Washington DC: My Photos

Later this week I'm headed back to Washington DC! It's one of my favourite cities and where I find lots of inspiration for my blog! Here's a photographic look at some of my most treasured haunts and memories of this great city!

I love visiting the Smithsonian Museums! My favorite is the Museum of American History, where you can see items from the White House, dresses worn by the First Ladies and lots of Presidential memorabilia! The china above is from the George W Bush Administration.

I also love that you can see and experience Julia Child's kitchen- definitely a highlight!

Another great place to visit is the Newseum. It's packed full of interesting artefacts, hands on exhibitions and has a fab gift shop! You can see items such as Kennedy's debate notes, the door from Watergate and Tim Russert's desk.

I always try to visit Arlington National Cemetery when I'm in the city, and make a particular stop at the Kennedy gravesite. It's such a moving place of rest and it's a peaceful place in the heart of such a busy city.

Similarly I really like visiting the National Cathedral. It's magnificent! The circular stained glass window is so impressive and the views from the gallery are like no other!

Georgetown is my favourite area to stroll and shop. I love the houses and how unique the area feels.

The US Capitol is one of my favourite buildings and I have so many great memories from working there. I love all the history, the stories and the Rotunda is so impressive.

I like to visit the Memorials at night- I think the Lincoln Memorial is quite spooky in the dark!

All Author's Own

No trip to DC would be complete without a tour of the White House!

Check out more of my photos here.

What do you love most about DC? What are your favourite places to visit? Let me know! 

#JFK50

JFK Presidential Library and Museum

 Much has been and will continue to be written about President Kennedy and the legacy he left behind when his life ended on November 22nd, 1963.

We've all seen the dramatic footage of his last moments, the aftermath that the country faced, and the harrowing pictures and recordings of his funeral. His death touched the whole world, and fifty years on we still continue to be fascinated with the details of his assassination.

I was in my early teens when I became interested in President Kennedy. I borrowed and purchased as many books that I could get my hands on, (and one particular shopping trip on vacation I bought 22- yes 22- coffee table sized books detailing every detail of his life and presidency!) I consumed old newspaper and magazine articles, watched interviews on YouTube and researched the policies and accomplishments of the Kennedy Administration. Every detail and aspect fascinated me, and even though departed from this world, I looked to Jacqueline Kennedy as a role model.

I was fortunate to be accepted as an intern in Congressman Patrick Kennedy's Washington DC office in 2010, an opportunity which was one of the best experiences I have had. There was something about the Kennedy family and their dedication to public service that appealed to me, and it was I feel, in part their influence that encouraged and inspired me to find ways to give back in my own community and area. Whether or not you agree with the concept of 'Camelot,' the same magic could be felt through President Obama's first campaign for the White House. I've never experienced a campaign like it, and I doubt that we will for many years to come.

A period of American history ended when the assassin's bullet struck the President, and a new one began. We have no way of knowing what would and what wouldn't have happened if the events of 22nd November 1963 hadn't taken place, subsequently shaping President Kennedy's legacy as one of achievement, glamor and stolen youth.

I'll always be interested in President Kennedy and the wider Kennedy family, and for the values that they stand for. I particularly look to Jacqueline Kennedy and the example that she set as one to incorporate into my own life- these are the values of resilience, determination and bravery, and of course to be stylish at the same time! Like the torch that sits atop his grave in Arlington, the vision and legacy of President Kennedy continues through his surviving child, Caroline, now the US Ambassador to Japan, and his grandchildren. It's exciting to see what the 'new' generation will do with their lives, and I have no doubt that the world will continue to be fascinated with America's 'royal family.'

Presidents Past and Present honor JFK

The President, First Lady, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paid their respects at the grave of President Kennedy yesterday.

Forming part of the commemorations of the 50th Anniversary of his death, they joined members of the Kennedy family at Arlington National Cemetery.



The First Lady wore a deep red a line coat, with black shoulder detailing. She also wore a pair of black suede knee high boots.

Later in the day, President Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to recepients including Oprah Winfrey, President Clinton, Gloria Steinem and former Senator Dick Lugar. The Presidential Medal of Freedom was established fifty years ago by President Kennedy.



In the evening, the President and First Lady attended a dinner in honor of the recipients at the National Museum of American History.

Discovering DC: Arlington

This week Discovering DC heads to Arlington with Stephanie from Fortique! 

