Lovely drive today, arriving at our D.C. hotel around 4:30. We found a series of oldies stations all the way from Greensboro, up through Richmond and into the District, so the Mister and I cranked it up and sang along with the likes of Manfred Mann and Kansas and Queen for hours. The children seemed especially grateful for their earphones.
Immediately upon our arrival, we realized that we've chosen a particularly popular weekend to visit Washington.
If you've ever driven in from I-395 up from Arlington, you'll remember that the first thing you see is the tip of the Washington Monument looming majestically in the distance. Even more remarkable, today was the official Cherry Blossom Kite Festival, right on the monument's grounds. Imagine the famous structure surrounded by literally hundreds of gorgeous kites - some with the patriotic stars-and-stripes, some with breathtaking butterfly wings and ribbons...it really was an amazing sight, and I can't do it justice with words. And of course I don't have pictures, because I had insisted on driving the car into the city on account of being a ginormous control freak.
The other main attraction in D.C. tonight is "the big game". I had no idea which big game, but when we checked in this afternoon, we commented on the crowds, and the front desk clerk informed us that everyone was here for the big game. Our hotel is around the corner from the Verizon Center, and apparently the big game is being held over there.
What game? I know this is the Final Four weekend, but those loons are all in New Orleans. Football season is months away, and it's still too early in the season for anybody to be spun up about soccer or baseball. Gymnastics? No, that's not really a game, although it's fun to watch and imitate flatulence when they stick a hard landing. I racked my brain trying to figure out what else it could be - maybe NBA?
We tried to have dinner in the hotel restaurant, but we could barely elbow our way into the side door, and it was packed with loud drunk people in red jerseys. As I studied the crowd and their silly face paint and get-ups, it dawned on me - these people are hockey fans! Our hotel - and actually most of the District - is full of people here to watch the Washington Capitals play the Montreal Canadiens - based on the fervor of the fan base, this is apparently an important match-up.
I know next to nothing about hockey, so I was initially annoyed and feeling rather superior to these scores of maroons full of beer and bad words. Then it occurred to me that bellowing "Rocky Top" while choosing to wear prison orange and white every weekend from August until Christmas probably doesn't give me much room to scoff.
We made our way around the corner to an Asian restaurant called Wok 'N Roll, which too was jam-packed with red jerseys but we went ahead and grabbed the first table available. Dinner was great, and we were pleasantly surprised to learn that the establishment is situated in the former Surratt boarding house - the place where Lincoln's assassin(s) allegedly plotted their crime.
They make really great sushi there too.
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