Birdie! Birdie!

Fly! Be Free! : Corner of L and 19th Streets NW
(Click on image to enlarge.)

Flying Footballs. Sidewalk Scroungers. Rats with Wings. Flying Rats. Whatever you call them, pigeons are ubiquitous. I will say this for D.C.'s pigeons, though: they're generally a pretty pristine looking group. Worst looking pigeons in the country? San Francisco pigeons. Those poor buggers look like they've been drug around the block a few times and then some out there.

My Pancake! : Corner of L and 19th Streets NW
(Click on image to enlarge.)

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Happy (Photo) Friday!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 01/09

Tunnel Vision

Beach Drive Tunnel

I love finding easy ways out of the city that require as few stop lights as possible. One of the best ways to get from Upper NW to I-66 is via Beach Drive to Rock Creek Parkway. I snapped this picture the other day on my way out to the states. I can't remember where I was going--my parents for Sunday dinner maybe?--but I snapped this on the approach to RCP. This tunnel is just southwest of the National Zoo.

Happy (Photo) Friday!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

A Capitol Christmas

Christmas Tree on the West Lawn of the Capitol

Christmas Day dawned bright and glorious. The skies were a lovely blue with wisps of clouds here and there. Tonight, it was crisp and equally bright with a nearly full moon.

The Jefferson Memorial at the Tidal Basin. To the left, you can see the Capitol in the distance.

On the way home this evening, I went on a little photo safari, capturing Washington in a rare moment of peacefulness. These are just a few of the pictures I took.

The Washington Monument from the Tidal Basin

To our friends near and far, Merry Christmas from Washington, D.C.!


Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 12/07

Lights

One of my favorite things about the holiday season is, it's a celebration of light. You can read any religious context you'd like into that, but what makes it especially fun are all the places you can go to see some really cool light displays. I've tried to cover Virginia, D.C., and Maryland, so here are three I highly recommend in the D.C. area.

1. Zoolights at the National Zoo, Washington, DC

If you have kids (and even if you don't), this is a great combination of Christmas lights and zoo animals. The zoo is free during the day, but for this evening event there is a fee and you do have to buy tickets. National Zoo is located between Connecticut Avenue and Beach Drive. It is recommended that you ride Metro's Red Line to the Woodley Park/National Zoo stop.


2. Bull Run Festival of Lights, Centreville, Virginia

If you enjoy a drive in the countryside, head out to Bull Run/Manassas/Centreville, for the Bull Run Festival of Lights. This festival of lights is fun for the whole family, too. There's a fee for this one, as well, but you pay by the carload and there's a $3 coupon on the website. The festival is three miles from the Bull Run/Manassas Battlefields off of I-66 and Route 29.


3. The Festival of Light at the Mormon Temple, Kensington, MD

Rising above the Capital Beltway in Kensington is the Mormon Temple. During the holiday season, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns the temple, decorates the grounds with Christmas lights. There's also a live nativity, as well as concert performances by various religious and school choirs and bands from around the region. Additionally, the Visitor's Center features a beautiful exhibit of creches from around the world. The temple is located off of I-495. Take the Connecticut Avenue exit and turn right on Beach Drive, then follow the signs.


Photo copyrights: National Zoo, Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority, and Carol Cooper, respectively.

Choo-Choo

What kid doesn't love a train? If you live in the D.C. area, Union Station is the place to go during the holiday season. The station, in partnership with the Embassy of Norway, features a train display in the west hall during the month of December. It's an O-scale train (for those of you who aren't model railroaders, that's one of the larger train scales in model trains. The smallest is Z-scale. Here is a graphic for model scales. To see a larger picture, click on the image.)

While you're doing some shopping--the station has retail space that features stores, fine dining, movie theaters, and a food court--your significant other can take the kids to see the Christmas tree and the Norwegian train display. The train has been on display since November 20 and will run--every pun intended--on schedule through Epiphany (January 6.)

And while you're there, don't forget to drop a toy at the U.S. Marine Corps' Toys for Tots kiosk. It's a worthy cause from a noble organization.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential.

Gobbler

If you live in the D.C. area and you haven't yet ordered your fresh turkey for Thanksgiving, it isn't too late. Be sure to call Melvin Inman at Market Poultry in the Eastern Market for your fresh bird. I'm calling today for mine!

Photo copyright: Kansas City, KS, Public Library

Lincoln

Sunrise

Anyone who knows me, knows my favorite monument in all of Washington, D.C., is the Lincoln Memorial. This morning, I was up early trying to get a good, foggy picture of Foggy Bottom for a friend, but I was unsuccessful. So instead I headed up the hill and over to this monument to America's 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. The sun was just coming up, which afforded me a number of good shots.

To see more pictures of this temple to Lincoln, go here.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential.

Pretty Pretty

Lotus and bumblebee, Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, Anacostia

To see more photos, go here.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 09/07.