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Farg, 2022 - Portugal details.
Resources:
Do not be wasteful; it makes me crazy. With good planning and care, we don't waste money on cardboard boxes, food, anything.
All: Be REALLY MINDFUL not to rip up the plastic "carpet" that is in the storage area because it exposes me to a moisture/mold issue. SO GREAT that Sam put down rubber cushions!
Plan and do:
Sam:
Wed or before you leave: Roll up and store Sam's mattress. Put Max' mattress in its place.
Done: Box up and store your books.
SUNDAY or Monday latest: cut back lawn
SUNDAY: On clothing rack in cedar closet, if it's clothes of your Dad's, store it DEEPLY so I don't see it anymore. That includes the star trek bathrobe, please. Do not leave it hanging.
Clothes in cedar closets BEHIND THE MATTRESS, empty that for Max. You may move your clothes up into the Paris Room Closet if you need to keep them nice instead of storing them deeply.
SUNDAY: See AmVets list above the calendar listed below -down-down-down from these words. Plan to discard all? Discuss with mom.
Done: SOON: Empty the drawers of the very nice chest of drawers in the basement. That chest of drawers is to go CAREFULLY up into Max's bedroom-- empty.
"Contain" all items of yours in the storage pit. Do not have any open boxes or loose things left. Bring your food out into the pantry or put way in deep. Ask mom where she wants to store it.
Sunday: Lead out please to keep mom's lawn cut in July. Max will be doing in August.
Stow all things on/in cubes.
Stow your folding chairs from garage if keeping. PLACE/LABEL OTHERS out for Am Vets.
Examine the "hobby cabinet" in basement. Discuss with MAX a re-org to include stowing his painting supplies there on left side. Think about boxing to contain it a little. Ask mom for plastic shoe box containers if they could help.
Place out for free or donate your metal "above the toilet" shelves. Or take to Unique or Good Will or AM Vets. They are valuable to someone else not me.
Done: Discard or recycle dead books.
Soon if you can- I need a strong man to drive DEEPLY into the ground near the poison ivy fence a long series of tomato spikes no more than 4 feet apart each and then effectively hang on it some of the webbed fencing as an extra guard against the spread of the neighbor's poison ivy where the enormous tree used to be. If we work together, we can make it a fast 15 minute project but I need someone strong for the first part. Cover your legs against poison ivy. It's bad.
DONE and donated by mistake: Make sure fridge downstairs is sanitized before you depart. Use Lysol.
Fake Phong painting by cedar closet: wrap and store deep
Ask Mom which storage room boxes need you and Pull out for Dad and you to go through. Set items out to Am Vets. Dad put some of them like blue utensils on your bed for a quick look.
IMPORTANT: BIG cardboard boxes in the storage pit straight ahead of opening: some is Dad's stuff that might mean something to you. Bring those boxes out to trash or keep anything. Use the boxes to contain the things you are roadtripping with in the garage or cedar closet.
Sunday: STORE golf clubs, fishing supplies and everything along the inside wall of the garage DEEPLY in the storage area. I need the space in the garage for my car and want that wall blank now. Ammo must go deep into storage, not in the garage, please.
Mom:
SKIP:Empty stationery cabinet for Max's use. (Mom's keeping this a stationery cabinet for now.)
Place the "curb alert" for the free stuff to be picked up.
Done: Schedule the AmVets pickup for Wed. July 21- day of departure to Maine
Done: Make "FREE" signs to label lawn items; place out the hose wheel and other items in your care
Done: Free up LastPass
DMV: Report dead car after insurance declares it totalled. Ask about license plates.
FFX taxes: report dead car to 703-222-8234 to stop the property taxation after the insurance declares it totalled.
Done: Get David's family ring for him.
Done: clear fireplace books shelves for Max's use
Make Monday appointment to drop off electronics
Done: Call Animal Hospital
Re-set EasyPass for highway
David:
Whose bedframe is in garage? Is that Camden's? Work with Max and Sam to label for Camden or for AmVets.
Which son inherits the grill basket It needs a cleaning and is in the kitchen sink. Once clean, give to a son.
Help Max move the grill to the back patio and give it the cover. It must move out of my garage.
Final Financial Settlement: what is owed to whom?
Retrieve from Margaret the Final Order of Div that I have saved for you.
Put AMVETS items into boxes instead of leaving loose. Label clearly for AM VETS. DONT FORGet the items on the porch. (Move to garage, please.
Nest the empty plastic boxes not in use.
Review sideboard - anything in it you want? I don't think so...
