Diana's Digs

A Weekend of Pasttimes

2011-02-25T19:35:00.000-08:00

Part 1: Finding Talent

One of the great things about the Washington DC area is the musical talent that we have everywhere. There are live bands, cabarets, musicals, and operas chock full of talented singers and musicians. It is easy to focus on Glee, and Lady Gaga, and other popular musicians, and to forget about who we have right here. But, don't.

Recently in Shirlington's Signature Theater, I saw Katherine Thompson sing in a cabaret. She appeared in "Giant" in a previous Signature season, but in real life, singing her own songs, she really shines. Over the course of her scheduled nightly appearances, she also featured guest singers to give them a chance to sing and shine.

Part of what makes Katherine great is that she has asthma. Any day that she has an asthma attack, she has to take an inhaler which puts particulates on her throat, affecting her voice. Despite this contrary health condition, Katherine "sings through" the hardship with the same passion as on days when her breathing is fine. She does not let something as small as asthma or inhaler stand in her way.

It is easy to find local talent to hear someone passionate and live. Whether you hear Katherine or another singer, go outside your front door. Leave the television, Glee, and American Idol behind -- and find a local band, cabaret, or piano bar, and let yourself enjoy it. Find the talent!

Part 2: Enjoy the Weather!

There are a lot of places to walk around the NoVa and Washington DC area. Over the past few weeks, we have seen hints of Spring, and this invites us outdoors. This afternoon, I walked along a trail in Georgetown with some French-speaking friends. We got exercise, fresh air, and an easy snack afterwards. We were walking along the C&O canal, and some parts of it were what you'd expect ... while other parts had no water! There was a sign at the "Visitor Center" about taking barge rides on the canal. Well, in the photo I include here, you can see the status of that past-time. Nevertheless, we all had a great time. We took advantage of the great weather, though, and had a great time. Below are some resources for you to find places to go walking.

Part 3: The "Other" Air & Space Museum: Udvar-Hazy Center

If you or someone you know has any interest in planes and helicopters, then this is the place for you. There is also a little bit of history that you can see through the scope of air travel evolution. Located in Chantilly, you have the advantage of visiting a larger museum with fewer tourists. Some of the highlights of this museum are the touch screen views of what its like inside the cockpit, and the mix of public and private sector aircraft. Some of the planes that I spotted were Air France, Boeing, a silver-colored Pan Am plane, a Pennzoil plane, and a West Virginia Air Guard plane! Helicopters are highlighted as "vertical flight," pointing out that while these aircraft literally can go up and down, whereas planes glide upward slowly. There are multiple levels that you can stand on to see the planes and helicopters, the floor and a catwalk halfway up to the ceiling. There are also a Cinemax theater and Simulator rides.
If this is a trip for you, here are some suggestions to improve the trip:

Admission is $15 parking per car. Pack a mini-van and split the fee.
The only food there is a McDonalds, if you don't like it you can bring food to eat at an outside picnic table. The museum also will give you lists of restaurants in the area..
Bring extra cash, the Cinemax costs up to $8 per person, and so do the simulator rides.
There are restrooms on the ground floor and catwalk level.
The museum is open 10 - 5:30 daily.

Have fun! I know I did.

Event Alert!

2011-02-02T12:18:00.000-08:00

If you are a parent in the DC area, you love crepes, and you have not yet been to the Hillwood estate (featured in one of my earlier blogs), then I have a treat for you.

The French Alliance is having: La Chandeleur: An Event for Children

Sometimes known as “Crêpe Day,” February 2, or La Chandeleur, is celebrated in France with food and games. The Alliance Française and the Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens invites families to celebrate this holiday in festive French fashion by eating crêpes, listening to a story, and decorating a plate with fanciful designs and flourishes inspired by Hillwood’s French porcelain.

Admission is $15 for non-members, $10 for children, $8 for Hillwood and AF members, Free for children under the age of 2. Reservations are required and may be made at either the AFDC at 202-234-7911 or at the Hillwood at 202-686-5807.

Lost Creek Winery & Speakeasy DC

2011-01-21T14:00:00.000-08:00

Lost Creek Winery

One January Saturday, at around noon, I drove out to Leesburg to join a Meet-Up Group for a ladies'-only event at Lost Creek Winery. It looked like just what I needed to relax, unwind, and have a quiet day while I struggled to fight a cold.

What a gem! At Lost Creek Winery, couples, families, and friends can go for a quick and friendly wine tasting, buy a bottle, and then -- here's the fun part -- sit down at a table in front of the fireplace. Not only that, but you can either bring your own cheese, or buy it there. Sausage and other foods is also available. Then, while you are relaxing with your group, you can hear a soulful singer entertain you.

A visit to this winery is no fancy affair, it is the perfect place to taste and buy wine while also wearing jeans. For those interested in visiting, here is the website: http://www.lostcreekwinery.com/.

Speakeasy DC
Who doesn't love a good story? You can't think of anyone, can you? Are you a good storyteller ... do you want to tell better stories, or know someone who wants to?
I discovered Speakeasy DC when I went with a Meetup group to an open mic event on fashion and clothing. The event started with a professional comedian to break the ice, but it was every day folks like you and me who told the rest of the stories. Some were funny, many were funny, but it is not stand-up comedy or speechgiving. Speakeasy DC has classes on the old-fashioned skill of telling a story. The open mic events are pre-planned, so you can not sign up upon showing up for the event, but you don't have to take a class to participate.
If you're wondering how entertaining the events are, I was so inspired by the event that I went to, that I signed up for the next open mic topic: Grass is Greener. How easy is that?! I don't think there's a soul who can say they haven't looked at someone and said, 'your grass is greener than mine!' I'm not talking about yards, FYI. ;-)
For classes or events, or to sign-up to participate in an open mic night go to: http://www.speakeasydc.com/
Have some fun!

Dumbarton Oaks!

2010-11-14T16:17:00.000-08:00

Here in the DC area, in early November, we still have some delicious Fall weather. The leaves are turning or have turned, and it is still warm enough to walk around without bundling up.
I decided to savor this climate, which we all know can turn on a dime, to enjoy Dumbarton Oaks public park, garden, and museum.

The public park

The official Dumbarton Oaks grounds only open at 2 PM in the winter (which starts November 1), but is free in the "winter season" which is a savings over the high season cost of admission ($8/ adult, $5 for each child and senior citizen). I arrived early, so I began my tour of Dumbarton by going for a walk in the park literally next to the Dumbarton Oak grounds. The park has an informal dog run, and paths where local families took their kids for a picnic, and some just went for a joyous Fall afternoon. The public park is very natural and beautiful, with a small stream that is evidently popular with children. There is no public rest room.

Dumbarton Oak garden

In the Fall season, the Dumbarton Oaks grounds are not crowded, which is nice for everybody. Parents let their children run loose without worrying they would bother other guests, and everyone got a sense of having the grounds somewhat to themselves. The grounds are large, which you get a hint of by the large front yard leading up to the house. They include terraces, a rose garden, fountains, and sculptures. Parents might want to note that there is only one bathroom stall available for public use in the green house.

Dumbarton Oak museum

The house itself is closed to the public, but around the corner is a museum entrance, which the last private owner of Dumbarton Oaks is individually responsible for. The last private owner, Mr. Robert Woods Bliss collected Byzantine and pre-Columbian art, including armor, gold pieces, and ceramics, while he owned the grounds. He also created an enormous music room which earns the envy of any present-day entertainer. The music room has 15th and 16th century furniture and a mural dated 1928 in a back alcove. On the right upon entering, it has a beautiful old piano. The basement has public restroom for visitors -- I recommend these restrooms to parents who are spending the afternoon at Dumbarton! But remember, it only opens at 2 PM.

Bonus Information

Like many of the large and beautiful homes of earlier times, the grounds were used for historical events. Dumbarton Oaks hosted the "1944 Conversations", a meeting of American, British, Russian, and Chinese diplomats and statesmen who met to discuss and negotiate for international peace, friendly relations, international cooperation, and reaching common ends.

