Trip Journal: Work and Play in DC
Alexandria, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.; Monday, May 4, through Sunday, May 10, 2015
Time again for the annual trip to the DC area for AIAA Board of Directors and related committee and working group meetings. Lynn and I have wanted to return to DC to explore and this has always seemed like a good opportunity for her to tag along and add a long weekend at the end of my meetings, but the timing just never worked out until this year. The primary driver for things working out this year was my induction as an AIAA Fellow so Lynn came along to participate in the Gala on Wednesday and we opted to stay through Sunday and finally got our long weekend in DC. The bonus that I found out about once the trip was scheduled was the flyover along the National Mall of about 40 WWII aircraft to honor the 70th anniversary of VE Day. That became the one “must do” event for the weekend. The rest of the time we were just tourists. We got lucky with the weather as it was gorgeous over the weekend and perfect for the flyover on Friday. The business meetings went well, we got to see some amazing old warbirds, plus there was time to hang out with some dear friends…overall a pretty good week.
Monday – Travel. I left the base at 11:00 heading to Hopkins and was quickly through check-in at United and security. I was tagged with the TSA pre-check; Sweet! Certainly makes security a lot easier. Of course Hopkins is such a ghost town these days that security is a very minor delay. I grabbed lunch at Great Lakes Brewery. The gumbo was quite tasty but since I had meetings this afternoon I could not include a much needed Commodore Perry IPA which would have been the perfect accompaniment for this meal. I met Kamana and Kathy at the gate; they were going to DC for the Women in Aerospace event. Ruben was also there heading to HQ. No issues with the flight, but baggage claim at Reagan was really slow; I was waiting so long that I thought I must have been at the wrong carousel. But my huge suitcase finally arrived (this is the one trip where I am a clothes hog due to the Gala and the Board meetings) and I was off to the Hilton (review) on the free shuttle and easily through check-in. Not really enough time for a walk before my 4:30 meeting, so I just chilled in the room and got my suit and tux in order for the week ahead. The rest of the day and evening were tied up in an AIAA meeting, but the working group did enjoy a nice working dinner at Legal Seafood which was just across the street from the Hilton. It was nice to spend some “in person” time with the group after weeks of working via telecons.
Tuesday – AIAA Events. Another day of meetings in support of the governance project, but fun times in the evening with the Past Presidents Reception followed by the Fellow’s Reception and Dinner. The governance workshop went about as expected, but still made for a grueling day. I was quite pleased to chill for a little while before the evening festivities and even more pleased to get a beer at the past President’s Reception, which started at 5:30. Nice time hanging with the old TAC gang and Board members.
At 6:00 I went to check in for the Fellow’s Dinner. Tricia had things running like a well oiled machine and was pinning roses and the white Fellows AIAA insignia on all of the newly selected Fellows, then it was off to get the group photos of the class of 2015. After the photo, it was out to the Fellow’s reception and another Blackened Voodoo Black Lager by Dixie Brewing. I spent a few minutes talking beer with John Blanton. Turns out he’s and IPA guy as well.
Dinner was a grand event. I had the honor of inviting three great friends to sit at my table, Laura McGill, Basil Hassan and Wilson Felder. I also had the good fortune to share the table with Tom Beutner who was also being honored as a Fellow. He had invited some familiar folks as well including Sivaram Gogenini, Bill Saric and Helen Reed. Nice group of folks. The food was outstanding. The only bummer was the lack of beer, only wine. I tried the red, but it just isn’t my thing, but Basil had some fun taking my photo sampling the vino and posting to Facebook.
This was a special evening. The presentation of the honors was simply amazing. I was the first Fellow inducted this evening (being "alphabetically superior" has it merits). The “reception line” was the highlight for each of the honorees. I did not think that I knew that many people! Basil was the first in line to congratulate me and the crowd of folks just went on. It was quite the happening. Now I understand why all the Fellows had told me that this evening was the highlight of their career. It certainly was an awesome experience for me. After my turn was over, I participated in the reception line for several of my classmates as they were announced as Fellows. Yeah, it was a special evening.
Alexandria, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.; Monday, May 4, through Sunday, May 10, 2015
Time again for the annual trip to the DC area for AIAA Board of Directors and related committee and working group meetings. Lynn and I have wanted to return to DC to explore and this has always seemed like a good opportunity for her to tag along and add a long weekend at the end of my meetings, but the timing just never worked out until this year. The primary driver for things working out this year was my induction as an AIAA Fellow so Lynn came along to participate in the Gala on Wednesday and we opted to stay through Sunday and finally got our long weekend in DC. The bonus that I found out about once the trip was scheduled was the flyover along the National Mall of about 40 WWII aircraft to honor the 70th anniversary of VE Day. That became the one “must do” event for the weekend. The rest of the time we were just tourists. We got lucky with the weather as it was gorgeous over the weekend and perfect for the flyover on Friday. The business meetings went well, we got to see some amazing old warbirds, plus there was time to hang out with some dear friends…overall a pretty good week.
