Saturday 15th
December
 |
| The Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts sits aside the Potomac River, Washington DC |
We caught
the Metro to Foggy Bottom before waiting for the shuttle bus to take us to the
Kennedy Centre in order to see the musical “A White Christmas. The name Foggy
Bottom is thought to have received the name as its riverside location made it
susceptible to fog and industrial smoke.
The shuttle
bus was a large red shiny one and upon entering we were soothed with lovely
classical music playing – a charming touch and a pre-cursor to enjoying being
entertained in one way or another at the Kennedy Centre.
We were not able to
get seats together but they were not very far apart - it didn’t dampen the experience at all as
we could see and wave to each other!! . The musical was a simple story with
love triumphing at the end and snow(??)being released from the ceiling over the
patrons.
That evening
we attended the McLean Community Centre to see a group of cappella singers
named “Ball in the House”. The local community newspaper has been very useful
to check for events close to home, and this one was within walking
distance. We were in awe of these 5 men
and their singing. The entire repertoire
is sung without any musical instruments, rather one and sometimes two of them
made the noises of instruments themselves while the others sang in
harmony.
This was a small intimate
theatre with the ushers community volunteers and the performers mingling during
interval while patrons purchased their CD’s and other merchandise. As we walked
back home we admired all the Christmas lights which adorned so many of the
homes. There were blown up Santas, wreathes on most doorways, and lights in
many of the outdoor trees – just a fairyland experience.