Still Life With Robin: 2013 Listserv Year in Review

by Peggy Robin

I may be a week late with this column celebrating the 14th anniversary of the Cleveland Park Listserv, which was founded on November 30, 1999 -- but it’s good timing for a year-end wrap up of listserv highlights for 2013.

The Year in Compilations. These are the summaries of recommendations sent in by list members this year, with all due gratitude to those took the time to sort, edit, and type up the replies to their queries. (It’s a lot of work!)

A/C installers; accountants; alterations/tailoring; bathroom renovators; book donations (place to drop them off or places that pick up); cabinet makers; cat sitters; computer gurus; dentists who take Delta Dental; dishwashers - brands, dealers, installers; doctors (5 different compilations: allergists, endocrinologists, gastroenterologists, internists, shoulder doctors); document shredding; drivers who can pick up patients after outpatient surgery; drycleaners; electricians; facilities for Alzheimer’s patients; fishmongers; galvanized steel pipe replacement advice; holistic vets; home rental advice; home security companies; Honda repair; photographers; shoemakers; storage facilities; TVs – where to dispose of old ones; upholsterers; watch repair; wedding venues (small wedding); window repair and replacement.

The Year in Giveaways (Note: This is most definitely NOT a comprehensive list!)

Animals and animal supplies: cat litter - 40 lb bag; dog bed; dog crate; dog food; dog leashes and supplies; goldfish family; guinea pig cage; Have-a-heart trap; parakeets (2)

Bikes, exercise equipment, etc.: bike - women’s 26”; bike rack; elliptical machine; exercise bike; exercise rower; tennis ball hopper and cans of tennis balls; trail-a-bike; trailer for kayak/canoe; treadmill

Food and food containers: baby food; egg cartons; egg cartons; eggs; mason jars; spiral cut ham; tarts and cakes

Household items, furniture, food, clothing & miscellaneous: anti-freeze; armoire;  backpack; basket weaving kits; bedframes; bench; Blackberry chargers; blender;;bookcases; boxes, boxes, and more boxes; bubble wrap; cedar chest; chairs; Chumby clock; coffeemaker; compact fluorescent bulbs; couches; desks; end tables; flip phones; flutes (2); headboard for kingsize bed; loveseat; mouse pads; ottoman; paint samples; pegboard; ping pong table; play/concert tickets; pool table; printer ink; printer/scanner; prom dress; rocking chair; rugs; sheets and towels; small refrigerator; sofabed; swivel chair/recliner; TV cabinet on wheels; TV stand; TVs (all types from old tube style to flatscreen); Uzbek women’s chapan (Don’t know what a chapan is? You can see one here: http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_kw=uzbek+chapan); vacuum cleaner; VCR; wicker chair

Plants, yard supplies, outdoor stuff: compost; concrete planters; Dutch elm treatment supplies and equipment; fertilizer; fire pit; firewood; grill; ground cover plants; liriope; mulch; pea gravel; pond cleaning supplies; porch swing; potting soil; power mower; purple beautyberry shrub; rhododendrons; topsoil; weedkillers & misc garden supplies

Toys, kid/toddler/baby things: American Girl Dolls and books; bassinet; carseats; children’s books in Swedish; crib mattress; jogging stroller; Jumparoo; kids’ table and chairs; Legos; Little Tykes picnic table; Little Tykes slide; sandbox; strollers; toddler bed

The Year in Queries which ran the gamut from the most serious --heart surgeon-- to the most whimsical --a mad scientist costume. There were a few unusual food queries: Where can you buy lard? Does anyone in the area sell handmade Shmurah matzo? Can someone give me a sample of a very expensive specialized cat food to try it out and see if my cat will eat it, before I place an order for the pricey stuff online? Then there was the time, during the US government shutdown, that someone wanted to know what museums were still open. That produced several weeks’ worth of helpful suggestions, as many of us heard for the first time about some out-of-the-way and under-appreciated, privately-run museums in this otherwise government dominated town.  

Travel queries. For those not content to explore the city, the listserv was a useful place to learn about parts far and wide, whether it’s Prague or Portugal, Norway, Nicaragua, or Nepal, or Turkey or Thailand. This is just a small, alliterative sample of the travel questions asked in 2013.

Then there were the stories with happy endings: Poptart the cat went missing in January, but fortunately came back (message # 83539). Desdemona the cat was lost in August by was likewise safely returned (message # 88477). In other animal news: a squirrel got into the attic, an opossum took up residence under the porch, there were raccoons in the rafters, chipmunks boring holes under the patio, a dead read fox in the garden, a sick raccoon captured on Macomb Street, and some mystery animal making holes in a stone wall, leaving little mounds of dirt behind as evidence. We still don’t know what that was all about…

And now for my favorite and final part of the year-end wrap-up. Drumroll, please. The best subject lines of the year.

For third runner up: “The Mystery of the Locked Safe…” Message number 88874 on September 4.

And the second runner up is: “Things that go BLAM!! in the night” Message number 88815 on September 2.

Our first runner up is: "Snakes Falling Out of Trees?!" Message number 86717 on June 11 -- which started a thread about snakes in trees which went on for 10 messages, including several with eyewitness accounts. This subject line would have been the winner for its startling nature, but it lost out to the even more astonishing -- and far happier report...

Our winning subject line of 2013: “Parakeet Sunshine is back home!” Message number 86906 on June 18, a miraculous recovery if there ever was one.

Thanks to all who contributed to the Listserv in 2013!

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Still Life With Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com, and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.

