Jon Rochetti: Hi Everyone: I’m Jon, the PlanetEye Traveler writer who covers the Washington, DC area, formerly the writer of The DC Traveler. Besides writing about all the fun and different things to do in and around Washington, DC, I’m also a marketing consultant, and a photographer (many of the photos used on my posts were taken by me and are available for sale or licensing). I'm also a home gourmet chef and avid biker and scuba diver. Plus, I love to travel, explore and take advantage of all the great things to do in Washington, DC. I love exploring places in and around the District of Columbia, ranging from local neighborhood mom & pop ethnic restaurants to museums, galleries, places of interest and more. I also love history and art, love touring museums, enjoy architecture, great food, and the Arts. Have a comment, suggestion or story idea? Feel free to e-mail me. Some of my favorite places around Washington, DC are at the Jefferson Memorial, my deck at sunset, the Smithsonian museums (all of them) especially the National Gallery of Art and the National Air & Space museum, perhaps a fun Latin dance club for a little Salsa dancing, Zaytinya or Bambule for tapas, riding my bike on the National Mall or along the Potomac River in the summer, and the National Arboretum just about any time of the year. Outside of DC, I love scuba diving in Belize, relaxing on the island of Santorini in Greece, sitting at a cafe in Rome, visiting Chicago and seeing a Cubs game at Wrigley Field (my home town), and spending time with family in Sonoma County and the Napa Valley (my home away from home). I’m also a marketing and branding consultant with over 25 years of consumer and b2b marketing experience. Most of my clients are household names or in the Fortune 500. Washington, DC is such a wonderful town, full of rich culture, a great history, and events of all types happening all the time. And then there’s the food and festivals…so there’s always something interesting to tell you about. I'll consistently try to provide all the information you’ll need for a visit to one of the Washington, DC’s many attractions, the best in the local music scene, plays and artistic performances, museums, great parks and outdoor recreation, fun things to do on a date, as well as family-friendly activities, shopping, places to eat, drink, and stay, or just relax and have some fun. So if you love all that Washington, DC has to offer – from the Smithsonian museums to weekend get-aways in DC or around Virginia, Maryland and beyond, then the PlanetEye Traveler is here for you. With new ideas and posts almost every day, please us a daily website destination and tell your friends about us. And thanks very much for stopping by. Jon ___________________________________________________

Washington Nationals Home Opener April 5th

A three-game home stand versus the Philadelphia Phillies kicks off the Washington Nationals 2010 MLB baseball season in Washington DC on Monday, April 5th, 2010. And while tickets for the Nats opening day may be tough to find, tickets for the next two home games on Wednesday and Thursday are still available. Last...

March 12th, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

The Greatest Show on Earth is in DC

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus was first called the “Greatest Show on Earth” after the two circuses merged in 1907. And today, Zing Zang Zoom, the latest show from RBB&BC, is a magical version of the “Greatest Show on Earth” led by Zingmaster Alex. ...

March 10th, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

2 Big St. Patrick’s Day Parades in DC

Take in two big annual St. Patrick’s Day Parades in Washington DC and Alexandria, Virginia over the St. Pat’s Day weekend. Alexandria, Virginia Saint Patrick’s Day Parade It’s a full day of fun with not just a big St’ Patty’s Day parade, but also a classic car show featuring 50 antique...

March 8th, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

DC Cherry Trees to Peak Early April

With over 56 inches of snow snow this season, the winter in Washingotn DC was one for the record books. But even with all the snow and freezing temps, the National Parks Service estimates that the cherry trees around the Tidal Basin and National Mall will be in bloom during the first 11 days of April. ...

March 7th, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

New AeroTrain Makes Dulles Travel Delightful

After years of requiring Washington Dulles International Airport travelers to ride on strange looking 1960s-era “mobile lounges” to get to virtually all of the airport’s gates, AeroTrain, the new underground airport people-moving train system, opened in late January simplifying passenger transit. The...

March 5th, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

Top Ten Tips for DC’s Cherry Blossom Festival

The most anticipated event during Washington DC’s annual Cherry Blossom Festival is the blooming of the Cherry Trees around the Tidal Basin and the National Mall. Over the past two decades, peak blooming periods have ranged from as early as March 17th in 2000 to as late as April 11th in 1992. Although...

March 1st, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at Shamrock Fest

In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day, green beer drinking partiers will be taking over the festival grounds at Washington DC’s RFK Stadium for the annual Shamrock Fest 2010. Shamrock Fest is the largest Saint Patrick’s Day festival in the Mid-Atlantic Region, and this year it features 40+ live bands...