Dumbarton Oaks has a relaxed outdoor element to it, as well as educational elements. It is up to the guest what he or she gets out of it. I will tease you with one fact though -- the house started with the Rock of Dumbarton in 1702!

National Harbor Revisited

2010-10-02T14:41:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I attended an event at National Harbor, but without photos or the chance to visit the village, could not do it justice for you. Well, I liked National Harbor so much, that I went back to get a sense of it so you could hear more about it, and see photos as well.
First of all, the website tries to make you think that "National Harbor" is a city for an address. It isn't. No GPS will have the city listed as such -- its Oxon Hill, Maryland. You can drive there and park, which is $3 / hour, or take the pricey ferry from Alexandria, which is $8 one way, $16 round-trip.
The National Harbor, a new gem that is essentially south of Washington DC, across the Potomac from Alexandria and Mount Vernon, is still developing. It is, however, developing into a cross between Reston Town Center and Shirlington -- but on the water, with restaurants and even condos that have a view. Cute and hip, National Harbor has sit-down restaurants and a Pot Belly, Ben & Jerry's and a gelato place, a Majorga coffee shop (thank God not another Starbucks) and a Fossil store. It has a cute pet shop, a hotel right there, an established event area, and is down the road from Gaylord. Today, the event area had a lobsterfest!

New and clean, National Harbor is a place to go on a sunny day for a bike ride, a meal, and a stroll. For the stroll, I can recommend walking between National Harbor's "downtown" area and Gaylord. It really is a beautiful area, and this time I have photos to prove it!

National Harbor & Oktoberfest

2010-09-26T11:01:00.000-07:00

This weekend I discovered not only the first of the area's Oktoberfest celebrations, but also our newly developed National Harbor.
Oktoberfest is an activity for beer-drinking groups whether the group members drink in moderation or excess. There were two kinds of tickets: regular or VIP. Regular ticket holders are given 6 chips for the price of admission and a plastic mug. Each chip buys the drinker 2 oz of a taste of beer. VIP members pay $20 per ticket but have unlimited tastes of beer and their cup is filled up to 6 oz per taste. The event was filled with 20 somethings and was sprinkled with attendees in costume. There were vending booths who might have sold goods, but the populace there was, without a doubt, there for the beer. Bratwurst and knockwurst were sold in addition to potato pancakes and regular fair food. To get there, you could drive and park, take the water taxi from Alexandria, or take a taxi from anywhere nearby. The water taxi is a pleasant but pricey experience compared to drive and park, but worth taking once.
The real treat of the event being at the National Harbor was the harbor itself. Maryland had invested in creating an attraction, and succeeded. Cirque du Soleiel has chosen to stage this year's Washington DC area show at the Harbor, and people from all around go to the National Harbor for shopping and eating on the waterfront. There are even public bathrooms that are well-maintained and a beach with a statue of Poseidon lying in the sand.
I did not remember my camera for this event, but I encourage readers to Google search the National Harbor in Maryland, and if you haven't been there, give it a try. There is plenty of pleasant walking space, as well as a nice area for shopping and eating. I plan to take out of town visitors there!

Signature Theater Cabaret: 4 Stars!

2010-09-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

There are two things that make a cabaret great: a good music selection, and great talent. The first of the new cabaret series, The Lost Songs Of Broadway, 1950-1960 featured many songs that were omitted from musicals or were written for musicals that never got to the stage. As the singers point out, that doesn't mean the songs aren't good. The combination of songs tonight included humor, sentiment, secrets, sadness, and almost always, love. What made these songs great were the three powerhouse voices that sang the songs.

There were two women and a young man, a soprano, a mezzo-soprano/alto, and a tenor. The soprano, Erin Driscoll, has a soaring powerful soprano that is widely heard without being shrill. And Erin applies a healthy dose of acting so that you really get the feeling of the song.

The mezzo, Sherri Edelen, is an experienced singer with humor, versatile mood singing, and joyous ease.
The young tenor, Jake Odmark, is a welcome returning face to Signature. He gets appropriately into the mood of the songs, which has presented difficulty for past tenors. He also enjoys the female company that he sings with.
Every song was sung well and the pianist also applied clever and entertaining accompaniment.

The question on my mind, now and always, is why the young sophisticates of the area have not yet learned to enjoy the cabarets at Signature. If the joy of great singing isn't enough, any audience member can bring wine and a cheese board, dinner, or dessert into the theater -- as long as you buy it there.

For those of you with a sense of adventure for culture, I urge you to buy tickets to the cabaret. You will not be disappointed!

Chess Musical in Shirlington

2010-09-17T14:14:00.000-07:00

The new musical season has begun at Signature Theater, and my first show was "Chess". You may remember that "Chess" was first staged in 1986, and the song "One Night in Bangkock" became a hit. The musical, up against "Cats", "Phantom of the Opera", and other big hits, did not survive on Broadway in New York City. The benefit of a theater like Signature in Shirlington is that good musicals -- unique shows -- can have their chance to be seen.

My first observation about this musical was the obvious talent that was hired for the cast. In a theater as small as the one in Signature, every audience member sees the detail of anger in the eye, and hardness of the firm-set mouth. There were so many times that the cast conveyed the feeling so well, that the man who sat next to me became uncomfortable! He wasn't accustomed to being so close to so much passion.

Unlike some easy-going musicals of earlier eras, "Chess" is edgy, full of songs from angst-ridden people. It is, after all, set during the Cold War. And the chess match that the musical's name is based on is between a Soviet and American. As if that rivalry isn't enough, the American's "second", an attractive blond woman, has a love affair with the Soviet player. All the conflict and passion that theater lovers go to see is based on these three characters; and the actors put everything they have into the show. Sparks fly and emotions run wild!

A final nod to the audience that the song writers put together are the background songs for each major character. The Soviet sings about what its like to be an ambitous player controlled by his nation; the American male sings about why he's such a jerk -- his terrible childhood; and the woman sings about how she got herself into a situation that she hates -- and how hard it is to get out of it.

In the grand finale, you see the struggle for happiness and the strain it puts on the three main characters. I could hear audience members sitting behind me sniffling back their tears by the time the actors came out to take their bow.

Last time I saw "Chess" was in London, in 1986. The musical has waited a long time to return to the stage, and I am glad to see it back. If you like musicals and don't want to pay a lot of money, try Chess. You will not be disappointed.

City Culture in a Small Village

2010-08-24T17:39:00.000-07:00

How many of us enjoy the restaurants and theater of downtown DC? And how many of us would like it better without the hassle of traffic and paid parking?
Well I have news for you -- the Village of Shirlington in Arlington, Virginia has everything you want and nothing you don't. You can enjoy cabaret theater, musicals, and plays at the Signature Theater, and eat at any number of ethnic and American restaurants. There are fountains, outdoor seating, and free parking -- thanks to a very walkable area.
Signature Theater won a Tony for the best regional theater and has two theaters with a show in them at all times. If you attend a cabaret, you can get wine and cheese at the theater and take it with you to watch the show. For the young residents of Shirlington, the singers in the cabaret are perfect -- young, vibrant, and talented. For that same crowd, there are a series of restaurants to meet the hip village that Shirlington has become. These restaurants include Busboys & Poets and Capital City Brewery, two of the region's favorites.
There is also a movie theater, a frozen yogurt shop, and a wonderful bakery/coffee house. Indeed, all the town is missing, as a friend astutely commented, is a piano bar.

For the young crowd budding around Shirlington, dinner and a movie or dinner and a show is just the beginning! Aside from the pool hall in town, there really isn't anywhere to go for the later Friday and Saturday night hours. I'd bet that this town could support a couple of different kind of late night establishments -- such as a piano bar and a comedy bar.
For those of you who live in NoVa, want the culture of DC without the hassle, give Shirlington a try. Just do this fan a favor -- don't spread the word too far! Leave some parking for us regulars. ;-)

Street & Road Map of Arlington, Virginia VA - Printed poster size wall atlas of your home town

National History Nearby

2010-08-15T18:04:00.000-07:00

Many of us know the name, “Stonewall Jackson”, and some even remember the location “Bull Run Creek”. For local residents, these names don't need to be abstract names from the history books. You can go to the place where General Jackson got his nickname and where the first American Civil War battle occurred.

