Many of us can recite facts about the fifty states in the Union. But how many of us know much about the District of Columbia,? Yes, it is home to our nation’s Capitol, and the center of the Federal government. It was formed on July 16, 1790, and is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress, and is not a part of any state. Both Virginia and Maryland donated land to form the District of Columbia, though Congress returned the Virginia portion in 1846.

The city of Washington was formed in 1791 to honor our first President, George Washington. And though the area seems congested, a mere 632,000 people reside here. The real question is how many people work here? The Washington metro area has a population of 5.7 million, the seventh largest metropolitan area in our country.

More importantly, all three branches of the Federal government reside here: Congress, the Executive Branch the President), and the Judicial (the Supreme Court). Washington is also home to many museums and monuments centered mostly around or along the Capitol Mall. The city is also home to 176 foreign embassies. Essentially, there are 176 foreign countries within the District borders.

Citizens get to elect a mayor and 13 council members since 1973. But unknown to many of us, Congress may overturn any local laws. The District also has an non-voting at-large Congressional delegate, but no senators. The twenty-third Amendment gave the District three electoral votes.

The origins of a national capital came from James Madison as early as 1788. Article One, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution permits the establishment of a “District” to become the seat of the government of the United States. But it did not specify a location. The Compromise of 1790, Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson agreed that the federal government would pay each state’s remaining war debts in exchange for establishing the new national capital in the southern United States.

The Residence Act of 1790 approved creation of a national capital along the Potomac River. The exact location was selected by President George Washington. The initial shape of the federal district was a 10 mile square, totaling 100 square miles. Boundary stones were placed at every mile point. Some of these stones are still standing.

The federal district was named Columbia, the poetic name for the United States commonly used at that time. The first session of Congress was held in the Washington on Nov. 17, 1800. The Organic Act of 1801 was passed to officially organize the District, and place it under the exclusive control of the federal government. I wonder if the District is allowed to run a deficit? The unincorporated area within the district was organized into two counties, Washington County to the east of the Potomac, and Alexandria County to the west. Unfortunately, residents of those counties lost their Congressional representation.

The darkest hour in Washington, at least before 9/11, was the Burning of Washington in 1814 by the British forces who invaded during the War of 1812. The Capitol, the Treasury and the White House were all burned and gutted. Equally dark were the riots that broke out after the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, 1968. But it was a significant time in American history, one that we should cherish.

The District is a planned city. President Washington commissioned Pierre L’Enfant to design the new capital. His design envisioned what is now the National Mall, one mile in length and 400 feet wide. The city design featured broad streets and avenues radiating out from rectangles, with room for open space and landscaping. Andrew Endicott completed the city design after L’Enfant was dismissed due to conflicts with the District commissioners. It seems to me that it worked out fairly well in the long run. I wonder what they would have thought when we elected an African-American President. I have always enjoyed my trips here, business or pleasure. This one in particular!

This is a question that has been posed since I was a young school boy, learning the names of all fifty (48 back then) states. Delaware has moved to the front of state awareness since our Vice President Joe Biden is from Delaware. And President Obama has just designated a historic site in Delaware a National Historic Monument. Delaware is the only state without a National Park, yet it was the first state to ratify the Constitution. It is the place where Swedes and Finns came ashore to start their new lives in the New World. In fact, the Finns brought the log cabin to the New World.

Appropriately, it will be called the First State National Monument. President Obama will use the Antiquities Act, a law dating back to 1906, to designate the National Monuments on March 25, 2013. Sixteen Presidents have used the law to protect historical and cultural areas such as the Grand Canyon, and the Statue of Liberty.

How did this state get its rather funny name? It is named for Thomas West, the 3rd Baron De La Warr, who was an English nobleman and Virginia’s first colonial governor. Delaware is the sixth least populated state, yet the sixth most densely populated of the fifty states. It has only three counties, Sussex, Kent, and Newcastle, all sounding rather British. Before the arrival of Europeans, the region was inhabited by Native Americans, including the Lenape and Nanticoke. Dutch traders first settled the area in 1631, near the present town of Lewes.

