Family Field Trip - Smithsonian Natural History & American History Museums

Last weekend, we took the train to downtown DC and decided to explore my two favorite museums. The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Museum of American History are two places that I have been numerous times but the exhibits change often and there is always something new to see.  Both of these museums are huge so you can't really see everything in one visit. The advice I give to everyone is to figure out which exhibits you really want to see and map out your plan to visit those. If you have time, depending on how long you are visiting, then you can go back and view other exhibits.

Natural History Museum

Usually when I go here with friends or with Ryan I always make my first stop at the gemstones hall so I can see the legendary Hope Diamond and the other beautiful jewels on display. However, since an active 3 year old boy's idea of fun isn't looking at jewelry, we skipped this area on this visit. But because I believe it is a must see if you've never been, here is a picture from our 2008 visit.

Our agenda for this visit included:

• Dinosaur Fossils
• Insects
• Titanoboa
• The Ocean Hall

Aidan is really into dinosaurs and insects so those were our main objectives. As those are always the two most crowded areas, be prepared to have your foot stepped on many times and to possibly lose the rest of your party.

We also enjoyed the elephant in the rotunda that greets you upon your entering the museum. A note for photographers - this museum has really dim lighting in most areas so unless you are skilled at using your flash settings (as I am NOT) be prepared to not get the best photos in here.



Titanoboa is a special exhibit of a model of the recently discovered largest snake (thankfully extinct) to ever exist. I have to admit that the sheer size of this thing was really impressive.

American History Museum

This one is my absolute favorite museum anywhere. This was my first visit here after an intensive years long renovation and it was well worth the wait because there was something here for each of us. Our agenda for this one included:

• The Star Spangled Banner
• The Presidents & First Ladies
• Julia Child's Kitchen
• Movie/TV Memorabilia
• The Transportation Hall

The Star Spangled Banner is always my first stop when I come here but this was the first time I got to see it in it's new permanent home. This is the flag that was flying over Baltimore's Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. When the British bombed the fort in a day and night long bombardment this flag somehow survived and inspired Baltimore lawyer Francis Scott Key to write a poem that became our National anthem. As a Marylander, this flag is a great symbol of pride for me. The new exhibit is breathtaking but unfortunately they don't allow photos to be taken inside because the light has to be perfectly controlled to prevent further damage to the fragile 200 year old flag.

I also always visit the First Ladies and Presidents exhibit. This time I was able to see Michelle Obama's inaugural ball gown. Photos and videos don't do this beautiful dress justice. They have at least one gown from each First Lady so if you have a favorite you should definitely stop by. I also worship Jackie Kennedy and Hillary Clinton so I stopped by their dresses as well.

Arguably, the most famous piece in the Presidents exhibit is the hat that Abraham Lincoln wore to Ford's Theatre on the night he was assassinated. To quote Lisa Simpson... "America's greatest citizen summed up in one piece of clothing". That truly describes seeing the hat up close.

I am a foodie who spends most of my life watching cooking shows. Julia Child was the first food celebrity so seeing her kitchen at the museum is like a holy pilgrimage for me. It's quite sad that her wall of pots and pans gave me chills but I guess that's something to discuss with a therapist...

The most surprisingly enjoyable exhibit was the transportation hall. This collection of cars, trucks, trains, buses and motorcycles tells a unique tale of the modern American experience. They have a 1950's era Chicago commuter train that you can get onto and it feels like you are moving and making stops. Aidan loved it and wanted to do it over and over again.

The Hollywood Memorabilia section had something for everyone. Ryan and Aidan are comic book fans so when Ryan saw George Reeves' costume from the 1950's TV series he demanded that he and Aidan pose with the suit. This photo is now my desktop wallpaper.

I'm an old movie buff and "The Wizard of Oz" is in my top 5 so I had to stop and pay homage to the greatest movie prop ever... Dorothy's ruby slippers!

All in all it was a great day at two national treasures. After our day inside we went outside and hung out on the National Mall for a little bit to enjoy the beautiful summer day.

Family Field Trip - Udvar Hazy Center

I love living in the DC area mainly because of the historical and cultural activities that are right in my backyard. Since Ryan works weekends, we don't get to partake in these activities quite as often as I would like. Ryan had Father's Day off so we decided to do something fun as a family that he and Aidan could really bond over so we settled on the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport. The Udvar-Hazy Center is an extension to the National Air and Space Museum which houses exhibits that are too large for the downtown DC main location.

The centerpiece of the museum is the McDonnell space hangar which houses Discovery, the most traveled of the former space shuttle fleet. Prior to this spring, the space hangar housed Enterprise which was the test vehicle for the space shuttle program. Ryan and I visited the museum a few years ago when Enterprise was featured and noticed the tremendous size difference between that vehicle and Discovery, which is so much larger. When you walk into the center, no matter which way you approach the main hall, your eye is automatically drawn to Discovery. This is especially amazing considering that in front of the entrance to the McDonnell space hangar sits the SR-71 Blackbird. This plane was featured in the second film in the "Transformers" series and parts of the film were filmed at Udvar Hazy. Other featured exhibits include the Enola Gay and a Concorde Jet. 