What's your history with Arlington and DC? 
I went to UVA and was fortunate enough to get a job here after graduation in tough economic times. My sister also lived here at the time, so it was a perfect fit!  I chose to live in the Ballston area to shorten my commute to Tyson's and keep close to everything the district has to offer.

Discovering Arlington- what are your favourite places to shop/eat/go with friends/people watch? 
I am a huge interior design junkie and love strolling around Pottery Barn and Crate and Barrel in Clarendon.  South Moon Under is perfect for grabbing the last minute outfit for going out.  During the warmer months, the streets of Arlington are alive with people shopping, eating outside, walking dogs, etc., so my favorite thing to do is grab some dinner at Mexicali Blues and people watch.  For dessert, I love to stop by the Bakeshop, a local cupcake store, for a cupcake or cookie ice cream sandwich if they have them.

Perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon in Arlington? 
There is so much to do, it's hard to pick!  I love either playing tennis at Quincy Park, watching a football game at Bailey's, or grabbing a cupcake or frozen yogurt and taking a stroll down Wilson!

Stephanie from Fortique

For more posts in the Discovering DC archive click here. You can follow Stephanie on Twitter here. 

Discovering DC: Arlington

This week, 'Discovering DC' takes a trip to Arlington with Chelsea from Classy Chic and Chardonnay!


What's your history with Arlington and DC?
I grew up in a Northern VA suburb so when I moved back up here after graduating from Christopher Newport University, I knew I wanted to live in Arlington. A couple months after graduation, I moved into an apartment in Ballston and just about 6 months ago I moved into a house near the East Falls Church metro (but it’s still considered Arlington!) I love how convenient Arlington is to pretty much everywhere... DC, Tysons, Alexandria, and Bethesda are all just a quick metro/car ride away!

Discovering Arlington- what are your favorite places to shop/eat/go with friends/people watch?
There are so many delicious places to eat in Arlington but if I had to narrow it down I would chose Rustico in Ballston. Rustico offers a seasonal menu with robust cooking, over 400 beers and dim lighting. It’s a great date night spot!

A bunch of my college friends also live in Arlington so we try to get together as much as possible! Very often we find ourselves drinking wine at Oby or Northside Social. Both places offer a comfy, sit-and-stay-awhile atmosphere. But when we’re looking to relive our college years, gossip, and people watch [during the warmer months] we’re regulars at Pete’s Apizza’s patio in Clarendon! It’s right across from Circa so you see all sorts of Arlington folk and if you go on Mondays, all pizzas are half off!

I work in Tysons, right across from the Galleria, so I do a lot of my shopping during my lunch hour but when I want to go shopping on the weekends there’s no better place than Clarendon’s Market Common! There’s South Moon Under, The Loft, Free People, Ann Taylor, Crate and Barrel, and just down the street is Current Boutique. It’s like a one stop shop!

Perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon in Arlington?
A perfect Saturday afternoon would be spent with a group of friends at the Westover Beer Garden & Haus. It’s right off of Washington Blvd. attached to the Westover Market. I went there on a date for the first time and since then I think of every excuse to go back. It’s small… only a couple tables and spots at the bar so you have to beat the regulars if you want a seat. The beer selection changes every couple of days and they offer a variety of wine. If you’re hungry you can chow down on a grilled cheese or burger and when you’ve decided to leave, just walk into the market and grab one of their 1,000 types of six-packs to go!

Chelsea of Classy Chic and Chardonnay

You can follow Chelsea on Twitter here. For more posts in the Discovering DC archive click here.

The White House Photostream: October/November 2012

Official White House Photos

To view more photos from the White House Photostream click here. 

Kennedy Funeral Mass Arrangements.

Funeral Mass

10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Senator Kennedy’s funeral mass will take place at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica,1545 Tremont Street, Roxbury, MA

Guidance Note: While his daughter, Kara, was battling lung cancer at a nearby Boston hospital, Senator Kennedy attended Our Lady of Perpetual Hope each day and prayed for Kara and her recovery. Over time, the Basilica took on special meaning for him as a place of hope and optimism.

This event is closed to the public and press will be pooled.

Pool: White House traveling pool
Network: ABC
Note: Additional print and photo requests will be accommodated according to space capacity.

