It's springtime in Washington, DC, and you've smelled the cherry blossoms, posed with Abe and cheered on the Nationals. Now it's time to walk on the wild side and head to--wait for it--the library!
OK, we know what you're thinking.
But beginning this Saturday your trip to the Library of Congress will be completely revolutionized, super hi-tech and dare we say exciting, thanks to the new Library of Congress Experience.]]>
One thing that tourism boards never seem to get is that having an incredibly long name isn't helpful. Like, say, the Washington, DC Convention & Tourism Corporation. Doesn't exactly scream "We're hip! Come visit!" does it?
So the tourism folks in the capital decided to change the name to Destination DC, which besides being reasonable is also an easy to remember URL. Along with the new name comes a major marketing push, playing up the fact that Washington is the country's most powerful city.
Besides all the obvious governmental stuff ("Seat of Power"), you've got your "Fire Power" (sunsets over the Potomic and July 4th fireworks), your "Power Play" (flying kites on the National Mall) and your "Soul Power" (massages, jazz and Sunday brunch). Some of the "power" puns are definitely stretching it, but the overall effort looks pretty slick. It should: Destination DC's spending $2 million on the campaign.
Related Stories:
· Destination DC [Official Site]
· My Houston, We Don't Have a Problem [Jaunted]
· Tourism Board Travel coverage [Jaunted]]]>
You've gotta hand it to Nationals Park, DC's new baseball stadium. It's brand new, but it can still give you an accurate experience of what it was like to be a fan in the old days when stadiums were built in the rough part of town.
Park on the street and you might return to your car only to see your hubcaps have been stolen, just like at the old Comiskey Park in Chicago in 1985. Fortunately, we've got a full field guide for you post click.]]>
Artist Charles Cohan is not a fan of airports. To him, they all basically look the same, and after checking out his installation, "Airfield," at Curator's Office in Washington, DC, you'll probably agree. His prints of terminals and runways will have you flashing back to that extended layover in Paris, that long taxi in Baltimore and that terrible meal at Newark.
Here's what Cohan himself has to say about the project:
Intended to form a graphic typology, the project visually references a range of image archetypes including utilitarian architectural forms, informational symbols, linguistic characters, directional signs and symbolic illustrations. Printed in black with a stark outline configuration, the designs reflect the demographics of security, surveillance and distribution within the architectural vocabulary of the plan diagram.
Riiiiight. They do look cool, though! The show is on view through April 5.
Related Stories:
· Airfield: Works by Charles Cohan [Official Site]
· Terminal Art [Intelligent Travel]
· Art coverage [Jaunted]]]>
We based last week's Missed Connections post on a presidential primary, but guess what? Next week is Super Tuesday, and no way can you or anyone look for The One in 24 places at once. Even harnessing the power of the Internet, how would you ever get around to meeting all those people?
If you're in search of the politically minded, though, try the District, which unexpectedly finished in Forbes' top 10 cities for singles. Ask him or her out for President's Day instead of Valentine's Day--there's far less pressure to have a good time.
Green Lantern -- Share your travels at this "just-right" pub and club which also caters to you weekend workaholics with a Sunday happy hour. (Maybe there's one in every House?) 1335 Green Ct. NW
Eighteenth Street Lounge -- While DC Bachelor says this club was over by the time of the Kerry-Edwards campaign, that doesn't mean you can't learn to tango with a funny guy. 1212 18th St. NW
Old Ebbitt Grill -- The shirts are stuffed to order at this classic oyster bar and steakhouse, but that doesn't mean you can't have a civilized chat at the bar. 675 15th St. NW
Related Stories:
· Missed Connections coverage [Jaunted]
· Washington, DC Hotels [HotelChatter]
[Photo: timoni]]]>
If you don't know who Vanessa Hudgens is, congratulations! You're probably old enough to drive. But the "High School Musical" and "High School Musical 2" star is famous with teens and tweens everywhere. Too bad none of them were around yesterday as she flew out of Washington Dulles Airport, carrying everything and the kitchen sink (including her teddy bear).
If you missed her at the airport, you can catch Hudgens on the "High School Musical 2" DVD out today or performing in TNT's "Christmas in Washington" special alongside "American Idol" runner-up Katharine McPhee and Ne-Yo.
Related Stories:
· Vanessa Hudgens: Bye-Bye Washington! [Just Jared]
· Airport Photo Shoot: The Ashley Tisdale Collection Debuts at LAX [Jaunted]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: Just Jared]]]>
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]]]>