Happy Funtime Friend Service

In DC, the best house tour to score is the White House. And while the rules on getting to tour the White House are more complicated, they still do the occasional open tour. This weekend is the second of three summer garden tours at the White House. The last scheduled dates is  August 11. There will be two tours each day at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Everyone (even small children) must have a ticket. Tickets will be distributed (one per person) beginning at 8 a.m. at the Ellipse Visitors’ Pavilion until they are gone, so everyone who wants to go on the tour must be in line for a ticket.  In case of inclement weather, the tours will be canceled.

If you want a regular White House tour, the National Park Service has compiled a very handy list of information including how to get a tour (through your Congressional representative), how far in advance (up to 6 months and in plenty of time to provide all the necessary security information, etc.).   And if you have friends living in DC that you’re visiting, it’s much easier for you to call your Congressional representative than for the local folks up here - the local reps here are slammed with requests so you have a better chance with your own.

In DC, the best house tour to score is the White House. And while the rules on getting to tour the White House are more complicated, they still do the occasional open tour. This weekend is the first of three summer garden tours at the White House. The other scheduled dates are July 21 and August 11. There will be two tours each day at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Everyone (even small children) must have a ticket. Tickets will be distributed (one per person) beginning at 8 a.m. at the Ellipse Visitors’ Pavilion until they are gone. In case of inclement weather, the tour will be canceled.

W00t! I’m the first post!

Autumn approacheth. I heart cool, crisp fall weather and the enslaught of house tours that pop up across the city just as quickly as those inflatable lawn decorations do in the suburbs. Here’s a few upcoming events that I’ll be pestering my friends and family to attend with me:

• Architecture Week House Tour - September 9th: Who knew there’s a whole week o’ architecture? The Washington Chapter of the American Institute of Architects did, that’s who. This one’s boasting a tour of the Rosedale farmhouse (3501 Newark St., NW) along with two other homes recently renovated by fancy-schmancy architecture firms.
  Caveats: Only three houses.
  Tickets: $30 online; $45 on-site
  For more info: http://www.aiadc.com/events.htm
• The 22nd Annual Kalorama House and Embassy Tour - September 17th: Like to peep into homes? Then you’ll enjoying peeping into embassies, chancellories, and residences even more. I do. My mom did. This tour offers a morning brunch and lecture rather than a mid-day tea; however, you can suck it and deal for a chance to view the French Ambassador’s Residence as well as the embassies of Latvia, Costa Rica, and the Republic of Indonesia.
  Caveats: Walking, walking, walking.
  Tickets: $22 price pre-tour / $25 price day of tour
  For more info: http://www.woodrowwilsonhouse.org/
• 2006 Dupont Circle House Tour - October 15th: The grand (or sugar) daddy of them all. I usually coax someone to town for this behemoth which consists of a self-guided walking tour of 10-12 homes with a mid-point tea (this year’s will be at the Washington Club right on the circle). It’s always fun to see how the more stylish live (and apparently, you can’t be styling in Dupont without a SubZero refrigerator in the kitchen and a walk-in shower with enough showerheads to entertain a crowd of twenty in your bathroom.)
  Caveats: Lots of walking so don’t bring any whiners wearing inappropriate footwear.
  Tickets: $25 price pre-tour / $30 price day of tour
  For more info: http://www.dupont-circle.com/housetour/
• Logan Circle Holiday House & Gallery Tour - December 3: Logan Circle’s been an “up and coming” neighborhood for quite awhile, but now I think it’s up and done gone. With gorgeous homes decked out for the holidays and a pitstop for some hot cocoa, you’ll be in the holiday (and home revamping) spirit too.
  Caveats: Walking and some slightly dodgy areas.
  Tickets: No info available yet.
  For more info: http://www.logancircle.org/