Get Out! - Cleveland Park Listserv Events Column

Photo by Thomas S. Mann

We wanted to share some events and activities that list members might be interested in. Have a great weekend -- and week beyond, too. If you know of an event that the 13,000+ members of the Cleveland Park Listserv should know about, email us at events @ fastmail.us.

Bill Adler and Peggy Robin
Publishers, Cleveland Park Listserv
www.cleveland-park.com


Thursday, December 5 from 6 - 9:30 PM, The 7th Annual DC Community Heritage Project Showcase celebrating the work of 18 grantee organizations who have created exciting new projects that interpret and preserve Washington, DC's historic landmarks, neighborhoods, and culture. Among this year’s projects are: Crestwood History Project, Dunbar High School Alumni and Pioneers, Langston Terrace Dwellings Oral History, Mt. Zion Cemetery Website Development, and DC Gardeners' Oral History Project. Location:The brand new Dunbar High School, 101 N Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001. RSVP for the Showcase at: http://dcchpshowcase2012.eventbrite.com

Friday, December 6 and Saturday, December 7 from 11 AM - 2:30 PM, Christmas House Tour - St. Albans School. Tour 5 festively decorated, spectacular homes in Mass Ave Heights, just blocks from the Cathedral Close. Friday, 11 am - 4 pm; Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm. Complimentary shuttle buses to and from St. Albans School. Tickets $40. Gift Boutiques - over 50 vendors (jewelry, clothing, specialty foods, unique gifts). Marriott Hall's Holiday Marketplace at the school on Fri Sat, 9:30 AM - 5 PM - no tickets needed. Holiday Luncheon - 3 courses served in the Merry Bulldog Café in the school's Refectory. Fri Sat, 11 AM - 2:30 PM - tickets $20. Tickets for tour and luncheon available at St. Albans the days of the event. Go to: www.stalbansschool.org/page.aspx?pid=1269

Friday, December 6 at 7:30 PM, Saturday December 7 and Sunday December 8 at 4 PM: The Messiah at the National Cathedral. With its resounding “Hallelujah” chorus, Handel’s masterpiece glitters through the winter evening. Canon Michael McCarthy directs the Baroque–period orchestra and
the Cathedral’s combined boy, girl, and men’s choirs. Guest soloists are Gillian Keith, soprano; Claire Wilkinson, mezzo; Rufus Müller, tenor; Nathan Berg, bass. Tickets $29-$85 at  www.nationalcathedral.org/events/Messiah2013.shtml#.Up1JpcRJNxB

Saturday, December 7, 10 AM - 4 PM, Turkish Artisans Holiday Sale. You can do your seasonal gift shopping at the Anatolian Artisans annual holiday sale of beautiful hand-made items from Turkey! New location this year - at the Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church, at 1 Chevy Chase Circle. Dazzling jewelry, hand-knitted items large and small, silk scarves and clothing; hand-blown glass; kilims and carpet pillow-covers; pottery, ceramics, jewelry, handmade caftan robes and stocking-stuffers like purses and slippers – all available at reasonable prices. Turkish pastries, coffee and other refreshments will also be available.
Anatolian Artisans www.anatolianartisans.org is nonprofit that provides product development, micro-business management training and marketing skills to low-income Turkish artisans, especially women in rural areas.

Saturday, December 7 from 10 AM - 5 PM, Winter Fair at the Lycee Rochambeau (French International School), 9600 Forest Road, Bethesda. Come to this festive annual event for the whole family: unique shopping experience, delectable foods drinks, children’s activities, seasonal crafts, music entertainment.

Saturday, December 7 from 10 AM - 10 PM Tenley WinterFest events: At Janney School from 12 - 4 PM: Winter Market offering unique gifts and handmade items, Winter Garden of Lights with crafts and Yeti Village, grilled eats, hot cocoa, roasted chestnuts, Lego train, historic walking tours, music and more. At 10 AM Janney 5K Race. At Tenley Library: winter storytime, crafts, and children’s booksale. At Middle C Music Store: live music outside storefront at Brandywine and Wisconsin from 4 - 10 PM - WinterFest tent with live music and winter brews.

Saturday, December 7 at 7:30 PM, Benjamin Britten's St. Nicolas Cantata. St. Albans Parish
St. Alban’s choirs - both children and adults - will perform St. Nicolas, a cantata written in 1948 by Benjamin Britten, conducted by music director Sonya Sutton. The work presents nine scenes from the life
of Nicholas, patron saint of children and the historical figure behind the story of Santa Claus. $10 donation; children under 16 are free. http://stalbansdc.org/event/st-nicolas/

Sunday, December 8 at 3 PM - Concert featuring eight different Chanuka songs – one for each day of Chanuka – plus songs invoking peace, and luscious musical settings of beautiful winter poetry are on the program for Mizmor’s second concert. (There will be lots of English in addition to the Hebrew lyrics.) Mizmor (Hebrew for “melody”) is an a cappella group under the direction of Cantor Michael Mandel. We sing both liturgical and secular music from the Renaissance to modern times. Everyone is welcome, free of charge, to this concert at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 600 M St SW. Take the green line to the Waterfront metro stop in SW DC. Parking is available in the churchyard, on Maine Avenue, and on Water Street.

Sunday, December 8 from 5 - 6:30 PM, Handel’s Messiah - The National Presbyterian Church Festival Choir Orchestra present Rejoice Greatly: Our Coming Savior in Handel’s Messiah. No tickets required. A freewill offering will be received. A reception with light refreshments follows the performance. The National Presbyterian Church is at 4101 Nebraska Ave. NW, 202-537-0800, http://www.nationalpres.org/messiah. Ample free parking available; the campus is also easily accessible by public transportation via the Metro Red Line.

