DC on a Dime

Free New Orleans style concert on the National Mall this weekend.

Wanna get down and dirty NOLA style?  No need to book a flight, just catch the metro down to the mall this weekend and enjoy the sounds of New Orleans (thanks to the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival). 

On Friday, June 12, at 7:30 pm, the Nation’s Capitol will be treated to the soulful sounds of the Terence Blanchard Quintet.  Then on Saturday the Duke Ellington Orchestra and the Don Vappie & the Creole Serenaders will keep the party going.   And on Sunday get your dancing shoes ready for some zydeco. 

Getting there:  take the Metro to the Smithsonian stop on the Blue/Orange lines, exit at Independence Avenue and proceed east.  Festivities will take place at Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument grounds, southeast corner.

Admission:  FREE

Politico recently asked Washington insiders about their summer vacation plans, but, surprisingly, nobody mentioned a DC on a Dime favorite – Martha’s Vineyard.  Incidentally, this is also where President Obama and the First Family were rumored to go this coming August. 

Now, we know what you’re thinking.  (I’m not a wealthy politician).  And while it’s true that you can only get to MV by ferry or by flight, you can still enjoy an affordable vacation on Martha’s Vineyard, with a little planning.

Commonly referred to as the “Vineyard,” this 100 square mile island has long been a summer get-a-away for Washingtonians.  The Vineyard is home to six separate towns:  Tisbury (or Vineyard Haven), Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, West Tisbury, Chilmark, and  Aquinnah.  Each with its own distinct character and appeal.

In addition to outstanding dining and local shops, the Vineyard offers a variety of recreational activities.  From miles of picturesque biking paths and hiking trails, to world class golf and beautiful beaches. 

As noted in this introductory guide, you don’t have to be rich and famous to enjoy MV:  “Instead, visit the Vineyard to bicycle the shaded paths hugging the coastline.  Admire the regal sea captains’ houses in Edgartown, and stop by the Edgartown Scrimshaw Gallery for a memento of the sea.  Stroll down Circuit Avenue in Oak Bluffs with a Mad Martha’s ice-cream cone and then ride the Flying Horses Carousel, said to be the oldest working carousel in the country.”

Check out these recommended websites for additional information on planning your trip from DC to MV on a dime: 

• Martha’s Vineyard Online’s Vacation Rentals (MVOL.com)
• Getting Around (Frommer’s)
• Biking on The Vineyard (Marthas-Vineyard.com)
• On Martha’s Vineyard on a Budget. Seriously. (New York Times)

Below are a few pictures from our most recent trip to Martha’s Vineyard.   

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Jazz ‘n Families Fun Days

The annual Duke Ellington Jazz Festival kicks-off today in DC, through June 15.  Highlights of the festival include two free Jazz on The National Mall concerts June 13-14; the return of the popular Jazz in the ‘Hoods and Brunchin’ in the ‘Hoods, which features performances at over 35 restaurants, clubs, hotels and art galleries across the city; and the free Jazz ‘n Families Fun Days, held this Saturday and Sunday (June 6-7):

  At Jazz ‘n Families Fun Days, families will interact with instruments in the instrument petting zoo, listen to jazz geared toward younger listeners, enjoy a lively storyteller, and dabble in a hands-on art-making workshop. Participants also will encounter superb works of art in an intimate setting and enjoy the Young Artists exhibition, which features photographs and collages created by students after exploring Jacob Lawrence’s The Migration Series.

Event:  Jazz ‘n Families Fun Days (June 6-7)

Times:  Saturday, June 6. 10am-5pm. (Deal Middle School Band, Antonio Parker Quartet, Janelle Gill, Alona Lee and the Reginald Cyntje Trio). Sunday, June 7. 11am-6pm. (Felix Contreras Trio, Julian Hipkins, Chuck Redd and the Brian Settles Trio).

Location:  The Phillips Collection is at 1600 21st Street NW, Washington, DC.  (Metro:  Dupont Circle).

Contact:  202.387.2151 or www.dejazzfest.org.

Admission:  FREE.  

For all of the fly-mommies in DC, we got a new website for you:  http://www.flaimahmy.com/.

This site promises to cover:  “Where Fashion Meets Motherhood!”   With recent posts like “Mini Skirts: Should Mommies wear them??” and “I’m Pregnant! What do I wear?” we think they are off to a good start.

If you’re searching for the perfect way to end a Friday night date, just look in the direction of Nationals Stadium.  After each Friday night home game, the Nats kick-off an impressive fireworks display inside the ball park.  Seats are available for as low as $5, but you can also watch the show from outside the stadium for free.  Check out the schedule and add some fireworks to your date night!

Sorry for the brief hiatus, but boy have we got a deal for you.  Starting June 3 – September 25,  Live! on Woodrow Wilson Plaza is holding FREE lunchtime performances at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, from 12:00 – 1:30pm, Monday-Friday. 

Chaka Khan starts this summer series off on Wednesday, June 3, and will be followed by an eclectic mix of performers.  It’s just a couple blocks from the White House, so we wouldn’t be surprised if even First Lady Michelle Obama checked this event out. 

Chaka Khan Live on Woodrow Wilson Plaza - June 3rd