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

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 the heart of Georgetown, catching post-happy hour drivers.

Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland all have a .08 blood alcohol content (BAC) limit for a establishing DUIs, and Maryland adds a .07 for a DWI.

The penalties for a receiving a first-time DUI are severe, including losing your license, fines, points, and possible jail time.  Washington, DC also requires mandatory jail time of a minimum of 5 days for drivers arrested with a BUC in excess of .20. While Virginia also has mandatory jail time for higher BACs on the first offence, resulting in 5-15 days if the BAC is over .15.

The SoberRide program is in effect daily only between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. and offered to licensed drivers at least 21 years old.

The rider (or person who requested the cab) is responsible for any fare on the meter over $50.

Call 1-800-200-TAXI (8294) from any Washington, DC , Virginia or Maryland mobile phone, pay phone or landline and mention “SoberRide”.

Calls and rides can originate from any of the following locations:

• District of Columbia
• Maryland – Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties, or the cities of Rockville, Bowie, College Park, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt and Takoma Park
• Virginia – Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William and Eastern Loudoun Counties, or the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Fairfax, Manassas and Manassas Park

A total of 17 area taxi companies are participating this year.

Image – Flickr – checkpoint
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Post from: The DC Traveler

The main character, prison parolee Jean Valjean, who is unable to find work after years in a labor camp, must steal in order to survive.  But his victim gives him a second chance when Valjean is caught by the police.  He takes the gift and changes his identify and his life.  Spending most of his life attempting to avoid being identified as to who he really is, he leads a life of the straight and narrow.

While Valjean is able to find redemption and becomes a productive and respected man, he must continue to hide his true identity. Especially when a new police inspector, his old prison guard, comes to the town where Valjean has risen to become mayor and a wealthy business owner.  Yet the ruthless and single-minded police inspector is determined to discover Valjean’s true identity and return him to prison.

Valjean also must shield his adopted daughter Cosette, from the world of crime and French revolution, while she falls in love with a young revolutionary.

The production of Les Mis at Signature Theatre in suburban Arlington, Virginia, is led by Greg Stone, from the national touring company in the lead role of Jean Valjean.  Tom Zemon, is a believably wicked and powerful Police Inspector Javert.  And Felicia Curry (who has incidentally performed with DC’s Capitol Steps) delivers the most powerful singing of the performance, as the unnoticed and hopelessly in love Eponine. Although not all the voices of some of the lead characters were consistently strong, the ensemble delivered a powerful singular voice.

The production boasts a cast of 30 actors and incorporate over 100 stylishly dramatic costumes.  Some of the most elaborate and stunning lighting and effectively unique barricades as part of the environmental staging , made up of scrap metal, makes for a production that thrusts the action into the audience’s seats. 

The seating is three-quarter in the round with the actors also entering and exiting the stage between rows of seats, making the production significantly more intimate.

The 14-piece live orchestra playing the Broadway score is a strong addition, but at times so loud, it was hard to hear the words of some of the songs.

Les Misérables
Signature Theatre
MAX Theatre
4200 Campbell Avenue, in Shirlington Village, just off I-395
Arlington, Virginia  22206 (map it)

Dates and Times – Tuesdays – Sundays, December 2, 2008 – February 22, 2009. Matinees on weekends. And make sure you arrive on time, as late-comers wait until the first production break to be seated (a GREAT policy).

Tickets – $65.00 to $87.00, and are available online or by phone at 703-573-7328. Try for seats in the middle section, if available.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Pentagon City – Blue and Yellow lines, then a $7.00 – $8.00 taxi ride.  Look for a cab in front of the Ritz Carlton Hotel.

Parking – Two free parking garages are located across the street and behind the theatre.

Images – courtesy of Signature Theatre – Photos by Scott Suchman _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

A symbol of Austrian music for nearly 500 years, the choir has delighted music lovers, starting with King Maximilian I who, in 1498, had the choir formed, consisting of a dozen boys to the royal court.  Since then, the choir has worked with composers such as Mozart, Salieri, Haydn and Schubert.

The choir brings in their angelic voices to sing of peace and happiness during the holiday season.  The program includes holiday music ranging from Gregorian chants through popular Christmas carols.

This should be a delightful evening of Christmas music at its best.

Vienna Boys Choir – Christmas in Vienna
The Center for the Arts
George Mason University Concert Hall
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030 (map it)

Dates and Times – Friday, December 19, 2008, 8:00 p.m.

Tickets – $23.00, $38.00 and $46.00.  Call the box office at 703-993-2787 or use the online order form.

Parking – Paid parking is available on the Visitor Parking Deck, located directly adjacent to the Concert Hall. Free parking is available in Lot K, across the pond and a short walk form the Concert Hall.

Nearest Metro subway station – Vienna/GMU station – Orange line, then a 20-30 minute cab/bus ride.

Image – Flickr

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Post from: 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 extra. Dinner includes admission to Plantation Christmas. Call 703-550-9220 for reservations. Parties of ten may reserve a private table.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Franconia-Springfield – Blue line, then a 12 mile cab ride.