Sunday December 8 from 11 AM - 5 PM - Make It Mount Pleasant returns for the Holiday Season this year. There will be a pop-up Handmade Craft and Vintage Market in the parking lot of McCormick’s Paints at the corner of Mt. Pleasant Kenyon Streets. Also, Mt. Pleasant’s annual Lamont Park Holiday Party will be from 1pm – 3pm in Lamont Park. Santa Claus will be joined by the Three Kings to chat with little girls and boys. Santa and his helpers will have a small gift for each child they visit with. There will also be a Hanukkah Puppet show and art projects for the kids to enjoy. For more info visit
http://mtpleasantdc.com/events/lamont-park-holiday-party and http://mtpleasantdc.com/makeitmtp2013 and
http://mtpleasantdc.com/events/make-it-mt-pleasant-handmade-craft-and-vintage-market

Sunday December 8 at 4 PM, New Dominion Chorale concert - Welcome Yule.  Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols and Thomas Beveridge’s Welcome Lord, at Schlesinger Concert Hall, Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria Campus, 3001 North Beauregard Street. Tickets are $30, $25 for Seniors. http://www.newdominion.wildapricot.org

Monday, December 9 at 7 PM, Holiday Letter-Writing Recycling Workshop. In this eco-friendly holiday themed workshop, you will learn how you can reuse another family’s holiday newsletter and make it your own. We will provide you with a free smartphone app that will allow you to use your phone’s camera to capture the image of any holiday letter you have received, substitute your own photos for the embedded images, and then change names, dates, and activities as desired. Or keep the words, if you prefer the travel, and sports, honors and adventures of the original letter over your own family’s dull or uninspiring year! It’s up to you. When done, just hit send to your contacts to email your creation to everyone you know, saving on stamps and paper. This free, fun workshop will be held on the 4th floor craftshop of the Cleveland Park Club, but since the club house doesn’t have a 4th floor, you should realize that this is the weekly fake event.

Tuesday, December 10 at 7 PM - Generation Why?: Engaging Millennials in the New Jewish America. Panelists discussing this topic include Jeffrey Goldberg, Bloomberg View columnist; Bethamie Horowitz, assistant professor of Jewish education at NYU; Julie Finkelstein, program director of Slingshot; and Alan Cooperman of the Pew Research Center’s Religion and Public Life Project. Free but reservations requested. At 6th I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St NW, http://www.sixthandi.org/event/generation-engaging-millennials-new-jewish-america/

Real Talk With Rachel:

by Rachel Kurzius

Dear Rachel,

I am in my late twenties and I live with two friends from graduate school. We all get along well, but I’ve been having an issue with my roommate Gina’s boyfriend, Johnny. First of all, he doesn’t seem to care about her very much. They’ve been dating since our last year of grad school (three years ago) but he still seems very noncommittal. When he comes to visit the apartment, he is not very friendly to me or our other roommate. Johnny is very successful and is always working, but comes to the apartment once a week. From interactions with him and talking to Gina about him, he sounds like he’s very selfish. She makes a lot of sacrifices to be with him and is always thinking about him and what he wants, but it seems like he doesn’t really consider her perspective.  How can I help her see that she should cut him loose? Gina deserves so much better!

Meddling for the Best


Dear Meddling for the Best,

Imagine Gina right now after three years of commitment to Johnny. Maybe she feels some of the doubts you outline -- he’s selfish, he’s not friendly, he doesn’t make time for her. But there must be something about Johnny that keeps her with him, even if he seems like a dirty dishrag to you.

As her friend, you want to make sure Gina knows your concerns -- and that's understandable. But you must tread incredibly lightly when it comes to airing your grievances. Being in a relationship means elevating another person, designating him as more important than other obligations or relationships. An attack on Johnny, no matter how narrow, quickly falls on Gina as well.

Even if you only aim to point out issues you take with her boyfriend, your friend will probably get defensive. After all, you’re impugning a defining decision of her life over these past three years. To avoid that, which will turn into a fight between the two of you rather than an opportunity to probe whether she actually wants to keep this guy around, you need to let her do the talking.

In the moments where she talks to you about the relationship, ask questions. Ask how it makes her feel when he acts selfishly, what she expects from a relationship. Or, when the two of you are chatting, mention attributes of relationships you admire. See if she shares the same values as you when it comes to a relationship.

That’s the funny thing about boyfriends and girlfriends. We’re all looking for different things in each other, which goes a long way towards explaining the craziness of dating. It’s a shame that you and Johnny don’t connect, but if it doesn’t bother Gina then it’s not an issue for their relationship. It’s an issue for your and Gina’s friendship.

All best,

Rachel

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Rachel Kurzius revels in giving advice, and has provided counsel both as a columnist and a friend. She lives in Washington DC, where she works as a news producer. Real Talk with Rachel is published on All Life is Local and the Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com, on Wednesdays. Need advice? You can write to Rachel via http://bit.ly/realtalkwithrachel.

Still Life With Robin: Joe Grano

Photo from We The Italians website

by Peggy Robin

In Tom Sherwood’s column in this week’s Northwest Current, there’s a sad note about the passing last week of longtime DC activist Joe Grano (see http://bit.ly/18PWNZz).

I’ll miss Joe. I first met him back in the early ‘80s; he was one of the tireless leaders in the multi-year fight to try to save historic Rhodes Tavern (see Wikipedia  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodes'_Tavern). Anytime I went to any DC political event -- and back in those days, as an ANC Commissioner, I was always going to something or other -- I was sure to run into Joe. He came to everything, armed with his petition to save Rhodes Tavern. Long after the cause was lost and the building fell to the wrecking ball (the fatal day was September 10, 1984), Joe kept up the fight to make sure Rhodes Tavern would be remembered. Now there’s a plaque where the building once stood - a small victory that Joe helped to bring about on June 7, 1999. 

