Summer or Winter?

This past weekend I decided to get outside and enjoy the unseasonably warm weather. On Saturday it was sunny, 70F and absolutely beautiful. After finishing teaching my nutrition class and unsuccessfully trying to buy some new work shoes I decided to just get outside. So I headed into DC and explored the tidal basin and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial.


Although it felt like summer, I was quickly reminded that it was winter. Note the frozen tidal basin water in the foreground of the Jefferson Memorial bathed in sunlight.


In about a month this tree will be full of cherry blossoms and the tidal basin will once again be water instead of ice.


I think this is supposed to be a fountain at the FDR memorial. One of many that are still frozen.


The birds in the water were sitting in the sunny part of the tidal basin. Note the two different colors of stone on the Washington Monument. This is because the monument was not built all at once.


Sunset over the Potomac river.

Around Town

With rare 60F degree weather, I decided that today was the day to get out of the house and explore Washington DC. This mean that I was finally able to go see two of the DC attractions I have been trying to see for some time now.

First up was the Pentagon Memorial. The memorial commemorates the lives of the people lost during the events of September 11th. Each person lost has their own engraved bench arrange in rows by the year they were born. It's a pretty barren memorial during winter, with the cold air and the barren tress.


The most surprising part of the memorial was seeing that a person who was only three year's old was lost that day. The most calming was listening to the sound of the water running under each of the benches. The benches are oriented so that to read the names of those lost within the Pentagon, you are facing the pentagon wall, and to read the names of those lost on the airplane that crashed into the Pentagon, you are facing away from the Pentagon into the sky. All in all it was a pretty touching memorial. I look forward to returning in the spring to remember.




Next up was the Old Post Office Tower.


I had read that the view from the tower is just as impressive as that from the Washington Monument, but without the lines. After waiting to go through security at the door I entered the atrium, which looked a little too familiar. I have a feeling we might have come to this tower during my 8th grade trip to Washington DC. Regardless, I headed up the elevator to the top of the tower. It was magnificent.
You could see everything, all the Presidential Memorials, the National Cathedral, Congress, etc. It was beautiful.




And on the way down I had a chance to see behind the face of the clock and the bells of Congress that were given to America by the English. In fact the bells were created in the same place that made the bells for Westminster Abbey. It was pretty cool.

Lincoln Memorial Concert - Kickoff to Inauguration

Today I stood on the mall for probably about four and a half hours in 20 degree weather. All to witness and participate in the Inaugural Kickoff Concert. I have to say it was pretty amazing. I have been to some other cool events in my life, listening to the Pope's speech on Easter, the Queen's Jubilee in London, but this was different. This was in America and there was just so much excitement and a feeling of hope.

We arrived around noon even though we knew that the concert wouldn't start until 2:30. Lucky for us that meant a relatively short security line and being able to find some space to set down a blanket and relax for a little while. We even got to see the three US Helicopters fly in, we think returning the President to the White House. One actually landed the other two aimed for the White House but then diverted and flew off in different directions. Sneaky, very sneaky.

I can't begin to tell you just how awesome the entire concert was. I was shocked when the Obamas walked in as I thought it was a concert in his honor, I had no idea he would be in attendance. Bruce Springsteen started the show off on a high note, rocking away on his guitar. I thought that the best trio was seeing Usher, Little Richard and Shakira perform together, however James Taylor and Jennifer Nettles were pretty awesome too. The highlight of the show for me was the Garth Brooks interlude. He got the most songs out of all the performers and he sang upbeat songs that got everyone to move around and get the blood circulating again, like "Shout!" It was also pretty awesome when a group of people near us busted out the electric slide.

I am so lucky that I was able to experience this today. I guess I picked a good time to be living in DC. Below are some photos to show you a little bit more of the experience.

This was the view of the Lincoln Memorial (where the stage and performers were) from where we originally staked our spot next to the reflecting pool.


A view of the number of people behind us to the Washington Monument. This was early in the afternoon. By the time the concert started the area we were in was packed like sardines and there were people all the way around the Washington Monument. A sea of people of you will.


I swear the reflecting pool is in there somewhere amongst all the people.