Remove (refill at Uhaul) the propane tank(s) that have no gas in them and clean the grill. Instruct both boys in how to use the grill. Max wishes to keep it but might change his mind. I don't want it unless he agrees to sell it on his departure.
Done: Finalize insurance plan so Marg can get new title on home (by Tuesday, latest?)
Plan and organize viewing of family DVDs and organize their next step with the boys to designate copies for each if possible. Mom will provide storage as desired. Done- trashed: Consider left side of desk contents.
Review right side of desk to dispose of irrelevant keys and trash. Place re-usable stationery supplies in "plastic shoe box" for Marg to stow. Remove/Trash personal items.
Done: Review and distribute or trash all items in the LONG plastic bin atop cedar closet cubes. Has coffee bag, etc.
Marg review: Review and distribute or trash all of your items in those cedar closet cubes.
Do a GOOD CLEAN of the downstairs bathroom closet. Consider painting it to leave it "clean."
Compel or help Sam to store deeply the clothes on hanging racks in cedar closet including your London Fog raincoat, sweaters, star trek bathrobe. That must be done today.
Done: Inform Max of where to take couches with Sam-- hours of solid waste disposal
Remove all of the art postcards from wall. If adhesive remains, use English Leather Oil near laundry room sink to rub down and remove.
Done: Go around house: which art desired and first choices? Place onto "inventory" tab. Finalize with Marg and take/store.
Done: Remove x-rays from x-ray container. Anything else of yours in there? Ask me to show you where.
Go through the "Carpenter heritage relics" to ask boys if they want to keep, to include your baby pictures, geneology files
Done: Go through your files to remove.
Done: Go through taxes in attic and decide which to leave with Marg. - old ones are in attic
Anything else in attic to come down. I want to leave it EMPTY except for my mom's wedding dress. No boxes, NOTHING. This requires Sam's help.
Wooden blinds - solution? Or stow deeply.
Remove, offer on FREE table or stack in one of the LARGE cardboard boxes - for Wed. Pickup at end of driveway: to ultimately complete the disposal of items from garage to include:
carpet cleaner unless Sam's packing it far away from my view and garage.
power washer
sprinklers
lawn chairs - all, including beach loungers in the blue bags
all rackets for sports
badmitten net
Do you want "Christmas ornaments" that were gifts to you...and/or bells from your youth? I will toss at next Christmas if you don't collect up. (Some haunt.)
Create a "free" table on side of road for 24 hours anything boys don't select to keep:
Fake Phong painting
brass planter from dining room
frames/ binned items
Framed batik on porch; ask Max if he wants frame. It's LARGE.
Done: Wrap and take away pastels painting of you as child... ask me which photo is of your Grandfather Gay.
Remove your mail - stored under LR coffee table. Update those addressers: Vanguard, Heiffer, etc.
Done: Living Room Drawers - any contents you want? Let's discuss. Make a pile for my review.
Dining Room cabinets and drawers - any contents you want? Let's discuss.
Ask Marg for the plastic bin with your hard drive, bank records to take away. Let's go through.
Ask Marg for Photographs box in upstairs hall closet - any you want to photograph? TAke? Let's discuss.
Beer steins of yours in basement- find and take away
Elephant collection - organize a means of storage for Sam and Max to keep. (Hard for me to look at, sorry.)
Look for in filing cabinet, possibly bottom drawer. Go through all of the "warranty/appliance" brochures. If they are Pinecastle items, I'll keep. If they are not (like for your gadgets or rental properties) pull out and discard.
Bottom drawer of filing cabinet - are there any Meadowbrook docs for you to take away or is it all Pinecastle for me to keep?
Done: Are there any BOOKS from LR you want? Let's discuss. Lots of cook books.
Remove from kitchen cabinets any "David Carpenter" labeled coffee mugs. Take Grill basket away from kitchen TALL closet.
Chest of drawers in Max's bedroom - Since it was a CARPENTER chest of drawers, tho in banged up condition, I contacted Cindy to see if they want it back and she said she'd look into it and could come get it. I can wait if it's not convenient to Cindy and Brad to take from us now, but see if you can move this task forward if they can take it back now.
Hard drive box -
Please vacuum or sweep or clean or properly box/label omething that got dusty and out of place during this process. I'd love it if you swept the porch, for example.
Load Sam's truck with things for the dump. I can be the driver there if necessary.
Max:
TOP PRIORITY:
DONE: 1) Empty the chest of drawers in your room. Consider taking a photo of discarded memory t-shirts. Utilize the drawers in the upstairs closet in basement if you like, but be orderly.
