Interpreting classic jazz standards or singing her own bluesy jazz pieces is her sound today, but her background is varied, from playing in marching bands as a child to a back up singer with Joni Mitchell and  singer in funk bands.

In the 1980 she explored into the New York jazz scene and has since recorded over 20 albums, won a Grammy and was named the female Jazz Vocalist of the Year by Down Beat magazine, three years in a row.

Cassandra Wilson
Warner Theatre
513 13th Street, NW, between E & F St.
Washington, D.C., 20004 (map it)

Date and Time – Saturday, November 8, 2008.  8:00 p.m.

Tickets – $40.00 – $80.00 and are available online.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Metro Center – Red, Orange and Blue lines, then a one-block walk or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Paid garage parking and very limited metered street parking is available.

Image – Flickr – Cassandra Wilson in NYC

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Post from: The DC Traveler

The inside of the building holds in rather unique museum with very eclectic pieces of freemason history from presidents to actors, G-men to generals.

The museum includes:

• 36 original still life oil paintings of the various Rite elements by Robert H. White.
• The official collection of memorabilia from FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover.
• A letter from former President Harry S. Truman.
• A life mask of President Abraham Lincoln.
• A large collection of memorabilia from the actor Burl Ives, known for his roles in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Big Country and his narration of the Christmas movie Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
• Painting of several famous members, including Gen. Jimmy Doolittle, Gene Autry, and Senator Sam J. Ervin. 
• Collection of fine porcelains from around the world.
• A large collection of histories, documents and information about the Rite.

Scottish Rite of Freemasonry – Museum and Library
1733 16th Street, at S Street, NW
Washington DC 20009   (map it)

Dates and Times – Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. and the first Saturday of each month from 10:00 – 2:30. Tours are available stating at 9:00 a.m. weekdays and 11:00 on first Saturdays.

Tickets – Admission is FREE.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Dupont Circle – Red line, then a 7-block walk.

Parking – Limited free parking in the rear of the building, as well as 2-hour limit street parking.

Images – from personal collection

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Post from: The DC Traveler

But you might just be approached by a scam artist offering you anything from tickets to “designer” products. 

So when visiting Washington, DC, you know you are getting ripped off if…

1. Anyone offers you discounted tickets to the National Zoo (it’s free).
2. You get approached to buy a Smithsonian Museum Pass, good at all of the Smithsonian museums, (entrance to all of the Smithsonian museums are also free).
3. The “designer” purse that normally retails for $300 at the mall, you happen to find on sale from a tabletop vendor at a festival or from a street vendor in Georgetown.  Yes, it’s a knock-off and worth about 10% of the retail price. But if you really want a $600 Louis Vuitton bag, but can’t justify the price, spending $45 on a knock-off might make you feel better.
4. A cab driver mentions that from downtown to National Airport, he’ll be taking the Beltway…because it’s the fastest route this time of day (talk about the long and expen$ive route). Best to ask at your hotel for the approximate fair before grabbing a cab.
5. You are paying full price for speciality tours.  Sure, it’s common to pay full price when the tour is in high demand. But often, you can negotiate a discount (sometimes a big one), but only if you ask.  I was talking to one speciality tour operator last week about prices and he made it clear that “he would work with me” on a tour, within just a couple minutes, he ended up offering me a 70% discount.
6. Someone offers to sell you White House tour tickets (also free, but limited).
7. You see a Georgetown street vendor selling Rolexs, Gucci and Tag-Heuer watches or designer sunglasses by Oakley or D&G for under $25. Yes, they are fake.  And if you must, always try to bargain them down. Start your offer at nothing higher than 50% of the initial price.*
8. Tickets to events (plays, The Kennedy Center, theaters) are so inexpensive that it seems too good to be true. Don’t fall for a seller on the street that simply used a good scanner and color printer to part you from your vacation cash. Buy from the theater’s box office or let your hotel’s Concierge arrange for tickets.
9. Someone offers you Metro fare cards at a discount. They might be fakes or expired, so go ahead and pay full price for a real Metro card a the station.  The Metro is not that expensive.
10. Vendors, dealers or shops offer “real and authentic” Revolutionary War era, Civil War era,  George Washington slept here artifacts, or other "historical” treasures.  Best to buy from reputable dealers only, ones with a return policy.

* About ten years ago, I did buy a $15 fake “Tag” watch from a Georgetown street vendor. It kept perfect time for over four years. So yes, you might get lucky with a cheap, but well functioning watch.  But my buddy who was visiting DC also bought a diamond “Rolex” (or was it a “Rollex”?). The logo on the face fell off during his flight home and the watch stopped a week later. So buyer beware!

Images – Rolex, purses, Metro SmarTrip card,

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Finishing in last place in the National League East, the Nats had the worst record in baseball. 

Last season, the Nationals ended with a 73 win, 89 loss season, finishing in 4th place in the East division.