For too many years I had little contact with Joe, but a year or so ago, he discovered the listserv, and we reconnected. Joe realized that the listserv was a good way to promote another good cause that had long animated his spirit: DC voting rights. As one of the spearheads of the “No Taxation Without Representation” petition, Joe championed the idea that DC residents should not have to pay federal income tax as long as we lack real voting representation in the House and the Senate. And he was happy to support the listserv through becoming a listserv sponsor of a series of political ads with that message. In case you don’t recall them, here are the first two in the series:

http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/cleveland-park/conversations/messages/88262 (No Taxation Without Representation, Part I)

http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/cleveland-park/conversations/messages/88299 (No Taxation Without representation, Part II)

While Joe’s dream of DC voting rights would not be realized in his lifetime, he was able to help bring about another outcome that was dear to him: As a proud Italian American, Joe wanted to make Rome and Washington “sister cities” --and was something that could be achieved...happily, without the opposition of various moneyed interests.

You can learn more about Joe and a few of his other causes and campaigns on “We The Italians,”http://wetheitalians.com/index.php/315-usa/5900-joseph-n-grano-rip.

I’ll close with a nod of agreement to Tom Sherwood’s closing thought:  “Joe was one of the good guys.”

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Still Life With Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com, and on All Life Is Local, http://alllifeislocal.blogspot.com/, on Saturdays.

Real Talk With Rachel: A Generation Removed But Still Concerned

By Rachel Kurzius

Dear Rachel,

My son has two young daughters, ages 8 and 10. He and his wife are very loving parents. However, my husband and I have noticed a strange dynamic in their household. Our younger granddaughter, call her Lily, is quite the charmer and has many friends at school, while our older granddaughter Jessica is more shy and has a difficult time connecting with children her age. Jessica seems jealous of her younger sister and often tries to spend time with Lily and her friends when they are playing at their house.

To add further tension, our daughter-in-law and Jessica have a sometimes uncomfortable relationship because Jessica will lash out at her mother, who will then get angry with her in return. It is a bad situation and our son isn’t trying to cool it down.

As grandparents, we’ve tried not to intervene too much, other than to try and take Jessica out to museums and such when Lily is off at birthday parties. I feel that perhaps Jessica and our daughter-in-law could benefit from some sort of counseling, but my husband says I should keep my opinions to myself. Should I?

Does Grandma Know Best?


Dear Does Grandma Know Best,

If you tell your son, apropos of nothing, that he should look into family counseling, he might become defensive. I don’t blame him. While I’m an advocate for counseling, recommending it sounds like (and often is) a critique of some kind. If you offend him, that will limit your ability to spend time with your granddaughters and have a positive influence on the situation.

And what a situation it is. Envy, frustration, and really all of the elements that make for high drama. My heart goes out to Jessica. Feeling like an odd duck is hard enough, but constantly having a reminder of what you aren’t makes her plight all the more difficult. I can see why she might try and emulate her younger sister.

Your best course of action is to try and help Jessica find an outlet for herself. I love that you’re taking her to museums and out to other activities. Try to see what kind of interests she has, and how she can nurture them into hobbies. That way, she can find her own unique brand of special and a way to feel good about herself. Plus, she could find friends with shared interests.

When you’re with your son’s family and you experience a fraught moment between Jessica and your daughter-in-law, it can be an opportunity to talk to your son about your concerns. Don’t view it as a confrontation. Instead, ask him a lot of questions and see how he reacts. You might get him to come to the conclusion that his family could benefit from some counseling on his own.

All best,
Rachel

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Rachel Kurzius revels in giving advice, and has provided counsel both as a columnist and a friend. She lives in Washington DC, where she works as a news producer. Real Talk with Rachel is published on All Life is Local and the Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com, on Wednesdays. Need advice? You can write to Rachel via http://bit.ly/realtalkwithrachel or at advice @ fastmail.net.
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Still Life With Robin: The Doctor's First 50 Years

Photo: Steve Collins/Wikimedia Commons

Today, Saturday, November 25, at 2:50 Eastern Standard Time --and at the equivalent time in every time zone around the entire world-- is the premier of the 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who, “The Day of the Doctor,” a momentous occasion for Whovians everywhere -- and I proudly count myself among them. (Seehttp://www.eonline.com/news/484248/doctor-who-50th-anniversary-special-everything-you-need-to-know for viewing information.)

In recognition of the Doctor Who phenomenon the Google Doodle for today http://www.google.com/doodles/doctor-whos-50th-anniversary is an animation featuring all eleven doctors, with a click-to-play interactive game for each. That should keep you occupied until the appointed time of 2:50 PM! 

