Omni Shoreham- Washington, DC

Years ago, the Omni Shoreham was a fabulous old society hotel, where there was always a good time to be had. A sophisticated space, with an Arts and Crafts flair, it was home to a lively lounge, and hosted countless inaugural balls. It was the place to be seen in Washington. While the Blue Room may be long gone, and it may host more conventions than politicians these days, traces of its grandeur remain.

Located in the leafy Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Woodley Park, not far from the National Zoo, the Omni Shoreham was the brainchild of prolific D.C. developer Harry Bralove. Intended to be a residential hotel, a concept popular in the past, renowned architect Joseph Abel was retained to design the building.

Opening on October 30, 1930, at a cost of over $4 million, the hotel was a blend of architectural styles. Built of blond brick, and sporting Art Deco elements, its rear elevation possesses an Arts and Crafts aesthetic. For many years, a furniture factory in the basement provided the hotel with handmade furnishings. Boasting running ice water, an indoor ice rink, and a rollicking lounge, it quickly became the toast of the town, despite opening in the midst of the Great Depression.

Just a few years after its debut, on March 4, 1933, the Shoreham hosted Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first inaugural ball. A special ramp and elevator was added to accommodate the president. Since then, every president has held a ball at the Shoreham, including Bill Clinton, who famously played his sax during the event. In the early years, the Shoreham was filled with senators, congressmen and diplomats, who lived at the hotel. Harry Truman was a frequent guest, playing poker long into the night with resident Senator Stuart Symington.

Until it closed in 1975, the hotel was probably most well known for its lounge, The Blue Room. Attracting high profile performers such as Benny Goodman, Judy Garland, Tony Bennett and Bob Hope, it was one of the most popular venues in the city. John F. Kennedy even brought Jackie here when they were dating. Sadly, today’s lobby bar is much more low key and generic; a far better option is to take your drinks out on the porch, which is surrounded by Rock Creek Park.

While the Beatles never played The Blue Room, they did rent out the entire 7th floor of the hotel when in town for their first ever United States concert. A set list for the February 11, 1964 show, written on Shoreham stationary, can be found in the lobby. An interesting aside, the show was held at the Washington Coliseum, a long since closed ice arena that was later used as an indoor parking lot and a waste transfer station; when threatened with demolition in 2003, preservationists rallied, and the building was spared. Today it houses an REI.

While the hotel may have lost some of its character over the years, it still has its charms. Traces of history can still be found in its halls, and its hard to beat their patio on a sunny summer day.

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