Monday – Travel. I left the base at 11:00 heading to Hopkins and was quickly through check-in at United and security. I was tagged with the TSA pre-check; Sweet! Certainly makes security a lot easier. Of course Hopkins is such a ghost town these days that security is a very minor delay. I grabbed lunch at Great Lakes Brewery. The gumbo was quite tasty but since I had meetings this afternoon I could not include a much needed Commodore Perry IPA which would have been the perfect accompaniment for this meal. I met Kamana and Kathy at the gate; they were going to DC for the Women in Aerospace event. Ruben was also there heading to HQ. No issues with the flight, but baggage claim at Reagan was really slow; I was waiting so long that I thought I must have been at the wrong carousel. But my huge suitcase finally arrived (this is the one trip where I am a clothes hog due to the Gala and the Board meetings) and I was off to the Hilton (review) on the free shuttle and easily through check-in. Not really enough time for a walk before my 4:30 meeting, so I just chilled in the room and got my suit and tux in order for the week ahead. The rest of the day and evening were tied up in an AIAA meeting, but the working group did enjoy a nice working dinner at Legal Seafood which was just across the street from the Hilton. It was nice to spend some “in person” time with the group after weeks of working via telecons.
Tuesday – AIAA Events. Another day of meetings in support of the governance project, but fun times in the evening with the Past Presidents Reception followed by the Fellow’s Reception and Dinner. The governance workshop went about as expected, but still made for a grueling day. I was quite pleased to chill for a little while before the evening festivities and even more pleased to get a beer at the past President’s Reception, which started at 5:30. Nice time hanging with the old TAC gang and Board members.
At 6:00 I went to check in for the Fellow’s Dinner. Tricia had things running like a well oiled machine and was pinning roses and the white Fellows AIAA insignia on all of the newly selected Fellows, then it was off to get the group photos of the class of 2015. After the photo, it was out to the Fellow’s reception and another Blackened Voodoo Black Lager by Dixie Brewing. I spent a few minutes talking beer with John Blanton. Turns out he’s and IPA guy as well.
Dinner was a grand event. I had the honor of inviting three great friends to sit at my table, Laura McGill, Basil Hassan and Wilson Felder. I also had the good fortune to share the table with Tom Beutner who was also being honored as a Fellow. He had invited some familiar folks as well including Sivaram Gogenini, Bill Saric and Helen Reed. Nice group of folks. The food was outstanding. The only bummer was the lack of beer, only wine. I tried the red, but it just isn’t my thing, but Basil had some fun taking my photo sampling the vino and posting to Facebook.
This was a special evening. The presentation of the honors was simply amazing. I was the first Fellow inducted this evening (being "alphabetically superior" has it merits). The “reception line” was the highlight for each of the honorees. I did not think that I knew that many people! Basil was the first in line to congratulate me and the crowd of folks just went on. It was quite the happening. Now I understand why all the Fellows had told me that this evening was the highlight of their career. It certainly was an awesome experience for me. After my turn was over, I participated in the reception line for several of my classmates as they were announced as Fellows. Yeah, it was a special evening.
After dinner, Laura offered to buy a round in the lobby bar, so I called Lynn and she joined Laura, Basil and I for a nightcap. A nice way to end a great evening.
Wednesday – day off and the Gala. Just a fluke, but I had no AIAA meetings scheduled for today, so Lynn and I took advantage of the time and spent the day on the National Mall. We left the hotel at 8:24; it took us about an hour to get to The Mall via the Metro (just a couple blocks from the hotel to the Crystal City station, then three stops to L’Enfant Plaza and another short walk to The Mall). The Mall was under construction between The Capitol and the Washington Monument (found a sign stating they were reworking the turf) but all was beautiful from the Washington Monument west. We stopped at the Washington Monument, but did not go up in the big obelisk. This was the high point of the area and looked like it would be a good spot for viewing the flyover on Friday. Hopefully the weather will hold as it is a gorgeous day today.
Wednesday – day off and the Gala. Just a fluke, but I had no AIAA meetings scheduled for today, so Lynn and I took advantage of the time and spent the day on the National Mall. We left the hotel at 8:24; it took us about an hour to get to The Mall via the Metro (just a couple blocks from the hotel to the Crystal City station, then three stops to L’Enfant Plaza and another short walk to The Mall). The Mall was under construction between The Capitol and the Washington Monument (found a sign stating they were reworking the turf) but all was beautiful from the Washington Monument west. We stopped at the Washington Monument, but did not go up in the big obelisk. This was the high point of the area and looked like it would be a good spot for viewing the flyover on Friday. Hopefully the weather will hold as it is a gorgeous day today.
We next walked down to the World War II Memorial. The memorial is a series of markers for signifying the contributions of each US state and territory surrounding a large plaza, water feature and fountain. We walked around the memorial plaza and down to the Freedom Wall and the Field of Stars. There are 40,000 bronze stars mounted here, each one representing 100 US servicemen killed during the war. It was a simple yet inspiring tribute.
We walked up the ramp to the Pacific Pavilion that anchors the south side of the Memorial then exited and continued west along the tree lined lane that parallels the Reflecting Pool on our way to the Lincoln Memorial. It was peaceful along this stretch between the memorials; no crowds from tour buses just a few folks like us doing a walking tour and a miscellaneous jogger or two.
The Lincoln Memorial was swarming with tourists, mostly dumped out of the dozen or so tour buses parked nearby. There were several school or other groups here, as there were at the other points of interest along The Mall, each wearing the brightly colored matching t-shirts. Some of the tour leaders were carrying some sort of standard to aid in herding their cats to specific muster point.
