Chrononauts' Winter Stroll
Ladies and gentlemen,
It has occurred to me that winter is an idea time to wear Victorian clothing. It is cold out in winter, and Victorian clothes are normally very warm and dominated by layers. What better excuse to wear Victorian clothing than a season when excess warmth is a necessity rather than an inconvenience?
To this end, I would like to invite everyone within easy traveling distance from Washington, D.C. to come and join me on Saturday, January 3rd for a little Victorian social excursion. We will meet in the charming gardens behind the Smithsonian Castle at approximately 1pm to exchange greetings. If you feel like bringing some warm refreshments, please do so (though be aware that they will need to be consumed during the out of doors portion of the expedition). Anyone who would like to take pictures, or have pictures taken of themselves, will have the opportunity (and the Castle certainly makes for a wonderful backdrop). People who arrive early should feel free to look around a bit if they so choose, and then meet everyone else at the appointed time (most Smithsonian museums are open from 10am to 5:30pm, though the Natural History Museum may still be open as late as 7:30 due to holiday hours).
After that, we will be at liberty to enjoy the Smithsonian museums. This will not be a formal activity: this is not any sort of official event nor will there be a group tour of any kind (although I may, from time to time, offer useful observations such as "And this is snow."); people will be free to go off on their own or with others as they see fit, to see whatever sights are of interest to them. I myself will be making a circuit of the museums around National Mall (most likely starting with Freer Gallery next to the Castle, and then moving to the Air and Space Museum to observe their collection of vintage aeroplanes). Anyone attending is welcome to accompany me, but should feel free to deviate from my course if they see fit.
For people attending who are not familiar with D.C., I highly recommend parking at one of the Metro stations outside of the city and using public transport (as with most major cities, parking can be hit or miss in the downtown areas, though it certainly does exist). You will then want to travel to the Smithsonian station, which is on both the Orange and Blue lines. The Castle is clearly visible a short distance away.
A map of the National Mall including the Castle can be found here: http://www.si.edu/visit/infocenter/mallmap.htm
A metro map on the metro website can be found here: http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm
Regards, etc.,
-G. D. Falksen
It has occurred to me that winter is an idea time to wear Victorian clothing. It is cold out in winter, and Victorian clothes are normally very warm and dominated by layers. What better excuse to wear Victorian clothing than a season when excess warmth is a necessity rather than an inconvenience?
To this end, I would like to invite everyone within easy traveling distance from Washington, D.C. to come and join me on Saturday, January 3rd for a little Victorian social excursion. We will meet in the charming gardens behind the Smithsonian Castle at approximately 1pm to exchange greetings. If you feel like bringing some warm refreshments, please do so (though be aware that they will need to be consumed during the out of doors portion of the expedition). Anyone who would like to take pictures, or have pictures taken of themselves, will have the opportunity (and the Castle certainly makes for a wonderful backdrop). People who arrive early should feel free to look around a bit if they so choose, and then meet everyone else at the appointed time (most Smithsonian museums are open from 10am to 5:30pm, though the Natural History Museum may still be open as late as 7:30 due to holiday hours).
After that, we will be at liberty to enjoy the Smithsonian museums. This will not be a formal activity: this is not any sort of official event nor will there be a group tour of any kind (although I may, from time to time, offer useful observations such as "And this is snow."); people will be free to go off on their own or with others as they see fit, to see whatever sights are of interest to them. I myself will be making a circuit of the museums around National Mall (most likely starting with Freer Gallery next to the Castle, and then moving to the Air and Space Museum to observe their collection of vintage aeroplanes). Anyone attending is welcome to accompany me, but should feel free to deviate from my course if they see fit.
For people attending who are not familiar with D.C., I highly recommend parking at one of the Metro stations outside of the city and using public transport (as with most major cities, parking can be hit or miss in the downtown areas, though it certainly does exist). You will then want to travel to the Smithsonian station, which is on both the Orange and Blue lines. The Castle is clearly visible a short distance away.
A map of the National Mall including the Castle can be found here: http://www.si.edu/visit/infocenter/mallmap.htm
A metro map on the metro website can be found here: http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm
Regards, etc.,
-G. D. Falksen