Around Town: 155th Anniversary Reenactment of the Battle of Cedar Creek @ Middletown, VA — 10/18-10/20/19

Posted on October 28, 2019 by Chester Simpson in Around Town, Excursion and tagged anniversary show, Battle of Cedar Creek, battlefield, Civil War, reenactment.


Greg and Shirley Pituch with their medicine wagon, supplied with medications, dressings, and amputating table. (Photo by Chester Simpson)

Oct. 19, 1864 — 155 years ago, the last and largest Civil War battle in the Shenandoah Valley was held on the original battlegrounds in Middletown, Virginia. General Jubal Early of the Confederates launched a surprise attack on the Union Army and pushed three corps from their positions. Union General Phil Sheridan arrived and counterattacked, driving the Confederates back. This battle helped Abraham Lincoln win reelection in November 1964.

Excursion: Babalú!!! Musicians of Cuba

Posted on March 26, 2019 by Mark Caicedo in Around Town, Excursion and tagged Cuba, Cuban music, flamenco, jazz, rhumba, salsa.

Cuban musicians perform at Hotel Marqués de Prado Ameno, La Habana Vieja, Cuba, in March 2019. (Photo by Mark Caicedo)

Babalú! Those of us who’ve reached a certain age, or any fan of “I Love Lucy,” will recognize that famous cry. Ricky Ricardo’s celebrated signature song introduced countless Americans to Cuban music and culture. Desi Arnaz, who played the television show’s Cuban band leader, had already made “Babalú” an established musical number for his orchestra in the 1940s.

Excursion: History Hike @ Washington DC Monuments

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Parklifer in Around Town, Excursion and tagged hiking, history, Lady Bird Johnson Park, Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, monuments, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington Monument.

Washington monuments along the National Mall in DC (Photo by Coast Guard News)

People go hiking for different reasons. It can be to explore a new location, exercise, spend some quality time outside, or even as part of a gastronomic day out as in the case of our Excursion: Happy Hour Brewery Hike. That 4.1-mile hike featured stops at 3 different brewing companies in Washington: Hellbender, 3 Stars, and Denizens, and was the perfect combination of exercise and relaxation.

Now, we present to you another hiking suggestion, and it does not involve booze this time (feel free to stop at any establishment though). There will, however, be plenty of history along the way. And what better time to hike DC than the Independence Day holiday?

Around Town: Celebrate National Park Week @ Shenandoah, 4/16-4/24/16

Posted on April 20, 2016 by Jeremy Bailey in Around Town, Excursion and tagged National Park Service, National Park System, National Park Week, Rock Creek Park, Shenandoah National Park.

Rock Creek Park is free this week! Oh wait…

All week (April 16-24) is National Park Week! You can get into any National Park for free.

Time to put your hiking boots and backpack in the car and head over to Shenandoah National Park this weekend (April 23-24).

You can also just stay local and use the already free parks or in the city or nearby. Rock Creek Park is a great hiking or biking destination, if you’ve forgotten.

Check out any of National Park Service managed sites in:

DC – https://www.nps.gov/state/dc/index.htm
Virginia – https://www.nps.gov/state/va/index.htm
Maryland – https://www.nps.gov/state/md/index.htm

The overall National Park Service system has 409 designated ‘units’. 59 of those get designated as ‘National Parks’ and those usually cost money to get into. But not this week. See the complete list of all ‘units’ in the USA.

In the Top 10 of most visited ‘units’ in the country, we have three (all free), as follows:

#4 Lincoln Memorial
#6 George Washington Memorial Parkway
#9 Viet Nam Veterans Memorial

Don’t Miss: The Sierra Club’s Annual One Day Hike, 4/30/16

Posted on January 26, 2016 by Jeremy Bailey in Around Town, Excursion and tagged 100K, 50K, Bolivar, C&O Canal Towpath, Harper's Ferry, One Day Hike, Sierra Club.

The world is wide open on the C&O Canal Towpath

Hike 50 kilometers. Or 100 kilometers. In one day. It’s your choice.

If you’re looking for a challenge, convince a friend to join you on Sierra Club’s 43rd One Day Hike (ODH) along the C&O Canal Towpath on Saturday, April 30, 2016.

If you’re a first time aspirant of this long-haul hike, I recommend the 50K (after all the 100K is 62.2 miles…). I’ve hiked the 50K four times now and only briefly considered the 100K…but no. Someday, maybe.

