BlackAtlas Travel Expert-at-Large Nelson George takes you on a tour of our nation's capital.

I recently flew on an American Airlines flight non-stop from Nashville,TN to Washington, DC. It's always great to be able to fly into "National" Airport, because depending on the time of day, you can be in the city in a matter of moments.

On this particular trip, after full days of meetings, I was able to experience some great jazz at several different venues. The first was at HR-57 on 14th Street NW in what is called the Logan Circle area, where I heard the outstanding saxophonist Antonio Parker. Next up, and literally right up the street on historic U Street, is Twins Jazz which featured drummer Nasar Abaday, and Bohemian Caverns, with saxophonist Jimmy Greene on the bandstand. If that weren't enough, performing that same weekend in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts KC Jazz Club, were pianist Jonathan Batiste, and The Carl Allen and Rodney Whitaker Project. Over in Georgetown at Blues Alley, there was more jazz, with bassist Buster Williams and his Something More Quartet featuring Patrice Rushen, Cindy Blackman, Steve Wilson.

Finally, to make the weekend complete, I returned to The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing …

Intrigued by the onsite garden where seasonal herbs, vegetables and greens are grown and harvested for use in the restaurant’s dishes, my girlfriend and I headed to lunch at Poste Moderne Brasserie, located inside the former mail sorting room of the historic 1855 General Post Office. Forced to take public transportation as my car was buried under a pile of snow from a recent blizzard, I was pleased to find that Poste was located in the heart of Penn Quarter and a short walking distance from the China Town Metro stop. Neighboring venues like the Verizon Center, Shakespeare Theater and the National Portrait Gallery make the restaurant an ideal spot for pre- and post-event dining.

Upon entering I immediately noticed the chic interior, featuring original skylights, plush banquettes and a comfy waiting area where my girlfriend was sitting, awaiting my arrival.

We were greeted immediately by the host and seated in one of the plush booths. On the way to our table we passed the bar, which is surrounded by a glassed-in pavilion and serves select small plates and an array of handcrafted cocktails, local Virginia wines and organic and small-batch beer selections. We were also …