The DC Traveler

For close to 60 years, pianist and composer, Burt Bacharach, has been a power in pop music. And he’s performing at Strathmore next Sunday.
The first hit he co-wrote was the country hit “The Story of My Life” sung by Marty Robbins in 1957.
His most productive hit maker was Dionne Warwick, who had 22 Top-40 hits written by Bacharach. Other singers and bands also had success turning his songs into top hits and many, into American standards. The Shirelles, The Carpenters, Aretha Franklin, Isaac Hayes, Tom Jones, Luther Vandross and Seal, along with many other singers all scored big with his …read more

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This month, the theme of the Travel & Culture Channel is the letter “T”.  Check out a few or all of them at the b5media homepage. 
They include:

Jul’s favorite “T” destinations across the big pond at Europe String.
Grace does a round-up of a couple years of blogging Filipina Soul.
Mary Jo at Flyaway Cafe, shows us some great photos of Trevi Fountain.
Ruth, at Let’s Visit Asia, tells us about the Tarsier, the world’s smallest primate (with really big eyes).
At the always political Sirened, the “T’ theme translates to TV’s Talking Heads.
J-Michael at the local Starked DC, covers the “T” …read more

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Ballet Across America brings together nine of the nation’s top ballet companies for six days of ballet at The Kennedy Center.
Romantic pas de deux, modern dance by Twila Tharp, ballet to Spanish folk music, and the dancing of the first U.S. created ballet by George Balanchine using music by Tchaikovsky, illustrates the range of the diverse dance troupes.
Each performance includes a mixed repertory from three ballet companies from around the U.S., including Chicago’s Joffrey Ballet, Salt Lake City’s Ballet West and DC’s own, The Washington Ballet.
The schedule includes:

June 10 & 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Ballet West-Serenade - Choreography by Balanchine …read more

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Just off the heels of being rated in the top 5 rudest drivers in the U.S., GMAC Insurance’s National Drivers Test puts Washington DC drivers as the second worse in terms of knowing the rules of the road.
The study showed that over 16% of licensed drivers across the country (33 million drivers) would probably not pass a typical DMV written driver’s test. 
Drivers from Kansas ranked tops in the country, (average score of 84.0%) with New Jersey’s drivers finishing last, (69.9%).
Washington, DC drivers, came in second to the last, with an embarrassingly low score of only 72.9%.  DC drivers …read more

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The annual 3-day Capital Jazz Fest is next weekend, at Merriweather Post Pavilion in suburban Washington, DC.
The list of performances by jazz and smooth jazz headliners includes some great names, including:

Justin Young, Boney James and Brian McKnight - Friday, June 6, 2008 - 7:30 p.m. $36.50 
Spyro Gyra, Kim Waters, Roberta Flack, Wayman Tisdale,  Dianne Reeves, and Chris Botti — Saturday, June 7, noon - 10:00 p.m. $45.50
Down to the Bone, Rick Braun & Richard Elliot, Randy Crawford & Joe Sample, Jonathan Butler and Brian Culbertson  - Sunday, June 8, noon - 10 p.m. $45.50

Capital Jazz Fest 2008Merriweather Post Pavilion 10475 …read more

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One of my favorite spots in Washington, DC has always been the Library of Congress. However, I had not visited in several years.
Luckily, I was recently invited to a press conference hosted by Dr. James Billington, the Librarian of Congress, where the new Library of Congress Experience was being debuted.
The library’s new visitor experience located in the stunning Thomas Jefferson Building, take visitors on a tour of some of the library’s most treasured pieces, including a rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, the Gutenberg Bible, and Thomas Jefferson’s original book collection.
Besides the collections, there’s the building itself, which should …read more

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A bike ride this week resulted in a fun encounter with a newborn fawn and its protective mother. The fawn was so young, it was still having problems with balance and moving faster than a slow, and somewhat unstable, walk. It was too cute.
Watching them interact, it seemed too easy to add some all to common mother-child dialog…

“Now son, you need to be careful. Stay away from strangers and always stay near me and NEVER cross the path alone.”
“Okay Mom, can I go play?”

“Hey you…on the bicycle with the camera, wanna play??”

“Junior, get back here…right now. What did I tell …read more

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Memorial Day is the one day each year we honor the sacrifices of American soldiers who fought and died protecting our freedom.
It is a special day to thank all the servicemen and servicewomen for their service to their country.
So to every veteran who served their country proudly…Thank you.
 
Images - WW-II veteran - Scott Ableman, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Arlington headstones - from personal collection - © 2008 - Jon Rochetti   

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Another great destination blog joins the b5media Travel and Culture Channel, The South Florida Traveler, written by blogger Katherine just launched.

If places such as South Beach, Daytona, Key West, Boca Raton or the launch pad at Cape Kennedy are on your list of travel destinations, check out the South Florida scene at The South Florida Traveler.
Besides, where else could you learn about a champagne pedicure?
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Especially for the under-12 crowd, Imagination Bethesda brings youngsters together for a “just for kids” street fair.
Roving costumed entertainers, dozens of activities and hands-on crafts, dance troupes, plus music and theatrical performances make this a special afternoon…just for kids.
Children can watch a 10-foot tall stilt walker, grab an animal balloon from one of the balloon artists, or have their face painted.
Last year, kid’s activities included:

puppet, mask and bookmark making booths
canvas bag, picture frame, cookie and tile decorating stations
tours of Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad vehicles
radio station music, games and prizes
bicycle safety instruction
yoga for kids

This year, the …read more

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