I did a round of the Tidal Basin today, and it looks like moving Cherry Blossom Peak Bloom dates back a week might have been premature; still a lot more buds than blossoms. It’s already very picturesque, however, so you won’t regret going this early, but there is still lots of promise for next week.

The shidarezakura “weeping” blossoms along the Potomac waterfront always bloom a bit earlier, however, so they’re nice to look at if you can’t wait for some blooms:

Paulo Ordoveza

Roving Asian mendicant, can occasionally be seen wandering the streets of downtown Washington, muttering unintelligible gibberish to passers-by while pushing a “bag lady” shopping cart full of old blankets, American flags, soda cans, and healthy secondhand snacks from organic food shop dumpsters. Used to live in a cardboard box at 16th and K but the rent was too expensive.