The DC Traveler

Ten Tips for Attending Barack Obama’s Inauguration Day

January 20, 2009 is the date that President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden will take their oaths of office. Obama will become the 44th President of the United States, on the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building.

Expect 250,000 people that have reserved tickets to show up for the event, plus at least another million more to arrive without tickets.  So without tickets, you will be a long distance (most likely several 100 yards away) from the inauguration ceremony, and probably not able to see anything, other than large TV monitors placed all over the Mall.  But you can still share in the experience.

The last inauguration I attended, (without tickets), the closest I could get to the steps of the Capitol, was just under a mile away, just off of 7th Street.  I suspect that might be considered a great location this time.

Inaugural events start on Thursday, January 15, so not just the National Mall area will be effected.  Area hotels, restaurants, businesses, government offices in the area will be impacted, and local transportation will be strained to capacity.

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Attend the Presidential Inauguration Rehearsal this Sunday

The Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2009, is not only a major historic event, but is expected to record crowds and a huge global television audience. 

To ensure the event comes off with out a hitch, the inauguration event needs to have a dry run or two.  And the inaugural rehearsal is planned for the early morning of Sunday, January 11th.

It’s been reported that two inauguration run-throughs will occur, with stand-ins acting as the President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden.  The first run through is expected to start around 5:30 in the morning, with a few starts and stops to get the timing and all the inaugural elements correct. The second rehearsal will run non-stop, and is expected to conclude by around 9:00 a.m.

The military bands, led by the U.S. Army Field Band and the U.S. Marine Band.will play “Hail to the Chief”, and other traditional inauguration music.

So if you want to get a feel for the inauguration, without the crowds, check out the Presidential Inauguration rehearsal.

Presidential Inauguration Rehearsal
Front steps of the U.S. Capitol Building
1st Street between Independence and Constitution Avenues.
Washington, DC (map it)

Dates and Times - Sunday, January 11, 2009, 5:30 - 9:00 a.m.

Tickets - None needed and most area are expected to be open to the public.

Nearest Metro Subway Station -Federal Center SW - Blue and Orange lines, then a 3-block walk.

Parking - Street parking is available. _________________________________________________

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1968 - A Year of Global Student Turmoil

In the U.S., 1967 was called the Summer of Love. Just 12 months later, 1968 was considered the Year of Discontent.

Riots broke out in cities across the country, including the now famous in Washington, DC riots in the U Street corridor, after Martin Luther King was assassinated.

Demonstrations and riots erupted at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.  Bobbie Kennedy was shot and killed in Los Angeles. In Vietnam, the Tet Offensive was launched, which changed the course of the war and in part, caused President Johnson to not run for re-election.

Also in 1968, the Olympics in Mexico City witnessed the famous Black Power salute by a pair of American athletes and the Czech gymnast Věra Čáslavská who quietly turned away from the flag raising during the playing of the Soviet national anthem, in protest of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia two moths earlier.

And around the globe, student movements were sparking, and some notable incidents occurred in Mexico City, Prague and Paris.

In Mexico City, The Night of Tlatelolco occurred just 10 days before the opening of the summer Olympics. Several hundred students were shot by the Mexican military and police during demonstrations on the campus of the National University.

In Prague, Soviet-led Warsaw Pact tanks invaded the city, after a short period of political freedom during Prague Spring.  Students resisted and took to the streets.

In May 1968, Paris erupted with student protests and riots in the Latin Quarter, along with worker’s strikes that eventually collapsed the then-current De Gaulle government.

Two photo exhibits at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, DC -‘68 Memorial and 1968 - Mexico, Prague, Paris, present over 100 photos from these three cities from that violent period in 1968.

Some of the photos are from the Associated Press (AP), and all examine the student and people’s movements in those three cities at the same moment in time that permanently changed history.

‘68 Memorial and 1968 - Mexico • Prague • Paris
Mexican Cultural Institute
2829 16th Street, NW 
Washington, DC  (map it)
202-728-1647

Dates and Times - Mondays - Fridays, NOTE UNIQUE HOURS - 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. The Institute closes from 1-3.  the exhibit is open through January 30, 2009.

Tickets - Admission is free.

Nearest Metro Subway Station - Columbia Heights - Green line, then a ½-mile walk.

Parking - limited metered street parking is available.

Image - Riot police - Wikimedia Commons

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Entangled in Love…and More, with CityDance

CityDance Ensemble presents Entangled, featuring works that examine human relationships - both the serious and passionate, and the playful and silly.