At the Battlefield of Mananas, you can learn all about the two Civil War battles that occurred in Mananas.

Interestingly, Congress set aside the historic battlefields in the thick of World War II – an indication that one war made them realize that we'd want to know all about the history and sites of earlier wars. The first sad detail that you learn is that because this was the first battle of the war, aside from the leading generals, the soldiers were as green as they come. Also, the blue & grey uniforms weren't issued yet, so it was hard to tell who fought for what side of the war. The flags also looked quite similar, so some people died from friendly fire and by mistaking the enemy for friends. Naively, the soldiers thought that war is glamorous, and in the first battle of Mananas, they were fighting so close to each other that all they'd see are dead bodies of young men just like them. There was, they realized, no glamor in war.

Stone Wall Jackson statue

The great thing about this historic site is that the current roads are built upon what was there at the time, so the tavern that they turned into a Federalist hospital is easy to get to. So is the site of the New York City volunteer army, and the Stone Bridge which became a central part of the battle that morning. The first battle site gives you a brief tour of their grounds and a narrative of what occurred on the day of battle. They also give you a handout with a driving tour that includes the second battle, and the sites for both Mananas battles. I liked the driving tour, it felt a bit like a scavenger hunt for historic locations.

This site is very close to anyone in the DC area, and in fact my drive home replicated the Federalist army’s retreat back to the Capital! I will let you visit yourself for the history lesson, but give you the following tidbits:

part of the Federalist guarded the Stone Bridge to keep the Confederate army from invading Washington DC, where President Lincoln was,

this was the first time railroads were used to transport American soldiers for combat, and

Thomas Jefferson knew that the nation would fight about slavery. He thought it should be abolished, although his vast estate was supported by slaves.

Special Edition: Small Summer Haven for the Busy

2010-08-11T14:10:00.000-07:00

Remember when we were small children, and we loved splashing around in the pool? Various digits would prune, our lips would turn blue, and our suntan lotion would wear off, and yet we loved the water on the hot summer days.

I just revisited this simple, exquisite escape from the humdrum -- my neighbors belong to a neighborhood pool "club". On their way to the pool one afternoon, they rang my door and asked if I wanted to join them. The adult of the pair said that there are cold drinks there, and tables with umbrellas. I don't know what, but something about this relaxed, outdoor, social activity sounded especially appealing. I went with them!

Upon arriving there was the charming and familiar scene of various towheads of all ages splashing around in the pool. Some with siblings or friends, and a few with parents. Chairs and parents were lined up near the shallow end, watching. At the other end were picnic tables where some people were planning to have dinner.
Then the life guard blew his whistle, and the children cleared out quickly -- adult swim! Although there is an ever-present lap lane, for ten minutes every hour, adults have the pool the themselves. During this time, of course, the children want some treat from the kitchen, the vending machine, or their parents' cooler.

We were there for a few hours that afternoon, and there was something about that particular afternoon activity that I loved. It wasn't just lying around the pool, and it wasn't just talking to the neighbors. It was both -- and doing something that felt as summery and natural as going to a baseball game or celebrating July 4th with a grilled hot dog.

Of course, the cost of pool membership for a season is more than my annual gym membership, which makes me say "yikes"! My gym has a pool, if I really want to swim. But visiting for a few hours, it is easy to see why parents join. Their kids have hours and hours of cool-off time in a safe, controlled area with their friends and neighbors. The parents can sit and relax while eyeballing their children. One of the parents can even swim during adult swim. They bring lunch, consume beverages of all types, and maybe get a tan. Not a bad way to spend a summer day!

So ... to all you parents out there ... I'm sure you know already, but if you don't, consider a community pool membership for your towheads. Each of them them is a fish or frog waiting to come out and let loose in the pool! And, you will probably enjoy this activity too ... most of the parents I saw had a good time.

Botanical Garden: Mid-town Peace

2010-08-08T19:07:00.000-07:00

This weekend we had nice weather, so I wanted my outing to be outdoors. I decided to visit the Botanical Garden in downtown Washington. Most of the garden is the conservatory green house, but because of that, there is a great variety of plants to see.

Inside The Conservatory the visitor can be transported to another place, like Hawaii or a dessert, or another time like the Primeval days. You can also find plants to suit your daily needs in the Garden court, which has spices, fibers, woods, cosmetics, and beverages. There is also a Children's Garden, although the Jungle area seems enough to please most children.
There are also information displays throughout the conservatory and some of the outer buildings. I noticed that there are many signs about doing things like gardening roses environmentally and the concerns about water conservation and distribution. Many plants were labeled as endangered, including Echinacea, which is an all-natural plant used to boost the immune system during cold & flu season. There was also a display about the "CSI" of finding out what happened during the Irish potato blight!

One of the nicer things about the Garden is that right in the middle of downtown, there are plenty of seats in the middle of beautiful and fragrant environs for the average commuter working in the Capitol to sit and eat lunch.
On a quirky note, the writer in me wonders why all the political drama movies that have secret meetings never occurred in the Conservatory, or a studio copycat of it. It really would be such a neat place to arrange a "secret" meeting.
For those of you that are in downtown area around lunchtime, think about packing your lunch and bringing it there to eat. You'll find yourself enjoying your lunch and tempted to wander inside!

Operation Oasis: Downtime Needed

2010-08-01T13:56:00.000-07:00

On occasion, or perhaps more than that, we sometimes don't want to learn anything new or drive a long way, we just want down time. We want to relax, and, as if we're a battery, we want to recharge.
I just had such a weekend. Last weekend I had a plumbing surprise and a power outage one right after another. I went through a week of feeling inexplicably tired, which ended with a team mate's resignation at work on Friday. By the time Saturday morning came, I was tired enough to let my loving cat Tigger coax me into mid-morning nap. I still don't know how he knew that I needed it, but he did.

So that set the tone for this weekend, I would not explore, but recharge. I chose to visit one of my old haunts, Marina Place in Alexandria, off George Washington highway, a skip & a jump from National Airport. So why this place? The marina really has something for everyone. For the plane fanatic, you can watch planes take off and land at National Airport, and for the boat lover, you can watch sailors leave the marina and sail around. The animal lover can feed the ducks in the Potomac, and if you're hungry, there is a snack bar and a restaurant right there. Even if you're bicycling or jogging in the area, its a good spot to take a break.

When you want to recharge, you can bring a book, your sketch pad, or your needlework to this place, sit outside in the nice weather, and pursue your hobby in a spot that's always peaceful, always beautiful, and welcomes you during all hours and weather. So I sat there with my book until the foreboding, rainy weather rolled in, and slowly left. Some people were still sitting there when I left, with their baby, their dog, or their child. And they, too, were just trying to get some rest before the new work week.

George Mason House: Hidden History

2010-07-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

Just south of Washington DC in Lorton, Virginia sits the George Mason museum and house. As the video in the beginning explains, George Mason was a central figure in his time and for our history, but because he was such a private man, he became a mystery and was never the well-known figure that some of his contemporaries were.
Who Was George Mason?
George Mason wrote Virginia's bill of rights at the beginning of the American Revolution which was widely distributed, and he was called to Philadelphia to sign the Declaration of Independence. Interestingly, Mason refused to sign because there was no bill of rights yet, and he feared the Federal government would have too much power. Compelled by Mason's action and argument, the Bill of Rights was written shortly thereafter, and was based on Mason's Virginia bill of rights.

George Mason was like many of his friends and colleagues of the time -- wealthy with a plantation on the river. Today we'd like the view of the river, but back then, plantation owners would receive most shipped items and visitors by river. Mr. Mason's house is no more than 3/4 mile from the river, although today's trees block the river view from his house.
George Mason's House
Upon approaching Mr. Mason's house, having seen Monticello and Mount Vernon, it is easy to be fooled into thinking that Mr. Mason was less well-to-do. This, however, is not true. First of all, many of the outer buildings that the estate used to have simply aren't there anymore. By the time the state owned the grounds, several generations and owners had lived there first. There was no maintenance of what was there other than the house, and the state hasn't chosen to completely rebuild the entire plantation. Mr. Mason also chose to spend his money and display it a little differently.

