Reston Christkindlmarkt 2015 -- The 10th Anniversary

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On Thursday, December 3^rd we took the family to the annual Christkindlmarkt that the Bundeswehr has presented in Reston, VA every year since 2006.  The Bundeswehr is the German armed forces and Christkindlmarkt means Christ child market.  These are traditional German Christmas markets and we are lucky enough to have Germans that organize this one near us.

The market is held at 11150  Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20191 from 4-9 PM on the first Thursday in December.  Entry and parking are free, but it is a very busy place.  A big hit in Reston over the years, this also is a draw for many Germans in the area.  We arrived at 5:30 PM and the place was already full of people and a joyous energy.

The Brass band

We arrived hungry with the two children (6 and 3) and immediately began trying to sort out the food scenario.  There are a few options for food.  The main attraction is the bratwurst and pea soup tent (It's easy to find -- it's the one with no line).  To gain entry to the line you must first purchase tickets in a nearby tent.  Each bratwurst (imported from Germany) costs $5 and includes sauerkraut and a bun.  A bowl of pea soup with a bun is $4.  Everything was absolutely delicious, but tables were hard to come by at the six o’clock hour.  In addition to the main courses, there are three beer tents each selling a different beer (I’m not sure of the beer prices as I gave the beer a miss) and a stall accepting donations for bottled water and soft drinks (however much you feel is appropriate).

The line for bratwurst and soup

More of the food line

The dining tent

Additional tables outside of the tent

The other food options include a tent where they were making waffles and cotton candy.  Next to that was a tent where a butcher was selling German meats (uncooked) at one end but on the other end you could purchase a large pretzel for $5 (delicious) as well as baked goods such as cookies (also delicious) and strudel.

Delicious German cookies

While most of the stalls were made up of food and beverage vendors, there were a few other notable items.  There were a couple of stalls selling crafts, such as nutcrackers and a brass band playing Christmas music which greatly added to the ambiance.

One of the craft stalls

It was easy to see why this place has developed such a strong word of mouth following.  One obvious clue as to the authenticity of this market was the amount of German that was spoken everywhere.  It was also nice to see the German grandparents that had brought their American born grandchildren to experience the event as well.

The members of the Bundeswehr who were manning the stations were well chosen and certainly added to the experience.  Each one we encountered was very friendly, helpful and engaging.  Most of them went out of their way to engage our children and were very sweet with them.  In addition, all of the money raised during the event goes to a local charity each year.

I look forward to including this into our family Christmas traditions in the upcoming years and would encourage you to give it a try as well.  It is bustling for sure and the weather this year was fairly cold, but they do a really good job!  As the children get older I look forward to this being a symbolic kick-off to the Christmas season.

Washington, D.C. vs. U2

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I assume that for most people this has gone under the radar, but not for me.  It has come to my attention that we are in the midst of a secret war on the Irish band U2 by Washington, D.C.  The relationship between the city and U2 goes back to 1980 and appears to have been a love fest.  However, over time it appears that the District has decided to send the lads a message.  My own theory is that it began when they played at University of Maryland in College Park, but then when did Maryland start to collaborate?!?  Let's take a look at the conspiracy.

On December 6, 1980, U2 performed their first gig in the United States in support of their new album Boy.  The next day they arrived at the Bayou in Washington, DC for what became a legendary performance.  That night they made a big impression on the locals and would begin the metro area's love affair with the band.  They returned three months later on March 3, 1981 to play two shows in one night!  Again, all reports were that they were amazing (you can listen for yourself here).  One reporter even compared them to the Police and the Clash.  They would continue to make routine stops in the DC metro area for the next 28 years (last seen in 2009).  So what went wrong?


This is where the conspiracy theory begins.  The Bayou, found at Wisconsin and K in Georgetown (under the Whitehurst Freeway) closed it's door after the 1998 New Years Eve show.  They hosted U2's first three DC shows, all of which left a large impression on the local punk and rock communities.  However, the rough and tumble Bayou bouncers were replaced by an oh-so-chic movie theater catering to the white collar residents of Georgetown.  Where did it all go wrong?  I think I might know, but indulge me for a moment.

Almost a year after they first stormed into Washington, D.C., U2 returned for the fourth show in four months.  December 11, 1981 at the Ontario Theatre in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of the District (go here for a listen).  This time they were popular enough that Bow Wow Wow was opening for them (U2 had been the opener a year earlier).

