Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Bike to Work day is May 18, 2012!
Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 18, 2012
This Friday Keith White is organizing a morning ride into DC with your neighbors from
Arlington Heights (plus Alcova Heights & Penrose) for Bike to Work Day!
Everyone will meet at 8:00 on Friday morning at Thomas Jefferson Park (corner of 2nd and
Irving) for a 45 minute, 6 mile ride to Freedom Plaza in DC.
Bike to Work Day is a FREE event for both new and experienced bicycle commuters
throughout the Washington metropolitan region. Those who register and
attend one of 59 regional pit stops will receive a free Bike to Work Day
T-Shirt*, food, drinks, and a chance at winning bicycles or other great
raffle prizes. For more information and to register go to: www.biketoworkmetrodc.org
Keith’s route goes through Fort Myer and Arlington National Cemetery, past
Lincoln & Korean War Memorials and along the Mall with great views of the
monuments & White House. It is truly one of the best ways to experience
some of the most scenic vistas in our area. Please note, you will need a
helmet & photo ID to enter Ft. Myer.
Please contact Keith White at kandswhyte@gmail.com or 703.980.2140.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Mother's Day event
Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. An event that will be taking place this weekend is the Bike D.C. and there will be several road closures and I wanted to give you a heads up about it. Here is a lsit of the road closure in our area and hopefully you will be able to avoid the traffic. The road closures will start at 6:00 a.m. and end by noon on May 13th, 2012.
*Route 50 East & Westbound ramps to Meade/Lynn Street• Northbound Meade Street from Marshall Drive to Rosslyn
• Southbound Route 110 from Rosslyn to Crystal City• Marshall Drive between Meade Street & Route 110• Eastbound Washington Boulevard from Memorial Bridge to Columbia Pike• Westbound Columbia Pike from the Pentagon to the Air Force Memorial*Residents living in the affected areas will be allowed reasonable access when there is a break in the cyclists. Residents living on North Meade Street adjacent to the Iwo Jima Memorial will be allowed to come and go with police assistance. Here is the link in case you would like to participate: www.bikedc.net
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, May 3, 2012
May activities for Mother's Day
May is such a popular month for so many occasions and activities! One of these occasions happens to be Mother’s Day, and we all like to celebrate or remember our mothers. May is also a great month to spend time with your family. There will be plenty of sun to go out and enjoy the weather, riding bikes, gardening or even just sitting outside and sunbathing is always fun. Here a couple of local events that will be going on around the Arlington area, hopefully you can get out and enjoy all or one of them.
• Spring Dance Depertory Performance
May 4th 2012, 125 S. Old Glebe Rd.
www.BalletNova.org
• The Arlington Civitan Open Air Market
May 5th, 2012 7:00 a.m . – 1:30 p.m.
15th & N. Quincy
In the garage behind Lee-Washington High school
• 2012 Ballston Arts & Crafts Market
May 12th, 2012 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Welburn Square (The Ballston Circle)
N. Stuart & N. 9th
Here are some recipes to help with the preparations for Mother’s Day which is May 13th this year, Enjoy!
Rice Krispies* Spring Flowers
Ingredients:
Box of Rice Krispies
1 package marshmallows
¼ cup of butter
½ tsp. of vanilla extract
1 bag of green gummy candies
1 package of lollipop sticks
2-3 containers of pastel colored icing
2-3 tubes of pastel sprinkles
1 bag of jellybeans or other small candies
Flower- shaped cookie cutters
Directions:
-In a bowl, mix one package of marshmallows and ¼ cup of butter or margarine.
-Melt in the microwave on high heat for 3 minutes, stirring every minute to get a smooth consistency.
-Once melted, add ½ teaspoon vanilla extract for flavor and 6 cups of Kellogg’s Rice Krispies cereal.
-Mix well and then spread into a greased 9x13 inch pan.
-Refrigerate pan for 1 hour to set.
-Once cooled, pop Rice Krispies Treats out of pan and onto a cutting board.
-Use flower- shaped cookie cutters to carve out several Rice Krispies Flowers.
-Stick 2-3 gummy candies onto each lollipop stick as the petals.
-Place Rice Krispies Flowers on top of lollipop sticks.
