July 4, 2009
On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress approved and ratified the Declaration of Independence. The legal separation from England and rule under the British crown actually occurred two days earlier on July 2nd after Congress, in a closed session, voted for independence.
Each colony had between two and seven in their Continental Congress delegation, with each state receiving one vote. A vote for independence needed to be unanimous to pass.
On July 1st, nine colonies voted in favor of the resolution for independence. Pennsylvania and South Carolina voted in favor of remaining part of the British empire. And New York abstained due to not having the proper authorization to vote for independence. While Delaware’s vote was deadlocked between its two delegates.
The following day, South Carolina and Pennsylvania reversed their vote in favor of independence was Delaware was still deadlocked with a 2 to 2 delegate vote. Caesar Rodney of the Delaware delegation traveled eighty miles the previous night through a driving thunderstorm to arrive in Philadelphia just as the vote was beginning, giving Delaware and independence the final “yes” vote. With the New York delegation unable to vote, the vote was unanimous with one state abstaining.
The wording of the Declaration of Independence was approve two days later on July 4th and copies were printed and widely distributed. Even thought July 2nd was the true day of independence, the public accepted July 4th, the date listed on the Declaration of Independence, as Independence Day.
In 1870, Congress declared July 4th as a legal holiday for federal employees but without pay. In 1938, federal employees were paid for the day off. And in 1941, DC government employees were added by Congressional legislation.
Long May She Wave….
Happy Independence Day!!
Images - Yankee Doodle – public domain, flags from personal collection - ©2009, Jon Rochetti
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July 3, 2009
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 Madame Tussauds in Washington, DC, has placed a wax figure of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson in their front window.
The Jackson figure will be on display for at least a week and visible from the sidewalk to passersby.
Jackson was one of music’s most unique talents, changing both the music and video music industry as well as redefining the word weird.
With 750 million records sold, and over a dozen Grammy Awards and number one hits, Jackson became one of the most globally recognized American pop singers. From a child prodigy in the Jackson Five to adult superstar, his 1982 album Thriller, became the highlight of his career. It is the only album in history to sell over 100 million copies, exceeding the next closest album by over 50 million copies.
A visit inside Madame Tussauds gets you face to face with wax figures of President Barack Obama and Michelle, George Washington, Martin Luther King, Jr., Muhammad Ali, Abe Lincoln and many other political and historical figures. Hollywood icons Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Julia Roberts are just a few of the celebrities also on display inside the museum.
 Michael Jackson Wax Figure
Madame Tussauds
1025 F Street, NW at 10th Street
Washington, DC 20004 (map it)
Dates and Times – Sunday – Friday - 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (last entry), Saturday until 8:00 (last entry).
Tickets – Adults - $20.00, Seniors - $18.00, children 3-12 - $15.00, under 2 – free. Available at the box office or online.
Nearest Metro Subway Station - Metro Center, Blue, Orange and Red lines, then a 2-block walk.
Parking -Metered street and paid garage parking is available in the area.
Images - George Washington - from personal collection - ©2009, Jon Rochetti, Michael Jackson – public domain.
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July 2, 2009
 The annual National Independence Day Celebration in Washington, DC kicks off with the July 4th Parade at 11:45, the morning of Saturday, July 4th, 2009, starting at Seventh Street, NW and runs down Constitution Avenue to 17th Street.
The parade feature military units, marching bands, drill teams, drill teams, VIP’s and celebrities, floats, equestrian riders, and giant balloons.
It’s always a patriot treat for the kids.
And the annual National Symphony Orchestra concert on the West Lawn of the Capitol Building, A Capitol Fourth, starts at 8:00 p.m. Gates for lawn seating opens at 3:00. Performances will include:
- Barry Manilow will join the NSO to sing patriotic selections and some of his hits
- The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin
- The cast of the Broadway musical Jersey Boys
- Multi Grammy Award-nominee Michael Feinstein
- Classical pianist Andrew von Oeyen
- Pop singer Natasha Bedingfield
Both events are free.
