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

Fast forward 18 years later and he’s directing Cirque du Soleil’s latest production to visit Washington, DC, KOOZA.  He also wrote and created the production, which opens October 30th, 2008 at the new Nation Harbor.

I had a chance recently to chat with David about the upcoming production of KOOZA.

Besides winning a Tony "Live Theatrical Presentation" Award in 1999 for Silent Tongue, David launched the role of the Cat in the Hat, in the Broadway musical Seussica, a musical based on the books by Dr. Seuss. He has also appeared in several movies, including Lorenzo’s Oil and on The Tonight Show.

KOOZA uses the classic Jungian theme, the duality of man — the good and the bad — the light and the dark. The show’s main character, a loner, seeks his place in the world, by exploring a wide range of emotions of the human condition. From power to fear, through solitude to laughter, the characters show us how we are all the same in our hopes, joys and fears.

When asked how long the production took from concept to stage, he related that the show’s concept is based on some of his European clowning and circus experiences, which he described as more classic in their technique and approach. But the show adds in a familiar America style of humor – slapstick, in the forms of the Three Stooges or Laurel and Hardy.

The first six months of development of KOOZA were dedicated to the creation of the concept, followed by another 18 months of production development with his team of over a dozen creative associates. During that period, all aspects of the show were developed, including the music – a key element of the show, as well as the costumes, sets and each performance. But he reminded me that it doesn’t include the years and years performers invest to make any Cirque show look effortless as they seem to defy gravity and much of natural law.

“It the first show where the clown’s performances were created specifically for the show in the studio,” he said. “And KOOZA is one of the most physical Cirque du Soleil shows in years.” A comment such as that is hard to comprehend, as all of the shows I’ve experienced have been exceptionally physical and seemed to push the performances to the limits of physical strength, agility, balance and control.

When asked if he is creating another Cirque show in the future, he hesitated and replied somewhat coyly, “Yes…one for production in 2010”.  Based on his somewhat reluctant answer, it seems he’s like so many other creative types, preferring to hold their work close to the chest until it’s ready for public consumption. 

I asked him what Washington DC audiences should look for, he replied that the audience should leave the performance with a feeling of inspiration and hope. “Hopefully feeling like a kid again.”

Something I suspect we could all use a bit more of these days.

For more details on performances and tickets, check out my original announcement on the KOOZA on The DC Traveler.  The scheduled performance run has been extended another two weeks, now ending on December 14, 2008.

Images – All courtesy of Cirque du Soleil, © Cirque du Soleil 2007 – headshot – by Olivier Samson-Arcand – C2007 Cirque du Soleil Inc.

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Post from: The DC Traveler

After the march, which ended at the Lincoln Memorial, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his historic 11-minute “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps. 

This march was initiated by the vice president of the AFL-CIO, A. Philip Randolph.  Other groups supported the march, including the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the NAACP, the National Urban League and other civil rights organizations. Yet the march was not totally supported by all black civil rights groups.  Civil rights leader and minister of the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X, reportedly called it the “farce on Washington”.

At the time, black unemployment rates were double that of whites and no major civil rights reform had been achieved to date.

Hundreds of television news correspondents reported on the event. Liquor sales were banned in the city and 6,000 police were assigned to the event. Yet the event was one of the most peaceful in Washington’s history.

A group called “sandwich volunteers” made up lunches for attendees to be sold for 50¢.  Besides civic leaders, several of the Hollywood crowd were also in attendance or spoke, including Charlton Heston, Sammy Davis, Jr., Lena Horns and Marlin Brando. It’s also often forgotten that Bob Dylan and Joan Baez also sang at the rally.

The schedule of events for the day is available here, but does not mention all of the speakers. 

Today, the speech is considered King’s most memorable and one of most powerful speeches on civil rights in the nation’s history.  It helped led to the passage of new civil rights legislation introduced by the Kennedy administration, just two months later by Congress.

You can stand at the exact location where Dr. King delivered his famous speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, as the granite step has been chiseled with the details.

It’s located on the  second landing from the top of the memorial, at the center of the landing.

A new Martin Luther King national monument on the Mall is in the works, but has already received criticism. It is planned to be competed by the end of 2009 near the FDR Memorial.  

