Tag: Washington dc travel

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The DC Cherry Blossom Festival is in for Some Serious Sakura Action

March 8, 2012 at 4:04 PM | by | Comments (0)

Spring fever is scheduled to hit much of the East Coast today, as high temperatures in Boston, New York, and Washington, DC are all expected to be like way above normal. That’s a good thing especially for residents of the nation’s capital, as the warmer weather means that it’s almost time to celebrate the arrival of the city’s most famous residents—cherry blossoms. The 100th anniversary of the National Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off on March 20 and runs through April 27, but everyone knows only Mother Nature decides when things really get underway.

There’s always predictions and forecasts when it comes to anticipating the peak blooms of the cherry blossom trees, and it sounds like things should arrive a little earlier than usual. That’s not too surprising considering this year’s winter—or lack thereof. National Park Service officials have run the numbers and reviewed the graphs, and they’re thinking the pink and white blossoms will look their best between March 24 and March 31. That doesn’t mean that other dates will leave you disappointed, but they do anticipate that the last week of March will be considered the peak bloom period.

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Inside the US Airways Club at Washington DC's Reagan National Airport

November 29, 2011 at 4:00 PM | by | Comments (2)

Have you ever entered a fancier doctor's office and been directed to "take a seat," and then looked around and thought, "hey, this isn't all that bad?" Of course you have; an experience like this is common enough, but what isn't so common is finding that exact same feel in an airline lounge.

Every so often we fly through Washington DC's Reagan National Airport and, this last time, we actually had enough of a layover to warrant spending some time drinking the complimentary coffee and soaking up the tarmac views from the US Airways Club in Concourse C.

Getting there: The lounge is after security, but up an elevator before you head down the concourse to the gates. A simple silver plaque lets you know this, and upstairs you'll hit the regular reception desk. It's here however that you may encounter problems if you're a Star Alliance Gold member, but not with US Airways. The receptionist at first wouldn't allow us entry, because we weren't traveling on an international ticket.

WRONG. Star Alliance Gold members (*of airlines other than Continental, United and US Airways) are allowed up there, so long as they're traveling on a Star Alliance flight in any class that day. Explaining the right to enter a lounge is not only embarrassing but it also immediately sours our impression of the place.

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Pesky Hurricane Irene Bumps MLK Memorial Dedication to October 16

September 19, 2011 at 9:15 AM | by | Comments (0)

Stupid Hurricane Irene has no respect, and because of her wind and rain the dedication of the new Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial has to be pushed back. Organizers have finally been able to get everything in place again for a second try of the dedication, and it looks like they’ve selected October 16 to do so.

Originally like 250,000 folks were expected to show up, and we’re thinking the take-two will bring out just as many when the memorial is formally dedicated on the National Mall. President Obama is expected to be just one of the many in attendance, so if you’re planning to visit be prepared for an extra security patdown or two.

If you’re not able to attend the official ceremony next month, no problem, as you can go and check it out right now. It’s not exactly possible to keep the 30-foot statue totally covered up until October, so make sure to add it to your tourist checklist next time your in Washington, DC.

[Photo: tedeytan]

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How To Get Tickets To The DC Shorts Film Festival This Weekend

September 7, 2011 at 12:11 PM | by | Comments (0)

This weekend The DC Shorts Film Festival will present the largest audience-driven collection of short films in the country. The fest will show 145 films from 23 nations screened in 17 90-minute showcases followed by Q & A sessions with the filmmakers.

After all of the films have been screened, they will be screened again and remixed, before the best are shown in the “Best of DC Shorts” screenings on September 17 and 18 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.

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United is Giving Away Millions of Miles, DSLR Cameras and More in Chicago and Washington DC

August 31, 2011 at 9:55 AM | by | Comments (0)

Who likes free stuff? Everyone, duh. Who like free frequent flyer miles and free stuff? Hopefully you've got your hand raised in the air, saying "me me me" like an anxious little know-it-all in an elementary classroom, because if you're in Chicago or Washington DC select days in the next few weeks, United Airlines would like to give you some.

On August 31 (that's today) through September 1 (tomorrow), Chicagoans should head to Pioneer Court to meet Olympic athlete Dan Jansen and try their luck at picking a bag off a pop-up baggage claim carousel to win everything from 1 Million MileagePlus Bonus Miles to DSLR cameras, to trip giveaways and Tumi gift cards. You're not guaranteed to win anything, but it can't hurt to try—plus it's free.

The Washington DC event is a repeat of the Chicago fun, just September 19 and 20 in the Main Hall at Union Station with Olympic athlete Kerri Walsh. It's all a celebration of the new United MileagePlus Explorer Card with Chase Bank. No, you don't have to sign up for the card to try your luck, but in case you are ready to sign some paperwork to get the new United/Continental merger credit card, they'll be ready for you.