However, if you beat the Google doodle game quickly and want something else to keep you Who-occupied before the show starts, try this quiz, “Which Doctor Who Personality Are You?”:http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2013/11/personality-quiz-doctor/

And its natural sequel, “Which Doctor Who Companion Are You?”:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/paulaersly/quiz-which-doctor-who-companion-are-you

Now, for all those who are completely mystified by the preceding because you are not initiated into the cult of The Doctor, it may be that you have kept yourself away out of a sense that it’s too late to get acquainted now. With 50 years of history to catch up on, you might think there’s just too much backtracking to do. I hope to persuade you otherwise. No one needs to go back to the beginning, as pointed out by Entertainment Weekly in its useful little primer, “How to Start Watching Doctor Who - TARDIS Entry Points”:http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/03/25/doctor-who-matt-smith-3/ .  As the article breezily assures you, all you reallyneed to know is this: “Doctor Who is about a man can travel anywhere in time and space in a box that’s bigger on the inside. Ta-dah! You’re done.” The article goes on to recommend three good “starter” episodes: The Ark in Space; The Doctor Dances; and Blink. (For summaries of these and other episodes, go tohttp://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006q2x0/episodes/guide)

These would not be my own choices, actually, for Doctor Who newbies. Especially not Blink, with its truly terrifying Weeping Angels. I would recommend you start with one that follows its standard but always exhilaratingly fast-paced plotline: Doctor Who goes back into history and finds out that some major event or historical figure is actually propelled by alien monster attempting to take over the Earth.  So I recommend:

The Fires of Pompeii: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b009wzbf

Tooth and Claw (the Queen Victoria episode) http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/episodes/2006/toothandclaw.shtml

Vincent and the Doctor (the Vincent Van Gogh episode) http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00spgsf

And don’t worry about watching anything in any particular order.  According to Doctor Who, it’s all a “big ball of wibbly-wobbly…timey wimey…stuff.”

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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! - The Events Column

We wanted to share some events and activities that list members might be interested in. Have a great weekend -- and week beyond, too. If you know of an event that the 13,000+ members of the Cleveland Park Listserv should know about, email us at events@fastmail.us (events @ fastmail.us).

Bill Adler and Peggy Robin
Publishers, Cleveland Park Listserv
www.cleveland-park.com


Saturday, November 23 from 10 AM - 3 PM, The 44th Annual Fall Bazaar at Washington Waldorf School. The Bazaar will have crafts and activities for children of all ages; over 30 pottery, jewelry, and textile artisans; and beautiful items handmade by WWS parents. Have lunch in the bistro, listen to entertainment throughout the day, and enjoy delicious baked goods and coffee while you are shopping. Location: 4800 Sangamore Road, Bethesda.www.washingtonwaldorf.org

Saturday, November 23 from 10 AM - 4 PM. Christmas Bazaar at Chevy Chase United Methodist Church, featuring: Santa photo, Children's Secret Shop, Lunch Bake Sale, Vendors, Silent Auction, Crafts, Jewelry, and much more. Chevy Chase United Methodist Church is at 7001 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD (across from 4-H Center).

Saturday, November 23 from 1:30 - 3 PM, Tudor Tots Thanksgiving Celebration (for children ages 4-6). Celebrate Turkey Day with active fun at Tudor Place. Children will enjoy an interactive story and then scour the historic mansion for historic games and toys. After the hunt, they make a special holiday craft to take home and finish with period dancing that will have the whole family moving. Parent/caregivers remain with children throughout. At Tudor Place Historic House and Garden, tickets: $5 - $8 at http://bit.ly/1axUuKY

Saturday, November 23 at 3:30 PM, Pie Talk, demonstration with samples, and book signing by Warren Brown, owner of CakeLove Bakeries. In his fourth cookbook, Warren Brown, turns his attention to pies. Brown answers every baker’s questions about making the perfect piecrust and fillings. At the Tenley-Friendship Library, 4450 Wisconsin Avenue NW, http://dclibrary.org/node/38005

Saturday, November 23 at 8 PM, The American University Symphonic Band’s Fall Concert.
The musical selections include: Foundry; First Suite in Eb (for Military Band); Rhosymedre; The Woodwind Quintet; Concertino for Percussion; Bravura. This should be a great event for music lovers and for those who want to learn a bit more about music. At the Katzen Arts Center Abramson Family Recital Hall, 4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW. Tickets, $5 - $10 at:  http://american.tix.com/Event.aspx?EventCode=593480

Sunday, November 25, from 9 - 11 AM, Help save Rock Creek Park from invasive plants and shrubs. Volunteers will cut English ivy from tree trunks using hand tools. Tools, gloves, and training on how to identify and cut unwanted plants will be provided. Ages 16 and up to use tools. Location: We will be working in Melvin Hazen Park off of Quebec Street, NW on the east side of Connecticut Ave. Meet at the east end of Quebec St. Please wear long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Wear sturdy boots or sneakers, no sandals. Bring water. Tools and gloves will be provided. Feel free to bring your own tools and gloves if you have them. Students can earn SSL hours, but please bring needed forms. Please register at the Rock Creek Conservancy website, http://bit.ly/I5B7hK

Sunday, November 24 from 9 AM - 3 PM, Holiday Craft Fair at Temple Sinai, featuring: 30+ vendors selling clothing, pottery, glassware, jewelry, and more; homemade food, prize drawings, and kids’ games and activities. Free. Temple Sinai is at 3100 Military Road NW.

Sunday, November 24 starting at 10 AM, Chanukah Carnival at the DCJCC. Grab your socks and yarmulke, it’s time to bounce for Chanukah! This year’s rockin’ Chanukah party will feature a moon bounce, games, crafts, treats and plenty of fun for the whole family. At the DCJCC, 16th & Q Streets. Tickets, $10 - $15 athttp://bit.ly/IixV1K

Sunday, November 24 at 10 AM, JFK and Jackie Walking Tour led by tour guide Dwane Starlin. On this delightful meander through Georgetown discover the homes and neighborhood spots frequented by President Kennedy and Jackie during their years in Washington. See where the couple became engaged, their Georgetown home, and where Jackie stayed after JFK's assassination in 1963. Tickets $15, http://bit.ly/1jpKZhV

Sunday, November 24 at 7:30 PM, The Mesorah DC presents a Dreidel Championship and Chanukkah Extravaganza, with a latke buffet, open bar, live music. At 6th & I Historic Synagogue, 600 I St NW. Free, but reserve your spot at http://mesorahdc.org/jewish-lifecycle/chanukkah

Monday, November 25 from 1 - 2 PM, Learn how to print your own money. The marriage of powerful desktop computers, photo editing software and high quality printers makes it easier than ever to print your own $20's and $100's. (Or even $5 bills if you want.) Learn how to turn your computer into your own money making machine at this free seminar sponsored by the Washington DC Tea Party. Location: DC Jail. This is seriously the weekly fake event.

