Get Out! The Holiday Markets Are On This Weekend - Cleveland Park; Tenleytown; Dupont Circle

by Peggy Robin

We usually highlight a single event for the "Get Out!" column but this weekend we just had to do three. Starting in the heart of Cleveland Park with the John Eaton School Wintermarkt....then moving one neighborhood to the north, to the Tenleytown WinterFest's Winter Pop-up Market....then going one to the south, to the Dupont Circle Holiday Pop-up....you'll have plenty of chances to SHOP LOCAL. And don't forget to mark your calendars for the Cleveland Park Main Street Winter Market, coming next Saturday, December 11, 2021.

I. Join us for Eaton Elementary's annual Christmas Tree Sale and Wintermarkt Fundraiser!

We will have a selection of trees (including tabletops), wreaths, garland as well as sleds and flower bulbs for sale. This year you can opt for pre-order and curbside pickup. Click here. Don’t delay, online ordering ends December 2nd at noon.

At the Wintermarkt, try your luck at our raffle, shop for holiday crafts from our parent vendors, try an instrument at our music "zoo", have the kids make snow globes, dreidels, and ornaments, browse used children's books (carefully curated and bundled by grade level), and snack on freshly popped popcorn and hot chocolate. You won't want to miss it!

All of this takes place at Eaton (3301 Lowell St., NW) this weekend. The Tree Sale runs Friday, December 3rd (5pm-8pm), and Saturday and Sunday, December 4th and 5th, 10-4. The Wintermarkt is on Saturday ONLY, 10-3!

II. Tenley WinterFest’s Winter Pop-Up Market is almost here! Shop for unique gifts from 22 local artisans, including jewelry and accessories, holiday and home décor, greeting cards, international crafts, bath and beauty products, specialty foods, and more! Named one of DCist's top holiday markets in the city, you'll find something for everyone on your holiday shopping list at the Winter Pop-Up Market. 

The market will be held indoors at 4748 Wisconsin Avenue, NW on Saturday, December 4, from 10 am until 5 pm, with a special preview event on Friday, December 3, 5 pm until 8 pm.

Enjoy live music from two of American University’s premier a cappella groups while you shop. On a Sensual Note performs at 6:30 pm on Friday, December 3, while Pitches Be Trippin’ performs at 12:30 pm on Saturday, December 4.

Plus, Yeti Scavenger Hunt teams can pick up their prizes at the market on Saturday between 1pm and 4 pm. The Hunt runs through noon on Saturday so there is plenty of time left to earn points and prizes. 

III. The Dupont Circle Holiday Pop-Up will be Saturday, December 4th from 12:00-5:00 p.m. on Connecticut Ave, and P Street, and 17th Street.  More than 65 vendors will sell unique items such as jewelry, pottery, paintings, wood works, wellness products, and tasty treats outside in front of retail shops and restaurants.  The day will also include shopping at the Heurich House Christmas Market ($13 admission), Dupont Underground (20 vendors), and St. Thomas Parish (15 vendors).

The Dupont Circle Holiday Pop-Up is free and open to the public and will happen snow or shine.  Volunteers will be at the Dupont Circle Metro North-Q Street – passing out maps and giving directions.  To learn more about the Dupont Circle Holiday Pop-Up and to see a full list of vendors, visit www.DupontCirclepopup.com

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The "Get Out!" events column is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays.

Still Life with Robin: Mask Me Again

by Peggy Robin

Montgomery County has reissued its indoor mask mandate. DC, on the other hand, just lifted its mask mandate, but there’s reason to believe it could be back on again soon. Certainly anyone who is cautious, getting up there in years, or dealing with anything that could weaken the immune system would want to continue being masked indoors around people of unknown vaccination status (in stores, restaurants, public buildings, etc.) And even for those who are young, vigorous, and fully vaccinated, there’s reason to stay masked until we get more information on the location, prevalence, and transmissibility of the newest incarnation of Covid-19 – the Omicron Variant.

Seeing the crowds that had gathered at this year’s Downtown DC Holiday Market – crammed together under booths tented on 3 sides and lacking any space for social distancing – I decided it would be wise to remain masked, even at that outdoor event. This was on Black Friday, and I discovered yet another, almost as compelling reason to stay masked: It was 35 degrees out, with wind gusts up to 22 mph, and I had not dressed warmly enough for the wintry conditions that day. But my face was protected, so it wasn’t so bad. Double masking would have been even better.

I’ve now made sure there’s an extra mask in at least one pocket of every warm coat or jacket I own.