DONE: 2) Move blue room chest of drawers to Sam's truck; Dad must take to Brad's today.
DONE: 3) Move NICE chest of drawers from family room to your blue room.
4) Put the grill on Craig's List. We don't have room for it. I need room for my car in my garage.
5) Set up your bed after Sam gets rid of his.
6) Bring the red vacuum from mom's bedroom: Vacuum the shelves next to the fireplace and store your books there.
7) Use blue bin in your bedroom to save anything.
8) Take your fouton cover to the dry cleaner. It's filthy and stinks. It served you well, but Consider purchasing a replacement of nice quality.
9) Use a black magic marker to fill in the fouton where black paint got scraped off.
10) Evaluate the batik on porch - want it or the frame?
11) Vacuum the stairs, please.
Done: TOP PRIORITY: find mom a black or shiney silver hybrid to buy.
Done: Make a bag of clothing for donation to set out for AmVets.
Done: MUST MOVE: Determine fate of the carpets stored in garage. Air out in sunshine on cement. Vacuum if necessary. Do not store in garage. Use in your old bedroom or if keeping, please ask mom for the bags in the laundry room and wrap, store properly. Store in attic, not dank downstairs, but give them away if they're not worth much. If there is even a drop of moisture in them (they are sponges) to NOT place on a wood floor OR just roll them up. (Moldfest; damaging to wood floors.)
Ask mom for a bin into which you can place painting supplies from cubes in garage rather than have out.
Done: Dismantle the "easel" that is really a ladder in the garage.
Find a means to hang your EASEL on a wall. Construct such if necessary. There are very large "bike hooks" that could be hung from edge ceiling perhaps. Could buy at Brown's Hardware in FC.
DONE: Establish a bag for clothing to go to UNIQUE and ask mom for her donations. Place at foot of mom's bed for review.
DONE: Take the TIES from upstairs hall closet and add them. Ask Dad for his discards; Sam too. Take also mom's set of books and clothes for Unique.
DONE: In upstairs hall closet, unscrew and remove the tie rack. You may install it in a logical, helpful spot in the cedar closet downstairs IF YOU WANT IT FOR YOUR USE or put in a clear bag to donate it to Unique.
Ask Dad about leather treatment and treat the leather chair in LR.
Max keeps mom's lawn cut in August.
DONE: Got twin bed removed via Craigs list posting. AWESOME!
Set out for AmVets:
fireplace utensils
humidifier from Dad and things in boxes on the porch.
grill basket
lawn chairs
ship's planter?
books?
clothing
golf clubs
skis
blue laundry basket of baseball bag, etc.
Amplifier Max doesn't want
Bicycles
planters/ pots
toilet racks
Marg, bag up the crayons?
badmitten - wrap up accessories, please. - David?
Take to dump:
Portugal etc.
Portugal - Covid Entry permitted? Yes with test results (updated June 19)
Use Cheap Flights to find bargain.
Wikipedia Coimbra.
Hughs Blog is https://portugalspring2012.blogspot.com/?m=1.
OMG the food in Guimaeres! - (Wikipedia) Food to-dos, history.
MARCH books from Library. Tuskeegee Airmen books. Red Tails are what Tuskegee mascot is.
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DC: Orienting yourself with the following paragraph is REALLY helpful to your whole trip and nearly all of my references, if it doesn't offend your sense of politics:
View the Map of the National Mall's major monuments here, keeping in mind that it's like a crucifix... Reading from left... Far West is the Lincoln Memorial, Far East is the Capitol, with the Washington Monument sort of in the center. Reach directly North from the Washington Monument a few blocks to get to the White House and South from the Washington Monument to the Jefferson Monument on the South. I like to think that Melania can look out her back window across the South Lawn as she plans her escape... and see the Wash Monument and directly beyond that, the Jefferson Memorial. (Both want her to be FREE! She might run out her back door and turn right... the opposite direction from the politics of the Capitol that give her husband a headache. Doing so, she can "Run West, young girl" to "Emancipation" aka, the Lincoln Memorial... HOWEVER, she might be shot dead as she departs town... Arlington National Cemetery is West by bridge from the Lincoln Memorial. If she doubted herself and just went STRAIGHT out her back door, she could leave by sea: Cross the tidal basin that surrounds the Jefferson Memorial, and on to the Wharf/Waterfront I hope to take you to.