Fire Breathing Toaster: The Best Wristwatch for the Zombie Apocalypse

by Bill Adler

I’ve been thinking about the zombie apocalypse lately. Not what weapons to carry, or where I might get food. Or what happens if I have an accident and need surgery. But I’ve been wondering what watch to wear to survive.

This is an important question. Soon after the zombie apocalypse, most centralized time keeping services will fail, along with the rest of civilization. You won’t be able to rely on your smartphone, even if you could find a way to recharge it, the last thing you want to do is have to think when you’re escaping 100 ravenous zombies, “Damn, I forgot my phone. I have to go back.”

It’s vital to know what time it is. You want to know how much daylight remains. You want to know how many hours there are until dawn. You want to know how long you’ve been walking to get an idea of how far you’ve gone. You want to be able to meet with your group, in say three hours. Keeping track of time is important when there are zombies all over.

A regular quartz watch is out of the question for the zombie apocalypse for the same reason that you won’t be able to rely on smartphones. When the battery goes, the watch is useless. Except for solar powered quartz watches. They’ll go on forever, and that’s a consideration when it comes to choosing the right watch to be wearing when you have to bolt out of your home. You don’t want to prowl around the dark battery corners of Wal-Mart when you need to resuscitate your quartz watch. Finding food and medicine is more important.

I once thought that a kinetic watch might do the trick because kinetic quartz watches don’t need batteries, but apparently the miniature gerbils that keep kinetic watches going need to be replaced every 10 years or so. Assuming that a cure hasn’t been found in 10 years, you still want your watch to work.

I’m not entirely sure of all the criteria that one needs to evaluate when it comes to finding the best watch for the zombie apocalypse. I have no idea, really, what it would be like. The closest I’ve come is being stuck at Boston’s Logan airport during a heavy snowstorm when all flights were canceled. But I’ll do my best to provide the most useful information to prepare, based on that experience and what I’ve read.

Durability is essential. Your watch is going to take a beating. With that in mind, a mineral crystal, at least; sapphire, which is virtually scratch proof, is preferred. A titanium case makes a lot of sense, too, because titanium can take a bite and survive intact.

Waterproof, of course, is vital. You may need to leap into rivers and lakes to escape zombie herds. Not to mention the fact that you may not always have a roof over your head when a rainstorm starts.

What about complications? Complication is a watch term for those add-on features, such as alarms and chronographs. While they can be helpful in the ordinary, pre-zombie world, you don’t truly need an alarm on your watch. It’s not like you’ll be sleeping with both eyes closed, anyway. You’ll wake when you need to. Stopwatches are handy for pilots, but a sweep second hand is all you’ll need to do things like take somebody’s pulse to see if they’re still human, or if they’re about to turn.

I think that tritium or superluminova --stuff that makes your watch glow in the dark-- are good features: There will be plenty of times when you’re in the dark and want to know what time it is. Tritium and superluminova watches can also function as miniature flashlights in a pinch. Tritium never needs an external light to become bright because it’s semi-radioactive. (Tritium isn’t dangerous, but even if it was, it would be a comparatively minor danger.) Superluminova is brighter than tritium, but the brightness fades after a couple of hours. Decide on your needs --all night visibility or short-term brightness-- and choose. One more thing: There’s no way to know if zombies’ eyesight is good enough to spot a luminescent watch in the dark. If you’re worried about that, choose a watch that isn’t zombie bling.

There’s the philosophical and aesthetic to consider. The world’s going to be an ugly place, and having something pretty on your wrist might be the ticket to continued sanity. Having a watch that you like to look at can bring you out of the darkness that is fear just when you need it most. A nice Rolex, Breguet, or Patek Philippe, perhaps. Being able to see a little beauty can inspire you, maybe even give you that smidgen of creativity that you need to find your way out of danger. There are a lot beautiful watches in the world, and I wonder if that’s not the best way to go. When things are at their worst, is it not good to have something that touches your soul just a little? Should your watch be 50 percent time keeping and 50 percent sentiment?

So perhaps durable and pretty. Vintage watches may or may not fit into this category. If a watch has been running for 25 years, it might be good for another 25. Past is prologue, right? On the other hand, a mechanical vintage watch does need service every few years. It’s hard enough to find a good watchmaker in pre-apocalypse days. Imagine how difficult it will be to find one now.

The Omega Speedmaster, the original moon watch, wouldn’t be a bad choice, but it might not be the best, either. If it’s right for the harsh extremes of outer space, then it should survive the zombie apocalypse, too. The original moonwatch isn’t an automatic though, and I’d recommend an automatic watch over a manual winding watch. There may just be some days when you’re too distracted to remember to wind your watch. Believe me -- your automatic watch will get plenty of motion to keep it wound.

