Wooden Toys
courtesy of Michael T. Ruhl

Mosley: Christmas is the big family holiday for the Mosley Clan, so I will be camping out at either my parents’ place in Cheverly or my sister’s in Virginia.  I always like to tell people that for me “Christmas” goes from noon on the 24th to noon on the 25th.  It goes back to my childhood: by noon on the 24th, I was well on my way to getting ready for Christmas Eve mass, and by noon on the 25th, I was playing with my new toys, while my parents were taking a nap.  And I’ve got to tell you, I got some cool presents as a kid!

I will always remember the times trying to stay up to hear Santa, only to fall asleep from the excitement (I swear I heard him one year). But since I’ve gotten older, Christmas has changed for me.  I don’t get as excited; the big day seems to come faster and faster every year. But when Christmas does comes around, I’m reminded of the last lines in the Polar Express: “At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe.”  I know that most of me wouldn’t be able to hear that bell anymore.  But there is still a very small part that hears it loud and clear.  I hope that stays with me forever.

Chanukah at the White House
courtesy of afagen

Rachel: My holiday is going on right now (Chag Sameach to my fellow Jews in the area), so there’s nothing too special going on for me this weekend. I’ve never visited the National Menorah on the Ellipse so I might just have to do that while everyone else is tucked away in their homes for Christmas. I’m doing my best to find some potato pancakes since I’m not much of a chef but so far all I’ve heard about is Firefly in Dupont. Otherwise, I might just have to head to the grocery store and try to make my own for the first time. I’ll likely head to a movie at some point, maybe see The Muppets new movie again. Either way, though, this is likely to be a weekend of leisure. If anyone knows of any good restaurants serving latkes, however, I’d be forever grateful if you passed that information along!

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cupcakes
courtesy of christaki

Well, we’re in the home stretch on that whole holiday shopping thing. Have you indulged your wretched excess? It’s also the time to be jolly, and by jolly I mean stuff your face with food and get fatter. Here’s what we have planned to do and eat. You?

Patrick: It’s not only the holidays- but it’s the holiday party season. My office is throwing their annual Holiday Party over at Lincoln and if you haven’t seen the signage, the coverage, or the past reviews– it should be a good time. When midnight strikes at the party it will be my birthday so if you see me downtown afterwards say hi and I’ll buy you a drink- just say We Love DC sent ya! On my actual birthday I’ll be covering the first of two Wizards pre-season basketball games. There are still plenty of tickets for Friday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers- if you see me there, say hi and I’ll buy you a beer. Saturday night I’ll be exploring the mysterious NoMa neighborhood of DC- tweet me some suggestions and once again if you see me out- say hi and I’ll buy you a drink. Continue reading →

XMAS BIKE
courtesy of m hoek

Happy Holiday Shopping Season, folks. If you don’t recognize that thing in the sky or the feel of your skin it’s called “the sun” and “being dry.” Capital Weather says it’ll still be cold this weekend but it’ll at least be dry. What will you do with the time?

Brittany: This weekend is all about seeing friends (how, exactly, did I agree to six holiday parties?) – and buying gifts. Friday night, my pal Denman will be spinning future bass at the 9:30’s Back Bar (part of their new collab with U Hall) at a night called ZOOo00OOM! I do not really dig malls or mass-produced gifts, so Saturday I will be stopping by GRUMP Holiday Market and Cheap Art Sale for SMYAL for hand-made items and maybe the Thelma’s Vanity Trunk Show in Anacostia for some vintage finds. Along the way, I will take a culture-break from the commerce for Audio Warhol at the NGA. Sunday night, I will be out in VA for a Cricket Cemetery showcase (the label is run by a friend who is also in one of the performing bands) for some super fun “rock music” at Galaxy Hut. Continue reading →

‘Circular Stamps’
courtesy of ‘lorigoldberg’

Rachel: I don’t know about you but that whole vacation I took for Thanksgiving left me needing a vacation to catch up on sleep from my vacation. (If that sentence didn’t make any sense then I at least hope it’s apparent that I’m still exhausted from Thanksgiving.) In any case, I’ll likely catch up on sleep this weekend and then head to Friendship Heights to see The Muppets (fingers crossed it’s playing at Mazza Gallerie) and grab a bagel at Booeymonger. Then, I’ve gotta head to Utrecht for some art supplies since I’m hand-crafting all my holiday gifts this year. Other than that, sleep is the name of the game. Sorry to be lame, D.C., but a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.