Aidan loves airplanes and Ryan is a space travel aficionado. I had a great time watching my two men enjoy everything from a collection of space themed toys to a production model from the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". From experimental helicopters to missiles of all shapes and sizes. We spent two hours walking the center and could have spent more if Aidan didn't need a nap before our family Father's Day dinner. In addition to the exhibits there is an Imax theatre, flight simulators and an air traffic control simulator for kids.

After the museum we took Aidan to Sweet Frog for some frozen yogurt. He looks so adorable in the picture that I just had to mention it.

Restaurant Review: Cafesano - Reston, VA

This week, my boss took a co-worker and I out to lunch to Cafesano in Reston. I had never been there before but I love Mediterranean food so I was very excited about trying it. Located in South Lakes Village Center, the exterior is very unassuming although there is a nice waterside seating area attached to the restaurant.


I was amazed at how packed the restaurant was at lunchtime on a Thursday. Although the line was long, it moved fairly quickly and the service was efficient and friendly. I ordered the falafel wrap, my boss ordered a portobello panini and my co-worker ordered an avocado and cheddar panini. We also split a tiramisu among the three of us for dessert. The falafel was the best I have ever had. Restaurants (especially those located in strip malls) tend to overcook their falafel making it dry and tasteless. The falafel at Cafesano is perfectly cooked and very flavorful. Every component of the sandwich was done perfectly. The pita was soft, the radishes were crisp and the tahini sauce was subtle, not overpowering. Their sandwiches are served with crunchy lavash chips that are irresistible when dipped into their tzatziki sauce. My dining companions were pleased with their sandwiches as well. Tiramisu is a dessert that Ryan and I get as often as we can. I've had the best and I've had the worst. The quality of the tiramisu at Cafesano is just as good as I've had at much fancier restaurants. It was the perfect cloud like texture and featured a strong coffee flavor. A great end to a fabulous casual lunch.


Although this lunch was on my boss, I was amazed with the prices. The food is of such a high quality that you honestly expect to spend more money. I am very frugal but I told Ryan that we definitely need to go back because it is a great meal that won't break our budget.


The only con of the entire experience was the atmosphere. Sitting inside the main dining room under the glass enclosed area, makes conversation impossible. Sound carries in this area in such a way that the volume is extremely loud and you are unable to talk to those at your table without shouting at each other. I would definitely be interested to eat there outside or at a different time of day to see if this changes in any way.


On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate Cafesano an 8, with points mostly being deducted for atmosphere.

South Lakes Village Center
11130 M South Lakes Drive
Reston, VA 20191
Ph: 703.391.2100
Fx: 703.391.7148

Hours: 11am - 9pm daily

The Soundtrack to DC Summers

I have lived in the DC suburbs my entire life and could not imagine living anywhere else. The weather here is perfect because we get to experience four distinct seasons. There is so much history right in our backyard and so many cultures to experience. The first 19 years of my life were spent in Maryland until I moved to Northern Virginia to be with my husband. I grew up Caucasian in a largely African American community and loved everything about it. Our neighbors were very close and the atmosphere was friendly and low key.  I am very proud of my Maryland roots and even now, after eight years in Virginia, I still consider myself a Marylander.

New York, Chicago, L.A. and other large cities have so many things that help define their distinct cultures. Washington DC, on the other hand, doesn't have very many of these cultural hallmarks. This is partly because the area is so transient with government employees and politicians cycling in and out every few years and partly because its culture meshes with that of Maryland and Virginia. One of DC's few distinctive stamps on pop culture is Go Go music. Go Go music was invented in DC in the early 1970's and pioneered by Chuck Brown, who became the unofficial king of DC music and helped introduce Go Go music to clubs across the United States. Chuck Brown died today after a long battle with illness. His passing is a loss for native Washingtonians and a great loss for music but makes me reflect on what his creation meant in my own life.

Growing up in my neighborhood in the summertime meant the sound of Go Go music permeating the hot, humid air. People would drive around with windows open blasting the distinctive drum beats that define Go Go or let the music float around the neighborhood from boom boxes as friends and family enjoyed cookouts. My childhood may have been marked with family strife and personal struggles but I wouldn't trade my hometown for anything! I spent my summers barefoot and enjoying the extended family of my unique neighborhood and often reminisce about those long days. The sound of Chuck Brown's special style of funk brings back amazing memories of my formative years in the neighborhood that will always have the biggest place in my heart. He was the soundtrack to DC area summers and a larger than life personality. RIP Chuck, you will be greatly missed...