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.
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?
Hello Washington. It is (apparently) National Running Day so tie those laces tight, put on your fancy moisture wicking tech-tee, and go pound some pavement. Just make sure to get the run in early because it looks like we are going to be getting some biblical storming tonight starting around 6p and no one likes a soggy run in a thunderstorm. Speaking of which, this could make my bike ride home from work rather unpleasant….hmmm.
The photo above was taken during this years National Cherry Blossom festival (see the Washington Monument in the background for proof!) with my wrist mounted GoPro Digital Hero.
I realized I hadn’t posted any gratuitous monument shots lately, and, in searching through older photos, I found this one that I always liked. An officer just taking a relax to enjoy the view of the National Mall.
Another shot of the crowds of people at the We Are One pre-inauguration concert yesterday… The entrance gates to the areas around the reflecting pool were closed at capacity around 2:30 pm, so we had to gather farther back towards the Washington Monument. I’ve read articles today guessing the attendance between 400,000 – 500,000 people.
This is taken from the south side of the WWII Memorial looking towards the Washington Monument.
Obama wins, and the people celebrated last night in DC. I was definitely awake last night — well past 3am — to the sounds of joyous yelling, car honking galore, and general celebrational noises (fireworks). It’s an interesting time to be living in this city, and I’m looking forward to seeing how things will change in the next 6 months.
“young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled — Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.”