Giving new meaning to the term “field trip”
It is on at last, friends. I apologize for the delay, but now, without further ado, I invite you to join me on a tour of Washington, DC’s finest sights:
Friday 13 March 2009
Monuments!
Photo ops!
A fire-safety pomodoro attempting an electric slide near the seat of our nation’s government!
Beer(s)!
Probably not in that order, at all!
Yet TBD: how I get there (I had planned to take the train, but now that I drive one of these — a red one, no less — I’m inclined to up the hilarity by driving, in my tomato outfit, in my tiny tomato-colored car); what exactly I see and do, and when; which tights to pair with my rig.
But here’s what we do know: it’s March 13th; Mr. S and I will provide the customary video for the enjoyment of absent friends; you should totally come.
…Hey, remember how you did this, during an economy that even Hoover’s ghost is shaking his head at all, “…Jesus Christ”? Yeah, me too. That was awesome.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Worries/anxieties? Please share them in the comments.
Tags: city living contests friends
Ooh! I wish I could come to see this, but I don’t think I can get from San Francisco to DC and back without my employer noticing I was away from my desk. Still, if I can find a way to take the 13th off, I’m game for finding a redeye flight out on March 12th…
I think a photo op in front of the White House is a must!
Completely off topic: You have a Smart? I am ever so jealous. Do you like it? Would you recommend it for someone who (a) does not live in a major city and (b) has to drive on highways sometimes?
I’m e-mailing my manager to ask for the day off RIGHT NOW, so I don’t have to try to take an extended lunch break to see you!
Ok I am totally there! That’s the day after my birthday so I am super duper psyched! Currently trying to come up with suggestions…
I think you should visit a neglected monument, such as the Washington, DC World War I memorial (there is no national monument for WWI, and the DC one is getting shabby, which is a disgrace).
Oh, yay! I don’t have class on Fridays! If you’re wondering who the dorky librarian girl in the white cat’s eye glasses is that’s following you around and taking pictures, it’s me!
If you can, you should totally drive your car…that is too funny. I wish I could be there in person, but I’ll have to settle for the YouTube video. You rock so hard it’s no wonder the people give for you until it doesn’t hurt any more.
Ooh, that would be a fun trip. Don’t know if I can do another wacky trip to DC right now, though, since I just tried to go to the Inauguration and didn’t make it in to the Mall to see anything after all.
Can’t wait to see and/or hear about all the hi-jinks, though!
@Laura: I love her (her name is Campbell). It’s obviously ideal for the city, because it’s so parkable, but there is a common belief that you can’t take it on the highway, and you can; they get up to 90 mph, and you’d think it would feel horribly scary, but the seats are pitched up high enough that it’s actually less intimidating to drive than a Mini in my experience.
And the MPG is pretty insane. I’ll do an entry on the car at some point, but to clear up the most common misconceptions: 1) no I don’t wind it with a key, 2) no I can’t park it nose-in (it’s possible, but not legal), and 3) yes I take it on the highway.
Drat! You picked the one week of the year when I’ll be on the wrong coast. Oh well — I’ll have the YouTube awesomeness to look forward to. To all of you who are joining the Great Tomato Tour, I hope you have a blast!
Oh my god, gracing my fair city. I can’t wait. And my two cents is that any and all tomato electric sliding has to happen in front of the Capitol, it’s only appropriate. And definitely, I have to buy you a beer! Your choice, I’ve got a hole in the wall bar for whoever is game. haha.
Is it an all-day thing? I have class at 1, but it’s my only class of the day and I could always skip it and drive up to DC.
@Claire: Most-of-day thing, for sure. I’ll try to nail down more specifics soon.
Tomato-frocked, while driving a red Smart? That’s gonna be a classic. Would the rig render the Smart for Two a Solo Smart?
There are forces conspiring against my being able to attend, but damn does it sound fun!
I work right near the Mall, so anything you do downtown, I’m there. I recommend some sort of tomato-themed Aretha Franklin homage on the Capitol steps.
Well hey! We’ll be glad to see you all! I hope you plan to stop by the Einstein Statue. You’d look great sitting in his lap. The US Botanic Gardens is a must see – also a good alternative if it rains. The Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials are great photo ops. The World War II Memorial also has lots of scope for crowds and running around.
We look forward to seeing the Great Tomato Nation in Our Nation’s Capitol!
I may be unemployed, and broke, but if there’s a will……….
It looks like you’ve picked a good day for me, barring any impending financial disasters…Oh, wait, well that’s already taken care of. So I’m thinking it’ll be fine for me to get away.
I did kind of look forward to meeting a tomato on the train down. But I so envy you having a Smart. I fell in love with them in Paris when I was there to speak in ’04. So cute and practical for city types.
There’s a giant eraser sculpture (one of the round wheelie ones with the brush attached) that would probably enjoy a visit from you, I think near the Newseum, which is awesome, and right next door to the Canadian embassy. Tomatoey Sars would look quite nice with a Mountie.
