The Capital Region USA is a destination with something for everyone. 2013 brings even more exciting opportunities ranging from new restaurants, wineries, hotels, spas and more. See below for notable newcomers to the Capital Region USA.
Washington, DC
Capella Washington, DC, which opens in February 2013, is located on the Picturesque C&O Canal and Rock Creek Park in Georgetown and boasts 49 classic guest rooms, 12 grand suites, a rooftop lounge and ‘infinity’ pool, spa and fitness centre, ‘world class’ restaurants, and a stunning ‘Capella’ living room complete with a two-story fireplace. The Capella’s bespoke service includes a personal assistant available 24/7 to arrange airport logistics, after-hours shopping at exclusive stores, private museum tours or even backstage access at the Washington Ballet.
CityCenterDC is an ambitious mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly development located on the site of the former convention center. On a par with the greatest urban centers, CityCenterDC will be Downtown’s signature community where an unmatched mix of condominiums, apartments, offices, public spaces, restaurants, shops and a hotel blend for a vibrant urban experience. The 10-acre parcel of land, located east of the White House in the heart of DC, will be situated across five city blocks. The first phase of the project will be completed in 2013 and will include more than 185,000 square feet of retail, 458 rental apartments, 216 condominium units and 520,000 square feet of office space, as well as underground parking with more than 1,500 spaces, and nearly an acre of public outdoor space.
A $35 million renovation of Union Station will be completed in April and will upgrade nearly every part of the historic building. Visitors to Union Station will be able to easily access not only the east train concourse, but also a vast array of shops and restaurants, as well as the historic Main Hall in the front of the Station. Retail and dining will be added
to the existing 140 or so shops and restaurants. In addition to popular train service, an intercity bus deck has been installed and a DC streetcar platform accessing the H Street corridor.
The H Street Corridor Street Cars are looking at a 2013 opening date. The DC Streetcar will make travel within the District much easier for residents, workers and visitors, and it will complement the existing transit options. The 37-mile network of streetcars will connect retail, restaurants, offices and attractions on one of the city’s trendiest streets, and planning is underway for additional segments across the city.
Virginia
The luxurious Salamander Resort & Spa, (Middleburg) due to open in August 2013, boasts 168 guest rooms and 17 suites, a grand ballroom, spa, infinity pool, state-of-the-art fitness centre, library, access to a golf course, and a pond and bird watching area. Set in 340 acres of stunning countryside, the resort offers impressive facilities for country pursuits, including a horse centre and a 22-stall stable for guests who wish to bring their horse, a 23,000 square foot spa with ‘treehouse’ treatment rooms overlooking woodland and a remote stream, and an equestrian-themed restaurant.
Canyon Ranch SpaClub® at The Homestead (Hot Springs) opens spring of 2013. When it comes to the spa world, nothing says luxury, innovation and healing transformation better than Canyon Ranch. A signature feature will be Aquavana®, an exclusive European-inspired aquathermal oasis with experiential rains, herbal laconium, a chill room and crystal steam room focused on the ancient concept of “healing by water” as practiced for centuries in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Fed by mineral spring waters drawn from the surrounding mountains, the Aquavana experience aligns harmoniously with The Homestead’s historic healing tradition of “taking the waters” which has drawn travelers since the mid 1700s, including Thomas Jefferson. A year-round sanctuary for adults only, Jefferson Springs features indigenous hot springs, therapeutic geothermal mineral bath, river reflexology bed, co-ed Finnish sauna, spring-fed whirlpool, and private poolside cabanas. The refuge is accessed via walking paths warmed with radiant heat.
The LINCOLN Movie Trail, (Richmond & Petersburg) Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster movie filmed entirely in the Richmond/Petersburg area, is packing theaters around the world and heading for Oscar honors. The Lincoln Movie Trail pinpoints film locations as well as sites favored and frequented by stars such as Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones and the producer/director himself. The real Abraham Lincoln visited both Richmond and Petersburg in the closing days of the Civil War. Visitors can follow his historic path afoot or on Segways.
