Category Archives: The Great Outdoors

Fun & Games, Special Events, The Daily Feed, The District, The Great Outdoors
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Sprint Four The Cure

Photo courtesy of
‘Running Against the Grain’
courtesy of ‘john w’

Interested in getting a little exercise this weekend, AND raising money for a good cause?  Then sign up ASAP (by Thursday, September 10) for the Sprint Four the Cure to benefit the Washington Hospital Center.

The 5k run starts near the Four Seasons Hotel and takes you along the scenic C&O Canal.  Your $25 registration not only goes to a fantastic DC-based cause, but also gets you a t-shirt, raffle ticket and Four Seasons breakfast. YUM!

Additionally, Georgetown Cupcake will be providing post-race sweets and a number of local Georgetown establishments have donated raffle prizes including: the Four Seasons Spa, Clyde’s, Peacock Cafe and  more. Grand Prize is two American Airlines tickets, two night stay at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale with Daily Breakfast and two 50 minute Spa Treatments.

So be sure to register by tomorrow either via Active.com or by calling  202.944.9163.

Adventures, Entertainment, Fun & Games, Special Events, The Daily Feed, The Great Outdoors
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Full Moon Bike Ride Tonight!

Photo courtesy of
‘and their (clothes are) off!’
courtesy of ‘m hoek’

Sorry for the semi-disturbing picture.  Avert your eyes! Avert your eyes! But I couldn’t help it. I mean the event’s title is the Full “Corn Moon” Bike Ride. So, you’re better blaming the Washington Area Bicyclists Association who will be leading this nighttime tour of the Capital Crescent/Georgetown Branch Trail.  The ride starts at 8:15pm  right next to Cycle Life under the Whitehurst Freeway at the Georgetown Waterfront by moonlight starting from the Georgetown Waterfront.  You’ll bike the non-hilly, cement paved trail all the way up to City Bikes in Chevy Chase, where you can feast on some BBQ before heading back.

Downtown, Fun & Games, People, Special Events, The Daily Feed, The Great Outdoors
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Braaaainnnssss

Photo courtesy of
‘On our way to Zombie Prom’
courtesy of ‘spiggycat’

Have you ever wanted to make like a zombie and chase tourists around Chinatown?  Well, tomorrow, you may just get that chance.  A group called “DC Defenstrators ” is hosting a massive Zombie Raid on Saturday afternoon.  The idea is to get a bunch of Washingtonians together and then have them proceed around the city staggering like zombies and moaning about brains.  The raid will begin tomorrow at 4:30 in Franklin Park.  Participants are encouraged to wear realistic, zombie clothing, although makeup and fake blood are strictly optional.  The Zombie thespians will be given directions as to where to proceed and the fun will begin.  According to the Facebook invite, over 500 people are supposed to participate, giving this the potential for epic status.  I think I’m in.

Fun & Games, Media, The Daily Feed, The Great Outdoors, The Mall
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Last Screen on the Green of the Summer

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Well, Screen on the Green is set to retire for another season.  Let’s hope that it comes back again next year.  Tonight’s showing will be the James Dean classic “Rebel Without a Cause.” If you haven’t been out to SCOTG yet, definitely brave the balmy evening and join the cool kids on the mall.  In my opinion, “On the Waterfront” was this year’s best cinematic offering from our friends at HBO and WB, but “Rebel Without a Cause” is a close second. Get there.

Downtown, Entertainment, Essential DC, Fun & Games, Media, The Daily Feed, The Great Outdoors, The Mall
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Screen on the Green: On the Waterfront

Photo courtesy of
‘Screen on the Green – 7-14-08’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

For the third movie in its ressurection run, Screen on the Green will feature On the Waterfront this evening. For those of you not in the loop, On the Waterfront is arguably one of the greatest movies of all time. It won 8 Academy Awards and features Marlon Brando in his prime (ladies). The weather is supposed to be beautiful tonight and I highly recommend that you get to the mall to enjoy this film with a thousand of your closest friends. The feature should start around 8:30.