Like few of the other wealthy men of his time, George Mason build his house of brick -- and the exterior walls of the house have two layers of brick -- which was his first indication of his wealth. It also made it difficult to add onto his house the way that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson did. While some men of his time used maps to show off wealth on the walls in the front hallway, George Mason used hand-painted wall paper imported from England. Like many houses of gentlemen of that time, George Mason had a very formally decorated dining room and sitting room for visitors he wanted to impress, but it contrasted deeply with very sparsely painted and decorated private quarters. Some ways that his style distinguished itself was that he hired a decorator from England, who brought with him the concept of oriental style wall paper and oriental carpets in the formal sitting room. The dining room wall paper was a fabric, and not painted paper, and is quite lush, even by today's standards.

The upstairs of the house has several bedrooms for his multiple children and visitors, although it is known that Thomas Jefferson sometimes stayed in the Mason's multi-purpose room on the ground level. Mason's multi-purpose room was where the family ate meals, where Mason worked from, and where Mason might have slept when his wife received visitors after birth. With much lighter and smaller furniture in those days, it was easy to change a room's purpose in a few minutes -- especially with slaves to help move things.
George Mason had many children, so he had a school room on his grounds. For the days when the instructor could not get home, the upstairs of the school room has a bed. On those nights, the instructor would eat with the family. Mr. Mason also had a brandy-making room, using the fruit he grew there, along with all the usual buildings that plantations used to be self-sufficient, such as a large food storage structure that would be stocked all spring & summer so that it could get them through the winter.
The George Mason house and museum provide the visitor with two kinds of information: political history and social history. A lot of people don't know or remember George Mason's role in the making of our history and national policy. Mason's house also, like many houses of the time, reinforces to the visitor how the wealthy spent their money -- and how they didn't.
Admission is $15 for adults. Seniors and AAA members get a small discount, children are $8.

National Arboretum: Defines Hidden Treasure!

2010-07-18T17:53:00.000-07:00

Just off New York Avenue northeast Washington DC sits the deceptively large National Arboretum. The first fact about this gem is that for those of you watching your wallet during this long-lasting recession, admission is free! You can also call a toll-free number to get a guided tour of the arboretum.
The arboretum features a variety of interesting gardens for the local naturalist. There is an enormous bonsai museum which contains a Japanese, Chinese, and North American pavilion containing shaped bonsai plants from each region. An indoor museum has a display called "Becoming a Bonsai" which has advice on pruning trees, wiring the trees, and potting the trees.

Nearby sits a huge herb garden, which is divided by use of the herbs. Inside you will find "beverage" (such as tea) herbs, the fragrance garden which has herbs like clove, gardenia, and rosemary, the culinary garden which has herbs like lemon thyme, and a medicinal garden! The medicinal garden even has an "antibiotics" patch. The herb garden also includes plants used by Native Americans in their practice, and a dye garden.
Just past the herb garden are columns from the central portico of the US Capitol, which were placed in the arboretum in 1990. The arboretum notes that the columns, when at the Capitol, were a site of speeches, rallies, etc.

The next very intriguing garden is one which holds promise for our future -- the Farming Energy garden. This garden has signs explaining that we will eventually run out of fossil fuel, but that familiar plants can in fact produce biofuel for our energy use -- if only our culture is able to adapt. I know you're wondering what plants could be used, and how, so some examples are below.
The following plants can be used by producing biodiesel fuel: castor bean seed, mustard, sunflower, soy, peanut, and canola. These next plants can be used by producing ethanol oil: barley, sugar, corn, and sugar beet! The way these plants become fuel is that the alcohol they produce for regular consumption is further refined to produce fuel for cars.

There are several other gardens, such as the Azalea collection and the Dogwood collection which I didn't see but may be of interest to the local nature lover.
Although the arboretum isn't particularly restful or wholly beautiful, it is very educational and it has picnic tables for those who wish to take the kids there for an afternoon. It is also quite large, and can easily take several hours of the day.
Of note are the following recommendations:

Go in the spring or fall, the humidity makes being outdoors for long very uncomfortable
For those with children, note that there are only two bathrooms, no cafeteria, and a soda machine. Come well prepared.
For those with children or others that have difficulty moving around much, bring extra cash! There is a trolley that drives around hourly (on the hour) during weekends that costs $4 cash for each adult, $3 cash for each senior citizen, and $2 cash per child. By taking this, the visitor will see much more of the grounds.

For the local naturalists, gardeners, and others, this is a rare spot in the Washington DC area to connect with your interests and learn a few things. Enjoy!

Richmond, Part 1: Tiffany and Hollywod

2010-07-10T12:11:00.000-07:00

I decided to drive down to Richmond for a day trip mostly because I wanted to see the Tiffany exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts. I wasn't necessarily planning to see anything else, although I was hoping to have time. But on my way out the door, some other sites were mentioned to me, such as the Hollywood cemetery.

Tiffany
When I arrived at Richmond I went to the museum first. Parking is $3 and can be paid for at the visitors desk or at the garage. The Tiffany exhibit admittance is $15 for an adult. It will not surprise you that photos were not permitted. Tiffany was in business from 1848-1933 and Tiffany glass began in 1880. Louis Comfort Tiffany was born in 1848, the son of a prominent New York jeweler. In 1875, he founded Louis Comfort Tiffany and Associated Artists, which eventually employed over one hundred skilled craftsmen. His interior designs were very popular, and after restyling rooms in the White House in 1883, he was the most fashionable decorator in New York City.
All of Tiffany's later work grew out of his early success in interior design. From the start he used glass extensively, with tiles, lamps, murals, and windows as an intrinsic part of his style.
Some of the work on display was at the exhibit was a pink, white, and blue cameo blown vase, and beautiful jewelry made of materials like enamel on metal, opal, and moonstone. There were also his well-known vases in the shape of flowers. Now I know that you are wondering about two things: windows and lamps! The museum had on display several stained glass windows -- including a beautiful Mermaid Window which used hues of blue and green that depicted a woman riding a seahorse, with shells in the glass framing the main image. Tiffany was commissioned to create this window for a sugar magnate in Hawaii. Another beautiful water-themed window was "Starfish & Anemone", in which Tiffany used undulating glass to give an impression of the waters' movement, and more beautiful green and blue hues. Of course you can see the starfish and anemones among the water.

Tiffany began creating lamps as luxury articles, which is easy to understand when you see them -- they are impressively extravagant. My favorite lamps were the dragonfly and the peacock. The audio tour will tell you that the wisteria was very popular in Tiffany's day, and the cobweb was known for its unique look. The audio tour also informs you that Tiffany created the lamps with the full realization and intended purpose of using electricity and light bulbs to illuminate the stained glass in the same way the sun lights his windows.
In the Art Deco exhibit outside the exhibit room on a different floor in the museum, you will find a few more great Tiffany pieces. There is a punch bowl made from hand blown glass, gilded silver mount and all gold coloring which the museum staff think was used "only once" for the man who commissioned it. There is also the Magnolia and Apple Blossom window and many more lamps.
Tiffany's glass work was inspired by nature, which is no surprise to his fans but is something that resonates with many of us. The exhibit at the museum includes a video on making glass, information on glass and other materials Tiffany used, and historical information about his company. I have not mentioned some of his other works, so if you want to know about it all, go visit! (www.vmfa.state.va.us)

Hollywood Cemetery

After this museum, I decided to go next door to the Hollywood cemetery which is known to have burial grounds of some US presidents and Virginia governors. First of all, you have three choices for viewing some of the famous graves: 1) walking, 2) driving yourself, and 3) taking an infrequent tour. Whether your drive yourself or get there for a tour, I strongly advise against walking. It is bigger than it looks, and very hilly. If you don't make it for a tour, then you can find a grave map in the parking lot when you enter. It is a huge cemetery, so I only went to see the grave of President James Munroe, President John Tyler, the First Confederate Burial, and the William E. Starke burial ground dog. I noticed that many families are buried together, including sisters!

