Aloha to Washington, DC! Getting here and the Free Stuff on the National Mall

During RT, Danielle Gorman (link) mentioned that Apollycon (link) was coming to Washington, DC, in March 2018.  I invited her to come early/stay late to soak up the local sites.  

I was touring Philadelphia the day the tickets sold out for Apollycon. Hence, I will not be attending unless the organizers accept my offer to volunteer. Still, I joined the Facebook group, where the organizers asked locals to post recommendations for dining, sightseeing, etc.  Note Apollycon takes place at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City - south of Washington DC in Arlington, VA with easy access to the Metro (mass transportation of bus routes and rail lines).  

What better way to spend Fourth of July than chatting about Washington, DC?!?!

For those coming to the DC metro area for Apollycon (or other events), we have three airports:

- Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (Reagan) is located along the Potomac River just south of Washington, DC and east of Alexandria, VA.  Reagan is on the Yellow and Blue lines of the MetroRail (subway).  Crystal City is one stop north on either lines (Yellow in the direction of Greenbelt, Blue in the direction of Largo).

- Dulles International Airport (Dulles) is 26 miles west of Washington, DC, near Reston, VA.  The airport offers the Silver Line Express - bus service to the Silver Line back to Washington, DC.  Change to the Blue Line (south to Springfield) at Rosslyn.

- Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) is 32 miles northeast of Washington, DC.  You can catch a shuttle to Washington.

While Reagan is the most convenient, it tends to be the most expensive.  My favorite airline - Southwest - flies into all three airports.  But it is cheaper to fly into BWI.   I happen to live near BWI. Watch those fares!

Washington, DC is also served by Amtrak at Union Station. From Union Station, take the Red line "south" (direction of Shady Grove) two stops to Gallery Place, change to Yellow line south to Huntington.  Crystal City is five stops. 

Note:  MetroRail uses the end points for direction purposes. Always consult the Metro map to ensure you are on the right train in the right direction!

For those driving to Crystal City, just park your car.  You can Metro to most places.  Parking at the conference hotel is $32 per day.  Or you can find alternate parking via Parkopedia (link).

Note:  The Apollycon website also provides information about transportation and parking specific to Crystal City at this link (after the hotel info).

What to do in Washington, DC?  Let's start with free stuff:

- The Smithsonian Museum (link) offers "19 world-class museums, galleries, gardens, and a zoo". The most popular museums - the Air & Space (Enola Gay), American History (Dorothy's ruby slippers), and Natural History (Hope Diamond) - are the most crowded. The newest museum, the African American Museum, requires a timed entry ticket.  But all are free!  The museums above are located on (or near) the National Mall - three stops on Yellow Line (to Greenbelt) from the hotel. The National Zoo is Northwest on Red Line to Woodley Park/Adams Morgan.

- National Archives (link), as featured in the Nicolas Cage movie NATIONAL TREASURE, is home of the US Constitution and other valuable documents.  The National Archives are located near the National Mall, accessible to the Metro, but can get crowded during spring break and summer holidays. I recommend you go early.

- Outdoor monuments honoring presidents (Lincoln, FDR, and Washington) and veterans (WWII, Vietnam, and Korea) are all located near the National Mall .  The Jefferson Memorial is near the Tidal Basin.  They are open area memorials maintained by the National Park Service.

- Walk along the National Mall to soak up the nation's history and the capital's vibe.  Here is a map (link) courtesy of the National Park Service.

- The National Cherry Blossom Festival is already scheduled for 2018 at this link.  The blossoms peak between late March and early April - depending upon the weather.  The blossoms and the festival are worth a visit.

There is much more to discuss ... in a future blog post.  I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about Washington, DC - what do you know about our Nation's Capital?

2.  Comments are open through Sunday, July 9, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Monday, July 10.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Ellen Byerrum and the CRIME OF FASHION mystery series

We have a winner from my RT Recaps - Di wins a sample of books and swag from the RT Booklovers' Convention.

During my travels to/from Atlanta, I read several books in Ellen Byerum's mystery series, CRIME OF FASHION.  I started with DESIGNER KNOCKOFF - Book 2 (I now have to find Book 1):

When fashion columnist Lacey Smithsonian learns that a new fashion museum will soon grace decidedly unfashionable D.C., it's more than a good story-it's a chance to show off her vintage Hugh Bentley suit. And it's not long before the dapper designer himself spots Lacey in the crowd. A reporter at heart, she manages to get all the juicy details about his past-including a long-unsolved mystery about a missing employee. Could it be linked to the disappearance of a Washington intern or the recent Bentley boutique robbery? Lacey sets out to unravel the murderous details in a fabric of lies, greed-and (gasp!) very bad taste... 