I think this is where the war began.  You see, it was about this time that the local punks were falling in love with the Boy and October albums.  In fact, according to Micheal Azerrad's book "Our Band Could Be Your Life", it was these albums that led to the breakup of DC punk legends Minor Threat in 1983.  Apparently this was something the District could not abide.  The Ontario Theatre was demolished in October of 2013 to make way for some "upscale" condos.

Is it a coincidence that the next area show was held in College Park, Maryland at the University of Maryland's Ritchie Coliseum?  I would like to think we are not naive.  This was the third date of their American Tour promoting the album War which would eventually be documented on Under a Blood Red Sky.  U2 would blow up in the near future.  The Ritchie Coliseum has not yet been blown up, but it was replaced in 2002 by the Comcast Center.  I think we all know why.  Could it be a coincidence that the site of U2's first five area performances have all been shut down?

In 1984, U2 had really broken through.  The Unforgettable Fire produced the hit single "Pride (In The Name of Love)" and apparently that made DC want them back.  The Unforgettable Fire Tour saw U2 perform at Constitution Hall on December 5th, 1984.  When they returned on April 8th, 1985 however, they were back in Prince George's County, MD at the Capital Center.  This is the point where I think this could have become a Bad Brains vs. Minor Threat thing.  U2 kills Minor Threat and over the next 35 years the legacy of Bad Brains begins to eclipse them.  Was U2 colluding with Prince George's County to make PG's Bad Brains more famous than DC's Minor Threat?  What happened to Constitution Hall?  What happened to the Cap Center?  Constitutional Hall dodged a bullet by being named at National landmark in 1985.  Otherwise, the punishment would have been obvious.  The poor Cap Center wasn't as lucky.  You can see for yourself what happened on Dec. 15, 2002.



With the release of The Joshua Tree, U2 became the biggest band in the world.  This was all that DC could take.  On September 20, 1987 U2 played at RFK Stadium (DC's largest venue).  I'm sure the boys in the band thought all must have been forgiven, but just as they were about to play the most epic songs of the set Bono slipped and dislocated his shoulder.  Biggest band in the world, eh?


U2 didn't climb out of working class Dublin by letting people push them around though.  Once they completed the innovative Achtung Baby, they returned to RFK to show off the new sound for two shows (August 15th &16th).  Reports were all positive and I'm sure U2 thought it all was forgiven at this point.





One of the early stops on their amazing Pop Mart Tour was once again RFK Stadium.  It had been almost five years since we had seen them and I think many of us had forgotten all about Bono's fall in 1987.  The show was great, the new songs were integrated well (even though the Pop album had only been out a couple of weeks).  Before we had even reached our car to leave, I was excited to see them the next time they played at RFK!  However, it looks like RFK is about to be eliminated as well.  Any day now, RFK's last tenant will relocate to a different part of the city and they are already discussing the demolition of RFK Stadium.



For the next few years, U2 scaled back the magnitude of the stage shows and returned to arenas.  On the Elevation Tour (promoting the album All That You Can't Leave Behind), they stopped in at the MCI Center for two nights (June 14th and 15th, 2001).  They were really impressive on this tour, probably better than on the Pop Mart Tour.  Tickets sold like hotcakes, and everyone had a blast!  Is the feud over???


On the Vertigo Tour (promoting How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb) it was U2 who fired the shot at DC.  You see, the original American tour had skipped DC and we had driven to Philly to see them.  It was great, but were they really going to skip DC?  I thought everyone had put this behind them!  Six months later, U2 caved in and came to DC.  October 19th and 20th saw the return of U2 to the District of Columbia.  They were wonderful!  Below is the show I went to... They responded with two good shows, but what message had U2 been trying to send here?




U2's last visit to the DC area was once again in Prince George's County, MD at FedEx Field (built on the former site of the Capital Center!!).  The show was amazing, the set list included songs from War all the way through to (unfortunately) No Line on the Horizon.  They brought the house down (as did opening act Muse) and sent everyone home feeling great (with the possible exception of the District of Columbia).




As you can hear below, this place still loves U2.



So how does U2 respond?  By touring North America in 2015, playing multiple nights in Boston, Toronto, Montreal and New York but not a single day anywhere near DC.  Ouch.  Is the end? Was the magic at the MCI Center just to taunt the District before showing them a wonderful night in Maryland and then never returning again?  Is this all in my head?  In Prince George's County involved?  Who's side are they on anyway?  How many more buildings must be destroyed?