Is this an example of a silver lining in our dark-cloud days? Not exactly. But it is a little added layer of protection, like a small, warm security blanket for your face – and one you can keep with you at all times.
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Still Life with Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturday (and occasionally a day late, on a Sunday).

Get Out! And See the Tree Lighting at CityCenterDC on Saturday & the National Menorah Lighting on the Ellipse on Sunday

Image: City Center DC

by Peggy Robin

We have TWO events to highlight in this week's "Get Out" column. First, the City Center tree lighting on Saturday starting at 6 PM:

Eighth Annual 

Holiday Tree Lighting
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2021 6PM – 7PM

Kick off the holiday season with the CityCenterDC Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration on Saturday, November 27 at 6 p.m. in The Park at CityCenter. Visitors will be met by our 75-foot tree, one of the largest in the city, decorated with more than 150,000 lights and 4,500 ornaments.The festivities will be emceed by NBC 4 Anchor Eun Yang, with a special performance by Elan Artists seven piece dance band, The Revels. While enjoying the spectacle of the tree, guests will be surrounded by face painting and balloon art, sweet and savory treats from CityCenterDC favorites, and a few surprises along the way that will have everyone dreaming of a whimsical snow-filled holiday.

More info: https://www.citycenterdc.com/events/2021/11/citycenterdc-eighth-annual-holiday-tree-lighting/  

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And on Sunday, November 28, the lighting of the National Menorah on the Ellipse:

National Menorah on the Ellipse 2021

by American Friends of Lubavitch (Chabad)

Date and time: Sun, November 28, 2021, 3:15 PM – 5:45 PM EST

Location: The Ellipse View Map

Free

Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/national-menorah-on-the-ellipse-2021-tickets-198447591087

Image: American Friends
of Lubavitch (Chabad)

Featuring:

The United States Air Force Band
Dreidelman
The Three Cantors

Packaged Donuts
Dreidels and Personal Menorah Kits
Fun for the whole Family

Free Admission

Perhaps the most prominent public Chanukah program in the world is the annual lighting ceremony of the National Chanukah Menorah on the Ellipse, just across from the White House in Washington, DC.

The lighting of this magnificent menorah – the world’s largest – is attended by thousands every year and seen via TV newscasts, internet feeds and other media by tens of millions across the nation and around the world.

Indeed, this menorah has become a premier national and even international symbol of the festival of Chanukah, inspiring many communities across the globe to sponsor more and greater public menorah lighting ceremonies of their own. After all, this is the essence of the celebration – to increasingly proclaim and celebrate the miracle of Chanukah – The Festival of Lights, in the most public manner possible.

In this way, we actively reaffirm the celebration of our freedom, inspired by the historic and present victory of right over might, light over darkness, and understanding and justice over intolerance and bigotry.

An opportunity to support this completely privately sponsored program is available when obtaining your (free) tickets.

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Due to Covid-19, and to help ensure the wellbeing of those in attendance, we will be implementing social distancing and other preventive protocols. If you will be attending with other family members, who live in the same household, please indicate so on your ticket request, so you can sit together.

By attending the event you will be confirming (a) you do not currently have COVID-19 (b) you are not experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and (c) you have not been in contact with anyone that has been experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 within 7 days of the event.

Finally, we respectfully request that you request tickets only if you are sure you will attend, as we must severely reduce the amount of seats available this year. We wouldn’t want anyone who wishes to attend to miss out because their seats were taken by those who ultimately did not show up.

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The "Get Out!" column with the featured event(s) of the week is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays.

Still Life with Robin: Venmo me. No, Zelle me....

Image: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons

by Peggy Robin

The last time I went out to lunch with a small group of friends, we had everything put on a single check. When it came time to pay the rather large amount at the end, one person proposed to put the whole thing on her credit card and have everyone else reimburse her for their share. 

Once we'd figured out the price per person, including the tip, one person said, "Can I Venmo that to you?"

"OK," the credit card payer said. "Here's how to find me on Venmo" -- and within a minute or less, the amount was transferred via the Venmo smartphone app. 

Then another person said, "I used to have Venmo but I stopped using it because the privacy controls are not so good. Now I'm using Zelle. Do you have Zelle? I could Zelle you my share." As it turned out, the credit card payer had Zelle, too, and so that transaction was also over in a minute or less. 

Now it was my turn. It seemed like using an app was the thing to do. I had only recently installed the Venmo app, so I proposed to pay that way. But my friend said, "Actually, I do prefer Zelle. If you have a Bank of America account, you already have Zelle, too." 