Delaware is the second smallest state after Rhode Island, at only 1954 square miles. It has the only circular boundary in the United States. The northern boundary is defined by an arc extending 12 miles from the cupola of the courthouse of the city of New Castle. It is often called the Twelve Mile Circle.

Today, Delaware has a population just under one million. The per capita income is ninth in the nation at $34,199. Dover Air Force Base is one of the largest air bases in the country. I would guess this is where most of the fighter jets are dispatched when the White House is threatened. But more than 50% of all publicly traded companies are incorporated in Delaware; and 63% of the Fortune 500 as well.

Who else is from Delaware, other than the VP and the MVP? The list includes: Valerie Bertinelli, George Thorogood, Andrew and Elizabeth Shue. Both of Delaware’s Senators are Democrats, Tom Carper, and Chris Coons. The single U.S. Representative is John Carney, also a Democrat.

Alcohol can only be sold here from 9am to 1am, and until 2003, banned alcohol sales on Sunday. As you might guess, the state is highly Democratic, and tended to be a Presidential bellwether until 2000. Delaware’s electoral votes went to Al Gore in 2000. The Blue Hen is the official state bird, often noted for their fighting ability. Super Bowl quarterback Joe Flacco was a Blue Hen. But the Lady Bug is their official state bug. American holly is the official state tree. The peach blossom is the official state flower. Delaware has the fastest internet of any state, with an average connection speed of 10.2 megabits per second.

The Delaware Bicycle Route 1 spans the entire length of the state, north-south, from the Maryland border in Fenwick Island to the Pennsylvania border north of Montchanin. Three ferries also operate on a regular basis here. Amtrak, my means of transport here, has two stops in Delaware, Newark Rail Station, and Wilmington Rail Station. Delaware is the only state without regular commercial air service. However, it only takes two hours to drive from one end of Delaware to the other. The Mason Dixon Line forms the state’s western border.

Best of all, Delaware has tax-free shopping! The Delaware History Trail has 36 significant historical sites. I plan to set foot here only briefly, on my way to New Jersey on Amtrak. Had I known before about the tax-free shopping, I would have brought an extra suitcase and done my Christmas shopping a little early.

I actually fell asleep for most of Delaware.

Saturday’s adventure leads us into Maryland via the Metro New Carrollton) to meet Big Pat, Mrs. Pat, and Little Pat. The Pat family were my own close and protective friends from Baltimore, who I met in Nawlins at the Super Bowl. They felt sorry for the lonely kid from California, who endured Amtrak, and some bad meals, to join in the festivities unique to the Super Bowl.

And though they are die-hard Ravens fans, we got along quite well for a long weekend of festivities in the Nawlins area. I told them I would come back to haunt them if my Forty Niners lost their first Super Bowl in six tires. So, here we are.

So, the first stop in Annapolis is the U.S. Naval Academy. I think one of my cousins from a previous life graduated from here, and became quite successful as a contractor to the U.S. Navy. Attending any of the three academies was never on my radar, nor would I have been able to meet their standards.

Just a brief history reveals that the Naval Academy is a four-year co-ed college that began in 1845. It is the second oldest of the five service academies. I like their fight song, which is “Anchors Aweigh.” Candidates must apply for admission and normally get a recommendation from their US Congressman or Senator. Or be a child of a Medal of Honor recipient. They are officers in training, and called midshipmen. There is no tuition, in exchange for a period of active duty after graduation. About 1300 “plebes” enter the academy, with only about 1000 reaching graduation.

Graduates are usually commissioned as ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marines. The program grants a bachelor of science degree in a broad academic program, similar to engineering, as well as military leadership and participation in competitive athletics. The education received ranks at the top or near the top of public education at the university level. I did not realize they get a monthly pay of $990 a month. Why do they get this, and our poor scholar-athletes in regular universities get into big trouble of accepting money from “outside” sources?

Fast forward to famous graduates of the Academy, leaving the nitty-gritty and various traditions for you to “google” on your own: former President Jimmy Carter (39th President and Nobel Laureate), Albert Michelson (Nobel Prize winner), Alan Shepard, David Robinson, Roger Staubach, Ross Perot, Chester Nimitz, Astronaut Wendy Lawrence, Stansfield Turner (also CIA Director), and Senator John McCain.

