Tag Archives: Washington DC

National Cherry Blossom Festival 2019

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual event which celebrates springtime in Washington, DC as well as the 1912 gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan. This year’s festival will be MARCH 20-APRIL 14!

The predicted peak blooming period of the cherry blossoms for this year is APRIL 3-6.

Here are some of the highlights:

Smithsonian Kite Festival – Saturday, March 30, 2019
Washington Monument Grounds (closest metro Smithsonian)
10 am-4:30 pm

Petalpalooza Fireworks Festival – Saturday, April 6, 2019
The Wharf (closest metro Waterfront or L’Enfant Plaza)
12-9:30 pm
Fireworks at 8:30 pm (weather permitting)

Cherry Blossom Parade – Saturday, April 13, 2019
Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Streets, NW  (closest metro Smithsonian)
10 am-12 pm

There are many more great events, visit the festival website for more information.

Helpful links:
Cherry Blossom Festival Website
National Park Service Bloom Watch
Metro Website (use the trip planner feature on this website to find the metro options, taking metro is much better than driving for the festival events)

Photo: National Cherry Blossom Festival 

National Cherry Blossom Festival 2018

The National Cherry Blossom Festival is an annual event which celebrates springtime in Washington, DC as well as the 1912 gift of the cherry blossom trees and the enduring friendship between the people of the United States and Japan. This year’s festival will be MARCH 17-APRIL 15!

The predicted peak blooming period of the cherry blossoms for this year is APRIL 8-12.

Here are some of the highlights:

Smithsonian Kite Festival – Saturday, March 31, 2018
Washington Monument Grounds
10 am-4:30 pm

Petalpalooza Fireworks Festival – Saturday, April 7, 2018
Waterfront Park – 600-900 Water Street, SW
1-9:30 pm
Fireworks at 8:30-9:30 pm

Cherry Blossom Parade – Saturday, April 14, 2018
Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Streets, NW
10 am- 12 pm

There are many more great events, visit the festival website for more information.

Helpful links:
Cherry Blossom Festival Website
National Park Service Bloom Watch
Metro Website (use the trip planner feature on this website to find the metro options, taking metro is much better than driving for the festival events)

Photo & Video: National Cherry Blossom Festival 

Georgetown University offers ESL classes

Georgetown’s Continuing Studies English program is excited to share information regarding our 11 new course offerings this fall. Each class is held on our historic main campus, counts as 3.6 CEUs towards the J-1 visa requirement and is taught by a Georgetown faculty member with at least a Masters degree.

Courses are designed to:

  • Improve English speaking skills
  • Help students communicate more effectively in business settings
  • Prepare for the TOEFL test

Early enrollment (with a 10% discount) opens for new and returning students next Friday August 1. Click on the links below for more information about our Fall 2014 course schedule:

Mon./ Wed. 7-9pm
9 weeks: 18 2-hour sessions
(36 hours/ 3.6 CEUS)

Placement

Test Date

Course

Start Date

Course

End Date

XEFL 300 – Integrated Communication Skills I Wed. 9/3 – 8-9pm Wed. 9/10 Wed. 11/12
XEFL 301 – Integrated Communication Skills II Mon. 9/8 – 7-8pm Wed. 9/10 Wed. 11/12
XEFL 302 – Integrated Communication Skills III Mon. 9/8 – 8-9pm Wed. 9/10 Wed. 11/12
XEFL 315 – Business Writing Wed. 9/3 – 7-8pm Wed. 9/10 Wed. 11/12

Tues./ Thurs. 7-9pm

9 weeks: 18 2-hour sessions

(36 hours/ 3.6 CEUS)

Placement

Test Date

Course

Start Date

Course

End Date

XEFL 310 – Business Communications I Tues. 9/2 – 8-9pm Tues. 9/9 Thurs. 11/6
XEFL 311 – Business Communications II Thurs. 9/4 – 7-8pm Tues. 9/9 Thurs. 11/6
XEFL 312 – Business Communications III Thurs. 9/4 – 8-9pm Tues. 9/9 Thurs. 11/6
XEFL 305 – Communicative Grammar Tues. 9/2 – 7-8pm Tues. 9/9 Thurs. 11/6

Sat. 9am-12:30pm
9 weeks: 9 3.5-hour sessions
(32 hours/ 3.6 CEUS)

Placement

Test Date

Course

Start Date

Course

End Date

XEFL 320 – iBT-TOEFL Preparation I Sat. 9/6 – 9-10am Sat. 9/13 Sat. Nov. 8
XEFL 321 – iBT-TOEFL Preparation II Sat. 9/6 – 10-11am Sat. 9/13 Sat. Nov. 8
XEFL 322 – iBT-TOEFL Preparation III Sat. 9/6 – 10-11am Sat. 9/13 Sat. Nov. 8

For more information on registration, information sessions and other concerns, visit the Continuing Studies English web site at: http://cledsp.georgetown.edu/CSE or contact me via telephone at 202-687-4592 or via email atCSEnglish@georgetown.edu.

Annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C.

cherry blossoms

The 2014 Cherry Blossom Festival will be held this year from March 20 – April 13. The cherry trees were originally planted in the nation’s capital when the first ones were given as a gift of friendship from the people of Japan to the people of the U.S. The link gives a calendar of events. Plan ahead to go over and enjoy the beauty of early Spring. The best dates for au pairs and host families are the Saturday events, some of which are the following:

3/29 Blossom Kite Festival on the grounds of the Washington Monument

4/5 Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival

4/12 National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade AND Japanese Street Festival (locations given in the link)

Annual Cherry Blossom Festival Events calendar

Multi-Cluster Scavenger Hunt at the Washington DC Zoo

We had the most amazing and beautiful day for our Multi-Cluster Scavenger Hunt at the Washington DC Zoo on October 27th!  Au pairs from many clusters in the Maryland, DC and Virginia communities came out to participate in a hunt to find a variety of animals to complete their bingo cards!  Afterwards we enjoyed the warm sun, gathered on blankets and and had a picnic lunch on the grounds.  It was a great day to relax, chat and catch up with everyone!  Then of course, the au pairs went home with a mini-panda as their prize!

Au Pairs Celebrate the Cherry Blossoms in Washington DC

On April 6th the Baltimore and Annapolis clusters met in downtown DC and were given a private tour by the owner “Eddie” from DC by Foot.  Eddie treated our group to a wonderful educational tour of the various monuments on the National Mall to include the Washington Monument, the WWII Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial.  We learned some great facts to include that the term “Mall” does not mean a shopping mall but rather means “open space” and  the Lincoln Memorial takes after the Greek Parthenon which translates to “perfect unity.”   Lincoln was remembered in history as a great unifier of our country and the 36 pillars that adorn the Lincoln Memorial represent the 36 states that were part of the Union at the time.  Our group was able to see the first signs of the Cherry Blossoms (a gift from Japan) come to life throughout the city on a wonderful sunny day.  These delicate blossoms signify the beginning of spring!   Something we in the DC area have been looking forward to after a long cold winter.