We walked up the ramp to the Pacific Pavilion that anchors the south side of the Memorial then exited and continued west along the tree lined lane that parallels the Reflecting Pool on our way to the Lincoln Memorial. It was peaceful along this stretch between the memorials; no crowds from tour buses just a few folks like us doing a walking tour and a miscellaneous jogger or two.
The Lincoln Memorial was swarming with tourists, mostly dumped out of the dozen or so tour buses parked nearby. There were several school or other groups here, as there were at the other points of interest along The Mall, each wearing the brightly colored matching t-shirts. Some of the tour leaders were carrying some sort of standard to aid in herding their cats to specific muster point.
We snapped a couple photos outside the Lincoln Memorial then went inside. The place was packed with tourists from all over the globe, many of who were taking selfies with the great statue of our 16th President. We walked through the Memorial and grabbed a few images of the interior from various angles then headed back out to escape the crowd.
We decided that w should walk over to the Jefferson Memorial as we had missed it during our previous visit. We came across a National Parks Service information booth near the Lincoln Memorial and grabbed a map then walked through the Korean War Memorial. This was an interesting and thought provoking tribute. The main focus was on the 19 stainless steel sculptures depicting a platoon of soldiers fighting the terrain and the elements as well as the war. These larger than life sculptures are reflected in the adjacent wall of black marble. The wall also has an etched mural based on photos of servicemen. These elements really brought home the theme of the memorial, “Freedom is Not Fee.”
We decided that w should walk over to the Jefferson Memorial as we had missed it during our previous visit. We came across a National Parks Service information booth near the Lincoln Memorial and grabbed a map then walked through the Korean War Memorial. This was an interesting and thought provoking tribute. The main focus was on the 19 stainless steel sculptures depicting a platoon of soldiers fighting the terrain and the elements as well as the war. These larger than life sculptures are reflected in the adjacent wall of black marble. The wall also has an etched mural based on photos of servicemen. These elements really brought home the theme of the memorial, “Freedom is Not Fee.”
It was about 10:20 when we arrived and there was a good size crowd, but not so much to make viewing difficult. As was the case throughout our tour, the folks viewing the memorial were all behaving and being respectful, even the groups of school kids were minding their manners. The light was a little harsh by the time we arrived, so the photos were not great, but I bet there are some great images to be had in the right light; perhaps on a morning with a ground-hugging fog?
After leaving the Korean War Memorial, we made our way across Independence Avenue to walk around the Tidal Basin to the Jefferson Memorial. But there was more to see there than we realized. We entered the area through the Martin Luther King Memorial, taking in the views across the basin, then walked along the edge of the Tidal Basin. I remarked to Lynn that it was odd that there was no guardrail or fence along the edge of the walkway as it dropped right into the water. We detoured through the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial which ended up being the most interesting of the sites we walked through today. The memorial was sort of rambling as it highlighted head of FDR’s four terms in office and was punctuated with bronze statues and famous quotes carved in the stone walls. One that really struck a chord was “We have faith that future generations will know that here, in the middle of the twentieth century, there came a time when men of good will found a way to unite, and produce, and fight to destroy the forces of ignorance, and intolerance and slavery and way.” I hope that faith is well founded and that we will not forget and in fact keep up that fight.
After leaving the Korean War Memorial, we made our way across Independence Avenue to walk around the Tidal Basin to the Jefferson Memorial. But there was more to see there than we realized. We entered the area through the Martin Luther King Memorial, taking in the views across the basin, then walked along the edge of the Tidal Basin. I remarked to Lynn that it was odd that there was no guardrail or fence along the edge of the walkway as it dropped right into the water. We detoured through the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial which ended up being the most interesting of the sites we walked through today. The memorial was sort of rambling as it highlighted head of FDR’s four terms in office and was punctuated with bronze statues and famous quotes carved in the stone walls. One that really struck a chord was “We have faith that future generations will know that here, in the middle of the twentieth century, there came a time when men of good will found a way to unite, and produce, and fight to destroy the forces of ignorance, and intolerance and slavery and way.” I hope that faith is well founded and that we will not forget and in fact keep up that fight.
On around the basin we continued, taking in the views and watching for critters. Not much along those lines today, just of mostly Robins and crows back on The Mall, although we did spot a Cardinal and a Mockingbird, and a few ducks and gulls here on the water, and we did spot a cormorant out bathing in the basin after we toured the Jefferson Memorial. There scene here at the Jefferson Memorial was similar to that at the Lincoln Memorial with the tour groups forming up on the steps to get their team photos and folks were once again being mindful of their location and touring in silence.
On around the basin we continued, taking in the views and watching for critters. Not much along those lines today, just of mostly Robins and crows back on The Mall, although we did spot a Cardinal and a Mockingbird, and a few ducks and gulls here on the water, and we did spot a cormorant out bathing in the basin after we toured the Jefferson Memorial. There scene here at the Jefferson Memorial was similar to that at the Lincoln Memorial with the tour groups forming up on the steps to get their team photos and folks were once again being mindful of their location and touring in silence.
On around the Tidal Basin back to The Mall and over to the Natural History Museum. We grabbed a quick lunch in the cafeteria then meandered about the exhibits for a while. This truly is a National Treasure with such a variety of artifacts. We did not stop in every gallery but certainly covered the highlights. There was a special photography exhibit featuring professional and amateur images from National Parks and other natural wonders as part of the 50th anniversary observance of the Wilderness Act. As it happens, we had been to many of the sites featured and even had photos similar to the ones on display. Of course we went through the fossil display to see the dinosaurs; they will be getting a new gallery soon. Here's the link to the rest of the photos from our tour along The Mall.
