hotels a unique personality and story for visitors to enjoy. Hotel Palomar in particular focuses on “Art in Motion” by providing rooms with sleek sophisticated, artsy design, kids’ art supplies and games to awaken creativity and nightly wine receptions at which artists often speak arranged through a partnership with the Smithsonian and Phillips Collection. In fact, the hotel staff has been trained by the Washington DC ballet “to serve you with the utmost grace.” Read the rest of this entry »

Inked Souls

I recently checked out the new National Harbor on a trip to Washington, D.C. The highlight of the visit to the harbor was a commercial art gallery filled with marketing magic. The National Harbor is a new 300-acre development along the Potomac River that opened in the spring of 2008. While the towering glass convention center and many of the restaurants, hotels, shops and pier are open, there are still businesses in construction, including plans for the National Children’s Museum.

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