On Hiatus

Thank you for stopping by.

It's been a while since any updated posts, but plan to be back soon with more regular postings, hopefully late summer or in the fall 2010. In many instances, most of the activities and places are still relevant and are annual events. Most posts from 2009 have links to the sites where current dates and times can be found if interested in a particular attraction, event or activity.

Happy Summer!

Thanks,
Leigh

Sugarloaf Craft Festival, December 11-13, 2009, Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly, VA

The Sugarloaf Crafts Festival comes to the Dulles Expo Center on Friday, December 11 to Sunday, December 13, 2009. Whether you're looking to do some holiday shopping, are interested in the arts and craftsmanship, or looking to do something fun with the family, the Sugarloaf Craft Festival might be just what you're looking for.

This special event will showcase more than 250 artists from all over the U.S, many of which are very well-known local artists. Many of the artists who will be showcasing their work have exhibited in galleries and museum shows.

This artists' marketplace has lots of great things happening throughout the weekend on their schedule. For instance, visitors can enjoy a variety of family entertainment and learning which include demos, live musical performances, and children's activities. There's even a puppet show put on by Middle Earth Studios.

The expertise visitors will get the opportunity to see first hand includes ceramics, metal spinning, wood turning, culinary arts, and the chance to sample some specialty foods (also available for purchase!). There is a list of craft demos and times listed on the Sugarloaf schedule.

Admission to the festival is $7 if purchased online or $8 at the door; children under 12 are free! Parking is free and you can even print out a discount coupon on the Sugarloaf Craft Festivals website.

The Dulles Expo Center is located in Chantilly, VA, conveniently located off Route 28 (very close in proximity to I-66 and the Dulles Toll Road). Please click here for directions. To learn more about the show information, see artist profiles and view other special offers, please visit Sugarloaf's Facebook page.

Sugarloaf looks like a great opportunity to do some excellent holiday shopping!

Bull Run Park: Annual Festival of Lights, Centreville, VA

The Bull Run Park has been actively setting up this event for a long time now. Visitors to the park probably noticed all of the activity going on since October.

Well, the time is almost here!

This week the Festival of Lights and Winter Wonderland Holiday Village opens in Bull Run Park in Centreville, VA.

Festival of Lights
From November 25, 2009 through January 10, 2010 the Festival of Lights will once again be returning to Bull Run Park. Every year this event brings thousands+ of visitors who ride through the park and view the many lighted displays from the comfort of their cars.

The Festival of Lights opens at 5:30 p.m. daily and runs until 9:30 p.m. on Monday - Thursday and on Friday - Sunday (including Christmas and New Year's Eve) until 10:00 p.m.

I'm not clear on how much the Festival of Lights costs for 2009, but I think last year was around $15. The Park typically offers lower prices on Monday - Thursday than the weekends if memory serves correctly.

Carnival
The Winter Wonderland Holiday Village will feature food, carnival rides, ice skating, more lighted displays and an animated Christmas tree. Santa will also be appearing.

The Carnival will be open (weather permitting) on Thursday - Sunday for the following weekends:

November 26 - November 29, December 3 - December 6, December 10 - December 13, December 10 - December 13, and then will be open daily from December 17 through December 31. Wristbands are $15 a person (all you want rides) or you can purchase single tickets for a dollar.

I recommend if you plan to stay and enjoy the carnival to dress pretty warm. In previous years it's been pretty cold and in the evenings it can be bitter, the wind really seems to kick up sometimes.

To receive a coupon for admission t The Festival of Lights, please visit the Bull Run Park website for more details and instructions on how to get the discount.

For those of you not familiar with this area, Bull Run Park is in the western side of Fairfax County and is located right near I-66 (although I think you may have to get off on Route 29 or one of the other exits as there isn't a direct exit off I-66, I can't remember exactly).

