The DC Traveler

About an hour west of the hustle and bustle of the District, sitting at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains is the Marriott Ranch. There, you can experience a 1½-hour trail ride through the foothills on a working cattle ranch.
Besides being a 4,200 acre cattle ranch, Marriott offers a quaint bed and breakfast, along with other types of rides and activities. You can take an overnight ride - just bring your sleeping bag, or perhaps enjoy an evening dinner ride complete with a cowboy steak dinner, roasted marshmallows and songs sung around the campfire just like in the old …read more

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Described as a Neo-Dadaist as well as an artist who effectively bridged the gap between pop art and Abstract Expressionist, Jasper Johns has had a significant impact on modern and minimalist conceptual art starting in the early 1950s.
The current exhibit of 80 of John’s paintings, prints and drawings at the National Gallery of Art follow the recurring theme of “the target, the mechanical “device,” repetitive colors and their names, and imprints of the human body.
One piece on display, False Start (shown above), was sold last year to a private collector for $80 million. His most famous piece, American Flag is …read more

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In 1941, Academy award-winning director Frank Capra (It’s a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Lost Horizon) directed Meet John Doe, a film about an aggressive newspaperwoman who, as a parting shot to a depression-era downsizing, files a false story about an unemployed “John Doe”.
The factious Doe threatens to commit suicide by throwing himself off the Brooklyn Bridge, in protest to the way the government and everyday Americans have abandoned the downtrodden during the Depression.
The story becomes an instant media sensation, and after being rehired by her paper, the reporter must find somebody to impersonate John Doe.
Hiring a down …read more

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As yet another sign of Spring, the annual White House Spring Garden Tour is just around the corner.
 
The tour will commence at Sherman Park located between E. Executive Drive and 15th Street, NW near E Street, just to the south of the Department of the Treasury building.
For some additional information on the White House gardens and their history check out my post from the Fall tour.
 
White House Spring Garden Tours
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
 
Dates and Times - Saturday, April 21st 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 22nd Noon – 4:00 p.m.
 
Tickets – A free time …read more

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Indian Dance Bharata Natyam is an updated offshoot of traditional Cathir dance, the classic Indian temple dance style that was started over 2000 years ago in Southern India. It combines rhythm and melody with aesthetic perfection. It often tells a story with the use of colorful and flowing costumes and music.
The Dakshina / Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company is an emerging dance company that brings together a traditional Indian dance form called Bharata Natyam as well as modern dance.

Dakshina will perform a total of eight dances, one traditional Indian piece and seven modern pieces including a company premiere …read more

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Besides the Cherry Blossom Festival which starts this coming weekend, one other sign of spring is the opening of the Tidal Basin paddle boat season.
With the area weather forecasted to hit 80 degrees tomorrow, the paddle boats are an ideal way to relax on the water and get a bit of exercise while having one of the best views of the Jefferson Memorial.
But one word of advice, paddle into the wind as you start your ride, and you still have lots of leg energy for the trip back to the dock.

Tidal Basin Paddle Boats
Across from the Jefferson Memorial, on …read more

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Greece, the land of the Acropolis, beautiful Aegean islands and the birth of Classical civilization will celebrate its 181st independence day from the Ottoman Empire on March 25th.
Dance to live Greek music from Neo Kyma, a leading area Greek band and a couple of Greek DJs along with people of Greek decent and Greek nationals, students and people who simply love Hellas.
While this event is really for the younger set – 21-35, all are invited.
9th Annual Greek Independence Day Celebration
OOH LA LA
1800 M Street, NW (18th & M Streets)
Washington, DC
Dates and Time - Friday, March 23rd 10:00 p.m. – 4:00 …read more

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James Cotton
Harmonica Bluesman
Growing up the son of a Mississippi cotton farmer and Baptist preacher, James Cotton learned to play harmonica from his mother before he was old enough to work the fields.
By the age of nine he was playing in the juke joints across Mississippi and Arkansas with harmonica legend, Sonny Boy Williamson. Since he was too young to get into the juke joints, he was Sonny Boy’s opening act and played for tips outside the front door. After Williamson abandoned his band, Cotton headed to the “Home of the Blues” - Beale Street in Memphis where …read more

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Springtime is probably the most beautiful time to visit Washington, DC. The most famous and popular Springtime activity is the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival.
The festival runs for two weeks, from March 31st until April 15th, but Mother Nature always has a way of deciding when nature’s canvas will be painted with the most beautiful pink and white colors of this type of cherry tree.
I’ll be writing a few posts over the next week or two regarding different activities during the festival.
The first festival was held in 1935, 23 years after the Japanese government sent to the United States, as a message …read more

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In 1976, a couple guys in New Hampshire were talking about a recent hunting trip one of them had taken to Africa to hunt buffalo. The conversation turned to how they could re-create the excitement, skill and adrenaline rush of the thrill of a hunt, without harming or shooting the “target”.
About a year and a half later, another friend showed them a paintball gun, which had historically been used by loggers for marking trees and cattlemen for marking cattle. The two guys came up with the idea of using the paintball gun to hunt each other. Thus the sport of …read more

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