Also, it's so helpful to understanding the grid of four quadrants. Streets with letter names A-Z run parallel to the Mall. Running from the Mall northward are NUMBERED streets. The Capitol is on First street. Count 16 blocks to the West to get to 1600... roughly 16th street which intersects the White House.
So all these fine buildings are in the NORTHWEST quadrant of DC... and its important to know that all the street addresses of this quadrant end with NW. That's because there are also the same addresses in 3 other quadrants. For example, if you told your taxi to take you to 6th and K street, he'd need to know which of the 4 quadrants. You wisely have your B&B in Northwest. There are only a few things we send you to that are in the SW quadrant (Holocaust Museum and Wharf on the newly renovated Waterfront.)
Bigger Picture: There are things that are helpful about the blinking map on this page to show the wider region: DC's Georgetown, its relation to Maryland to the North and Virginia to the West... and the location of Alexandria, VA.
Washington, DC:
Ahead of Time: White House Tour requires tickets supplied by your Congressman: plan ahead! 7:30 am arrival needed! Use this map and contact information to determine your Congressman to write. More contact links here.
Ahead of Time: Getting tickets to see Congress in action: If it is in session. Easy to book online this far in advance: http://visitthecapitol.gov/visit/book_a_tour/index.html Might call (202) 226-8000 to see if GALLERY PASSES are included in this tour if you want to see Congress in action and not just get a tour around the other public areas. Consider watching MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (Jimmy Stewart's classic) to enhance the visit.
Ahead of Time: Get tickets to Holocaust Museum: Link - Can do ahead or same day.
Ahead of Time: Plan your process for getting tickets/entrance to the African American Museum: Same day tix (only a small number of them for a timed entry) can be achieved if you are poised to HIT THE BUTTON at their tix web site on the screen at precisely 6:30 am. (If it doesn't work the first day, you can try again the next day. These are honestly the hottest tickets in town, so it's DRAMA to get in.) Alternatively, you need to plan to arrive to that museum--the entrance on the South side of the building) at 12:15-ish to get on line for afternoon entry when they give tix out if they have them. Bring an umbrella and water to protect self with shade/hydration. The wait can last an hour before you gain entrance at 1:00 pm, so people sometimes eat their hot truck lunch online. Know which day your overall schedule and the weather make this option make sense. The museum is worth it.
Ahead of Time: Download podcasts/museum tour apps: Many of the Art Museums offer these.
Ahead of Time: Bookmark this calendar page onto your phone or computer and put Margaret's phone number into your contacts. Send her your hotel info and phone number.
Ahead of Time: Book the Biking Tour for an enjoyable way to see all the monuments: Highly recommended because the Mall is 2 miles long and it can really eat up time to visit all by walking when you might visit them all on a bike with a group and a guide.
Around the DC Mall:
Walking tours of Various Neighborhoods of DC.
In my version below, I have grouped things where they are located somewhat close together, proceeding from the Lincoln Memorial end of the mall up to the Capitol end:
JUST BEYOND the Far Western End of the Mall is a bridge you can walk over to... Arlington National Cemetery (can drive past this, Statue of Iwo Jima and the Pentagon a little further away... or park, get out at Arlington National Cemetery for Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, JKF grave, Arlington House (optional and adds an hour--commemorates the Freedmans Village in Arlington.) (Keep looking West and that's the area of Northern Virginia where Margaret and David live about 6 congested trafficy miles away. Metro's Orange Line takes you there.
Kennedy Center - it's a performing arts center-- actually a bit of a distance from the Western end of the Mall going north on the River. It's located next to the historic and recently renovated round-edged Watergate Hotel (now with a super expensive whiskey bar which really isn't all that big a deal) with good view of the Potomac. Gives tours, but the main reason to go would be to see a show/performance of some kind (Events Calendar and tix) and they provide a free performance at Kennedy Ctr every evening.
The Foggy Bottom/George Washington University Station (on the Orange and Blue lines, at 23rd and I streets, NW) , is the stop closest to the Kennedy Center. From there it is a short walk via New Hampshire Avenue OR use our free Kennedy Center Shuttle (signs are towards the left as you exit the escalator). The shuttle departs every 15 minutes from 9:45 a.m.-Midnight Monday-Friday, and 10 a.m.-Midnight Saturdays, and noon-Midnight Sundays and 4:00 p.m.-Midnight on Federal holidays. For the most up-to-date information about scheduled Metro track work, please go to Metro's Major Track Work page.
