DC By the Book

Excerpt: There is certainly no grand hotel in Washington that looks less grand than the Madison. It is somewhat like a prosperous insurance company or perhaps something to do with banking. Inside, however, it looks reasonably spiffy as long as you don't worry too much about the size of the public spaces.... Of course the Madison's usual clientele of princes and millionaires is not given to hanging around in the lobby. There are some real antiques around and some gold leaf. A piano that they won't let you play.... But the main dining room was the place to be in Washington if you wanted to have excellent food, perfect service, and elegant surroundings It was a place that made Washington Post reporters nervous because sometimes the publisher or the executive editor ate there.