Appalachian Trail

11-mile AT Hike with 41 degree f and 1700 ft elevation gain from Washington Monument to Annapolis Rock with The Mid-Atlantic Hiking Group.

It was a pleasant winter hike and had great conversation with my fellow hikers. I also discovered the main cause of my left knee pain starting from my Chilean hike and I am using IT band foam roller to release the muscle tension.

Eastern Indian River dance?!

I enjoyed the performance of Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh's Indian fusion dance on 12/10. The first dance expressed an Indian story about how the Godness Spring was allowed to return to the earth again. Although there were only nine dancers, their sync movements created the effect of a much bigger group of river dnacers. In addition, they had very delicated hands and fingers movements combined with rich facial expressions to tell the story. The other three dances were very mordern which reminded me of Alvin Ailey. The last dance was expecially interesting because each of the dnacers were sitting on a swivel chair to roll and move on the stage to create a flow.

The dancers came from all different ethnic background. You can read more about the group at thier website http://www.dakshina.org/

The performance was followed by a Bhangra flok dance workshop/party. I learned quite a few Bhangra dance moves and had a great time. Bhangra flok dance was a Punjabi dance traditionally performed during harvest festivals and weddings, characterized by the beating of a large, two-headed drum, and it is now a popular style of music combining traditional bhangra drumming with modern Western instruments and rhythms. More info is available at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhangra

No wonder the performance was picked as a Wash Post Weekend's Best Bet this weekend.

NSO POPS: Canadian Tenors Concert at Kennedy Center

Beside the National Symphony Orchestra, the Children’s Chorus of Washington and two guest singers performed as well. The Canadian tenors were impressive. What was even surprising was one guest signer/composer. I was so touched by his song that I kissed his cheek when seeing him outside of the performance hall. Here is a link to a review which contains links to youtube clips.http://mdtheatreguide.com/2011/12/the-canadian-tenors-at-the-kennedy-center/

New Play Festival, NSO & World concerts

Page-to-Stage New Play Festival: John F. Kennedy Center
More than 35 area theater companies participate in this annual series of free readings and previews of upcoming plays.
Planet Arlington: A World Music Celebration
Netherlands Carillon/Iwo Jima Memorial, Arlington Boulevard and Meade Street , Arlington, VA
This first annual free festival celebrated the sounds of Ireland, Zimbabwe, Brazil, the Middle East and more.

National Symphony Orchestra Labor Day Concert
Celebrated the end of summer with a free NSO concert on the U.S. Capitol West Lawn.
The concert included selections from Aaron Copland's Rodeo and Lincoln Portrait, Elmer Bernstein's The Magnificent Seven, John Williams's theme from Superman, etc.

Bird-watching at Featherstone Refuge & Alexandria Birthday Celebration

Tour the Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge: generally closed to public uses and many people do not even know it exists.
located at the point where Neabsco Creek flows into the Potomac River. With 325 acres of upland forests and freshwater tidal marshes, the Refuge attracts waterfowl, wading birds and migratory songbirds. http://www.pwconserve.org/events/index.html
The Alexandria Symphony Orchestra performed "Swinging on the Waterfront" and the "1812 Overture" with cannon fire for the city's 257th birthday and the nation's 230th birthday celebration.



A strenuous 9 mile hike with 2,300 feet of elevation gain to the top of Robertson Mountain with great views.




The berries are not yet ready for me or the black bears.

Grand Opening of American Art Museum & Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2006

Grand Opening of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery.
The museums -- now known collectively as the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture -- celebrate the momentous occasion with music and activities









Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2006
"Alberta at the Smithsonian"
"Carriers of Culture: Living Native Basket Traditions"
"Nuestra Musica 2006: Latino Chicago."
The annual celebration of folk culture featured daytime and evening musical entertainment, crafts demonstrations, talks and food vendors on the Mall.
http://www.folklife.si.edu/festival/2006/schedule/alberta/june30.html

Cinco de Mayo Festival & Eastern Market Day

Cinco de Mayo is not only a Mexican holiday, but a shared day of pride and celebration for people from all over Latin America and the Caribbean. There were food, games, crafts, live music and performances by Maru Montero Dance Company. The festival was held on the Mall near the Sylvan Theater.


Eastern Market Seventh Street SE Washington, DC
A free day-long celebration of music on five stages, crafts, children's rides