The collection chronicles from the historic event of Rosa Parks being arrested for not giving up her bus seat, to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination in 1968.

The Road to Freedom – Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement – 1954-1968, offers historic mages that capture the non-violent civil rights movement movement through non-violent awareness raising, the events surrounding the 1961 Freedom Riders who protested racial segregation on public transportation, the fire hosing of blacks in Birmingham, Alabama, the famous Bloody Sunday during the Selma-Montgomery March of 1965 and other crucial events as they were captured on film are on display.

A few of the most moving, historical and my personal favorites included:

• Rosa Parks calmly getting booked at the police station after being arrested.
• A burned out public bus after a riot.
• A bloody protestor who was beaten by police.
• Several photos of Bloody Sunday. 
• A series of photos of Black students being the first to enter integrated schools, as protestors taunt them and the National Guard protects them.

This is magnificent collection of historical photographs during one of America’s most violent and disturbing time.

Road to Freedom – Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement – 1954-1968
The Smithsonian International Gallery
1100 Jefferson Drive, SW
Washington, D.C. 20560  (map it)

Dates and Times – Daily through March 9, 2009 – 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Admission – FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Smithsonian – Blue and Orange line, then a 1-block walk or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Metered street parking is available in the area.

Images – Bloody Sunday, March on Washington – both public domain _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

This year’s tree, from the Sapphire Mountains of Western Montana, was originally 100 feet tall, but was cut to 73 feet.

It’s open to the public daily.

2008 Capitol Christmas Tree
U.S. Capitol Building – west grounds 
1 1st Street, NE, between Constitution and Independence Avenues Washington, DC  (map it).

Dates and Times – Daily through January 1, 2009

Admission – FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Federal Center SW – Blue and Orange line, then a 5-block walk or use the DC Circulator. Union Station and Judiciary Square – Red line, are both about ¾ mile walk.

Parking – Limited street parking is available in the area. Check for limited 2-hour parking limitations during weekday business hours in residential areas.

Image – from personal collection – ©2008, Jon Rochetti  _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

I was walking through Arlington National Cemetery last January and happened across a headstone that caused me to freeze in my tracks.  The date first caught my eye.  Then, I realized the significance of the ship listed on the headstone.

The headstone for sailor, Gunners Mate Robert Edwin Kline, of New York, listed him as killed on December 7th, 1941, aboard the battleship USS Arizona. IThe date on the headstone was the same as the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, which caused the U.S. to declare war the following day and enter World War II. 

During the attack, a bomb dropped from a Japanese plane struck the forward section of the Arizona and ignited the forward munitions magazine, causing a catastrophic explosion that sunk the battleship in just nine minutes. 1,177 of her crew were killed that day. A total of 2,388 U.S. military personnel were killed in the attack on Hawaii.

Today is the 67th anniversary of the December 7th attack on Pearl Harbor.  Three days after the attack, the U.S. declared war on Japan, causing Japan’s allies, Germany and Italy, to declare war on the U.S.  The following day Bulgaria declared war on the U.S., followed by Romania on Dec 14th, 1941. The U.S. was involved in the war for the next 4 years.

Today, there is a memorial over the sunken battleship memorial in Pearl Harbor.

Unfortunately, I was unable to learn any more about this fallen hero.

Images – Arlington images from personal collection – ©2008, Jon Rochetti, war photos public domane.,

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Tickets went fast for the event, but the grounds will be open to public 24-hours through January 1, 2009.

Besides the National Christmas Tree, visit the Pathway of Peace, with decorated Christmas trees from each of the states and U.S. territories, along with the National Yuletide Log.

The grounds are illuminated each evening from dusk until 11:00 p.m.  Musical performances by volunteer groups, choirs and dancers are held each night on the Ellipse stage.  Evening performances on weeknights occur between 6:00 – 8:30 p.m., and from 4:00 – 8:30 p.m. on weekends.

Nation Christmas Tree and Walk of Peace
1600 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC‎  (map it)

Dates and Times – December 4, 2008 through January 1, 2009

Admission - FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Stations – Metro Center, Federal Triangle and McPherson Square, than a short walk to the Ellipse, or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Limited street parking is available, especially during the day and on weekends.

Image – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti  _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

The only word to describe KOOZA is… AMAZING!!!

I’ve seen several Cirque du Soleil productions and KOOZA was by far, the most physical, high-energy and awe inspiring show of all. 

The audience’s reaction to the gravity defying, body contorting, magical balancing, and fearless performances resulted in at not several, but many moments during the show, of audible group gasps, screams and shrieks. The story, led by a team of very funny clowns made for a slap-stick, party-like feel, intermingled with spectacular circus acts. 

The clowns kept the show funny and moving, allowing people to catch their breathes and slow their pulses between acts.  Be ready for some fun audience participation, but be warned…watch your wallet. 

The show’s opening artistic act, three contortionists, set the stage for the acts to come.  They seemed to made of rubber and virtually boneless as they intertwined and balanced themselves on top of each other.