The 100K hikers start in Georgetown at 3:00am, while the 50K hikers start in White’s Ferry, Maryland at 10:00am. Both end in Bolivar, West Virginia (just up the hill from Harper’s Ferry) at the community center.

You can hike at your own pace, fast or slow, you just have to finish by midnight.

The event is well-organized and there are plenty of volunteers on hand to assist you or feed you.

Each support station (four for the 50K; seven for the 100K) doles out snacks, sandwiches, soup, coffee, Gatorade and more. At the end, there is even chili (turkey and veggie), sodas and pizza. I usually eat like a king on these hikes.

Support stations are also full of volunteers ready to give aid, including the all important foot care. Blisters are the leading reason people don’t finish the hike.

Once you’ve mastered the One Day Hike, you can take a shuttle from Bolivar to the Shady Grove Metro stop. But the recommended strategy is to stay overnight in Bolivar or Harper’s Ferry. There are a number of hotels or hostels. Then you can catch the only train (11:00am) back to DC.

The registration opens this Monday, February 1st at 5:00pm. Check the One Day Hike Facebook page for more details.

(Note: Last year the hike filled in just under an hour. But if you miss out, there is still a chance. Some people will cancel as the hike draws near, so more spots do become available.)

Sierra Club’s One Day Hike 2016
C&O Canal Towpath
Saturday, April 30
Registration: Monday, February 1 @ 5:00pm
50K @ 10:00am at White’s Ferry (100K @ 3:00am at Georgetown)
$55
Ages 13+ for 50K (16+ for 100K)

Tips for the 50K
Continue Reading

Around Town: DC’s First Street NE is Voted #6 Best New Bike Lane of 2015

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Jeremy Bailey in Around Town, Excursion and tagged bike lanes, bikes, First St NE, PeopleForBikes, Union Station.

First Street NE Bike Lane near Union Station (Photo Credit: Mike Goodno)

PeopleForBikes has released their 10 best new bike lanes in America in 2015.

Congrats to DC and the DDOT for having the #6 best new bike lane in the country!

They gave the honor to First Street NE and the new, protected lane that runs next to Union Station.

This is the third year they’ve released a best list, and in 2015 they had 80 new projects across the country to choose from.

Read the full article here.

PeopleForBikes is the movement to make riding better for everyone. By collaborating with millions of individual riders, businesses, community leaders, and elected officials, we’re uniting people to create a powerful, united voice for bicycling and its benefits.

Around Town: Streetfilms Features Two of DC’s Bike Lanes

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Jeremy Bailey in Around Town, Excursion and tagged 1st St NE, bike lanes, biking, Pennsylvania Ave, Streetfilms.

Biking on Pennsylvania Ave

Streetfilms put together a couple of videos featuring DC’s bike lanes. They produce short films showing how smart transportation design and policy can result in better places to live, work and play.

One video takes you on a journey of the protected bike lane along 1st Street NE (which goes by Union Station).

[vimeo 141968633 w=500 h=281]Washington D.C.’s Protected Bike Lane Treatments on 1st Street from STREETFILMS.

The second video looks at how the Pennsylvania Avenue bike lane came about.

[vimeo 142332258 w=500 h=281]

D.C.’s Pennsylvania Avenue Bike Lane Story (with Gabe Klein) from STREETFILMS.

The Word of the Day is:

Armadillo (or zebras): those black and white barriers used to prevent cars and taxis from pulling U-turns. (Note: The DDOT had stopped using these on Penn Avenue, but they are back.)

Excursion: Capital Hiking Club @ Dellinger Gap, WV — 6/20/15

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Parklifer in Excursion and tagged Capital Hiking Club, Dellinger Gap, hiking, rain, Trout Pond Recreation Area, West Virginia.

Hiking with Capital Hiking Club

I’ve done many hikes over the years with Capital Hiking Club. With over 20 hikes since 2009 to choose from, none were more interesting than the one on June 20, 2015.

Capital Hiking Club has been organizing hikes for 77 years. Every Saturday, regardless of season or weather, they host a hike, most often in Virginia or Maryland. You catch the bus in DC (or designated Metro stops in VA or MD), ride to the hike location, trek one of the two trail options, drink beer and eat snacks at the end, and drive back. It’s a good way to meet people and a great option to explore the surrounding area if you don’t have a car.

