washington dc Travel Guide
Tags: TSA Watch / Airport Security / Airport Hell / Travel Photography / DIA / Alaska Airlines / → All Tags
TSA Says Maybe To Photos, Yes To Boring Us To Death
As they are so apt to do, the TSA took an opportunity to publicly obfuscate an issue on its Evolution of Security blog this week. The topic: Photography at airports -- can you do it? The answer: Well... On one hand, it's okay if you don't bother anyone or slow down the checkpoint line; on the other hand, you should not "be surprised if someone (TSA, airport police, or a curious passenger) asks you what you’re up to."
Also, the state, city or airport may have its own rules, which apparently TSA can't override despite being a national agency and the First Amendment and can't you just wait to take that profile picture till you get home, Ansel Badams?
Tags: Easter Travel / DC Travel / Barack Obama / Tickets / Easter Egg Hunts / → All Tags
White House Easter Egg Roll Now Selling Tickets Online
Why shouldn't a trip to the nation's best known address be a mouse click away? For the first time ever the White House announced tickets to its annual Easter Egg Roll would be available online, and harried parents with Blackberrys everywhere rejoiced.
The annual and largely secular event attracts thousands of kids to push hard-boiled eggs through the normally sedate White House lawn in a tradition originally begun by First Lady Dolley Madison. This year's Roll, held on April 13, has been given the tech treatment with tickets available here right now through Front Gate, as well as a fitness gloss emphasizing healthy living.
Whether that includes a balanced diet involving eggs is hard to say, but families who are already headed to Washington D.C. for spring break should snatch up a spot and the chance to meet the President and First Lady, who normally preside over the event. But luck has to be on your side: Unfortunately, when we were finally able to load Front Gate's dedicated page, it told us tickets would be available "at various times" and to keep checking back.
Related Stories:
· White House Easter Egg Roll Moves Tickets Online [CBS News]
· Time for Change: Redesigning the White House [Jaunted]
· Berlin Hotels Not Great At Celebrating Easter Properly [HC]
[Photo of the 2006 Easter Egg Roll hunt: teejayhanson]
Tags: Celeb Travel / President Bush / Cameron Diaz / Martin Scorsese / → All Tags
So Cameron and Marty Walk Into The White House...
While many stars were gearing up for the Movies Rock event in Hollywood last night, Cameron Diaz spent her Sunday in the usually star-barren* city of Washington, DC, paying tribute to director Martin Scorsese at this year's Kennedy Center Honors. The director, who worked with Diaz on 2002's "Gangs of New York," heard tributes from her and frequent Scorsese player Robert DeNiro.
Also honored at the Kennedy Center (and allowed to pose with President Bush) were Steve Martin, Diana Ross, pianist Leon Fleisher and Brian Wilson. But only lucky Scorsese can now hang his rainbow-ribboned medal on his Oscar for last year's "The Departed."
*unless you consider Rahm Emanuel or James Sensenbrenner stars... which we not-so-secretly do.
Related Stories:
· Martin Scorsese, The Departed Oscar Victory Tour Guide [Jaunted]
· Cameron Diaz coverage [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Faded Youth Blog]
Tags: Thanksgiving / Animals / Disney World / → All Tags
Thanksgiving Travel: Who Will Be America's Next Top Turkey?
We wouldn't be so excited about fall if we knew that in a week we would be plucked, bound and having involuntary surgery in your mom's kitchen. But this year, as happens every year, one lucky turkey will get to live out his retirement as a Magic Kingdom resident instead of as leftovers. This year's sixtieth anniversary National Thanksgiving Ceremony at the White House allows President Bush to do what he does best--look ridiculous in the Rose Garden.
The as yet unnamed turkey hails from Dubois, Indiana and has been coached especially for his big moment. (You can vote to decide his name at the White House website.) After the November 21 ceremony, he will serve as the grand marshal of the Walt Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade, and live out his days in the backyard of Mickey's Country House at the Magic Kingdom.
Related Stories:
· Thanksgiving at The White House [Official Site]
· Mickey's Country House [Official Site]
· Disney World coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: The White House]
Tags: Movie Set Travel / Robin Williams / → All Tags
Movie Set Travel: Man of the Year
Robin Williams is back - and supposedly sober - in today's pick: Man of the Year. Donning a George Washington-style wig, he plays a late-night political talk show host who decides, on a lark, to run for president and (surprise!) wins. Riiiiiiight, like this would ever happen.
Laura Linney plays his lady and Jeff Goldblum's also in the flick. Randomly, many SNL cast members pop up too.
As much of the movie takes place in DC, we thought it cool to offer you some picks around:
Where To Stay:
The Fairmont
Located in the cool, student-y Foggy Bottom 'hood, The Fairmont's got a rare central garden courtyard, 415 rooms, and even wacky packages like the "Panda Package" that includes tix to the National Zoo to see Tai Shan, the famous panda cub. Reportedly the fitness center is also pretty swank.
What to See:
U.S. Botanic Gardens
Right at the foot of the Capitol, check out the country's oldest botanical garden. Friday and Saturday celebrate HerbDay, a series of educational events celebrating the importance of herbs and herbalism. Hm, sounds like fun. Admission to the garden is free, and there are over 4,000 plants to see.
Where to Eat:
Zed's Ethiopian
Head to Zed's in Georgetown for one of the city's best Ethiopian spots. A favorite of Washingtonian, menu items include Kaisa, a mild cottage cheese served with collard greens and red pepper or Chicken Doro Watt, spicy and with an egg. If you're a veggie, sample the Harvest Vegetable platter.
Tags: Bars / → All Tags
Capitol Lounge reopens in DC
Favorite D.C. watering hole Capitol Lounge is rumored to be reopening today nearly four months after burning down in a fire.
Owner Joe Englert told DCist:
We heartily commend that attitute toward a drinking establishment. Drop by and let us know how it is!...this place is something I love too dearly not to mend, fix up and reintroduce to the Hill...It may only be bricks and mortar but the place has a soul and we will not let it die."
Related Stories
· Capitol Lounge Re-Opens Today, We Hope [DCist]
· Capitol Lounge Reviews [TripAdvisor]