Lincoln Memorial
Lincoln Memorial Circle Southwest
23rd St. NW, between Constitution and Independence Avenues
Washington, DC (map it)

Dates and Times – open daily, 24-hours. National Park Rangers are on duty to answer questions from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. daily.

Free 45-minute Ranger led talks about the qualities made Lincoln great occur every Tuesday afternoon at 4:00 p.m., through the end of November.

Tours – Cell phone tours with recorded Ranger talks are available by calling 202-747-3420 (cell phone airtime charges may apply).

Tickets – Admission is free.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Foggy Bottom – Blue or Yellow line, then a ¾-mile walk.

Parking – Metered street parking is available within a couple block of the memorial, but is at time limited, especially on weekends.

Images – Dr. King delivering his speech – National Archives and Records Administration, Records of the U.S. Information Agency; Record Group 306; National Archives – Still Picture Branch, College Park, MD (Local Identifier: NWDNS-306-SSM-4D(107)8), View of the reflecting pool – National Archives – Warren Leffler, photographer, Lincoln memorial steps – personal collection – © 2008 – Jon Rochetti   

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Post from: The DC Traveler

The Capitol’s 500+ rooms serve both the House of Representatives and the Senate, plus staff.

On the third floor, when Congress is in session, visitors with passes can watch a couple minutes the proceedings where lawmaking, speech making, voting and typical partisan posturing occurs.

Afterwards, visit the Rotunda, with frescoed paintings of major events in American history, the Crypt, and the National Statuary Hall (rub the the shoes of Will Rogers for good luck). And don’t miss the Old Supreme Court Chamber and Old Senate Chamber. 

For the most comprehensive tour, including the House visitor’s gallery, contact your local Senator or Congressman or woman in advance, and request a tour or gallery ticket, depending on what’s available.  Or take your chances and drop in at their office and see if any passes or tours have openings. Your best results in person will be to try early in the morning or request tickets for a time on another day. 

The Capitol Building has countless works of art, paintings, frescos and statues all over the building, and much is visible to tourists. In the Statuary Hall, each state is allowed to place two statues of people of prominence from each state.

READ MORE —>

If you can’t get tickets through your congressional representative or Senator,  you’ll need to get tickets at the Capitol Guide Service kiosk and wait in line (often for 3+ hours).

Yet if you can score a pass from your Rep, you might get on a tour led by a knowledgeable Congressional intern or staffer.  And if you’re extra lucky, your tour might include a ride on the Capitol’s rarely seen underground tram.  

U.S. Capitol Building 
E. Capitol and First Streets, NW
Washington, DC  (map it)
202-225-6827 (recorded info line)

Dates and Times – Daily except Sundays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Best to call ahead to avoid any tour cancellations due to heightened security issues or special events.

Tickets – FREE, but first-come, first-served tickets are required.  Tickets available at the Capitol Guide Service kiosk southwest of the Capitol (near the corner of First Street, S.W. and Independence Ave.)  Or contact your representative for passes.

Ticket distribution begins at 9:00 a.m. daily. Ticket holders then proceed to the South Visitor Receiving Facility, located on the south side of the Capitol, where their tour will begin. Maximum tour size is 40 people. Waits can be long during peak periods, especially on Saturdays. Best to arrive before the kiosk opens.

Restricted Items – There’s a long list of items that are not allowed on either the tour or in the Senate or House galleries, so check before going. Plan on passing though at least one, and up to four security checks.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Capitol South, Blue and Orange lines, then a 4-block walk or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Very limited metered street parking is may be available, but watch for restricted parking signs on streets close to the Capitol.  Most near by residential neighborhoods limit parking to non-resident drivers to only two hours, so parking lots may be the safest (and lowest cost) option. Parking lots and garages can be found in the area, on Independence Ave, in Capitol Hill.  Parking can also be found at Union Station.

Images – Statue of Freedom, State of the Union address,  map – Architect of the Capitol, other from personal collection – ©2008, Jon Rochetti 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

About a month before the historic moon landing, I met the three Apollo 10 astronauts, John Young, Thomas  Stafford and Eugene Cernan on their national tour. They had just completed the final rehearsal for the moon landing.  Their mission was to circle the moon’s surface in both the Command Module and the Lunar Landing module (LEM), and conduct photographic surveys for a good landing site for the Apollo 11 mission.

