A few of the model railroad layouts include themed displays including a huge 40 foot by 50 foot display, along with close to a dozen other major displays  from Washington, DC area model railroad clubs, representing all kinds of different themes. 

Plus, there’ll be an interactive slot car track and a train layout made exclusively out of Legos. 

For the smaller children, take them on the Train on Time, a riding train just for kids.

And if you didn’t find that special model railroad gift you were hoping for this Christmas, expect many vendors selling all kinds of model railroad gear.

The Greenberg Train & Toy Expo
Dulles Expo Center
4368 Chantilly Center
Chantilly, VA  (map it)

Dates and Times – Saturday and Sunday, December 27-28, 2008.  10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily.

Tickets – Adults – $7.00,  children 11 and under free. Admission is good for both days. Tickets are available at the door. 

Parking – Free.

Images – Flickr – station, Santa Fe

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Post from: The DC Traveler

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 Cameron Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314 (map it)
703-838-5005 

Dates and Times – Saturday, December 6, 2008. Festivities start at 4:00 p.m. , the parade of boats at 6:00 p.m..

Tickets – This event is FREE.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – King Street – Yellow and Blue lines. then a 20-minute walk or take the free King Street Trolley form the Metro station.

Parking – limited street and paid garage parking is available in the area.

Images – Flickr – sailboat, 
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Post from: The DC Traveler

The atmosphere the afternoon before opening night was surprisingly relaxed. As when I entered the tent, a group of about 20 of artists involved with KOOZA, were all casually sitting on the floor chatting, laughing and joking around. The scene seemed similar to what you might find at any college dorm or student center with young people just hanging out and talking.

But all that changed a few minutes later when the practice session started. The acrobats and gymnasts got into “serious mode” as they started practicing human pyramids, perching on giant balls and bouncing on the trampoline.  The blanket toss reached heights unlike any bikini beach movie from the 1950s.  Double and triple flips were common, and seemed almost effortless. Three-person shoulder stands happened without much effort as well. Yet still, a couple of the guys clowned around when they saw me filming, by taking a Charles Atlas pose after catching one of the artists who dismounted from the shoulders of a man standing on a a rolling ball.

Before the practice, I was also able to chat with one of the ground and ball performers, Corine Latreille, a gymnast who calls Montreal home.

She’s been with Cirque du Soleil for just 2 years, but seemed to be much more experienced in her ability to also act as an ideal press ambassador for Cirque. 

Her background included 10 years as a world-class competitive gymnast, then a stint at the National Circus School in Montreal. There, she honed her skills at the renowned circus training school, that limits enrolment to just 100 gifted students. 

Corine is typical of the traveling Cirque performers, fit, fearless and in her 20s. The average age of an artist in KOOZA is 26.  Yet the youngest performer in the Washington, DC production of KOOZA is a mere 11 years old, while one of the clowns is in his 50s. 

The troupe is also a virtual United Nations with 16 languages being spoken by the 53 artists.

Corine gave me a brief look inside what it’s like to be a member of the one of the most respected circuses in the world today. Here’s just a couple of her more interesting answers.

READ MORE AND WATCH THE BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEO —> CLICK MORE…..

Question: How do people react when they learn you work in the circus?
Corine: Their first question is always, so…you do that high wire thingy?”

As we chatted, I learned about life on the road with Cirque du Soleil.  Performers are housed in 4-star hotels or upscale condos, and they travel with professional chefs that prepare their meals (after all they are high-energy athletes).  Besides 5-star food, performers are kept in top condition with two full time massage therapists and a sports medicine doctor available in each city. 

The circus also provides a traveling grammar school for performers with younger children.

Since several of the artists are married or are couples, dating and romance is not lost on the road.

She mentioned the toughest thing about touring was an occasional lack of personal time, as the performers are always around each other.  And with a competitive spirit, paired with undoubtedly some high levels of testosterone, one must assume that, like any work group, personality strong emotions can occur, especially if someone is responsible to catch you after a frightening 30 foot vault off of a teeterboard. But she described the KOOZA team as very positive and professional, like a family. 

The artists get just one day off a week. Corine mentioned that this was her first visit to Washington, DC, and that she had already visited the National Mall and the White House. She expressed that she loved visiting and experiencing new cities.

Question: Where do you see yourself in say, 10 years?
Corine: I plan to stay with Cirque du Soleil, still performing, but I hope to be performing at one of the permanent shows, such as Las Vegas, because… I really want to have a cat.”

I guess circus artists want the same things out of life as most of us, including ….the little things.

Before the production opened, I also chatted with KOOZA’s writer and producer, David Shiner. Read the post here. And if you missed my review of KOOZA, please check it out here.

KOOZA has been extended through December 14, 2008.