Need a cheap eats place nearby? Departing to go to Roti Mediterranean Grill at Foggy Bottom 2221 I Street NW, Washington DC 20052 / phone 202.499.2095
Far Western End of the Mall: Outdoors for a sunny day: Korean War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Einstein's statue Lincoln Memorial: Vietnam Memorial, Korean War Memorial... Statue of Einstein is just across Constitution Ave to the North of the Vietnam Memorial. Looking North along the water, you can see an arched roof (echoling a dove) glassy building of the Peace Institute... and beyond that (for driveby) is Lincoln Center, Watergate Hotel.
Details on Monuments from National Park Service (with downloadable map)
Good place from which to taxi over to historic Georgetown and its waterfront, or even take a long (beautiful) walk over to Arlington Cemetery.
Do a Bike Tour? Great way to see the 2 miles of mall with a guided tour (takes a couple hours.) Recommended by my bro Ken and his family.
Central Mall, south and West of the Washington Monument:
World War II Memorial - huge, spectacular... nice to couple with the Washington monument.
How to visit the Washington Monument.
Get tix ahead--small fee-- or same day starting at 8:30 am-- see info here)
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Jefferson Memorial/Cherry Trees, view of White House, Washington Monument (Go for a paddle boat ride in the tidal basin around the Jefferson Memorial ($19 per hour for a 4 person boat.)
MID MALL on South Side:
Holocaust Museum (needs at least 2 hours... the rest in this area is all outdoors with big walking distances). Holocaust Museum, Plan ahead! From March to August, you should get a pass ahead of time (free) for the permanent exhibit. It will be timed but guarantees that you can see all that you intend to see. Details here.
WWII monument...close to...
MLKing Jr. Monument
Jefferson Memorial and tidal basin
FDR Memorial
Washington Monument (can go inside and up, but need to pre-arrange tix)
Using "L'Enfant Street" a little East of Mid-Mall Can walk 15 min. from the National Mall to DC Waterfront/Old Wharf (different from Georgetown Waterfront) - fresh LOVELY newly renovated location with a park and piers and a marina and very pleasant people watching. In this map, the Wharf is directly south of the "Smithsonium Castle" ... about a 12 minute walk takes you from the Castle up then DOWN HILL through that green park to the water. The Wharf looks out along where it says "Washington Channel." What's there:
Politics and Prose bookstore (this is the local branch of an iconic bookstore located elsewhere)
Go to the old, authentic floating seafood vendors at the western end to AT LEAST enjoy a fantastic bowl of clam chowder... or get fish and chips to eat at a table overlooking the water. If you park in the lot nearby, take ticket to validate. From there head West to explore the waterfront. Politics and Prose events - check 2 locations: NW and also "On the Wharf"
Water-taxi to Alexandria or Georgetown if you have plenty of time; ride at least 20 min to each
Concert location
Eateries... not cheap
Really great "sit and read a book" or peoplewatch spots dot this whole area... a breezy, different feel from downtown/Mall
If you want to stroll to the very southern/Eastern end has a small monument to the Titanic victims.
Arena Stage is quite nearby if you go a block inland from the center of this strip-- interesting architecture to take a gander at and where a lot of "new" shows are tried before taken to Broadway.
Getting to Nationals Baseball Stadium and Navy Yards is walking distance to the east... 10-ish blocks, and gamedays you can get the water taxi over, though you might need to secure tix online well ahead.
On the L'Enfant walkway connecting the Waterfront back to the National Mall/Castle, you pass the Spy Museum and the "lift off" location for Capital Bikeways if you want to join an entertaining bike tour that would deliver you to all the monuments.
International Spy Museum (not cheap and okay to miss.)
From the Nat'l Mall by the Washington Monument... Look North to view the White House: (Rose Garden and Ellipse keeps you at a distance on the Southern (Mall) side. But swing around to the front to get much closer to the front entrance on Pennsylvania Avenue. If you walk far enough on Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol, you pass the Trump Hotel (tallest towers; it's the historic post office) and also get a fantastic selfie with the Capitol in the back. Beware that a large safety perimeter AROUND the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has been created, making it all pedestrian in that area.)
White House - tour requires arranging tix in advance, I think. Lining up for the tour happens on the Eastern perimeter of the property actually to the East of the Treasury Building.
Getting close to the White House (even without a tour) commits you to an hour if you are going there and back straight from the Mall, even as close as it all looks on a map of the Nat'l Mall. Getting there from the Museum of African American History and Culture on the Mall, you are separated from the Mall by the Ellipse and the South Lawn. So you can't get close on THAT side of the White House. But if you walk around the Eastern side (passing the weird "Tudor" Executive Office Building) or Western side (passing the Treasury) to the Northern side, you can get close to the Northern side of the White House for spectacular pics. To the East of the Northern entrance is the small Renwick Art Museum for modern (installation) art which can be done in 60 minutes, too.