Just a few of the performances during the 3-hour tightly produced show included a Zen-like performer who balanced himself on a stack of chairs a couple stories into the air while performing unbelievable feats of balance. As he reached the pinnacle of his performance, the audience became memorized into total spellbound silence. 

The double high wire act ended with cheers from the audience as a pyramid of bicycles crossed the tight rope without even a waver of mistake.  At one point, an aerialist leapt over another tight rope walker and just missed his landing, almost falling.  Was it part of the act to build additional tension or was the stunt so challenging that it took two tries to complete? Either way, the crowd applauded loudly when he landed his second attempt. 

The graceful solo trapeze aerialist made the crowd gasp numerous times as she seemed to freefall away from her trapeze, only to catch herself at the last instant.

Other acts included a fast-handed juggler, a game of acrobatic “blanket toss", a duo that tangoed gracefully on a unicycle, and several aerialists being launched high off of a teeter-taughter.  The highlight was watching stilt walkers catapulted skyward and landing on thick mats after completing seemingly impossible twists and flips.

READ MORE AND ABOUT MY PERSONAL FAVORITE ACT—>

For me, the highlight of the show was the Wheel of Death (see photo). Two artists, dressed as devils, ran inside and outside of the spinning stainless steel wheels, at times free falling ten or more feet as gravity took over. this act caused almost continual gasps and shrieks from the audience. It appeared they were just inches away from a misplaced footing or grasp and falling to a possibly death.

The set is a two-story bandstand, draped in richly colored canopies, created a dreamlike experience.  The athletic performers made multiple colorful and artistic costumes changes. throughout the show. The live music was an eclectic blend of new age, pop, jazz, and traditional middle-eastern/sub-continent sounds, led by two female vocalists who were spectacular.  The show’s length, at about 3 hours, seemed to fly by and included a ½-hour intermission.

KOOZA effectively combines slap-stick buffoonery, fast-paced and amazing performances and a live music score that delights. Sir Isaac Newton would have given up on his theory of gravity if he had seen KOOZA.

The show can only be considered the ticket of the season to get in Washington, DC.  I just hope you don’t get the magic seat.

In the next couple days, I’ll be posting on my preshow backstage tour, so stop back for more on KOOZA.

Cirque Du Soleil – KOOZA
Under the Grand Chapiteau at the Plateau
201 Harborview Avenue
National Harbor, MD 20745  (map it)

Dates and Times – October 30 – extended until December 14, 2008, daily, except Mondays. 

Tickets – Adults – $55.00 – $215.00, kids 2-12 – $38.50 – $150.50, Weekday Senior and student discounts available for some shows – $49.50 – $112.50. Tickets available online or by phone at 800-674-5440.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Branch Avenue – Green line, then a 20-minute bus ride (NH-1 Metrobus).

Parking – Event parking is $10.00.

Images – All courtesy of Cirque du Soleil, © Cirque du Soleil 2007 – photos by Olivier Samson Arcand & costumes by Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt.
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Post from: The DC Traveler

Here’s a recap of some of the posts on The DC Traveler of some interesting things to do both with the family and for a night of ghoulish pleasure with the adults.

• Check out the always wild Nightmare on M Street and other parties for the over 21 crowd.
• Shoot off some steam (and pumpkins) at the Pumpkin Cannon in Thurmont, Maryland
• Take the kids to see haunted forests, spooky trails and ghoul filled forests.

Halloween not your thing? 

• Check out the Gem & Jewelry Show in Timonium, Maryland
• Enjoy the passion of Ballet Flamenco Jose Porcel live at George Mason University.
• Try to get tickets for Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA at the National Harbor.

Image – Flickr – Zombies at the Washington Monument
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Post from: The DC Traveler

Using highly compressed air, the pumpkin cannon can project a pumpkin 100 yards at a target across a field. If you prefer something a little less deadly?  Try their double-barreled apple, small gourd and corn cannon.

And if you are looking for a few other Halloween ideas, check out some of my other family-friendly recommendations for Halloween, including a 9-acre corn maze in Midland, Virginia.

Lawyer’s Winterbrook Farms
13001 Creagerstown Road
Thurmont, Maryland 21788 (map it)

About 1 hour and 20 minutes from Washington, DC, about 15 miles north of Frederick, Maryland.

Dates and Times – Open thru November 2, 2008.  Hours:

• Wednesday & Thursday, Oct. 29 and 30 – 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
• Friday – Oct. 31, dusk – 10:00 p.m.
• Saturday, Nov. 1 – noon 10:00 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 2 – 11:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Tickets – $5.00, children under 6 free. Pumpkin cannon – 3 shots for $10.00, Smaller corn/apple cannon – 6 shots for $5.00

Parking – Free

Images – Flickr – pumpkin heads, yellow cannon, orange cannon
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Post from: The DC Traveler

Check back tomorrow for a list of some of the fun adult activities.

There are several great places for the kids. But be careful, some may not be appropriate for the very young. Check the links for address, directions, admission prices, and days and hours, which vary by venue.