I must say it is a most impressive campus, mostly designed by a French architect. The midshipmen’s dormitory is the largest college dormitory in the world, housing over 4000 midshipmen. We took a tour through the dorm, and its main hall, where all awards ceremonies take place.

We also saw some of the athletic facilities (wrestling gym and swimming pool), along with the football stadium, which hosted the annual Army-Navy lacrosse match today. Would you also believe that John Paul Jones casket resides in the crypt below the chapel?

By the way, besides a full academic load, the Midshipmen are required to do TWO hours of physical exercise daily. Their summers are filled with “active duty” and assignments on campus, as well as a short break at home.

The trip started with a short tour of the town, followed by lunch at the famous Chick and Ruth’s Delly. Dirty Pat had the scrapple breakfast, Sheri had a salad, and I had the corned beef sandwich. Then after the official tour of the Naval Academy, we settled in to the equally famous Middleton Tavern, for crab cakes, oysters, oyster shooters, gumbo, and Caesar salad.

Our gracious hosts drove us all the way back to Arlington. It took well over an hour, but they insisted. We wanted them to see the cherry blossoms, but it turns out they were buying cigarettes for a relative since Virginia taxes result in $20 less for a carton! Bottom line, this is a campus you must see!

Many of us can recite facts about the fifty states in the Union. But how many of us know much about the District of Columbia,? Yes, it is home to our nation’s Capitol, and the center of the Federal government. It was formed on July 16, 1790, and is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Congress, and is not a part of any state. Both Virginia and Maryland donated land to form the District of Columbia, though Congress returned the Virginia portion in 1846.

The city of Washington was formed in 1791 to honor our first President, George Washington. And though the area seems congested, a mere 632,000 people reside here. The real question is how many people work here? The Washington metro area has a population of 5.7 million, the seventh largest metropolitan area in our country.

More importantly, all three branches of the Federal government reside here: Congress, the Executive Branch the President), and the Judicial (the Supreme Court). Washington is also home to many museums and monuments centered mostly around or along the Capitol Mall. The city is also home to 176 foreign embassies. Essentially, there are 176 foreign countries within the District borders.

Citizens get to elect a mayor and 13 council members since 1973. But unknown to many of us, Congress may overturn any local laws. The District also has an non-voting at-large Congressional delegate, but no senators. The twenty-third Amendment gave the District three electoral votes.

The origins of a national capital came from James Madison as early as 1788. Article One, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution permits the establishment of a “District” to become the seat of the government of the United States. But it did not specify a location. The Compromise of 1790, Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and Thomas Jefferson agreed that the federal government would pay each state’s remaining war debts in exchange for establishing the new national capital in the southern United States.

The Residence Act of 1790 approved creation of a national capital along the Potomac River. The exact location was selected by President George Washington. The initial shape of the federal district was a 10 mile square, totaling 100 square miles. Boundary stones were placed at every mile point. Some of these stones are still standing.

The federal district was named Columbia, the poetic name for the United States commonly used at that time. The first session of Congress was held in the Washington on Nov. 17, 1800. The Organic Act of 1801 was passed to officially organize the District, and place it under the exclusive control of the federal government. I wonder if the District is allowed to run a deficit? The unincorporated area within the district was organized into two counties, Washington County to the east of the Potomac, and Alexandria County to the west. Unfortunately, residents of those counties lost their Congressional representation.

The darkest hour in Washington, at least before 9/11, was the Burning of Washington in 1814 by the British forces who invaded during the War of 1812. The Capitol, the Treasury and the White House were all burned and gutted. Equally dark were the riots that broke out after the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. on April 4, 1968. But it was a significant time in American history, one that we should cherish.

The District is a planned city. President Washington commissioned Pierre L’Enfant to design the new capital. His design envisioned what is now the National Mall, one mile in length and 400 feet wide. The city design featured broad streets and avenues radiating out from rectangles, with room for open space and landscaping. Andrew Endicott completed the city design after L’Enfant was dismissed due to conflicts with the District commissioners. It seems to me that it worked out fairly well in the long run. I wonder what they would have thought when we elected an African-American President. I have always enjoyed my trips here, business or pleasure. This one in particular!

