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

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

With classical vocal and symphonic holiday music performed by a full symphony orchestra, over 125 singers and the delightful Bacilica Choir, the concert is a great way to help the poor and start your holiday cheer.

Drawing standing-room-only crowds, besides wonderful music, enjoy the view of one of the nation’s most ornate and stunning shrines. 

Christmas Concert for Charity  
National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
400 Michigan Ave., NE – Upper Church
Washington, DC (map it)
202-526-8300

Date and Time – Friday, December 5, 2008, 7:30 p.m., but plan to arrive early to ensure getting a seat.

Admission - Free, but donations are appreciated.  Proceeds support healthcare for low-income DC residents through Providence Hospital’s Perry Family Health Center.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Brookland-CUA, Red line, then a 3-block walk.  The Basilica is adjacent to Catholic University.

Parking – Free street and lot parking is available, but may be challenging to find that evening.

Image – personal collection – ©2008, Jon Rochetti
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Post from: The DC Traveler

The new 580,000 sq. ft. underground center will offer visitors two orientation theaters, showing a 13-minute video about the Capitol Building and American democracy.   Additionally, the building hosts several gifts shops and multiple (and much needed) restroom facilities.

A few of the notable artifacts provided by the Library of Congress and National Archives to be on display include, a letter to Congress written by General George Washington, and the original Franklin Roosevelt “Day of Infamy” speech, the President delivered on to a joint session of Congress on the day after the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor and other U.S. installations, December 8th, 1941.

Visitors can get free Capitol Building tour tickets at the center.

U.S. Capitol Visitor Center
East Capitol Street at East Capitol Circle
Washington, DC 20004 (map it)

Dates and Times – Daily, except Sundays, 8:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Tickets – Capitol Building tours are offered daily, except Sundays.  The Center will be closed on Inauguration Day, and other major holidays.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Capitol South – Blue and Orange lines, then a 3-block walk or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Limited metered street parking is available in the area. Parking is available at Union Station, about 6 blocks away. 

Images – courtesy of The Architect of the Capitol
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Post from: The DC Traveler

Created by J. Seward Johnson, Jr. as part of a sculpture exhibition, the 5-piece cast aluminum piece is now at its new home on a sandy beachfront location at Washington’s National Harbor, near the stage and plaza. 

The new location is inches off the waters edge and a smaller, somewhat less inviting and playful place than the former locations in a large grassy park.

Watch the video of the statute’s removal from Hains Point and installation at National Harbor.

The Awakening
National Harbor
137 National Plaza
National Harbor, MD 20745  (map it)

Dates and Times – Open daily, 24-hours a day.

Admission - FREE

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

Parking – Garage parking is available at $1.00 per hour ($10 max.)

Images – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti 
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Post from: The DC Traveler

Throughout the week of November 15-22, 2008, Washington, DC will celebrate the art of photography, with a gathering of the best in the DC photographic community, with series of exhibits, lectures, competitions, and celebration of all things photographic.

FotoWeek DC brings together photographic talent and a collection of images ranging from artistic to business, political to editorial. Events include:

• Exhibitions at over 60 galleries and public spaces around DC
• Juried exhibitions of some of Washington, DC’s most gifted photographers
• Lectures and book signings by well-known photographers
• Talks from representatives who manage institutional and museum photo collections 
• Workshops and lectures for both the new and expert photographer
• Personal portfolio reviews by professional photographers

One highlight will be the world premiere giant outdoor high-definition (HD) digital image slide show, presented in a large multi-story format, of selected photos from some of Washington DC’s most popular institutions, including the Newseum, American Art Museum, National Museum of American History, Corcoran Gallery of Art and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. The slide presentation will run at the following locations (all between 5:00 and 10:00 p.m. unless noted):

• National Museum of the American Indian — 10/13-15
• FotoWeek DC Central – 3337 M Street, NW –10/14-15
• Smithsonian Photography Initiative – 3333 M Street, NW – 10/14–22
• Newseum – 10/14/16
• U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum – 10/14-16
• Corcoran Gallery of Art – 10/14-15
• American Art Museum – Kogod Courtyard 10/18-19 (5-7 p.m.), 10/20 (5-8 p.m.)
• Museum of American History – 10/20-22

FotoWeek DC
Various locations around Washington, DC

Dates and Times – November 10-22, 2008. Check the events calendar for events and details.

