Car Free Day #2

In honor of C's post about Car Free Day tomorrow, here is a reprint of a blog entry from Councilmember Tommy Wells:

Car Free DC: Cool Free Things

Written by Neha Bhatt

Stepping up to the plate. That’s exactly what these groups have done to help commemorate Car Free Day. In case anyone missed it, the city is doing it’s first one on Tuesday the 18th. What else is there to do other than take the personal car free pledge? Plenty! Take advantage of the following events sponsored by great organizations who make our City a better, nicer, hipper place to live. Snap a picture of your favorite Car Free Day moment and upload it on Flickr (be sure to tag the photo with "DC Car Free Day") or send them to Neha Bhatt at nbhatt@dccouncil.us.This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Best image wins a commemorative T-shirt signed by the Mayor and Councilmembers. Walk This Way Cultural Tourism DC, City By Foot Tour Company, and Washington Walks welcome everyone to enjoy the landscape and architecture of the City through special Car Free Day walking tours. Tours are free and open to the public. Happy Car Free Day! More than Monuments: 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm and 8:00 pm – 9:15 pm Meet at the base of the Washington Monument on the east side (facing the Capitol and 15th Street). End at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Through little-known anecdotes and quirky facts, this tour brings to life the events and people who inspired the monuments. Part performers and part professors, the licensed guides are recent college graduates who are passionate about American history. Their sometimes irreverent and always interesting romp holds the attention of even the squirmiest toddler. The perfect solution for anyone who slept through eighth grade history class! Led by professional guide Ben Hindman and presented by City By Foot Tour Company. Walk Logan Circle: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Meet outside the McPherson Square Metro station (14th Street exit). Few Washington neighborhoods have witnessed such a breathtaking renaissance as Logan Circle, the city’s only unaltered Victorian residential district. It evolved from rural obscurity to an enclave of architectural splendor, home first to affluent whites and later to African American residents. A growing number of restaurants and shops make it one of Washington’s most fashionable addresses. Led by professional tour guide Carolyn Crouch and presented by Washington Walks. Take Your iPod for a Walk through History! Download a free MP3 audio tour to your iPod or MP3 player and surround yourself with sound as you walk the Civil War to Civil Rights: Downtown Heritage Trail through historic Penn Quarter. Walk in the footsteps of Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., Walt Whitman, and other great Americans whose lives were intertwined with the history of the nation and its capital city. The trail focuses on Washington's experiences during the Civil War as well as the continuing challenge to realize the American dream of equal rights for all its citizens. Relive dramatic events, including: - The night President Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theater - The hustle and bustle of the old Center Market - A riot following the attempted escape of 77 enslaved people - Clara Barton's search for thousands of missing Union soldiers - Thurgood Marshall's fight to desegregate American Institutions Roll Around the City Washington Area Roadskaters invite Washingtonians to a free one-hour training session in basic inline skating technique from 6:00-7:00pm on Tuesday, September 18. The session will take place in front of the White House on the north (Pennsylvania Ave) side. It will be taught by certified instructors from the DC chapter of the National Skate Patrol, which offers a free skate clinic at Rock Creek Park every Saturday at noon April through October. The training session will be followed by a scenic cityskate through downtown Washington, a fun way to end the day for all levels of skaters. Rent Wheels Need a bike for Car Free day? Bike the Sites is offering special discounted bike rentals during September 16-22. Day rentals will be $15 in honor of Car Free Day. C’mon, how can you beat that?