Staycation: Yours Truly DC
The Hotel
I really can’t say enough about the overall vibe of Yours Truly. It’s modern in design, eclectic in decor, and soulful in feel. In the lobby and lounge you might hear Marvin Gaye over the speakers or Biggie or Erykah Badu. You might find an armchair that feels traditional like one you would sit in at home, but you also can find a seat in a chair shaped like a hand that feels unconventional.
The hotel employees are so kind and helpful from the front desk to valet to the restaurant staff. Not only can you dine downstairs at Mercy Me Restaurant, there’s space to work remotely in the lounge, a bar to grab a drink, and even a record shop, which is certainly nothing I’ve ever seen before in a hotel. I booked online, had absolutely no problems checking in or out, and everything was exactly as I expected it to be.
Room 945
I stayed in a premium king which was more than enough space for just me. I absolutely loved the room layout and decor. There are these interesting pieces of furniture, accents and artwork all over the hotel, which is really the reason I chose it. It’s very chic, which I knew ultimately would make a great place for me to shoot and make great content. The bed is truly very comfortable and there was plenty of desk space for me to work when I needed to. I think the next time I stay I’d love to stay in a suite that has a separate sitting/work area.
In the room, there are all of the things you would usually get like toilet paper, towels, body wash, etc. but there also were things that weren’t standard like slippers, a robe, and a laundry bag- things you may forget or may not necessarily have room to pack in your bag. I love to stay in a hotel or airbnb that has little thoughtful touches like this, because it really helps bridge the gap between home and away.
Mercy Me Restaurant
Conveniently, there’s a restaurant, Mercy Me, right downstairs in the hotel lobby. I ate here two of the three nights that I stayed. The burger was my absolute favorite entree. It had sofrito on it, which I wasn’t sure about because I’ve never had it. It turns out that it’s like a cheese sauce that is really delicious. I also had the Gilbert pizza that had chorizo, habanero honey, tomato sauce, provolone and mozzarella cheese. I’ve had better pizza, but it was decent and filling. I also ordered two drinks- the Pachamama (rum, scotch, passion fruit, banana, buffalo whey, lime) and the Kick Ass Colada (coconut, caramelized pineapple, rum). I enjoyed the first more than the second.
I loved that I could make a reservation online and that I was seated immediately when I got there. I also felt the same way about the decor and seating in the restaurant as I did the room. I ate alone both nights so I really had time to sit and admire the design of the lobby, lounge and bar. I don’t mind eating alone in restaurants, but there’s also the option to order takeout from the restaurant if you don’t want to eat in.
How I Spent My Time
When I travel, I usually have a full itinerary because I typically go somewhere I’ve never been, meaning I try to see and do as much as I can. With this trip, though, I had nothing planned but shooting content and resting. Because of covid and the cold weather, I’ve been either shooting at home or waiting for a really nice day to try to get a few photoshoots in. Here at Yours Truly, the room fit my aesthetic so well that I could shoot in the room and get content I loved. On both of the full days I had there, I started the day by shooting photos, then reel content, then I edited, ate dinner and then relaxed for the rest of the evening. By relax I mean I watched and finished what I had left of Living Single (great show, btw).
Recently, I’ve had some changes to my home space that mean more traffic and noise, so this was an opportunity to just getaway to a space that was quiet, with just my things, doing exactly what I wanted to do by myself. Needless to say, I enjoyed it and could definitely see myself making staycations like this a regular thing.