Crime & Punishment, Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed, The Great Outdoors
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Sexual Assault in Rock Creek Park

Photo courtesy of
‘Beach Drive tunnel’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

WUSA 9 reports that a female jogger was sexually assaulted as she ran in Rock Creek Park yesterday.  Police say that a man dragged her into the woods and assaulted her at around 7am.  While Rock Creek park is generally a safe place, please use caution while running there, particularly until this perpetrator is caught. Hopefully this isn’t something serial.

Getaways, The Features, The Great Outdoors
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Getaways: Chincoteague & Assateague

Wild Ponies at Sunset, Assateague

"Wild Ponies at Sunset, Assateague" by Jenn Larsen, on Flickr

Relinquish control to nature. That’s extremely difficult for an urbanite like myself. But, I was on the fast track to total anxietyville and desperately needed an escape. What better way to unwind than leaving yourself behind on a five mile bike trek through a barrier island refuge? Sighing upon spotting wild ponies? Napping on a deserted beach? Being bitten by insanely voracious mosquitoes?

Ok, this last is not quite as relaxing as the rest! Definitely watch out for those bloodsuckers while you enjoy some sea-drenched nature just three hours away from DC, on the Chincoteague Island National Wildlife Refuge and Assateague National Seashore. With some 14,000 acres of barrier island habitat including marshes and long stretches of beach, this is a naturalist’s dream.

The town of Chincoteague itself is rather like a rusty old tugboat that does its duty with a trusty nonchalance. It’s not a glamorous destination, but there are plenty of decent seafood places, surf shops, cute boutiques, and decadent ice cream parlours. It’s still milking the “Misty” books, Marguerite Henry’s tales of the penning of the famous wild horses. Yours truly learned to ride on a Chincoteague pony back in the mists of her teenage years and still has a soft spot for these extremely tough and beautiful animals. There are pony rides to be had here, of course, but I suggest you rather seek out viewing them in their natural habitat on Assateague (unless you are or have kids, in which case, they will love a ride). Continue reading →

Food and Drink, Fun & Games, Special Events, The Features, The Great Outdoors, We Love Food
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We Love Food: Food & Wine Festival at National Harbor

Food and Wine Festival

Summertime is festival time, and I’m not complaining. After attending Savor a week ago, I had no idea what to expect going into The Food and Wine Festival at National Harbor. Would it be fancy? Would it be lame? Would they have enough food and wine to keep me happy? Actually, does anyone ever have enough food and wine to keep me happy? Is there enough food and wine in the world to keep me happy for life? Ah! So many existential questions, but I digress. Basically, Jasmine and I headed over to National Harbor with zero expectations, and wound up extremely happy, totally entertained, bellies satisfied, heads full of wine.

We took the water taxi over from Alexandria, quite nice. Pretty views of Alexandria and National Harbor, and I generally just love boats. Period. If you’re a regular reader, you already know that if there is an event or location near, on, or around water, I’ll like it. It’s a guarantee. So National Harbor already had that going for it, as the festival exhibitors lined the boat docks, so we were on water the entire time. Combine that with wine, and food, and I think you’ve got a total winner. Continue reading →

Essential DC, Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed, The Great Outdoors
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The Graceful Edge

Photo courtesy of
‘marathoners’
courtesy of ‘Joe in DC’

Maybe I’m late to the party (wouldn’t be the first time) but I just discovered via The DC Concierge this really lovely Daily-Candy-but-for-exercise email newsletter. It’s all about new or unique exercise opportunities in the DC area for women, and it is called The Graceful Edge.

You know me, and how much I like lists and round-ups, so this is perfection. Broken into types of exercise like yoga, running, triathlons, biking and more, this is a great way to get your morning inspiration for a workout while keeping up on local trends.

Check out what today’s DC items are and if you like what you see, you can sign up on the site. I’m picky about what comes into my email box, but this one made the cut.

The Daily Feed, The District, The Great Outdoors, WTF?!
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Just a Reminder: Don’t Drive Through Standing Water

Photo courtesy of
‘Pipeline burst’
courtesy of ‘ECU Digital Collections’

The rain this morning has been significant so far, with a flash flood warning in place until 11:30 this morning. Several cars got stuck this morning after driving through standing water and shorting their engine. Folks, if the spark plugs can’t make the gas in the cylinders explode, your car will rapidly lose locomotion and you’re not going to be able to restart the vehicle. So, really, don’t drive through standing water. Unless you want to get stuck in the rain on Rhode Island Ave waiting for a tow truck driver who will probably laugh at you, like several folks did this morning.

