Weekly Washington: Elephants Now and Then!

photo uploaded to flickr by the Smithsonian InstitutionSo when my wife asks me what I did today, I honestly have no idea. Probably because I've spent way too much time pouring over the photos of old DC landmarks the Smithsonian released this week. (Smithsonian)

The big local news this week, of course, was the short-lived hostage crisis at the Discovery Channel Headquarters in Silver Spring, MD, just outside DC. Fortunately, no one was harmed except for the poor crazy bastard who was responsible for the whole thing. (TBD)

And oh no! My absolute favorite Smithsonian exhibit will be dragged into modern times, kicking and screaming. Western Cultures, 2nd floor of the Natural History Museum, will be closed starting September 26th. The exhibit, which was delightfully dated, was originally designed in 1978, and is looking increasingly out of place as the Museum rapidly upgrades around it. Fine, I guess. Minister Cox and I will just have to find somewhere else to hang out. (WaPo)

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Watch the All-Star game at Nationals Park!

I've long advocated leaving the monumental core of the city and taking in some other sights while in Washington, DC; and even suggested a few weeks ago taking in a Nationals game while in town.

Now, the one downside of going to a Nats game is that they keep making the Nats take the field against major league baseball teams, which is just unfair to everyone involved. If only there was a way to check out the brand new stadium without the cringing embarrassment of watching the Nats find new ways to lose.

Well, if you're in town on July 14th, have I got a deal for you. A local charity, the Capitol Hill Group Ministry, is holding it's summer fundraiser at Nationals Park during the All-Star Game. Besides watching the All-Star game at the Diamond Club overlooking the field, you will get an opportunity to take a few picthes from professional pitchers in the batting cage, tours of Nationals Park, and a chance to get up close and personal with the Running Presidents.

The event will cost $50 per head, with children under the age of 12 costing $25. All proceeds, of course, go to charity; in this case CHGM's mission of helping homeless families. To purchase tickets, go to their website at www.capitolhillgroupministry.org or call (202) 486-8822.

So, if you're in town the 14th, come on out to Nationals Park. Beats watching the game in your hotel.

Take me out to the ballgame! Please!

Alright folks, keep your Nats jokes to yourself. Actually, I'm always looking for good ones, but if I hear one more eighth grader tell me "You're a Nats fan? They suck!" I'll wrap his i-pod earphones around his neck and...

But I digress. You don't have to be a die hard Nats fan, or even a baseball fan, to enjoy a trip to Nationals Park. In fact, frankly, it might help if you don't know too much about the game.

Here's why I'm pushing it: you need a non-Federal moment when you come to DC. I'm serious. Too often I get the question: "I'm coming to DC and want to know the best way to see everything in 36 hours?" (Ans: stay home and use Wikipedia). Coming to our Nation's Capital is about the experience, not checking boxes. This stuff isn't going anywhere. Take your time. Smell the roses. Get often the beaten path a bit. And plan ahead to take a little time off in your time here to take in something that can't possibly be construed as educational, or historic, or Important.

This is where the Nationals come in. It's just a short Metro ride away. Tickets start at ten bucks and are almost never sold out. And at no point will you feel guilty about not remembering what your seeing or feeling that you should see one more exhibit. And, best of all, join us as we find out what new and exciting ways the Nationals can find to loose.

So, before you come to DC, take a quick look at the Nats schedule. I'm particularly partial to afternoon games. By the time it wraps up, you can still make it back to the Mall for an hour or two of checking out museums if you really haven't hit your quota yet.

As far as getting there, the ballpark is just two stops away from the L'Enfant Plaza Metro stop and the Air and Space Museum on the Green Line. Get on the Green Line in the direction of Branch Avenue and get off at the Navy Yard. The park is a block away to the left when you get out.

One warning though: tickets are almost never sold out, except every three years when interleague play brings the Yankees or Red Sox to town. Like next week, when the Red Sox are in town Tuesday through Thursday.