Sunday, May 31, 2009

Pentagon Memorial




Andrea and I took Charles and Alison to see the 9-11 Pentagon Memorial. It was opened to the public in September 2008.

Each victim of the terrorist attack has a bench with his/her name on it. If you read the name and see the Pentagon when you look up, you know that the person died in the Pentagon. If you look up and see the sky, the person was on the plane.

The benches provide a tranquil place to meditate or feel companionship with a friend.

The Phillips Collection and Zorba's Cafe

Alison and I went to the Phillips to see the permanent collection. Of course, the major attraction was Renoir's Boating Party.

Christine in front of the restaurant

After our museum visit, we had a delicious lunch at Zorba's Cafe, a few blocks away on Connecticut Avenue (right across from the Dupont Circle Metro station). Alison is an expert on Greek food and she approved of it!

I had delicious roasted potatoes, grape leaves, and pita bread.


Lovely photos of Greece graced the walls.

The National Mall

Charles and Alison standing in front of Smithson's tomb. We Americans are grateful to this generous Englishman.


The Reflecting Pool and the Washington Monument as seen from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on the spot where Martin Luther King gave his famous "I Have A Dream" speech

The Korean War Veterans Memorial


Obelisk in front of the National Museum of the American Indian

Aladdin's Restaurant in Shirlington

Andrea and I took Alison and Charles to one of our favorite restaurants in Shirlington Village.


We all start with hummus and pita.


We then have falafel.


Alison tries her first smoothie, a raspberry one.


Christine has her usual, Jasmine's Feast.

Alison tries her first tiramisu.

Visiting the FDR Memorial


The Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, located near the Tidal Basin, is one of the loveliest memorials in DC. It contains lots of water and rock. Here are Alison and Charles in front of one of the many waterfalls.


Alison and a tall Eleanor Roosevelt

Alison and Charles standing next to a seated FDR

A man listening to one of FDR's fireside chats


Men standing in an unemployment line during the Great Depression

Play Ball!


My grandson is my favorite baseball player of all time!

Phil Rizzuto and Derek Jeter are tied for second.


Founding Farmers - Again!

My friend Gertraud and I went to Founding Farmers for lunch.

We had a table on the ground floor and it was rather noisy. The best part of the meal was the delicious corn bread.

The pumpkin ravioli were OK but not great. The sauce tasted a bit like vinegar.


Gertraud liked her deviled eggs.


Visiting Annapolis With Alison and Charles

Our English friends, Alison and Charles, came to visit us. One day we took them to Annapolis.


We had lunch at Carrol's Creek, Charles' treat. Thank you, Charles!


After lunch we had some delicious Italian gelato at Aromi d'Italia.


We took a walk around the U.S. Naval Academy.


We saw the monument to Alex Haley's African ancestor, Kunta Kinte.

Friday, May 08, 2009

P.F. Chang's

I had lunch with my dear friend Nancy and her husband at P.F. Chang's.

Lorton Prison Becomes the Workhouse Arts Center


My friend Susan, a fiber artist, has a studio in a prison! No, it is actually not a prison anymore. The Lorton prison in Fairfax County has been transformed into a center for the arts. One hundred artists have their studios here. It is a beautiful, vibrant place.

With Susan in her studio

Susan with one of her special creations

Studio 10