We had much too busy of a weekend to wander down into the actual craziness that took place on the National Mall, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t notice all the visitors anyways. Multiple rallies collided on Saturday to “Restore Honor” and “Reclaim the Dream” under the likes of Glenn Beck and the Reverend Al Sharpton. Unfortunately, we didn’t spot any celebrities in town while we were out and about, but we did see plenty of American-flag-themed paraphernalia, and sometimes that’s all you need.
This was the crazy sunset sky at our backs last night as we waited for Screen on the Green to begin on the National Mall. We rode our bikes down after work, picnic dinner in tow, grateful that the weather was finally pleasant. The feature was 12 Angry Men, a definite classic that caused the audience to clap at the very end for the (spoiler ahead) NOT GUILTY verdict. Besides the uplifting ending, the best part of the evening was, as always, the HBO dance.
The Folklife Festival wrapped up just two days ago. We happened to catch part of this Hare Krishna display close to where we were staking out a spot on the grass to watch the fireworks on the 4th. There was dancing and henna, as well as some creepy puppets displaying information about the food we eat. It was a bit odd to see this little pocket of celebration in the midst of the many families and tourists wearing their best red, white, and blue and enjoying traditional picnic food. But ain’t that America! …an interesting juxtaposition in the dusty field that is the National Mall.
Hope everyone had a rockin’ 4th of July! We had a blast grillin’ out in Capitol Hill, watching Tiki and Bowser dogs wrestle each other, playing backyard/lawn games, and eventually wandering our way down to the Mall for people watching, gin drinking, and of course fireworks over the monuments.
oh and check out some of our foodie pics below… stuffed and wrapped-in-bacon jalepenos on the grill, Matt’s infamous meat and cheese flag, and apple pie (before topping). MMMmmmerica!
On Saturday morning, Erin and I joined about 1,000 other people in a massive, free yoga session at the base of the Washington Monument on the National Mall. It was sponsored in conjunction with the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which is now in full swing, and Lululemon Athletica . Matt came along too in order to grab some photos, though eventually I will talk him into trying some yoga with me. On our walk over there, it was still a gray, overcast morning and I was a little grumpy about the lack of sun. But, as the instructor proclaimed about halfway through the session, “we brought the sun out!” And so we had, and suddenly it was a gorgeous day.
The Smithsonian Kite Festival is only 4 days away, which means you still have time to make your own kite for the competitions. Or, more realistically, just make plans to wander down towards the Washington Monument this Saturday and take it all in — it’s one of our favorite springtime events. It’s a great overall photo-taking and people-watching opportunity, but if you need more incentive, there is the kite “Hot Tricks Showdown” which starts around 2pm, so you’ll still have the entire morning to take in the Cherry Blossoms beforehand. Come on warm, windy weather!
It’s been awhile since we posted anything from the Monumental/Federal/National Mall side of things in DC. That’s because we usually prefer to post the nitty-grittier photos that show the side of DC that we, as residents, know and have grown to love. But every now and again we’ll remember that we do live in a tourist destination and one of the most powerful places in the world, and it’s important not to forget that either. This past Saturday evening, we were returning home from Capitol Hill by cab after a late, *crazy* night watching movies and SNL with Brigid and Keith. And in riding by the Capitol Building, we both started to say something along the lines of forgetting about that “other” part of DC that we take for granted, like going by the Capitol as we were or living a mile from the White House. And maybe it’s because neither of us work on the Hill, know any lawyers, or even like to argue about politics, but maybe it’s that to us, DC is not just about memorials and monuments and which political party you belong to… though some would argue it is.
At any rate, it’s interesting to note, in conjunction with posting this photo, that the Washington Monument was completed on December 6, 1884. That means the capstone was put into place a week and 125 years ago around this time. I wonder if the builders thought, at that moment, that the new tallest structure in the world (until the Eiffel Tower was built in 1889), would one day become somewhat overlooked by those who live practically in it’s shadow?
On Saturday we checked out the Solar Decathlon houses on the National Mall. Impressive! The lines were long, so we only waited long enough to tour through the interior of the Virginia Tech house (pictured), and yes, it’s as innovative as it looks. There were custom kitchen drawers that folded out to create more counter-space, iPhone controlled home settings, and fold-out privacy panels for the bedroom — they revealed the flat screen TV behind them. Design was in the details! But more importantly, the goal of all the houses was to be energy neutral, meaning no electricity bills! They are being judged on numerous other points, too, like architecture and marketability. The total cost of each house was to come in under $160,000. With more time, I would have liked to see the inside of Cornell’s silo-inspired house. Check them out if you have a chance, today and tomorrow, or the 15th-18th. They are closed for judging on the 14th.
I took this photo of Virginia Tech’s solar decathlon house, LumenHaus, this past weekend as it was being constructed on the 5th St lawn outside the National Building Museum. It will be there until Sept 27th, when it will then move to the National Mall for October 9-13 and 15-18. The house features the sliding glass doors (seen in the picture) on the north and south facades, which are all about allowing in the *light*. But more importantly, there’s an app for that — the heating, cooling, lighting, insulation, and sunshades can be controlled by using a computer or iPhone. Now we’re talking! Good luck to the team as they participate in Solar Decathlon Europe in Madrid next summer! US represent.
