A deeply historic property in Georgetown, Evermay was built in 1801 and designed by Nicholas King…read more It passed owners through the years, but the foundation inside it now is doing a beautiful job of preserving its legacy and allowing the community to use the space when it's aligned to their mission.

Wow. What an incredible gem hidden in Georgetown. Wow. A couple with a passion for the arts…read more(museums and music) bought this estate. I met Dr. Ryuji Ueno last year at a performance for a wonderful group called The 6821 Quartet. I watched him beaming with pride as the artists performed inside Union Station. I would suggest googling him and his wife, Sachiko Kuno, to learn about them. They sponsor things that (in my opinion) bring them and others joy. Dr. Ueno shared that music is healing. The acoustics in the room are great (silence your phones & don't use a camera with a noisy shutter). The space inside Everymay was wonderful and intimate. This concert room holds approximately 40 to 50 people. Weddings are also held on the grounds. You are greeted by the valet staff in the circular driveway. There is a large room for mingling while you enjoy all the incredible food that is served. The visit includes a performance, complimentary valet, drinks and food (shared appetizers, not a meal). The staff members are very polite and helpful. The bathrooms are upscale and spacious. The grounds are beautiful. I would visit when the weather is warm and you can stroll around or sit under the gazebo. There are many beautiful photo opportunities. The best "mansion pose" is in the back yard. Just wow. Whatever type of event you are attending, it will be memorable. The Ryui Euno Foundation has a series of musical performances. It is a lovely place to share an experience with someone special. Hubby and I enjoyed ourselves. Who knew that such a wonderful place was in the heart of Georgetown. You will feel totally pampered while you are on the estate. There are two cherry blossom trees on the property that were started from seedlings from some of the original trees. It is worth taking a stroll to view the gardens and beautiful architecture. On a hot summer day when everything is in bloom, they would have to pull me out of there. You can check out more information at www.rueno.org Tickets are $65. Parking is free. The only disappointment is leaving...

The Eisenhower Building is also called the "Wedding Cake Building" by DC locals because the outside…read morelooks like a wedding cake. It's one of DC's best architectural designs and it houses the more administrative positions serving the White House. If you have a friend who works at the White House, they probably work here. The inside isn't as fancy as the outside since it's just rows and rows of offices, but you can get a tour if you are on a White House West Wing tour.

Back for a meeting at EEOB yesterday. There's a new annex where the Secret Service guys issue…read morebadges and do the security check. Much more efficient than the old jury-rigged operation. There are loads of well dressed, purposeful young people rushing around the building from office to office. I think I finally figured out the difference between the Bush Administration EEOB staff and the Obama Administration EEOB staff. In the Bush Admin the women wore pointier shoes with higher heels. Other than that they look to be clones of each other. Extra credit point: EEOB has the cleanest restrooms in DC. At least the mens rooms are.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge, built in 1923, is a reinforced concrete arch bridge carrying US‑29…read moreover the Potomac River between Georgetown and Rosslyn. We didn't cross it today, instead we crawled along the Whitehurst Freeway in early rush-hour traffic and rolled past it on our way into Maryland. Even from the slow lane, the bridge's clean arches looked great in the afternoon light. It's a handsome, sturdy link between the city and Virginia, and a reminder that they best view comes when you're stuck nearby rather than driving over it. [Review 1273 of 2026 - 113 in Washington DC - 26451 overall]

A short but vital bridge to get across the Potomac to DC. Our Uber took this route at rush hour…read moreso we were able to see some sites as we parked on the bridge. They were renovating it for so long I forgot what it looked like from the bridge.

I'm an executive branch alum, so I give the EEOB five out of five bald eagles. Sure, the United…read moreStates Capitol houses TWO chambers, and the Supreme Court Building allegedly has a basketball court at the top. But can you bowl a perfect game at the legislature or the judiciary? NOPE. President Truman was a visionary for having this bowling alley installed. Truly ahead of his time, making sure pins could fall while democracy stands strong. Absolutely worth getting a job in the executive branch to sign up for a chance to bowl here. Oh, and there's other stuff in the building too, but bowling in the basement is what really drives good government.

I love visiting this building more than the White House. It has such a history and great people…read morewatching. Try to contact your Congress person to get a tour.

What's prettier than the White House, the Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and the Smithsonian put…read moretogether? Yes, Ariana Grande is a good answer, but I was looking for the Executive Office on 17th St! A long time ago, the love of my life used to say that this building was the highlight of her trips to DC, and I can see why. I remember walking with her in the pouring rain next to it, and taking pictures of her exposing herself in front of it. Times change... But this building never did. It's glorious and resplendent. It reminds me of something in France, but better kept, perhaps. It looks palatial. If the White House is a little underwhelming then this executive office is completely awe-inspiring. It's level with the Capitol as my favourite building in the DC area, and is the easiest 5-star rating I've given since my Cousin Daniel got drunk and showed me the ropes.