I suspect Book 1 explains how Lacey Smithsonian became a fashion columnist rather than a roving reporter.  Still, Lacey appreciates vintage fashion courtesy of a steamer trunk she inherited from Aunt Mimi - a woman of good taste in the 1940s. When Lacey needs to think, she opens the trunk, taking a step back into the past and even wears some of the timeless clothes. As such, Lacey "arms" herself to put on a brave face for her "couture" assignments for the Eye Street Observer, Washington's third rate newspaper. Yet hemlines often lead to murder, giving Lacey the opportunity to thread together the fashion clues, landing her to a byline in the crime section.

Lacey lives in Old Town Alexandria. She works in Washington, DC, "the city fashion forgot". Byerrum incorporates all the cliches associated with our nation's capital - corrupt politicians, conspiracy theories, and monochrome suites to create a cozy mystery series that delivers a heroine to cheer. Lacey turns to her eccentric friends to help her dig in to the mystery and dig out of the trouble. Given my proximity to Washington, DC, I enjoy following Lacey in her capital adventures.

Learn more about Ellen and her books at ellenbyerrum.com.

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1. Have you visited the Nation's Capital?  If so, what was your favorite "thing" to see, experience, or eat? If not, what would you like to see, experience, or eat?

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is a sight to behold each March - the trees were given by the Japanese Government as a symbol of friendship.  Learn more at this link.

2. Comments are open through Sunday, May 21, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Monday, May 22. 

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Weekly Winners

We have winners at SOS Aloha:

Happy 240th Birthday, US Navy!
- Debby wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Eileen Dreyer's PRINCE OF A GUY

- Linda M. wins a digital copy from Eileen. 

A Heartwarming Christmas

- Girlygirlhoosier wins a digital copy.  

From my travel blog, Aloha to Washington, DC

- Karen C. wins a book choice from my convention stash.

Winners, please claim your prize by sending your mailing address to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Celebrate Little Victories - WRW Reader Luncheon

Back in August, we bought a home and moved across town. Ah, home ownership!  It's a older home in an excellent school district for our youngest son who is a high school freshman. Alas, it will be at least 4 years before we consider moving back to Hawaii.  Maybe it's a dream ... but one can only hope.

I have been caught up in cleaning out the house that sat vacant for 6 months.  But a chance came last week for me to take a break and enjoy Romanceland.   Kim from Books Obsessed Chicks (link), her side kick Janet (link), and breakout author Stacey Agdern (link) drove down from New York for the WRW Reader Luncheon (link).   Attending authors included:

Anne Barton
Christi Wagner Barth
Caryn Block
Karna Bodman
Meredith Bond
Joanna Bourne
Terri Brisbin
Linda Acorn Budzinski
Robin Covington
Avery Flynn
Solara Gordon
Cristin Harber
Madeline Iva
Lavinia Kent
Harper Kincaid
Kimberly Kincaid
Eliza Knight
Geri Krotow
Sally MacKenzie
MK Meredith
Cat Miller
Deborah Munroe
Wendy La Capra
Tamra Lassiter
Mackenzie Lucas
Hope Ramsay
Rachel Rawlings
Sarah Robinson
Lynne Silver
Shari Slade
Elisabeth Staab
Delancey Stewart
Tracy Anne Warren

I sat with Sally MacKenzie and MacKenzie Lucas ... a tongue twister!  Our table also included two readers from Harper's Ferry and one reader from Baltimore.  The atmosphere was crackling with excitement which only Romanceland can deliver.  

Kim, Janet, and Stacey stayed overnight with me, giving us a chance to gab like sorority girls!   On Sunday, we ventured to Washington, DC - check out pictures from my travel blog at this link and link.

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash, including books from Sally MacKenzie and Mackenzie Lucas, to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Which author would you want to meet at the WRW Reader Luncheon?

I chatted with Joanna Bourne, who was wearing a lovely Aloha shirt! 

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 24, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 25.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Lucky wants to meet Joanna Bourne ...

Weekly Winners

Washington crossing the Delaware River
Public Domain (link)

I am a winner for spending time with fellow blogger Kimberly Rocha - we were guest speakers for the New Jersey Romance Writers monthly meeting.  

We have winners at SOS Aloha:

Jenna Sutton's ALL THE RIGHT PLACES

- Kim H. wins a print copy.

Julie Rowe's DEADLY STRAIN

- Jane wins a digital copy.

Siera London's CHASING AVA

- BN100 wins a digital copy.

Winners, please claim your prize by sending your mailing address to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Washington rallying the troops at Princeton.
Public Domain (link)