Northern Virginia Holiday and Chrismas Events Weekend of December 5, 2009

Hard to believe Christmas is right around the corner as the temperatures are in the mid to high 60s this week. Yet the signs of holiday festivities are there.

The malls and stores are decorated and playing holiday songs and Santa is already at the Fair Oaks Mall. I was in Old Town Alexandria yesterday and they were putting lights up in the trees.

Saturday and Sunday December 5-6, 2009 is a busy weekend here in Northern Virginia. There are many Christmas and holiday events going on this weekend.

Here are a few ideas if you're looking for something to do:

City of Fairfax Festival of Lights and Carols
This annual event is held at Old Town Hall and Kitty Pozer Garden at 3999 University Drive, in Fairfax.

During the day families are invited to come out and have lunch with Santa. There are three seatings, 11:30 am, 12:15 pm and 1:00 pm. This special luncheon is for kids 12 and under and cost is $5 per child with a maximum of 5 tickets (lunch will be Chick-fi-A).

Tickets for this event went on sale November 2nd and can be bought at the Parks and Recreation office located at 10455 Armstrong St and Green Acres Center, 4401 Sideburn Rd or call 703-385-7858.

Between 5 and 6 pm there will be caroling and bell ringing. The event ends at 7 pm, and I believe the lighting takes place after the caroling, although I am not 100% sure on that. Looks to be a fun day in historic Fairfax. This event is free except for the luncheon and if you want to take pictures with Santa there is an additional charge.

City of Falls Church Holiday Arts and Crafts Show
This event features more than 60 crafters selling tons of handmade items and homemade foods. The event's advertising promises lots of kid friendly activities! Kids under 12 are free and .50 for children over 12; adults are $1.00.

The show will be held at the City of Falls Church Community Center located at 223 Little Falls St., Falls Church, VA. The show is open on Saturday, December 5 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

McLean Holiday Craft Show
The McLean Community Center is hosting a holiday craft show December 4-6, 2009. The weekend promises a variety of arts and crafts (over 70 vendors) and festive holiday music played by local school musicians.

The show will be held on Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Adults pay $2.00 admission and kids 14 and under are $1.00 (this admission fee is good for all 3 days!).

If you visit the Community Center's website, you can get a coupon for $1.00 off adult admission.

Holiday at Rippon Lodge
As a visitor you can experience historic tours of Rippon Lodge, enjoy holiday crafts for children and savor 18th century refreshments as you learn about the holiday customs from the 18th century period.

This event is a one day event on Saturday, December 5 and will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rippon Lodge is located at 5500 Blackburn Rd. in Woodbridge, and the admission fee is $5.00 per person. For more information you can contact 703-499-9812.

Lake Anne Village Center: Santa Arrives by Barge and Tree Lighting
Lake Anne celebrates the holiday season on Saturday, December 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event is free to the public and is full of holiday spirited entertainment, a holiday market and Santa arrives by barge at 12 p.m.

Later at 6 p.m. visitors can enjoy Lake Anne's annual tree lighting, caroling and the lit up decorations. The Center is located at 1609 Washington Plaza in Reston.

Afterwards the Washington Plaza Baptist Church invites visitors for a special Christmas Concert at 6:30 p.m.

Leesburg Holiday Fine Arts and Craft Show and Tree Lighting
Located at 60 Ida Lee Dr. NW in Leesburg, this show will feature over 90 local and regional artisans selling hand made items...
Please visit the About.com page for more information, they offer a wealth of details on Leesburg's holiday events and celebrations on the weekends of December 5-6 and 12-13.

These are only a handful of events, as I read about more events or visit locations, I'll be sure and post about them. In addition as another possibility of a festive event, you may want to consider visiting the Bull Run Festival of Lights which opens for the season on November 25, 2009.

November and Thanksgiving Events in Northern Virginia

In anticipation of the Holiday Season there is lots of stuff happening locally. Many events start in November, here are a few things I came across that's happening in the area in the month of November

Heritage Farm Museum
The Heritage Farm Museum in Loudoun county is hosting "Let's Talk Turkey" this coming weekend on Saturday, November 14, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Kids can learn about turkeys and enjoy hands on activities, stories and games.