It was after 1:00 by now so we figured we did not have time for another museum today, so we walked about The Mall a little more then headed back to the Metro. We were back in our room by 2:20 (the trip back was quicker than the morning ride), so we had some time to relax before getting ready for the Gala. Lynn was riding over with Laura and the rest of the usual suspects, but I had to be there early for a rehearsal and photos. I took my first ever ride in an Uber to get to the Ronald Reagan Building. As is my nature, I left in plenty of time and was there well ahead of schedule, but that’s fine by me as I got to visit with my friends on AIAA staff. Plus they opened the bar a little early so I got an extra beer or two. The good news was that they had a good pale ale, Dominion Hop Mountain from Old Dominion Brewing. A change for this year was that the reception was in a larger room across the hall from the banquet hall, instead of on the mezzanine above the banquet hall; this was a major improvement as there was so much more space to move are and socialize (plus it was much easier to get to one of the bars!).
Tricia did a great job coaching us through the presentation ceremony for the Fellows. We were first on the program and the plan was for us to marshal in the back of the hall, then march up to the stage where we would be recognized then we would exit the way we came in and return to our tables. Again I got to lead the parade due to the alphabet and was the first on recognized. I’m not one to seek out the limelight, but this was a very cool honor and it was nice to be recognized by my friends and colleagues in the aerospace community. Of course the presentation did not go as smoothly as planned as the guys at the end of the line missed their cue for departing the stage. Tricia was in the back of the room waving and Beutner and I were trying to get them moving. They finally got the message. Engineers…sometimes you just have to lead them by the hand.
On around the Tidal Basin back to The Mall and over to the Natural History Museum. We grabbed a quick lunch in the cafeteria then meandered about the exhibits for a while. This truly is a National Treasure with such a variety of artifacts. We did not stop in every gallery but certainly covered the highlights. There was a special photography exhibit featuring professional and amateur images from National Parks and other natural wonders as part of the 50th anniversary observance of the Wilderness Act. As it happens, we had been to many of the sites featured and even had photos similar to the ones on display. Of course we went through the fossil display to see the dinosaurs; they will be getting a new gallery soon. Here's the link to the rest of the photos from our tour along The Mall.
It was after 1:00 by now so we figured we did not have time for another museum today, so we walked about The Mall a little more then headed back to the Metro. We were back in our room by 2:20 (the trip back was quicker than the morning ride), so we had some time to relax before getting ready for the Gala. Lynn was riding over with Laura and the rest of the usual suspects, but I had to be there early for a rehearsal and photos. I took my first ever ride in an Uber to get to the Ronald Reagan Building. As is my nature, I left in plenty of time and was there well ahead of schedule, but that’s fine by me as I got to visit with my friends on AIAA staff. Plus they opened the bar a little early so I got an extra beer or two. The good news was that they had a good pale ale, Dominion Hop Mountain from Old Dominion Brewing. A change for this year was that the reception was in a larger room across the hall from the banquet hall, instead of on the mezzanine above the banquet hall; this was a major improvement as there was so much more space to move are and socialize (plus it was much easier to get to one of the bars!).
Tricia did a great job coaching us through the presentation ceremony for the Fellows. We were first on the program and the plan was for us to marshal in the back of the hall, then march up to the stage where we would be recognized then we would exit the way we came in and return to our tables. Again I got to lead the parade due to the alphabet and was the first on recognized. I’m not one to seek out the limelight, but this was a very cool honor and it was nice to be recognized by my friends and colleagues in the aerospace community. Of course the presentation did not go as smoothly as planned as the guys at the end of the line missed their cue for departing the stage. Tricia was in the back of the room waving and Beutner and I were trying to get them moving. They finally got the message. Engineers…sometimes you just have to lead them by the hand.
Dinner was very nice. We were seated at the Sierra Lobo Table and we were in the front of the room for a change. George and Sara Satornino, Dan Lowe, Charles Scales, Brian and Hailey, Nancy and Lynn and I were at the table. Hailey and Nancy were seated next to each other and were quite entertaining as the two local girls. But we all looked nice in our tuxes and “prom dresses.” It was a grand time!
After the event, we happened to see Wilson and he gave us a quick tour of his office which is in Reagan Building. Then we found the rest of the shuttle crew and headed back to the hotel where we had a last drink for the evening. It was a bit of an odd sight, seeing several of the folks from the Gala still in their finest regalia seated around the very informal lobby bar. But hey, we’re all friends here, so it’s all good. I collected a few photos from friends and AIAA from the Fellow's Dinner and the Gala. |
Thursday – One more AIAA day. SEC meeting at 0900, then the series of board meetings started at 11:00, but we were ahead of schedule and ended at 4:00, so our weekend started an hour early. Nothing on the schedule for the rest of the day other than dinner. Most everyone else was heading home this evening except for Basil so he joined us for dinner at McCormick’s. Great to spend the time with Basil, but McCormicks was not that great (food was OK, but overpriced, service was fine but the kitchen was slow; overall just average. Here's the review). We talked a little AIAA shop but mostly just relaxed and enjoyed the evening.