But if you can’t bare another five months without watching a Nat’s game, your final chance to see the National play at home is Thursday, September 25th.

Washington Nationals Baseball
Nationals Park
1500 South Capitol Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003 (map it)

Date and Time – Thursday, September 25, 2008, 7:10 p.m.

Tickets – $10.00 – $67.00 and are available online or by phone at 202-675-NATS.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Navy Yard – Green line , then a 2-block walk.

Parking – Parking and free shuttle bus is offered from RFK Stadium.

Images – Teddy – Scott Ableman, ballpark,

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Post from: The DC Traveler

With over 5,200 surveillance cameras operational in the District, not including the ones in and around private and public schools, cameras run by news organizations, hotels, tourist attractions and even the public, you can assume you will at some point, be under someone’s watchful eye.

There’s even a live National Park Service Cherry Blossom cam and a dozen or so at the National Zoo, spying on the pandas and tigers, 24 hours-a-day.

But the most notable cameras are the 5,200 controlled by various Federal and District government departments, that were recently tried together to be centrally monitored by the DC Police, to improve crime monitoring in the city.

Last year, District police cameras captured three homicides on video and saw a 19% reduction in violent crime in areas covered by surveillance cameras.  And while some groups, including the ACLU, criticize cameras as a violation of civil rights and privacy, they seem to forget that every time you walk in to just about any retail establishment, restaurant, hotel, mall, or commercial or government building, you are probably being caught on video.

Only one city in the world has more surveillance camera – London, with over 10,000 cameras deployed.  And the two next closest U.S. cities, New York (3,000 cameras) and Chicago (2,000), lag way behind DC’s 5,200.

You can also watch some of the area’s 100 DC traffic cameras, and others observing area traffic around Maryland and Virginia. 

The District Police has also been deploying deployed a network of ShotSpotter gunfire sensors, that by this Fall, will cover almost 25% of the District’s area, especially in high-crime area.  The coffee can sized sensors can quickly pinpoint the location of gunfire and notify police.  To date, police have been able to quickly locate 13 homicide victims and close to 50 victims of assault where firearms were used.

Images – 7th and Jefferson, large camera – from personal collection – ©2008, Jon Rochetti 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

George Washington laid the Capitol’s cornerstone in 1793 and since it opened in 1800, it’s been the center of American power and government. 

The building needed to be partially rebuild after the British burned parts of Washington, DC in 1814.  In the 1850s, the Capitol building was expanded, with the massive dome top statue, Freedom being put in place in 1863, after he dome rebuilding was complete.  Finally, the front of the Capitol (east end) was rebuilt in 1904 to balance the two sides. 

The most recent construction project, started in 2001, involved the same east end of the building, for the addition of the new underground visitors complex.  It’s due to open December 2, 2008, 145 years to the day after the Freedom statue was placed on the top of the  Capitol Building. 

The U.S. Capitol Historical Society offers 2-hour walking tours of the exterior of the building every Monday morning, through November.

Spectacular Tour to Remember – US Capitol Exterior Walk
U.S. Capitol Historical Society
200 Maryland Avenue, NE
Washington, DC

Meet point – Union Station, at the top of the Massachusetts Avenue exit escalator.  (map it)

Dates and Times – Mondays only, May 19, – November 24, 2008 10:00 a.m.

Tickets – No reservations required, $10.00 (cash only) collected by the tour guide. Contact tours@uschs.org or 202-543-8919, ext. 17, for additional information or to arrange a private walk.

Meet-up point is at Union Station, at the top of the Massachusetts Avenue exit escalator.  (map it)

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Union Station – Red line, meeting point is outside the station or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Paid parking is available at Union Station, as well as limited and time-restricted street parking in the area.

Images – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti  ___________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

Using technology first developed by Charles F. Richter, a professor at the California Institute of Technology in 1935, scientists track and record every earthquake and seismic event that occurs around  the world.

And volcanic eruptions, major earthquakes and deadly tsunamis have dominated the recent news.

While they can’t predict earthquakes, they do build models that estimate the probability of an earthquake occurring in specific regions of the world. 

Besides measuring earthquakes, the U.S. Geological Survey is the governmental science organization responsible for providing reliable scientific information to help the government, businesses and the public understand the earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage natural resources water such as biological, energy and mineral resources; as well as enhance and protect our quality of life. 

This type of research and study requires scientists that specialize in biology, geography, geology, and geospatial sciences, as well as other earth, life and water sciences.

Daily self-guided and guided tours of the USGS headquarters in suburban Reston, Virginia are offered to the public and school groups.

Guided tours, available by appointment only during non-summer months, begin with a brief slide or video presentation on subjects such as disaster preparedness, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, or water issues (floods or pollution) are also available. Then the tour moves to the hands-on room with computers, microscopes and other hands-on activities.  Your tour may visit the map printing plant or perhaps an active laboratory (upon advanced request).