Dates & Times – Saturday, July 3 – event start at 11:45 a.m. and conclude around 9:30.
Tickets – Admission is free, no tickets required.
Nearest Metro Subway Station - Capitol South and Federal Center SW – Orange & Blue lines, and Union Station - Red line. The Smithsonian station on the Blue & Orange line will be closed on July 4yth.
Parking - Limited street parking and area paid garage parking is available, but try to take Metro as parking will be very limited.
Images - Flickr – flag in the parade, Marine Corps band – public domain, Lincoln Memorial
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July 1, 2009
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Over the weekend I attended a very enjoyable polo match at Great Meadow, in The Plains, Virginia. It’s the same location where the annual Virginia Gold Cup steeple chase racing occurs.
The Great Meadow Polo Club holds twilight polo matches on most Saturday evening during the summer and weekend daytime polo matches periodically. Additionally, check out the July 4th major polo event of the season, with an expected 20,000 people in attendance.
 People get dressed up, women wear colorful sun dresses and big summer hats. Many groups rent tents and put out big, fancy spreads for all their guests. And champagne seems to be the beverage of choice.
Polo dates back to the Persian empire around the the 5th century, and was played as a training game for cavalry soldiers and a game for the elite noblemen.
It eventually spread around the world, but is still a very specialized sport, requiring player to have several well-trained horses for each match. Polo is currently played professionally in over a dozen countries.
To better understand the game, here’s a few terms to learn:
- Chukkas - Same as a period of play – usually 4, 6 or 8 chukkas per match
- Field - The playing field which is 300 yards (274m) by 160 yards (146m).
- Polo Pony – The horses are referred to as ponies, not horses,
- Divot Stamping – spectators walk the field during breaks to replace and step on divots to keep the field’s grass in good condition. It’s also an excellent time to socialize.
- Stadium or Arena Polo – played on a smaller, enclosed field with wooden boundary, approx. 100 yards (91m) by 50 yards (47m).
 
Great Meadow Polo Club
Great Meadow
5089 Old Tavern Road
The Plains, Virginia 20198 (map it)
Dates & Times – Most Saturday evenings, (gates open at 6:30 p.m.) through September 5, 2009, but check the schedule for times and dates.
Tickets – $10.00 per person or $20.00 per car. Reserved covered party spaces are also available for rent.
 
Parking – Free parking is available.
And yes, that’s me with the lovely Joy Hodges, Miss District of Columbia!! She will be competing for the national title of Miss United States in July in Las Vegas.
Images - from personal collection ©2009, Jon Rochetti
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June 30, 2009
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 If you’ve ever bought half-priced tickets for a Broadway show at the TKTS kiosk in New York’s Times Square or South Street Seaport, you already understand the Ticketplace discounted same-day theater ticket concept.
Ticketplace offers mostly same-day discounted (about 38% off) theater tickets to many of Washington, DC’s most popular theatrical performances, including theater, dance, music, films, lectures, tours and more.
Additionally, at times, discounted advanced purchase tickets to performances or tours may also be offered.
For online purchase, Ticketplace automatically selects the “best available” seats. Tickets can then be picked up at the venue’s “will call” or box office one hour prior to show time.
You can order tickets online 24/7 or in person at their storefront. They accept American Express, Visa, and MasterCard and all sales are final.
Ticketplace
407 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC (map it)
Hours – Wednesdays – Fridays - 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Saturdays – 10:00- 4:00, Sundays – Noon – 4:00. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Tickets – Available at the box office or online at a 50% discount, plus a 12% service fee (average discount about 38%).
Nearest Metro Subway Station - Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter Station, Green and Yellow line, then a 1½-block walk, or use the DC Circulator bus.
Parking - Limited metered street parking and area paid garage parking is available.
