The reason we came to Washington at this particular time was to attend a show at the Kennedy Center. In January we attend a performance of the Canterbury Tales in Stratford England. It was part one. We could not get tickets to part two. Imagine our excitement when we found out the entire production was going to be at the Kennedy center in April. I got tickets for part 2 as soon as they went on sale and then we planned our trip accordingly.

I have never been to the Kennedy center before. It is really an amazing experience. The hall of flags is dazzling. We took a cab to get there. Be aware that it is outside zone one so it is a two zone charge but the closest metro station I could see was Foggy Bottom and it was on a different line than where we were at the Renwick. The cab ride was $10.30 for the two of us, but there is a lot to be said for door to door service.

I had arranged for ticket pickup and it was fast and easy. We had a few minutes before our performance in the Eisenhower Theater, so we went to the Terrace level and looked for a quick meal. There is a Terrace restaurant which was closed for a private affair, but the KC Café was open and is a very nice place to grab a bite.

There is a small salad bar that offers very upscale choices, baby corn, marinated mushrooms, baby carrots, artichoke hearts, and fancy salami just to name a few. There are also sandwiches premade, on croissants, wraps, and grainy bread. If you have the urge for a sweet there is a coffee bar with great desserts, bread pudding, cheesecake, strawberry shortcake, and fruit tarts with chocolate shell.

You can also get burgers or pizzas and hot soup or pasta choices. When we went back for a post theater snack they were offering a prime rib dinner for $21. It looked delicious and was served quite rare.

Beyond the good food the attraction here is the view. It is glass all around and depending where you sit you will see planes taking off at Regan airport, the Lincoln memorial, and the Watergate apartments. After you finish take the time to walk around on the terrace outside. We enjoyed watching the scullers on the Potomac.

What surprised me was the size of the Eisenhower Theater. I expected it to be huge so I was a little concerned that we would loose the intimacy that had made the Stratford production so enjoyable. I needn’t have worried, this is not an overwhelmingly large venue. We were in row F center and it was the third row. Obviously I can’t speak for all productions but this one was amazing and the whole experience was wonderful

We honestly just stopped by to see the Kennedy Center but happened to catch an afternoon matinee performance of a children's production that was being held. It was an introduction to the symphony when a few performers in story form introduced a variety of instruments in the varying musical families. It was informative and funny and we enjoyed this impromptu event. The building itself is fabulous with the hall of flags and spacious performance areas.

There's lots to see at the Kennedy Center - take the Metro to Foggy Bottom and then take the free shuttle bus to the Center. It's trip to do even if you're not seeing a performance as there are guided tours of all the concert halls and the top floor restaurant offers great views of D.C.

I went to the opera, they were very good performances by the Washington Opera, whose musical director is Placido Domingo.

The Kennedy Center is also home to the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, who ironically I saw just last weekend (04-05-02) in England, again a great performance with a top resident conductor, Leonard Slatkin. If classical music isn't your thing don't panic there are many contempory performances available in the Terrace Theater and Eisenhower Theater. Check the local free papers for details of free music at the center,

A bust of JFK dominates the lobby. Designed by Robert Berk, its textures and layers are multi-faceted. The six theaters located here present more musical and artistic performances than any other single institution in the nation. We enjoyed a play here, as well as a Sunday brunch, which I highly recommend! The brunch was served in the open kitchen and was a delightful experience, especially with the awesome views!! Be sure and go outside on the veranda to see the city in all her glory. We saw the play SHEAR MADNESS which is unique that the audience chooses the ending, which means every performance, it could be different! Lots of Fun, Go!