Reston Pride Festival 2025

 After the theater, I stopped by Reston Pride Festival 2025, to check out the event. I like this type of events for the colors and laid-back vibe. However, I haven't visited one for a long time, since most of them are on Saturdays (my hike days). Guess who I saw? A hiker who was selling his book there! You can find more info online about his book "Just Love Me for Who I Am: An Open Letter to Parents of Transgender Children".

Chicago the Musical

 

I went in Capital One Hall to usher for Chicago the Musical. The AC was so cold that some patrons asked me for blankets. LOL

In terms of the musical itself, I was a little disappointed by the over-simplified cartoon-like story line: Roxie Hart, a 1920s housewife, and Velma Kelly, a fading star, who were both accused of murder and hired Billy Flynn, a slick criminal lawyer to explore the corrupted media and justice system in Chicago.

DC 2025 Dragon Boat Festival

I went in DC to attend 2025 Dragon Boat Festival and raced for the Taiwan Representative Office Flagship team. I raced many years but this was the first time it was actually held on the lunar festival day.

The Festival was delayed from two weeks ago due to historical high water level. The water level was ok today, but the current was very strong in the morning. It took 20 minutes just to get four boats to line up for race, such that the schedule was significantly delayed.

Then the rain and thunderstorms kicked in inn the afternoon, and caused further delay. The 500-meter races were canceled, so I only raced twice today, comparing with 7-8 times in the previous years!

Since I did not get enough exercise from the boat race, I ran 10.5 miles afterwards. Plus my weekday 6.6 mile runs, I logged in 17.1 miles this week.

By the way, we got snacks, sticky rice dumplings, pork rip lunch box, and bobble tea. I grabbed a few Taiwanese souvenirs home. I usually don't eat the heavy sticky rice dumplings during the race, but wait until I get home.

Wolf Trap 2025 fireworks & concert

 

Wolf Trap 2025 fireworks & concert. I usually get there 10-20 minutes into United States Marine Band's performance to avoid the crowd, and then wait in the parking lot 20 minutes after the crowd leave. I went for the fireworks since it sync with the featured music of the coming summer performances in Wolf Trap. Back to the good old days, the music was burned on CDs for sale.

Many times the concert occurred after a big thunderstorm, but it was dry and cool this year. I was glad that I wore jeans and a down vest to stay warm.

Big Devil Stairs hike

 

I did a meetup hike to Big Devil Stairs for 14 miles with 2700 feet elevation gain today in sunny & cool weather. We ran into a group of old hiking friends at an Appalachian Trail shelter by accident.

Plus the 6.6 miles run during weekdays, I logged in 20.6 hike/run miles this week.

Tephra ICA Arts Festival

 

I swung by Reston Town Center for Radiant Spawn” as a part of Tephra ICA Arts Festival for the 12:00 p.m. show @ Reston Town Square Park. It was Claire Ashley’s installation of inflatable sculptures, activated by community dancers. There were many other artists’ booths as well. It was dry and cool to walk around town today, except a little windy. A lot of people came with their dogs. The only drawback of this event was no street food. I guess they wanted people to eat at the restaurants.

When I lived in Falls Church, I often rode my bike for 30-50 miles round trip to stop by Reston Art Festival for a nice break. After I moved to Reston, this was the 2nd time I visited the Art Festival. One reason was the just in my back yard so I can visit anytime attitude, and the other reason was some of my 3-month long international trips started in late May.

pinkster apples hike

 

I joined some friends hiked in the Shenandoah National Park for 12.3 miles with 3600 ft elevation gain, after the dragon boat race got postponed due to high water level in the Potomac River. Mountain Laurels are blooming along the trails from Panoramic parking lot via Mary’s Rock, Buck Ridge, and Buck Hollow.

We tried the light green, fleshy, bladder-like wild azalea fruits which may be azalea leaf galls, also known as pinkster apples, should be edible. An azalea leaf gall is a fungal disease that causes abnormal leaf growth. Otherwise, azaleas are not edible. All parts of the azalea plant, including the flowers, leaves, and nectar, are toxic to humans and animals. Ingesting azaleas can cause a variety of symptoms. Ingestion of the "mad honey" of azalea flower is not the only way people have been poisoned.

Plus my weekday run 6.6 miles, I logged in ~ 19 miles this week.