• First is the always popular and usually sold out Boo at the Zoo at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. Trick-or-treat along haunted trails, learn about bats spiders and other creepy and spooky animals and reptiles, while stocking up on sweet treats at over 40 stations.
• Field of Screams in Olney, Maryland, offers visitors a haunted forest with ghosts, goblins and other scary creatures just for kids. Or get lost in their large ten-acre corn maze, but watch out for what might be hiding inside….
• I’ve written about Markoff’s Haunted Forest, a top-rated Halloween destination in Dickerson, Maryland before, where not only are the scary employees, but a good number of the visitors get dressed in elaborate costumes for a frightful walk through the dark haunted forest.
• Another local favorite is Bennett’s Curse — House of the Vampires in Hanover, Maryland.
• And one more haunted woods walk is the popular Spooky Hollow and Haunted Trail. This scary place in Germantown, Maryland also offers entertainment, carnival games, food, give-away and contests.

Note: While some of these are definitely for small children, many are spooky and scary for older kids.

Images – Flickr, Fuzzy blue, witch

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Post from: The DC Traveler

These free public concerts include both classical music by famous composers, such as Beethoven, Bach and Haydn, as well as holiday and live film scores.

One notable concert is on Sunday, November 9^th that includes the screening of the 1914 silent film, In the Land of the Head Hunters, together with a live orchestra to accompany the film.

The fictional documentary film entitled In the Land of the Head Hunters tells the story of the Kwakwaka’wakw people of British Columbia, Canada. Motana, the chief’s son, is in love with Naida, but she has been promised to the evil head-hunting Sorcerer. Motana and his father attempt to rid the region of the head-hunters, killing the Sorcerer, but his true love is eventually captured during an attack on their village, and Motana is left for dead. But he must try to rescue his love from the clutches of the Sorcerer brother.

The film captures the Kwakwaka’wakw art, dances, costumes, architecture and a banned custom — the re-distribution of wealth and property called potlatch, which was outlawed in Canada.  It was also the first full-length film staring only Native Americans and predates the famous, but also mostly staged, Nanook of the North.

Check the museum’s schedule for additional details, Here’s the list for the remained of the year.

• Oct. 12, 2008 – Pianist Gilles Vonsattel plays Bach, Liszt, Schubert and more
• Oct. 19 – Festival Strings Lucerne play Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Sarasate
• Oct. 26 – Vienna Piano Trio play Haydn, Schubert, and Smetana
• Nov. 2 – National Gallery Vocal Arts Ensemble featuring music by 17th century composers
• Nov. 9 – The Coast Orchestra plays live music to the silent film, In the Land of the Head Hunters
• Nov. 16 – Euclid String Quartet plays Ades, Beethoven, and Chernin
• Nov. 23 – The Singers’ Companye perform works bv American composers
• Nov. 30 – Verge Ensemble New play works by American composers
• Dec. 7 – Pianist Till Fellner plays Beethoven Sonata Cycle
• Dec. 14 – New York Opera Society plays a Norwegian Christmas Festival
• Dec. 21 – Alessandra Marc with National Gallery Strings present their Christmas concert
• Dec. 28 – National Gallery Orchestra welcome in 2009 with their New Years concert

National Gallery of Art
West Building Main Floor, West Garden Court
6th Street and Constitution Avenue NW
Washington, DC (map it)
202-842-6941

The museum closes at 6:00 on Sundays. Use the 6th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW entrance, which remains open until 6:30 p.m. There is no entry after 6:30 or late seating.

Dates and Time – Sundays through June 29, 2009, 6:30 p.m. Seating is opened at 6:00, until 6:30 or all seats are taken.

Tickets – Admission is FREE, but first-come, first-seated seating is limited.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Gallery Place – Chinatown, Red, Green and Yellow lines, then a 2-block walk or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Metered street and paid garage parking is available in the area.

Images – Flickr – piano 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Located on the western edge of the Pentagon’s grounds, just across the Potomac River from the National Mall in Washington, DC, the site is open 24 hours-a-day to the public, it is adjacent to the original impact spot.

The 184 victims of the tragedy (59 victims on the plane and 125 died inside the Pentagon) are commemorated by a "memorial unit" or steel bench, one  for each person killed. 

A gray concrete retaining wall around the memorial park ranges from 3 inches tall, representing the youngest victim, Dana Falkenberg, who was just three years old, to a height of 71 inches tall, for the oldest victim (71 years), John D. Yamnicky Sr., a former Navy pilot and veteran of two wars.

The direction of the bench, signifies if the victim was a passenger or in the Pentagon at the time of the crash.

At night, the benches are illuminated, as is the small water pool below each one.

The two-acre site was originally a grassy field, sued as a helicopter landing field.

The Pentagon 9/11 Memorial
The Pentagon
Arlington, VA 22202   (map it)

Dates and Times – Open daily, 24-hours,

Tickets – None required – FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Pentagon, Blue and Yellow lines, then a ¼ mile walk.

Parking – There is no public parking at the Pentagon. Paid parking is available at the public lot at Pentagon City Mall, a 10-minute walk.  There is no shuttle from the Mall.

Images – Flickr Pentagon 9/11 memorial benches, Single Bench

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Post from: The DC Traveler