Within the last couple years, they moved their sign-ups to Meetup.com, to make the process more efficient and easier to manage for the hike organizers.

I highly recommend checking it out if you like to hike.

Capital Hiking Club
Virginia, Maryland and DC
Saturday (Weekly)
8:00am (bus pick-up in DC)
$25 members ($28 non-members)

Trip Report – Dellinger Gap to Trout Pond Recreation Area, West Virginia — 6/20/15

Excursion: The Sierra Club’s Annual One Day Hike — 4/25/15

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Parklifer in Around Town, Excursion and tagged 100K, 50K, Bolivar, C&O Canal Towpath, Harper's Ferry, hiking, One Day Hike, Sierra Club, White's Ferry.

Enjoying the 2015 One Day Hike

50 kilometers. Or 100 kilometers. Take your pick.

The 42nd One Day Hike (ODH) along the C&O Canal Towpath took place on Saturday, April 25th.

The 100K hikers start in Georgetown at 3am, while the 50K hikers start in White’s Ferry, Maryland at 10am. Both groups end in Bolivar, West Virginia (just up the hill from Harper’s Ferry) at the community center.

This was my 4th time participating in the 50K hike. By all accounts it was my fastest time yet, shaving 30+ minutes off of 2014’s time.

Yet the One Day Hike is not a race. It’s not meant to be competitive. Some people treat it that way, but many are happy to enjoy the scenery along the Potomac River and finish with minimal blisters and soreness.

I’ve found the ODH to be one of the most well-organized and well-supported walking or racing events in the DC area. In no small part to the volunteers that plan it, manage it and those volunteers that come out early and stay late to prepare food and drinks, give medical aid and patrol along the trail between support stations to help and give encouragement. ODH co-chair and volunteer coordinator, Mike Darzi, is at the forefront of this successfully run event, communicating with participants and sorting out the details each year.

Diana Partridge, first-time hiking the 50K, “The hike was beautiful and very well-organized. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I’m excited to try the 100k next year.”

Each support station (four stations for the 50K; seven for the 100K) is a veritable feast of snacks, sandwiches, soup, coffee, Gatorade, fruit, candy and more. I like the popcorn and the trail mix with M&Ms. And blue Gatorade is possibly the most delicious liquid after 20 miles of walking. Then, for the finishers at the Bolivar Community Center, there is chili (turkey and veggie), salads, sodas and pizza. I probably eat better on this hike than on most days.

The support stations also feature a medical tent where volunteers give aid to the hikers, including foot care for any pesky blisters.

Mike O’Brien, first-time medical volunteer, “I was happy to volunteer and was encouraged to see the people who I had treated at the half-way mark of the 100K, finish. Next year I’m going to join the hike.”

Once you’ve finished the hike, some people take the shuttle bus back to the Shady Grove Metro stop. But you’re tired by then, and more travel is the last thing you need. The best option is to stay in Bolivar or Harper’s Ferry at a hostel or hotel and then catch the (only) train back to DC the next morning after breakfast.

A worthy event to consider for next year!

The Sierra Club’s One Day Hike
Registration is usually at the beginning of February and the hike takes place the last weekend in April.
$50 for either the 50K or 100K

Results and Tips

Around Town: Celebrate National Park Week @ Shenandoah, 4/18-4/26/15

Posted on April 17, 2015 by Parklifer in Around Town, Excursion and tagged National Park System, Shenandoah National Park.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park
This weekend, April 18-19, you can get into any National Park for free. It’s National Park Week from April 18-26.

That means, for us in DC anyway, head over to Shenandoah National Park. Unless you want to go a bit further away, like to Tennessee for the already free Great Smoky Mountains National Park…

‘Each spring, the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation invite everyone to celebrate National Park Week. This year, from April 18 – 26, celebrate all that America’s more than 400 national parks have to offer. From diverse wildlife and iconic landscapes, to vibrant culture and rich history, our National Park System has something for everyone.’

National Park Week Event Calendar

The national park system comprises 407 areas, including 59 National Parks in all 50 states, DC and territories.

Find a complete List of all the National Park System’s designated areas here.

Learn more on how the national park designated areas are classified.

Get outside and enjoy your national park system!

These local parks and areas are all part of the National Park System!