‘Wet block in Congress’
courtesy of ‘dewarsrepealday’

Fedward: You might already be aware that I’ll be at the Repeal Day Ball on Saturday night. Sunday afternoon, if the room stops spinning in time, I’ll head over to Jack Rose for Speed Rack DC (although I might have to look away from the bar backs if Derek Brown’s twitter feed is any indication). Sunday evening I’ve got a rehearsal for the caroling group Brittany wrote about (tenors are still in demand!). And since that rehearsal is probably going to be at the Passenger, you know where I’ll be after that.

‘The Elephant is Sad the Party is Ending’
courtesy of ‘Karon’

Mosley: It’s a family weekend for me; half my family is born in June and the other half is born in December (I’m the odd one, being born in January), so the Mosley clan will be getting together for that.  Other than that, I’m hoping to get down to the Mall and walk through some museums.  I haven’t been through the Natural History or the American History museums in ages.  And with it being December, and there being no tourists around, this is the time of year when locals can enjoy the museums!  I may even try to catch a showing of To Fly! at the Air and Space Museum; I haven’t seen that movie since the early 90s.  Nothing better than vertigo inducing IMAX movies!

‘awesome-mabelline-billboard-4’
courtesy of ‘dandeluca’

Don: I’m all about the out-of-doors this weekend. Capital Weather says mostly sunny and mild and I say outside I go! Precisely WHERE I don’t know. Maybe a little Bikeshare, perhaps some Roosevelt Island. I’d thought my indoor activities might include a Rocky Horror outing  – so I could see how much the shout-along lines have changed with the distance of 20 years and 1000 miles – but I was mistaken about it being the first weekend of the month. Local organizers the Sonic Transducers list next weekend as the next Rocky show. Dammit, Janet!

‘Bloomingdale’
courtesy of ‘Pappa91’

Tom: Weekend! And it’s a really big weekend. We’re picking up a whole tasty lamb at the Bloomingdale Farmers Market on Sunday morning, just in time for Thanksgiving. Add to that a brined turkey we’re grabbing later in the week. This is going to be a meatacular week. Add into that the final week of the 2-for-1 sale at Great Country Farms and you’ve got a fresh-and-local way to put some extra boost into your holidays. I’m stoked.

Mosley: After a week on the road for work, I am certainly looking forward to a slow weekend.  Saturday has a demonstration of falconry at the National Geographic Museum; it’s connected to the Anglo-Saxon Golden Hoard exhibit.  I love birds!  Also on Saturday is a walk-through of Cardoza High School; it’s to give people a chance to see the school before it undergoes renovations.  I’ve never seen Cardoza and it sounds like it will be a great chance to see the school and get a sense of it’s history.  Finally, on Sunday I’m thinking of going by the National Building Museum and seeing the new exhibit Unbuilt Washington.  It opens this weekend and it looks like it will be a fascinating tour of what wasn’t built in DC.

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Welcome to your weekend, Washington. As always, your true-life weekend agendas from We Love DC staff below…

Moses: My 11-11-11 weekend starts with a celebratory something at 11:11:11 AM.  Dinner bell ring? Clown car horn? How about taking a moment to remember our Veterans on Veterans Day? It’s dentist day for me, so I’ll get my semi-annual sandwich fix (perhaps the 5th Avenue) afterwards at Booeymonger in Friendship Heights (gives me something to motivate me for dentist visits).  Saturday I am headed to Boston (yuck), but for a good cause: the Progeria Research Foundation has its fundraising gala (check out auction items or donate!).  Honorary Co-Chairs for the event are Boston Bruins players, but I am Rockin’ the Red with my Washington Capitals cufflinks to show where my heart is!