Just two months later, on July 16th, 1969, Michael Collins, Neil. A. Armstrong and Edwin E. “Buzz” Aldrin blasted off from Kennedy Space Center in Apollo 11. Their mission, to be the first humans to safely land and walk on the surface of the moon.

NASA, the agency responsible for the moon project and the space program, was created in 1958 during President Dwight Eisenhower’s administration.

Four short years later, President John Kennedy aimed America toward the new frontier of the moon, when he declared “we choose to go to the moon in this decade”. 

His speech is remembered for the line “we choose to go to the moon”, but the line was proceeded by a bit of a joke.  The speech was delivered to a group of space engineers at Rice University on September 12, 1962.

“But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?

We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.

It is for these reasons that I regard the decision last year to shift our efforts in space from low to high gear as among the most important decisions that will be made during my incumbency in the office of the Presidency.”

The Apollo 11 mission, was plagued with both minor and mission-threatening glitches, right up until the actual landing.  But to reduce the fear in the eyes of the public, many of the mission’s problems were not detailed to the press corps. President Richard Nixon even had a speech written in the event the mission failed and the astronauts were killed or had to be abandoned on the moon’s surface.

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Problems such as major computer malfunctions during the last few minutes of the decent to the lunar surface and a broken electrical relay switch that was needed to trigger the single engine that would blast the astronauts off the moon’s surface, were not reported by the news at that time.

The computer, with similar computing power of a modern day digital watch, malfunctioned, resulting in navigational systems to stop working correctly within the final minute of the lunar landing.  The malfunction forced Neil Armstrong to take manual control of the LEM when he saw that the LEM was seriously off course and heading toward a large crater, not the intended landing site.  He successfully landed on the moon without relying on computer guidance, and with just 15 seconds of fuel remaining.  NASA’s policy, in the event that remaining fuel reached under a 2 minute supply, was to abort the landing attempt.  It illustrates the cool heads, nerves of steel and confidence the astronauts had. Some correctly called it “The Right Stuff“. 

The critical electrical relay switch arm was damaged after the crew was removing their spacesuits after the first 2-hour moon walk. If not corrected, the astronauts would be permanently stranded on the moon.  A solution was found when one of the astronauts used a felt-tipped pen to flip the switch and open the relay needed to ignite the engine.  Luckily, Michael Collins, who circled the moon in the Command Module, was not forced to return to earth alone.

On other fact, the famous first statement from the moon, when mission commander Neil Armstrong stepped on to the moon’s surface, “That’s one small step for man…one giant leap for mankind,” was, in fact, not what he intended to say. Armstrong’s intended line was actually “That’s one small step for a man…one giant leap for mankind.”   Either way, it communicated the impact of the mission on the people of the world.

The landing on the moon was an incredible feat of engineering, science, and human bravery.  Years later, a few NASA engineers and mission specialists, have publicly stated that with the level of technology available at the time, looking backwards, the mission would be considered too dangerous to be attempted today.

NASA released an anniversary video to commemorate the mission 35 years after.  It’s still amazing to watch men walking on the moon.  The sixth and final manned moon landings was completed by Apollo 17 in December 1972.  On an earlier mission, the now famous Apollo 13 lunar landing was aborted and narrowly avoided a tragic ending.

On display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, you can see the history of manned space flight, starting with early rockets, including a Goddard Rocket (1926).  This was one of the first rockets that started the history of rocket development that led to the Saturn V, which had enough power to lift the payloads needed to reach the moon.

Also on display is an Apollo Lunar Module, the actual Apollo 11 Command Module that went to the moon, and a Lunar Rover trainer similar to one used on the moon during the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 missions.

Another highlight at the National Air and Space Museum is the display of one of the few lunar rock samples on public display. Other exhibits include earlier era spacecraft, including John Glenn’s Mercury 7 capsule and the Gemini 4 capsule.

National Air and Space Museum
Independence Avenue at 6th Street, SW
Washington, DC 20560 (map it)

Dates and Times – Daily 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – L’Enfant Plaza – Blue, Orange, Green and Yellow lines, and Smithsonian – Blue and Orange lines

Parking – Limited metered street parking is available.