The President’s Photographer: Fifty Years Inside the Oval Office, a National Geographic exhibition featuring dozens of rarely seen images of recent U.S. presidents through the eyes of their official photographers, will be on display at the Virginia Historical Society from March 4 – July 8, 2013. Featuring images taken in tense times and on joyous occasions, the show explores the role of the president’s photographer, documenting for history every possible aspect of presidency. The exhibition also includes the National Geographic documentary about Pete Souza, President Obama’s chief White House photographer, which will be shown at the top of each hour.
Maryland
Washington County’s Red Heifer Winery held its official opening on Nov. 27, 2012. The winery is located on 100 acres of family-owned farmland between Smithsburg and Cascade on Raven Rock Road. On their web site, owners Kevin and Yvonne Ford say “the sloping hillside (at an elevation of 1,500 feet) with a southeast orientation is the
location for growing grapes.” The winery is open Thursday through Sunday (by appointment on Thursdays and Fridays in January, February and March). Call or e-mail the winery, 301-824-5210, for information.
Tanger Outlet Center at National Harbor is scheduled to open by the third quarter of 2013. The facility will stretch over 335,000 square feet on 35 acres and plans to feature at least 90 different brands. This will be the first Tanger-branded outlet center in the D.C. area.
Everyman Theatre, the newest addition to the Tower A&E District, opened January 2013. Everyman is located in a venue that was known as The Empire when it hosted vaudeville performances back in 1910. It later became The Palace – controversial for its burlesque shows – and then the Town Theatre, which once welcomed actor Jimmy Stewart and director Frank Capra for an “It’s a Wonderful Life” screening. The venue has been empty for many years, but, with Everyman’s arrival, actors will once again enliven the space.
National Aquarium is opening a new $12.5 million exhibit in the summer of 2013. The Blacktip Reef exhibit will replicate a saltwater Indo-Pacific ocean habitat with creatures new to the aquarium, such as blacktip reef sharks, whiptail rays and wobbegong sharks. One highlight will be the floor-to-ceiling pop- out viewing window that allows visitors to virtually step inside the exhibit to examine the swimming wildlife and corals up close. The Blacktip Reef exhibit will sit where the current Wings in the Water exhibit resides. Many of those animals will be relocated to the aquarium’s Atlantic Coral Reef exhibit.
What's New in the Capital Region 2013
The Capital Region USA is a destination with something for everyone. 2013 brings even more exciting opportunities ranging from new restaurants, wineries, hotels, spas and more. See below for notable newcomers to the Capital Region USA.
Washington, DC
Capella Washington, DC, which opens in February 2013, is located on the Picturesque C&O Canal and Rock Creek Park in Georgetown and boasts 49 classic guest rooms, 12 grand suites, a rooftop lounge and ‘infinity’ pool, spa and fitness centre, ‘world class’ restaurants, and a stunning ‘Capella’ living room complete with a two-story fireplace. The Capella’s bespoke service includes a personal assistant available 24/7 to arrange airport logistics, after-hours shopping at exclusive stores, private museum tours or even backstage access at the Washington Ballet.
CityCenterDC is an ambitious mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly development located on the site of the former convention center. On a par with the greatest urban centers, CityCenterDC will be Downtown’s signature community where an unmatched mix of condominiums, apartments, offices, public spaces, restaurants, shops and a hotel blend for a vibrant urban experience. The 10-acre parcel of land, located east of the White House in the heart of DC, will be situated across five city blocks. The first phase of the project will be completed in 2013 and will include more than 185,000 square feet of retail, 458 rental apartments, 216 condominium units and 520,000 square feet of office space, as well as underground parking with more than 1,500 spaces, and nearly an acre of public outdoor space.
A $35 million renovation of Union Station will be completed in April and will upgrade nearly every part of the historic building. Visitors to Union Station will be able to easily access not only the east train concourse, but also a vast array of shops and restaurants, as well as the historic Main Hall in the front of the Station. Retail and dining will be added
to the existing 140 or so shops and restaurants. In addition to popular train service, an intercity bus deck has been installed and a DC streetcar platform accessing the H Street corridor.
The H Street Corridor Street Cars are looking at a 2013 opening date. The DC Streetcar will make travel within the District much easier for residents, workers and visitors, and it will complement the existing transit options. The 37-mile network of streetcars will connect retail, restaurants, offices and attractions on one of the city’s trendiest streets, and planning is underway for additional segments across the city.