Sure enough, when I hit the Bank of America app on my phone, I saw the Zelle icon at the bottom of the screen. But for reasons unknown, I was unable to add the person as a payee. So she said she could send me a payment request. I gave her my user name but the request did not come through. I handed her my phone and she looked at the app and said there were still some things I had to do to finish the set-up and confirm that I was a user. I think I had to check my email on my phone and put in a confirmation code. I was waiting for the email but I have several email addresses and it turned out I had given the wrong one.

This was getting complicated, so she proposed switching back to Venmo. 

"I have an idea!" I said -- a light bulb switching on in my head. "I can pay you right now, no hassle. Just watch!" And with that I opened my wallet, took out the cash in a couple of twenties, and handed it over. Paid! And that took no time at all!

Cash. It's so....retro. But at least you don't need to wait for a confirmation code to use it.....though the next time I'm asked to Zelle someone an amount, now I know I'm set up and good to go. And I probably will pay the cashless way. Unless, of course, the next time I'm asked to used a cash-free payment app to send money to someone, there's yet another app I need to download and learn to use. That's the thing about these online ways: there's always a new app around the bend!

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Still Life with Robin in published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.

Get Out! And See the Silver Spring Thanksgiving Parade - This Saturday, 10am-12pm

Photo: Montgomery county schools

by Peggy Robin

You don't need to go to New York to see a grand Thanksgiving Day Parade with balloons and floats and marching bands. Is Silver Spring close enough for you? And you don't even have to wait for Thanksgiving. 

It's happening on Saturday, November 20 starting at 10 AM:

Montgomery Country Thanksgiving Parade

Saturday November 20, 2021

10:00am to 12:00pm

Age: All ages
Price: Free
Location: Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Streets

WEBSITE

The streets are being overrun with turkeys, dinosaurs, penguins, and reindeer. No, the zoo hasn’t opened its gates – it's the Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade! With marching bands, Bolivian dancing groups, floats, giant characters and balloons, and Santa, it is the only Thanksgiving Parade in the metro DC area.

Held in downtown Silver Spring, the exciting parade traditionally heralds the start of the holiday season. The parade steps off from Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street and proceeds south on Georgia Avenue, ending at Silver Spring Avenue.

Families are encouraged to socially distance along the parade route. There will be hand sanitization stations on Veterans Plaza and at all portable restrooms. 

The parade takes place rain or shine.

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The "Get Out!" event of the week is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and All Life Is Local on Thursdays.  

Still Life with Robin: Keeping It Hot!

Tea Cozy Available on Etsy

by Peggy Robin

The coming of winter brings its challenges – some of them consequential – such as, can I heat my home sufficiently without contributing over-much to  climate change? -- and some of them pretty trivial  -- such as, how can I keep my tea at a comfortably warm temperature?

I won’t address the whole house heating problem today. Too big. So many factors to consider. I know it would take a complete system overhaul to achieve significant results. So for today, I’ll stick to the problem in a teacup.

You already know how that goes. You boil water in an electric teakettle, you pour it over a teabag in your mug or teacup, you wait a few minutes until it’s steeped to the degree of flavor you like, and then you wait another minute or two until you can start to drink without burning your tongue. After that, it’s a matter of fine timing. There’s a limited window when you can drink your tea before it’s cooled down too much, and you’re stuck with cold tea.

I am hardly the first person to point out this problem. When I googled it to see what advice I could find, I turned up literally hundreds of recommendations for different ways to attack this problem. But I also quickly discovered they break down into four basic categories or approaches. They are:

1. Get a cozy – that is, something that insulates the teapot or the teacup so that the tea doesn’t cool off so quickly. You can buy a ready-made tea cozy for your pot or your mug, or you can make one, by knitting it or sewing it out of a thick, quilted fabric. If you have a friend who good at handicrafts and knows you like tea, you are very likely to get one as a gift. If your friend is a child who’s just learning to knit, you are all but guaranteed to get one – right after you get a scarf.  

2. Put a lid on it. Same general idea as the tea cozy. You keep the tea warmer for longer, by containing the heat -- in this case, by keeping it from dissipating from the surface by closing off the top. You can buy all kinds of mugs and cups with lids, from the Styrofoam disposables fitted with a plastic lids with a sipper opening, to fancy, insulated mugs with tight-fitting lids and adjustable openings. And then there’s the lowest tech variety of lid: just put your saucer on top of the cup.

3. Use a warming ring or plate. You can buy a small electric one for your single mug, or pour yourself small amounts of tea at a time from a teapot kept warm on a warming ring – either a plug-in electric one, or the traditional type that sit over a little tea-light candle.