Visitors will have to pay regular admission fees to the museum, but the activities are free. Entrance fees are $5 adults, $4 seniors, and $3 ages 2-12. The Heritage Farm Museum is located at 21668 Heritage Farm Museum in Sterling, VA. You can learn more about this event and other information about the museum if you visit their website.

7th Annual Pentago Row Holiday Festival
This coming weekend, on Saturday, November 14 from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm the annual festival takes place. There will be a festive snow fall, free horse and carriage rides, Santa comes to town, balloon art, face painting and more. For directions and more information about the event and the ice skating rink, please visit the Pentagon Row website.

Thanksgiving Weekend Art and Craft Showcase
The Vienna Community Center is hosting it's 27th annual Thanksgiving Weekend Art and Craft Showcase on Friday, November 27 and Saturday November 28 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. and on Sunday, November 29 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. The event will feature more than 80 local artisans from the Northern Virginia Handcrafters Guild. There are lots of creations including gifts, home decor, art and more. You can learn more about the Handcrafters Guild and this event on their website.

Holidays Happen at the Reston Town Center
On November 27 from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm, there's a big day planned out at the Reston Town Center as the holiday shopping season officially kicks off.

The festivities begin at 7:30 am when kids prepare to run "The Reston Mile". This event benefits www.neediestkids.org (please visit the website for sponsorship and registration information).

At 11:00 am the annual Holiday Parade kicks off. The parade is in it's 18th year. They'll be large balloons, Santa, Mrs. Claus, musical groups, dancers, antique cars and more! After the parade the kids can have an opportunity for a photo op with Santa beginning at 12:30 pm.

At 6:00 pm the holiday tree lighting and sing along begins. The Reston Chorale and brass quintet will be performing and playing along as everyong sings holiday songs. In addition, from 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm visitors can tour the Town Center in a horse drawn carriage ride.

The Reston Town Center is located at 11900 Market St., Reston. You can learn more about this event and other Reston Town Center events on their website's calendar page.

In addition as another possibility of a festive event, you may want to consider visiting the Bull Run Festival of Lights which opens for the season on November 25, 2009.

Christmas and Holiday Events in Alexandria, VA

Despite the warm seasonal temperatures currently happening in Northern Virginia, the holiday season is right around the corner. There are lots of events coming up in the next few weeks as the holiday season approaches.

Here are a few events happening in Old Town Alexandria:

Alexandria Holiday Tree Lighting
This fun event is open to all as the City of Alexandria starts the holiday season with music, entertainment and a visit from both the Mayor and Santa! During the festivities visitors will get the chance to see Alexandria's tree lit for the first time of the year. The event is held rain or shine at Market Square/City Hall on Friday evening, November 27 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

Campagna Center's 39th Annual Scottish Christmas Walk Parade and Weekend
This annual event is taking place from Thursday, December 3 to Saturday, December 5 from 10:30 am to 4:00 pm. The parade, which honors Alexandria's Scottish heritage, will feature over 100 Scottish clans dressed in traditional garb and play Scottish music as they march through Old Town. As a part of the festivities, there will also be history reenactment units present. The Campagna Center is located at 418 S. Washington Street, and you can learn more about the other festivities surrounding this event on their website.

Torpedo Art Factory's Holiday Open House
On Thursday, December 03, 2009 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm, the Art Center becomes a holiday shopping center. Visitors can enjoy refreshments and music as they shop in the various studios. If you are shopping for the art aficionado in your life, this may be a great place to get your shopping done. The Art Center advertises gifts for every taste and budget. The Torpedo Art Factory Center is located at 105 Union St., in Old Town right on the waterfront.

