The 2009 Cherry Blossom Festival

For anyone who is interested in coming to the festival in Washington, D.C., the dates have been announced.
March 28 to April 12,2009. The blossoms are expected to peak from April 3rd to the 9th.

Upsadaisy for anyone who is interested.

I work downtown and avoid the Tidal Basin like the plague during the CBF. It just gets too congested over there.

Same thing when Rolling Thunder comes into town annually.

I am actually planning to come and to bring my family along.
Now hoping to catch you guys there (as well as Paleo and Shoal)!

Sounds cool, but we're committed to the Hebron Maple Fest March 14-15th...
yes, a festival for all things maple!

I'm hoping to go this year. Last year I avoided it due to the crowds and general timing not working out. But maybe I can find a less-crowded time of day this time around. Not sure what that would be, exactly!

Cool! I'll be up with the wife and baby for a wedding on the 4th. I think our hotel is at a metro stop...

The blossoms are beautiful, but the traffic is a nightmare. I hate driving in and around DC. Metro if you can and bring your walking shoes. I suspect my wife will want to drag me there, but I may try to weasel out of it.

Is this like the Japanese hanami? If so, drink some sake for me!

stupidhaiku wrote:

Is this like the Japanese hanami? If so, drink some sake for me!

I hope it's more like Otogi 2.

rolanberry wrote:

But maybe I can find a less-crowded time of day this time around. Not sure what that would be, exactly!

As I understand it, the best time to go is during 9-5 business hours on a weekday. Just don't do it during lunchtime (11:30am - 1:30pm).

I'd imagine that early-birds fare well down there.

I'd probably be up for it - or better said - my wife would be up for it. I'll just be escorting her. After all, they are just trees... And pollen... But I'm sure she'd be all gitty for an outing like this.

Shoal07 wrote:

I'd probably be up for it - or better said - my wife would be up for it. I'll just be escorting her. After all, they are just trees... And pollen... But I'm sure she'd be all gitty for an outing like this.

it is pretty cool to see them when they all go in Bloom (I was in Osaka for one hanami (LOL good descriptive name there, flower viewing)), I'm not sure I'd make a national holiday of it...

Ro and I were talking and thought with folks coming in from out of town, maybe we can arrange a Slap and Tickle while folks are here. Anyone up for it?

I'd be up for some sort of get together for the festival. As much as I am loathe to spend any amount of time in DC, the Cherry Blossom Festival is quite fun whenever I go to it.

I am taking my family unit there for the entire weekend of Apr 4-5.
This will limit my abilities to take part in a full blown Slap & Tickle, but I'd love to meet with any Goodjers who'll be in Tidal Basin area on those days Apr 4th.

Kiri, I'll PM you my cell # just in case.

I always enjoy going but may not make it this year. Definitely go on a weekday if possible it gets crowded on a nice day.

I'm planning to check it out either tomorrow or Friday. If there's a S&T going on during a weekend, it's OK, I can deal with the crowds, so I'm in. Is this thread the new this thread?

Nyles wrote:

I'm planning to check it out either tomorrow or Friday. If there's a S&T going on during a weekend, it's OK, I can deal with the crowds, so I'm in. Is this thread the new this thread?

Originally this thread was started to let folks know when the Festival was this year. It has turned into a S&Tish sort of thing as out of towners will be near

BTW, Hain's Point (East Potomac Park) is *loaded* with cherry trees, but not with tourists. It's a good place to stroll around and see the trees without the crowds found around the Mall. There are some free parking spots (expect them to be filled) and the nearest metro station is Smithsonian.

Hain's Point sounds good - I'll check it out. I didn't fill up on cherry tree viewing yesterday.

A brief report: I did D.C. this weekend with my wife, kids, and mother in tow, but unfortunately didn't get to meet Robear/Kiri & Paleo. With that exception, it was an otherwise fun-filled weekend.

The trees were beautiful:
IMAGE(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3347/3416753048_38e4ea90e3.jpg?v=0)

The city was as always grand and imposing:
IMAGE(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3345/3417413491_0dfc6a0a23.jpg?v=0)
and tricky:
IMAGE(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3306/3415937431_2d2b0f963c.jpg?v=0)

The crows were phenomenal:
IMAGE(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3572/3416755332_4c333c4e49.jpg?v=0)

The Japanese-y things were abundant:
IMAGE(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3547/3416749596_6bc45262d6.jpg?v=0)

IMAGE(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3564/3415942829_a1432106db.jpg?v=0)

... and sometimes downright scary:
IMAGE(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3361/3415940897_7b2ea792c1.jpg?v=0)

The weather was clear but extremely windy. We actually took advantage of that and few a kite:
IMAGE(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3623/3416760654_2023f76665.jpg?v=0)

The complete set is here.

Delam wrote:

I always enjoy going but may not make it this year. Definitely go on a weekday if possible it gets crowded on a nice day.

I rode down to Haynes Point this weekend and it was a mess. Traffic was unbearable (I spent 45 mins trying to get up Georgia Ave via 7th street) but the blossoms were in full effect so not all was lost.

Nice Pics Gorilla!