Images - Flickr – ticket stub
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June 29, 2009
 Washington, DC has it’s share of monuments. Some to the nation’s Founding Fathers, other memorials and statues to less famous and even more obscure people.
A monument just a short walk from the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall is just one of those. It memorializes the contributions of Swedish inventor and mechanical engineer John Ericsson (1803-1889).
Among his 588 patents, Ericsson is considered one of the several men that simultaneously and separately invented the screw propeller for marine propulsion. The invention changed naval and commerce shipping as ships no longer had to rely on wind and sail to power their ships.
Ericsson initially designed a propulsion system for the British Navy with two screw-propellers moving in different directions. The British Admiralty disapproved of the design and Ericsson found interest for his design in the United States.
Besides the screw propeller, Ericsson designed the 172 ft. (52m) USS Monitor, the first armored Ironclad ship in the Union Navy to serve during the American Civil War. He also worked with steam locomotives, compressed air as a power source for ships, steam boilers, steam-powered fire-engines, and more.
 Even the Wright Brothers used Ericsson’s screw propeller to help formulate their airplane propeller design.
One hundred and ten years after the Monitor sank while being towed in high seas in 1862, the wreck of the ship was discovered about 16 miles off the coast of North Carolina. Subsequently, several major artifacts, including the ships propeller, gun turret and a cannon, anchor, and engine along with some personal effects of the ship’s crew have been recovered. they are on display at the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, Virginia.
 The Ericsson memorial is just a short walk from the Lincoln Memorial and was dedicated in May of 1926, before a crowd of 5,000, that included President Calvin Coolidge.
Ericsson Memorial
Ohio Drive, SW south of Independence Ave., SW.
Washington, DC
Dates & Times – Daily – accessible 24-hours
Admission - Free
Nearest Metro Subway Station – Foggy Bottom – Orange and Blue lines, or Arlington Cemetery – Blue line, then a ¾-mile walk, or use the DC Circulator bus.
Parking - Limited metered street parking is available.
Images - From personal collection ©2009, Jon Rochetti, Titanic screws – public domain.
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June 28, 2009
The weather yesterday was perfect for walking around the National Capital Barbecue Battle in Washington, DC. And today, it should be just as nice, so head on down to Pennsylvania Avenue and enjoy some live music and BBQ.
Here’s a few photos of the event.
 
Images - from personal collection ©2009, Jon Rochetti
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June 28, 2009
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 I’ve seen the symphonic performance Bugs Bunny on Broadway a couple times performed by the National Symphony Orchestra, and it rates five stars carrots!!!
And that wascawwy wabbit does it again!
Having grown up with Bugs Bunny and friends, I gained much of my initial introduction to classical music (and a later appreciation) from the soundtracks that played along with the Loony Tunes’ cartoons I loved as a child.
And years later, even today when I hear a famous classical piece that was used in a Bug’s cartoon, such as the Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries, I automatically mimic Elmer Fudd’s “Kill da wabbitt…kill da wabbit”.
This summer, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is putting on a production of this 20 year-old classic. It’s a great show for both young and old and may be the last time it’s preformed in the area, as it’s scheduled to get a update in 2010.
 Bugs Bunny on Broadway is a symphony and video production that incorporates the live musical soundtrack, played by the BSO, synchronized with classic Warner Brothers Bugs Bunny cartoons that were created by animation legends Chuck Jones and Friz Freleng, along with voices by Mel Blanc.
The production includes some of Bug’s all-time great cartoons, including “What’s Opera, Doc?,” “The Rabbit of Seville,” and Bugs playing the famous conductor – Leo-pold Stokowski, in “Long-Haired Hare.”
Watch memorable cartoon clips, which includes Bugs Bunny massaging Elmer Fudd’s head to the music of The Barber of Seville as children (of all ages) sit mesmerized watching the big screen with the powerful BSO playing along.
