D.C. the Beautiful

One of my absolute favourite things to do is come Friday night, jump on a bus, in a car or on a plane and head somewhere for the weekend. It is definitely a luxury, but given the choice, it is where I used to spend my earnings.

So last Friday night when I found myself running across the Lincoln Center at twilight, one hand grasping my phone as I made hurried calls re: the guest list to D.C. (a la Anne Hathaway in the Devil Wears Prada), and the other clasping my weekend bag, I was in a happy place.

This past weekend our office travelled to DC to attend the annual Marriot Family Picnic, at the Marriott Ranch located in Hume, Virginia. I was lucky that my friend Laura was travelling down the same weekend, so we were bus buddies. After bashing through crowds at 34^th Street (Penn Station), we enjoyed the lovely 4 hour bus ride in air-conditioned comfort, on our bus which was equipped with WiFi and a bathroom. Can I just say, Americans know how to make comfortable buses!

We arrived at the breathtaking Union Station just before midnight. I experienced the odd sensation of déjà vu as I realized I had been here and eaten at one of the restaurants with my family. As we waited for Laura’s friend Katie under the pillars and looked at the monument, it was just great to be out of New York.

That night, we headed into Georgetown, which is the most quaint, cute, and beautiful little suburb I have ever seen. Antique brick buildings with a mixture of couture and chain stores fill the cobbled streets, which are intersected by tree-lined residential avenues.  However, for all those who are enchanted by its beauty (aka the New Yorkers in our group), the real estate is even steeper than New York!

Gourmets that we were, Five Guys were our destination, followed by a stroll through the lively streets.

The next morning, Troy and I headed out with our director to Hume Virginia. The Marriott Ranch was beautiful, and I was astounded by the beauty of the rolling hills, the trees with red tinged leaves, and just the immense space of it all. There was not a cloud in the clear blue sky, and the sun was just warm enough, without being hot. The event was incredible. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Marriott themselves were hosting, and there were Ambassadors, Diplomats, Senators and other notables bursting from every corner of the open marquee, most wearing the cowboy hats and bandanas that were handed out at the entrance. Troy and I enjoyed a Ranch style lunch with the ambassador from Papua New Guinea and a Dutch doctor, and were entertained by BYU folk dancers and living legends (from tap dancing to Native American dancing). I was then moved by a speech by a native American man who has a position representing his people in the federal government, who bore a powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon, linking it to his native American heritage and what has been prophesized.

As the afternoon progressed, the guests expanded all over the lawn, to participate in activities ranging from pumpkin carving, to leather jewelry, to free portraits and a tiny carriage that was valiantly pulled by a miniature pony ( two ft. tall) that had the strength to have several adult passengers. I loved the arts and crafts (making some Christmas presents for some special kids) and I also held my very first gun (an antique rifle).

As we left the event, we were handed the best party favours I have ever seen. A straw filled small metal bucket contained a denim-wrapped bar of soap referencing the 75^th anniversary of the welfare program, as well as a painted corn necklace purchased from Native Americans in New Mexico. Around the bucket was wrapped a belt with a tailored belt buckle made for the event. We also received many cowboy lollies! The detail of their event theme, right down to the same distinctive font used on everything from the Save the Date card, to the intricate handmade activity map really helped give this event a great feel!

After we drove back to D.C., I found myself dropped off at the White House itself (what a great location to just happen upon). I got a picture much closer than last time, and even caught a glimpse of the Wall Street protests before meeting up with my friends. We wandered through the most picturesque walk past the monument, the unusual new Martin Luther King memorial, and a large lake before ending up at the Jefferson memorial. In the late afternoon sun D.C. was incredibly beautiful, putting New York to shame.

That evening we travelled to a real Virginian corn maze, the biggest Halloween novelty I have ever encountered. There was a 20 metre long jumping pillow that we all loved (and then loved even more when we realized all of the other young adults enjoying it were Mormon as well). The corn maze was kind of scary, but it’s affect was lessened by the fact that 20 metres in, all the corn was suddenly waist high. Ironically, it turned into a bizarre photo shoot, until the cold scared us back to the car, to finish up the evening with homemade hot chocolate (made with raw chocolate and cream!). I finally got to meet one of the D.C. interns, (who lived with Katie!) who was absolutely exhausted from the event. I was grateful when I realized our New York ‘steakhouse and a show’ events are way easier to run.

The next morning we all slept in, and then ate Café Rio for breakfast (the others had made the 40 minute drive out whilst I was at the picnic; nevertheless I had planned ahead and placed an order!) We marveled at the Metro, whose stations are a dead ringer for Space Mountain at Disneyland. We happened upon the Holocaust Memorial which I fully intend to do thoroughly when I return to D.C. at the end of November. Finally, it was back on the bus to New York, which seemed dirtier than ever when we returned, but nevertheless kind of like home.

Ah, D.C. the Beautiful; how I love thee so.