An alternative is to travel up Pennsylvania Ave from the Newseum or the Trump Tower and swing to the RIGHT when you can't get closer.
Just across the street and to the West from the North entrance of the White House is the American Art Museum (Renwick... Luce Collection) has these interactive games to explore their collection. This museum has two locations, so look carefully to plan to see the collection you want to see.
From Washington Monument, Eastward are almost ALL of the Smithsonian Museums, so people spend a couple days sampling them See helpful map.
North Side of Mall as you go Eastward-- these are the museums I enjoy much more:
National Museum of African American History and Culture - 3-4 hour minimum, and here's my strategy to manage it in fewer than 6 hours. Music lovers MUST NOT MISS THE TOP FLOOR.
Enter and go to the bottom floor to start with the story of slavery... civil war. A stand-out display shows you obstetrics experimentation done on African-American enslaved women-- quite grim. I advise going as fast as possible through the first floor in 10 minutes as impossible as it feels; it is the stuff that most history courses have already provided you. As you move up floor levels, you are moving AWAY from the dark past to more uplifting, more recent history. It would be easy to spend hours on the first couple floors, but the last part as you move through the Civil Rights/Obama section details 20th century history in ways history classes give short shrift. In all, you need to get to the Concourse by the end of the first hour (on which is the Sweet Grass restaurant.)
Concourse: don't miss the Contemplation Room with the waterfall. Rest for a few minutes and reflect. Read all the quotes. Then visit the Oprah exhibit just before the escalators. Take the elevator to floor 3 and take your time moving in the left side to the sports exhibits. Don't miss anything about Mohammed Ali. You had no idea. Unless you enjoy military history, you can skip the right side of the building because you want to move upstairs to...
The cultural and musical/entertainment displays. There is an art gallery on this level tucked in a corner and depending on what's presently on exhibit is remarkable.
If you have extra time, there might be underground rooms to return to or (least interesting to me) floor 2. There are no displays to be missed on the lobby level. I have never watched movies in their Oprah Theater yet; never had time and didn't notice the offerings.
National Museum of Natural History spend 2-4 hours here... or bolt to highlights: Wooley Mammoth, T-Rex bones and other dinos, Hope Diamond and all the different types of crystals
American History Museum (not a fave of mine, but it features cultural and scientific artifacts, and artifacts from American political history. My favorite highlights are the Ruby Slippers and Archie Bunker's chair. Others have liked the first ladies' dresses and seeing Old Glory which was the inspiration for the Star Spangled Banner.
Sculpture Garden (pretty cool with a fountain around which you can eat your food truck sandwich... more modern and fairly compelling sculptures than the one with Rodins that I prefer outside of the Hirshhorn)
The more modern sculpture garden by National Art Museum has eraser sculpture seen from Constitution Ave has a Friday evening free concert series all summer 5- 8:30 weather permitting.
National Archives are across Constitution Ave
West Wing (impressionists and Modern Art I can recommend) then East Wing (Rodin sculptures are a fave of mine) of the National Gallery. Note that they have an awesome, reasonably priced cafe and gift shop below ground and a below-ground passage connects the two massive buildings.
Note: If heading up to the Capitol to view it from the Eastern side, I prefer moving along this North side of Capitol Hill... more picturesque.
South Side of Mall:
Freer/Sackler Gallery - this is the Smithsonian's museum of Asian Art
Hirshhorn Museum of Art...mostly modern; listen to podcasts) Noon onward get 30 min. tours. EASY, SO DO NOT MISS outside on the Mall edge its...
Sculpture Garden (this is such a lovely place to eat a brown bag lunch or lunch from food trucks which are often found further towards Capitol end of the Mall, including on street side of Native Am museum.
Native American History and Culture -- there are worthwhile FOOD TRUCKS around the Eastern edge...
Last before the Capitol: Botanic Gardens
North of the Mall and East of the White House is the neighborhood through which protests often March along Pennsylvania Avenue FROM the White House and TO the Capitol- stunning view. As you take that walk from the grounds of the White House, you'll pass Trump Hotel (it is the Old Post Office Building and has the tall tower), the Navy Memorial (has a tiny Museum) then an area with a few food trucks, then the Newseum which is super close to the East and West wings of the National Gallery of Art. These are all nice to combine, the Newseum deserving the most time - give yourself at least 3 hours. Deeper North into the city is to the North is the National Portrait Gallery, Chinatown and the Capital One Arena.