The self-guided tour (available year-round) of this small visitor’s area (plan on no more than 15-30 minutes in total) allows visitors to tour the first floor of the USGS National Center which has several showcases, including: 

• Dinosaur footprints and biology exhibits
• Earth science in the news and a seismograph
• Weather station
• Water monitoring resources
• Land measurement
• Emerging biology issues, as well as others.

Additionally, you can take a self-guided rock garden walk (about 30-45 minutes), which includes samples of over a dozen types of rocks and minerals.

U.S. Geological Survey
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20192 (map it)
703-648-4000 – ext. 4748 (visitor’s center)

Dates and Times – Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Guided Tour Times – Non-summer months only, and by appointment only. Mondays – 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays – 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. To schedule a guided tour, call 703-64-VISIT.

Admission – Admission and tours are free.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Vienna/Fairfax-GMU – Orange Line, then a 20-minute cab ride.

Parking – Free parking is available.

Images – Paso Robles,

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Post from: The DC Traveler

The building’s style with its twin tall towers is considered similar to Berlin’s famous New Synagogue, build in 1866.

Originally on the site of a Methodist Episcopal church, the building was initially the home of Washington, DC’s oldest Jewish congregation, until 1954, when New Hope Baptist moved in.

The lower floors hold a large meeting room and cafeteria, while the top two floors house the church and galley.

When it was a Synagogue, women sat in the two side balconies, while men sat on the main floor.

The interior is a bit run down, but the large pipe organ in the back of the church and red cushioned seating make it an interesting place for a walk through.

Before Sunday services, the organist plays a short inspirational recital.

A cafeteria style “down home” lunch is served Wednesdays through Fridays for around $7.00, but try to arrive before noon. The large portions and fried-to-order fish gets the best ratings.

Greater New Hope Baptist Church
816 8th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 (map it)
202-842-1036

Sunday Service - 11:00 a.m., open at other times, including  Wed. – Fri. during the lunch hour.

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 parking is available in the area.

Images – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

The base is  just 3 hours from Washington, DC and the East Coast’s only Master Jet Base, the largest type of tactical fighter air base. It  manages a sophisticated array of attack and support aircraft of over 250 aircraft, including both F/A-18 Hornet and Navy F-14 Tomcat squadrons.

From vintage aviation to the latest in military firepower, the show includes demonstrations from the hottest fighters in the U.S. arsenal including the F-22 Raptor, F/A-18C Hornet, the Super Hornet, and the E-2C Hawkeye warning and control system plane.

Here’s a link to the long lost of scheduled performers and aviation demonstrations.

Oceana Air Show – 2008
Naval Air Station Oceana
16 miles East of the City of Norfolk
Virginia Beach, VA – about 200 miles or 3 hours from DC, (map it or click here for basic directions)

Dates and Times – Saturday and Sunday, September 20 – 21, 2008. Gates open at 8:00 a.m., flying starts at 10:00 a.m. and the Blue Angels perform at 3:00 p.m. check the website for the schedule.

Tickets – Admission is FREE, with additional paid seating available. Bleachers – $4.00, General – $8.00, Reserved – $12.00 and are available online.

Parking – Free.

Images – Raptor – U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Ben Bloker, F/A-18 – DOD photo/Navy Lt. Peter Scheu,

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Post from: The DC Traveler

As the longest running street festival in DC (30 years), it brings a full day of live music and exciting dance performances, artisans selling their original and hand-crafted goods, interactive performance workshops, and food from around the world.

With two main stages feature live music from a wide range of genres from Rock, Latin, jazz to Americana, bluegrass and funk, and more. Plus dance performances from Bolivia to Africa , Cuba to Spain.

Located on a tree-lined street, Arts on Belmont brings artists and artisans and their paintings, jewelry, photographs, glassware, metalwork and sculptures to sell to the public.

So check out all that the festival has to offer, and enjoy such fun as:

• The Columbia Road and Florida Ave. main stages, with two different live music performances starting ever hour.
• Arts on Belmont – Belmont Rd., between Columbia and 18th St., NW
• The Dance Plaza – at the Marie Reed School – 2200 Champlain St., NW 
• The Kid’s Fair – on the field at Marie Reed School (California Ave. from Champlain to 18th)
• The Cultural Stage - at Columbia Road and Euclid Street) presents a collection of variety, theater, poetry, dance and music for all ages.

And keep your eyes open for a visit by Washington, DC’s Mayor Adrian Fenty.   

Adams Morgan Day Festival
18th Street NW, between Columbia Rd and Florida Ave. NW.
Washington, DC (map it)

Dates and Times – Sunday – September 14, 2008, 11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Admission – Free

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Woodley Park – Red line, then a 3/4 mile walk.

Parking – Parking may be tough in the area, as the Adams Morgan garage on 18th Street will fill early.  Street parking will also be in high demand so expect to walk a bit or try using Metro.  You can also park at the garage at T St. & Connecticut Ave. 

Images – group shot, painter, food

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Post from: The DC Traveler