Dinner and A Movie

Joel and Barbara, Henry and Marie, Charles and Linda, Barbara, and I met at Le Pain Quotidien in DC for dinner before walking over to the E Street Cinema to see the Norwegian film, "The Last King." It was a most enjoyable evening!

 Joel, Marie, Christine, Henry, Charles, Barbara, Barbara

The 30th Anniversary of the wonderful Film Fest DC

"The Last King" - Stay tuned for Linda's review in the Norwegian American Weekly

A Special Party

I was honored with an invitation to the reception at the Norwegian Embassy to celebrate the opening of the restored Ambassador's residence. It was a pleasure to see the lovely residence and see many wonderful people, some familiar to me and others new to me. Stimulating conversation in a beautiful setting.

 The Ambassador and Christine

 Norwegian Consul in Minnesota Heiburg and Christine

Burt (Past Pres SON), Sissel (my Norwegian teacher), and Christine

Christine and Urd

 

Interesting new furniture, table and chair

 View of garden between the Embassy and the Residence

 View of garden

Women Photograph Women

 George and I went to see the exhibit "She Who Tells a Story" at the National Museum for Women in the Arts.



 





We then went to Bistro d'Oc for lunch.



I had a delicious piece of Opera Cake for dessert!



After lunch, George stopped by to say hello to Marilyn.

Spectacular Band

The Banda dell'Arma dei Carabinieri played at the Kennedy Center and the concert was spectacular! I went with Alex and Ruth Squadrini and Gertraud.

To see the entire concert, go to https://www.kennedy-center.org/video/index/M6757.

 

If you would like to hear the national anthem of Italy with music and lyrics, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcI2IdHhEHE

If you would like to hear V. Borgia's "Intermezzo Italia," go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rv6TDWMHbU



After the concert, we went up to the Terrace level and had dinner in the KC Encore Cafe. We enjoyed the Salad Bar and Gertraud and I ate delicious Cherry Blossom Marshmallow Pops.

 Alex, the Only Native Italian in the group

Christine, Italian by marriage

 Ruth, Italian by marriage

                                                  Gertraud, European but not Italian

To be continued

Ballet at GMU

A wonderful Chinese dinner with Janet and Joe and then to George Mason University with Janet to see a beautiful production of "Giselle" by the Moscow Festival Ballet.

To be continued

Another Birthday

Perry is 10! (He and Andrea shared a birthday.) We had a delicious dinner of vegetarian chili, guacamole dip and chips, and chocolate cake. Guests included - in addition to Perry and Chipo - Florence, her niece from Atlanta, and Barbara.


          The Birthday  Boy with his birthday cake

                                                       The  Birthday Boy and Brother

Three Siberians

George graciously invited our three Siberian friends to brunch at the Old Ebbitt Grill in DC.


       Natalya, Larissa, Zarmena, George, and Christine

 George with Zarmena and Natalya (Natalya holding her Cherry Blossom paperweight gift)

             Zarmena sharing George's Bloody Mary  

 

 George with the three ladies

 Larissa with the Yakut wine, gift from George

 George with his driving aid made with the hair of a male horse - to keep him safe while driving, gift from Natalya

 My delicious order of French toast with pecan butter and strawberries

Belinda and Larissa

Belinda came to the area to attend TESOL in Baltimore. Larissa also went to Baltimore for the convention. I invited them for dinner. We had a great time catching up. I hadn't seen Belinda for several years. I don't get out to California very often!

We had pizza, tortellini, and chocolate cake.

Larissa and Belinda

(More photos will be forthcoming.)

Andrea's Birthday

 Colin with my chalice from the Holy Land with the ashes. 

Colin put a colorful yellow dandelion on the memorial stone. Note the owl Colin gave us a few years ago to protect Andrea's vegetable garden.

 

The memorial stone given by Adriano

Andrea's birthday cake - Chocolate Cappuccino Fudge

Special Event at AU

My friend Dorothy Moore and her husband collected beautiful Japanese prints. They donated their collection to American University. I attended a reception when the prints were presented to the University. I invited my friends Gertraud and Marie. Nicole turned up by chance!

 Dorothy Moore and Christine

            Gertraud, Christine, Nicole, and Marie

  

Brunch with Nicole

My friend Nicole and I got together at long last! We had a delicious brunch at the Alexandria Pastry Shop. She had a BLT and I had a potato pancake.

Christine and Nicole

Being in a pastry shop, we had to indulge in a pastry, of course! Nicole had a very attractive fruit tart and I had a scrumptious chocolate eclair. I don't think I had had one for at least 20 or 30 years! Why not?

Musical with Mary

My friend Mary and I went to the GW Theater to see Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music." It was fantastic! The GW students were, as usual, extraordinary and very professional.

During the intermission I chatted very briefly with Director Leslie Jacobson and GW's President Knapp.

Mary and I had had season tickets to the GW student productions for many years but had lost the habit. We must get back on the wagon next fall!

I took my camera with me but forgot to capture a photo of us. So instead here is a photo of the program to prove to you that I was there! Beforehand, we had dinner at Circa. I had the mushroom flatbread but it was much too salty, unfortunately. The cook's hand must have slipped. But the company was excellent!

Guest Speaker from Minneapolis

I attended the monthly luncheon meeting of Lakselaget and the speaker was Rachel Peterson from Minneapolis. She gave a very interesting presentation about the new Norway House in Minneapolis. In her introduction, she also detailed her growing interest in Norway and the nine years she lived there. Very interesting indeed. I plan to visit Norway House in June and have a private tour!

In the photo you can see Rachel next to the screen with a picture of Norway House with Mindekirchen, the Norwegian church, behind it.