Rachel: I’m in the final planning stages for my Winter Tour that hits the road next week, so life’s a bit busy. There is, of course, always the time to celebrate a fellow We Love DC’ers birthday … which we’ll do this weekend in Brookland! (Happy Birthday, Tiff!) Other than that, my weekend starts tonight when I stop by the Gibson Guitar Showroom downtown for a guitar design brainstorming session as part of the “Gibson Listens” Program followed by a meet up with another We Love DC’er, Mr. Patrick Pho, at Iota Club & Cafe in Arlington to pick his social media brain about how make the best possible video blogs. In the meantime, I’ll continue to pray that the Nats’ starting catcher Wilson Ramos is returned safely after being kidnapped in his home country of Venezuela last night.
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‘NMAI Entrance #2’
courtesy of ‘andertho’

Ben: I’ll be gathering up friends and family this weekend to attend the opening of NMAI’s latest exhibition, “A Song for the Horse Nation.” The day promises to be full, with a visit to the museum’s Mitsitam Cafe, a full exhibit with artists giving demonstrations, and an exchange of colors between the Crow Nation and the DC Mounted Police. Sunday will be mostly prepping for a much-needed vacation overseas, though if the weather’s good we’ll be heading out to shoot the new MLK memorial during sunset, or possibly taking a nice stroll around the Tidal Basin.

Mosley: Halloween weekend!  You’ll have to forgive me, there’s still a part of me that’s ten years old and loves carving pumpkins and dressing up to go looking for candy.  While I can’t go trick-or-treating anymore, I’ll do the next best thing: go to H Street to check out the Thriller Flash Mob.  That’s on Saturday night.  Friday and Sunday are basically free, but I’m looking at doing the Most Haunted Houses Walking Tour on Friday night (gotta be spooked out some time this weekend). Hope you all have a spooky and fun filled weekend!
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image courtesy of Alvesgaspar from the WikiMedia project

Moses: Friday night group dinner at Cedar for some prodigal DCers coming back to the big city from Kansas. Will enjoy some cocktails, but not too too many, since I’m shooting skeet (not skeeters) for the first time in my life Saturday at Prince George’s Trap & Skeet.  Those clay pigeons won’t know what hit (or missed) them! Follow that up with some BBQ, college football and World Series all night and I’m definitely getting my Y chromosome on!  After that nearly perfect day with perfect weather, I hit the “honey-do” list by winterizing my deck with the Thompson’s Water Seal and taking too much credit for too little work (shh, don’t tell my wife how easy it is).  All that rain’s taken the stains from my planes!

Patrick Palafox: Hillary Buckholts and Brandon Wardell are throwing their comedy showcase Cool Dudes Hanging Out this Friday over at the Velvet Lounge and will feature Sean Patton. The headliner is coming down from New York and has performed on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham.” This is a great chance to catch a rising star and discover D.C.’s comics Adrien Rodney Ahmed Huidobro, and Lafayette Wright. The show starts at 7PM and only costs five dollars.

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‘Irene’s fury.’
courtesy of ‘gerdaindc’

Oh hi everyone, how are you? Sorry we’re a little quiet, we’re all just enjoying this delightful return to September’s weather and planning our weekends. Do us a favor, this time when you chant “rain, rain, go away” please follow up with “come back another day that is more than just a few weeks down the road because seriously we JUST got the moss our from under our fingernails and Don still doesn’t have a new roof on and it’s getting kinda drippy.” Thanks.

So, that aside, if you haven’t planned for the weekend – which the Capital Weather Gang claims will be cool but with few clouds – you could poach some of our concepts.