Right now I’m going to go with a Seiko solar dive watch. It may be the wrong choice, but there will be a lot of less than optimal choices we’ll have to make before and during the zombie apocalypse. What I like about the Seiko solar dive watch is it’s durable, really strong. A zombie bite is not going to take out this watch. It’s very waterproof, well beyond the depth any zombie can get to. It has a rotating bezel. I’m not sure that a rotating bezel is necessary, but then again it might be called into service one day. The watch is quartz, which makes it accurate, but it’s solar powered. That means no batteries to have to search for. It has bright, luminous hands. The Seiko solar dive watch also displays the day and date. It may not seem like a big deal now, but after a few months without any calendars, it might be easy to forget what day it is. I’d like to be able to do little things like celebrate birthdays and welcome in the New Year -- another year of surviving. A watch should bring with it a touch of civilization, if it can.

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Bill Adler is a writer. He is the author of "Boys and Their Toys:Understanding Men by Understanding Their Relationship with Gadgets," http://amzn.to/rspOft, "Outwitting Squirrels," http://amzn.to/VXuLBh, and a mess of other books. He tweets at @billadler. His Fire Breathing Toaster column is published on Monday and his Tech Column is published on Tuesday.

Still Life With Robin: 3 Fun Things in 1

A Reader's Book of Days
Amazon.com

by Peggy Robin

I have a trio of quirky, unrelated hobbies/things I like:

1) I love the TV quiz show Jeopardy, starting with its original incarnation with host Art Fleming in 1964 all the way up through its present incarnation with Alex Trebek as host.

2) I like calendars of events, especially calendars of odd holidays. I was an ardent fan of Neal Pizzano, who, for many years was the meteorologist usually heard on Verizon’s morning Weatherline, and who always ended his forecasts with a funny little note about whatever celebration there was for that particular day. For example, “It’s Button Day” (that would be today, November 16), or “It’s Take a Hike Day (that’s tomorrow, November 17). Sadly, Verizon pulled the plug on its Weatherline phone service in October 2011, and though Neal and the other weather announcers are still available by phone on the Time & Weather Service of the Washington Council of Governments, it just hasn’t been the same. I have missed having a daily source for calendar trivia.

3) I love literary trivia and gossip. There is no good, reliable source for that. The New York Review of Books is generally too high-culture for me, while celebrity magazines are too low. In other words, I need something in between Hannah Arendt and Stephanie Meyer.

Now, I am thrilled to say, there is a new book just out that fulfills all my dreams for the third category, and, amazingly, covers categories one and two as well. It’s A Reader’s Book of Days: True Tales from the Lives and Works of Writers for Every Day of the Year -- and it’s by Tom Nissley, well-known to Jeopardy fans as an eight-time champion, and participant in the Tournament of Champions.

I have the book on order but have not received it yet -- so I’m praising it here sight unseen. I’m that sure I’ll love it: http://books.wwnorton.com/books/a-readers-book-of-days/

If you’re not sure that you’d like this sort of thing, you can get a good preview of the book from the New Yorker’s blog entry about it -- http://nyr.kr/1hFMkW5 -- and you might also enjoy this animated video http://vimeo.com/79300196  about the parade of books that went into the making of A Reader’s Book of Days.It's a delight.

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Still Life With Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com, and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.

Just Three Things You Wish People Knew About Your Job

by Bill Adler

I'm working on my next book: Just Three Things: What Everyone Should Know About Everything.

Just Three Things is asking people: What are the three things that you wish other people knew about your business, career, field, or profession? These three things can be advice, trivia, little-known facts, or something based on your expertise. The three things can be activities you wish people did, or simply want people to know about life, based on your work experience. The three things can be a short list --a single sentence each-- or each can be as long as a paragraph.

Just Three Things will be be a compact, handy, accessible and insightful advice book based on real people's real experiences. 

What are the three things that you wish people knew about your profession?

If I use what you send in, you'll be mentioned by name and job, so please include that information, too. You can use the web form at Just Three Things or send me an email. 

By way of introduction, I'm a writer. Among the books I've written are Boys and Their Toys: Understanding Men by Understanding Their Relationship with Gadgets and Outwitting Squirrels: 101 Cunning Stratagems to Reduce Dramatically the Egregious Misappropriation of Seed from Your Birdfeeder by Squirrels.

Get Out! - The Events Column

Tudor Place Fall Harvest Tea on November 16

We wanted to share some events and activities that list members might be interested in. Have a great weekend -- and week beyond, too. If you know of an event that the 13,000+ members of the Cleveland Park Listserv should know about, email us at events @ fastmail.us.

Bill Adler and Peggy Robin
Publishers, Cleveland Park Listserv
www.cleveland-park.com


Thursday, November 14 at 5 PM, Opening reception for the exhibition Hamburg: Building the City Anew. A Journey into the City of Tomorrow. A half-day conference will take place on Friday, November 15 from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM, and the exhibit exhibition will run Mondays through Saturdays from Nov. 15 -l Dec. 6. These events are presented by the University of the District of Columbia's College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences the Goethe-Institut Washington. HafenCity, Europe’s largest inner-city development project, is setting new standards for ecological sustainability and mixed use development along the Elbe River in Hamburg, Germany. The exhibition features examples of IBA Hamburg and HafenCity projects. Launching the exhibit will be Dr. Dorothee Stapelfeldt, Deputy Mayor of Hamburg, and Karlfried Bergner, Minister, German Embassy, at an opening reception on Thursday. Please RSVP to causes@udc.edu to attend. The exhibition can be found on the A level of Building 42 of UDC’s Van Ness Campus, 4200 Connecticut Avenue NW, http://www.goethe.de/ins/us/was/ver/en11862043v.htm

Friday, November 15, 6 - 8:30 PM, Preview Night for the Annual Christmas Bazaar at Annunciation Catholic Church, adults only, $20 - price includes first dibs on all the incredible deals, 2 glasses of wine, appetizers provided by Shanghai Lounge, and $10 off coupon for Shanghai Lounge. The Christmas Bazaar is on Saturday, Nov 16, from 9 AM - 4 PM and on Sunday, Nov 17, 10 AM -12:30 PM. Free entry and fun for all ages. Location: 3125 39th Street, NW - near Wisc Mass Aves, enter at upper back door of the Church, off parking lot. Rocklands Surfside Food Trucks will be selling lunch from 11-2. The Bazaar features a prize drawing, gift baskets, a silent auction, a Wine Pull (try to pull the $190 bottle and not the 3 buck chuck!), Christmas decorations and presents, fine jewelry, great purses and scarves, unique antiques and collectibles, and hundreds of other lovely items.

