Jimmy will sing at The Wall again

[Sandy]

the metro maps are also available at all their stations.

[Madge]

This is where we look when searching the best Metro route and fares when we attend events in Washington, DC.
I was told by a DC Park Ranger that you may not want to attempt driving into the city that day as parking will be scarce, but of course the choice is yours.
Just be careful before you board the train and make sure you know exactly where you're heading and where your stop is, for you don't want to be heading out of the City when Jimmy is singing in the City! ha ha  Yipes!

Metro trip planner, maps, fares....
http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/colormap.pdf
http://www.thecapitol.net/VisitingDC/metrorail.htm

[Nina Fortune]

You can catch the metro pretty far out of town so you don't have to worry with traffic at all. When you get to a station you can look up on the map what station you want to get off at. That will tell you how much you have to pay and what color train to get on. Make sure you are getting on the correct color or there is no telling where you might end up. Also don't forget to remember what station you started off at so you know how to get back. That would be worse that not finding your car in the Wal Mart parking lot.

[Madge]

  
Very helpful advice, Nina!
Madge

[mingy]

Depending on how much you plan to get on and off the metro, it really isn't that expensive.  There were machines to purchase your tickets from.  It took us some time to figure those out.  They were harder to understand than the map.  Of course we don't have much experience with that sort of thing up here in Maine.  At least when you are walking from the Smithsonian stop to the monuments, you have plenty to look at.  The maps at the stations are very clear.  We spent a week in DC years ago and loved the Metro - so much better than the subway in Boston.  The last time we took the train from NY to DC and then used the metro to get around.  I love DC.  Wish we could be there Memorial Day!

[Sandy]

mom and i will be getting on the train from the springfield station; this is the southernmost station from I95.

[Eddie]

Nina is right about the color coding.  The map is really easy to follow.  If you are a AAA member go to their office and get a Washington DC street map.  That will help you get around.
I've used the Foggy Bottom-GWU (Geo. Wash. Univ) station but its 8 blocks from the Memorial.  Somebody said to use the Smithsonian or L'Enfant stations to get off. The RED line goes out of the city on both ends but allow time because you'll have to switch to different color lines depending on whether you're going to Foggy Bottom, Smithsonian, or L'enfant stations.  It's not really confusing.  If I remember right, you may be able to buy an all day ticket but if you don't you'll have to buy enough to cover the length of your trip which depends where you start and stop.  So the all-day ticket might be easier.  Remember to look at starting points of each subway line because that's the name on your subway and takes you in that direction.  With 500,000 motorcycles, I may have to give serious consideration on how I get there. 

[Eddie]

This is where we look when searching the best Metro route and fares when we attend events in Washington, DC.
I was told by a DC Park Ranger that you may not want to attempt driving into the city that day as parking will be scarce, but of course the choice is yours.
Just be careful before you board the train and make sure you know exactly where you're heading and where your stop is, for you don't want to be heading out of the City when Jimmy is singing in the City! ha ha  Yipes!

Metro trip planner, maps, fares....
http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/colormap.pdf
http://www.thecapitol.net/VisitingDC/metrorail.htm

Hey Madge, thanks for the links.  I had an old beatup map but your map was up to date.  The fare info reminded me a lot of what I had forgotten.  I decided against doing a one-day trip on Monday. Hearing just how crowded it might be and the lack of parking around the Memorial, I spotted a hotel just three blocks from the memorial but their restaurant was closed until late 2006.  I couldn't find any eateries close by the area.  So we decided to go back to the Marriott we stayed at before.  It's right at the Metro Center metro stop which connects with several other lines.  It's one stop from Federal Triangle stop which appears to be the closest stop (maybe 5 blocks).  We're going down on Sunday and staying the night.  I forgot to ask the simple question... is Jimmy's appearance going to be right at the Vietnam Memorial or in an area nearby... anybody know? 

[Sandy]

eddie, a lot of the museums (if they're open monday) have cafeterias. an off th beaten path (meaning nor on the mall) site i'd recommend is the international museum at the chinatown metro stop. the is an awesome museum; you'll be surprised at what you learn/find. the cafe there is small, though.

[Madge]

Below is a press release of the day's events, and Jimmy's performance at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
We're so very proud of Jimmy......

http://www.teachvietnam.org/index.cfm?SectionID=477

Also a bit more info regarding which Metro to take, etc......

http://dc.about.com/od/monuments/p/VietnamMemorial.htm

The wreath laying ceremony is at 1 pm and we might assume Jimmy would sing "More Than A Name On The Wall" perhaps right before or right after this, but we're not sure.

Also the VIP seating I mentioned in Reply #19 of this thread is very limited, so if you are interested, call the phone number in that post, give your name, and get there EARLY as possible!
A seat is not reserved, but is first come basis, so the earlier the better.
The Parade at 2 pm will probably make getting through the streets even more difficult, especially on Constitution Avenue.

[Eddie]

Madge,

I'm going to call that phone number for the VIP seating.  I'm sure they can't guarantee anything but if we get there early maybe we'll have some luck getting a seat.  We're going down Sunday and probably taking off shortly after the ceremonies.  Traffic going back up Rt 95 will be extremely heavy Monday afternoon and evening.  Gotta go to work early Tuesday.

Eddie

[williamsonmunier]

Note the following near the bottom of the article:

The Memorial Day Ceremony can be seen online at www.usvets.tv in its entirety on Tuesday, May 30.

It looks like we all will be able to see this event, though a bit delayed!

[Eddie]

Sarah,

Yes, I saw that too.  I called the number that Madge put out earlier.  They said that for future ceremonies, people should call before May 15th as that is the cutoff.  She did agree to put our names on the list.  We'll have to wait and see if our names make it or not.  She did say it was first come, first serve.  Hey, at least there's a chance - thanks to Madge.

Eddie

[Sandy]

oops, in my last post here, i left out part of the name of the museum i was recommending. it's the international spy museum. it certainly has some fascinating exhibits. plus, you get to take on the identity of a spy. check out their website.

[Sandy]

nina, do you know if it's acceptable to take pictures during the ceremony---provided we're close enough?