Coldwell Banker Christmas Window

It’s an every year event. Since we moved to Capitol Hill we always visit the Coldwell Banker Christmas windows on Pennsylvania Avenue. The windows remind me of the old time storefront displays with moving parts, lights, and overall cheerfulness. Since we moved to northern Virginia, we drove in to town last year in the evening to get the full effect. And we did - including a near iPhone robbery disrupted at the last minute. But that’s another story. Yesterday we drove in to DC for a morning walk with the idea of seeing the decorations and wandering through Barracks Row. And of course, they are nothing like they usually are since all the shops are still closed up or out of business. But, given the circumstances, a great effort was made to recreate the annual display. There were no lights, no moving parts, and a few less windows. But there was still a bit of cheerfulness. The city is still very quiet and it just doesn’t feel the same. We are hoping to come back one evening to visit the Capitol Christmas tree and the Eisenhower memorial just to see the lights. So this year was a bit of a disappointment - like everything else for the last nine months.  

A Final Walk in the Neighborhood?

We usually walk over to Coldwell Banker to see the charming Christmas window display. But today we stopped in to close on the selling of one of our units here on Capitol Hill. But, we were supposed to be at Logan Title just down the street! So our real estate agent came to find us and the proceedings started. After several years of searching many places and contemplating a more conducive lifestyle, we are making a move to Virginia. I’ve been retired for three years from the Library of Congress and have now just “lived” in the city without having to go to work. We just finally grew out of our space here and feel it’s the right time to move on. And, our family moved from just down the street four years ago. So after the signing, we ambled on over to the bank to get a cashiers check for the exact amount to put down on our new home for a settlement tomorrow. The last time we did that was ten years ago when we bought our second condo unit across the hall from the one we just sold. At the end of the month we hopefully will have another settlement to attend for our second unit and that will close the chapter and book on our Capitol Hill lifestyle. We will still be close enough to visit as much as we like - and in the interim that includes doctor, dentist, and hairdresser visits. It’s been a great thirteen years here. The moving company comes tomorrow to pack up our stuff. 

Christmas Window Display on Pennsylvania Avenue

It feels like we were just looking at it. The old fashioned Christmas windows were up and running in the Coldwell Banker storefront on Pennsylvania Avenue. They were setting it up a couple of weeks back. It’s got to take quite a bit of time as there are four good sized windows with many different tiny moving parts. There is something magical about it - probably because it looks like decorations from my childhood and in a very traditional style. The large variety of colorful ornaments hang from the ceiling by wires, lights and ribbons. The snowmen soldiers stand at attention as Santa Claus heads out on his sleigh. The reindeer are festively dressed and dance with the penguins. One of the windows is very specific to Capitol Hill and the neighborhood landmarks - Folger Shakespeare library, Hill Center, police and fire station, Splash car wash, Nationals park. Ice skaters, snowmen, trains, and all things Christmas are showcased in the fourth spot. I could stand there for a while watching and observing all the interconnected pieces. We will need to walk this way again before the year ends. 

Old Fashioned Christmas Window Along Pennsylvania Avenue

No, it isn't Macy's, or downtown Chicago or New York, but it looks just as magnificent! Every year, the Coldwell Banker shop on Pennsylvania Avenue decorates four storefront windows full of Christmas scene delights. One has a big Christmas tree with snow falling on it; another has a village and a train circling around it; another has a larger complex of traditional Christmas activity. But the one we like the most is the Capitol Hill neighborhood. There are people skating, and walking near the Jefferson Memorial and the old Frager's Hardware store has a prominent spot. The Nationals Stadium is surrounded by other prominent neighborhood landmarks including Splash car wash. The National Capitol Bank of Washington and Mr. Henry's can't be missed. The Hill Center and the Folger Shakespeare Library are front and center. I love the huge colorful bright ornaments that hang from the top. No one passes by this place without stopping, and probably thinking the same things I am. It's a reminder of our Christmas past as children, and just shouldn't be forgotten.