It’s All About You Followers

01/14/201605/09/2016Leave a comment

Happy New Year! Thank you for taking the time to read about my adventures.

The main theme of Gal on the Go in 2015 was training and Spartan Races. I still plan on doing some races, but I’d like 2016 to be a year of mixed life experiences. I will be out of commission in March and April for medical reasons, BUT when I’m back and active, look out!

Your opinion matters to me. What are some adventures, activities or events you would like me to participate in/attend and write about this year? Enter your suggestions in the reply section of the blog or send me an email at galotgo@gmail.com. Wherever I go first, I will bring back the person who made the suggestion a souvenir. I can’t wait to hear from you!

Cheers,
Gal on the Go

DC Whirlwind

09/10/201309/28/2013Leave a comment

: Noon service at the Basilica for the 50th anniversary of the dedication of the 56-bell carillon gifted by the Knights of Columbus. (Mass lasted three hours!!!)

: After mass we took a tour of the Basilica. Marilynne, 85 years young, was our guide. She was AWESOME — knowledgeable, time-efficient, spunky and very funny. Best tour guide ever! (L to R: Me, Alicia, Marilynne and Linda)

: Yра! Drinks and dinner at Russia House. (L to R: Alicia, Me, Linda and Eric)

: Alicia toasts with one of the six 12 oz. vodka shots from the sampler we ordered — an experience unto itself. (I couldn’t leave out the dude in the background. He was super cranky when he first arrived, but as time passed and he drank more vodka, he became entertaining.)

: Bat for Lashes opened for Depeche Mode. They kind of reminded me of Siouxsie & the Banshees.

: Selfie of Alicia and me. Alicia had waited more than 20 years to see Depeche live.

: Depeche Mode … ten times better show than their 2006 tour. They definitely redeemed themselves.

My aunt Linda and cousin Alicia came down to visit me from up north for a few days. Here’s an accelerated version of our activities … lunch at Noodles & Co. — driving tour of Northern Va. — leisurely walk around Mosaic District — dinner at Matchbox — mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception — tour of the Basilica — Union Market — dinner at Coastal Flats — breakfast crepes at Clifton Cafe — tour of historic Clifton — tour of the National Museum of Natural History — tour of the National Museum of American History — tour of the National Portrait Gallery — dinner and drinks at Russia House — rooftop fun at night on Mass. Ave. — lunch at Good Stuff Eatery — visit to Old Post Office and clock tower — dinner at Bella Vita — Depeche Mode. Nonstop fun!

Monumental Restoration

05/01/201305/03/2013Leave a comment

: Check out the workers walking along the top!

: The scaffolding, fencing, and danger signs dramatically changed the look of the site.

: Cool shot later that evening. (It was very windy.)

On August 23, 2011 my area experienced a 5.8 magnitude earthquake. One of the side effects of Mother Nature’s wrath was serious stonewall damage to the Washington Monument, which stands tall at 555 feet in the center of the National Mall. The National Park Service awarded a contract in September of 2012 for restoration to begin. The repairs include sealing cracks, repointing the mortar and strengthening weak spots. Scaffolding started going up around the structure at the beginning of March this year and took until the end of April to build! The monument is a very prominent landmark in DC and it looked odd at first with the scaffolding around it in small sections, but now that it’s stacked to the top of the structure it looks pretty cool — like a metal cast. For safety reasons, the monument is closed while it’s under repair, which they expect will take more than a year to complete.

Documentary Screening

03/02/201304/12/2013Leave a comment

Filmmaker Roger Gastman invited me to the screening of his and Joseph Pattisall’s documentary ‘The Legend of “Cool” Disco Dan’ at AFI Silver Theatre. The story focuses on the peak era of Cool “Disco” Dan in DC, which included riots, neighborhood crews, and the crack epidemic that made DC the murder capital at the time. Dan is a large part of the documentary, but there are many other engaging characters who come into play. Roger and Joseph had been working on the documentary for many years and did a great job with the transitions, pace, music selection and main story line woven with sub stories. The only downside is the film’s appeal to a limited audience due to it’s DC-specific focus.

Not Your Average Crafts

11/18/201211/24/2012Leave a comment

I went with my friend Mariam to the Washington Craft Show at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. I hadn’t been to a craft show in years and was expecting homemade looking items that I had commonly seen before. Not the case at all! The works at this show were in the crafts major leagues. Many of the vendor’s works were truly unique. I would have left with a trunk filled with amazing art, if the pieces weren’t out of my price range. Some talented artists who are worth checking out and investing in if you have the means …

Jay Rogers – creates beautiful functional wood sculptures – certain selections of his works come apart to reveal hidden compartments
Jennifer McCurdy – creates stunning porcelain pieces that’s edginess is sure to catch your attention
Kina Crow – creates mixed-media works that are deep yet whimsical at the same time
Jiyoung Chung – create dramatic looking sculptures made out of paper that appear fragile, but are actually strong

Sunday Excursion

03/11/201203/29/2012Leave a comment

I went on a field trip with my friend to Arlington to visit a place called Artisphere, an urban arts center. The building space it occupies was the old Newseum. The exhibition we went to see was ‘Frida Kahlo: Her Photos.’ Artisphere is the “first and only U.S. venue” to present this exhibit of personal photographs that reveal moments of Frida’s private life. We weren’t allowed to take any photos of the exhibit, so the exterior shot of the sign is all I captured. Afterwards, we took advantage of the beautiful spring-like weather and walked from the art center across the Key Bridge into Georgetown for some lunch. A nice and relaxing way to end the weekend.

Gal on the Go

Be Curious | Be Kind | Be Bold

Tag: dc