Press Logistics:

Press Entrance: Corner of Tremont St. and Carmel St.
Satellite Truck Parking: Pontiac St, between Delle Ave and Tremont St.
Microwave Truck Parking : Carmel St, between Delle Ave and Tremont St.
Live Shot positions (Pre-assigned): Tremont St between Pontiac St. and Carmel St.
Pre Set: 5:00 AM – 5:30 AM
Sweep: 5:30 AM – 6:00 AM
Media Access: 6:00 AM
Service begins: 10:30 AM

Details on the funeral mass and program:

7:00 a.m. - Guests begin arriving at church via bus

9:55 a.m. - CODEL arrives from the JFK Library.

58 Senators
21 former members
Secretary Salazar
6 officers of the Senate

10:00 a.m. - Music begins

MOZART Clarinet Quintet
Members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Malcolm Lowe, violin
Alexander Velinzon, violin
Cathy Basrak, viola
Mihail Jojatu, cello
William R. Hudgins, clarinet

10:05 a.m. - Extended Kennedy family arrives

10:10 a.m. - Distinguished visitors are seated

10:15 a.m. - The President, Vice President and former Presidents seated

10:20 a.m. - Mrs. Vicki Kennedy and Immediate Family arrive

Motorcade route:

Down Melina Cass Boulevard
Left onto Columbus Avenue
Right onto Tremont Street

Honorary pall bearers greet family outside church:

Melody Barnes
Honorable Justice Stephen Breyer
David Burke
Ranny Cooper
Greg Craig
Senator John C. Culver
Stephanie Cutter
Congressman William Delahunt
Senator Christopher J. Dodd
Ken Feinberg
Lee Fentress
Wyche Fowler
Tim Hanan
Claude Hooton
Dr. Larry Horowitz
Senator John F. Kerry
Paul G. Kirk, Jr.
Kathy Kruse
Nick Littlefield
Congressman Edward Markey
Eric Mogilnicki
Michael Myers
Carey Parker
Honorable Edmund Reggie
Senator Donald W. Riegle
Dr. Larry Ronan
Senator James Sasser
Robert Shrum
Barbara Souliotis

10:30 a.m. - Funeral Procession Begins

Entrance Hymn: “Holy God We Praise Thy Name”

Celebrants:

His Eminence Sean P. Cardinal O’Malley, OFM CAP, Archbishop of Boston.
Fr. J. Donald Monan, S.J., Chancellor, Boston College.

Guidance note: Former President of Boston College and Kennedy family friend. Fr. Monan is the principle celebrant of the funeral mass.

Fr. Gerry Creedon, Pastor, Saint Charles Borromeo Church, Arlington, Virginia.
Guidance note: Longtime Kennedy family friend and concelebrant of the funeral mass.

Fr. Percival D’ Silva, Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Kensington, Maryland.
Guidance note: Kennedy family friend and priest that performed the Blessed Sacraments for Caroline and Curran Raclin while at The Blessed Sacrament church in Northwes Washington, D.C. Fr. D’Silva is a concelebrant of the funeral mass.

Rev. Mark R. Hession, Our Lady of Victory, Centerville, Masssachusetts.
Guidance note: Senator and Mrs. Kennedy’s priest on Cape Cod and close friend. Fr. Hession offered mass for Senator Kennedy nearly every Sunday this year. Fr. Hession is a concelebrant of the funeral mass.

Rev. Donald MacMillian, Chaplain, Boston College.
Guidance note: Family friend, who frequently celebrated mass for Senator Kennedy. Concelebrant of funeral mass.

Very Rev. Raymond Collins, C.SS.R. Pastor, Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Pall bearers:

Kara Kennedy
Edward M. Kennedy, Jr.
Patrick J. Kennedy
G. Curran Raclin, Jr.
Caroline R. Raclin
Caroline Kennedy
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
Christopher Lawford
Ed Michael Reggie
Bobby Shriver
Stephen E. Smith, Jr.