Heh. That’s me in the skirt over your right… leaf. Here’s the opposite shot: http://tinyurl.com/bss2p6
Ah, memories. Can’t wait to see the video from DC! Happy trails!
You’re doing it during my spring break, and my school is only a couple of hours north of Washington DC… normally this would be PERFECT! Alas, I am spending spring break this year in Paris.
Oh well, I’m sure I’ll be having fun, but I’m sad I’m missing this!
Awesome things from this post:
1) “fire-safety pomodoro”
2) You drive a Smart car! I love them. I wish they made a plush toy version; I’d buy it.
I’m bummed to hear that you can’t park Campbell nose-in (or rear-in) as that was one of the things I found so cute about them in Italy. I did want one but after my latest accident, I am worried about the bounceability of the rear bumper. I was actually contemplating (for about 30 seconds) a Crown Vic but then I remembered the gas mileage and got over it.
I think it would be hilarious, if the weather is nice, if you could get someone in a Mini convertible to chauffeur you around.
Ok, so are you thinking we meet on the Mall and do the whole monument circuit and then head for beers? I for one also think that a shot of the tomato at the foot of the Exorcist steps would be key… and it’s Georgetown so there’s lots of bars there! The monument/mall/museum area isn’t so much… oh but!! Maybe the tomato would like to visit the Good Stuff eatery and say hello to Spike from last season’s Top Chef… that place is right behind the Capital.
*ponders just how much time she can take off of work next month*
Ohhhhh, I think I can squeeze this in, yes.
Oooh, I’m pretty certain this is during my spring break. We already wanted to drive up to Kentucky to visit a friend, so we may have to make a road trip out of it. :-)
Heh, you should you to this restaurant afterwards:
http://www.latomatebistro.com/
It’s not all that great, but very theme-appropriate.
Darnit. I have friends in DC that I’ll use any excuse to visit, but I have work stuff both the 12th and the 14th that I can’t get out of, and I can’t justify a plane ticket for a one-day trip.
I can’t wait to see the photos and videos!
If opt for the train, can I suggest the Hop on-Hop off tour (http://www.dctours.us/tours/tourDetail.cfm?tour_id=8827)? I live in Silver Spring and thought they were kind of lame until some older relatives came to visit. We had a great day riding around, and it was a less stressful way of getting around to the tourist spots than if I had tried to chauffer them (parking … not so much downtown).
Hope I can get time off to see you!
Yay! I’ve been telling my friends in DC about this for months, and it’s finally happening! I will happily buy you a beer (but am not sure I can take a full day off work)…let me/us know where you’ll be.
So very exciting!
Yay! So excited. I think you should do a Mall tour, from the Capitol to the Washington Monument, to WWII to Lincoln, maybe with a side tour to the White House!
I’ll take a long lunch that day for the opportunity to lurk in person as opposed to online. :)
Dude. I’m so there.
OMG–I will totally try to be there! I have friends coming to town that day and promised to take them to the monuments; so now I will get to take them to the monuments AND to see one of my favorite bloggers dressed as a tomato. SWEET!
Yay! So excited. Hopefully I’ll be able to skip out of work for an hour or two.
Also try to hit the Awakening at Haines Point — I think he needs a mouthful of tomato…
http://www.red-tomato-cafe.com/ in Bethesda would also be appropriate. I’m not just saying that because I live in Bethesda….
@Faith, sorry to say the Awakening has been moved to the National Harbour over in Maryland (PG County, right on the Potomac) so I don’t think the Tomato will be able to make it there. It would have been funny though!
Dude, what Laura said, I totally covet your car.
i feel a sick day coming on! so excited!!!!
Well, if my daughter has her way, evidently she feels this would be an INCREDIBLE way to spend her birthday. Yes, the 13th is her day. Living in MA its possible….but if we are in Las Vegas, not so much.
She sends her best wishes to you, on YOUR day!
Do a post about your Smart Car!!!!!!!!!
I live at the top of the Exorcist steps (no, really. Not in the house, in a dorm across the street), so I feel like this is a vital place for you to visit.
Thing One: They moved the Awakening statue from Haines Point to the harbor area….
Thing Two: Donations supported classrooms and education, so why not slide in front of the Department of Education? It’s just a short block off the Mall. And Einstein’s statue, too. And I’ll buy you a beer, too.
I already bought tickets for Cinematic Titantic, damn it all to hell, but I will be grooving to the YouTube for sure!
Yes!! I can be there! I *will* be there!
And to think, the other day, I was all, “Hey, wasn’t Sars coming to the city in a tomato costume? Did I miss it? God, that would suck.”
@Katherine Hoya Saxa!
@Trasherati Good call on the Einsten statue. I always liked that one.
“Hoover’s Ghost” is the name of my new swing band. Hee hee.
(1) The Awakening statue is portable???
(2) – Charles Best, founder of DonorsChoose, is one of USA Network’s Characters Approved…uh…winners? I guess?
(3) Wish I could make it, have an awesome time everybody!!
“Thing Two: Donations supported classrooms and education, so why not slide in front of the Department of Education?”
Wave a “I’ve got your No Child Left Behind right HERE” sign.