M and his uncle went to get us some food and drinks to hopefully keep us warm. They returned with 6 hot dogs, 2 sausages, chips, roasted almonds, 2 cups of coffee and four cups of hot chocolate. Probably why I am not frozen solid and am able to post this blog.


After staking out a nice space next to the reflecting pool for 2 1/2 hours we decided to move to the side lawn, where there was space to move around, a hug jumbotron we could actually read the captions off of and beautiful sound. This is near the end when Obama was giving his inspirational speech. (Sorry O! Not the best picture of you.)


The sea of people we had to make our way through in order to get away from the mall and back to M's house. Kinda makes me scared for Tuesday.

All in a DC Weekend

This past weekend was the season home-opener for the Capitals hockey team. Me? I have never been to a hockey game before. Lots of my friends were fans of the San Jose Sharks growing up and I would hazard to say that most of them have been to a Sharks game. Lucky for me, M got me tickets to the Capitals for my birthday. I had mentioned to him that I had been to a Nationals baseball game, a Wizards basketball game, been invited to a Redskins football game but I had yet to experience Capitals hockey. I guess you could say it was the last sport I had to experience here in DC. And boy was it an experience!

First of all hockey is so much more fun to watch live then in TV. The sound of the skates along the ice, the slam as they run each other into the walls, and the excitement of the crowd as the players get close to scoring a goal. In one word, unbelievable. I would even venture to say it was the most fun I have had watching a sporting event ever.

More impressive yet were the fans. I would say about 85% of the fans in the stadium wearing Red. Some in jerseys, other in t-shirts but all full of spirit. There was even a couple of ladies there who wore number 08 jerseys with the names McCain and Palin on the back.


They were handing out hockey moms for McCain stickers. Heh. But seriously, the people around our seats were really friendly and everyone high-fived when the Capitals scored their four goals. In the end we won, beating the Black Hawks 4-2.

After all the excitement of the hockey game on Saturday night I needed some rest and relaxation Sunday. This was achieved at the National Zoo. First time there and it was pretty cool. No giraffes, but we did see a hippopotamus, elephants, cheetahs, gorillas, lions and maybe a couple of other animals. Such a gorgeous afternoon to be out and about and the best part? The zoo is absolutely free. So if you didn't get a chance to see something you can always come back the following weekend!

No wonder Washington DC ranked #5 in Forbes list of both Best Cities for Young Professionals and Best Cities for Singles.

DC Weekend

I had quite the interesting weekend. Friday night my coworkers invited me to join them on their boat for a trip down the Potomac. We launched the boat from a park right by national airport. **Mental note to self: next time you want to watch the airplanes land, go here.** After boarding the boat and making sure everyone had the appropriate life vests we travelled down the river, past old town Alexandria, under the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and over to National Harbor, located on the Maryland side of the Potomac.

Little did I know that one of the sights of DC that I've been wanting to see would be waiting there for me when I got off the boat. Apparently "The Awakening" was moved from it's original location in DC to National Harbor. The Awakening is a huge face, hand and foot that appears to be climbing out of the sand, or sinking into it depending on how you look at it. It was pretty cool to see it but even more exciting to climb on the foot and face emerging from the sand. Even more cool was the fact this was accompanied by a live band covering country songs. I couldn't have been happier! After a few drinks inside the atrium of the Gaylord hotel we boarded the boat and returned back to the airport. If you had told me before the trip that I wouldn't be getting home until 1am I would have never believed you!

Sunday was gorgeously sunny so I took advantage of the weather and strolled around some of the monuments. Apparently I am a little attracted to the Potomac lately. I parked right next to it and then wandered around the tidal basin to the Jefferson memorial and then along the mall. It's so hard to believe that it's already the end of August. Soon enough the weather will turn and so will the leaves and everything in DC will start to look that little bit different. I love fall but I will miss my sunny afternoons for strolling around.

Uniquely DC

This summer I have been experiencing quite a few uniquely DC events. The events in and of themselves are pretty cool only made better by the company. Here are the highlights:


What? Jazz in the Garden

When? Friday nights 5-9 pm, National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden




What? Nationals Baseball

When? See the schedule at the official Nationals Website




What? Screen on The Green

When? Monday evening starting between 8-9pm, National Mall




What? United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Team

When? Tuesday evening at 6pm, Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima Statue)

Post #300 - Happy Early 4th of July!