I did not see any other part of Richmond, but to me this was quite enough for one day. I was hot, tired, and told by locals that the other sites I mentioned were "all the way across town". I was later told that their "all the way across town" isn't like a Washington DC "all the way across town" -- but that's okay. I can go back down, perhaps in the Fall. I would like to extend a special thanks to Grace & Ted who welcomed my unexpected arrival at their house in Mineral, when I really needed a good long break from the driving and exploring!

Hillwood Estate: A Local Gem!

2010-07-03T16:44:00.000-07:00

Just a few minutes off Connecticut Avenue in Northwest DC lies a hidden, beautiful treat for the locally savvy. Hillwood estate was owned by Marjorie Merriweather Post ("Marjorie"), daughter of the Post cereal mogul. During her lifetime, Post became part of General Foods, and under her advise, General Foods bought Birds Eye (the company that now makes the frozen vegetables).
Features of the House

The Hillwood estate is decorated with French and English furniture and fine Russian goods. I was not permitted to take photos inside the house, but I could take notes to relay the information to you! Marjorie began saving Russian pieces when she lived there in the 1930s. The Russian government was selling Russian aristocratic and royal goods, and Marjorie developed the "nucleus" of her collection at that time. As part of her collection she has the Icon Room, which holds 400 Russian Orthodox liturgical pieces including a Faberge 1914 Easter egg with gold and pink enameling and the Russian porcelain room. In her Russian porcelain room, she has various salt & pepper shakers, signs of welcome, and on the floor a double eagle in her wood floor -- another sign of welcome to Russians. In her hallway, Marjorie has Russian portraits hanging all over the walls and an enormous Russian Imperial chandelier.
Marjorie became a collector of French 18th century furniture and began buying it to use for her home. The biggest display of it is in her private spaces, upstairs for her bedroom and dressing area. Her bedroom has a beautiful French desk which is featured in the video at the Visitors Center. She also has French porcelain that she used for formal occasions, French commodes in the front hallway, and a great deal of French decoration in the dining hall, although it is combined with an Italian dining table to seat 30 and 2 large Dutch paintings.
The English influence appears in her first and second floor libraries, which are decorated like a British country house.
There is one mystery in her house -- there is a guest bedroom named after the most frequent visitors -- "the Adam brothers". The recorded guide does not say anything more than these brothers belonged to the Adam firm, and so the unguided visitor is left to wonder who these men were. As if to amplify the mystery, you can't help notice that their room was decorated in light blue and gold with very small twin-sized beds. Were they boys or men?
There is one room that was made to entertain rather than to display her collection. She called it the Pavilion, but today we would call it the media room. In this room, Marjorie had speakers installed into the ceiling and a projector showing films from the balcony! There are also sofas with small built in trays for guests to put snacks and drinks on during the show. If she was not showing films in this room, she would move the furniture and have a square dance! And, to protect the floors, she would give the ladies plastic covers for their heels. This wonderful hostess thought of everything!

The Extensive Garden
After being in the dark and slightly cramped indoor space, the gardens are quite literally a breath of fresh air. The gardens spread out behind her house and the museum staff has provided seating for a visitor to read, eat, or chat with friends. Of note in the garden, Marjorie had a Japanese garden and a rose garden. She also had a small golf field and a green house which housed 2000 orchids!
The Japanese garden was built in 1957, a much later addition to her grounds, and was landscaped at a time when Marjorie was already thinking about opening up her home as a museum. The terrain of this garden was meant to mirror the mountainous terrain of Japan, and the plants within the garden were meant to provide color contrast. There are also stone lanterns, bridges, and statues to fully decorate the garden as a Japanese garden should look. It is worth noting that a lot of Asian visitors took photos of each other in that part of the garden!

The rose garden had roses to give it a beautiful scent, and they were of all different colors. Marjorie did not cut flowers for the house from this part of her grounds, however. She had a cutting garden and greenhouse for that!
I noticed that Marjorie did not leave any good space unused, nor did she cram her outdoor space. She simply provided cozy space and sprawled out space, sitting space and walking space. Outside as well as inside, she tried to consider everything.

Nothing in writing can really do this estate justice -- the reader must visit to experience the splendor of this estate. From the courteous guard who tells you where to park upon arriving, to the cafe that provides teas, lunch, and refreshment for the parched, this estate provides a rare experience. By experiencing the house and grounds, with such fine European influence, you are temporarily removed from the Washington DC area, and are transported to a different time and place. You find yourself strolling the gardens, sitting down to read or talk, and just enjoying the weather. For a native, it is hard to believe that this restful place sits so close to the heart of Washington's hustle & bustle.
I strongly recommend that all readers visit these grounds -- it is worth the $12 you pay for your ticket!

Art in Alexandria

2010-06-27T19:44:00.000-07:00

Today I decided to become familiar with the free things to do on an average weekend day in Alexandria. The first thing was to find free parking. I know that there are paid garages, but I'm from NYC --so I still prefer to find unpaid street parking! So I drove up Union Street and found a free spot up the street.

After that, I walked through the park, along the water, and into the Torpedo Factory. First of all, the Torpedo Factory is a piece of art itself. In the underside of the spiral staircase, I found figurines. On a platform circulating around the second level, I saw little zoo animals. And then I found some of my favorite studios there. In Studio 13, I found kimono prints which were very intriguing. The artist was not there, but her card was. If you'd like to see a website of her work, and a photo which I couldn't fairly take, you can go to: http://www.marciajestaedt.com/. I also found beautiful paintings of local beaches by Marian Van Landingham.

Principle Gallery
Next I walked up King Street to the Principle Gallery, where I found two artists that really resonated with me: GC Myers, whose signature is a red tree with Japanese wood block influence. Myers lives in upstate New York and is a self-taught painter who began the art after an accident left him debilitated. He has a great blog named after his tree called the Redtree Times (http://redtreetimes.wordpress.com/). Myers uses beautiful colors in all his artwork. I also saw artwork of Lynn Boggers whose subject was not just natural in subject, but also painted outdoors! Mr. Boggers lives in West Virginia, uses a palette knife and cement trowel, and provides instruction on his methodology. He will be giving a demonstration on the afternoon of August 14th.

P&C Art
My next stop was up the street at P&C Art, a completely different gallery than the last. This gallery is the largest in the area for contemporary international art. From artists around the world you can buy art of people, famous places such as Paris, familiar Alexandria and Georgetown sites, and Dr. Seuss artwork.

There is great, enjoyable art and creativity in Alexandria. I strongly recommend to anyone with empty wall space a trip to Alexandria. There is great, beautiful, and varied art there. Enjoy!

Carlyle House - Two Thumbs Up!

2010-06-20T14:50:00.000-07:00

Here, at last, is something in Alexandria to see where you learn a lot about who lived there, what he did, his role in history, and why the house was preserved. For $5 and an hour of your time, you get a real sense not only of the resident of Carlyle House, but also of every other "Englishman" who lived in the Alexandria area at the time.

As the docent tells you when you take a tour, and the video at the beginning also explains, there are features of this house that are immediately different from other houses at the time. First, it is not build on the edge of the property against the sidewalk. Instead, the owner, John Carlyle, built the house against the border of the swamp that used to be there, alongside the river, back in the 1700s. This meant that people approaching his house would notice a nice big front yard upon approaching. Second, unlike most homeowners at the time, John Carlyle build the house of out stone, not wood. Lastly, the least obvious difference is that this house was build right on the market and the cross-sections of what was then the main streets. Some people don't like that now, but back then it was fashionable to do, if you could.

These facts raise the salient question: just who was this John Carlyle? He was at least different from other Alexandria residents at the time. John Carlyle was a very successful merchant from a part of England that bordered Scotland. He came to "the colonies" to make some money, and fully intended to return to England for retirement. He was friends with George Washington, and hosted English General Braddock in his home when America was still a colony.

So, the reason his house was made of stone is because that's what he was accustomed to from his part of England, and the reason his house was build against the back property line (and not the sidewalk) was so that his office could look right out the window at the ships approaching Alexandria with his merchandise. There were few other men at the time who had such a large, different, and imposing house back then. But, he resembled most of them because they all thought of themselves as Englishmen, although that was about to change.

