The DC Traveler

Ring in the New Year at another huge Washington, DC New Year’s Eve party – the Passport to the World Gala – Cities of Virtue and Vice, hosted by Professionals in the City.
With multiple city/national themes, including London, Austria, Mexico City, Rio, San Juan, and even Amsterdam’s Red Light District (no, not what you might be thinking… actually it’s an R-rated comedy show), this New Year’s Eve party, complete with with 3,000 guests, features all kinds of fun music and activities, including:

Open Bar and Buffet
Nine Themed Party Areas
Multiple Dance Floors , including DC’s Largest Ballroom
Midnight Balloon …read more

Comments Off

When you mention a Parade of Lights to a pleasure boater, they know what exactly you mean.  You decorate your boat with lights and holiday decorations and take a slow harbor cruise so people can watch the brightly decorated crafts sail by.
This year, more than 50 power and sail boats should participate in annual Parade of Lights in suburban Alexandria, Virginia. Watch the floating parade along the Potomac River at the city’s historic waterfront.
Festivities also include pictures with Santa for small children. 
Holiday Boat Parade of Lights Alexandria’s Historic Waterfront at the foot of …read more

1 Comment

Visiting Mount Vernon at Christmas time is an annual holiday tradition. George and Martha know how to deck the halls, decorate Christmas trees and welcome people into the first President’s home.
This year kids will enjoy the 12 themed Christmas trees, one for each day of Christmas. Each professionally decorated with themes relating to George Washington, life at Mount Vernon, and the time when the Washington’s lived there.
And look for the live Christmas camel, just like George Washington had at Mt. Vernon during the Christmas season of 1787, two years before he became America’s first President.
Besides a gingerbread recreation of …read more

2 Comments

Yesterday’s post was all about Halloween ideas and parties in Washington, DC for the children. Today is all about the adults, 21 and over.

Washington, DC has a reputation of having a great Halloween party atmosphere, especially in Georgetown. But if you prefer to avoid the crazy street scene. Here’s a few ideas for Halloween night activities.

Synetic Theater is hosting presenting it’s Vampire’s Ball in Arlington, Virginia. The evening starts with a performance of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher.
The annual Halloween Monster Bash at the popular Clarendon Ballroom brings the 20-something crowd together for dancing, cocktails …read more

1 Comment

Today, I’m writing about some ideas of fun Halloween activities for kid and the family, in and around Washington, DC.
Check back tomorrow for a list of some of the fun adult activities.
There are several great places for the kids. But be careful, some may not be appropriate for the very young. Check the links for address, directions, admission prices, and days and hours, which vary by venue.

First is the always popular and usually sold out Boo at the Zoo at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. Trick-or-treat along haunted trails, learn about bats spiders and other creepy and spooky …read more

1 Comment

The Big Apple Circus concept started when two San Francisco street jugglers joined forces with a Russian circus couple and opened a circus school in Manhattan in 1976.  Within a year, they had a stable of performers  and opened a classic European circus, using just one ring.
Now in it’s 31st season, the Big Apple Circus, when not in New York, travels around delighting children of all ages.
The two-hour show includes all the classic circus acts — high wire, jugglers, clowns, trapeze, horse riding acts,  a fun dog act and more. 
Two of the circus high wire performers set …read more

Comments Off

One of the best and, best attended, neighborhood street festivals in Washington, DC is the annual Adams Morgan Day Festival. 
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 …read more

1 Comment

Cross under the Lion Arch and listen for the Vietnamese pop music coming out of the shops, as you enter what’s called by many locals, “the heart and soul of DC’s Vietnamese-American community”.
The Eden Center is DC’s Vietnamese-centric shopping mall and community gathering place.  Located in suburban Falls Church, Virginia, about 20 minutes from downtown Washington, DC, it seems to caters almost exclusively to the Vietnamese community.
Close to 30 Vietnamese restaurants and phở soup shops, along with another 17 bakeries, delis and cafes, with not a Burger Kings or Subway in site, draw many people to come Eden Center for …read more

Comments Off

Travel back in time to the period of King Henry VIII and watch non-stop entertainment on 8 stages, ranging from performances for children to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet as well as swashbuckling pirate shows and William Tell…well…telling stories. 
All the the annual Maryland Renaissance Festival just out side of Annapolis, Maryland.  

Enjoy over 35 groups of musicians and dancers, or cheer for your favorite mounted knight during the exciting jousting match.  But don’t miss some of the faire’s classic Renaissance food – like the hot apple dumplings, steak-on-a-stake or a classic smoked turkey leg, fit for a king.
…read more

Comments Off

Sure, Washington, DC may be a bustling metropolis and the center of democracy, but just an hour or so north of town, in Timonium, Maryland,  you can enjoy all that local farmers and ranchers have to offer, at the Maryland State Fair.
There are so many things to do at the Fair, so here’s the short list:

Pig races
Rodeo complete with bull riding
Watch a chainsaw sculptor in action
Travis Tritt in concert (Aug. 29),
Walk around the animal pens and see thousands of animals from alpacas to dairy cattle, chickens to baby lambs
Decadent chocolate contest
Horse and dog …read more

1 Comment