And a special thanks to the artists of KOOZA, for welcoming me to their practice session.

Images and video -  from personal collection – ©2008, Jon Rochetti _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

Read more about their history here.

The Lipizzaner Stallions
Patriot Center
4500 Patriot Circle
Fairfax, VA 22030 (map it)

Dates and Times – Friday and Saturday, November 21 and 22, 2008 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets – Adults – $25.50, $33.50 and $41.00,  Seniors and kids under 13 – $2.00 less, and are available online.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Vienna – Orange line, then a 10 minute cab ride. Cabs are NOT usually waiting for passengers after concerts so it’s smart to make prior arrangements.

Parking – Parking is included in the ticket price. ____________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

Sculpture Garden Ice-Skating Rink
National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden
Constitution Avenue, NW at 7th Street NW
Washington, DC (map it)
202-289-3360

Dates and Times – November 15 through mid-March, 2009

• Monday – Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
• Friday and Saturday -10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
• Sunday – 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

The rink is Closed on Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Admission - The fee covers two-hours of skating.  Adults – $7.00, Seniors, students with ID and kids under 13 – $6.00. Sessions begin on the hour.

In the evening, use the Constitution Avenue and Madison Drive entrance at 9th Street entrance. 

Skate Rentals – $3.00 with ID and rental lockers are just 50¢ with a $5.00 required deposit.

The National Gallery of Art is open Monday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. and 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Sundays.

Images – mom & daughter, at night 
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Post from: The DC Traveler

The only word to describe KOOZA is… AMAZING!!!

I’ve seen several Cirque du Soleil productions and KOOZA was by far, the most physical, high-energy and awe inspiring show of all. 

The audience’s reaction to the gravity defying, body contorting, magical balancing, and fearless performances resulted in at not several, but many moments during the show, of audible group gasps, screams and shrieks. The story, led by a team of very funny clowns made for a slap-stick, party-like feel, intermingled with spectacular circus acts. 

The clowns kept the show funny and moving, allowing people to catch their breathes and slow their pulses between acts.  Be ready for some fun audience participation, but be warned…watch your wallet. 

The show’s opening artistic act, three contortionists, set the stage for the acts to come.  They seemed to made of rubber and virtually boneless as they intertwined and balanced themselves on top of each other.

Just a few of the performances during the 3-hour tightly produced show included a Zen-like performer who balanced himself on a stack of chairs a couple stories into the air while performing unbelievable feats of balance. As he reached the pinnacle of his performance, the audience became memorized into total spellbound silence. 

The double high wire act ended with cheers from the audience as a pyramid of bicycles crossed the tight rope without even a waver of mistake.  At one point, an aerialist leapt over another tight rope walker and just missed his landing, almost falling.  Was it part of the act to build additional tension or was the stunt so challenging that it took two tries to complete? Either way, the crowd applauded loudly when he landed his second attempt. 

The graceful solo trapeze aerialist made the crowd gasp numerous times as she seemed to freefall away from her trapeze, only to catch herself at the last instant.

Other acts included a fast-handed juggler, a game of acrobatic “blanket toss", a duo that tangoed gracefully on a unicycle, and several aerialists being launched high off of a teeter-taughter.  The highlight was watching stilt walkers catapulted skyward and landing on thick mats after completing seemingly impossible twists and flips.

READ MORE AND ABOUT MY PERSONAL FAVORITE ACT—>

For me, the highlight of the show was the Wheel of Death (see photo). Two artists, dressed as devils, ran inside and outside of the spinning stainless steel wheels, at times free falling ten or more feet as gravity took over. this act caused almost continual gasps and shrieks from the audience. It appeared they were just inches away from a misplaced footing or grasp and falling to a possibly death.

The set is a two-story bandstand, draped in richly colored canopies, created a dreamlike experience.  The athletic performers made multiple colorful and artistic costumes changes. throughout the show. The live music was an eclectic blend of new age, pop, jazz, and traditional middle-eastern/sub-continent sounds, led by two female vocalists who were spectacular.  The show’s length, at about 3 hours, seemed to fly by and included a ½-hour intermission.

KOOZA effectively combines slap-stick buffoonery, fast-paced and amazing performances and a live music score that delights. Sir Isaac Newton would have given up on his theory of gravity if he had seen KOOZA.

The show can only be considered the ticket of the season to get in Washington, DC.  I just hope you don’t get the magic seat.

In the next couple days, I’ll be posting on my preshow backstage tour, so stop back for more on KOOZA.

Cirque Du Soleil – KOOZA
Under the Grand Chapiteau at the Plateau
201 Harborview Avenue
National Harbor, MD 20745  (map it)

Dates and Times – October 30 – extended until December 14, 2008, daily, except Mondays. 

