The DC Traveler

Enjoy a traditional colonial plantation holiday dinner at Gunston Hall, the home of founding father, George Mason.
Dine tavern-style, by candlelight, on items such as traditional   turkey and dressing, Virginia ham, dressing, and of course, home made pie.
For more about Gunston Hall, check out my Oct. 12, 2007 post.
Plantation Christmas Yuletide Dinner at Gunston Hall
Gunston Hall Plantation
10709 Gunston Road 
Mason Neck, Virginia 22079  (map it)
703-550-9220
Dates and Times – Friday, December 12, 2008 at 6:30 and 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 13  at 4:30, 6:00 and 8:00 p.m.
Tickets – Adults – $39.95 , children 10 and under – $19.95. Beer and wine is …read more

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The sensual and fiery emotions of flamenco is said to have started with songs and dances that recall the hopes and sorrows of Gypsies.
Over the centuries flamenco has evolved from folk dancing to a form of passionate performance art.
Ballet Flamenco José Porcel, from Spain, will perform a combination of traditional and modern flamenco works, which combine influences from Gypsy, Arabic, Jewish and Indian cultures.
 
Principal dancer José Porcel, has performed with some of the world’s greatest flamenco dancers.
Ballet Flamenco Jose Porcel
The Center for the Arts at George Mason University
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030 (map it)
Dates and Times – Friday and …read more

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In the great American novel by Herman Melville, Moby Dick, the possessed and singularly-focused Captain Ahab leads his crew on a suicidal and revengeful hunt for the white whale that took his leg. Leading his crew from the whaling capital of New Bedford around the globe,  in the end, only one sailor is left alive to tell the story of the great white whale.
In 1955, Orsen Wells adapted the classic story and created a play-within-a-play, Moby Dick Rehearsed,retelling the story of an American theatre company at the end of the 1800s, rehearsing a new play, Moby Dick.  The cast, unhappy …read more

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The local underdog, the George Mason University Patriots, made it to the NCAA basketball Final Four in 2006.  Most sports experts said it was a once in a lifetime chance for such a small school.
Here we are two years later, and GMU has made it to the NCAA tournament, ranked number 12th.
Tonight, the Patriots (23-10), go head-to-head against 5th ranked Fighting Irish of Notre Dame (24-7) in the South Regional game in Denver.
Mason is on a three game winning streak, with the Irish having lost its last game to Marquette by 10 points.  But they haven’t lost two in …read more

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It’s 1774 and British oppression is aggravating the colonists.  Now’s your chance to join other militia “recruits” and watch Revolutionary army militia drills and a mock battle designed to inspire recruits join the Virginia militia. 
 
Militia Muster: Prelude to Revolution will be held over Veterans Day weekend at Gunston Hall, the home of one of our founding fathers, George Mason.  Located about 20 miles south of DC, Gunston Hall, a 550-acre historic landmark, is an excellent example of 1750s revolutionary-era colonial design and architecture.
Additionally, you can take a tour of Mason’s home, walk the plantation grounds overlooking the Potomac River and visit …read more

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