Brunch then Natural History Museum

Are friends Fred and Jennifer came by for a tasty brunch. We talked and talked and talked and then realized time has gotten away from us. Fred gratefully offered to drive us to the mall. We zipped by the White House on the way got a nice to her so I Bernie Sanders protest going on Democracy in action! Then we spent hours and hours in the Natural History Museum. We could have spent more time but it was very crowded and again time got away from us!

Everyone likes bacon 

Protest! 

Look its rhe White House 

On our way across the mall 

Stampy the Elephant 

The Right Whale

Prehistoric beasties 

Squidly

North West carving 

The Cholera virus 

Mr Fox

Jaguar 

T Rex

Fine dining at Fiola Mare

This seafood resturant was top shelf all the way. We sat in the Mermaid room in honor of Lily.  Grilled calamari first. A grilled seafood platter for two was over the top. Lobster, langistinos, Branzini, Scallops, giant shrimp, Diver Sole and more. Yummy. They brought out a tasty nosh for Lily's birthday.  Afterwards we went to the river and fed the ducks. 

The Mermaid room 

So many choices 

Fancy moctails

Yummy appetizer 

Beautiful 

Happy day

Yum dessert 

Feed the ducks

Pick up trash

Cruise on the Potomac River

We debated about taking the 4 pm cruise with the temperature hovering around 97 degrees.  The possibility of a river breeze clinched the deal, so we went.  The river was packed with pleasure boats, kayakers, stand up paddle boats and excursion boats. We saw many of the sights and some strange bits too. 

Not melted yet

River very busy

Dinner here later 

Kennedy Center

Lincoln and Washington Memorials

That is a bridge to be proud of 

Jefferson Memorial 

Not sure who these folks are

Maybe a boot camp work out group 

Busy dockside 

National Police Memorial

Very touching Memorial for all the fallen policeman. It was disheartening to see how many names were engraved on the wall.

Right outside the station 

The names went on and on 

Lion guarding the named5

A recent officer's memorial 

Too many wreaths 

National Building Museum

The National Building Museum has a wide array of displays. First is Icebergs with climbing areas, a slide and pillows to launch yourself into. Or as Leslie said the wear the kids out zone. Next was a doll house exhibit. They had doll houses from 1740 to 2004. Unfortunately no photos were allowed. Then a collection of 80 paper cutouts. From a Prague Castle kit to a Queen Elizabeth Coronation kit. The most unusual was a Lenin Memorial replica. Lastly was a Play Work Build area. Lily had a blast here. She made different objects using Lincoln logs,  small blue blocks and giant blue blocks. She organized a whole work crew to build a giant structure. Only two kids were trapped in the rubble when it all came down.  Finally there was an interactive projection. It took your shadow and built blocks in that shape. 

Simulated Icebergs 

Lil

Up she goes 

Down she comes 

Lily and Leslie 

High speed return 

The tip of the icebergs 

Floating above it all

My small block construction 

Construction #1

Non union labor 

Construction #2

Very cool construction not be me

Construction #2 nearly complete 

Queen of the Castle 

Where are your legs

Actively building 

Bag Lady projection

Dinner at "We the Pizza"

We gad a great dinner at We the Pizza.  Then we walked home though a quaint neighborhood

Most hungary 

The Capitol building 

Two more blocks