Images – Aldrin and Armstrong on the Moon, Saturn liftoff – NASA,  Goddard rocket, Apollo Lunar Module number 2 and Apollo 11 Command Module – Eric Long/NASM, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution – Copyright Smithsonian Institution, Lunar Rover – National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution – Copyright Smithsonian Institution

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Discovered in 1878, Luray Caverns are the largest underground caverns on the East Coast and a Registered Natural Landmark. 

The 1.25 mile walking tour (paved walkways), takes you about 16 stories deep into the earth and winds through pristine and natural underground caverns, including the massive, 10-story tall Giant’s Hall.

The path traverses through a few tight passageways with low ceilings as well.

The stalactites and stalagmites are formed by dripping crystallized calcite that collects on the floor or sticks to the ceiling and dries, slowly forming the long pillars. Many of the formations are still growing, at the slow rate of about one inch every 120 years. 

Stalactites (hanging tight to the ceiling) and stalagmites (might eventually reach the ceiling from the floor), reach over 35 feet in some areas.  In other areas walls or sheets of formations have formed hanging curtains.

Near the end of the tour, you’ll stop to hear the Stalacpipe Organ, which uses no pipes, only electrical charges and vibration devices run through stalactites which in turn creates musical tones.  And don’t miss the  “fried eggs” as well.

The Car and Carriage Caravan Museum next door (admission is included in your ticket price) displays a collection of antique cars, carriages and wagons, dating back to 1725.

After your tour, check out the confusing Garden Maze. Using 8 feet tall hedges, maze-walkers must navigate a fog-misted half-mile internal path that allows you to make 40 “which-way-do-we-go” decisions.  But fear not if you get lost, there is an elevated platforms to climb, which gives you a bird’s eye view of your way out.

That is, if you can even find the platform.

Luray Caverns
970 W. Main Street
Luray, VA 22835-1060

Dates and Times – 75-90 minute guided tours start at 9:00 a.m. daily, until 7:00 p.m. through Labor Day. Tours start about every 10-20 minutes, depending on crowds. The caverns close earlier during other seasons.

Tickets – Includes admission to the car museum, Adults – $19.00, Seniors – $16.00, kids 6-12 – $9.00, under 5 – free with adult, and are available onsite.  Garden Maze – Adults – $ 6.00, children 6-12 – $ 5.00

Parking – Free parking is provided.

Note: This tour requires walking and has three staircases and steep grades along the route and is not considered wheelchair accessible.  Strollers are allowed.

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

And as I mentioned couple days ago, I visited Baltimore with my niece and nephew recently and while there, we also toured the aquarium.

The 2 million gallon aquarium is home to over 600 species of fish, rays, sharks, and other marine life, including birds, penguins, amphibians and reptiles.

The aquarium is split into several major sections and levels. Some of the more interesting include:

• Atlantic Coral Reef -  This area is most children’s favorite stop, as they get to visit with their pals, Nemo, Marlin and Dory. Adults can marvel at the more than 500 colorful salt-water fish. Check out the strong-jawed triggerfish, the cute hovering cowfish and the psychedelic Mandarin fish.  Walk inside the ring tank and watch larger fish swim by, seemingly with somewhere important to go.
• The quarter million gallon Open Ocean tank is home to larger sharks, that lets visitors walk inside the circular tank, giving you the feeling you are in the water, as you come face to face with infamous man-eaters.
• Wings in the Water – stingrays, skates, turtles and small sharks can be viewed from above or below water level.  Try to catch the periodic feeding by scuba divers. And look for the rescue turtle, missing one of its front flippers.
• Maryland: Mountains to the Sea, covers the Chesapeake Bay region from tidal marshes to the fishing and crabbing industry.
• Amazon River Forest – See some of the worlds largest river fish of the Amazon.
• Surviving through Adaptations – Shows people how fish adapt to survive form built in fishing lures, electric eels and fish that create their own light.
• Animal Planet Australia: Wild Extremes – Take a tour of the land down under and the great barrier reef.
• North Atlantic to Pacific – Watch puffins play on a simulated Atlantic sea cliff, and check out the undersea kelp forest and Pacific reef.
• South American Upland Tropical Rain Forest – Poisonous frogs,
  man-eating piranhas, sloths, birds and monkeys all play in the rainforest.

And don’t miss the entertaining Atlantic bottlenose dolphins show, and if you want to remain dry, avoid the “splash zone” (the first few rows). 