February 26th, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

Cherry Inspired Food at the Pink Tie Party

Grab your tux, complete with a pink tie or your favorite pink cocktail dress, for one of Washington DC’s Cherry Blossom Festival’s major events, the annual Pink Tie Party gala at the W Hotel downtown. This year, the party is hosted by celebrated chef and restaurateur Charlie Palmer, who will...

February 24th, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

Capital Home & Garden Show

With over 500 exhibit, the Capital Home & Garden Show is a do-it-yourselfer’s dream show. Hundreds of vendors, suppliers and contractors, from all aspects of the home building and home-improvement industry, will be on hand to showcase their products, capabilities and assist in completing your...

February 21st, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

Celebrate the Year of the Tiger in DC

No, I’m not talking about the latest Tiger Woods apology or another of Wood’s mistresses coming forward, but about the annual Chinese Lunar New Year celebration and parade in Washington, DC. Chinese New Year, being the year 4708 and the year of the tiger, was celebrated on February 14th, with the...

February 19th, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

Murderous Barber Sweeney Todd Slices into DC

The musical play Sweeney Todd, now playing at Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia, is a lavish, robust and powerful production of this classic horror story with gothic gore, mass-murder, revenge, obsession and romantic melodrama. With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the production features...

February 18th, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

Nine Presidents Visit Madame Tussauds in DC

Today in Washington, DC, Madame Tussauds announced the opening of a new US Presidential wax figure gallery which will include all 44 US Presidents. I will be the only exhibit of its kind in the world once completed in Fall of 2010. The exhibit will regularly add to it’s current collect of presidential...

February 16th, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

Enjoy Great International Food at the Embassy Cook Off

Join nine embassy chefs as they cook and compete for honors at the second annual Embassy Chef Challenge in Washington, DC, at a gala fundraising event next month. This year, nine embassy chefs will be participating and creating a sampling of their most impressive appetizers, main courses and desserts...

February 14th, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

Top 5 Sports Bars in DC to Watch the Winter Olympics

With the 2010 Winter Olympics starting in Vancouver today, here’s my list of five great sports bars in Washington, DC to watch the all your favorite Olympians go for the gold. ESPN Zone 555 12th Street, NW Washington, DC 20004 (map it) The Mac-Daddy of sports bars, the DC ESPN Zone location has been...

February 12th, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

The DC Heart Ball Helps Find a Cure for Heart Disease

The annual DC Heart Ball is one of Washington, DC’s premier black-tie social events. The 2009 Heart Ball national campaign raised over $51 million to support the American Heart Association (AHA) and this year’s event in the District is expected to raise over $2 million. The money raised will support...

February 11th, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

Winter Wonderland Hits Washington DC Hard

Over the weekend, the Washington, DC area was spanked with a massive snowstorm that brought traffic and public transportation to a halt, shut businesses across the region and made staying home the preferred activity of the weekend. At some times over the weekend, snow was falling faster than 2 inches...

February 8th, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

Harvey Fierstein in Fiddler on the Roof

Four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein is reprising his Broadway role as Tevye, the comic milkman in the Tony Award-winning Jerome Robbins-inspired musical, Fiddler on the Roof, at National Theatre in Washington, DC starting next month. Set in Tsarist Russia in 1905, the story centers on the philosophical...

February 4th, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

Wacky Lawn Sculptures from Junk

An easy half-day trip from downtown San Francisco, through the farming country of Sonoma County, just north on the 101, is the cherming town of Sebastopol and it’s 7,700 residents. Scattered around town, in front of homes and businesses, you can find a collection of some very interesting...

February 4th, 2010 | San Francisco | Read More

Romantic Valentines Day Potomac River Cruises

This Valentine’s Day, surprise your special someone with a three-hour romantic trip down the Potomac River on a Valentine’s Day dinner or brunch cruise. There are two options over the Valentine’s Day weekend (February 12-14, 2010), the Odyssey or the Spirit of Washington, both operating...

February 2nd, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More

Sultry Singer Norah Jones

Norah Jones has become a jazz superstar and she’ll be performing one show at the Warner Theatre in Washington, DC, the first weekend of April. Her 2002 debut album on the Blue Note label, Come Away with Me, was an instant hit in the adult contemporary jazz genre and won the singer 5 Grammy awards,...

February 1st, 2010 | Washington DC | Read More