The causality list of this war:
The Bayou (site of all 3 shows on the Boy Tour)  - demolished
The Ontario Theatre (host for the October Tour) - demolished
Ritchie Coliseum (The War Tour) - not used for much of anything anymore
Constitution Hall (Unforgettable Fire Tour) - Declared a National Landmark thus saved
The Capital Center (Unforgettable Fire Tour) - demolished
RFK Stadium (Joshua Tree, Zoo TV and Pop Mart Tours) - in preliminary plans for destruction
MCI Center (Elevation and Vertigo Tours) - Safe as of now
Fed Ex Field (360 Tour) - site of old Cap Center and being considered for destruction

Welcome to Paradise! Lancaster, PA (Amish Country)

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Labor Day Weekend, 2015 (September 5th & 6th)

For our Labor Day weekend, we headed off on a mega-family weekend.  My parents own a travel trailer and had booked in at a campground in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  My sister's family and my family were able to book the two cabins at the campground and we had an extended family vacation for the weekend.

Lancaster County is a unique and interesting place to visit due to the large number of Amish that live here.  The Amish practice a form of Christianity that focuses on living a simple life.  Another distinctive feature of the Amish is that they speak a form of German known as Pennsylvania German or Pennsylvania Dutch.

It took a while due to the holiday traffic, but we eventually made it to our destination, Roamer's Retreat.  Roamer's is located in Kinzers, about 20 minutes east of Lancaster city.  Our cabin was wonderful.  It featured a room of bunk beds for the kids (four total beds) and another bed in the front room.  The main room of the cabin has a kitchenette with a full size fridge, microwave, sink and everything you would want to have in a kitchen except a stove.  There is a grill in the front of the cabin for cooking.  There is table with four chairs and a television in the main room as well.  Outside there is a table on the porch, plus a large picnic table in front of the cabin.

Our cabin at Roamer's Retreat

Our first day was Saturday.  After having a great family breakfast (all ten of us) we headed through the back roads to a shop known as 3 Sisters (at the corner of Newport Rd (Route 772) and Usner Rd in Buyerstown).  We got some delicious pies, really good bread and some cookies since they would be closed on Sunday and Monday.  Then we walked across Newport Road to the farm stand and purchased some amazing corn, apples and other fruits and vegetables.

We dropped off our purchases at the campground and then set off for Katie's Kitchen (which has good food) to use the great picnic area.  After our picnic we headed to our target destination, the Strasburg Railroad.  We had intended to ride the train that afternoon, but it took us a while to get assembled so we bought tickets for the next day instead.

Playground next to picnic area at Katie's Kitchen

One of our other goals for the weekend was to buy some food from Stoltzfus Meats in Intercourse.  I bought Lebanon bologna, whoopie pies and some candy (all of it was wonderful).  Then it was back to the campground where the kids (3, 4, 6, 6, and 9) enjoyed the playground while supper was prepared.  Those supervising the playground also got treated to a live Gospel group.  Each evening we were also able to watch the Amish farm next to the campground harvest tobacco and corn.

Sunday, we headed to the railroad after another great breakfast (cooked by my father).  The Strasburg Railroad is the longest continually operating stream railroad in the United States.  It's a very enjoyable 45 minute train ride, but you also can be dropped off at a really nice picnic area where you may hop back on any of the trains that pass by once you are ready to return.

Train returns to the Strasburg Railroad

Play train at the Strasburg Railroad

Play area at the Strasburg Railroad

After the train, we headed to the Oregon Dairy in Lititz for a picnic and some ice cream.  I don't know if this is the best ice cream in the area or not, but I do know that it is really good and you get a lot of ice cream for the money.  They also have an absolutely amazing playground!

Oregon Dairy playground

Milking the ceramic cow at the Oregon Dairy

After lunch and our ice cream it was on to the Cloister in Ephrata.  The Cloister was founded in 1732 as a monastery for an unique religious movement.  The community lasted until 1813 when the last of the members died.  It is a very intriguing look into the radical sort of religious ideas that were allowed to exist in colonial America.  The original buildings are mostly still standing and are unique among American colonial building because they are built using German architectural styles instead of the English style that was typical in the colonies.  Everything else aside, it is an extremely peaceful place to spend an afternoon.  We stayed until closing time (5 PM) and then returned to Roamers for supper.  We watched the farmers harvest their crops as we ate and then enjoyed our last s'mores of the weekend.  After the children were in bed, Sarah and I were able to enjoy our porch with coffee and a clear black night that let us examine the constellations on a beautiful night.