Tickets – Adults – $55.00 – $215.00, kids 2-12 – $38.50 – $150.50, Weekday Senior and student discounts available for some shows – $49.50 – $112.50. Tickets available online or by phone at 800-674-5440.

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

Parking – Event parking is $10.00.

Images – All courtesy of Cirque du Soleil, © Cirque du Soleil 2007 – photos by Olivier Samson Arcand & costumes by Marie-Chantale Vaillancourt.
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Post from: The DC Traveler

The 2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars features 17 world-class gymnasts including Olympic and World champions, such as:

• 3-time Olympic medalist and 2004 all-around competition winner, Paul Hamm
• Shawn Johnson – Gold in the women’s balance beam, sliver in floor exercise, and sliver in the individual all-around
• Nastia Liukin – Silver metals in the women’s balance beam and uneven bars as well as the gold for individual all-around

And in case you think gymnastics is an easy or safe sport, here’s a few disasters clips.  It’s shocking that more young competitors are killed in this sport.

2008 Tour of Gymnastics Superstars
Verizon Center
601 F Street, NW, between 6th and 7th Streets, NE
Washington, DC 20004 (map it)

Date and Time – Thursday, October 30, 2008, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets – $29.50 – $125.00 and are available online.

Nearest Metro subway station – Gallery Place / Chinatown (the Metro station is part of the Verizon Center) – Red, Yellow and Green lines or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Limited metered street parking is available in the area, but various paid lots and garages are within a short walk.

Note: No video or professional cameras with detachable lenses will be allowed.

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Just two days after the running of the 26-mile annual Marine Corps Marathon of the Monuments, Washington, DC hosts the always silly and very popular High Heel Drag Race near Dupont Circle. 

Racing two blocks for a silver slipper trophy, over 100 elaborately costumed drag queens go all out in creating their costumes and hair and an attitude to match.  Some sprint, some jog and others just sashay down the avenue, all to the hoots and hollers of the spectators. 

Before the race, outlandishly dressed “racers” parade up and down 17th street strutting their stuff.  After the race, both racers and spectators enjoy the areas clubs and restaurants for some post-race partying.

It’s amazing how some of the contestants can walk, not to mention sprint, in 4-inch stiletto heels or platform go-go boots. 

Expect to see versions of your favorite political leaders, Hollywood celebrities, and other people in the news.

High Heel Drag Race
17th Street, between P and Q Streets, NW)
Washington, DC 20036  (map it)

Date and Time – Tuesday, October 28, 2008. Activities start around 7:00, with the race starting at about 9:00 p.m.

Admission – FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Dupont Circle – Red line, then a 2-block walk.

Parking – Street and garage parking is available, but usually tough in the Dupont Circle neighborhood. 

Images – Flickr – racer and dog, air force racers, Candy Ladies

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Post from: The DC Traveler

The French “auto sculptor” will address global design highlights, breakthroughs and trends, starting with the first major mass-production automobile, the classic Ford Model T. He will also discuss the rich history of French contributions to design of automobiles.

His online resume lists one of his accomplishments as being the Lead Sculptor for the interior “garnish and trim” of the Cadillac CTS.

To remind readers of some of the great, not so great and quirky looking French automobiles, there’s several classics, including Peugeots, Renaults, Citroens and their recognizable 2CV and the ever classic Bugatti.

For a look at some of the best classic French cars, click here.

Pierre Paul Andriani, General Motors Designer
La Maison Française
4101 Reservoir Road, NW 
Washington, DC 20007 (map it)
202-944-6091

Dates and Times -  Monday, October 20, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. A reception will follow.

Admission – FREE, but reservation are required. To request seats, send an email to culturel.washington-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr, include your name and number of seats requested.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Farragut West – Blue and Orange lines, and then a 15-minute Metrobus (D6) ride.  I’d recommend taking a taxi.  

Parking – Limited free first come, first serve parking is available in the Embassy’s underground parking garage.  Free street parking is also available in the area. 

Images – Bugatti – Flickr, Citroen 2CV from personal collection – ©2008, Jon Rochetti 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Finishing in last place in the National League East, the Nats had the worst record in baseball. 

Last season, the Nationals ended with a 73 win, 89 loss season, finishing in 4th place in the East division.

But if you can’t bare another five months without watching a Nat’s game, your final chance to see the National play at home is Thursday, September 25th.

Washington Nationals Baseball
Nationals Park
1500 South Capitol Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003 (map it)

Date and Time – Thursday, September 25, 2008, 7:10 p.m.

Tickets – $10.00 – $67.00 and are available online or by phone at 202-675-NATS.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Navy Yard – Green line , then a 2-block walk.

Parking – Parking and free shuttle bus is offered from RFK Stadium.

Images – Teddy – Scott Ableman, ballpark,

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Post from: The DC Traveler