...are where you might do a sit-down meal to North of Mall if you don't do the easy food trucks that are just east of the Navy Memorial on Pennsylvania Ave. Fancier is ChinaChilcano on 7th street which has a DimSum Tuesday. There are additional restaurants around 7th Street and Gallery Place-- it's kind of a "dining" part of town.
DETAILS of the 2-3 days of offerings in this neighborhood:
Newseum focuses on JOURNALISM and the importance of the First Amendment in history. Plan at LEAST 2-4 hours to hit all this: (It is INCREDIBLE-- my very favorite thing in DC.
Strategy:
Using the elevators at either side of the central space can be faster than negotiating the weird staircases. Take their map for support and to fill in the gaps of what I would say you don't want to miss below.
Begin at First floor deep to right after entrance: The Pulitzer Prize winning photos from across the 20th c.
Go next by elevator to 4th floor- 9/11 Exhibit. 1968 Vietnam AND Civil Rights exhibits plus a very impactful "Stories" movie which is tucked way back behind the second Civil Rights exhibit. DON'T MISS IT... you will hear it, very likely.
Go to the VERY TOP of the Newseum and make your way outside to the balcony to take your selfie with the Capitol in the background. Best photo in town. It will be your Christmas Card.
Below ground: there are movie theaters with footage you've probably never seen before. Berlin Wall Exhibit.
On floor two, there is a timeline of journalism bringing it from first TVs to the Colbert Report/ Jon Stewart.
Some of the most clever souvenirs you can buy are in this museum's shops (on multiple levels.)
Exit "right" outside of the Newseum to check out todays' newspaper headlines across the country. Very interesting to compare coverage and the bias that may be apparent in conservative vs. liberal papers.
If you want, look up Pennsylvania Ave toward the White House to notice the Trump Hotel which used to be the "Old Post Office." It's the beautiful building with the tower. It's only a block from the Newseum in that direction to hit a nice collection of food trucks-- much better eats than what's at the Newseum.
Also in this Neighborhood:
Ford's Theater - where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. See these program options, get cheap tickets and plan to arrive for the show at the right time.
National Museum of Women in the Arts - $10 admission and, frankly, not that great, although it is built inside a historic Mason Temple.
National Navy Memorial and Heritage Center - not much to it
American Art Museum - requires that you go further North into the neighborhood. They have a nice, peaceful covered courtyard to rest and get a a cup of coffee across from the...
Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery (distinction is that its PORTRAITS of famous people, or by famous artists. Find landscapes elsewhere!) Newly installed are the portraits of Michelle and Barack Obama, and seeing how all the presidents were depicted across the years is interesting. Don't miss Clinton's. Has an interactive game to enjoy as well as podcasts to download from I-tunes ahead of time),
National Archives for founding documents like the Dec of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights (more for researchers than exhibits, but they do have a "Remembering Vietnam" exhibit thru Jan. 2019 and it's free) Highlights can be hit in less than an hour if you decide to duck into this conveniently located place.
National Gallery of Art located on the Mall- Western Art from medieval times to the present, including Leonardos, Titians, Rembrandts, Goya, etc. (See program). There is a West Building and an East Building connected by an underground passage with a quality cafe that's not tooooo pricey.
National Building Museum (dedicated to architecture and design for buildings and Green Cities-- directions.) Might be closed for renovation in Summer, 2018.
EASTERN End of the Mall
Capitol & Supreme Court on 1st street. Both can be toured, though tix AHEAD online can save valuable time. If time is limited, the museums might be a better use of time packing more artifacts per step.
Library of Congress (TOTALLY WORTH 15 min or much more to view the gorgeous interior; getting in is very fast.) is to the right of the Supreme Court.) and not far from not far from...
Folger Shakespeare Library and stage- takes 45 min max.
Notice the "Senate Office Buildings" and House office buildings" in the area directly to the north and south of the Capitol grounds. Walking distance for members of Congress.
Just West (on South Side of the National Mall) is the glassy Botanical Gardens. Botanic Gardens
On all days except MONDAYS, it can be nice to go EAST from this end of the Mall to the Eastern Market for your breakfast, lunch or dinner (hours vary dep. on the day of the week.)
DETAILS for East of the Mall: Capitol Building, Library of Congress, Folger Shakespeare Museum, William Penn House:
View the "virtual tour" of the Capitol at the site for the Architect of the Capital and get a sense of the surrounding buildings.