What is great about this house and what you learn inside is that it is really steeped in history. In his dining room, John Carlyle hosted English soldiers who were there, at the time, to discuss the French and Native Americans, and the problems they were causing colonials. Unfortunately for the colonials, they learned through the callous behavior of the soldiers that they were different, and that their problems were not British problems, only colonial problems. When the British learned that "the colonials" could not afford to pay for managing their problems with "the natives" and the French, things like the Stamp Act went into effect. And ... the gentlemen of Alexandria such as John Carlyle, and their neighbors down the river such as George Washington (in Mount Vernon) developed a slow sense of being an American. At the time, it was a sentiment of knowing that you're worth more than how the government is treating you.

Inside the house, you also see where the ladies did their sewing and music, original furniture in the master bedroom that John Carlyle bought from his father-in-law who returned to England, which the house still has today. The color of the walls and wallpaper are reproductions to match what the house originally contained, which preservationists discovered through reading letters that John Carlyle wrote to his brother in law and others.

The only information that is lacking is about the garden. From signs on the garden property, this information was difficult to find. Part of the problem is that after John Carlye's family lost possession of the house, someone bought it and actually build a hotel that wrapped all the way around the house, on the grounds of the plot that originally had yard and gardens. The Carlyle house was not actually restored until 1975, and because it was made of stone, it survived the centuries. Although famous soldiers and politicians stayed in the hotel that surrounded the house, the house was the favored subject for restoration.

Out of all the Alexandria history tours that I have taken thus far, this is my favorite. What puzzles me is how little the city, so proud of its history, publicizes the house. I found out about the house by conducting a web search of sights in Alexandria and found it on a parks & recreation site. I didn't know much about this house, even though years ago, some social event had taken place on its patio (a modern addition, not an original part of the house.)

Tourists come to Alexandria for the Torpedo factory, the king street shops, and the waterfront. They might get a taste of history if they try. To me, the Carlyle house is really for the resident. Only people who have lived here long enough to hear and read about the area's history really understand how much occurred in Alexandria. After all, tourists think that Washington DC is the big attraction -- many don't think of Alexandria at all. For these reasons, I recommend the Carlye house to the visiting historian or the local. It's a great taste of your hometown area!

Sant Ocean Hall

2010-06-06T19:40:00.000-07:00

There are a few reasons why I ventured to the Smithsonian Natural History Museum's Sant Ocean Hall this week. The first reason is perhaps the most obvious -- the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is on everyone's mind and in the news. I love the ocean, even if its a Gulf I've never been to, and the Gulf of Mexico has always experienced various environmental problems. The most common has been a fish kill. Another reason I went to Sant Ocean Hall was because Ocean Day is Monday June 7th, and I was due for a nod to the ocean, even if not to a real ocean. I also thought it was time to cross the Potomac for anothter blog article, Washington DC has plenty to offer!
So, this week's blog is about the Sant Ocean Hall at the Smithsonian. Even though it was a Sunday mid-day when I went, parking on the street was a cinch. I walked half way down the green between the parallel sets of museums to enter the Natural History Museum, and went straight back to the Sant Ocean Hall. My first observation was the large number of children in the Ocean Hall -- there was no actual sand to play with, but curiosity for the ocean thrived. The next thing I noticed was the huge whale hanging from the ceiling! I decided to walk around the room to see what the museum had to offer.
The Ocean Hall seemed to provide the same kind of information as a website for children, providing information such as: what lives under the beach towel, is the ocean floor flat, and does ocean water ever stop moving. One important display was: does the ocean health affect me. This is one question and answer that many people probably haven't asked, but perhaps should. The display indicates that half of the oxygen we breath is produced by the oceans. We also all came out of the ocean!
I was hoping that there would be information on the Gulf of Mexico or oil spills, but neither was there. The problem that the Smithsonian faces is that the Ocean Hall is so small, and the ocean, and information about it, is so large. The information that it provides probably suits children quite well, and as for adults like me -- well, we'll have to search the internet for the information we want!
So, any resident or visiting adults that have children on hand who are curious about the ocean, this is the place for you. The remaining adults can simply search the Web -- or visit one of the greater aquariums. (I've seen the one in Washington DC, it's not worth the visit. I can blog it if you want.)

Sugartown Alexandria Trail: A Short Stroll Through History

2010-05-31T18:47:00.000-07:00

In the midst of Old Town Alexandria lies a hidden, gently overlooked past. This past includes sugar houses, a fire house, and beautiful homes, both past and present. The Alexandria Historical Society and other citizens decided to uncover this past for the casual stroller, even if the walker can't always see it. In the book Walk and Bike the Alexandria Heritage Trail, the reader and walker is guided through a walk that is less than a mile and shows where Alexandria history rests.

The Sugartown trail starts at the Alexandria Black History Resource Center and Reading Room, which began as the Robinson Library until the 1960s when the local community revived the site and turned it into the Alexandria Black History Resource Center and reading room. After that, the walker passes a bunch of beautiful townhouses before getting to the next visible historical site.

The next site is what the book calls the Friends Burial Ground, but what you initially see is a local library. Upon closer inspection, there is one, and only one, burial site -- the grave for Alexandria Quaker, a person whose name inspired the Quaker Lane that runs from I-395 all the way to Duke Street. The town of Alexandria itself may have been named after this remembered person! Strangely, the book does not mention this grave site or person at all, just the Friends Burial Ground. This omission leaves one of many mysteries about the history of Alexandria.
The hidden history lies most at the addresses where there used to be sugar houses (two different ones) but are now simple modern buildings such as the American Red Cross and stores. As the reader may know, in the early 19th century, Alexandria was one of the largest producers of refined sugar in the United States. This fact says a lot about the size of our country at the time. Old Town Alexandria was very small, and had only two sugar houses. Not much sugar would have been produced from just those two, and yet they were the largest sugar producers. There must not have been enormous demand yet at that time. Our country was still small.

One of the last historical landmarks on this walk is the town's favored historical firehouse, which is now a museum that is open to the public. Ironically, the fire house itself survived two fires, and the date on the door commemorates one re-building of the fire house itself.
The walk goes for two further blocks, to include two houses that are famous old houses in Alexandria's historical homes tours. Although little is known about the houses, the initial residents, or why their styles are so vastly different while they are across the street from each other, they are still worth seeing.
Unlike the last walk, this one is short enough with a specific enough subject (sugar houses) to keep the walk short. There are other walks and bike rides from this book that I will likely venture on throughout the summer! For the casual history stroller, I recommend the Sugartown Trail.

Walk and Bike the Alexandria Heritage Trail: Guide to Exploring a Virginia Town's Hidden Past (Capital Travels)

Lake Anna: A Place for R&R

2010-05-22T12:31:00.000-07:00

Resting just a few hours south of the DC area lies a large lake with what many consider to be "coasts". Unlike many local lakes, this one is so large that you can't see the all the coasts if you are resting on one of them. Known by a select lucky few, this lake is deep enough and wide enough for all kinds of activities: swimming, boating, jet skiing, fishing, and anything else you can think of. The lake is also so large that all the activity of the lake is spread out, so that anyone resting in any given coastal house still has a restful sense of peace from the city.

To give you a flavor of what its like to stay at Lake Anna, when I heard it would rain for my last visit, I brought some indoor activities to do that needed to be done. It's a great retreat for local writers, musicians, and other people whose arts take them indoors for occupied hours at a time. On the other hand, if its sunny then the lake, the lawns, and the beach on Lake Anna are a great place to recharge and get some natural Vitamin D!

If you are looking for a quiet place to enjoy water-based activities, this is the spot. Let me help you get there.