-Lie Rice Krispies Flowers flat on surface and decorate with pastel-colored icing, sprinkles, jelly beans, or any small candies.
-Place decorated Rice Krispies Flowers flat on a tray and refrigerate for 1 hour to set.
-Finally, stick your Rice Krispies Flowers in a decorative planter, vase, or basket.
Fruit & Yogurt Breakfast Parfait
Ingredients:
• 1 cup fresh fruit or berries (see list below)
• ½ cup plain or vanilla flavored yogurt
• ½ cup granola or other whole grain cereal
• 1 tbsp. honey or favorite fruit jam
Directions:
1. Spoon half of the fruit or berries into the bottom of a parfait glass or other ice-cream sundae-type dish. Top with half of the yogurt, and sprinkle with half of the granola/cereal.
2. Repeat with remaining fruit and remaining yogurt.
3. Add decorative drizzle of honey or dallop of jam and sprinkle the rest of the granola/cereal.
*Strawberries, Raspberries, Blueberries, Peaches, Pears, Cherries, Apples, Nectarines, Pineapple, Mango, Papaya, Kiwi, Banana.* are great fruit choice.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Great Places for Kids
I was fortunate as a child to have a family that was invested in culture and the arts. Though we never had a lot of money, I was able to attend a great deal of concerts, plays, museums and arts camps, all of which helped to enrich my development and stimulate my creativity. I was similarly fortunate to have grown up in the DC area, as it is full of theatres and other art centers. It is easy to find places that are devoted to encouraging creativity and cultural awareness in young people regardless of their financial means, which is important in today’s uncertain economy.
Summer is drawing to a close, but there is still plenty of time to introduce the younger members of your family to something new and exciting. Here are a few places you can check out without having to drive too far.
Imagination Stage in Bethesda is one place I wish I’d known about as a kid. This theater company not only has a full and active, year-round play season; they also offer after-school programs, seasonal camps, and classes for kids from 12 months old up to grade 12. Their Early Childhood program is particularly impressive, focusing on each age group’s developing skills. It is Imagination Stage’s goal to be accessible to everyone, regardless of what difficulties they might face: for example, they offer scholarships based on financial need, and there are ASL interpreters for specific performances of each play they produce. August 14 is the last performance of their highly-praised adaptation of The Wind in the Willows. Their next play, Aladdin’s Luck, runs September 23 – October 30, and promises to be a wonderful lesson for kids about the value of being yourself. Check out their great website here.
As the nation’s capital city, DC is renowned for its collection of museums. The Smithsonian Institution is unrivaled for the comprehensiveness of its collections, spanning topics from American History to taxidermy. The area is also home to a number of smaller niche museums, less impressive in their collection sizes but fascinating in their focus. The most unique museum I have encountered so far is the National Pinball Museum. Located in The Shops at Georgetown Park, the building hosts about 300 machines, displayed in rotating featured exhibits that highlight iconic artists and eras of the game’s history. If you have older kids, the museum offers classes in pinball machine restoration, designing machine art, woodworking, and pinball electronics. These classes are only available to kids 15 and up, but the museum is a great place for parents to share their childhood memories with kids of any age. The Pinball Museum is being relocated soon, but you can take advantage of their lowered prices at their current location through September 5. Visit their website here.
The Children’s Science Center is a place to keep your eye on for the future. It has not yet opened, but planning for construction is underway, they already have a well-established internet presence, and they have booths at local events to engage the community. Their website allows and encourages community participation, so you and your kids can contribute ideas for what kinds of exhibits you would like to see. The museum is already listing exhibits they would like to include, such as an Outer Space area, a Chesapeake Bay exhibit, Environmental Science, and a Surgery Simulator. You can also get involved by having your family participate in Operation Firefly, observing and tracking local firefly populations. Their website is here.
Bethany Fuller
The Mike Webb Team, LLC
Summer is drawing to a close, but there is still plenty of time to introduce the younger members of your family to something new and exciting. Here are a few places you can check out without having to drive too far.
