Parking is always a challenge in the city so take the Metro to the Dupont Circle station.  To jump start the day, turn left on 19^th and Xando is a couple blocks away. This swanky coffee shop serves a brilliant cup of java. Continue down 19^th and turn right on N then make another right at New Hampshire.

The Heurich Mansion is on the corner at 1307 New Hampshire Ave. This Victorian house and castle-like building is also home to the Historical Society of Washington DC. The library has an extensive collection of the city's history. Christian Heurich, a German immigrant who achieved great success in the beer industry, incorporated various styles of architecture to build his mansion. The interior is splendidly intact and gives one a picture of what it was like to be wealthy in the late 19^th century. Afterwards, cross the street and turn right on 20^th. Take 20^th to Q then turn right and follow Q to Connecticut Ave.

Wrapworks is on the corner across the street. Fresh and hearty "wraps", a burrito-like meal with your choice of fillings, is the staple here. Itïs good, reasonably priced, and quick. Place your order at the counter, find a seat, and take in the hustle-bustle of the diverse lunch crowd as you wait for it to be brought to you. I suggest taking lunch early because every place gets busy in the afternoon. If you are not into wraps, thereïs a ton of other food choices, as you will have noticed.

For the movie buff, this part of Connecticut Ave. was used to film a scene in "Enemy of the State". Remember the chase sequence when the biker was run over in the beginning?

The Anderson House and the Phillips Collection will be the next 2 stops. Take Q to 21^st and turn left then make a right on Massachusetts. Look closely for 2118, the museum sign in the yard marks the Anderson House. Just like any home, youïll need to ring the doorbell to gain entrance to this museum. After signing the registry, a docent gives you a guided tour. As the name suggests, this place was formerly the seasonal residence of Lars Anderson, a former diplomat and descendant of a Revolutionary War leader.  Essentially, this extravagant house is now a showcase of his personal items and library for the Society of Cincinnati. The members are direct descendants of the officers who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.  The tapestries, marble, paintings and other art objects were acquired during Lars Andersonïs global travels.

Go back to 21^st and turn left.  After you cross Q Street, the Phillips Collection will be on the left side.  Walking through the neighborhood, it's hard not to notice the international flags hanging outside some of the houses.  Look closely at the license plates and you'll see the special "D" denoting diplomatic plates. The Phillips Collection is not only America's first museum of Modern Art but also a place with the best wood floors and fireplaces.  It was the home of Duncan Phillips, a man who had an eye for emerging artists during the early 20^th century. Now, each of the rooms makes up the different galleries.  Some of the works include some famous names like Cezanne, Renoir, Van Gogh, Monet and Manet, Picasso and even Americans like Hopper and O'Keefe.

Turn right on Massachusetts Avenue and you'll soon be surrounded by more of the embassies making up Embassy Row.  Many of the world's US Embassies are located along this avenue.   At 22nd Street, turn left for 2 blocks and the famous Brickskeller is on the left.  This saloon and restaurant has a menu with more than 850 beers and is considered a city institution.  Across the street is a statue of Taras Shevchenko, a Ukrainian poet and freedom fighter.  On a sunny day, the statue makes for a great picture especially with the Church of the Pilgrims looming in the background.