Friday – Flyover. No rush today as the flyover is not until noon, so we had a relaxed morning at the Hilton. I grabbed us some breakfast from the little snack bar in the hotel lobby and we just chilled in the room. We headed out toward The Mall about 10:25, but we were on the Mall just after 11:00, so a quicker trip today for some reason.
We had over an hour before the flyover started, but we still had to get there in time to find a nice vantage point. Still we made a stop or two along the way. The Mall was more crowded today, probably because it was Friday but also due to the flyover as well. We walked through the garden behind the Smithsonian Castle. There was a farmers market adjacent to the Department of Agriculture Building (that’s seems very appropriate), so we walked through but did not buy anything. They it was off to find a spot to view the flyover.
From our walkabout on Wednesday, I had a pretty good idea that somewhere on the little hill along the base of the Washington Monument would be a good spot, and this is where we ended up. There was a nice open spot in the grass just off of the Washington Monument plaza, just to the southwest of the big obelisk so we just planted ourselves there. Turned out to be a very good vantage point as we were looking straight down The Mall at the Lincoln Memorial, had a good angle to see the planes approaching in the distance over the Potomac and we were as close as we could be to the main flight path down Independence Avenue.
Friday – Flyover. No rush today as the flyover is not until noon, so we had a relaxed morning at the Hilton. I grabbed us some breakfast from the little snack bar in the hotel lobby and we just chilled in the room. We headed out toward The Mall about 10:25, but we were on the Mall just after 11:00, so a quicker trip today for some reason.
We had over an hour before the flyover started, but we still had to get there in time to find a nice vantage point. Still we made a stop or two along the way. The Mall was more crowded today, probably because it was Friday but also due to the flyover as well. We walked through the garden behind the Smithsonian Castle. There was a farmers market adjacent to the Department of Agriculture Building (that’s seems very appropriate), so we walked through but did not buy anything. They it was off to find a spot to view the flyover.
From our walkabout on Wednesday, I had a pretty good idea that somewhere on the little hill along the base of the Washington Monument would be a good spot, and this is where we ended up. There was a nice open spot in the grass just off of the Washington Monument plaza, just to the southwest of the big obelisk so we just planted ourselves there. Turned out to be a very good vantage point as we were looking straight down The Mall at the Lincoln Memorial, had a good angle to see the planes approaching in the distance over the Potomac and we were as close as we could be to the main flight path down Independence Avenue.
I had no idea what to expect in terms of the crowd, so I wanted to be there a little bit early to find a decent vantage point. I had asked several folks during the week if they were aware of the flyover and most said “no” which was interesting (of course I would not have known about it if I had not lucked into a discussion about it while researching this trip on Trip Advisor). So when we reached the Washington Monument at about 11:40 there were a lot of folks already in place but still plenty of space so we did have a good viewing position. We ended up on the grassy slope leading up to the monument, sort of southwest of the base of the monument. I did walk about from our selected spot just to see if there was a better view elsewhere in the area (the big camera photos were set up maybe 20 yards to the right of us) but I think we had a pretty good spot. Of course there were still a couple jackasses who just walked in an stood right in front of us even though there was open space nearby (hey, we got here a little early so that we good get a decent viewing spot), but they all moved off in search of better viewing sites but I doubt there there ware any place that would be an improvement. Luckily most of the folks here to view the event were laid back and just enjoying the day. Lots of families out on The Mall. The guy next to us mentioned that he had pulled his kids out of school to see the flyover. There were a few reenactors about as well, sort of adding to the overall atmosphere of the event.
The event started right on time at 12:10 and ran per schedule ending at 12:50. The only downside to the event was that the PA announcer was not very audible as we could only pick of bits and pieces of what was being said about the approaching aircraft. But that was a minor issue as I had already reviewed the Arsenal of Democracy website so I know how the program was set-up and I recognized all but a few of the aircraft. There were a few aircraft that had been pulled from the program, most noticeably there were no P-47s, but there were actually more planes in the flyover than advertised on the website. By my count, there were 50 old warbirds in the show, divided into 19 flights that highlighted various functions or events during the war. From out vantage point we were able to spot the flights while they were all out over the Potomac lining up for their runs. The flights started with the spotters and trainers and worked up to the faster, more advanced and more famous aircraft. Here are the highlights from my perspective:
The event started right on time at 12:10 and ran per schedule ending at 12:50. The only downside to the event was that the PA announcer was not very audible as we could only pick of bits and pieces of what was being said about the approaching aircraft. But that was a minor issue as I had already reviewed the Arsenal of Democracy website so I know how the program was set-up and I recognized all but a few of the aircraft. There were a few aircraft that had been pulled from the program, most noticeably there were no P-47s, but there were actually more planes in the flyover than advertised on the website. By my count, there were 50 old warbirds in the show, divided into 19 flights that highlighted various functions or events during the war. From out vantage point we were able to spot the flights while they were all out over the Potomac lining up for their runs. The flights started with the spotters and trainers and worked up to the faster, more advanced and more famous aircraft. Here are the highlights from my perspective:
- Lynn and I both commented that Dale’s favorite flight would have been the formation of six Boeing PT-17 Steerman trainers.
- The biggest group was the flight of eight Texans (North American AT-6 and SNJ trainers) flying in formation. The sound made by those eight radial engines was quite impressive.