Alexandria Archaeology Museum's Ornament Decorating Workshop
On Saturday, December 5 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm the Museum is hosting a free event where visitors can decorate and take home dough ornaments. These ornaments are designed to replicate the museum's own pottery collection. Sounds like a great hands on event for the kids! The Alexandria Archaeology Museum is located at the Torpedo Factory Art Center (3rd floor) at 105 N. Union Street.

Parade of Lights Holiday Boat Parade
This annual parade takes place on Saturday, December 5th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm down on the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria. Boat owners decorate their vessels and compete for prizes. Visitors can see the boats cruise along the Potomac's waterfront.

Kwanzaa Craft and Game Workshop
This event happens on December 12 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Alexandria Black History Museum. Visitors can learn about Kwanzaa and learn how to make Kwanzaa gifts (zawadi). The event is free and fun for all ages! The museum will provide all the necessary supplies. For more information, please visit the Alexandria Black History Museum's website. The museum is located at 902 Wythe Street in Alexandria.

Holiday Favorites with the Colonial Handbell Ringers
This event happens on December 20 from 2:00 p.m. and again at 4:00 p.m. at the Lyceum, Alexandria's History Museum. The Colonial Handbell Ringers will play holiday musical classics with more than 60 bronze bells. Visitors are welcome to sing along with Christmas Carols. The Lyceum is located at 201 South Washington St., Alexandria. The event is free!

Late November and December looks to be a busy time in Alexandria. If you're looking for something to do, one of these events may be just what you're seeking.

Things to Do with the Kids: Smithsonian National Zoo, Washington D.C.

If you're visiting the Washington D.C. Metro area with the kids, the National Zoo is a great place to spend the day, or even a few hours. The zoo's layout is pretty straightforward and for the most part, easy to navigate with kids.

Highlights of the National Zoo are the giant pandas, elephants, big cats, great apes (and other primates), invertebrates, the Asia Trail, and the Think Tank. (You can learn more about the Think Tank on the National Zoo's website). There's even a Komodo Dragon. I'd never seen one before...

In addition there are many other neat exhibits and hands on activities for the kids. For instance the Kids' Farm lets kids get close up and personal with the animals as children can learn about taking care of animals and also learn the fundamentals of farming. There are also lots of daily activities and occasional special events at the zoo.

These are some shots from the Giant Panda Exhibit:

The Gorilla exhibit was pretty amazing. These shots are only a small angle of the view of the entire exhibit. Unfortunately it was tough to get center and close enough during the time we visited.

Inside the Invertebrates House

Elephant exhibit is a lot of fun to watch! Quite playful too.

Simply majestic. There is no other word to describe these great cats (if you click on any one of the pics in this entry you can see any of these photos enlarged to show much better detail).

The zoo is located at 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC and is easily accessible by car or the Metro (Red Line). If you decide to take the Metro, you can get off at the Woodley Park/Zoo/Adams Morgan station or the Cleveland Park stop. The Woodley Station is a bit of an uphill walk, but not too bad, especially if it's a nice day.

If you drive, parking is a bit pricey, and costs $10 for the first hour, $15 for two to three hours, and $20 for more than three hours. During peak times, it may also be difficult to get parking, so the Metro is a good choice. Traveling with the kids on the Metro isn't too difficult to maneuver.

For food, there are 3 food locations within the zoo, each having a different emphasis on the kind of food. There are also many separate vendors spread about the park. Another option is to bring your own lunch (there are some stores located just outside the zoo also where you can purchase drinks, snacks, etc).

The zoo is a fun outing for the family. Best of all it's free! Although, if you want a map of the zoo's layout, this will cost $2. (All proceeds from any kind of sale at the zoo go towards funding the zoo). Additionally there is a gift shop and many other carts throughout the zoo that sell souvenirs.

A Visit to the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, Washington DC

A visit to Washington DC isn't complete without a trip to the National Mall to visit the memorials. The World War II Memorial is one of the newer dedications located on the National Mall in Washington DC. It was opened in April of 2004 and was dedicated on May 29, 2004.