Unfortunately this weekend I will not be celebrating the 4th of July in the nation's capitol. But I can't say that I'm really all that unhappy about it. Instead I will be in CA celebrating the wedding of one of my best college friends. This of course means that I will also be spending some time with my parents and with my high school friends.

To make up for not being here for the fourth of July I was taken to the sunset parade at the United States Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial) last night. First off there was music by the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps followed by a precision drill performance by the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. It was incredible. Below is a picture from the Marines


If you look closely enough you will see that the two guns are actually in the air. If you are ever in DC on a Tuesday evening between Memorial Day and Labor Day you have to check this out, cause words can't describe just how incredible the whole routine is.

Oh yeah, and this is post #300 for my little blog. Can you believe it?!

Jazz in the Garden

As I like to do on Friday afternoons during the summer, yesterday I rounded up a group of friends and headed to Jazz in the Garden at the National Gallery of Art. We knew that there was the chance of scattered thunderstorms but decided to head out anyways. Jazz in the Garden is so much fun, you spread out a blanket, bring some snacks, and then enjoy time outside with your friends catching up on life with jazz playing in the background. So peaceful.

Or at least it was until the thunderstorms came. When it started to rain it was only light so we just packed things up into a small pile and sat there in a circle with our umbrellas up. It wasn't so bad and before we knew it the rain had subsided. But then it came back with a vengeance! Huge drops falling from the sky at an unbelievable rate and all we could do was sit there and watch as the water soaked the blanket we were sitting on. But just like before, the heavy rain subsided and we were able to enjoy the rest of the concert.

In the end it was lots of fun. Good conversation, a nice spread of picnic food items and a pitcher of sangria. I have to admit this is quite possibly one of my favorite DC activities for the summer. It reminds me of the concerts I used to go to in LA by the Santa Monica Pier. Same idea, different location, different group of friends, but just as much fun.

Christmas Vacation Day Two

This weekend is all about Christmas in the DC metro area. So as a treat for you I thought I would provide you with my list of must sees this time of year.

1. The National Christmas Tree and State Trees. Located in front of the White House, this is a perfect end to an evening out or a place to feel the Christmas spirit (check the schedule of performers) during the day. If it's a cold day make sure you stop by the yule log for a warm up but also keep in mind the National Tree is turned off at 11pm.
   
   
   
2. Washington National Cathedral. Not only is this the most impressive church in the area but it is also host to a collection of nativity scenes from around the world. Choosing from their collection of around 500 creches, the church puts about 20 on display every year from various countries around the world and states from the US. Below are photos of our favorites:
   "Costa Rica. The Christ Child is shown in a "basket" which is hollowed out in the exact shape of the figure, which fits into it like a peg in a hole."
   "New Mexico. The Wise Men carry traditional Native American gifts of welcome; corn, bread, and a sheet of cornmeal dough called masa."
   Wales. This unusual set is made entirely of fine grained Welsh slate. The unpainted slate, with its unexpectedly rich luster and detailed carving, reflects the light and gives the figures a silvery sheen."
   
   
   
3. Train Sets. If you are a fan of train sets, Washington DC is a place to find them! Around the national tree, in front of the botanical garden, and inside the botanical garden just to name a few.
   
   
   
4. United States Botanic Garden. Decorated cacti, a Christmas tree, and models of the buildings on the national mall made out of wood, the botanic garden has a little bit of everything.
   The White House

Roosevelt Island

Today a couple of friends and I headed out to explore Roosevelt Island. Located north of the memorial bridge and south of Francis Scott Key bridge in the middle of the Potomac River, this island is a perfect escape from the city. The last time I drove past this island the trees were full of the colors of fall. Unfortunately that was over a month ago and now a lot of the trees are bare for the winter. Even though it was a little cool (43F) it was still a gorgeous sunny day to explore.


Fall foliage and a field of cattails.


Theodore Roosevelt


His thoughts on nature: "There is delight in the hardy life of the open. There are no words that can tell the hidden spirit of the wilderness. That can reveal its mystery, its melancholy, and its charm. The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased and not impaired in value. Conservation means development as much as it does protection."