The highlights pieces of the performance include:

• Mattress Suite, a highly physical fusion compilation of contemporary, modern, and gymnastic dances that transforms a mattress into a bed, trampoline, platform, and wall, and look at several emotional aspects of a sensual relationship, from sensual shenanigans to doubt and hesitation.
• A world premieres of Scorched by Kate Weare, a dancer and choreographer who has been described as defining the next generation of dance. The piece examines how people try to connect with another.
• A second world premiere on the program is a duet entitled Entangled, in which one dancer is held while being simultaneously bound, supported and controlled by her dance partner.
• A physical and whimsical piece, Roger & Lucie, is about a late-night janitor who ends up dancing with a unique and transformative “partner”.

This should be an exciting evening of emotional and explosive dance from CityDance.

Entangled  
CityDance Ensemble
Lansburgh Theatre - Harman Center for the Arts
450 7th Street, NW at E Street.
Washington, DC (map it)

Dates and Times - Friday, and Saturday, January 16-17, 2009, 8:00 p.m.

Tickets - $20.00 and $38.00 and $55.00 and are available online or by calling 202-547-1122.

Nearest Metro Subway Station - Archives-Navy Memorial-Penn Quarter - Yellow and Green lines or Gallery Place-Chinatown - Red, Yellow and Green lines – then a  2-block walk from either station.

Parking - Metered street parking and paid garage parking is available.

Photos - Courtesy of CityDance, by Paul Gordon Emerson ___________________________________________________

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January Round-Up of Live Music in Washington, DC

January is a big month for great live music in Washington, DC. Here’s just a few of the highlights.

At The Birchmere in January, check out:

• Leon Redbone bring his trademark Panama hat, bow tie and Tin Pan Alley tunes to the Birchmere - Saturday, January, 3, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. - $35.00 (Also at Ram’s Head on January 4th.)
• If you enjoy country and bluegrass, check out twelve-time Grammy winner Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Friday and Saturday, January 9 & 10 at 7:30 - $35.00
• Cuban jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval bring his Latin sound to DC. He was also the subject of the movie, For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story, starring Andy Garcia as Sandoval.  Sunday, January 25, at 7:30 - $49.50

The Birchmere
3701 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22305 (map it)

Kicking off the New Year at the State Theatre:

• After touring with the Allman Brothers last year, Southern rocker Gregg Allman, is hitting the road for a some solo shows. Tuesday,  January 6 at 7:30 - $48.00 (Also at Ram’s Head on January 5, but at $125 a ticket, see him at The State.)
• British Invasion pop band, The Smithereens bring their 80s hits like "Only a Memory," and "A Girl Like You" to The State. Friday, January 16 at 9:00 - $20.00 (Also at Ram’s Head on January 10.)

• The pioneering heavy metal and classic rock band Blue Öyster Cult have been entertaining audiences with their dark, bluesy, kinda- psychedelic, somewhat occultish sound that includes the 1976 hit (Don’t Fear) The Reaper".  Friday, January 23 at 9:00 - $25.00 (Also at Ram’s Head, January 20.)

State Theatre
220 Washington Street
Falls Church, VA
703-237-0300 (map it) 

At Blues Alley in Georgetown, check out some of the international jazz scene:

• The jazzy piano sounds of the Mose Allison Trio hits Blues Alley for three nights, Friday - Sunday, January 2-4 at 8:00 and 10:00 nightly - $25.00
• For four nights, Blues Alley brings jazz artists to Washington, DC for its Latin Jazz Series.  The series offers two shows nightly at 8:00 and 10:00.
  – Dani Cortaza (guitarist from Argentina) - Monday, January 12 - $18.00
  – Pablo Aslan (bassist from Argentina) -  Tuesday, January 13 - $25.00
  – Negroni’s Trio - (Pianist from Puerto Rico) -  Wednesday, January 14 - $20.00
  – Sabrina Lastman (Vocalist from Uruguay) -  Thursday, January 15 - $25.0

Blues Alley
1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20007 (map it)

The highlight this month at 9:30 Club, one of Washington, DC’s hipper music venues is probably:

• Washington, DC’s DJ duo Rob Garza and Eric Hilton mixing everything from acid jazz to Bossa Nova at the Radio Retaliation Tour, Thievery Corporation - Tuesday - Thursday, January 27-29, Doors open at 7:00 - $40.00

9:30 Club
815 V Street, NW
Washington, DC (map it)
202-393-0930

At Ram’s Head east of Washington, DC in in Annapolis, MD:

• Al Di Meola bring his jazz fusion and Latin jazz guitar along with World Sinfonia ‘09 to Ram’s Head - Thursday, January 15 at 8:00 - $41
• Japanese new age and smooth jazz keyboardist Keiko Matsui -  Sunday, January 25, at 4:00 (all ages show) and 8:00 - $33.00

Ram’s Head Tavern
33 West Street
Annapolis, MD 21401 (map it)
410-268-4545

Images - Flickr - Leon Redbone, Al Di Meola
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Happy New Year

Happy 2009

from

The DC Traveler!!