- The Catalina flying boat made a nice image as it lumbering over The Mall.
- One of the Avengers had to divert from its flight as it was about halfway down The Mall. I later found out that it had declared an emergency and landed safely at DCA.
- The flight of four North American P-51D Mustangs was my favorite. These pilots obviously knew what they were doing as they wheeled in over the Lincoln Memorial and down Independence Avenue in a tight formation cruising along at a pretty good clip.
- There were two B-17 Flying Fortresses flying together, but they seemed to fighting flying together a bit as the big birds were weaving about. Still it was a awesome sight to see.
- Of course “Fifi” was a highlight as the last flying Boeing B-29 Superfortress.
- The final formation was a flight consisting of a P-40, Corsair, Avenger and a Mustang. They were flying the “missing man” formation and accompanied by a bugle playing the mournful notes of “Taps.” About halfway down The Mall, the Corsair pulled up and out of the formation.
Here's the link to the best images from the flyover.
After the flyover, we explored along The Mall, heading back to the east toward the Capitol as Lynn wanted to see the botanical garden. We were astounded by the number of tour buses around The Mall. They were everywhere and from all over the place. And while there were many people around, the crowd was not oppressive.
Our next stop was at the National Museum of the American Indian. The exterior of the building put me in mind of the desert southwest. Inside there were four floors of displays and shops. It was a very open building, built around a four-story open foyer that is used for presentation and musical demonstrations. While we were there, one of the staff sang and played a drum of sorts. I was on the second floor at the time and had a great view of the show. The displays of artifacts and historical events were very compelling and told several amazing stories of the history of the American Indians all the way to the present. It was well worth the stop.
We grabbed lunch while at the museum. When we arrived the line for the cafeteria was quite long and extended out into the hall, so touring the museum first allowed the crowd to die down so we had no wait. There was an interesting array of Native American and southwest dishes available. We ended up splitting a pork burrito dish and chips and guac plus we had a couple of local pale ales.
After the flyover, we explored along The Mall, heading back to the east toward the Capitol as Lynn wanted to see the botanical garden. We were astounded by the number of tour buses around The Mall. They were everywhere and from all over the place. And while there were many people around, the crowd was not oppressive.
Our next stop was at the National Museum of the American Indian. The exterior of the building put me in mind of the desert southwest. Inside there were four floors of displays and shops. It was a very open building, built around a four-story open foyer that is used for presentation and musical demonstrations. While we were there, one of the staff sang and played a drum of sorts. I was on the second floor at the time and had a great view of the show. The displays of artifacts and historical events were very compelling and told several amazing stories of the history of the American Indians all the way to the present. It was well worth the stop.
We grabbed lunch while at the museum. When we arrived the line for the cafeteria was quite long and extended out into the hall, so touring the museum first allowed the crowd to die down so we had no wait. There was an interesting array of Native American and southwest dishes available. We ended up splitting a pork burrito dish and chips and guac plus we had a couple of local pale ales.
Next we wandered through the National Botanical Garden and Conservatory. Not a lot of color in the outdoor garden when we were there but the flowers in the conservatory were bursting with a rainbow of hues.
It was nearly 4:00 by the time we finished our tour of the conservatory, so we headed back to the Metro station for a ride to the Hilton where we had already checked out and stored our luggage. After collecting our bags, we called a Uber for a ride to the Embassy Suites in Old Town Alexandria. Another nice vehicle, a spotless Lincoln MKX. Like the first trip, the driver was working Uber full-time and had a very nice st-up in the vehicle (cold water and candies for the passengers). It took a while to get to Old Town, but the Uber ride was the way to go. |
Once we were settled in at the Embassy Suites (review), it was time for the Manager’s reception in the lobby bar, so we went down to see what was offered. To my pleasant surprise, there was a decent pale ale included on the freebie list so we tried one of those while weighing our options for dinner.
We eventually decided just to walk King Steet and see what appealed to us, taking in mind the recommendations from Nancy and the folks here at the front desk for the Fish Market, and that is where we ended up. Excellent choice (review). The food was outstanding, the service was stellar and there was a good selection of craft beers. I finally found a lobster bisque that rivals Grand Market in Medina. For the main course I went with comfort food and had the jambalaya which was outstanding, particularly paired with the IPA from 3 Brothers Brewing. We remembered eating here during our 2001 visit to the area. But dinner was filling and the dessert selection did not draw us in so we headed back up King Street, with our eyes and sweet tooths on the lookout for a goodie.
Our recollection of King Street and Old Town had more shops. It is now mostly eateries. Nothing wrong with that, it is just different than we remembered. Of course things change with time and it has been 15 years since w visited, so it is not surprising. But the good news was that we found a few promising dessert options and decided to try Bread and Chocolate (review). Lots of great looking options. We took our goodies to go and completed our walk back to the hotel. We unwound in the room, watching a little TV and reviewing photos from the day. Looks like I got a few nice shots from the flyover, but the lighting was not the greatest so a little post-processing will be in order. Oh, and we tried our desserts. I had the chocolate crème brulee…it was awesome. We’ll be stopping at that place again tomorrow evening! Here are the rest of the photos from Friday on The Mall. |
Saturday – National Zoo. We had a lot of options for things to see and do over the next two days. Since I got to pick the main event for Friday, I left the weekend for Lynn. The zoo was number one on her list, so we put that down as the priority for Saturday, but we figured that we could also fit in another stop (at least) in the afternoon. Arlington National Cemetery was also high in the list, so that might be a good afternoon tour. Of course Nancy had invited us over for a drink thia afternoon as well before they headed out to their 1920s themed party. Maybe a stroll on Theodore Roosevelt Island? The George Washington Memorial Masonic Hall was also within walking distance of our hotel and was highly recommended on Trip Advisor. We knew we did not have time for all of this, on the current trip, but we would fit in as much as we could and figured we would start with the zoo and see how the day unfolded.
