National Cathedral Flower Mart 2012 May Festival

It was really hard to find parking for lunch yesterday. All the way there were crowds and activities on just about every street and neighborhood in sight. There were Embassy tours, and stand still traffic, an art festival at the Islamic Center, and the Flower Festival at the National Cathedral. And of course, Cinco de Mayo activities on the Mall. We drove around the usual area to park and after about 3 spins and expert parking, we found a spot. After lunch we took a walk over to the National Cathedral. It was really humid, but all in all an interesting place to visit. We didn't plan to go there, but in this town, you can't help but notice all the action, and once in a while, can't resist taking part in it.

Held on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral since 1939, the Flower Mart is sponsored by the volunteer organization, All Hallows Guild. The festival encircles Washington National Cathedral with its tents and includes more than 50 booths offering gardening items, handbags, jewelry, and more. Embassies and international floral designers produce an extraordinary display of floral arrangements. Each year one embassy is selected as the honorary chair. In 2012, the country of Jamaica will be honored. Jamaica and its ambassador, Her Excellency Audrey P. Marks, will showcase the very best of the country's tropical plants and flowers as well as its history, cuisine, artists and performers.(from DC about.com)

We saw the tents and knew something was up

These orchids were spoken for

Is this appetizing?

Something for everyone

 

It was really crowded

Still fixing earthquake damage above the strudel

An organ grinder but no real monkey

A lot of folks dressed in white

St. Albans is located right next door

Quite the back drop

A lot of things to see

The kids are always having fun

Moon Event

I'm not sure exactly what the super moon event was last night, or even if it was called that. All I know is a friend of ours wanted to make sure we saw the moon at 11:30 last night. So, as we shuffled off to bed last night at 12:30, I remembered her telling us about it. So I looked through the window, then opened the door on the patio to see a brighter moon than usual. A lot of birds were chirping- which did seem odd at that time of the night. We usually don't get too excited about astronomical events. We were in the south of France about ten years ago. The Milky Way literally was there to grab, it seemed so close to where we were viewing it. Our host got really annoyed when my husband hardly paid any attention to it. I on the other hand, appeared a little more enthusiastic. I used to view the night sky through my brother's telescope growing up in Florida, and did a science project about Venus. We watched the moon landing on TV, and recently watched Discovery pass over the Mall. But that's about as interesting as it gets.

Shining an eerie light below

Cinco de Mayo

On our way for lunch and errands today we  passed by the Washington Monument where it was not only busy with tourists and activity, but some unusual riders on horseback were traversing the landscape. It's not unusual to see police on horses - particularly during tourist time and special events. But to see riders with sombreros was a little more interesting. And they were being escorted by the park police. Then we realized what day it was.

This scene would stop the traffic

Riding off in to the sunset with an escort

The Duck Boat

You know it is tourist season when the duck boats are back. They sort of disappear in the Fall, and return again in the Spring. I suppose they are a somewhat common sight across the country. We actually went on one when we visited the Dells in Wisconsin many, many years ago. When we went to Boston for a family visit, we saw them meandering in traffic competing with the street cars, and thought about taking a spin on one, but decided against it. We have never been on this vehicle in DC- but see them making their way along the freeway on the way to Gravelly Point to get in to the Potomac. Every one says that one way to really get to know your city is to do what the tourists do. Whenever we visited the charming southern cities of New Orleans, Savannah, Charleston, and Natchez- we always took the horse and buggy ride around the main drag to get the lay of the land (much to the chagrin of my husband). In Chicago, we took a horse and buggy ride with our 2 year old grandson in the middle of winter. I suppose every city has a featured way of getting to know it better- and that depends a lot on the weather and the visitor. It does remind me that although some of these modes of transportation are charming in their own way, nothing beats the independence of riding in your own car, at your own speed, and stopping whenver you want - as long as you know where you are going.

You know the tourist season it here when you see a duck boat

And they are always full - this one is passing by the
American Indian Museum

World War I Monument Wedding

There are many interesting places to get married in the city. We have seen a lot of professional photographers shoot "engagement" photos near and around the Capitol on many occasions. In fact, a couple in our condo had a session done in front of the building just recently. We enjoyed the photo shoot from our front window. While traveling down Independence Avenue near the new Martin Luther King Memorial site near the Tidal Basin, we saw a bunch of bridesmaids surrounding the bride on the sidewalk. Just behind them sits the tiny little World War I Memorial that was recently restored. On the platform were arranged chairs for the guests. It reminded me of a wedding I attended in Salem, Massachusetts. My cousin got married on the green under a similar looking structure. The groom was getting out of the car, and the bride did not want to be seen before the official ceremony. That is not an easy task considering the hoards of visitors that were passing by- or perhaps the distraction and the crowd helped after all.

Conceived by Washington architect Frederick H. Brooke in association with architects Horace W. Peaslee and Nathan C. Wyeth, the World War I Memorial commemorates the 26,000 citizens of Washington, D.C. who served in World War I. The domed peristyle Doric temple is located on the National Mall in West Potomac Park and intended to be used as a bandstand large enough to accommodate the 80-member U.S. Marine Corps Band. The memorial rises about 43 ft above its 4 ft marble base while twelve 22 ft Doric columns gracefully support the memorial's dome. Inscribed in the base are 499 names of Washingtonians who lost their life in the war. Authorized by Congress in 1924, the memorial was appropriately dedicated in 1931 on Armistice Day-the official end of WWI. It serves as the first war memorial to be built in West Potomac Park and stands as the only local memorial on the National Mall. (from the DC party tours shuttle website)

Looks innocent enough

In between the constant steam of tourists

Located near the Korean War Memorial

The guests are starting to arrive

The crosswalk from there to the MLK Memorial

Right out in the open

There's the bride

Walking towards the Lincoln Memorial

Green Algae at the First Ladies Garden

I know it is not algae, and it had something to do with bees. It was like an impressionist painting. The water was stagnant under the bridge as we crossed over the pond at the First Ladies Garden at the US Botanical Garden near the Capitol. Once in a while some ducks swim by- and visitors keep a respectful distance. I could try to create a digital image of this scene, but I am sure I could not come close to the original creation. I suppose that is what art is all about, and there are so many opportunities to find something to inspire here.

Inspiration for a painting

Law Day and Richard Dreyfuss

I wasn't sure if we would actually go to this event, but decided that it might be a good idea because we had not been to an evening program at the Jefferson Building for quite some time. Richard Dreyfuss of "Jaws" fame was giving a talk about civics. Since May 1 is Law Day, the Law Library sponsors a program. We had attended one a couple years ago - Lindsey Graham was the guest speaker. Mr. Dreyfuss started by saying that he had 5 titanium rods in his back so needed to be seated for the duration, and he walked with a slight limp. I'm not sure exactly what this program was about. He alluded to Sharon Stone and Steven Spielberg and a few others, but spent no time on any of that. There was no question and answer session. I suppose if there is an interest in learning about his civics plan you can check out his website. In the end, I think I prefer not hearing and seeing "famous" people, because every time they open their mouths, I get disenchanted. But, I wasn't sure what to expect, and the idea of attending these events is always a good one. Plus, it's only two blocks away, it was a beautiful night, and the Capitol Building looked grand when we exited the Library Building. The most significant thing I saw tonight was that Freedom is now back to her usual self atop the dome - the scaffolding has now been removed. And that is one view I never get tired of looking at.

It looked interesting

Getting things ready

The Law Librarian introduction

He's shorter and heavier than in the movies- I kept thinking about Jaws

The stage in the Coolidge Auditorium

The view from the front of the Jefferson Building