All Souls Church Unitarian
February 25th, 2013
My grandparents (on my mom’s side) were married on Wednesday, April 26, 1950 at All Souls Unitarian Church at 16th and Harvard NW. I’ve gone by that intersection a million times, but never gave much thought to it, not really knowing the significance of the spot until I recently saw some of their wedding/honeymoon pictures and albums.
So today mom and I took a trip over there specifically to walk around and check it out and take some pictures. It’s a really neat space inside, simple and elegant and bright, with an incredible pipe organ. Since their wedding was in the middle of the week, with only two of their friends as witnesses, we were wondering if they were wed inside the chapel itself, or maybe in a smaller side room? Or even outdoors? Mom is following up later with their historian to see if we can get any more info about it. Either way, it was interesting to be in the same space today, 63 years later, and imagine.
Happy Mother’s Day, moms!
May 8th, 2011
Saturday was a beautiful, sunny, breezy day, the kind that felt blissfully stuck somewhere between spring and summer. I spent the day checking out the Flower Mart at the National Cathedral with some of the loveliest ladies in my life. Happy Mother’s Day to the mom who raised my husband, and to my own mom, the best mom in the whole wide world!!
I forget exactly, but I think these are called Poofy Purple Fireworks Flowers.
There was entertainment and carnival games for all the little kiddos…
This was our view, front and center of the Cathedral, where we sat to eat lunch– lobster rolls and fresh fruit cups! We also enjoyed some gigantic chocolate-covered strawberries.
View of the rose garden from the top of the tower.
More views from the top.
The main nave; OOooops camera was a little crooked…
Little ants.
Daughter and mother (matching)
Daughter and mother (we forgot to coordinate)
What goes up, must come down
April 29th, 2010
What goes up, must come down, originally uploaded by m hoek.
Training, Rocky style, on the church steps.
come on little spring lambs
March 1st, 2010
Annnnd it’s March in DC, I think I can safely speak for everyone when I say I’m ready to skip ahead to the part where we go out like a lamb… Ready to stop bundling up and walking past tall piles of stinky black snow, ready to take Bowser to play in the park, and ready to justify trips to eat Fro-Yo. I’m talking to you, lions. Go away.
flames, snakes…
November 23rd, 2009
This sign is just too awesome not to share. Any ideas what it means?
cartoony church
December 12th, 2008
When I have way too many things to do, I procrastinate by playing with Photoshop. Here’s my favorite church at 16th and Columbia, cartoon style.
The National Cathedral
November 9th, 2008
Yesterday was way too nice outside to do all the things that needed being done inside (schoolwork). So, instead, we rode our bikes over to the National Cathedral. I had never actually been over there or inside the cathedral, so we spent some time wandering through the various chapels on the crypt level (oooo sounds so creepy) and taking pictures wherever services weren’t going on. And of course we walked through the gift shop, where the only thing that was remotely interesting was a calendar called “Nuns Having Fun” and I think they were riding a roller coaster or something on the cover. There was also an area of “state books” where you could sign one of the 50+ appropriate binders to tell the world where you were visiting from. I did look and see there were approximately 8 visitors from Alaska, one from Chugiak!
Unfortunately, the observation level on the 7th floor was closed. I’m not sure if that’s always the case or if it has certain hours, but it did sound like it would be a cool view. Anyways, the view from the ground was nice enough. We also walked through the gardens at the rear of the building, and sat down at a picnic table to eat our PB&J sandwiches. As soon as we had taken one bite, a fox and a dog that was chasing it came flying out of the trees in front of us and darted past our table in a matter of a few seconds. Yikes! Good thing the fox was being pursued and not lazily walking towards us with a foaming mouth.
The rest of the picture set is here, there are some really nice shots of the light coming through the stained glass windows, some arches, vaults, and one of me and a heart-shaped leaf.
Move over bus
February 11th, 2008
On my way to work every day I sit at the intersection of 16th St. and Columbia Rd. NW and look at this church while I wait for a green light. There is always a flock of birds covering the top dome. And today there was also a bus in the way of my photo.