Imagination Stage in Bethesda is one place I wish I’d known about as a kid. This theater company not only has a full and active, year-round play season; they also offer after-school programs, seasonal camps, and classes for kids from 12 months old up to grade 12. Their Early Childhood program is particularly impressive, focusing on each age group’s developing skills. It is Imagination Stage’s goal to be accessible to everyone, regardless of what difficulties they might face: for example, they offer scholarships based on financial need, and there are ASL interpreters for specific performances of each play they produce. August 14 is the last performance of their highly-praised adaptation of The Wind in the Willows. Their next play, Aladdin’s Luck, runs September 23 – October 30, and promises to be a wonderful lesson for kids about the value of being yourself. Check out their great website here.
As the nation’s capital city, DC is renowned for its collection of museums. The Smithsonian Institution is unrivaled for the comprehensiveness of its collections, spanning topics from American History to taxidermy. The area is also home to a number of smaller niche museums, less impressive in their collection sizes but fascinating in their focus. The most unique museum I have encountered so far is the National Pinball Museum. Located in The Shops at Georgetown Park, the building hosts about 300 machines, displayed in rotating featured exhibits that highlight iconic artists and eras of the game’s history. If you have older kids, the museum offers classes in pinball machine restoration, designing machine art, woodworking, and pinball electronics. These classes are only available to kids 15 and up, but the museum is a great place for parents to share their childhood memories with kids of any age. The Pinball Museum is being relocated soon, but you can take advantage of their lowered prices at their current location through September 5. Visit their website here.
The Children’s Science Center is a place to keep your eye on for the future. It has not yet opened, but planning for construction is underway, they already have a well-established internet presence, and they have booths at local events to engage the community. Their website allows and encourages community participation, so you and your kids can contribute ideas for what kinds of exhibits you would like to see. The museum is already listing exhibits they would like to include, such as an Outer Space area, a Chesapeake Bay exhibit, Environmental Science, and a Surgery Simulator. You can also get involved by having your family participate in Operation Firefly, observing and tracking local firefly populations. Their website is here.
Bethany Fuller
The Mike Webb Team, LLC
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Cultural Festivals
Being one of the nation’s busiest cities, Washington DC is host to many different cultures. DC and its surrounding towns are also host to a huge number of fascinating cultural festivals, the likes of which often cannot be found anywhere else.
Turkish Festival
Voted 2011’s Best Festival in DC, the American Turkish Association’s Turkish Festival brings the culture of Turkey to the streets of DC. Browse and haggle in an authentic Turkish Bazaar. Drink dark Turkish coffee and have fortune tellers read the grinds at the bottom of your cup. Watch artists perform traditional music and folk dancing. This year’s festival is on October 2, from 11 am to 7 pm. Metro accessible and with free admission, this is a perfect opportunity for the whole family to have a rich, educational experience in the nation’s capital. Read more here.
Fiesta Asia!
Fiesta Asia! is a month-long event that takes place each May throughout the DC metropolitan area. The different events, starting with the Fiesta in Silver Spring and ending with their famed street fair on Pennsylvania Avenue, cover fashion, music, film, traditional art and dance, martial arts, food, and much more. Kids’ activities include crafts such as henna painting, origami, and sari tying lessons. The festival encompasses all of mainland Asia, South Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Middle East. Check it out here.
Festa Italiana
This October 9, help recreate Washington DC’s old Little Italy on 3rd Street NW. Every festival features cultural food created by street vendors and cuisine crafted by Italian chefs, such as gelato. Enjoy traditional and contemporary music and dancing, as well as Italy’s finest cars. Admire artisans while they give impressive trade demonstrations. Learn about this year’s educational topics: Risorgimento, the Italian unification, and Italian immigrants in America. There is even a family circus! Visit the festival admission-free, a block from Judiciary Square Metro stop. Learn more here.
Turkish Festival
Voted 2011’s Best Festival in DC, the American Turkish Association’s Turkish Festival brings the culture of Turkey to the streets of DC. Browse and haggle in an authentic Turkish Bazaar. Drink dark Turkish coffee and have fortune tellers read the grinds at the bottom of your cup. Watch artists perform traditional music and folk dancing. This year’s festival is on October 2, from 11 am to 7 pm. Metro accessible and with free admission, this is a perfect opportunity for the whole family to have a rich, educational experience in the nation’s capital. Read more here.
Fiesta Asia!
