I have been living in Prince William County, VA (PWC) for 3 months and thoroughly enjoying it. One of the most important quality of life issues I look at is cultural and educational opportunities that are close by. Washington DC and the surrounding area offer so much and it is practically free. Let me give you an example.
First, a geographic orientation. PWC is approximately 30 miles west from Washington DC, the Capitol Mall, the Washington Monument and the Smithsonian Museum. I-66 takes you right into the city.
Second, transportation costs. It can be very cost effective. I drive to the Fairfax/Vienna Metro station. It is about 18 miles and I ride the train right to the Smithsonian Museum and Capital Mall It is a $6 round trip. Fares are reduced during the weekend and holidays. For my Facebook friends and Twitter followers at Harben_eco_dev, you know I was posting updates on the ride, both ways. It sure beats traffic and looking for parking. As you recall, earlier I wrote that I like events that are close by. Please note, I left my home at 1:45 PM and returned at 6:45 PM.
Today I went to the National Book Festival 2011 sponsored by the Library of Congress. It covers two days. Over 100 authors, poets and illustrators attend. The festival has six author pavilions. Each one has well known authors speak. The pavilions showcasing authors were Children, Contemporary Life, Fiction and Mystery, History and Biography, Poetry and Prose, and Teens.
Other pavilions were the PBS (lots of kid activities highlighted), Library of Congress, Family Storytelling, Let’s Read America Pavilion, and the Pavilion of the States.
C-SPAN has a live broadcast all day both days. The correspondents interviewed history and contemporary authors, and biographers all day. It might be on a pavilion, on the C-SPAN temporary studio or on the mall.
The author I went to hear were:
Dr. Amy Chua, Tiger Mom
Edmund Morris, Colonel Roosevelt
Both spoke to a standing room only, easily over 200 people listened to each one. From what I could see, all the pavilions were like that, standing room only. It was educational and entertaining. Dr. Chua’s stories about her daughters were so funny and I could relate on so many levels. What is it about the second born kids? That is a different post.
I think I saw thousands of people walking the mall and enjoying the various authors at the pavilions and the chance to get an autographed book. It was so professionally executed. The number of volunteers was mind boggling, led by the Junior League of Washington, DC. They were everywhere and so helpful.
Perhaps most pleasing was the emphasis on reading, and the effort to make it enjoyable. When you look at the numerous pavilions, you instantly recognize the rich and vibrant variety in writing and the skilled authors we celebrate over these two days. This kind of festival is replicated all over the U.S.
Most of the people I saw were 30 years or older. I did sit next to a student at a local university who came to listen to Dr. Chua, but she attended because she read a different Chua book for class. She also dragged her boyfriend along.
Today I think reading has so many competing interests. Most of all, unlike almost every other activity our kids are involved in, reading is truly solitary. In todays connected world, it makes it that much more challenging.
However, for these two days, we take stock of the talented authors and the joy of reading at the National Book Festival.
The first pic is Dr. Amy Chua and me. She was so gracious. The second pic is Mr. Edmund Morris and me.
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