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Friday, December 08, 2006

A Christmas Carol

Tonight we did a few things we never do. Get a babysitter, go out to dinner, go out with just adults and see a play.
We went to Ford's Theatre (where President Lincoln was shot) and saw A Christmas Carol. It was amazing.
We were invited by a couple at church right after we moved here to get tickets. I was proud of us for just saying yes and not canceling (we are kind of famous f
or that)
We ate dinner at one of the nicest restaurants I have been to. It was downtown on 15th street. Bobby Van's Steakhouse. It sounds kind of cheesy, but oh no. I kind get all squirmy in places like that because I feel so out of place and almost like it is too nice. I wonder if other mom's feel that way when they go out to on the town... up until the minute I left, I was gross, grundgy, changing diapers, not showered, watching Dora the Explorer, trying to save money at Target and the next minute I am ordering a entree salad that costs $12.00. The bathroom was so nice I couldn't even figure out how to turn the sink on. All in all it was really great. There was one other couple with us and it was so great to get to know everyone better.

We then went to the theatre. There is just something about driving downtown at night and seeing the memorials all lit up that just get me so choked up and I still think, "I can't believe we are so lucky to live here"
Ford's Theatre was amazing. Jeff and I are huge President Lincoln fans. I had recently read a book about the man who shot him and the days after and the effects it had on post war decisions. I will save that for another post, but if President Lincoln had lived I believe our country would be different today. He was an amazing man.

We had the most incredible seats. This is an old photo of the theatre. You can see the booth to the right of the photo. This is where President Lincoln was. It stays empty. But we were on the edge of the balcony directly across from the President's booth. I have never seen a play with seats like that and it was amazing.
The man who played Scrooge came out on stage and looked at the empty box and was silenced for a few seconds to show respect. I was crying before the show began. I loved being there.
The costumes in the play were amazing, the colors the fabrics. I studied every detail.
This will for sure be a new tradition to start the Christmas holidays for as long as we live in D.C.
.. note no photos, i left my camera at home so I could be bagless... silly me never again.
little Lincoln trivia. The first person to comment with the play that President Lincoln was watching the evening he was shot as well as how old he was when he died, I will send 11.5 yards of luscious ribbon to.

12 comments:

Bridget said...

"My (Our?) American Cousin" I believe was play he was watching. I am with you on the whole nice restaurant thing. It always takes me a few minutes to settle in and not think about what I was just doing at home. Glad you all had a nice time.

Bridget said...

Whoops! I forgot his age- 56 years old

everything pink! said...

Hey way to go girl!!!

email me your address and it will be on your way...

of course the 11.5 representing my big feet!

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a wonderful evening out Kristi :)

Amanda said...

I know what you mean about feeling out of your element as a mommie out on the town. It is also rare for us to get a baby sitter and even more rare to dress up and go somewhere where you "pay after you eat"....as opposed to before.
In the spring I went with Bevan to the Accounting Deptartment Awards Banquet, which believe it or not is a fairly swanky do at the Four Seasons. The Accounting dept. is the only dept. on campus who has any such function because all the firms who recruit from the program pay for it. Which also means all these firms where there, which meant I really needed to not look embarrasing in front of any potential future employers. Asher was barely four months at this point and I was still large and breast feeding and had to go get an approriate get up to wear. I literally had a whole team of volunteers in the Ann Taylor Loft change room trying to get me properly outfitted for the event...people who didn't even work there but just saw that I was totally clueless...they were very kind. Anyhow, it took a lot of doing but we got out the door and had a great evening and met alot of people. Wow, that was a long story with not much of a point.
Anyhow, exciting about the play. I am glad you had such a nice time and nice dinner. It sounds like a perfect Christmas tradition to me!

Anonymous said...

Oh Kristi! How very, very exciting. I knew we were "kindred spirits" when you posted your love for Abraham Lincoln several months ago and it finalized it when you said you like Idaho Spud candybars. But tonight, I was re-reminded :) when hearing of your experience. Thanks for taking us vicariously through the play and dinner and drive through D.C. at night.

Jill said...

I'm so glad your evening out turned out to be such a great success. I can't believe how much stuff you guys have done in D.C. since moving there. I bet there are people who have lived there their whole lives and haven't done a fraction of what you've done. That's cool!

Anonymous said...

What a fun evening! The Historical stuff just adds to all the fun and excitement. Have I told you how much I love Washington DC?? Your family is so lucky to experience it.

There is a really good Turkish restaurant somewhere around there. I will have to get the name from Lisa. It was near the theater where Lincoln was shot...I believe, it seems like we walked past on our way and my B-I-L said something like that. It was so fun, and SO good!

melanie said...

That sounds so great! I would love to see all you have done some day. I would have gotten teary eyed at the moment of silence too.

Laurie said...

I really enjoyed hearing this and getting a little smarter about Abe Lincoln. What a unique evening out to go to such a historical, special place for a play.

Anonymous said...

That's what I get for not reading blogs on a daily basis! I knew the answers! I don't know why. But really, I'd just have to give the ribbon to Elisa because I wouldn't know what to do with it.

Bek said...

Here is a cool like that gives an hour by hour account of Lincolns Last Day....

http://members.aol.com/RVSNorton/Lincoln45.html

P.S. I was born in the DC area and have wondeful memories of many of the things you are talking about. Memory lane. :=)