The DC Traveler

Call it a soup or a stew, I love gumbo. Chicken gumbo. Fish gumbo. Shrimp gumbo. Chicken and sausage gumbo. As long as it’s rich and spicy.
I fell in love with gumbo on my first trip to New Orleans, close to 20 years ago.
Since then, I’ve been working on the perfect gumbo recipe.
And to celebrate Mardi Gras, twenty area professional chefs will show off their idea of a perfect gumbo. They’ll compete in the 9th annual Chesapeake Chefs Association’s Signature Gumbo Competition on Sunday in suburban Annapolis, Maryland.
Besides tastings of 20 different versions of New Orleans’ favorite dish, enjoy music, …read more

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The Virginia Wine Showcase is this weekend in suburban Chantilly, Virginia.
Forty wineries will be serving, selling, and bragging about some of the 300 wines available for tasting.
The showcase also offers a series of fee-based wine seminars where you can learn about wine, winemaking, food pairings, and improving your enjoyment of the nectar of the gods.
Some of the more interesting seminars include:

It’s All About The Chocolate - Perfect for planning a Valentine’s Day celebration, how to pair wines with chocolate. 
Virginia Versus The World - Just how do Virginia wines compare to wines from other regions of the …read more

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The uncontrolled spread of infectious diseases such as SARs and AIDS, and global warming are just a few of the exhibits at the relatively unknown and often overlooked Marian Koshland Science Museum in downtown DC.
Learn how scientific research is not only expanding the knowledge base but simultaneously influencing public opinion and global policy on some of the most critical issues of our time.
The museum’s current interactive exhibits illustrate how government policies and personal decisions about science impacts our lives. Learn about how new infectious diseases can spread through global transportation, or issues surrounding the global warming debate.
The scientific exhibits …read more

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Now that the temperatures are  more typical of winter, it’s time to think about snowboarding and skiing.
Within about a 3½ hour drive from Washington, DC, are close to a dozen ski resorts. All offer traditional skiing and snowboarding, others include snowmobiling, snow-tubing and ice skating options. For relaxation and to comfort tired bodies, spa services and night clubs are available at a couple. And at Massanutten, non-skiers can enjoy the 85-degree water park. 
Lift tickets prices listed are for adult weekend full-day tickets during prime times/days. Discounts may be available for off-peak days and times.
A recent check shows …read more

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No, this is not the latest campaign attack on the Bush administration, it’s simply some housekeeping at The National Archives, in Washington, DC.
Due to some improvements being made to the protective case that holds the United States Constitution, the original document will not be on public view again until the end of February or early March.
The original Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and other milestone documents will remain on display in the Archive’s rotunda.
The National Archives
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (Research Entrance)
Visitors should enter The National Archives Rotunda
Constitution Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets, NW.
Washington, DC 20408 (map it)
Dates …read more

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Before it closed in 2006, Ziegfeld’s cabaret on O Street in Washington, DC’s Navy Yard area was famous, or perhaps infamous, for its campy and saucy female illusionist “drag” shows.  But the club closed to make way for the new National’s baseball stadium.
Yet Donnell Robinson (Ella Fitzgerald), DC’s longest performing drag artists, keeps the campiness alive for Valentine’s Day with a special free performance of Ella and Company: Call Me Madame, complete with song, fun and racy “beauties”, at the National Theatre.
It all started for Robinson when, for a high school talent show, he dressed in a costume that …read more

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When the Washington, DC government announced new taxi fare structure for DC cabs, in January, drivers weren’t happy.  Most cabbies felt the fares were set too low.
Many cab drivers went on a one-day strike on Halloween in protest. They also planned a once-weekly strike during February and March. 
This past Monday, the first strike impacted commuters and travelers starting early in the morning. The impact was not, however, as severe as expected. 
The next four upcoming strikes are scheduled to start at 7:00 a.m. and run until after the evening rush hour. Strikes are planned on the following …read more

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Super Tuesday is not so super, at least not in the DC area. 
While over half of the national presidential convention delegates from 22 states are up for grabs today, local area voters get to watch the excitement, drama and bedlam from the sidelines. 
Here in the DC metro area (DC, Virginia and Maryland), voters get to wait one week, until Tuesday, Feb. 12th to vote in our local presidential primaries. 
Can you imaging if each of the 22 Super Tuesday state’s primaries were held on a separate day?  That would mean 22 more “critical make or break battleground states” …read more

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The DC area has several outlets malls, great for scoring discounts and deals from some of your favorite retailers.

One is Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets in suburban Leesburg, Virginia, about an hour west of Washington, DC.
With 125 outlets, including 50 clothing outlets, 20 shoe stores and 11 stores focusing on the home, there’s probably something for every shopper and budget. 

Just a few of the outlet stores includes:

Crate & Barrel
Barneys New York
Coach
Tumi
Nike
Calvin Klein
Banana Republic
BCBG
Harry & David
Greg Norman
Le Creuset
Under Armour
Bose
Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th

Leesburg Corner Premium Outlets241 Fort Evans Road NE, Leesburg, VA 20176 703-737-3071 (map it)
Dates and …read more

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Over nine days, Washington, DC comes alive with the power and grace of Flamenco!
Dancers, guitarists and singers invade DC delivering their own special Flamenco passion at the 8th Annual Flamenco Festival at GW University’s Lisner Auditorium. This year’s festival joins some of flamenco’s greats with some of the upcoming soon-to-be stars.

Cuatro Esquinas (Four Corners) — Carmen Linares & Miguel Poveda
Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008, 8:00 p.m.

From the roots of Gypsy flamenco to the modernized style and sound, two of flamenco’s leading singers, Carmen Linares and Miguel Poveda, share the stage with solo dancer Pastora Galván.Miguel Poveda:

Flamenco Guitarist Tomatito Quintet …read more

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