Didn't really have a lot of time to roam around Pennsylvania Ave. And my friend and I, being…read moreslightly less than ignorant didn't know that the BACK of the WHITE HOUSE would be on Pennsylvania Ave. ** Not impressed** So our pictures we're not exactly anythng to brag about. So we decided to take pictures in front of the Executive Office of the President where the FRONT of this architecture was much more impressive than the BACK of the White House on Pennsylvania Ave. Still a great experience to roam DC and take in the history and political side of the US. (You don't get much of that or appreciate it as much coming from the west coast. Hence, the ignorance of the FRONT vs the BACK of the WHITE HOUSE. =X)

Andrew and I visited Fort Meyers today to visit the Caisson Stables of the Old Guard. It's a little…read moreknown secret that the public is allowed to visit the army base to see the horses. I follow the Old guard on Facebook and found out about this, and naturally insisted on Andy taking me. I learned a great deal during our tour. The soldiers who are assigned to the caisson typically have no previous horse experience. They undergo a 10 week horsemanship class before they're allowed to ride in funeral processions. They also learn how to perform their own farrier services on the team, and have to be able to work without a farrier stand in case they're in the cemetery and need to replace a horseshoe on the fly. Can you imagine holding up a draft horses leg by yourself to put a shoe on?! There is only one mare left on the team of roughly 55 horses (give or take) because the mares tend to get too sassy with the other horses during ceremony. They're phasing out grey horses because of health problems (they're prone to skin cancers) and they're difficult to find in general. our tour guide said some of the best horses they've had we're actually mustangs from the BLM. He said they tend to acclimate better to tough conditions than the other horses. I also learned that the Caisson is a French word for box and is the box seat you see at the front of the carriage. In war times, that's where the ammo and dry goods were stored to stay out of the elements. The bronze stars on the carriages are polished daily and cost almost $500 a piece! The harnesses are also a lighter weight version as opposed to what you see on the Budweiser Clydesdales to keep the weight off of the horses. The soldiers clean and polish the tack every morning and every evening when they return to the stable, and their typical work day runs from 4:30AM - 6:00PM. I was so happy to have this experience and would highly recommend it to all!

What a hidden spot! I did not know here are horses!! I saw them at some ceremonies tho…read more Price: Free. Parking: Free. I saw one sad looking horse. No name tag at the door. That's why 4 stars. Besides her or him, they enjoyed food from kids;)

Surprising history of the tabulating machine from the 1800s!…read more Incredible find along the C&O Canal today. A simple punch card tabulating machine was perfected in this building and then used for the USA Census in 1890. This company and building was later bought by IBM. A piece of history . A slice of innovation that eventually resulted in this tiny computer phone I'm typing on now. How far have we come! ... how far will we go?

I felt the weight of the place as soon as I walked up to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the…read moretiming could not have been better. Mrs. K. and I arrived just as a wreath-laying ceremony was about to begin. And we had the unexpected bonus of standing in a patch of shade to watch. Watching the guards move with a precise, deliberate rhythm made the markings in the marble stand out even more, each scuff a quiet reminder of how many steps have been taken in devotion. Being there in person, with everyone instinctively lowering their voices, made the whole moment feel even more solemn. It was quiet something to witness. [Review 1271 of 2026 - 1633 in Virginia - 26449 overall]

If you come to visit Arlington, please do not leave without visiting the Tomb of the Unknown…read moreSoldier. It is one of the most moving and solemn ceremonies you will ever witness in your lives. This tomb is the most heavily guarded grave in the world; guarded by the elite soldiers from the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Regiment, known as "The Old Guard." They are there 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, through all weather conditions. The guards march exact patterns of 21 steps, pause for 21 seconds, and turn meticulously, all to honor the fallen. The tombs holds unidentified American service members from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. The inscription reads: "Here Rests in Honored Glory an American Soldier Known but to God." The Changing of the Guard ceremony lasts about 15 minutes. This ceremony represents one of the highest honors in the United States military. During the ceremony, one Sentinel is relieved by another in a series of precise movements. The guard's weapon is inspected, and a slow salute is exchanged. In the summer, the guards change every 30 minutes. At night, the schedule extends to two-hour shifts, but the watch never ends. Visitors who plan to attend should arrive a few minutes early and remain silent throughout. Being silent during the ceremony only enhances your experience of this solemn event. This changing of the guard has been happening without interruption since 1948. On the day we were there, we not only had the privilege of the changing of the guard, but we also had the honor to witness a wreath laying ceremony, which was a really moving experience.

A lot of buildings around here are historic. In Georgetown is the oldest. The Old Stone House is…read morethe oldest building built in the city and preserved in the original state. It has a small gift shop inside. There's a large garden outside. It appears to be the oldest building in the city. It was built in 1765, while it was in the then separate town of Georgetown. This was also believed to be a place visited by George Washington. Even though it was proven that it wasn't true, this building was still an important piece of history. This was saved from destruction because people thought Washington came here, and so it accidentally became a museum. It doesn't lake long to look at. The museum also has a nice garden that has benches and it a popular place for people to sit and read. It's also cool the admission is free. There's not a whole lot to see inside but it's interesting looking around and seeing what it was like being in this. It often closes for several months. Renovations often seem to occur regularly. The admission is free so that's more than enough reason to make a visit.

