I'll be staying near Washington DC on the
4th of July. Is there anything special going on that might be worth attending? (I have the entire day free.)

Cheers, and thanks,

Gerry K

Is there anything special going on? That's an understatement. There recently was a thread (don't remember what it was called) on the 4th in DC. There are so many things. On the mall, there is the Folklife Festival which is wonderful. At night on the mall are the greatest fireworks. The National Symphony Orchestra also gives a free concert on the lawn of the Capitol. There is a also a festival at Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Avenue. Trust me. You won't be lacking for things to do. By the way, what do you mean when you say you will be staying near DC? Where is that? Depending where you are, there may also be some local activities.

Gerry, I suppose Ilisa and I could have a contest over who is the more surprised by your question. You do understand we are your nation's capitol city ... with the biggest fireworks display in the USA ... not to mention all the other goodies we offer during that period. Ilisa has covered them rather nicely. All I can add is Welcome to America's Fourth of July. And by the way, if you're coming to the Mall via subway, and you should, plan on hot weather and crowds, and a rather crowded subway train back home after the fireworks. But it is certainly worth the effort. Ciao

Thanks, Ilisa,

I appreciate your response (and the absence of presumption and sarcasm). I'll be arriving from London on the 3rd and staying at the DCA Airport Hilton in
Crystal City, Virginia.

Cheers,

Gerry K

Gee, Gerry, your accent sounded new england, so naturally I assumed you knew. Sarcasm ... perhaps minuscule, not enough to injure, I may assure you. I would just bet you've heard you fellow Brits talk about unprepared Amercians heading overseas. In any event, now we know not to presume, so if you need more, don't hesitate. Welcome to DC and the 4th ... you really will enjoy it, but be warned, the heat and humidity are a force. To gain the best vantage of the foreworks, try the base of the Washington Monument, southwest side. We'll be there, drinking champage (illegally, I am afraid), so if you see us, do pop over and imbibe a bit. And enjoy your passage through our beautiful DCA. Ciao

L,
It had better be No. California champagne! ;^D

We scored the Metro Marriott (walking distance) for around $100/night from 7-2 thru 7-7 so we may drop by with an empty cup!

We saw the f'works from the area you suggested on the first 4th of July trip we did. We've been back 3 times for the 4th since.

Gerry may get a pretty spectacular view from the Crys/City area. Ask the concierage.

We were also there a few years back and the Smithsonian just happened to be having their birthday celebration and had a fireworks display that rivaled the 4th's.

Agree w/ ilisa's suggestions on both Folklife Festival on The Mall and I assume the DC World Jazz Fest at Freedom Plaza/Warner Theatre.

They have booths with different grub at the Jazz Fest. It is pretty amazing. All types/styles of food from all over the US and world.

Great music, too.

We can't wait. We'll try and bring some decent No Cal weather with us since we'll be riding bikes down from Harper's Ferry WVa to DC along the C&O Canal Towpath! Can you say HYDRATE!?
Kal

Hey, L, why not host a Fodorite picnic at the base of the Washington Monument? FUN! Anyone in town come on down, and BYOC.

Kal--what a fun sounding vacation! Our vet tech is training for a VT vacation which also intrigues me...a 100 mile run. This will be her third..finished the first, had to quit after 51 miles of the second. Can you imagine running 100 miles, on hills, no rest other than pit stops for coke, bananas, cookies, etc? We should all go meet her at the end with champagne. Heck we'll just travel from state to state with our bottles.

O'Oyl,
Party at The Base!!!!

I remember one of our trips to The Mall for the 4th.
We had "plans" to meet family at a specific spot.

The plans quickly went downhill when we saw the mass of people already in that area. Of course, this was before the popularity of cell phones.

H'Ferry to DC is around 60 miles.
As for a 100 mile run...I can barely DRIVE 100 miles anymore without something hurting! Good luck to her.

Mrs Kal ran a marathon for the Leuk/Lymph Soc in Alaska last year. While she was there, I was on a Cub baseball, beer and steak marathon in Chicago. My body's a temple. ;^D

Can't wait for a Watermelon Margarita at Red Sage. Or a schooner of beer at Generous George's in A'andria.
Aloha

Well, Kal, since I am pregnant and can't drink, please have a margarita for me!

CONGRATULATIONS ILISA!!!!
(and yes, I know I'm shouting)

Double Congratulations, Ilisa!

When I went from one to two, an experienced father told me that having one child is like playing a zone defense because you can double team the child. Having two kids is like playing man-to-man. Having three is like getting flagged for having too few defenders on the field.

Thanks, guys! Cindy, it took me a moment to understand your analogy because I am athletically impaired, but I got you now!

Congrats to you, Ilisa ... that is truly wonderful. You must of course later favor with all the details ... you have the kind of captive audience others can only dream of. All the best!

But Kal, as much as I love N. CA wines, I am afriad the french get a bit stiff if I use their appelation for any others. And the N. CA "champagne" is fine ... I had a 1992 Gloria-Ferrer (spelling may be slightly off), and it was superb ... on sale at VA Total Beverage if any of my fellow citizens are montioring this.

And my body is a temple too, but church is definietly out. Oh, OO, if I'm going to host a Fodor blast at the foot of the WM on the 4th, we could surely use those F ID pins ... there are already 500K of us, and the crowd is swelling.

Ciao, L

ilisa...YOU GO GURRRRRRRRRRRL! ;^D

Congrats to you and the Hub. Somebody has to pick up the slack for Mrs kal and me. Yes...we're DINKs.

Since you are always so nice and helpful on this forum, I will have 3-4 w'melon margarita's in your honor.

Leone...We use the french stuff to wash out our sox after we get done peddling thru Napa/Sonoma Valleys!

On 7-4, look out for a big dude with the world's loudest/biggest Hawaiian shirt (could sleep a family of 6) and a little red headed wife on The Mall.

Gerry K...Did you decide what you'll be doing? Or did we scare you off?
Aloha.

July 4th alert!!! The Mall ... SW corner of THE monument (I'm not talking about that WWII monstrosity) ... black tie & clogs, oversized cooler on flexible flyer, stealthily tipping Dixie cups of that ole reliable sock rinser (probably after the poached fowl with a Russian River pinot ... and is there any finer?), in a throng of patriotic, sweating fools ... accompanied by a dish with red highlights and some streaks ... you look at her and think "Escada" ... bombs bursting in air. My gosh, only weeks away. Ciao

L,
I buy my fowl now. I quit poaching it once I got out of college and got a good-paying job! ;^)

As for a Pinot, I'm a Carneros Creek man!

Hope to see you amongst 400,000 of our closest friends!

Neil Diamond's "Coming to America" blarring from the speakers while the f'works are going off above....Ahhhhhh.

An ice cold black cherry ale nightcap at Cap City afterwards.

Almost beer:30 on the Left Coast. Got to go get my liver in shape for this trip.
Mucho Mahalos!
Kal

to the top for DC friends

go for it DC friends

Of course, no party on the Mall is complete without some out of state reps ... perferably from FL ... perhaps even Mrs. Oyl and the DH. I know suitable accommodations could be arranged ... free to boot. Now, an important note about logistics that evening (people under 18, avert your eyes, please): bring at least one qt. jar for each adult, smaller variety for kids. When you see the bathroom lines (I could say portable one-holer), you'll sing my praises high and low for that tip. How you screen the occasional "trips" is of course up to you ... a note back after the 4th with any interesting strategies, would be most appreciated. We'll be back down there next year, and we're always interested in refining the process. Ciao

Hope everybody can come to my birthday party.