Friday, November 15, 3 - 4 PM. Gerbil Power Demonstration by the US Department of Energy. Location DOE public auditorium, 1000 Independence Ave SW. As we look toward alternative sources of energy, we shouldn't forget that small mammals are an excellent source of power. Often used
in comics, cartoons and parodies, gerbils are actually a real energy source -- with just a little lettuce and cheese you can power a PC for hours. Of course, there's a good reason why gerbil power is featured in cartoons. If you haven't figured it out yet, this is the weekly fake event.

Friday, November 15 at 8 PM, Saturday, November 16 at 5 PM and Sunday, November 17 at 2 PM, The classic American play To Kill a Mockingbird will be performed by the Metropolitan Players at Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church. The church is at 3401 Nebraska Ave. NW at New Mexico, across from AU. Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for students. Ample parking available; enter lot from New Mexico. Take this opportunity to refresh your memories of Scout, her brother Jem, and their widowed father Atticus, a lawyer who is causing an uproar in their quiet southern town. Call 202-363-4900 for more information.

Saturday, November 16 from 12 noon to 4 PM, Free concert at G8WAY DC located at the pavilion at 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE  on the St. Elizabeths East campus. The concert is presented as part of Gateway DC’s “Fall for Gateway” Festival, a day of fun for the entire family.   Free and open to the public from 12pm-4pm, the Fall Festival will feature a live concert with R&B artist and eight-time Grammy nominee Tank; live music by the Red Carpet Affair Band; sounds by DJ Young Music; games for all ages, prizes, and a variety of food and drink from local vendors. The Festival will also feature a canned food drive benefiting Ward 8’s  Bread for the City SE Center. In return for donating two cans of food, attendees will receive a free food ticket that can be used at any of the food vendors during the festival. Parking is available on site and access is provided from the Congress Heights metro station (green line). More info at http://bit.ly/1a8Z81y. 

Saturday November 16 from 1 - 3 PM, Fall Harvest Tea at Tudor Place. Enjoy traditional Victorian tea service with tea sandwiches, scones, delicious desserts and historic tea blends in the elegant 1870s town house at Tudor Place. Then cross the North Garden for a guided tour of the 1816 National Historic Landmark mansion. Tickets (for adults only): http://bit.ly/1hPWb9u. At Tudor Place Historic House and Garden, 1670 31st Street, NW. 

Saturday, November 16, at 1 PM and 2:30 PM, Washington, DC based Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company will be performing a new work "Homage" at the National Portrait Gallery in the Kogod Courtyard. The work, choreographed by Dana Tai Soon Burgess during his current residency at
the museum, is inspired by the "Dancing the Dream" exhibition now on display. Admission is free. More information can be found at http://bit.ly/1duiUV5

Friday, November 15, Saturday November 16; Friday, November 22 - all at 7:30 PM, and Saturday, November 23 at 2:30 and 7:30 PM: Wilson Theater Arts is proud to present this year's Wilson musical, West Side Story. The world's greatest love story takes to the streets in this landmark Broadway musical that is one of the theater's finest accomplishments. Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" is transported to modern-day New York City, as two young idealistic lovers find themselves caught between warring street gangs. Featuring an 18 piece Wilson/Community Orchestra along with almost 100 Wilson students participating in the production. At Wilson Auditorium, 3950 Chesapeake Street NW. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students/children. Advance ticket reservations and information: wilsondramatickets@gmail.com. Tickets will also be available at the door.

Sunday, November 17 at 2 PM, Screening of Modest Reception, a film by Mani Haghighi. Made in 2012 in Farsi with English subtitles, it runs 100 minutes. Leila and Kaveh are an urbane couple from Tehran who drive through the mountainous countryside giving away bags of money. The objects of their generosity [?] are variously confused, angry, and indifferent. Location: in the first floor meeting room, 3310 Connecticut Avenue NW. 20008, http://www.dclibrary.org/node/38485

Tuesday, November 19 at 7:30 PM, InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington's 35th Anniversary InterFaith Concert - honoring Reverend Clark Lobenstine's three decades of interfaith leadership and the ongoing work of the InterFaith Conference. Experience music, desserts, and
presentations from diverse faith communities, including: Hindu and Jain, Jewish, Latter-day Saints, Protestant, Sikh…and a combined choir including voices from eleven faith traditions. Tickets $10 - $30: http://tinyurl.com/IFCtix2013. 7:30 pm concert, dessert reception to follow. Location: Washington Hebrew Congregation, 3935 Macomb St NW, in Cleveland Park.

Wednesday, November 20 at 7 PM, Introduction to Muslim Foods, a talk on the role of food in Muslim culture by congregants of Masjid Muhammad. This event is part of the Muslim Journey series. Free. At the Chevy Chase Library, 5625 Connecticut Avenue, NW http://www.dclibrary.org/node/34728