We headed down to breakfast at the Embassy Suites at 7:20 so we beat the rush. We figured we would shoot for arriving at the zoo about 10:30, just a little after it opened to avoid any weekend crush. So we left the hotel at 9:25 and were walked in the zoo entrance at exactly 10:30 (the Metro station is right across the road from the Embassy Suites. We took the from Kings Street to Metro Center where we transferred to the Red line and a couple stops later we exited at Woodley Park and made the short, uphill walk to the zoo…easy as pie). OK, we figured we’d be at the zoo a couple hours and still have the afternoon for over sites and perhaps still make it to Nancy’s. Nope. Short story is that w were walking the grounds until 3:30 and I eventually sent an “rain check” email to Nancy. There was a lot to see at the National Zoo!
We had a picture perfect day for walking about the zoo with clear blue skies and temperatures eventually topping out in the mid-80’s. Fortunately the grounds of the zoo offered a fair amount of shade to both the critters and the visitors. Rather than pay three bucks for a map, we just relied on the signage scattered about the zoo, which worked out well, and we covered just about every inch of the trails and exhibits offered. We also noted a lot of improvements since our last visit 14 years ago, but still recognized a few of the areas. Here’s our list of highlights:
We headed down to breakfast at the Embassy Suites at 7:20 so we beat the rush. We figured we would shoot for arriving at the zoo about 10:30, just a little after it opened to avoid any weekend crush. So we left the hotel at 9:25 and were walked in the zoo entrance at exactly 10:30 (the Metro station is right across the road from the Embassy Suites. We took the from Kings Street to Metro Center where we transferred to the Red line and a couple stops later we exited at Woodley Park and made the short, uphill walk to the zoo…easy as pie). OK, we figured we’d be at the zoo a couple hours and still have the afternoon for over sites and perhaps still make it to Nancy’s. Nope. Short story is that w were walking the grounds until 3:30 and I eventually sent an “rain check” email to Nancy. There was a lot to see at the National Zoo!
We had a picture perfect day for walking about the zoo with clear blue skies and temperatures eventually topping out in the mid-80’s. Fortunately the grounds of the zoo offered a fair amount of shade to both the critters and the visitors. Rather than pay three bucks for a map, we just relied on the signage scattered about the zoo, which worked out well, and we covered just about every inch of the trails and exhibits offered. We also noted a lot of improvements since our last visit 14 years ago, but still recognized a few of the areas. Here’s our list of highlights:
- We missed the Pandas last trip due to the huge line at the viewing area, but we saw them today. They have a very nice outdoor enclosure but they were inside when we visited. There were three, and each was eating their breakfast of bamboo.
- The Small-clawed Otters must have had a litter of kits not too maybe a year ago as there were maybe a dozen of them in the enclosure. They were quite raucous as the youngsters were racing about looking for something to eat.
- There was a new elephant enclosure that provided a lot of room for roaming.
- We discovered that Fishing Cats bark.
- The Maned Wolf was an interesting critter that we had not seen before. It looked like a long-legged fox and walks with a giraffe.
- The big cats are always a favorite. Seems that the Lions probably had a little of cubs a year or so ago as there were six or seven of the big cats in the enclosure. The cubs were getting big but still displayed that youthful curiosity. At one point four of them were balanced on the wall along the moat; we were just waiting for one to take an unplanned dip. The King of the Beasts must like kids as he was, well, very amorous with his Queen.
- The Peacocks were putting on quite the show and were happy to pose for the camera while displaying their impressive tail feathers.
Here's the link to our photo highlights from the National Zoo.
We reversed our path back to the hotel, arriving just in time for the Manager’s reception, so we had a beer there an looked through a tour guide for dinner options. Since we could not agree on any of the other options and we both really liked the Fish Market we just decided to return there, along with a stop for dessert at Bread and Chocolate. I had to have the jambalaya again, but tried the crab soup this evening; it was also very good, but the bisque was better. On the way home we did stop for carry-out dessert. We each bought a couple, just in case. I got a vanilla and a chocolate crème brulee and Lynn left with a cheese cake and a chocolate pastry.
Sunday – Alexandria and Arlington. We were again down early for breakfast again at the Embassy Suites. It is free and has a lot of variety, so why not eat there. I tried an omelet from the made to order bar which was just OK as it needed a little kick), but again, it was “free.” We discussed options over breakfast and decided to tour the George Washington Masonic Memorial Temple first thing then jump on the Metro for Arlington.
We reversed our path back to the hotel, arriving just in time for the Manager’s reception, so we had a beer there an looked through a tour guide for dinner options. Since we could not agree on any of the other options and we both really liked the Fish Market we just decided to return there, along with a stop for dessert at Bread and Chocolate. I had to have the jambalaya again, but tried the crab soup this evening; it was also very good, but the bisque was better. On the way home we did stop for carry-out dessert. We each bought a couple, just in case. I got a vanilla and a chocolate crème brulee and Lynn left with a cheese cake and a chocolate pastry.