4. Buy an integrated system that will first brew the tea and then hold it at the right temperature for you, for hours. 

Costs range from virtually nothing (just the yarn needed to knit or crochet a cozy for your teapot or cup) to $22.95 for set of 50 disposable hot cups with cardboard insulating sleeves* and lids, to $11.99 for the warming plate, to up to $179 for the complete brew-and-keep-it-at-fixed-temperature Breville tea-brewing system from Williams Sonoma. 

Which one should I choose? Still deciding….. Hope to choose something sometime before the spring!
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* Fun fact: The insulating paper sleeve that helps to insulate your disposable hot cup has its own specialized term: it’s called a zarf.   
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Still Life with Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays. 

Get Out! And March for DC Statehood and to Honor DC Veterans TODAY at NOON

MARCH TO THE SENATE WITH CONGRESSWOMAN NORTON, DC VETERANS & RESIDENTS FOR DC STATEHOOD.

Join in the march from Freedom Plaza to Taft Memorial Park. At Taft Memorial Park Congresswoman Norton and DC Residents will give proclamations to the Senate in support of DC Statehood. Proclamations will be followed by a book release containing DC residents who have have served this country over the years. The book is, "The DC 34,000 Heroes".

MASKS ARE REQUIRED!!

All welcome: bring your family & friends

Date and time: 

Thu, November 11, 2021
12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Location
Freedom Plaza
1325 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004
View Map

Note: Freedom Plaza Metro Stops: Metro Center or Federal Triangle

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For events on the National Mall in honor of all veterans, here is the schedule (from WJLA's website at https://wjla.com/news/local/list-veterans-day-events-around-the-national-mall-arlington-national-cemetery-in-dc

Here's a list of the events on the National Mall, according to NPS:

World War II Memorial – 9 a.m.   

The Friends of the National World War II Memorial and the National Park Service will pay tribute to the more than 16 million Americans who served in World War II and the more than 400,000 servicemen who lost their lives during the conflict. World War II veterans will lay wreaths at the Freedom Wall in remembrance of their fallen comrades and the Military District of Washington will provide ceremonial support for the event.

WJLA Memorial Day Events 

The ceremony is open to the public, but advance registration is required at www.wwiimemorialfriends.org. Social distancing practices will be in place, including the wearing of face masks. The program will also be streamed live from the Friends' Facebook page.

World War I Memorial – 10:30 a.m.

The Doughboy Foundation will hold a ceremony honoring those who served in World War I, featuring remarks by Terry Hamby, chairman of the World War I Memorial Centennial Commission, and Admiral Mike Mullen, USN (Ret.), former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The program will include the tolling of a ship’s bell and the playing of Taps.

U.S. Navy Memorial – 1 p.m.

The U.S. Navy Memorial will remember the fallen with a Memorial Day ceremony to honor service men and women who have made the supreme sacrifice in defense of their country. Register online for the livestream at www.navymemorial.org.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial – 1 p.m.

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and the National Park Service will host an in-person ceremony to commemorate Veterans Day, featuring remarks by Gen. Barry McCaffrey, USA (Ret.) and Vietnam War veteran Lt. Grace Moore of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps.

Advance registration is requested to attend in person and attendance is limited. All attendees are strongly encouraged to wear masks for the event. The ceremony will also be livestreamed on the VVMF website and Facebook page.

Korean War Veterans Memorial – 3 p.m.

The Korean War Veterans Foundation will hold a brief wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial with participation by Korean War veterans and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea. Music will be provided by the United States Army Band Brass Quintet.

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The "Get Out!" event of the week is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life is Local on Thursdays.

Still Life with Robin: Turkey Lurky

by Peggy Robin

Thanksgiving is coming – and maybe that’s why this wild turkey is looking so nervous!

The photo was taken by Diane Krauthamer on the Soapstone Valley Trail. When you’re stuck in traffic on Connecticut at Albemarle, it’s hard to imagine that just a stone’s throw away, behind all those hulking, new buildings on the east side of Connecticut, is a really rustic hiking trail where you can spot so many different kinds of wildlife, including this big gobbler.

(If you can’t see the image on this page, you can take a look at it directly on Diane’s tweet:  https://twitter.com/DianeKrauthamer/status/1455575617848676366/photo/2. And while you’re at it, click on this set as well:  https://twitter.com/DianeKrauthamer/status/1455576153389940742/photo/1. Just stunning!)

To see even more of the non-urban world from the Soapstone Valley Trail, you could go for a hike yourself, using this excellent trail guide created by Michael E. Grass:  https://www.mgrass.info/2014/01/03/soapstone-valley-trail-guide-map/. This is the perfect weekend for a crisp fall walk.