National Airport’s weather station is reporting an inch and a half of rain in the last twenty-four hours, but I’ve been hearing totals as high as 2-3″ of precip, so this is a pretty soaking event, and we’re due showers all day. So, drive careful DC.

Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed, The Great Outdoors
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When Sparrows Attack

Photo courtesy of

‘#3000: sparrows in a row’ courtesy of ‘philliefan99’ 

Given the glorious weather DC has been experiencing, everyone seems to be out enjoying the crisp, cool and (dare I say it) non-humid climate. The city really seems to have bloomed in the last few weeks. And you know what else has gone into overdrive? You guessed it–the mating activities of the House Sparrow.

On my jaunts around the city, I’ve witnessed male sparrows going nuts over female sparrows. This aggressive harassment involves 5-6 male sparrows dancing, chirping, pecking, etc. one poor female sparrow, who IS NOT (judging on her fleeing) into this behavior. In fact, it often looks like she’s the one bearing the brunt of her male suitors competitive rage.  In the spirit of female unity, I often want to jump to her rescue, but have thought better of it and decided instead to investigate these strange, foreign, avian behaviors. Continue reading →

Entertainment, Essential DC, Life in the Capital, The Great Outdoors, Tourism
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Tourism: Hillwood Museum and Gardens

Photo courtesy of
‘Hillwood Museum’
courtesy of ‘needlessspaces’

Hidden up in Van Ness, Hillwood Museum and Gardens is a few acres of green, colorful, luxe heaven. The tagline for the museum is “where fabulous lives” and I think that is the best possible way to sum up the place.

You drive up to the gates (yes, it is gated, they also recommend you have reservations to visit the grounds, though that is not required, we did not) and a guard lets you in. You drive up a windy, steep azalea-lined road, and are directed to the visitors center where you check in. The suggested donation is $12, and not particularly suggested, much more mandatory. But well worth it. After you are given a map and the lay of the land by guides, you’re set free to roam the house and the gardens.

There are many, many gardens to explore at Hillwood. There is the french parterre, the rose garden, a putting green, a Japanese-style garden, a lunar lawn, and a cutting garden. But I think it might be easier to show you, than tell you what those are like. Continue reading →

The Great Outdoors, We Green DC
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Playing in Traffic: Learn How to Bike

Photo courtesy of
‘Sharing the Road’
Last Friday, more people participated in DC’s Bike to Work Day than ever before — about 8,000. Even U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu took part, riding in on his $5,000 bike and speaking to the crowd. Now, my bike cost just a wee bit less than that and works just fine, but kudos to him for bucking the Secret Service and commuting carbon-free.

Perhaps by now you’re jazzed to commute by bike, or you’ve pulled out your spiffy fuschia spandex and are ready to zip along the city streets for kicks and giggles.

What do you know about playing in traffic? Anything?

Luckily for you, folks are willing to teach you the rules of the road — and you might be surprised by what you learn.
Continue reading →

Fun & Games, Special Events, The Daily Feed, The Great Outdoors
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Help Kids by Enjoying a Day on the Links

Golf
(4/365) :: Golf Thursdays by chispita_666
I just got an email about a golf tournament to support the Kena Shrine Transportation Fund, which provides free transportation for kids to get to the Shriner’s Hospital in Philadelphia. The wife/husband doesn’t like you playing golf? Just say it’s for the kids. How can they say no to the kids?

Read on:

The 15th Annual Kena Shrine Club Golf Tournament will be conducted next Tuesday, May 19th at Penderbrook Golf Course in Fairfax. This annual fund raiser golf outing will be a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m., with a four man/ woman format playing Captain’s Choice/Best Ball. Plan to arrive not later than 8:00 a.m., pay fee in snack bar, get cart assignments and hole numbers.

After a continental breakfast in the club house and 18 holes of golf, we will enjoy a buffet lunch, award single and group prizes and a 50/50. The outing is all inclusive for a $50.00 fee per golfer. If you wish to play in the tournament at Penderbrook, let me know as soon as possible.

And, no, you don’t have to be a Mason or Shriner to play, although I am sure lots of folks will be happy to answer your questions about these organizations.