‘new mr. yogato stamps’
courtesy of ‘ann gav’

Patrick: This weekend I’ll be at the Capital Hill Arts Workshop where I’ll be running performances of Circle Mirror Transformation. After seeing it at Studio Theatre last year, I jumped at the opportunity to stage manage a production by the Capital City Players. It’s a quirky comedy about five people in an adult education class in Shirley, VT. Besides that I won’t have much time for anything else- except a trip to Mr. Yogato where I will be cashing in my Scoutmob deal.
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‘Clowns to the Left of Me’
courtesy of ‘dc-hulls’

Started out more like OctoBRR, amirite?

*crickets*

Woo, tough crowd. Anyway, if you’re still wrestling with what to do with yourself on this weekend’s predicted warm days and cool nights… well, just cyber-stalk us whydontcha?

Alexia: This weekend is going to be a busy one! Friday night the 7th-grade-me will freak out at the Black Cat watching The Lemonheads perform It’s a Shame About Ray in its entirety! Yeah! Saturday I’m playing with my band The Torches at Desperados at 7pm, as part of the Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie Music Festival, happening all weekend in the U Street corridor. After I get off stage, I am scrambling over to Artisphere in Arlington for The 1 Party, in honor of their first birthday. Looking forward to witnessing Volta Bureau‘s first live performance there! Sunday will hopefully be a day of rest, including strolling through Eastern Market and getting some veggies from the farmer’s market there for the week.

‘Axum112’
courtesy of ‘Jenn Dyer’

Rachel: My weekend begins tonight with a live performance at Axum Bar & Lounge (located at 1934 9th Street NW). I’ll be debuting some new material and there’s a chance I’ll preview my song of choice for my Glee Project audition (yeah, I’m auditioning for The Glee Project this November, should be fun). Show starts at 8:30 p.m. tonight and there’s no cover charge. The rest of the weekend will likely include my standard trip to Kramer’s for Saturday Brunch for a quick read and a stop at Regal Gallery Place to see 50/50. I’ll probably stop by Utrecht for some new paints. I’ve got Monday off thanks to that whole Federal Holiday thing so I’m thinking of taking a pit stop at the zoo if it’s open.

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‘Miss Pixie’s Balloons’
courtesy of ‘spiggycat’

Brittany: The weather is finally scheduled to drop down to “sweater” – and, accordingly, the busy autumn social calendar is getting into full swing. Friday night you will find me poolside (hopefully chilly!) for the “Rebirth of Cool” party hosted by art-star Kehinde Wiley, in association with the amazing 30 Americans exhibit. Saturday is Crafty Bastards, an annual must-shop and then the night eventually takes me to U Hall for Clicks & Whistles. Sunday I think I will do some more quality-assurance on the beer, bourbon, and tofu (yay!) at Smoke & Barrel.

Tom: Finally! A weekend without work! Just in time for the marvelous Crafty Bastards fair, where my friend Art will be plying a delicious art project involving maple syrup and a whiskey barrel. This weekend is also a friend’s blood drive, so I might be getting my donate on in Falls Church on Saturday from 8 to 12:30p with the Masons. With no baseball but the playoffs this weekend, it’s finally time to get my search on for a good 49ers bar to watch this weekend’s game in. Anyone got a good lead for me?

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‘I’m Andy Warhol, Who Are You?’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’

Marissa: This weekend will probably prove to be a busy one. Friday night I’m planning on finally checking out Lost Society since their cocktail menu looks quite tasty. Saturday night I’m excited to see my friends’ band, Level 7, play at the Level X Lounge. Tickets are only $10. Then I’ll round out the weekend on Sunday afternoon checking out the newWarhol exhibit at the National Gallery of Art.

Mosley: You mean besides a lot of photo editing and trip prep?  Actually, after having such a blast at the H Street Festival last week, I’m excited to see that Barracks Row is having it’s own fall festival on Saturday.  Other than that, I’ve been telling myself, for a number of years, to check out the National Book Festival.  I might end up doing that on Sunday.  Full weekend indeed!