Virginia
The luxurious Salamander Resort & Spa, (Middleburg) due to open in August 2013, boasts 168 guest rooms and 17 suites, a grand ballroom, spa, infinity pool, state-of-the-art fitness centre, library, access to a golf course, and a pond and bird watching area. Set in 340 acres of stunning countryside, the resort offers impressive facilities for country pursuits, including a horse centre and a 22-stall stable for guests who wish to bring their horse, a 23,000 square foot spa with ‘treehouse’ treatment rooms overlooking woodland and a remote stream, and an equestrian-themed restaurant.
Canyon Ranch SpaClub® at The Homestead (Hot Springs) opens spring of 2013. When it comes to the spa world, nothing says luxury, innovation and healing transformation better than Canyon Ranch. A signature feature will be Aquavana®, an exclusive European-inspired aquathermal oasis with experiential rains, herbal laconium, a chill room and crystal steam room focused on the ancient concept of “healing by water” as practiced for centuries in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Fed by mineral spring waters drawn from the surrounding mountains, the Aquavana experience aligns harmoniously with The Homestead’s historic healing tradition of “taking the waters” which has drawn travelers since the mid 1700s, including Thomas Jefferson. A year-round sanctuary for adults only, Jefferson Springs features indigenous hot springs, therapeutic geothermal mineral bath, river reflexology bed, co-ed Finnish sauna, spring-fed whirlpool, and private poolside cabanas. The refuge is accessed via walking paths warmed with radiant heat.
The LINCOLN Movie Trail, (Richmond & Petersburg) Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster movie filmed entirely in the Richmond/Petersburg area, is packing theaters around the world and heading for Oscar honors. The Lincoln Movie Trail pinpoints film locations as well as sites favored and frequented by stars such as Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, Tommy Lee Jones and the producer/director himself. The real Abraham Lincoln visited both Richmond and Petersburg in the closing days of the Civil War. Visitors can follow his historic path afoot or on Segways.
The President’s Photographer: Fifty Years Inside the Oval Office, a National Geographic exhibition featuring dozens of rarely seen images of recent U.S. presidents through the eyes of their official photographers, will be on display at the Virginia Historical Society from March 4 – July 8, 2013. Featuring images taken in tense times and on joyous occasions, the show explores the role of the president’s photographer, documenting for history every possible aspect of presidency. The exhibition also includes the National Geographic documentary about Pete Souza, President Obama’s chief White House photographer, which will be shown at the top of each hour.
Maryland
Washington County’s Red Heifer Winery held its official opening on Nov. 27, 2012. The winery is located on 100 acres of family-owned farmland between Smithsburg and Cascade on Raven Rock Road. On their web site, owners Kevin and Yvonne Ford say “the sloping hillside (at an elevation of 1,500 feet) with a southeast orientation is the
location for growing grapes.” The winery is open Thursday through Sunday (by appointment on Thursdays and Fridays in January, February and March). Call or e-mail the winery, 301-824-5210, for information.
Tanger Outlet Center at National Harbor is scheduled to open by the third quarter of 2013. The facility will stretch over 335,000 square feet on 35 acres and plans to feature at least 90 different brands. This will be the first Tanger-branded outlet center in the D.C. area.
Everyman Theatre, the newest addition to the Tower A&E District, opened January 2013. Everyman is located in a venue that was known as The Empire when it hosted vaudeville performances back in 1910. It later became The Palace – controversial for its burlesque shows – and then the Town Theatre, which once welcomed actor Jimmy Stewart and director Frank Capra for an “It’s a Wonderful Life” screening. The venue has been empty for many years, but, with Everyman’s arrival, actors will once again enliven the space.
National Aquarium is opening a new $12.5 million exhibit in the summer of 2013. The Blacktip Reef exhibit will replicate a saltwater Indo-Pacific ocean habitat with creatures new to the aquarium, such as blacktip reef sharks, whiptail rays and wobbegong sharks. One highlight will be the floor-to-ceiling pop- out viewing window that allows visitors to virtually step inside the exhibit to examine the swimming wildlife and corals up close. The Blacktip Reef exhibit will sit where the current Wings in the Water exhibit resides. Many of those animals will be relocated to the aquarium’s Atlantic Coral Reef exhibit.