News, The Daily Feed, The Great Outdoors
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Rocket Launch in Virginia Tonight!

Photo courtesy of
‘Space shuttle liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center: Merritt Island, Florida’
courtesy of ‘State Library and Archives of Florida’

When we were coming back from Phoenix in March, we were passing through Terminal 5 in JFK as they were doing a sunset launch of the Space Shuttle. I stopped and stared and watched as the rockets fired and the shuttle went up and up and up. I’ve never seen a shuttle launch live, or a rocket launch of any kind. Tonight, though, we may get a clear view of a rocket launch at the NASA Facility on Wallops Island. They’ll be launching a rocket tonight between 8 and 11. If the rain keeps them down, they’ll be trying again each night this week.

Wallops Island may be 120 miles to our southeast, but Wired is saying that “this particular rocket, a Minotaur I, is noteworthy for the brilliant intensity of the fire it gives off. NASA claims that, conditions permitting, the rocket could be visible up to 800 miles away” which means we should have a pretty good view, especially if thing clear up. Check out their Twitter feed for the latest details.

Essential DC, Monumental, The Features, The Great Outdoors
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Monumental: Cherry Blossoms

DSC_2489

On March 26, 1912, probably the most famous ‘monument’ in the Washington DC area arrived from Japan: 3,020 cherry trees.

Year after year, these trees bloom in a beautiful display that gives us a sure-fire sign that spring is upon us. It’s also the time of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival and probably brings the biggest influx of tourists for the year.

And, by far, the blooms give the city a photogenic quality that never gets old.

Continue reading →

Adventures, The Features, The Great Outdoors, Weekend Flashback
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Weekend Flashback: 3/27 – 3/29/09

Photo courtesy of Somewhat Frank
Cherry Blossoms in DC, courtesy of Somewhat Frank

It’s here, our ‘official’ herald of spring in the DC area – the Cherry Blossom Festival! Despite a narrow window of peak flowers this year, thousands of photos will be snapped by throngs of tourists in and around the DC area. And finally, the weather is beginning to cooperate, with a nice and somewhat warm weekend behind us (despite the rain).

Katie and Jasmine have much of this past weekend’s festival covered with kites and opening ceremonies; Flashback steps back and takes in the great photogenic city we live and work in every day, as captured by you. Enjoy.

Continue reading →

Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed, The Great Outdoors
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Park it.

Photo courtesy of
‘National Gallery – Mirror Burst – 9-1-08’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Did you feel it this morning, DC? The underlying warmth sneaking through the morning? It’s coming, I tell you, and no one is more thrilled than I am for this weekend’s 68 and 70 degree temperatures. They’re lurking right there, I could feel them walking to work this morning.

So what is a girl to do this weekend? Well, I’m itching to try out a new park. Iwo Jima is a staple in my household, we regularly head there when the weather gets warm, but I think it’s time to break out of the bubble and head somewhere new. I’ve admittedly never been to East Potomac Park – I’d love to go out along the water this weekend, and I hear the biking out that way is great!The second place I’ve never been is Meridian Hill Park (which Tom JUST wrote about!), with water features and plenty of monuments and statues, it seems like the perfect city oasis.

Thirdly, my back-up option is the Georgetown Waterfront which holds good memories for me from last summer – there you can  grab an ice cream cone and sit along the water and watch the kayakers and boats go by. But hey, I’m open to reader suggestions – what is YOUR favorite DC park that I must visit?

Food and Drink, Fun & Games, Night Life, The Features, The Great Outdoors, Thrifty District
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Thrifty District: Cheap Dates

Photo courtesy of
‘kisses’
courtesy of ‘needlessspaces’

I love DC, but I really love dating in DC. Yes, dating can be expensive (especially if you’re a guy–sorry, but them’s the facts), but you really can find tons of fun, creative things to do on the cheap in and around DC.

Date idea #1: Go outside

Doing things outdoors is reliably one of my favorite ways to have a great time for very little money. You don’t have to be a star athlete to enjoy a good outdoor date, but it helps if your date is a little adventurous. There are a couple of weeks left to go ice skating in the National Gallery of Art’s sculpture garden, and then you can warm up with a hot chocolate in their pavilion cafe afterwards and still stay under $30 for the two of you. Continue reading →