The DC Traveler

There’s a new company, mobiletours.org, that’s providing recorded information about a few of the major DC sites and monuments that you can access from your cell phone as you are walking the Mall.
The informational narrative recordings provide a 2-4 minute overview of the history of 12 monuments or buildings, the people it memorializes or the period in history.  Voice recordings with personal accounts and related interviews about to the memorial adds additional color.  
Simply dial 800-217-7740 and press the number for the desired site:

Lincoln Memorial
Vietnam Memorial
Korean Memorial 
Washington Monument
WWII Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
FDR Memorial
White House
U.S. Capitol
Ford’s Theater
Arlington Cemetery
Voice of America

The overview tours are …read more

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Don’t burn your money…Save it between August 4th and 12th, as DC shoppers enjoy purchasing clothing, shoes, school supplies and accessories (such as jewelry, sunglasses, watches, handbags, scarves and more), up to $100 per item, TAX-FREE.  The normal tax is 5.75%. For a list of specific eligible items, click here.

Virginia is also offering a tax free shopping weekend, August 3rd-5th. The normal VA sales tax of 5.0% is waived on clothing and shoes under $100 and school supplies under $20. ___________________________________________________
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With all the presidential candidates on the campaign trail, I hear the Secret Service is looking for a few more agents to protect them all.
Obviously, these guys probably wouldn’t make the cut.

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As the official warm up for the U.S. Open tennis championships, the annual Legg Mason tennis championships that starts today, takes 200 tennis players and puts them on a ten tournament road trip around the U.S.
With past winners including Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Andre Agassi and Arthur Ashe, there’s sure to be some great tennis played.
Legg Mason Tennis ClassicThe William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center16th & Kennedy Streets, NWWashington, DC
Dates and Times - July 29 - August 5,
Tickets - Lowest prices seats - $10.00-$45.00 depending on round, to $450 for a box seat to all matches. Tickets …read more

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 Did you love model trains as a kid?  If so, grab your engineer’s cap and climb aboard Railroad Days in Alexandria.
Members of the National Model Railroad Association returns with extensive HO gauge model trains and layouts, using their state-of-the-art digital command system. 
It’s hard to distinguish some of the models form the real thing, the detailing is so precise.

Railroad Days The Lyceum, Alexandria’s History Museum201 S. Washington St.Alexandria, VA 22314 703-838-4994

Dates and Times - Saturday, August 4, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 5, 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. 
Tickets - Admission is free.
Nearest Metro Subway Station - King Street, Blue and Yellow line, then a 3/4 mile …read more

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After recovering from a devastating fire, Eastern Market, DC’s most popular outdoor flea market kicks off free live music performances on Sundays through September to add to the street fair atmosphere.
The bill will include a selection of some of DC’s best jazz, contemporary, blues, bluegrass, and international musicians.

July 29: AM - Daryl Davis (Rockabilly), PM - Little Bit a Blues (Blues, Ragtime)
Aug. 5: AM - Tom Mitchell & Robert Redd (Swing, Jazz), PM - Blue Rhythm Boys (Blues, Swing)
Aug. 12: AM - Unusual Suspects (Contemporary Acoustic), PM - Over Under Down Yonder (Bluegrass, Folk Rock, Rockabilly)
Aug. 19: AM - BluesWorks (Blues, World), PM - Pam Parker …read more

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Sample wines from the U.S., Italy, Australia, California and Spain as well as from local wineries at the Great Grapes festival in suburban Annapolis, MD.
Live music includes among others, guitarist Dani Cortaza, swing and rockabilly artist King Teddy and New Orleans-style party music party from the Junkyard Saints.

There will also be free gourmet cooking, food and wine demos and seminars, including a couple cooking demos by Ilan Hall, the 24 year old second season winner of Bravo Network’s Top Chef.
Great Grapes - Wine, Art, & Food Festival
Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds
1450 General Highway Route 178 (about 30 miles east of DC)
Crownsville, MD 21032

Dates and Times …read more

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One of my favorite places in Washington, DC to truly get away from the hustle of the city (without actually leaving the city) is the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens at Anacostia Park. Especially during the annual blooming of the sacred lotus flower, which happens this time of year. I took a walk through the gardens this past Saturday and as you can see, the lotus flowers are in full bloom, along with some of the other lilies.
W.B. Shaw, a Civil War veteran bought a 37-acre marshy farm when he came to DC from Maine to work for the Treasury Dept. He …read more

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While I can’t positively confirm, it looks as if the escapee is the “little” panda cub Tai Shan who just turned two this month, from DC’s National Zoo.
Wanting to get outside, Tai got a bit of help from mom.
Click here to watch the clip of it magically escaping from it’s cage (the escape was only to its outside living area).
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Okay, perhaps there hasn’t been anywhere near the number of films shot in Washington, DC as there has in LA or New York, but there have been some great films (or at least some memorable scenes) shot in DC.  Some of the best I can think of include:

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington - Naive Jimmy Stewart gets elected to Congress and ends up in over his head.  He heads to the Lincoln Memorial for some much needed sole searching. Some great shots inside the Capitol Building as well.
Born Yesterday - Judy Holiday gets a tour of DC’s most famous attractions and …read more

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