Is there a Dress Code for Dinner?

No - not specifically, but think in terms of 'Smart Casual'. We will sit for our Family Dinner in an area called the Mezzanine. Its a relatively open area and we will be representing our family. So certainly we want our attire to be tasteful and respectful of the occasion but comfortable. There is no need to overspend or overpack so that we can overdress. The number one objective is to have fun.

Following dinner, we will relocate to a ballroom for dessert and coffee and for some family fun.

Access Granted

We are in there!! . . .in the White House, that is. After 6 months of waiting and wondering, I was advised yesterday that our request for a group tour of the White House has been approved. We are on for 1:00pm on Saturday, July 10th. I strongly urge you to take a look at the link for the White House Tour in the sidebar. Understand what to expect, what you will see and what you won't. Read about the rules and restrictions - like no cameras, no purses, no cell phones. (If you were hoping to take a picture with your cell phone of you sitting behind the President's desk in the Oval Office - you can forget about it!) Be prepared with the appropriate identification, etc. Also, because our tour is at 1:00pm, you will want to give some advance thought to how you will structure the rest of your afternoon activities. We will sit for dinner back at the hotel at 7:00pm.

Paid Registrations . . . .

As of July 3rd:

104

We are almost there - and no one could be happier than me. Its been a long road and I am confident that the event will be well worth the time and effort that has gone into planning it. Thanks to all of you who have diligently responded to my emails and various requests, especially my request for the ontime payment of your registration fees. If you have ever planned an event, you know that it is a tight spot between your vendors and suppliers who are expecting payment and the folks you have to collect it from in order to pay ontime. And everything must be paid in full before the reunion (for those of you who still are yet to send your money).

For those who signed up for the White House tour back in January, we still don't have an answer yet. They said it would be about a week to 10 days before our visit that we will find out. I've got my fingers crossed. Whether we visit the White House or not, you should be giving some thought to what else you will want to do with your time on Saturday - before the Family Dinner. There are countless things to do in and around Washington D.C. and you may find it useful to research some of them before you get there, in order to make the most of your visit. I've got some links in the sidebar of this blog page and I will continue to add to them as I run across good ones. One easy way to see a lot is to jump on a city tour bus - one with on/off privileges. It isn't free like the National Zoo and the Smithsonian Museums and the Monuments and such, but you will get a pretty good bang for your buck. Keep in mind also that there is lots to do around the hotel - shopping, dining, etc.

Plan to take, and share, plenty of pictures. No one photographer can be in all places so in order to tell the whole story of the reunion, we need cameras clicking everywhere.

Start thinking about any 'good news' going on in your branch of the family that you would like to share at the reunion - milestone birthdays and anniversaries, engagements and upcoming weddings, babies on the way, recent graduations/promotions, retirements, children starting or returning to college, military service or the Peace Corps, etc. I don't need you to send this info in advance - just bring it with you.

Those of you who will be driving to D.C. - since you won't have the travel expense that those who are flying in will have, please consider contributing some of items we need to enhance our Sunday picnic experience. Take a look at the list of items in the sidebar and see what you can bring. Uncle Ray has the paper goods and utensils covered.

Finally, I hope some of you are working on creating some 'family friendly' music playlists on your iPods. We did not budget for a professional deejay, so we are it. Keep in mind that we span 5 generations so we want to keep it clean and we want to include some 'ole skool' in the mix.

Registration Fees - now due!

Registration fees for the family reunion are now due. Hopefully by now you have reserved your room at the Embassy Suites and arranged for your travel to Washington D.C. The registration fee covers the banquet, the catering for the Sunday picnic and your tee shirt. I sent an email on Feb. 27th detailing the information that I need you to send with your payment. You can call me or text me at (708) 525-2887, email me, hit me up on Facebook or write me a letter . . . but I do need to hear from you if you are planning to attend the reunion.

Family Reunion Registration

Check your emails of Feb. 27, 2010 for the details for registering for the reunion. The basics are these: the registration fee for adults (13+) is $115.00, children 6 - 12, $70 and 5 yrs old and younger $35.00. The fee covers the Family Banquet, catering for the Sunday picnic and your souvenir tee shirt and is due by April 30th. For each person, you will need to provide the name, address, phone #, email address, tee shirt size, meal preference and whether registrant will be flying or driving to D.C. Contact me by phone, email or text if you have any questions or need additional information.

Maybe we'll get lucky!

Mrs Obama surprises White House visitors

Back from my scouting trip

Rick & I are back in snowy Chi-town after spending a weekend in D.C. assessing things for the reunion. First of all, I must say that the hotel is great - great location, great amenities, great shopping & dining ... and that cooked-to-order breakfast is wonderful. (I was giving the omlette man a workout). And there is a fully equipped fitness center with swimming pool and jacuzzi on the top level.

The hotel has the typical Embassy Suites open-air atrium style but the lower 2 levels are shops and restaurants. Between the shops in the Chevy Chase Pavilion and those in the surrounding neighborhood, there is something for everyone - from high end department stores, like Saks Fifth Ave and Neiman Marcus to discount stores like Loehman's and T.J. Maxx and from shoe stores to home accessories. You really can shop until you drop without walking 2 blocks from the hotel. The neighborhood also has restaurants of every type.

Although our main mission was to secure a picnic permit, we also enjoyed walks around Rock Creek and Meridian Hill Parks, we visited the National Zoo (free), we went on a self-guided tour of the monuments and Federal Buildings - including a trip to the top of the Washington Monument (free), we spent some quality time at the White House Visitors Center (free), we drove around the campus of Howard University and through the famed Georgetown neighborhood. One thing was clear - we will run out of time before we run out of things to do. And so many things are free of charge including every one of the Smithsonian museums. There is a metro station right under the hotel and everything is within easy reach.

Since I only blocked 30 rooms per night, I urge you to make your reservation as soon as possible - the reunion rate of $119.00 is a lot better than the $199.00 that we paid.

Rock Creek Park, oh yeah, Rock Creek Park!

Greetings from D.C.!

Rick and I flew in on Sunday to check out the picnic groves in Rock Creek Park. We decided that #24 is probably best - its right near a playground and the bathroom.

Today, Monday, is the 1st day that we could reserve a sheltered grove (there are only 4). I was in line at the crack-of-dawn to take a number, then I panicked when someone said that I could only pay with a money order. Where does one get a money order at 7:00am? I needed a convenience store. Help me out, g.p.s. - 'thank heaven for 7-Eleven.' Found it! Got the money order! Back to the office. . . heart racing. . .have they called my number yet? No. Whew! I waited anxiously as those before me requested their choices of dates and groves - keeping my fingers crossed that #24 on 7/11 would still be there when it was my turn. It was! I got it! Mission accomplished.

Its on!

btw, even in the middle of Winter, its obvious that Rock Creek Park is beautiful!