The place is really nice and very close to Howard University. The closest metro requires some walking (about three blocks) but there is a bus stop nearby. Personally I really loved Sonofka Cafe which was within walking distance and I thought the area and room were very nice. There is a terrace area where you can go out for a smoke but the rooms inside are smoke free.
On the negative side, it can be very noisy because there is a bar downstairs, but Mile offers ear plugs if it's too distracting. The wifi was very spotty and I had trouble connecting with my Mac. That was troublesome for me because I had research I needed to do, but if wifi is not a concern for you then this is a great place.
Also Mike was considerate when I asked for a request to change the check out time. He's a great host!