The event details:

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Think You Can Drink Washington DC's New 3-Pound Martini?

June 22, 2011 at 12:34 PM | by | Comments (0)

While this won't do much to undermine rumors that Washington, DC is a city of frat boys and sorority girls pretending to be adults, we have to confess that we find ourselves a little bit intrigued. The city's Dirty Martini bar—utterly predictable slogan, "Come Clean. Leave Dirty"—has unveiled their new "Big Dirty" martini option, which allows customers to supersize any cocktail on the menu to 48 ounces.

That's 3 lbs of alcohol served in what seems to be some kind of giant reinforced martini glass, all for the relatively affordable price of $79.99.

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Made in America Souvenirs Are Now the Only Option at One Smithsonian Museum

June 16, 2011 at 9:27 AM | by | Comments (0)

The Smithsonian Institute has plenty of museums and history to explore the best America has—and had—to offer, but unfortunately the museum gift shops weren’t necessarily showing off some of the country’s finest collectible thimbles and overpriced t-shirts.

Senator Bernard Sanders—he’s an Independent from Vermont—wasn’t too pleased about all the products made in China and elsewhere, so he kind of flipped out, saying that items sold at the National Museum of American History should probably be made in America.

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Catch a Flick Alfresco at One of These Five Outdoor Film Festivals

June 1, 2011 at 8:39 AM | by | Comments (0)

Cinespia at Hollywood Forever Cemetery

The best thing about summer is that you can do everything outdoors, and that includes watch movies. Seeing a flick under the stars while huddled on a blanket is a favorite summer pastime, especially since the screenings are usually free. Pack your picnic baskets and pop a squat at one of these outdoor film festivals.

Check out the top five alfresco film festivals after the jump.

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Free Stuff Alert: Austrian Airlines Takes to the DC Streets to Give Away Coffee and Flights

April 25, 2011 at 4:14 PM | by | Comments (0)

Hey—would you like to fly to Austria for free, or at least score a complimentary cup of some nice Austrian coffee? Apparently Austrian Airlines is putting some pilots and chefs out on the street of Washington DC and New York City these next couple weeks to get people thinking about Vienna, via their tastebuds.

First up is Washington DC. Starting today, "dashing pilots" will dispense free Julius Meinl coffee from rocketpacks, stationed in high-traffic areas around the city. They'll also tell you how to enter to win a pair of tickets direct from either DC or NY to Vienna.

Here's the full schedule of where to find them in DC, April 25-May 1:

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Mapping the Future Homes of the Four NASA Space Shuttles

April 12, 2011 at 4:34 PM | by | Comments (0)

Houston is so pissed right now. Why? Because they were passed over in NASA's decision on where to retire the four remaining space shuttles. Instead, four other US cities will welcome different crafts for permanent exhibits, reaping in the tourist dollars that follow anything space travel-related. Let's see who got what, shall we?

· Cape Canaveral, FL: The original home of the shuttles is Kennedy Space Center, so of course they get to keep one. The Space Shuttle Atlantis, which originally launched in 1985 and completed 35 flights, will settle in for posterity at the Visitor Center. Atlantis will fly again before powering down, with a final launch scheduled for June 28.

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Washington's Cherry Blossoms Will Be Blooming from March 26 to April 10

March 16, 2011 at 12:03 PM | by | Comments (0)

The nation’s capital is busy as always, dealing with budgets, politics, and assorted crises. However, at the end of the month, residents, visitors, and even politicians will take some time to stop and smell the roses—or at least the cherry blossoms.

Scientists and horticulturists working for Uncle Sam have tallied the numbers and computed the statistics, and they think they know when the pink and white cherry blossoms are ready to bloom this season in Washington, DC. The big day is supposedly March 29, as this is when the blooms will start looking their best. The time period will continue through April 3, but we all know that Mother Nature can play tricks—so plan accordingly.

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Score: The National Pinball Museum Opens in D.C.

Where: 3222 M St., NW, Suite M325 [map], Washington, D.C., United States, 20007
December 21, 2010 at 1:21 PM | by | Comments (0)

When you want to play a game, DanceDanceRevolution, Guitar Hero or Call of Duty: Black Ops might be your vice of choice. But back in the day, it was Guns n' Roses pinball. The National Pinball Museum opened this month to honor the retro pinging game.

The 14,000-square-foot facility, tucked inside the Shops at Georgetown Park mall in Washington, D.C., is not one of those look-but-don't-touch museums. There's a game room with 40 rotating pinball machines, including the aforementioned GNR game, one devoted to the Twilight Zone and another to Indiana Jones.

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