Getting There
Lake Anna is located near Fredericksburg off 95 South. For directions, click here:
http://www.lakeannaonline.com/directions.html

Where to Stay
This depends on what suits you. If you really want to stay right on the water, there are campsites and some Bread & Breakfasts. If you are particular about food, your best bet is to find a place where you can cook your own. You are far from the fancy restaurants of the DC area, and although restaurants are on Lake Anna, there are slim pickings.
If you want to camp-out on the Lake, you can click here:
http://www.lakeannaonline.com/camping.html
If you want a B&B, you can click here:
http://www.lakeannaonline.com/BusinessdirA.html#bandb

I've already mentioned eating out here, but if you camp-out, or prefer not to cook during your rest, I recommend the lakeside restaurant that lets you sit on the deck near the water. This restaurant is appropriately called Lakeview Restaurant.

I recommend Lake Anna to anyone in the DC area who wants a nearby weekend escape. Because this location will have different value for persons of different interests, I am posting some resources below. Just remember, if Obama can get out town for a weekend to relax, so can you!

How to Fish Lake Anna, Virginia (VHS Tape)

Smithsonian Crafts Festival - Go for Unique Goods & Gifts!

2010-05-11T09:44:00.000-07:00

Last month the Smithsonian sponsored a Craft Show. For anyone who likes unique jewelry, furniture, or clothing, it is worth considering going to the show. First of all, it took place in the National Building Museum, which is beautiful both inside and out! In addition, for those of us who are trying to be unique in this town, you will find one-of-a-kind work.

At this event you will find decorative items, wearable art, furniture and jewelry made from a variety of items including ceramics, glass, leather, metal, paper, and wood. It is worth visiting even if you don't buy anything, because you're also just looking at beautiful work. At this event the person I was with bought a wearable art jacket -- and let me tell you, she bought it as soon as we entered the fair. No time was wasted! I got a very unique pair of two-metal earrings.

If you missed April's event but are now curious, the Smithsonian is having another crafts festival in the Fall. The best thing to keep in mind if you go is that street parking is competitive on weekends but there are garages within a few blocks of the museum.

For information about this event, you can visit: http://smithsoniancraftshow.org/indexmain.asp

Georgetown House Tour: A Great Annual Activity!

2010-04-28T20:09:00.000-07:00

Every year, St. John's Episcopal Church in Georgetown coordinates a tour of some of the area's nicest townhouses. Members of the church coordinate the whole activity from beginning to end, and the actual townhouse owners leave their homes in spotless condition for public viewing. I recommend this excursion to any local, for various reasons.

Beautiful Homes
First of all, these home have owners who hired both architects and decorators. The architects are hired to make the most of very little space, so you will see homes in which two small rooms are combined for one big parlor, a home with a small balcony to provide a study or music room, and many extensions onto the back of the house for something like a bigger kitchen. You can believe that the decorators are real professionals, tying together furniture, artwork, and carpeting from different European countries and various centuries past.
For example, one of the houses that was most fun to visit (on N Street, owners and address are protected), was a house that featured a Steinway piano, Chinese table, Russian Impressionist Art, a fountain and hot tub, an Italian chandelier from the 1860s, and a Spanish sideboard from a 17th century monastery! Wow. It was gorgeous. Another house was quite inventive with a salt water solar-powered pool that was accompanied by a pool house with a kitchen and fireplace inside! No words can do the houses justice, so I suggest you take the tour next year.

Delicious Tea Afterwards
Because you bought your house tour ticket at the church, you know where to go for free coffee, sandwiches, music, and cookies after the tour. The church hosts an enormous afternoon tea for house tour patrons which is enough to re-energize you after your walk into and around homes.

Miscellaneous Charm
Small children know you're going to walk by, so they are selling lemonade so they can buy that toy, bicycle, or gadget that they want. You know how much they have to save, and lemonade is only fifty cents a cup, so why not help out the little one! Besides, they are learning early how to make money. Refresh yourself during the tour! Buy a cup!

Worthwhile Fund raising
Did I mention? You are not just paying money for an organized tour of the homes, you are actually donating to the St. John's Episcopal Church itself. Everyone that you see participating in the organization of the tour is a volunteer. So take the tour and donate! Whether you skip church, are an atheist, or just forget your own cash on Sunday when the plate is passed around, we all know the good work that churches do. As the church's website says, "A significant percentage of the Parish budget goes to support work in the larger Washington community for those in need." The website goes on to list all the outreach programs the church participates in.

I can't stress enough what a treat it is to see these homes' interiors. The outside of them vary so much that one home's real entrance can't even be found from the sidewalk while another house has a very impressive presentation to those walking by. I was not allowed to take photos of the interiors -- for understandable privacy reasons (these are peoples' homes, remember?) -- but trust me, the variety of space, use of space, and especially decoration is impressive.

Earth Day Deserves Its Own Blog

2010-04-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time, a Senator who was tired of industries polluting the water and air that his constituents were exposed to took a stand. His name was Sen. Gaylord Nelson. A year later, the EPA was born and our country at least had an agency to monitor our environment. Around that time, we had Rachael Carson write A Silent Spring, pointing out that our industries' pollutants affect more than just people. We now have a threshold that polluters can't cross legally. The air may not be totally clean, but its not toxic. And here we are now, heavily dependent on oil that we buy from other nations, with oil companies inflating prices and the CEOs flaunting their wealth. The Department of Energy and our esteemed President need to take the same stand that Senator Nelson took before, and make the bold change that was campaigned about.

I'm not talking about price fixing. I'm talking about alternative energy and incentives to develop, construct, and use it. Wind turbines, nuclear energy, solar panels, and hydrogen cars are just four things I've heard in the last ten years. Energy experts have known about alternative sources of energy for a long time, but alternative energy hasn't had a champion. In fact, alternative energy had a powerful enemy -- oil. The oil industry really, really didn't want the competition. The CEOs and Board members really liked lining their pocket. But guess what -- President Obama is a man who championed change. President Obama could champion alternative energy, aka: change, through the Department of Energy.

Last night on TV I watched actress Jennifer Garner go to West Virginia homes where the parents are so poor, they turn on the oven rather than the heat in winter. Even here in Virginia, during the winter, there are ads on the radio about what people can do if they can't afford heat. Doesn't it say something, when states that are not even considered northern states have people that can't afford heat? Doesn't it say that the price of oil, and consequently the price of heat, is too high? If this great capitalistic country doesn't want a price fix for oil, then oil needs competition! Any product that has a monopoly is happy to charge the highest price it can. Without competition for oil, those poor families will never be warm in winter. Luckily for us, we have the option of competition -- alternative sources for energy. And just so we all know, it's out there. Dominion allowed me to select the use of alternative energy for my household. Oh yea, alternative energy is out there. It just needs a powerful champion. Oh, are we talking about the Department of Energy and President Obama again? What a coincidence. ;-)

Today, on Earth Day, I put aside places to go and write about, and I pick up my pen for the Earth, our home. I pick up my pen and say to you that our leadership needs to be bold and brave and really push the Department of Energy to push alternative energy. If you haven't heard it yet, you heard it here first. Happy Earth Day.

Poll: What National Park Would you Care to Read About

2010-04-20T09:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader:
Later this year there is a National Park essay writing contest which I intend to enter!
There are a number of locations that meet the definition of National Park, so I'd like to know which of the following you'd like to read about:

Fort Washington Park
Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial
Clara Barton National Historic Site
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
Monocacy National Battlefield
Kenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
Sewall-Belmont House National Historic Site
Fort Washington Park
Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
Shanendoah National Park