This Memorial was built to honor the 16 million military members of the armed forces, the 400,000+ who died and everyone who supported the war effort back on U.S. soil. Visiting the Memorial evokes a lot of emotion for the visitor. There are usually a lot of visitors on the site at any given time of the year and it is not uncommon to see many WWII Veterans and their families visiting the Memorial leaving bouquets of flowers and setting down to visit different locations in the Memorial (all photos can be clicked to enlarge).

The design of the Memorial is beautiful and awe inspiring:

When visiting Washington D.C., the WW II Memorial is located on 17th Street between Constitution and Independence Avenues. From the monument, the Lincoln Memorial sits behind it, and the Washington Monument sits ahead in front of the entrance (there is a bit of a walk between the Monuments). You can visit the WWII Memorial 24 hours a day, and the site is open daily.

Veteran's Day Events in Northern Virginia and Washington DC

This coming Wednesday, November 11th is the observance of Veterans Day. There are many local events in the Northern Virginia area taking place to recognize the heroism and acts of those who have previously served or continue to serve in the military.

Here are a few of the local events taking place to remember our Veterans and pay tribute to honor the bravery and sacrifice of those men and women who have served in the U.S. military.

Manassas Veterans Parade
On Saturday, November 7, 2009, the first ever Veterans Parade in Manassas will take place. The parade is hosted by the American Legion Robert V. McMaugh Memorial Post 10, and will start at 11:00 a.m. in Old Town Manassas. For more information please visit the parade's website.

Arlington National Cemetery
The National Veterans Day service and wreath-laying ceremony will take place in Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at 11:00 a.m. on Veterans Day. It is recommended that visitors arrive early, at least a half-hour, before the ceremony because seating in the amphitheater is limited.

Veterans Ceremony of Remembrance
This remembrance ceremony will take place on November 11 at 10:30 am at the Fairfax War Memorial (located at the corner of Route 236/Main St., and Route 123/Chain Bridge Road) in Fairfax, VA. The ceremony is hosted by the American Legion Post 177 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8469.

Veterans Day Tours at Fort Ward
To recognize Veterans Day, this Saturday, November 7, 2009, Fort Ward will have a special event where visitor tours are led by a Union soldier in period uniform. Each tour is one hour and will "introduce visitors to the history of the Defenses of Washington, the building and role of Fort Ward, 19th-century fortification engineering, and the troops who were stationed in this area during the Civil War." (Fort Ward website).

There are two tours, one at 10:00 a.m. and one at 2:00 p.m., and the event is free. The Fort Ward Museum & Historic Site is located at 4301 West Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA.

World War II Memorial
There will be a special wreath laying ceremony at the World War II Memorial on November 11, 2009 at 8 a.m. at 17th Street, between Constitution and Independence Avenues, NW Washington, DC.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial
A special wreath-laying ceremony takes place on November 11, 2009, at 1:00 p.m. at the Memorial at Constitution Avenue and Henry Bacon Dr. NW, Washington, DC. There will be Color guard, speakers and a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate.

Vietnam Women's Memorial
This event takes place down on the National Mall on November 11, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Constitution Avenue and Henry Bacon Drive, NW Washington, DC. Vietnam-era veterans and the children of veterans tell stories "in their own voices" about their experiences. (About.com).

Mount Vernon Salutes Veterans
On November 11, 2009 Mount Vernon salutes Veterans by hosting special activities on Veterans Day.

These include a "patriotic community concert by the all-veteran barbershop chorus at 11 a.m., at 2 p.m. wreathlaying at the tomb of our first commander-in-chief, George Washington, and "Martha Washington" talking about her work with veterans at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in the Little Theater" (Mount Vernon.org). Active duty military personnel and veterans are admitted free of charge. All other visitors will be admitted with regular admission fees to Mount Vernon.

Wherever you are on Veterans Day, or any other day, please take a moment to remember and thank those brave men and women who serve.