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra & Bugs Bunny on Broadway
Merriweather Post Pavilion
10475 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, Maryland 21044 (map it)
Date and Time – Saturday, July 11, 2009 - 8:30 p.m. Lawn seating opens 90 minutes before the show.
Admission – Lawn - $20.00, reserved seats $30.00 and $45.00. Tickets are available online or by phone at 1-800-551-SEAT.
Nearest Metro subway station – Greenbelt - Green line, or Glenmont – Red line, then a 30 minute cab ride from either. Cabs are generally available after the show.
Parking - Free
Image – Flickr – BB on Bway, star
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June 27, 2009
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This is part 7 of the series, Baltimore Inner Harbor Weekend Get-away.
The University of Maryland was home of the world’s first dental college in 1840. And now it hosts the National Dental Museum.
 The 7,000 sq. ft. museum, opened in 1996, holds over 40,000 quirky and educational artifacts related to dentistry, dental hygiene, teeth and the mouth.
Some of the museum’s interesting highlights include:
- George Washington’s not-so-wooden dentures (actually made of ivory and held in place by a strong and often mouth numbing metal spring).
- A life-sized model of “Penny Wilson,” a renowned sideshow performer presenting her “iron-jaw” act.
- The world’s only Tooth Jukebox, playing vintage dental product commercial jingles, cartoon and commercials.
- Four silk-screened prints by Andy Warhol of Saint Apollonia, the patron saint of dentistry.
- Gilded dental instruments used on Brittan’s Queen Victoria.
The kid-friendly museum has hands-on exhibits, and CSI fans should enjoy the forensics exhibits, as they learn to interpret dental clues to aid in criminal investigations.
And here’s a few interesting tooth related trivia facts:
- Around 1900, close to 50% of American adults were toothless, yet today less than 10% of adults over 65 years of age have lost any teeth.
- The average human produces enough saliva in a lifetime to fill two swimming pools.
- Hair from horses were first used as tooth brush bristles.
- The first “tube” of toothpaste sold by Colgate in 1896.
- A few famous American dentists included Paul Revere, Doc Holiday, author Zane Gray and the painter of American Gothic, Grant Wood.
- Today is National No Tooth Decay Day in Australia.
Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Dental Museum
31 S. Greene Street at Lombard Street
On the University of Maryland campus
Baltimore, Maryland 21201 (map it)
410-706-0600
Dates and Times - Wednesday - Saturday - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. Sunday - 1:00 - 4:00 p.m., closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and major holidays.
Tickets - Adults - $6.00, youths, Seniors, students with ID - $3.00, children 6 & under - Free.
Parking - Limited metered street parking is available, plus paid garage parking.
For more Baltimore Inner Harbor weekend ideas, here’s a list of the posts from this series to date:
Images - Flickr - x-ray, dentures
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June 26, 2009
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This is your last chance to see yet another exhibit documenting the inauguration of President Obama, I Do Solemnly Swear: Photographs of the 2009 Inauguration. The exhibit details over 30 framed color and black & white photos of the week-long inauguration ceremony.
Taken by amateurs, professionals and leading photojournalists, such as Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Hume Kennerly, Bob McNeely, a former White House chief photographer during the Clinton administration, and the award-winning photographer Karen Ballard. She accompanied General Tommy Franks while troops were entering Baghdad immediately after the fall of Saddam Hussein and took the now famous photos of the deposed dictator in handcuffs while sitting in court.
I Do Solemnly Swear: Photographs of the 2009 Inauguration
National Museum of American History
14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001 (map it)
Dates & Times – Exhibit through July 12, 2009. Museum Hours - 10:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., extended summer hours (through August 16, 2009) until 7:00 p.m.
Admission – FREE
Nearest Metro Subway Station – Federal Triangle and Smithsonian, Blue and Orange lines, then a 2-block walk, or use the DC Circulator bus.
Parking - Limited free and metered street parking is available.
Images - Flickr - Obamas
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Reagan Nat Arpt, VA