Sunday – Alexandria and Arlington. We were again down early for breakfast again at the Embassy Suites. It is free and has a lot of variety, so why not eat there. I tried an omelet from the made to order bar which was just OK as it needed a little kick), but again, it was “free.” We discussed options over breakfast and decided to tour the George Washington Masonic Memorial Temple first thing then jump on the Metro for Arlington.
We walked over to the George Washington Masonic Memorial (review), arriving right when it opened at 9:00. Interestingly the grounds were not well maintained. It looked like it had been two to three weeks since they had been mowed. Also the concrete steps were spalling badly. Funding issues? But the tour was interesting. $10 each for an hour that covered several floors of the tower including the views from the 9th floor observation deck. Nice views of DC and Old Town. There were several interesting artifacts that were collected by Masons on the scene, including the handcuffs used to restrain John Brown when he was led to the gallows and Santa Anna’s spurs when he was captured. Interesting how they ended up here. Of course most of the history focused on George Washington.
After the tour we headed back to the hotel, had our second dessert that we bought on the walk home last night; chocolate crème brulee was excellent. We packed, checked-out, stored our bags at the front desk then off to Arlington National Cemetery, arriving about noon. The Metro station basically delivered us right to the cemetery grounds.
We did not have a lot of time to explore but enough to walk park of the grounds and see the highlights. We grabbed a map at the visitor center then just meandered for a couple hours. Again, we had a wonderful weather day, almost a carbon copy of yesterday and perfect for a walk. We walked from the visitor center heading up to Arlington House. The lower part of the grounds matched the pictures we had seen, with the rows of identical grave markers, but as we moved further into the grounds and up the hill there was more variety in the markers.
We found John F. Kennedy’s grave site and the Eternal Flame. There were several folks there, but they were quietly paying their respects. That was a common theme throughout our visit as folks were very respectful of the setting and it was quiet throughout our tour. There was a mourning dove nearby and its sad call seemed very appropriate for the location and the mood.
Next we completed the climb up to Arlington House and the Robert E. Lee Memorial. There were wonderful views over Washington from the front of the house from near L’Enfant’s grave. We did not tour the house but did walk through the small museum focused on Lee. We found the Civil War tomb of the Unknown Soldier with contains the remains of 2111 soldiers. Then it was on to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Our timing was perfect as we arrived in time for the changing of the guard. That was a very somber event but carried out with military precision and ceremony. During the course of our time in the cemetery, we hard Taps played two or three times, each marking the interment of another worthy body in this more hallowed of ground.
After the tour we headed back to the hotel, had our second dessert that we bought on the walk home last night; chocolate crème brulee was excellent. We packed, checked-out, stored our bags at the front desk then off to Arlington National Cemetery, arriving about noon. The Metro station basically delivered us right to the cemetery grounds.
We did not have a lot of time to explore but enough to walk park of the grounds and see the highlights. We grabbed a map at the visitor center then just meandered for a couple hours. Again, we had a wonderful weather day, almost a carbon copy of yesterday and perfect for a walk. We walked from the visitor center heading up to Arlington House. The lower part of the grounds matched the pictures we had seen, with the rows of identical grave markers, but as we moved further into the grounds and up the hill there was more variety in the markers.
We found John F. Kennedy’s grave site and the Eternal Flame. There were several folks there, but they were quietly paying their respects. That was a common theme throughout our visit as folks were very respectful of the setting and it was quiet throughout our tour. There was a mourning dove nearby and its sad call seemed very appropriate for the location and the mood.
Next we completed the climb up to Arlington House and the Robert E. Lee Memorial. There were wonderful views over Washington from the front of the house from near L’Enfant’s grave. We did not tour the house but did walk through the small museum focused on Lee. We found the Civil War tomb of the Unknown Soldier with contains the remains of 2111 soldiers. Then it was on to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Our timing was perfect as we arrived in time for the changing of the guard. That was a very somber event but carried out with military precision and ceremony. During the course of our time in the cemetery, we hard Taps played two or three times, each marking the interment of another worthy body in this more hallowed of ground.
We left per plan at 1:30 and the rest of the plan went like clockwork; Metro back to Kings Street to collect our bags at the Embassy Suites, then back on the Metro to DCA. We checked-in with United and were through the TSA checkpoint by 3:00 so we had plenty of time for lunch and a beer before our flight back to Ohio. Here are the rest of the photos from our last day of the trip.
Wrap-up…. It was a very good week in DC and Alexandria, particularly special with the AIAA honors. We had such a great time that we were talking about a return trip next year. We covered a lot of ground this week but there is so much to see and do in the area. Several trips are needed to see it all…not that you ever could. Museums, memorials, culture, art, history, parks, food and beer....yeah, we’ll be back.
Wrap-up…. It was a very good week in DC and Alexandria, particularly special with the AIAA honors. We had such a great time that we were talking about a return trip next year. We covered a lot of ground this week but there is so much to see and do in the area. Several trips are needed to see it all…not that you ever could. Museums, memorials, culture, art, history, parks, food and beer....yeah, we’ll be back.
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