Despite my many visits to Washington, DC, I have never been here during the prime viewing time for the cherry blossoms. So, I go into this trip with no expectations, and can only hope the cherry blossom spirits are on my side. Peak bloom is now April 6 to 8 (today!). But perhaps more importantly, Sakura Matsuri is the largest one day display of Japanese culture held in the United States. It is held in April, as the climax to the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

The Japan-American Society of Washington was formed to promote friendship and understanding between Japan, and the greater D.C. area. The Society introduces all forms of Japanese culture to Washington DC audiences. The Society runs the area’s oldest and largest Japanese language school for adults. One of the Society’s major tasks is to introduce the next generation of Americans to Japan and the world beyond our shores.

The Society’s honorary chairman is my friend, Norman Mineta, former Congressman and Cabinet Secretary. This year’s Sakura Matsuri will be held on Sunday, April 13, 2013. It was first held here in 1961. The Festival attracts upwards of 140,000 visitors over a seven hour period.

The Sakura Matsuri is a family friendly festival. There are over 15 vendors of Japanese food, two beer gardens, 30 exhibitors of Japanese arts and culture, 15 vendors of Japanese products, and over 30 hours of live performances on five stages, including traditional and popular Japanese music and dance and martial arts demonstrations.

The Sakura Matsuri – Japanese Street Festival is divided into six main areas:

Taste of Japan – with restaurants selling Japanese food
The Ginza Marketplace – selling traditional Japanese products
J-POP Land – celebrating modern, youthful Japan
Performing Arts – featuring traditional Japanese music and dance
Japanese Martial Arts
Japanese Arts and Culture Exhibitions

A specific part of Sakura Matsuri appeals to me. It is the centuries old custom of picnicking under the cherry blossoms, called hanami. The custom is said to have started during the Nara Period (710-794). The Tokugawa Shogun was instrumental in planting numerous areas of cherry blossoms to encourage common people to picnic as well.

Would you believe that it is such a big deal in Japan that the Japanese Meteorological Society track the sakura zensen (cherry blossom front)?? As it moves northward with the approach of warmer weather, the nightly forecasts follow the weather segment of the evening news. The blossoms begin in the south, in Okinawa in January, and reach Tokyo and Kyoto in end of March or early April. Likewise, in the DC area, the cherry blossom watch tracks the blooming season.

The average peak bloom date is April 4, but the peak bloom date in 2012 was March 20! But it is rather difficult to predict the bloom dates much more than 10 days before peak bloom. The National Park Service monitors five distinct stages of bud development, by which they provide forecasts and updates. The problem for us on the west coast is booking air and hotel some weeks in advance.

Peak Bloom Date is defined as that period when 20 percent of the blossoms are open until the petals fall and leaves appear. The blooming period starts 14 days before the peak bloom date, and can last for as long as 14 days, unless frost, wind or rain shorten this period.

2008 Blooming Period: March 26 – April 11, 2008 17 days
2009 Blooming Period: March 28 – April 9, 2009 13 days
2010 Blooming Period: March 27 – April 5, 2010 10 days
2011 Blooming Period: March 26 – April 8, 2011 14 days
2012 Blooming Period: March 18 – March 26, 2012 9 days

This may be more than you want to know about cherry blossoms. But when you have been chasing them for as long as I have, why not. Not even a trip to Japan could quench my “thirst” to see the peak cherry blossom blooming period. This is just one more try! We have a week to see it all.

Here is the latest update from MSN (March 23, 2013):
The National Cherry Blossom Festival is opening with a weekend of family activities at the National Building Museum.
The free family days event runs Saturday and Sunday between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The museum will offer crafts and activities focused on architecture, the cherry trees and Japanese arts.
An opening ceremony for the National Cherry Blossom Festival is planned for Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Warner Theatre. The festival runs for five weeks through April 27.
The National Park Service says it expects the trees will be in full bloom between April 6 and April 8. Officials say the cold weather slowed the blossoms’ growth.
The cherry blossoms draw about 1 million visitors each spring. This year marks the 101st anniversary of the gift of trees from Japan. Actually, April 10 was the perfect day and we were there!!!