Barracks Row

I was looking around on the internet for free things to do on the weekends (other than Smithsonian's) and I stumbled on the website for the Barracks Row Fall Festival. It partners with the DC State Fair (Yes I know DC is not a state and therefore cannot have a State Fair, but its part of this whole "make DC a State" thing that is always going on here). There were lots of people selling little trinkets, clothing and jewelry and there were a lot of different food trucks and booths. There were also contests for best pickles, largest pumpkin, best pie etc... There was also a culinary competition (kind of like chopped meets iron chef) between chefs from the different military branches, a trapeze artist, a petting zoo, a person doing an ice sculpture, a bunch of games and, of course, lots of Marines. We also got the rare opportunity to take a tour of the House of the Commandant's (the Commandant is the head dude of the Marine Corps) because the house is only open for tours during the 6 hours that this festival is going on. It is the oldest continuously occupied public building in Washington DC and really is one of the city's hidden gems. It was beautiful and had so much great history. I planned on getting more pictures, but it is really hard juggling a baby and a camera. Here are the few photos I did get though.

Tiny is all ready to go out to the Fall Festival!

Jax took his first metro ride into DC. He did really really well and it was a surprisingly easy way to travel. 

We had to wake him up from the little snooze he was taking in the stroller because we had to check the stroller before going in. He was a little upset but he warmed up really fast. He even started babbling right when the Marine giving the tour asked if there were any questions. Apparently he had a few. 

I say smile for the picture and this is what I get. And this was the good picture. 

Family photo in front of the house. 

Couch in the entry way. Had to get a least one photo inside. 

Jax was a little jealous that the Commandant and his wife got to meet a Sesame Street character. 

We saw this cool little hot dog place on our walk from the metro to the festival and decided to go there on the way back home. It was super yummy and had a really fun vintage plane environment. 

Overall it was a great day, and Jax was really good the whole time. Gives me hope for a more normal life in the future.