Trump wouldn’t stay in this unconventional hotel in pink fit
A home for feminist art.Credit:
Who was masterfully skilled at debate? The Notorious RBG, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the formidable lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the US Supreme Court. Turn to the left and there she is, her familiar bespectacled gaze staring you down from a larger-than-life portrait created by artist Andrea Sheehan and Julie Coyle Art Associates, using 20,000 hand-painted tampons.
On a nearby wall, thousands of hand-pinned protest badges display messages of support for gender equality and female empowerment. “My favourite season is the FALL of the patriarchy” reads one, while another implores us to pay less attention to thigh gaps and more to wage gaps.
Room with a view and views.Credit:
“Art is at the core of Viceroy, it’s part of the storytelling of the community,” says Sherry Abedi, area general manager for the hotel. “Hotel Zena is unique in that the art is solely dedicated to women.”
The theme continues in the guest rooms, where the face of current Associate Justice of the US Supreme Court, Sonia Sotomayor, smiles at me from an embroidered cushion. The “Do Not Disturb” sign informs the cleaning staff that “The Future Needs Privacy”.
Rooftop retreat.Credit:
The accommodation is comfortable and modern, though not particularly luxurious, at the four-star property. A rooftop deck and swimming pool would hold appeal during DC’s sticky summer months.
Breakfast, dinner and weekend brunch is served at Figleaf Bar & Lounge. Along with discounted wines and beers, the happy-hour menu includes a cheeky nod to the woman on the wall in the form of a $10 Ginsburger.
Posing the question …Credit:
Beyond being a convenient place to stay, the main focus of the hotel is on the art and the political messages. On the morning we check out, I notice a photo mural in a corner of the lobby. It features a montage of pictures of demonstrators carrying placards. One stands out: “Make America Kind Again”. We can only hope that message finds bipartisan support.
THE DETAILS
FLY
Qantas codeshares with American Airlines to offer one-stop flights from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Washington via Los Angeles. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) is a 15-minute drive from the hotel; DC’s other airport, Dulles International Airport (IAD), is at least 45 minutes’ drive. See qantas.com.au
STAY
Rooms at Hotel Zena from $US219 ($346) a night, plus taxes. A mandatory guest amenities fee of $US35 a night, per room, is charged at check-in. There are 191 guest rooms, including 17 suites. Thirteen rooms are mobility-/hearing-accessible. See viceroyhotelsandresorts.com
MORE
washington.org
The writer was a guest of Destination DC and Hotel Zena.