Supreme Court - 30-60 minute tour, try to hear Oral Arguments at 10 am and 11 am if you want to see the court in action, but the lines actually start forming at 7:30 am to guarantee and opportunity to hear the Oral Arguments. People first in line get to stay for 30 min.; those second in line get to walk through and be in the room with the Justices only 3 minutes. And if you arrive 9:30 or so like I did one time, I was too far back to hear any of it. See the Argument Calendars - Next to each case listed on the Argument Calendar is a number of the case; click that open to read the basics of the case being presented before the justices. They're not hard to understand and this is a helpful guide to understand who's in the room. Good to plan this ahead of time since you want to choose the case that most interests you, but I think the Court is not hearing cases past the end of April or before September since it recesses in the summer months.
Library of Congress - not Sundays-- and Folger Shakespeare Library and William Penn House (Quaker Hostel.)
Dining on Capitol Hill: ratings and rates. But note Eastern Market linked
South East of Capitol Building
Eastern Market boasting food, flowers, arts and crafts. Nearby Way Cool Flea Market on Sundays from 10-5 in the Hine School Yard with foods, items from all over the world and music at midday hours.
US Navy Museum access and exhibits and more to learn.
Park Walks discussed here, including
Rock Creek Park
Dumbarton Oaks
Georgetown Waterfront
Uptown:
National Zoo. It is part of Adams-Morgan is a neighborhood that used to have great Ethiopian and other Ethiopian restaurants and might still.
African American Civil War Museum, Ben's Chili Bowl - famous in the neighborhood and where Obama ate.
Politics and Prose is a really famous book store that almost daily has best selling authors presenting their books.
Hillwood Gardens and Museum at 4155 Linnean Avenue, NW - $18 admission. Gorgeous mansion with exhibits.
Politics and Prose events - check 2 locations: NW and also "On the Wharf". There are typically book talks each evening at 7 and also weekends at 3 and I love going to those. Best to drive from my house; parking no prob. It’s liketaking a FREE mini course for an hour. They have a reasonable cafe, and there’s other dining in the neighborhood.
Outside of DC:
Mt. Vernon - Where George Washington lived - need to drive there; $15 per ticket.
Manassas Battlefield - plan visit ahead of time. Click on educational programs. I have a video from TJ called The Battle of Chantilly (Ox Hill) to view to enhance our visit.
Harper's Ferry - historic park and interactive stuff. Well rated. Drive from our house - 1hour 16 minutes to the Northwest. Around $4.00 admissions fee per person. I have a video from TJ called JOHN BROWN'S HOLY WAR to view to enhance our visit. Directions.
Gettysberg - 3 hours away in PA.
Udvar-Hazy National Air and Space Museum out by Dulles Airport: houses the Enola Gay, Blackbird, Space Shuttle and lots of historical airplanes. Gives a neat view from a control tower. (We Carps have been a few times.)
Annapolis, MD: Home of the US Naval Academy, historic seaport, beautiful!
Sports: There might be a Nationals Baseball game to enjoy; here's their schedule.
Theater and Entertainment:
Wolftrap - not far from here. Concerts on the lawn, etc.
Movies and Local Shopping:
A bus line can give you a ride west on Rte 7 (aka Broad Street or Leesburg Pike) to Tyson's Mall. It's a huge shopping destination with a cinema (see show times) about 3 or 4 miles from our house. You can get that bus in front of the Giant on Leesburg Pike where it intersects with Haycock (see map). Just take the 28A or 28X bus
General Guides to DC:
Here are tons of options for your days in our area, so it really depends on your areas of interest: art, history, science, government...
Helpful guides:
About.com - Dave's Fave - it's superb and recommends sites grouped together in the same neighborhood
Trip Advisor.Com - Great insider info on top attractions to plan to see
Washingtonian Visitor's Guide including top 10 museums and historic houses.
The Circulator is a cheap bus option that takes tourists and others around DC-- costs a dollar each time you hop on and might be a good way to get a look all around the mall if you don't have too much time and need to cover ground. See the colored lines on this Circulator map. See the list of cultural attractions that each route services if it helps you plan an outing. You don't need this bus if you are visiting just one section of the National Mall. But further out are some neighborhoods like Georgetown and Adams Morgan; and the Kennedy Center is not right on the mall. If you use your SmartCard (see Metro link at left) it takes a dollar fee for each trip. Or buy a one-day pass for $3.