Fiesta Asia! is a month-long event that takes place each May throughout the DC metropolitan area. The different events, starting with the Fiesta in Silver Spring and ending with their famed street fair on Pennsylvania Avenue, cover fashion, music, film, traditional art and dance, martial arts, food, and much more. Kids’ activities include crafts such as henna painting, origami, and sari tying lessons. The festival encompasses all of mainland Asia, South Asia, the Pacific Islands, and the Middle East. Check it out here.
Festa Italiana
This October 9, help recreate Washington DC’s old Little Italy on 3rd Street NW. Every festival features cultural food created by street vendors and cuisine crafted by Italian chefs, such as gelato. Enjoy traditional and contemporary music and dancing, as well as Italy’s finest cars. Admire artisans while they give impressive trade demonstrations. Learn about this year’s educational topics: Risorgimento, the Italian unification, and Italian immigrants in America. There is even a family circus! Visit the festival admission-free, a block from Judiciary Square Metro stop. Learn more here.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Arlington Area Charity Events
As a hub of activity for the tri-state region, the Washington, DC area is a great place to host charity events. Here are a few of the events that happen annually in the area, so keep an eye out for when they next roll around!
Sweet Charity
Sweet Charity is probably my favorite charity event so far. Participating chefs use donated chocolate to make any number of confections, from truffles to cakes to dessert sauces, in any creative way they can imagine. There is a silent auction that uses a huge number of donated items, such as jewelry and time shares. There is even a fashion show that showcases models wearing the chefs’ more out-of-the-box creations. The funds raised by this event go to the Heart of America Foundation’s Books from the Heart. This charity – commended by figures such as the Dalai Lama, Barbara Bush, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu – collects unused books and donates them to the libraries of schools in depressed areas, as well as to the children of impoverished families. Check out Sweet Charity and the Heart of America here.
National Capital Barbecue Battle
Voted a “Top Ten BBQ Event” by the Travel Channel and Discovery.com, the National Capital Barbecue Battle is taking place this year on June 25-26 on Pennsylvania Avenue. With major barbecue competitions, a sampling pavilion, cold beer, local celebrities and a huge entertainment tent, the Battle is considered by many locals to be a “must not miss” summer activity. The proceeds from the Battle go to benefit the Metropolitan Police Boys and Girls Clubs, which provides programs – in categories such as leadership, the arts, life skills, and sports – to help children develop into productive men and women. Learn more at www.bbqdc.com.
Taste of Arlington
Over 40 local restaurants participate in Taste of Arlington every spring. Held in the streets of Ballston, this festival showcases local flavor and entertainment. Patrons purchase tickets that can be redeemed for “tastes” of food and drink from participating restaurants, which compete in the categories of best Appetizer, Main Course, and Dessert. A pet friendly, easy-to-access, and Green event, the festival is truly in the spirit of the Arlington community. Some proceeds of the 2011 event were donated to the Virginia Hospital Center, Phoenix Houses of the Mid-Atlantic (an addiction treatment and counseling organization), and the Arlington Community Foundation. For information about the participating restaurants and entertainment for the 2012 Taste of Arlington, click here.
Sweet Charity
Sweet Charity is probably my favorite charity event so far. Participating chefs use donated chocolate to make any number of confections, from truffles to cakes to dessert sauces, in any creative way they can imagine. There is a silent auction that uses a huge number of donated items, such as jewelry and time shares. There is even a fashion show that showcases models wearing the chefs’ more out-of-the-box creations. The funds raised by this event go to the Heart of America Foundation’s Books from the Heart. This charity – commended by figures such as the Dalai Lama, Barbara Bush, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu – collects unused books and donates them to the libraries of schools in depressed areas, as well as to the children of impoverished families. Check out Sweet Charity and the Heart of America here.
National Capital Barbecue Battle
Voted a “Top Ten BBQ Event” by the Travel Channel and Discovery.com, the National Capital Barbecue Battle is taking place this year on June 25-26 on Pennsylvania Avenue. With major barbecue competitions, a sampling pavilion, cold beer, local celebrities and a huge entertainment tent, the Battle is considered by many locals to be a “must not miss” summer activity. The proceeds from the Battle go to benefit the Metropolitan Police Boys and Girls Clubs, which provides programs – in categories such as leadership, the arts, life skills, and sports – to help children develop into productive men and women. Learn more at www.bbqdc.com.
