The DC Traveler

During the Christmas holiday season in Washington, DC, the Washington Region Alcohol Program operates it’s SoberRide free taxi program.
Drivers that may be alcohol impaired or unable to safely drive can request a free taxi ride to their home, up to a maximum cost of $50, through January 1, 2009.
It’s never wise to drive after indulging and especially during the holiday season. Again this year, area police will be establishing sobriety checkpoints around the region.
Most years, Metro DC police set up approximately 30 during holiday season, including some surprising locations. One year, I saw a check point in …read more

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Would you love to take your children to see the classic Christmas ballet, The Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center?  But do you hesitate thinking they might be too young to sit through a lengthy and formal production?  Then take them to a children’s performance of The Nutcracker.
American Dance Institute’s Youth Ensemble will perform a shorter version, just an hour long, of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.
Children an experience the magic of the story and dance in  less intimidating setting and more relaxed environment.
The performances will be held in the intimate 140-seat world-class facility, where children can get a close …read more

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The comedy troupe 500 Clown uses fast-paced improv combined with circus arts to create a “where the heck are they going?” action-based, highly-charged performance.  Lots of slapstick, planned and improved elements and audience inclusion that propels the performers into extremely physical and at times, high risk acrobatics.
The Elephant Deal explorers the gap between military life and civilian life in the United States. Taken from Man Equals Man and The Elephant Calf, it explores how the common man is transformed though the breaking and recreating of the recruit, from a civilian into the perfect fighting machine.

500 Clown and The Elephant Deal …read more

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In 1950, the singing cowboy, Gene Autry recorded the tune, “Frosty the Snowman” and it was an instant hit.  He had also had previous success with the now classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. (see below to read the words of the classic Christmas song – Frosty.)
Four years later, WGN-TV in Chicago, broadcast a 3-minute holiday short, that brought Frosty the Snowman to life.
In 1969, a 30-minute television cartoon was broadcast and is today, an annual holiday classic.
Adventure Theater in suburban Glen Echo, Maryland bring to live the story of how the mischievous Frosty comes to life, thanks to a …read more

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The famous Radio City Christmas Spectacular, starring the world-famous Rockettes, is coming to Baltimore in early December.

As part of a 23 city national tour, the Rockettes, dressed in their famous Babes in Toyland outfits, will delight audiences with their precision chorus line dancing and signature high kicks.
I saw the Rockettes’ show in New York City a few years ago and it is a fun performance.
Radio City Christmas Spectacular 1st Mariner Arena 201 W Baltimore Street Baltimore, Maryland  (map it)
Dates and Times – December 2 – 7, …read more

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We all know the Lewis Carroll novel, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”, and the young girl who follows the White Rabbit down his rabbit hole and discovers another world.
Enjoy as Alice partakes in a race where everyone wins, a mad tea party, stolen tarts and her dream-filled escape to a strange land of amazing creatures, including the Madd Hatter, King and Queen of Hearts and the grinning Cheshire Cat.
The World Premiere of Alice, at Round House Theatre in suburban Bethesda, blends the childlike fantasy with a wildly imaginative theatrical experience that should delight both children and adults alike. 
Alice
Round House …read more

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The children’s musical, Miss Nelson is Missing, is based on the children’s book by Harry Allard and James Marshall (The Stupids, George and Martha series). 
In a play perfect for children ages 4 and up, Imagination Stage brings back this musical comedy about the “worst behaved class in whole school” – the fifth graders of Room 207 at Horace B. Smedley Elementary School.
The unruly and spitball shooting students are so bad, even during story time, that their behavior drives their beloved and sweet Miss Nelson away. The next day, the appearance of the dreaded and not-so-sweet substitute, Miss Viola Swamp, …read more

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I was a bit disappointed when one of my favorite sculptures, The Awakening, was removed from Hains Point in East Potomac Park in February to be relocated at National Harbor. 
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 …read more

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A little late this month, but November delivers some great live music around the Washington, DC area.
At The Birchmere:

Powerhouse singer Susan Tedeschi – Sunday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 – $35.00
Christmas with Aaron Neville & His Quintet – Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008 at 7:30 – $45.00

The Birchmere 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave. Alexandria, Virginia 22305 (map it)
At the State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia

Los Enanitos Verdes from Argentina – Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 9:00 – $30.00
The Radiators with their New Orleans funky Rock & Roll sound …read more

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One of my favorite television cooking shows is America’s Test Kitchen on PBS.  The show, in its eight season, is not only the most watched cooking show on PBS, but also very informative and instructive.  Plus it lacks all the personalities and “bam” of the other cooking shows.

The test kitchen chefs select a couple dishes to perfect, then try dozens, and sometimes over a hundred versions of the dish until its perfect, easy for the home cook and as easy as possible.
The resident chefs show step-by-step instructions making recreating their dishes simple and stress free.
The show also tests cooking equipment …read more

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