Here’s a few New Year’s resolutions I plan on working on regarding The DC Traveler:

1. Write more hotel and restaurant reviews this year.
2. Conduct more interviews with local or noted personalities.
3. Write about more family and gender specific activities.
4. Get more involved with social media that readers may use, such as Twitter, My Space, etc.
5. Improve my spelling (okay, that’s one that I’ve been working on since the 3rd grade).

Cheers!!!

Image - Flickr - glasses
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First Night Celebrations Around Washington DC

Nothing planned for tonight? Then check out one of the four suburban communities around Washington, DC that are hosting family-oriented First Night celebrations.

First Fairfax - A Night to Remember!
Chain Bridge Rd and University Drive
Fairfax, Virginia  22030
Hours - 6:00 p.m. - midnight

• Ring in the New Year starting with the lighting of the Fairfax bonfire, them make your way to the multi-stage celebration that includes magic and music for children, a four mile run, swing dancing, an art fair, an Irish festival, Improv, musical and theatrical performances, a wine house terrace serving traditional Gluhwein, carriage rides, balloon modelers and face painting for the kids.

First Night Alexandria
King Street
Alexandria, Virginia
Hours - 5:00 p.m. to midnight

• The venues at the Alexandria First Night festival range from revolutionary wars taverns to World War II torpedo factories.  With dozens of performances, including music, dance, storytelling and activities for the children, this is one the regions more popular New Year’s Eve events.  end the evening at the George Washington Masonic Temple for midnight fireworks. Tickets (badges) available online or at the site $12.00 - $20.00 depending on where and when purchased. Children 12 and under FREE. 

First Night Annapolis
Annapolis City Dock
Annapolis, Maryland
Hours - 3:00 p.m. - midnight

• Close to a dozen downtown venues along with tons of performances and events make up the First Night celebration in Annapolis. Catch the 7:30 p.m. and the midnight fireworks at the City Dock. This event has been scaled down in the past couple years, but efforts are being made to make is larger this year. Tickets (buttons) are $15.00 each. This is an alcohol free event. 

First Night Leesburg
18 E. Market Street
Leesburg, Virginia  20176

• Leesburg in Virginia is the site for over 100 performances at indoor locations in and around the historic downtown. With musical performances and more, don’t miss the traditional Grand Illumination at the courthouse at midnight.  Events run 6:00 p.m. to midnight. Tickets - Adults are $8.00, $6.00 for Seniors, $3.00 for kids 3-12 and under 3 are free.

Image - Courtesy of Alexandria First Night - photo by Michael Geissinger

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Ten Things That Might Happen During the Inauguration…Well…Maybe Not.

There’s so much hullabaloo and disaster mongering going on about the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama. The list of potential things that “might” happen is getting longer by the day. 

If half a million people show up, the infrastructure should be okay, except for major issues such as transportation and dining near the mall.  But if a couple million people converge on the Mall, the infrastructure, along with the food service industries will be pushed to their limits.

So here’s a few of the potential “disasters” that might occur due to massive crowds attending the inauguration celebration, and my estimation of how likely it will happen.

1. Multiple hour waits to get on Metro trains leaving the National Mall — With crowds expected to run at least five times more than a typical July Fourth event, it’s likely that Metro will be overwhelmed, even with 15 hours of consecutive rush-hour scheduling. Likelihood - very high.
2. Mobile phone service will cease — Due to overwhelmed cell towers around the Mall, especially during the hours just before and after the ceremony, the cellular carriers will likely not be able to handle all of the call traffic.  Considering at times all over the Washington, DC area, especially during rush hour, it can be sometimes tough getting a call through, so don’t expect to place a call phone call on the first attempt 3 minutes before Obama takes his oath.  Likelihood - medium/high.
3. Chartered busses might not find parking – With upwards of 10,000 chartered busses potentially bringing people to the inauguration, where are they all to park? So far, potential places include Wolf Trap, JFK Stadium, Hanes Point, and more so parking should not be an issue. Likelihood - low.
4. Getting people from chartered busses at remote parking areas to the National Mall — Getting upwards of a half a million people to the Mall and then back again quickly will be an issue. So see #1. Likelihood - high.
5. Grocery stores will run out of staples – With a million-plus people who are not staying in hotels looking for items such as as bread and milk, grocers may run out quickly.  While the hint of a snowfall in the area causes some people to rush out and hoard 200 rolls of toilet paper and 40 gallons of milk, I doubt that retailers will miss the opportunity to stock up and make big bucks form our out of town visitors. Likelihood - very low.
6. Parking at Metro rail station will not accommodate all the cars — With only 60,000 parking spaces spread out over 42 stations, if you don’t get to the Metro very, VERY early, chances are you won’t get a parking spot. Again, see #1. Likelihood - very high.
7. Getting a meal on the Mall will require an act of Congress — You should be able to find plenty of hot dog vendors around the Mall on inauguration day. But if you want to wait out the exit rush after the ceremony, at a restaurant anywhere near the Mall, expect a multi-hour wait. Likelihood - high.
8. Restroom facilities will be tough to find – DC does a great job at having enough porta-potties at most major events in the Mall, so this shouldn’t be an issue. Likelihood - low.
9. Finding a taxi to get to or from the Mall – With all the expected street closures, security checkpoints, rerouted traffic patterns, and the massive crowds all heading to the same place, finding a cab (or for that matter, a cabbie willing to bring his cab anywhere near the expected gridlock on Mall that day) is unlikely. Likelihood - medium.
10. People will simply grin and bear it — In the crowd that descends on Washington, DC, there will be some complainers who expect a seat on the Metro train, a table at a restaurant just blocks from the Capitol, parking garages to have open spots an hour before the inauguration ceremony and no hassles getting to and from the Mall.  But I hope people will just expect the worst and smile when things go well.  Likelihood - high.