Parking – Free parking is available.

Image – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti  _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

The self-guided tours include four historical building.  On the walking tour are:

• Gadsby’s Tavern Museum – a colonial tavern and meeting place.
• Carlyle House – Alexandria’s only stone Palladian-style house dating back to 1753.
• Lee-Fendall House, the home of the Lee family, and son Robert E. Lee. The urban plantation house was built in 1785 and restored to its early Victorian elegance.
• Old Presbyterian Meeting House – In 1772, a small group of Calvinist who had split from the Church of England, built their own meeting house in which to worship. Today, the church is still used for regular services.

Enjoy seasonal decorations, carolers and light refreshments along the way. Plan on about two hours, if you stop to enjoy the music. 

Historic Alexandria Candlelight Tours 
Gadsby’s Tavern
138 N Royal Street
Alexandria, VA 22314 (map it)

Start at any of the four sites and continue at your own pace.

Dates and Times – December 13, 2008, From 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Start at any of the four locations and tour at your own pace.

Tickets – Adults – $20.00, Seniors $15.00, children 6-17 – $5.00, and are available online or by calling Gadsby’s Tavern Museum at 703-838-4242

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 – Street and paid garage parking is available.

Images – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti  _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

Highlights of the evening include a traditional champagne reception, a scrumptious Austrian dessert buffet, and music for dancing by Con Brio!, one of Washington’s most regarded salon orchestras.  they will perform waltzes and ballroom music and even a polka or two.

The ball will open with a cotillion performance by students from the German School Washington, DC.

Christmas Ball 
Washington Golf and Country Club
3017 N. Glebe Road
Arlington, VA 22207 (map it)
703-524-4600

Dates and Times – Friday, December 12, 2008 7:00 p.m.

Tickets – $95.00, e-mail mbocek@verizon.net for reservations or more details

Attire – White tie (preferred), black tie or military mess dress

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Ballston MU – Orange line, then a 2-mile cab ride.

Parking – Free
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Post from: The DC Traveler

I was walking through Arlington National Cemetery last January and happened across a headstone that caused me to freeze in my tracks.  The date first caught my eye.  Then, I realized the significance of the ship listed on the headstone.

The headstone for sailor, Gunners Mate Robert Edwin Kline, of New York, listed him as killed on December 7th, 1941, aboard the battleship USS Arizona. IThe date on the headstone was the same as the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, which caused the U.S. to declare war the following day and enter World War II. 

During the attack, a bomb dropped from a Japanese plane struck the forward section of the Arizona and ignited the forward munitions magazine, causing a catastrophic explosion that sunk the battleship in just nine minutes. 1,177 of her crew were killed that day. A total of 2,388 U.S. military personnel were killed in the attack on Hawaii.

Today is the 67th anniversary of the December 7th attack on Pearl Harbor.  Three days after the attack, the U.S. declared war on Japan, causing Japan’s allies, Germany and Italy, to declare war on the U.S.  The following day Bulgaria declared war on the U.S., followed by Romania on Dec 14th, 1941. The U.S. was involved in the war for the next 4 years.

Today, there is a memorial over the sunken battleship memorial in Pearl Harbor.

Unfortunately, I was unable to learn any more about this fallen hero.

Images – Arlington images from personal collection – ©2008, Jon Rochetti, war photos public domane.,

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Post from: The DC Traveler

They may be a bit dangerous and tied into the world of crime, but they both desire to keep their promises to their families and loved ones, to walk the straight and narrow. 

But one of the men desperately needs cash to send his child on  school soccer trip, so there’s a decision, should we risk it all again for one last heist….

This, at times, comic drama is based on interviews with real Irish men who were fighting to break out of lives of crime and their resulting incarnation. 

The story can be a bit disjointed at times, especially with one performer playing 5 different roles, out of the 7 characters in total.  While adding props and some scenery would add much to the show, strong and emotional performances, especially by Eric Lucas (Gary), make this an interesting, one act, 85-minute performance.

Love, Peace and Robbery
Theatre on the Run, presented by the Keegan Theatre
3700 S. Four Mile Run
Arlington, Virginia
703-892-0202 (map it)

Dates and Times – November 28 – December 21, 2008. Thursdays-Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets – $30.00, students with ID and Seniors – $25.00 and are available by e-mail at boxoffice@keegantheatre.com or by calling 703-892-0202, Ext. 2.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Pentagon City – Blue and Yellow lines, then a 3-mile taxi ride.

Parking – Free lot and some on street parking is available.

Image – Flickr – View from a prison in Cork
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Post from: The DC Traveler

Live music, drinks and hors d’oeuvres will add to the festive occasion.

Torpedo Factory Art Center – Holiday Open House
105 N. Union Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314 (map it)
703-838-4565

Dates and Times – Thursday, December 4, 2008  6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Admission – FREE, but please bring a non-perishable food item for their holiday food drive.

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 – interior gallery, exterior
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Post from: The DC Traveler