Admission – Registration is required for all free events. Register online or at the site. Some events, workshops require paid tickets.

Images – all public domain – D-Day, Hindenburg, Aldrin on the Moon _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

Public interest and attendance at Obama’s inauguration is expected to be massive.

George Washington took the first oath of office at Federal Hall in New York City.  Thomas Jefferson was the first to give his address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.

Since then, all other presidential inaugural addresses have been made from the steps of the Capitol Building, except for FDR’s address starting his 4th term, which he made at the White House.

Obama’s inaugural address theme is “A New Birth Of Freedom,” a phrase taken from Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. “…that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”  And 2009 is also the 200th anniversary of birth if Abraham Lincoln.

Yet getting one of the 250,000 tickets to the inauguration will be tough.

Member of Congress each receive a very limited supply of free tickets to President Elect Barack Obama’s inauguration, and most distribute them on a first-come, first-served basis.

To request your tickets, visit your Congressional Representative’s website.  You can find your representative’s website at http://www.house.gov/.

If you fail to get tickets, you can still attend the inauguration, without them,you’ll just have to deal with at least the 250,000 people in front of you.

Some tickets are already being sold online, by ticket brokers.  One CNN report noted tickets for sale by a broker for over $20,000. And as a result, Senator Dianne Feinstein, chairwoman of the inauguration committee, stated that she may ask Congress to make it a Federal crime to scalp inauguration tickets.

Imagers – John Kennedy, Bush second term
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Post from: The DC Traveler

Enjoy authentic German umpapa bands and polka dancing, some great kids events and activities, along with a big carnival.

And don’t miss the great German food, like grilled brats and Rhinewurst sausages with Sauerkraut. And of course, treat yourself to a stein or two of German beer.  The whole experience may make you feel like you’re enjoying a part of this original Deutschland festival.

Fort Belvor 13th annual Octoberfest
Off Richmond Highway / US-1, and Belvor Road – Fremont Field
Fort Belvor, VA (map it)

Dates and Times – Thursday – Sunday, October 2-5, 2008. Hours – Thursday – 6:00 p.m. – 10:00, Friday – 6:00 – midnight, Saturday – noon to midnight, Sunday, noon – 8 p.m.

Tickets – Admission is FREE.  Carnival tickets are $20.00, food and beverages additional.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Huntington Ave. – yellow line, then a 15-minute cab ride.

Parking – free.

Images – band, bratwurst

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Post from: The DC Traveler

This blue painted stainless steel, 31-foot tall sculpture was installed at the corner of Ninth and F Streets in late August, on the grounds of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

First installed in 1996, just one block from the World Trade Center, in Battery Park in New York City, it survived the September 11th attack with only minor scratches.  A month later, it was moved to another gallery in Nassau County, New York, then to a botanic garden in Coral Gables, Florida. 

The piece is part of a series of four sculptures by Lichtenstein that created sculptures of human figures that look like machines.

Roy Lichtenstein is most widely know for his giant pop art comics Ben-day Dots paintings, such as his most famous piece “Wham”. The National Gallery of Art is the largest collector of Lichtenstein’s work, after he donated over 150 prints to the museum a year before his death.

“Modern Head” by Roy Lichtenstein.
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Ninth and F Streets 
Washington, DC  (map it)

Dates and Times – Viewable 24 hours-a-day. The museum is open daily 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Admission – FREE to view the statute or enter the museum.

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 – from personal collection; ©2008, Jon Rochetti

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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