The Clositer, Ephrata

The original buildings of the Ephrata Cloister

Wild turkeys at the Cloister

Manassas National Battlefield

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A sweltery hot day at the end of July is a perfect day to visit Manassas National Battlefield!    Unless you don't enjoy 90+ degree heat and high humidity.  I don't and I'm a native, but it does give you a great idea of what the weather was like on the day the First Battle of Manassas was fought at the end of July, 1861.

NOTE:  If you were schooled in a non-southern state this battle was probably referred to as the Battle of Bull Run.  If you want to see the battlefield (the National Park), it is named Manassas National Battlefield.  Bull Run Park borders the battlefield but is an actual park (picnic areas, campground, wooded trails, etc.)  It's great, but it isn't the battlefield.

First Manassas is important for many reasons.  In addition to being the first substantial fighting of the American Civil War it was the first use of many important battlefield innovations.  Perhaps most importantly, it changed and shaped the course of American history by beginning a brutal, drawn out conflict.  July 21, 1861 was the bloodiest day in American history up to that date.  Unfortunately, this war would produce multiple days that would surpass it.

As a local, my visits to this site are usually to enjoy the trails or natural beauty (especially the mindbogglingly beautiful bluebells that bloom each April).  For other Virginians and other southerners, the first thing they think is "hallowed ground".  Many legendary officers made a name for themselves on that day while many others added to an already impressive reputation.  A few of these men became heroes for their performance on this battlefield.  July 21, 1861 was the day it became clear to everyone that this would be no "little rebellion".  The battle has been featured in many films and television shows including Gods & Generals, North and South and The Blue and The Gray.  The story has been told over and over (as it should be).

Leading up to the battle most southern states (the southeastern United States) had voted to secede from the United States.  This was not a new idea, it was first presented by James Madison and Thomas Jefferson as an appropriate response to the Federal Government overstepping the powers of the Constitution.  Jefferson suggested in his resolution that a state had the power to nullify a Federal law in such an instance.  These ideas were embraced a few years later in New England, later in the western United States and eventually in South Carolina leading up to the Civil War.  The Civil War would be the first time these questions were addressed conclusively.  Consequently, the slavery question would also would addressed in the process.

We began our day by meeting the rest of our family at the nice Henry Hill Visitor's Center.  From here you can take the guided tour, which I recommend.  The tour is a nice overview of the battle but keeps you close to the building.  To really get a feel for the place I recommend either doing the self-guided driving tour or doing the cell phone tour.  For the cell phone tour information click here.  For the printed script of the cell phone tour click here.

The Henry House, destroyed in the battle resulting in the first civilian death of the war.  The house in the picture was rebuilt in 1870.

These guns mark the placement of Rickett's Battery (USA)

The "Stonewall" Jackson Monument.

Notice how muscular he and his horse are!

Monument for General Bee, who died near this spot during the battle.  It is here he is said to have uttered the famous phrase "There stands Jackson like a stone wall.  Rally behind the Virginians!"

The day was very hot, so we spent a little over an hour outside on Henry Hill.  The kids had been good, but had certainly had enough.  We rounded up our group of five adults and six children (aged 3-12) and headed to Brownsville Picnic Area (in the park).  It has a large parking lot, a covered picnic pavilion and restrooms.  It is important to note that there is no sink for washing here, so come prepared for that.  Otherwise it is a great picnic site.

As we finished our lunch very ominous storm clouds were rapidly approaching, so we relocated to Baskin-Robbins in Centreville to cap off our day with some well earned ice cream as we watched the rain come down outside.

When you are finished visiting the battlefield, I would recommend one final stop.  The Confederate Army (the southern states) won the First Battle of Manassas.  It came as a surprise to most people, so much so that many of the Washington elite had come to witness what they assumed would be resounding U.S. victory and a swift end to the conflict.  Most of them were in an area known as the Centreville Heights which today is on Route 29 east of the Battlefield.  The battle ended in what became known as "the Great Skedaddle".  After the defeat, the U.S. army dispersed in a rather panicked manner and got tangled up with civilians as they tried to cross the small bridge across Cub Run.  Among other consequences was the capture of two U.S. Congressman who had come to see the battle.

You can see the crossing site by taking Route 29 east to Centreville and turning onto Prince Way (your first left after Centreville Baptist Church if you are driving from the battlefield).  There are some legal parallel parking spaces on the street.  You can then walk back in the direction of Route 29 and turn right onto the bike path (asphalt path).  After a short walk you come to a historical marker and then the creek itself.  In 1861, the bridge was narrow and wobbly and the banks as you can see are fairly steep.  A brief (5 minute) visit will help you picture "The Great Skedaddle".

Cun Run Historical Marker

Modern bridge over Cub Run