Please cast your vote by adding a comment to this post!
Thanks,
Diana

Architectural Walking Tour of Alexandria: Mixed Review

2010-04-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

Recently I took the Architectural Walking Tour of Alexandria, and for the first time I have to express some reservations about a local activity. From arrival in the city to the extent of information, I found the experience lackluster. Some people, however, enjoyed the "Haunted House Tour" of Alexandria, which I thought was more sensationalized than interesting, so I will sort out some facts for the reader in hopes that s/he enjoys the Architectural Tour more than I did.
Arrival in Old Town Alexandria
First of all, as any local knows, parking is difficult in Old Town, particularly with so many tourists around. The Lyceum Visitor Center, on South Washington Street, has very limited free parking. Otherwise there is street parking which is typically either metered or free for up to 3 hours; or garage parking. I managed to park in the Lyceum Visitor Center (http://oha.alexandriava.gov/lyceum/)
After parking my first stop was the Alexandria Visitor Center, to discover tour times and other information. Although the staff was very nice, they are definitely more equipped to handle out of town visitors than residents. The employee in charge knew more about the ghosts that were "bothering her" in the Visitor's Center for "not mentioning them to people" than she did about some of the additional tours I wanted to take of my home town. So my first advice for locals is to skip that stop unless you're looking for a particular map. You can just show up for any tour outside the Visitors Center at designated times. To find out scheduled tour times, just call them at (703) 838-4200. Although I was handed the Architectural Walking Tour narrative, I was not told when the tour would leave. I figured I had all the information a guide would have in my hands, so I went out on my own.
The Tour
The first building of this tour was the Friendship Firehouse, which was built in 1774. Now a museum, the building itself looks brand new. It has "1774" in two places on the exterior. The guide would tell you that the original firehouse burned down and was rebuilt in 1855.
The next buildings on the tour are houses currently occupied by Alexandria city residents. According to the tour, they are built in Federal style in 1803. Perhaps they are among the best conserved homes from that era, which is why they are on the tour, but to me they resembled many other homes in Old Town. Just a few houses up, you see two townhouses that are mirror images of each other and painted in a different color. they were built in 1895, and are higher and wider than the first two homes seen. The architectural style of these townhouses is Romaesque.
Alexandria was having a house & garden tour the same day I went through my own tour. In fact, I meant to get a ticket but the event information was not specific enough to indicate that it is for one day only, and went from 10AM - 4 PM. However, the next house on my tour, one of Italiante style, was also on the home & garden tour. It was built in 1855 and is quite large. Just across the street from this house is one of supposedly the same architectural style, although it looked quite different to me. This house was also on the house & garden tour, and is made of all brick and the shutters are painted in a brick color. It was built just five years earlier than the other Italiante house, by a Rector.
I strolled by a couple of buildings mentioned in the tour without finding them very interesting, and looked next at a Queen Anne style house. This house gave a sense of authority. It had a very formal appearance, with a front gate and walkway going through a tidy front yard to the front door. One of the early 19th century owners was a local businessman. Although no more information is given about the businessman, you get the clear sense that he wanted his house to impress his neighbors.
Across the street from this house is a gorgeous house that the tour says went through a variety of owners from 1803-1870, who used different styles for various parts of the house. Also, the house was used for many different purposes before it returned to its use of being a home, as it is now for local Alexandrians.
By this time, I was getting tired and frustrated by wanting to see the inside and knowing more about who built the homes, so I decided to see just a few more homes. I followed the street I was on to a pair of Italiante homes which the tour presents together because of their similarity. I noticed, however, that one was twice as wide as the other, and the wider one also had a small faux balcony over the front door. It made me wonder about who owned each house, and how the income disparity for home owners of such similar homes played out in their day-to-day lives.
The last house brought the diversity of the 19th century city to mind because it was a farmhouse dating back to 1775. (Tour information collected by http://oha.alexandriava.gov/archaeology/)

I stopped after that house, because the information received on the tour seemed very light to me, and it involved a lot of walking. It really made me wonder more about the interiors of the homes, the lifestyle of the original owners, and the city life of Alexandria. But, you could only see certain interiors on the one day of the home & garden tour, if you paid for a ticket, and the tour certainly doesn't provide much historical information.

For the curious, I'd say skip this tour. For the idle tourist who wants something to do and just ate a lot, go for it! Alexandria has a lot more to offer, so stay tuned for blogs of more impressive things to see.

Charlottesville -- A Good Day Trip

2010-04-19T08:57:00.000-07:00

Two hours west and a little south from the general DC commuting area rests Charlottesville, Virginia; a small metropolitan area with a lot to offer. I recently drove with some friends down to this location, and it had so much for us to do, we spent a whole day there. We tasted some wine, saw Monticello, and ate dinner in downtown Charlottesville. Every activity was robustly enjoyed.

We drove down mainly to see Monticello, the house and grounds of Thomas Jefferson. Upon arriving, we were told that our tour would leave a few hours later. We reviewed our options for the meantime: tours of the grounds which required a lot of walking, or the Thomas Jefferson winery down the road. We decided to go to the wine tasting. When we got there, we first saw a deck full of picnic tables where people could sit and consume a bottle of wine, which is what many people were doing. We were hungry, so a friend took his cooler from the trunk and put it on a picnic table for when we were ready.

In the wine tasting area, we could pay $5 to taste roughly 15 wines. We each got a ticket, and were given a chance to taste sweet and dry white and a variety of red wines that were produced and bottled right there at Thomas Jefferson winery. We enjoyed this, and ultimately selected a red wine to drink with our food on the deck. For the rest of the time that we had, we ate and drank on the deck and enjoyed pleasant conversation.

Then we made it back to Monticello in no time, and took the tour of Jefferson’s house. In case you forgot or didn’t know, the house and tour guide remind you of what an academic and intellectual Jefferson was. He was also a very skilled architect, he designed and built the house himself, and after he was Ambassador to France, he returned to Charlottesville and renovated the house himself, based upon architectural concepts that he appreciated in Europe. His house included a wine pulley for a slave to send wine from the basement up to the tea room, an underground passage, a dome, and skylights.

Finally, before returning home, we stopped in downtown Charlottesville for dinner at an Italian restaurant and then bought a series of coffee drinks for the ride home.

For people living in the Washington DC area who would like a pleasant day trip, Charlottesville has a lot to offer. For me, during the Cherry Blossom Festival, it was key to get out of the downtown DC area on Saturday. So we went down to Charlottesville, and we agreed that we enjoyed the trip much more than we expected to. I recommend this trip to any residents in the DC area, especially in the Spring and Summer. Some good websites to look at are:

http://www.monticello.org/

http://www.monticellowinetrail.com/

http://www.pursuecharlottesville.com/diningIndex.php

Washington DC Area Recreation for Residents

2010-04-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

Every search on line, guide book, and article about activities in the Washington DC area bring you tourist activities. Yet so many of us that live here want to play but not visit the monuments or museums. So what is there for us to do? To avoid the tourist traps, some creative and low-key thinking is required. Are you thinking of a hidden spot to dine? Physical activity? Small and specialized museums? Each of these exists tucked away from high-traffic touristy areas. You just have to know where to look! Here are some examples.

Outdoor Dining

I bet you don’t know about the restaurant on the Potomac River that sits just south of National Airport, Indigo Landing (http://www.indigolanding.com/). This restaurant does not have fine dining in the strictest sense, but it does sit right on the river with indoor/outdoor seating, where you can watch people who use the marina sail, watch planes land, or watch the geese swim around. This is a great spot in the summer, and is almost never crowded.

Physical activity

Who among us doesn’t know about every outdoor biking/running path? There are a ton of these, some which are designed for neighborhood use while others go for miles and miles between many different neighborhoods. There are good books for this, here are a few –

25 Bicycle Tours in and Around Washington D.C.: From the Capitol Steps to Country Roads

Road Biking in Washington DC

Museums

What are you into? Contemporary art? Women’s art? Famous people? Architecture? There is a museum for every interest; you just have to find it. Away from the stretch of Smithsonian museums near the Mall there is the Phillips Museum (http://www.phillipscollection.org/), the National Museum of Women in the Arts (http://www.nmwa.org/facility/), the National Portrait Gallery (http://www.npg.si.edu/), and the Pope-Leighey House (http://popeleighey1940.org/). The National Portrait Gallery has portraits of famous people, and the Pope-Leighey House is a house that Frank Lloyd Wright build for the average man of his time, who shared Wright’s architectural values.

Alternative Fun

When was the last time you stopped to look around where you work or live? Sometimes just a walk around the area will reveal things worth seeing that tourists will never get around to. For example, my working area has the Chinatown arch, the Artwalk, and old churches. My old gym has the fun Crystal City airplanes and an outdoor eating area to eat next to fountains.

Next time you, resident, want to see something new and different, think small. Think outside the tourist box. Think about that little place that you and the tourists drive by every day. You might just find a gem!