Inauguration Preparation Continues

Every time we pass by the Capitol the inauguration preparation is edging towards completion in time for the final date of Monday, January 21. It's been going on since early November. Today the millions of folding chairs have been hauled in and some of them have been set up along the sidewalk areas approaching the Capitol Building, soon to cover the entire lawn. All along the sides of the building are trailers that will eventually be filled with press type people and other dignitaries. The loud speakers are being installed as evidenced by all the tractors strategically placed around the perimeter. The sound system components and wide screen televisions will eventually show up every so many feet all the way down to the Washington Monument. I'm wondering what action will take place on the East Lawn of the Capitol that faces the Library. Most folks will be on the West side. A lot of the limos enter on the east side, which can be entertaining. We'll probably DVR the event so we will actually see what happens when we come home from the festivities. Because anytime we attend events like this, we never see much of anything...and we only live two blocks away. In Milwaukee we had no choice but to watch it on TV. Living here we like to see the real thing, even though we don't.

Cafe Deluxe Good to the Last Gulp

We haven't been to Tysons for awhile trying to avoid all the the Christmas shopping madness. So we decided to venture out and try our luck today at Cafe Deluxe. This restaurant is the sister to Tortilla Coast just up the street and another Cafe Deluxe near the National Cathedral on Wisconsin Avenue. We always bring our out of town guests here because the service is great, the place is pleasant, and there is something on the menu for everyone. My husband always orders a Virgin Mary for brunch and gets upset when they bring it out filled with ice and little else. One of our dearest friends always tells him to order it without ice. So today, he did. And I ordered a glass of water and coffee. So he could now have more of his drink, and slip in an ice cube or two. He also likes all the stuff that comes with it...celery sticks, little onions, olives and sometimes salt around the rim. We've paid anywhere from $2.50 to $8.50 for any variation of the same thing. Every once in awhile he has V8 juice at home, but it just isn't the same.

Capitol Visitor Center

I used to walk over to the Capitol Visitor Center more regularly on my afternoon break when it first opened. The last time I went was about a year ago when our grandson visited from California. So I decided it was a long overdue walk to head back in that direction instead of my usual route through the long halls of the Madison Building. It was surprisingly quiet. Security was a snap. There were no long lines waiting for tickets or tours of the Capitol. The "museum" part of the exhibit was practically empty. The signs have been updated for the 113th Congress. The view of the dome from the skylights is just as stunning, particularly on such a sunny day. The floors gleam from being shined with some glossy wax buffing. But the most interesting part is walking to and from the exhibit through the tunnels that connect the Library of Congress with the Visitor Center. I had the opportunity to attend the groundbreaking ceremony when the wall of the Jefferson building was hit to start the work on the tunnel building. I still have a small piece of that original red 1897 brick sitting on my desk at work. I've attended a few ceremonies and ribbon cuttings for health care events, but probably not any as significant as this.

113th Congress

It seemed like a good idea to change up my afternoon walking path. So I hoofed it over to the Capitol Visitor Center, which was unusually quiet. On the way back through the tunnel to the Library Jefferson Building there were more signs of swearing in ceremony celebrations taking place. Off to the House Longworth Building I headed. The hallways in the Cannon Office Building basement were packed with furniture waiting to be claimed for all the reassigned office spaces. Once past the basement, I have never seen more stuffed blue suits with attached family members wearing name tags managing their way through the long shiny floored halls of Congress. I didn't recognize anyone as I usually leave that up to my husband. I happened to pass by the office of the just reelected House Speaker. Back at the Library, more signs of celebrations were visible on the sixth floor. It all seems so glamorous from afar? But it is oh so very different in person.

The New Yorker Eustace Tilley Contest 2013

It's that time of year again - Tilley Fever! Last year I was a winner in the New Yorker's Eustace Tilley contest with the entry "Tilley the Pooch." The image was displayed on the New Yorker website and included in the anniversary edition. The Library even had an article about it in the Gazette. This year I submitted three entries: "Tilley the Lepidopterist!"; "Tilley's Butterfly Party"; and "Tilley Rises Above Sandy." It would be so gratifying and humbling to win again. The entries are always so excellent. Judging is based on originality, humor, and execution. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed.

Happy New Year

Hawk N Dove

Up along Pennsylvania Avenue SE is an establishment that has been in operation since 1967. It closed down, changed hands, has since been rebuilt, and is almost ready to reopen. Everyone who lives in the neighborhood knows Hawk n Dove. It sits between The Tune Inn and Kay Wigs. We visited it on many occasions before we moved here to Capitol Hill from Milwaukee. It was an interesting old place with a lot of character. (Please refer to previous blogs on this topic!) Last week we heard that the new owner, who also owns half the restaurants along eighth street, ran out of money to complete the project. But today I noticed there were want ads for bartenders and the like, with at least two years of experience, to be hired for the opening that is planned in February. Bullfeathers - just down the street from us -was a place like Hawk n Dove. We used to frequent it every week. Every time I passed to and from work I would wave to the wait staff that we came to know so well. But it became like all the other places after it was sold and renovated. It's now more like a chain than a very distinguished grungy place. I can't remember the last time we went there. I know we will return to the new Hawk n Dove. I'm just hoping we like it as much.