Taste of Arlington
Over 40 local restaurants participate in Taste of Arlington every spring. Held in the streets of Ballston, this festival showcases local flavor and entertainment. Patrons purchase tickets that can be redeemed for “tastes” of food and drink from participating restaurants, which compete in the categories of best Appetizer, Main Course, and Dessert. A pet friendly, easy-to-access, and Green event, the festival is truly in the spirit of the Arlington community. Some proceeds of the 2011 event were donated to the Virginia Hospital Center, Phoenix Houses of the Mid-Atlantic (an addiction treatment and counseling organization), and the Arlington Community Foundation. For information about the participating restaurants and entertainment for the 2012 Taste of Arlington, click here.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Education in DC
Not only is the Arlington area a fantastic place to get around easily, find inexpensive entertainment, and spend time with your family, it is also a great area for educational immersion for all ages.
Artisphere
With concerts, galleries, a theatre, film festivals and classes, the Artisphere may be one of Arlington’s most valuable resources for the arts. It is open long and late and has reasonable ticket prices (averaging $15, with many free events). Their mission is to “Connect people to the fun and wonder found in creativity, celebrate diverse human expression, and advance art that explores the ideas and issues of our time.”
What is going on right now? There is a Woody Allen film festival throughout the month of June. An ecological art exhibition called “Contain, Maintain, Sustain” investigates creative ways in which we can create a more sustainable environment for ourselves. Use a giant Etch-a-Sketch to create stereoscopic 3D images. Use special scanners to translate numbers on packaging barcodes into music.
For more information, visit www.artisphere.com.
National Book Festival
Held in September on the National Mall, the Library of Congress’ annual event celebrates authors, readers, and the worlds of imagination accessible through books. With pavilions and presentations in the categories of Children, Teens & Children, Fiction & Mystery, History & Biography, Contemporary Life and Poetry & Prose, readers will find something interesting for them no matter what their favorite genre. There is a sales pavilion run by Borders, featuring books selected by the given year’s featured authors. There is also a Pavilion of the States, honoring each US state’s literary tradition.
For more information, dates, and a list of featured authors, visit www.loc.gov/bookfest/.
Filmfest DC
Simply a festival for people who love movies the world over! 2012’s festival will be held April 12-22 in theatres throughout the District of Columbia. Films featured participate in juried competitions for various awards, ranging in topic from social justice and popularity to humanity and films deserving of increased recognition. Check out www.filmfestdc.org to see if the festival will be running a film that might inspire you.
Bethany Fuller
The Mike Webb Team, LLC
Artisphere
With concerts, galleries, a theatre, film festivals and classes, the Artisphere may be one of Arlington’s most valuable resources for the arts. It is open long and late and has reasonable ticket prices (averaging $15, with many free events). Their mission is to “Connect people to the fun and wonder found in creativity, celebrate diverse human expression, and advance art that explores the ideas and issues of our time.”
What is going on right now? There is a Woody Allen film festival throughout the month of June. An ecological art exhibition called “Contain, Maintain, Sustain” investigates creative ways in which we can create a more sustainable environment for ourselves. Use a giant Etch-a-Sketch to create stereoscopic 3D images. Use special scanners to translate numbers on packaging barcodes into music.
For more information, visit www.artisphere.com.
National Book Festival
Held in September on the National Mall, the Library of Congress’ annual event celebrates authors, readers, and the worlds of imagination accessible through books. With pavilions and presentations in the categories of Children, Teens & Children, Fiction & Mystery, History & Biography, Contemporary Life and Poetry & Prose, readers will find something interesting for them no matter what their favorite genre. There is a sales pavilion run by Borders, featuring books selected by the given year’s featured authors. There is also a Pavilion of the States, honoring each US state’s literary tradition.
For more information, dates, and a list of featured authors, visit www.loc.gov/bookfest/.
Filmfest DC
Simply a festival for people who love movies the world over! 2012’s festival will be held April 12-22 in theatres throughout the District of Columbia. Films featured participate in juried competitions for various awards, ranging in topic from social justice and popularity to humanity and films deserving of increased recognition. Check out www.filmfestdc.org to see if the festival will be running a film that might inspire you.
Bethany Fuller
The Mike Webb Team, LLC
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