The National Aquarium
501 East Pratt Street at the Inner Harbor
Baltimore, MD 21202

Dates and Times - Friday, March 23rd – 4:30 p.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Tickets - Adults – $21.95, Seniors – $20.95, kids 3-11 – $12.95, add $2.00 – $7.00 for including the dolphin show, the 4-D Immersion Theater or both. Timed tickets can be purchased online, avoiding any ticket counter lines, or sell outs of sp

Parking – Paid garage/lot parking is available in the area, for around $14.00.

Images – from personal collection – ©2008, Jon Rochetti 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Recently, my college-aged niece and nephew visited me from the West Coast and we took a day trip up to Baltimore.  We visited the National Aquarium, (which I’ll write about in a couple of days), and also the impressive Body Worlds 2 exhibit, at the Maryland Science Center at the Inner Harbor.

The exhibit is not for the squeamish, but a must for anyone interested in biology, physiology or how the human body works.  The exhibit displays a series of posed placistized human bodies, which detail what you can’t see inside the human body – the skeleton, muscles, bones, the respiratory, circulatory and nervous systems.

Ranging from full-size bodies to the smallest of individual human systems, the exhibit provides a unique view of the inside of the human body and its phenomenal complexities.

Body Worlds has been commended as one of the few human body exhibitors that can properly document the sources for all of its bodies on exhibit, as most bodies were willed to the exhibit by the person before they died, and died from natural causes.

Many of the bodies are posed an athletic activities, including a skateboarder, a soccer player in mid-kick, a baseball player completing a swing, and a pair of ice skaters in the head spin. Additionally, there are several animals on display as well, including a camel who’s head is sliced in three dimensions.

While your first reaction may be to cringe, the bodies are actually beautiful pieces of art, just human art; all portrayed in a responsible and respectful manner.

The preservation process is complex multi-step process that takes months, first starting with the removal of fluids, and ending with the injection and application of a silicone polymer that preserves the body.

My niece, who is interested in studying veterinary sciences, had to be literally dragged through the exhibit, as she was mesmerized with each display and read virtually every placard and description.

On the other hand, I had only one section of the exhibit which made me a bit uncomfortable, the section on human development in the womb. Not by the way it was portrayed, but by the fact that these embryos and unborn infants didn’t get a chance to live.

And if you’re a smoker, get ready to be shocked into quitting. The display of healthy lungs, smoker’s lungs and the lungs of a coal miner suffering from black lung disease is enough to make rational smoker quit on the spot.  There’s even a drop box for smokers to leave their cigarettes in the exhibit. 

Body Worlds 2 runs through the first of September.  It’s an educational and amazing exhibit that mature children, teens and adults of all ages can both enjoy and learn about the body and how it works.

In fact, just before our visit, a military team of nurses and medics toured the exhibit before being deployed, as part of a refresher on the human body that you can’t get out of any book.

Viewer discretion is advised. Parents should seriously consider any possible impact on young or more sensitive children.

Body Worlds 2
Maryland Science Center
601 Light Street, at the Inner Harbor
Baltimore, MD 21230 (map it)

Dates and Times – Daily 9:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Fri. 9-5, Sat. 9-6, , Sun. 9-5, through September 1, 2008. 

Tickets – Tickets include admission to the Maryland Science Center.  Adults – $24.00, children 3-18 – $18.00, Seniors 62+ and adult students with ID – $23.00.  Tickets are available online at Ticketmaster.

Parking – Paid garage/lot parking is available in the area, for around $14.00

Images – Taken with permission from Body Worlds 2, personal collection ©2008, Jon Rochetti.

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Image – from personal collection – © 2008 – Jon Rochetti

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Post from: The DC Traveler

And the cold hasn’t stopped people from bundling up in winter clothes and lining up to rent a paddle boat on the Tidal Basin either.

So far this Spring, the high temperatures have been sticking between 45 and 55 degrees, a near 30 degree drop from the balmy temps last year, when highs cracked 80 degrees and made for comfortable touring.

This weekend, the temps should reach highs into the 60s, with Sunday being the only day forecast for sunny conditions.  In case you don’t get a chance to see the trees by this weekend, here’s a quick tour from photos I took on Wednesday.

MORE PHOTOS OF THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS IN BLOOM –> 

Images – from personal collection   © 2008 – Jon Rochetti 

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Post from: The DC Traveler