Fedward: The Social Chair and I will be visiting friends near Front Royal, which usually means a winery tour. Past favorites have included Linden Vineyards (a Virginia wine pioneer and consistent producer of high quality wine), Glen Manor Vineyards(recently featured in a wine maker dinner at Dino), and Chester Gap Cellars (a place I’d go just for the view from the tasting room, even without Bernd’s excellent wines). If we’re organized we might even squeeze in a visit to a distiller or two. I should try to remember to bring along some WLDC business cards, huh. And then on our way back we’ll stop at Apple House for some donuts.

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‘(024/365)’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’

Patrick Palafox: I have trained my body to handle the awesomeness that this weekend will have and everything I know will be tested. Friday night I’m heading over to the State Theater to check out the Big “O” and Dukes show. The podcast will be recorded live and is featuring The Pietasters. Then, Saturday night I’m catching Atari Teenage Riot over at the 9:30 Club. Their digital hardcore sound will destroy the club and their anti-government rants will surely cause the Capital to rise to action to…I don’t know. Maybe make some witty signs and walk around the mall. Probably not, but still.

Rachel: I’ve been informed that on Friday night my presence is requested for a night of drinking around the Logan Circle area. My first choice would be Churchkey, however, if my friends aren’t interested in that and choose Commissary I will not be disappointed. Their hummus plate plus nachos plus drinks equals good times. I’d really like to try and make it to the Zoo Saturday for a walk since the weather is expected to be in the mid-60’s (with lows in the mid-50’s!!!!) Perhaps I’ll even bring a book too. That sounds awful relaxing, doesn’t it? On Sunday, I’ll be at Nats Park for one of the last four home games of the year. If you haven’t been to a Nats game once this season, friends, your time is running out. They’ve got three this weekend and three next weekend … and that’s it.
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‘Rain Delay on HD’
courtesy of ‘wfyurasko’

Well, we made it past the soggies. Mostly. Capital Weather Gang says we’ll still get sprinkles and clouds through the weekend but after about 12 inches of rain this level of sprinkle seems like a cool and sunny breeze.

Okay, not really. But I’m trying here, people. So what do we plan to do with our slightly less damp weekend? Read on…

Rachel: Another weekend, another ballgame. It’s back to Nats Park, where I’ll be on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. For those interested, Saturday night is Danny Espinosa bobblehead night, so get ’em while you still can. Then, in between baseball related activities, I have some friends coming in from out of town so I’m hoping to treat them to something special even if it’s just a walk around the National Mall or a stop in a Smithsonian museum. I still haven’t seen the MLK Memorial in person so I’m thinking a walk-by might be in order.

Tom: There is SO much happening this weekend, I don’t even know where to start. Saturday’s got the Virgin Free Festival at Merriweather, and if you’re looking for tickets and a ride, check out what BYT, the 9:30 Club and Pop Chips are doing. You can still get in on the ride if you need just the ride, too. Friday night, I might just trek north to Charm City to see what the Baltimore Alley Aerial Festival is all about, since the idea of an awesome graffiti alley and acrobats doing high altitude work is really intriguing to me. The Nationals are home against Houston this weekend, and it may just happen that we get another Strasmas on Sunday, so I’ll be there, hoopla and all. Whew, I’m exhausted just thinking about it.

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‘Four Friends’
courtesy of ‘MudflapDC’

Fedward: The social chair returns tonight from a week at the beach (they left DC Sunday night after the storm had passed), and goes straight into the Page to Stage Festival at the Kennedy Center. I’ll use my spare time on Saturday to drop off a couple more decommissioned computers at the District’s monthly Household Hazardous Waste collection (if you can’t go Saturday, there’s also a special preview day today). Saturday night we’re planning a visit to our friends at Eventide Restaurant for some cocktails, dinner, and pretzels (seriously, have you had those pretzels?). Sunday night you’ll be able to find us at the hangover brunch at the Passenger. As usual.