Not up for a hike? Just want to see the natural sights without the all the exertion? Diane’s Flickr page is well worth the time to explore: https://flickr.com/photos/diane_krauthamer/

Thanks to Diane Krauthamer for permission to repost.

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Still Life with Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays. 

Get Out! And Enjoy Live Music on Conn Ave on Friday (5-7pm at Uptown Market, 4465 Conn Ave NW)

The "Get Out!" event of the week is a free concert, brought to you by Levine Music and Van Ness Main Street: 

Levine Music and Van Ness Main Street Bring Live Music to the Corridor this November!

Levine Music and Van Ness Main Street have partnered to bring three live musical performances to the corridor this November. Join us as we kick off the series with live music by Project Locrea this Friday, November 5th from 5-7 pm at Uptown Market. From 4 pm till closing, Uptown Market will have $5 draft beer and sangria. They'll also be hosting a wine raffle, giving away bottles of wine to 12 lucky attendees!

Project Locrea is a world-folk fusion ensemble created by flutist Yana Nikol, dedicated to creating and performing original compositions and contemporary arrangements inspired by folk music of different countries. Combining sound and instrumentation of world folk traditions with classical, jazz and contemporary music conventions, the project’s focus is to bring a better understanding and deeper connection between cultures in current days.

RSVP HERE.

Uptown Market is located at 4465 Connecticut Ave. Reserve a table at www.uptownmarketdc.com. 
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The “Get Out!” event of the week is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays   

Still Life with Robin: Pandemic Halloween Year 2 - Woodley Park

by Peggy Robin

A Tweet/Photo from WoodleyParkDC @WoodleyParkDC: 

COVID-19 molecules in suspended animation in Woodley Park.  

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! 

.....sums up for me the way we disarm the scariness of this second year of the pandemic with both charm and art. 

If anyone's giving awards for the most pointed Halloween house decorations, this should take the top prize! (Look for it as a nominee for Best Picture in the annual end-of-the-year Cleveland Park Listsies!

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Still Life with Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.

Get Out! It's Halloween!

3268Zauber via Creative Commons

by Peggy Robin

After the pandemic-caused cancellation of so many neighborhood Halloween events last year, we're glad to see the announcements of a number of live events this year.

We Want More! More!

Here are a few we've seen posted. If you know of a Halloween event that's free and open to all (it doesn't have to be in or near Cleveland Park) please feel free to send it to clevelandpark@groups.io

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October 29th Afternoon Fright and Fun at Glover Park

• A Fun-Filled Afternoon Of Costumes, Candy, And Activities
  
• Date: Friday, October 29
  
• Time: 3:30 - 5:30pm
  
• Location: Glover Park Recreation Center

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October 29th Halloween at Palisades

A Fun-Filled Evening Of Activities, Candy, And A Costume Contest

Date: Friday, October 29

Time: 4 - 7pm

Location: Palisades Recreation Center

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Oct 30 S'Pet-tacular

SPCA's S'Pet-tacular Halloween Parade & Costume Contest - October 30
 
The Shepherd Park Citizens Association (SPCA) is hosting its First Annual sPETacular Halloween Parade and Costume Contest at Noon at the Parks at Walter Reed proves Halloween is for furbabies too!  Prizes are generously donated by One Leg Up Pets, Big Bad Wood Pet Store, and other vendors will be awarded by celebrity judges Carin Ruff of Dog-Friendly Shepherd Park, Vickie Davis of Hines Urban Atlantic, and Ward 4 Councilmember Janeese Lewis-George. Register your dog for FREE or come to cheer on your favorites.  The event opens at Noon on 10/30/21 at the Parks at Walter Reed Dog Park. Enter at the Butternut gate and please wear a mask.

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Oct 31 Chevy Chase Spooktacular

Chevy Chase Citizens Association [CCCA] is reviving Spooktacular --  to be held on upper Connecticut Avenue on Halloween, October 31) Trick-or-treats will be provided by local businesses from 2 to 5 on Sunday, October 31.

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October 31st MPD Halloween Drive-thru

The Metropolitan Police Department (Second District), Metro Transit Police, and Starbucks invites you to join us for a fun & safe Halloween event for the entire family! Just pull up and each child will receive a bag filled with lots of treats and surprises.

Sunday, October 31st (3pm-5pm)

Chevy Chase Community Center (parking lot) 5601 Connecticut Ave NW

Vehicles must enter the parking lot on the Northampton Street side, and exit on the McKinley Street side.

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The "Get Out!" event of the week is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays.