Archive for the ‘Holidays’ category

Memorial Day Celebrations at President Lincoln’s Cottage

May 24, 2013
General Logan’s tomb at the United States Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery on Harewood Road — just north of the old Soldiers’ Home

General Logan’s tomb at the United States Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home National Cemetery on Harewood Road — just north of the old Soldiers’ Home

According to a press release from Lincoln’s Cottage and posted on the Friends of the Soldiers Home site, on Memorial Day there will be a “Rare opportunity for the public to enjoy free guided tours of USSAH National Cemetery and to picnic on the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home.” As I wrote last year, the National Cemetery has a special connection to Memorial Day as it is the final resting place of General John A. Logan, who is most closely association with the holiday and given the most credit for making it a national holiday.

The abbreviated announcement is below:

May 14, 2013. President Lincoln’s Cottage will host an array of activities on Memorial Day, May 27th 2013, to honor the men and women who have served in the U.S. military. Family-friendly activities include guided tours of the first National Cemetery, commemorative ceremonies honoring veterans at multiple locations, picnicking opportunities on the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home, and tours of President Lincoln’s Cottage, the seasonal residence of the Lincoln family during the Civil War. President Lincoln’s Cottage is presenting these programs in partnership with the Armed Forces Retirement Home, the National Park Service, and the Illinois State Society. Registrations requested; visit www.LincolnCottage.org/MemorialDay2013 to register and learn more information.

Download full press release here.

Easter Egg Hunt/Cookout At Park View Rec this Saturday

March 28, 2013

Egg Hunt 2013

Here’s an event that will help break in the newly renovated Park View Recreation Center. This Saturday, March 30, from 1 p.m. to 4  p.m. the Park View Kids Zone will have a moon bounce, snow cones, face painting, relay games, kickball, tug of war, and and egg hunt for the kids. They will also have a spades, uno, and dominos area set up for the older folks and a 3 on 3 basketball tournament happening for high school teens & adults, male and females are welcome to play! Teams need to register by 2 p.m. on Saturday at the sign up table! There will also be food and drinks for everyone! The entire neighborhood is invited to come out!

The days schedule will be as followed:

  • 1 p.m.: Moon Bounce, food, free play, face painting, card games, and music throughout the day!
  • 2 p.m: 3 on 3 Basketball tournament & Free Throw Contest will start and go until 4 p.m.! Relay games and tug of war will start!
  • 3 p.m.: Neighborhood Kickball Game (All ages)
  • 3:30 p.m.: Egg Hunt for kids will start
  • 4 p.m.: Announce winners of 3 on 3 Basketball tournament! Event ends.

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Happy New Year

January 1, 2013

Happy New Year

Christmas Greetings

December 25, 2012

Christmas postcard

Have a Happy Thanksgiving

November 22, 2012

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Chocolate City Beer Participating in Park View Halloween Pub Crawl

October 29, 2012

Halloween falls on a Wednesday this year, and knowing that the middle of the week is tough for a lot of people, I’m curious about how people are planning to enjoy the evening? I’m sure many will take the kids trick-or-treating. Others will go to other parts of the city to celebrate.

For those not interested in either trick-or treat or traveling, I learned that the local Park View establishments on the 3600 block of Georgia Avenue will be participating in a pub crawl — namely DC Reynolds, the Blue Banana, and the Looking Glass Lounge.

As part of the festivities, Chocolate City Beer will be exclusively release their Cerveza Nacional Dark Vienna Lager on Georgia Avenue. They describe it as a roasty toasty creamy crowd favorite making its way back on tap for the first time since Spring.

Chocolate City is advertising $4 pints of all of their beers all night long.

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Halloween Decorations Beginning to Sprout Up

October 12, 2012

Fall is my favorite season. This is partially due to Halloween decorations, and in walking around the community I see that they’ve already started to sprout up. Below is a perennial favorite at 718 Rock Creek Church Road.

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4th at the Soldiers Home Huge Success

July 5, 2012

While it is too early to know exactly how many people enjoyed the 4th of July at the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) yesterday, it was clear that it was a popular destination for residents in the surrounding communities. The event rand from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and was organized by the Friends of the Soldiers’ Home in cooperation with AFRH. It included food vendors, catch and release fishing, a bicycle clinic and a lot of open space for kids to play in. It also provided a fairly good view of the National Fireworks.

Below are some photos from yesterday’s event.

(Some of the many people who showed up to enjoy the day and watch fireworks)

(Food options included Captain Cookie, the Lemon Grass Truck, Sugar High Bakery, Los Verracos, and Humble Pie)

(The fishing was particularly popular with the children)

(One of the AFRH residents brought some fireworks of his own. For a short while, he enjoyed interacting with some of the children and showing off his cannon — which fired blanks beautifully)

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Happy 4th of July Everyone!

July 4, 2012


Whether you are staying close to home or traveling to see fireworks tonight, have a happy and safe 4th of July! Options this year include spending time relaxing on the south grounds of the Old Soldiers’ Home, which will be open to the community from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Full details are here.

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Invitation to Spend July 4th on the Grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home

June 21, 2012

The following announcement came through my email last night. It sounds like an enjoyable opportunity to spend the Fourth of July relaxing, fishing, and watching the fireworks on the south grounds of the Old Soldiers’ Home. I’m sure many won’t want to miss it (a PDF flyer is available here)

Friends of the Soldiers’ Home in cooperation with the Armed Forces Retirement Home present:

A July 4th Celebration

Family Fun* Local Food Vendors* Children’s Fishing* Hiking* Biking* Picnicking* Jogging* Soccer* Touch Football* Kickball* Tug of War* Balloon Twisting*

Watch the fireworks on the National Mall from one of the best vantage points in Washington, D.C., on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012, 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., on the southern grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home, Washington, D.C. (Entrance at Rock Creek Church Road and Randolph Street)

 FOOD

Carry in picnic food and drink or purchase from these vendors courtesy of Grey DC:

  • Lemon Grass Truck: We serve Vietnamese Cuisine. The menu features 4 main items; banh mi, tacos, vermicelli noodles, and salad. All are topped with either lemongrass chicken or slow roasted pork. We will also be serving Bubble Tea!
  • Captain Cookie: Captain Cookie and the Milk Man is a bakery truck that serves fresh-baked cookies, local creamery milk and made-to-order ice cream sandwiches
  • PapsJuices, LLCI produce my own juices from the freshest and finest Roots, Fruits Flowers in the world.
  • Los Verracos: In 2009, some friends in New Jersey/New York came together over a mutual admiration and respect of pork and all of its wonders. They decided they wanted to find a way to share this passion with friends and family. Los Verracos Supper Club was born.
  • We are Humble Pie! We offer updated, rustic interpretations of classic American pie flavors using seasonal, local produce and handmade all-butter crust. Plus, each tart fits in the palm of your hand!
  • Sugar High Bakery, a selection of baked goods with a twist. I bake everything from cakes to cookies to cupcakes, making sure to keep everything both tasty and fun! For samples of my work, you can check out my blog here and see other samples of my work on Facebook here.

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES

Trout Unlimited, the nation’s foremost organization for restoring fisheries, is supplying volunteers and donating 20 fishing poles and bait for children to use at the Soldiers Home fishing ponds stocked with fish. Catch-and-release fishing will occur from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

In addition to fishing we will have organized activities including soccer, touch football, kickball and tug of war. Thanks to Park View Kids Zone for helping supply equipment. Why go to the Mall when you can watch the fireworks from some of the high ground right here at the Soldiers Home? Fireworks begin shortly after 9 p.m.

Also featuring KazooTheBalloonMaker.com: Serving the DC metro area, Kazoo specializes in advanced, multi-balloon creations that are sure to make the kids smile and amaze the adults. No simple dogs or swords here. Available for parties and events of all kinds.

  •  ****STREET PARKING IS EXTREMELY LIMITED****Please walk or bike to the inside of the grounds; the H8 bus stops near the entrance and the Georgia/Petworth metro stop is a 10-minute walk from the entrance gate
  • No glass containers
  • Please help us keep the grounds clean by removing your own waste
  • No Rain Date

Friends of the Soldiers Home is a volunteer organization serving members of the Armed Forces Retirement Home. Friends extends enormous thanks to the veterans and staff of the Home for inviting the community inside the gates for this very special July 4 celebration.

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