Immediate family:

Mrs. Victoria Kennedy
Ted Kennedy, Jr.
Kiki Kennedy
Teddy Kennedy, II
Kiley Kennedy
Kara Kennedy
Max Kennedy
Grace Kennedy
Patrick Kennedy
Caroline Raclin
Curran Raclin
Edmund and Doris Reggie
Mrs. Jean Kennedy Smith
William Kennedy Smith
Mrs. Ethel Kennedy

Honorary pall bearers (see names above)

First Reading:

Curran Raclin, the Senator’s stepson
Old Testament
The Book of Wisdom 3:1-9

Responsorial Psalm:

Kara Kennedy
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 72

Second Reading:

Caroline Raclin, the Senator’s stepdaughter
New Testament, Letter of Paul to the Romans 8:31b-35, 37-39

Gospel:

Father Hession
Matthew 25:31-32A, 34-40

The Prayers of the Faithful:

(Guidance note: readers will be reading excerpts of the Senator’ own words)

Kiki Kennedy
Kiley Kennedy
Grace Allen
Max Allen
Jack Schlossberg
Robin Lawford
Kym Smith
Anthony Shriver
Rory Kennedy
Teddy M. Kennedy II

Liturgy of the Eucharist

Offertory: The Senator’s grandchildren

At Offertory: J.S. BACH Sarabande from Cello Suite No. 6
Yo-Yo Ma, cello

At Communion: FRANCK “Panis Angelicus”
Placido Domingo, tenor
Yo-Yo Ma, cello
James David Christie, organ

BRAHMS “Let Nothing Ever Grieve Thee”
Tanglewood Festival Chorus
John Oliver, conductor
James David Christie, organ

SHUBERT “Ave Maria”
Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano
James David Christie, organ

Remembrances: Ted Kennedy, Jr.
Patrick J. Kennedy

Eulogy: President Barack Obama

Final Commendation: His Eminence Sean P. Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston

Recessional: “America the Beautiful”

1:00 p.m. - Departure from church to Hanscom Air Force Base

1:30 p.m. - Departure from Hanscom Air Force Base to Andrews Air Force Base

CLOSED PRESS

Washington, D.C.

Approx. 3:00 p.m. - Arrival of Senator Kennedy at Andrews Air Force Base

CLOSED PRESS

4:00 p.m. - Senator Kennedy departs Andrews Air Force Base

Motorcade route is open to the public

Motorcade Route:

From Andrews Air Force base, Senator Kennedy's motorcade will proceed to the east plaza of the US Capitol building. The motorcade will enter through the Independence Ave entrance and proceed past the Senate Chamber steps. The motorcade will then proceed to Arlington National Cemetery via Constitution Ave.

4:30 p.m. - Senator Kennedy arrives at the U.S. Capitol

The Senator’s motorcade will stop at the Senate steps for a brief prayer so that Senate staff and members of the broader Senate community with whom the Senator worked can bid a final farewell.

Press coverage: Only U.S. Capitol Credentialed media will be allowed on site. For any additional questions, please call the U.S. Senate Press Gallery 202.224.0241.

Network Pool: CBS

Press Logistics:

Press Entrance: East Capitol Plaza via Constitution Ave.
Satellite Truck Parking: Not available. Please coordinate through Press Galleries.
Live Shot positions have been pre-assigned by the U.S. Press Galleries.
Media Access: Anytime before 3:00PM
Sweep: 3:00-3:30PM
Program begins: 4:30 PM

Arlington National Cemetery

5:30 p.m. - A burial service for Senator Kennedy will be held at Arlington National Cemetery.

Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop Emeritus of Washington, D.C. will perform the burial service.

The burial service is closed to the public and pooled press.

Network Pool: Fox
Photos: AP, Reuters, AFP, Boston Globe, Washington Post, NY Times
Wires: AP, Reuters, Bloomberg
Print: Boston Globe, New York Times, Washington Post
Radio: NPR

Guidance Note: Senator Kennedy will be laid to rest next to President Kennedy and Senator Robert Kennedy at Arlington National Cemetery. Senator Kennedy spent more days than most at Arlington, the resting place for our nation’s heroes, visiting the graves of his beloved brothers and paying tribute to the fallen men and women of Massachusetts who gave their lives for our country.

President Obama to deliver eulogy at Ted Kennedy's funeral

A White House official says President Barack Obama will deliver a eulogy at Sen. Edward Kennedy's funeral Mass.

The funeral will take place Saturday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica – commonly known as the Mission Church – in the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston. Kennedy will be buried the same day at Arlington National Cemetery near his slain brothers.

The White House official spoke with The Associated Press on Martha's Vineyard, the island resort south of Boston where the first family is vacationing. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the Kennedy family had not yet made an announcement.

Senator Kennedy to be buried at Arlington

News from a reliable source has stated that Senator Ted Kennedy will be buried in Arlington National Cemetary, near his brother, former President John F Kennedy and alongside brother Robert F Kennedy.

Picture: Author's own.