Visiting the Historic Christ Church in Old Town Alexandria, VA

Christ Church is an active parish and has been since the 18th century. Over the centuries many people have come to Christ Church to meet their spiritual needs, and today the number of parishioners exceeds two thousand members.

Three Sunday services are offered with Holy Communion at 8:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. There is also a Morning Prayer Service held at 11:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings.

The Church is open to visitors daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Guided tours are offered by the Church's Docents, and visitors are given a lot of background information including architectural descriptions, interesting facts and historical stories of the Church. The tour is very informative and a wonderful opportunity if you're in Old Town Alexandria.

Construction of the church began back in 1767 and was completed in 1773. These photos were taken from the exterior of the Church. The first photo is of the entryway and the second picture is the front door which is very elaborate in design and beautiful. The Church's bell tower was built in 2 phases, the information provided by the Church indicates the second addition was added somewhere around 1820.

Clicking on any of these photos will greatly increase the detail and clarity of each shot.

The interior of the Church is absolutely beautiful. I don't feel the photos I've taken truly show the beauty of Christ Church. If you click on each photo, this gives a better detailed view.

The first photo is of the Wine-Glass Pulpit which was installed in 1890's. There are no records to indicate where the original was placed, but this one was installed traditionally in design, location and with consistency to liturgical practices of the 18th century.

If you click on these two photos you can see the Hand-Lettered Tablets which contain the Apostle's Creed, Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer. Amazingly, these are original to the Church and have never been retouched; records indicate they were originally white but now are golden in color. They were painted by Colonel James Wren who also was the one who designed the Church's architectual drawings and specifications.

The pews are much like they were in the 18th century. Back in colonial times people 'owned' pews. The first photo is taken from the rail of the pew where George Washington worshiped when he was in Alexandria. The second photo is of another pew located nearby.

On our tour we were told that it is customary for every President of the United States to visit Christ Church at some point during their time of office. Robert E. Lee was also a parishioner and was confirmed and later married to Mary Custis (George Washington's step-great granddaughter) in Christ Church.

Christ Church is located on 118 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. For more information about the congregation and complete history you can visit the Church's website at www.historicchristchurch.org.

Northern Virginia: Fun Things to Do with the Kids

If you live or plan to visit the Northern Virginia area with kids, there are a gold mine of things to see and do that are bound to perk your child's interest.

Northern Virginia is a very family friendly oriented area and there are many various places you can take the kids throughout the year.

Here are a few top picks...read more...

Christmas Events at Mount Vernon Estate, Virginia

The Christmas season will be soon upon us and events are already planned in much of Northern Virginia. Mount Vernon is no exception. Here are a couple events which are going on at George Washington's famous estate:

Mount Vernon by Candlelight
Tickets are now on sale (as of November 1) for "Mount Vernon by Candlelight" which runs from Friday, November 27 to Sunday, December 13, 2009 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

This special after hours event will feature a delightful evening hosted by Mrs. Washington herself. The evening promises candlelight tours, dancing, music, fireside caroling, ginger cookies and more. During the event you can expect to see visitors from the 18th century come and ring in the holidays with visitors for what sounds like a great time.

The cost of admission for adults is $18 and children 11 and under are $12. I'm not sure if/how fast this event sells out, so if this event is something you're interested in you might want to inquire about this.

Christmas at Mount Vernon

This event runs from November 27, 2009 to January 6, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Christmas is a special time at Mount Vernon as themed Christmas trees, gingerbread, chocolate making demos and more happen during this time.

In years past the estate has opened up the rarely seen 3rd floor which is not open during the rest of the year because it is small space and cannot handle the high volume of visitors. I'm not sure if that is happening again this year, but it's pretty neat to see if they do.

Christmas is a special time at Mount Vernon, but you can also experience the regular tour and visit the grounds.

You can learn more about these holiday events if you visit the Mount Vernon website.