DC fun again

- FHE dinner groups at Good Stuff Eatery on Capitol Hill. Great burgers and owned by Spike, a Top Chef competitor
- Navy Band concert at Navy memorial - Bluegrass group called Country Currents. I think bluegrass is the most fun type of music
- National Portrait Gallery and American Art museum
- ate at Nando Peri Peri - (brother-in-law would be jealous!) bummed because they didn't have the delicious spicy chocolate ice cream I still remember from a few years ago
- ran into the gigantic crowd there to see the Dalai Lama while trying to get Josh Groban tickets
- Had picture taken with Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison at her constituent coffee- thought I would actually get to talk to her, but only got to say where I was from, snap the picture and move on. Oh well, it was great to see the Texas flag again!
- Harry Potter!!!! Went with a group to see the double feature midnight showing of Deathly Hallows pt. 1 & 2 - We dressed up, I was Hermione. But, we went to a theater in Maryland where apparently no one dresses up, so we attracted a lot of attention, especially my 6'8" friend dressed as Hagrid.
- Tour of the Capitol and Capitol Visitor Center
- Tour of the White House - amazing!!! The rooms are much smaller than you think. I loved all the bold colors and furnishings and decor dripping with history. Only saw the first 2 floors of the East wing, but impressed by the Stately elegance, though humbleness of the President's home. The gardens are spectacular!
- Ate at historic Old Ebbit's Grill, oldest restaurant in DC. Should have ordered the crab cakes. Super blackberry pie.
- Walked Lafayette Park - Marquis de Lafayette was such a fascinating and wonderfully patriotic person. He doesn't get enough attention in American history. I'm glad I read the book about him for my children's lit class last semester!
- Visited the Renwick Gallery - crafty part of American Art museum. Saw the most amazing bureau which included a replica of the Library of Congress main reading room and lots of hidden drawers. I wish I was rich so I could buy that piece! Also saw a piece called the Ghost Clock which appeared to be a grandfather clock covered by a large canvas cloth, but the whole thing was actually carved out of a solid piece of mahogany. Even looking really close, its nearly impossible to tell it is not fabric but wood.