East-coast fountains in the fall

Mommy and Me Weekend

This past weekend my mom flew out from California to visit me here in Virginia. Although I had to pick her up from the airport at 6am on a Saturday morning it was absolutely wonderful to have her here. After catching the tail end of a farmer's market we spent Saturday wandering around the historic homes in Old Town Alexandria before heading off to the high school sweethearts house for afternoon tea. Sunday we slept in then headed over to Washington DC to explore the Botanical Gardens and the museum of Natural History. It was so much fun to show her some of the sights and sounds of my city. It also meant that I got a chance to use my latest toy . . . a Canon Rebel XT Digital SLR. So below I post pictures from the weekend. Enjoy!


A crate of pears at the farmer's market in Old Town Alexandria.


Sun dial in the butterfly garden.


Inside the conservatory.



FLOWERS FROM THE BOTANICAL GARDENS







LEAVES FROM THE BOTANICAL GARDENS

I'm Ready to Run!

Now that I'm back home, unpacked and settled in I was finally able to lace up my running shoes and hit the local trails. On Thursday I followed the local bike/running trail towards Shirlington. Although it was a good trail the scenery wasn't all that impressive, so this morning when I got to the trail head I tried the other direction toward the Mount Vernon Trail. It seemed like a matter of minutes before I was easily jogging along the Potomac River enjoying the view out over the water with a cool breeze blowing across my hot pink face. It's a little different running in humidity but at least I still have a good pace (an average of an 8 minute mile).

Not only was the view fantastic but there were so many people out there. Familys on a weekend bike ride, runners decked out for their training runs, in-line skaters, power walkers, and even bird watchers. It was awesome.

Here is a map of the trails near my house. You can see on the top left corner where the yellow and red lines meet at Mount Vernon Avenue. On Thursday I followed the yellow trail to the left, today I followed the red trail to the right and over to the Mount Vernon Trail.



If you want to see the complete trail map for the city of Alexandria, click here.

Exploring

One of the best parts of living in a new city is exploring. There's the necessary exploring like finding the local grocery store, bank, and Target. Then there's the fun exploring; finding your favorite quiet spot, the best running trail, the tastiest breakfast spot, and most interesting sight to take visitors to. I did the necessary exploring before my trip to China, now that I'm back home it's time for the fun exploring.

This past weekend I spent some time at the National Mall. I visited the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, the Natural History Museum and some of the monuments. On the one hand it was weird to be back amongst tourists again but on the other hand it was fabulous to experience what DC has to offer. Although there are some new exhibits, the majority of what I saw in the Air and Space Museum was the same as the last time I visited, in elementary school. What I found really interesting was the people watching. Here are a few things I overheard:

• Elementary school aged girl to her mother, "Did Teddy Roosevelt create the teddy bear?"


• Father to five year old son, "Charlie, what's your favorite missile?" Charlie's response, "Orange."


• 3 year old boy pushing buttons on exhibit to display different airplanes exlaims, "Airplanes! Airplanes!" Then turns to his left, faces his mother, and deadpans, "I pooped."

Next weekend I am going to go on a hike or run. Not sure where, but you can be sure that I'll let you know how it goes.

Summer Evenings

This past weekend I had my first visitor to Washington DC. Thanks to a summer friday at work, soul-friend was able to come down from New York for a long weekend. I have to say it was really nice to have someone to explore with. On Friday we wandered around old town all the way to the waterfront. Then friday evening we met up with high school sweethearts for Jazz at the Sculpture Garden. Clear, warm evening temperatures made it the perfect setting for a picnic dinner outside in the garden as the sounds of modern jazz floated through the air. The picture below shows where the band was (underneath the green tent) and the number of people that were out with us.


After the jazz, soul-friend and I decided to wander the Mall and ended up at the capitol. For now I am amazed every time I walk by such iconic structures, but soul-friend remarked to me that after a while you just don't notice them anymore.

Things I love about evenings in DC

• Watching the fireflies at dusk.
• The warm evening air.
• Being able to stroll around historic places.

The rest of the weekend was spent exploring restaurants, grocery stores, and the like.