So what do you think?  Will Washington, DC handle the crowds or will it be a tourism nightmare?  Make a comment below.

Image - Flickr - 2005 inauguration

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Celebrate New Year’s Eve in 9 Cities, and Never Leave Washington, DC

Nine cities, nine city-themed rooms, and a couple thousand people celebrating New Year’s Eve in Washington, DC.

City themes include music and food representing:

• New York City - hip and trends DJs keep the vibe live, and enjoy one of the local food items, Manhattan Clam Chowder.
• Chicago in the Roaring 1920s - No Prohibition here, with a fun swing band and of course pizza.
• Miami and Havana - a live Salsa band and a Cuban menu fills this room.
• Spirit of the Caribbean delivers the island feel with Reggae and Calypso.
• Boston boasts a live Irish band and New England Clam Chowder.
• Become a star at the Los Angeles Karaoke stage and enjoy Asian themed consumables.
• Spirit of the Caribbean delivers the island feel with Reggae and Calypso.
• Viva Las Vegas at a casino-themed room with mock casino and a hotel style buffet.
• Move south to Big D, Dallas and enjoy some good old Texas BBQ and Texas Hold ‘Em.
• Stop by paradise in the Maui-themed room,  and enjoy the live Polynesian band and a roasted whole Hawaiian Luau pig.

Promo Video

New Year’s Eve Salute to America Gala
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel
2660 Woodley Road, NW
Washington, DC (map it)

Dates and Times - Wednesday, December 31, 2008, 9:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.

Tickets - $174.00 and are available online, but prices go up as the date gets closer.

Nearest Metro Subway Station - Woodley Park, Red line, then a 3-block walk.

Parking - Paid hotel parking is available, but may fill up.
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Magic and Laughs for Kids with The Great Zucchini

The entertaining comedy and magic show put on by The Great Zucchini is considered Washington DC’s most magically entertaining shows for preschool and kindergarten children. 

A big hit at birthday parties, The Great Zucchini has entertained children at the White House Easter Egg Roll and the National Zoo.  He bring his interactive  show, especially for the toddler-set, to both of the Washington, DC’s area Cinema & Drafthouses in Arlington and Montgomery.

The Great Zucchini’s magic tricks may not be all that amazing to an adult, but his interaction with his pre-school audience, making himself the brunt of every joke, is what makes children howl with laughter.

The Great Zucchini 
Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse
2903 Columbia Pike
Arlington, Virginia (map it)
and
Montgomery Cinema & Drafthouse
11006 Veirs Mill Road
Silver Spring, Maryland (map it)

Dates and Times 

• At the Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse - Saturdays - January 10, 2009 at noon, February 14 at 11:00 a.m., March 14 at 11:00 a.m., and April 11 at 11:00 a.m.
• At the Montgomery Cinema & Drafthouse - Saturdays - all shows at 11:00 a.m. - Saturday Jan 24, 2009, February 28, March 28, and April 25.

Tickets - $8.00 and are available online.  These shows often sell out, so best to order tickets in advance.

Nearest Metro Subway Station - Arlington Drafthouse - Pentagon City, Blue and Yellow lines, then a 1½ mile walk or cab ride. Montgomery Drafthouse - Wheaton - Red line, then a ¼ mile walk.

Parking - Arlington Drafthouse - Street and garage parking is available within a couple blocks of the theater.  Montgomery Drafthouse  - free parking at the Wheaton Plaza mall.

Images - Laughing child

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