Category: Festivals

Tysons Corner Center ice skating rink

12/7/2014

Tysons Corner is widely known as a shopping area, with two malls and lots of stores. But just this weekend they opened the Tysons Corner Center Ice Rink.

It has a website at:

http://www.tysonscornercenter.com/Events/TysonsCornerIceRink

A few pics from the Tysons Corner Ice Rink area

Tysons Corner Ice rink. Girls enjoying ice skating outdoors.

Big old Christmas tree near the Tysons Corner Center Ice skating rink.

Tysons Corner Center Ice Rink. There are lots of venders set up in the area selling mostly international goods or hand-crafted items.

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July 4 fireworks in Falls Church, Virginia

7/5/2014

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I walked with my kid to the nearest fireworks display, the Falls Church extravaganza. We set up on the roof of the nearby Metro parking garage and waited for the 9:20pm start. And waited. And waited some more. People were leaving at some point.

So we decided to relocate closer to our leave spot and see what happened. Finally, 50 minutes late, the fireworks started and it was great. There were lots of fireworks, probably even too many. The whole show took 40 minutes and people were leaving in the middle as they'd seen fireworks and had to get their kids home and to bed.

But we stayed for the finale, and then walked home. A few pics...

A shot from early on, when loads of people had their phones and tablets aimed to take photos.

One of my favorite shots

A really decent double

A bit with Tysons Corner lit up in the lower right.

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New Year's in Norway

12/31/2013

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In the US, we shoot off fireworks on the 4th of July. In Norway, and most other European countries, they shoot off fireworks on New Year's Eve. Here is a photo from the 2010 New Year's Eve in Oslo, Happy New Year!!!

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Halloween

10/31/2013

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I just took my little Canon S95 out while my kid was scoring much candy. The Canon S series of cameras do a pretty good job even in tough lighting conditions, and I just wanted a pocket camera tonight. I was having as much fun as the kids, and didn't want a big camera.

Some porches were pretty nicely done up.

This one had cool lighting and large ghosts

Trick or Treater's at the door

A marvelous carved pumpkin

Double pumpkins

Okay, a cool bit of a witch crashing, but the feet are backwards and... was she flying a mop?

The candy was 10 inches deep in the bag, a very good haul

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July 4 in Roanoke, Virginia

7/9/2013

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Fourth of July fireworks near Roanoke, Virginia from a couple years ago.

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Ambassador White playing catch

7/2/2013

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US ambassador Barry White playing catch with a football with John Grimes at the US Independence Day celebration in Frogner Park, Oslo, Norway.

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US Independence Day in Oslo

6/30/2013

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Every year, around the 4th of July, a big bunch of Americans get together at Frogner Park and celebrate the American Independence Day (known as the 4th of July in the US).

This is a really fun event, and I will put up more photos soon, but for now just a shot from the day. Of the US embassy booth.

US embassy booth at the US Independence Day party in Frogner Park.

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One more from National Day

5/18/2013

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A tribe of youngsters on the move.

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May 17, Norwegian National Day

5/17/2013

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May 17 is National Day in Norway. Everyone gets dressed up and heads out and just has a blast. At the Palace, the king and his close family wave to the the children's parade from the Palace balcony. And the children's parade goes on for hours, with lots of flags, marching bands, and much hoopla.

Many of the Norwegians dress in their bunads, which are wonderful and each unique and often with a story of their own about who sewed them and what the colors and details mean.

It is always a highlight of Spring here, and some photos from the Oslo celebration follow.

Most of the roads are closed in the central part of town, so everyone just walks down the streets.

The children's parade is here coming by a packed audience.

There is a little overlook at one point, where this couple is enjoying the view of the festivities.

Children running around the gardens in town.

There is a rule that all the children get to eat lots of ice cream and hot dogs. Here are some twins working on the ice cream end of that rule.

Young couples all dressed up are not the norm, but can be found.

While there is a lot of fun going on, this bit was an odd addition to the day.

If you aren't Norwegian, or your bunad is at the cleaners, you still get dressed up and show off.

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Scary Easter Bunny

3/30/2013

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Happy Easter! I hope you find lots of colorful eggs and chocolates in your Easter basket, and have much fun with your family. And this guy is out of the Easter Bunny business for now, so all can relax.