Ive seen this place so many times in my life but almost everytime I have ever passed it, it was not…read moreopen. But, recently, while in Gtown on a nice day around 5:30pm, and strolling down M St, I saw the door was open to this place, and was pretty excited to check it out! I do like NPS sites and wil make every effort to stop at a site when I can. However, this place was a bit lackluster for me. I think the West has truly spoiled me as this place didnt do much for me. I get that its the oldest building in DC and that George Washington was mistaken to have slept here, but only the 1st floor was open and not much to see except a fireplace. The 2nd floor was also closed. The front room mainly had a bunch of souvenirs for sale. I bought a few postcards to support NPS. I didnt get a chance to visit the back yard as I have heard thats the best part of this visit. Ill try to visit this on another visit. I also thought that the front sidewalk could have been better paved and think more work can be done on sidewalks of M St to make it more appealing. Overall, a disappointing visit and experience but I was glad I finally saw the inside.

*Flagged Content: 8/29/21…read moreEdited and reposted for Yelp* 5/26/23 Arlington House...I honestly do not remember it being called this back in 1994-1995. This is when I was a sophomore at The Gow School.  This was also around the time Martin Page came out with the song In House Of Stone And Light.  The song was stuck in my head the whole time I was visiting Robert E. Lee's house.  The song In The House Of Stone And Light had a catchy turn to it. It is why Robert E. Lee stays in my mind when I think of Arlington Cemetery.  Funny how music can mark events in your life that are hard to forget.  Speaking about forgetting stuff, it amazed me that I had forgotten General Robert E. Lee had slaves on his estate.  How could I have forgotten that?  Slavery was very popular back in those times.  Hell, it goes farther back then the 1800's.    Nevertheless,  the working conditions were not good.  The Summertime was hot and the Wintertimes were probably worse?   If one got the privilege to work in the Lee House, your  clothing atire looked 2 steps above what the other slaves had to wear. I just read a large segment about how George Washington Parke Custis  had slaves, and how they were to be set free after his wife's death.  However,  they...no...how did he put it?... oh, "While those enslaved to George Washington were emancipated by Martha in 1801, when she died in 1802, those enslaved to the Custis estate went to the Custis heirs, namely, Martha Washington's grandchildren, including Nelly Custis Lewis at Woodlawn plantation in Fairfax County, Virginia; Martha Parke Custis Peter at Tudor Place in Washington, DC; and George Washington Parke Custis at Arlington House." Yeah, I don't see Custis's  grandchildren freeing their slaves.   In short, George Washington Parke Custis wanted his slaves freed, but only after his grand children were taken care of and fees were paid off. Sounds like a F.U you to the people who have been enslaved all their life.    As a slave, knowing that your freedom is coming,  but then being told you will have to wait for the fees to be paid up first probably...NO, definitely didn't sit well with them.  It didn't take much to be punished if you were a "negro" back then.  (One of the words used back then) So running away from your owners (as the law saw it back then) meant harsh punishments would be coming.  Robert E. Lee had three slaves whipped for running away.   Other slave owners might have done much worse...  Freedom came to the house of Custis, because of the civil war.  Some slaves got away during this war, but others stayed on the plantation. When the Civil  War ended in 1862, Robert E. Lee freed the slaves to honor the wishes of his father-in-law. I took five years to do this, but it was finally done. Today, I saw Robert E. Lee in a different light.  The statue I saw near the gift shop has the former General Robert E. Lee looking like a former shadow of himself.  To me, the figure looked sad, ashamed of choices he made.   Judge him?, I don't like the way slaves were treated, but those were the times Lee was living in and not everyone felt the same like 2021...hell we still have issues that come up at least once a day, but I digress.  Lee/Custis house did not have that warm and inviting feel this time around.  Especially after visiting Lee's stone statue  house.   I will say the renovation of the estate looks good.  The park guard I spoke with said the house/estate has gone through a number of renovations.  I like how the house looks pink even from a distance.  I was told the painting was matched to how the house looked when it was built.   Nicely done.  When I was here last, the Lee house was going to be going under another renovation.   I saw there were two more floors and a basement that were blocked off to visitors.  I wondered how the upstairs actually looked? I also wondered if they will ever have visitors be able to see the other floors and basement?  Guess this might happen next to never. After seeing the slave quarters  and could not imagine the living conditions.   I know I would have the right temperament if I were to find myself back in those times. Nevertheless,  I found this experience to be more educational than the last time I was there.  I look forward to coming back some day.  The view from the top of the hill is breathtaking.   It is one thing I would have loved to see coming out of the house. Maybe even in the 1800's. ....To Be Concluded  in The Tomb Of The Unknown Soldier.

Arlington House sits at the top of the hill overlooking the cemetery and from here you can see the…read moreLincoln Memorial. Even with some sections closed off for restoration, it's still a fascinating place to explore. The restored rooms give you a sense of the Custis-Lee family's life before the Civil War and how the estate eventually became a part of the national cemetery. The exhibits do a good job of explaining the complicated history of the house, the land, and the people who lived and worked there. Even partially limited, it's worth the trek to the top of the hill (or the tram that stops here) for the history and the view. [Review 1270 of 2026 - 1632 in Virginia - 26448 overall]