[SkateDC] Friday Night Skate Stuff

[George Marinkovich]

Wednesday (3/30/10) was the official peak of Cherry Blossoms, defined as the day in which 70 percent of the blossoms of the Yoshino Cherry (Prunus
 x yedoensis) trees that surround the Tidal Basin are open.  But Friday shouldn't be too shabby blossom-wise since it's just a couple days past peak.

Please bring shoes (sandals, flip-flops, etc.) with you on the skate Friday.  We can't keep our skates on when we go into the Froggy Bottom Pub at the end of the skate.  We will try to snag outdoor seating, but there are no guarantees on that.  The owner will let us into the restaurant in our socks, but really, wouldn't you rather have shoes on?

IMPORTANT for those driving to the skate:

There's been a major change in parking regulations in DC since last year.  A lot of the on-street parking places we used last year to park free after 6:30 PM on a weeknight are no more.   Well, the parking spaces are still there but they are no longer free and perhaps more importantly there is a 2 hour parking limit.  So you can pay $2 per hour up to 2 hours, but at the end of those two hours your car is subject to ticketing (and no you can't just pay for more time, you actually have to move your car to a different parking space).

But, you can avoid this unpleasantness, by parking in areas that are not subject to the new parking restrictions.  Where would that be, you ask?  I'm glad you asked.  

The closest "free after 6:30 PM" on street parking to Froggy Bottom is in the West End and Foggy Bottom neighborhoods.  A rough guideline is 24th St NW between E and N Streets.  The blue marked streets in this map indicate the "free after 6:30 PM" parking available nearest to Froggy Bottom Pub:  http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3597112.  Read the signs where you park, I would believe them over anything I might say.

The weather should be acceptable:  no chance of rain, 71 at the start, 65 at the finish.

As always the Friday Night Skate leaves the White House at 7 PM.

That's 2455289.50000 for those of you who prefer Julian Dates.

Happy skating,
George