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Mosley: Fun filled weekend for me!  One of my photographs (above) was selected as a semi-finalists for the DC State Fair Photo Contest.  I could win a blue ribbon.  A ribbon!  And it could be blue!  Tough competition though, so keep your fingers crossed for me.  And since I’m going to be waiting with bated breath in Columbia Heights, I might as well enjoy Columbia Heights Day and the DC State Fair.  I’m sure I will be eating many fried foods I shouldn’t be eating.  And the night will be caped by seeing Highlander at the AFI in Silver Spring (You know it won the Academy Award? For “Best Movie Ever Made”!).  As for Sunday, assuming Irene doesn’t change things up, I’m planning on braving the crowds to see the dedication of the King Memorial on the Tidal Basin.  Assuming security isn’t crazy, I’m eyeing a spot by the Jefferson, hoping it stays open to the public.  If we do get sweep up by the hurricane, I plan on holding out, with lots of beer, in my apartment in Thomas Circle.  It’s a good back up plan.

Tom: This weekend could go a bunch of different ways thanks to the storm that’s heading up the Eastern Seaboard. We have a friend coming down from Pittsburgh Friday, so I figure there’s a good chance we’ll take him out and show him a good time. I suspect that we’ll likely see the new MLK Memorial on the mall, but also hit up some highlights of DC Food & Fun. Saturday we’re headed out to Leesburg to congregate with a few other talented sysadmin types and enjoy some great beer at Fireworks. Columbia Heights Day is also on my radar, and there may well be a Hurricane party on Sunday at a friend’s in Fairfax, which means I need to find some glassware and passionfruit juice in a hurry.

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‘yellow zucchini’
courtesy of ‘ekelly80’

Tom: This weekend is all about the glories of summer. I’ve been putting off and putting off a visit to the Bloomingdale Farmers Market, where I’m sure they’re drowning in sweet corn, peaches, and fresh tomatoes, and that sounds an awful lot like salsa to me. While we’re in the hood, a trip to Rustik sounds mighty good, while we dream of a Rustik of our own, maybe at the 901 Monroe development. With the Phillies in town, I’ll likely not be heading for Nationals Park, but it is Ian Desmond Bobblehead day.

Brittany: I am getting back from a week in Maine just in time for the weekend in DC. As much as I love relaxing around trees, sweaters, and sail boats, I am ready to be back to enjoy the last weeks of summer excitement at home. Friday, one of my very best friends will be playing at Subterranean A, which is a great space and I think the turn-out will be really good. Monday brings more friend-band fun when my lovely friend Ian’s label Cricket Cemetery puts on a showcase at Galaxy Hut. His own band Lions&Tigers&Whales is playing and is super good – and he informed me other day that I am going to love his label-mates The Tender Thrill. In between Friday and Monday: Housewarming parties, birthday parties, trying to pack up my apartment to move, and lots of good coffee because they still do not have that in Maine.

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”
courtesy of ‘.lissa.’

As if the week didn’t usually feel long enough now we have this beautiful weather to tease us. Nobody but your boss would blame you for playing hooky tomorrow and trading Friday’s mild and sunny for the possibility of significant (but needed) rain on Sunday. If you need other ideas, well, we’ve got some…

Patrick Palafox: This is an eventful weekend of comedy. Evan Valentine and Mike James are throwing their comedy showcase “Everybody Gets Laid” Friday night over at the Velvet Lounge starting at 7:30 PM. Saturday is a great night to get some tasty food as well as tasteful comedy happening over at The Gibson. They are having the comedy showcase “Barbeque and Comedy” that is serving food at 8 and comedy at 9. It costs $22 to be able to eat as much barbeque as your body can hold and see the show. If you want to go I suggest you reserve a seat in advance.

‘A pickle-back’
courtesy of ‘theCSSdiv’

Tom: Saturday is the highlight of my weekend, without question. We’re headed out to Berryville for the wedding of our good friends John and Whitney at a lovely piece of Georgian architecture. Friday night, I think it’s time we finally got out to Toki Underground, but I suspect that given their usual level of busy we may have to have a backup plan. Depending on how late Saturday goes, Sunday may well just be a day of rest, but it could be that I head out to American Ice Company for a tasty pickle back

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