Historical Tours

The Valentine's Day Lovers Tour of Lafayette Square DC! Wednesday, Feb. 14, 3:30 pm! A special Lovers Day history walking tour of America’s most esteemed park, Lafayette Square, and its environs!! In keeping with the spirit of the day, we’ll focus on fun, romantic, or uplifting stories about the Square’s many heroes and heroines, and inspiring events. As well as some rogues, Lotharios, and femme fatales. MEET outside the OAS building, 200 17th St NW, D.C. Corner of 17th St. and Constitution Ave. PrePay and Pre-Register at-- PayPal, sending $21 to via: [https://www.paypal.com/us/home](https://www.paypal.com/us/home) Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/valentines-day-lovers-tour-of-lafayette-square-dc-feb-14-tickets-1982883413668?aff=oddtdtcreator Or pay $21 in cash at the start of the tour. About 2 hours in length. The tour will draw on stories from the guide’s book, The White House’s Unruly Neighborhood: [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-white-houses-unruly-neighborhood-edward-p-moser/1131103788;jsessionid=038717C145FB853CCBDEDDA8A59A0DA0.prodny_store01-atgap13?ean=9781476674865](https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-white-houses-unruly-neighborhood-edward-p-moser/1131103788;jsessionid=038717C145FB853CCBDEDDA8A59A0DA0.prodny_store01-atgap13?ean=9781476674865) Our fun itinerary will select from: • The “miracle mansion” that saved the Mayor’s sister • The future President who saved the lives of millions • The pedestrian who saved the President from death • How an enslaved grocer founded a family dynasty that ended segregation • How an intrepid First Lady saved the Constitution and the Declaration • The hilarious political fundraiser that gave us the terms “Big Cheese” and “Mammoth” • How a Congressman averted a Civil War • The love of country of the ghosts of St. John’s Church • How heartbreak created America's most influential soldier • How the Marquis de Lafayette saved a President, and how three Presidents saved Lafayette! • The astonishing, friendly bet between a Navy hero and an enemy captain • Where “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah” was written • Where “I Have a Dream” was written • The real-life Indiana Jones • The First Lady who saved Lafayette Square • The wildest, most fun Inauguration of them all • A famed author’s moving tribute to his deceased wife • America’s greatest caregiver • How Southerners and Northerners conspired to save Mt. Vernon • When a woman's love of freedom ended segregation • How a humble washerwoman helped rebuild the District after the War of 1812 • Presidential humor And more! Your host is a former Presidential speechwriter and “Tonight Show” writer, and author of such books on history as: Lost History of the Capitol: [https://www.amazon.com/Lost-History-Capitol-Tumultuous-Congress-ebook/dp/B099JBSN9Q](https://www.amazon.com/Lost-History-Capitol-Tumultuous-Congress-ebook/dp/B099JBSN9Q) Alexandria Mystery: [https://www.amazon.com/OLD-TOWN-HORROR-Americas-Historic-ebook/dp/B0BX27RWYG](https://www.amazon.com/OLD-TOWN-HORROR-Americas-Historic-ebook/dp/B0BX27RWYG) Spy Thriller: [https://www.amazon.com/Femme-Fatalit](https://www.amazon.com/Femme-Fatalit)é-Lizzy-Thorne-Novel/dp/B0F5QN7PNC/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0 America A to Z: [http://www.amazon.com/Patriots-America-Things-American-Should-ebook/dp/B00655SO9S/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1415975803](http://www.amazon.com/Patriots-America-Things-American-Should-ebook/dp/B00655SO9S/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1415975803) Celebrate Lover's Day with the historic loves of President's Park! There are many restaurants downtown for dining afterwards.

[Profs and Pints Northern Virginia](https://www.profsandpints.com/washingtondc) presents: **“The Hidden Cleopatra,”** an excavation through myth and slander to uncover the real Egyptian queen, with Jacquelyn Williamson, an Egyptologist and associate professor of archaeology and ancient art at George Mason University. [Advance tickets: $13.50 plus sales tax and processing fees. Available at [https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/hidden-cleopatra](https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/profsandpints/hidden-cleopatra) .] Depictions of Cleopatra are abundant in popular culture. A long list of painters have depicted her, Marilyn Monroe and Kim Kardashian have posed as her, and Vivien Leigh and Elizabeth Taylor famously portrayed her in Hollywood films. At the end of the day, however, what most of us think we know about Cleopatra is wrong, the product of the ancient Rome’s “fake news” and anti-Egypt propaganda. Learn about the real Cleopatra—and how our understanding of her came to be so distorted—with Professor Jacquelyn Williamson, scholar of women and power in ancient Egypt, teacher of courses on ancient Egyptian art and archaeology, and author of *Nefertiti’s Sun Temple: A New Cult Complex at Tell el-Amarna.* Dr. Williamson will walk us through how the first Roman emperor, Octavian, created the distorted image of Cleopatra as seductress that we know today as part of his political scheming to defeat his rival Antony and end the Roman Republic once and for all. Cleopatra has been the subject of debate and controversy ever since. William Shakespeare later relied on ancient Roman sources such as Horace and Plutarch in writing *Antony and Cleopatra*, and his play helped give rise to countless other works offering a distorted picture of her. Professor Williamson argues that “Cleopatra was a human being, like you and I,” and “deserves the dignity of being represented as accurately as possible.” Her efforts to set the record straight have met frustration, however—after being extensively interviewed for the recent Netflix historical docuseries Queen Cleopatra, she concluded that it, too, had missed the mark. You’ll gain a much deeper appreciation of the challenges of researching and accurately depicting the ancient past from Dr. Williamson, who also has taught at Harvard, Brandeis, and the University of California at Berkeley and is involved with an ongoing archaeological investigation of Queen Nefertiti’s sun temple. (Doors: $17, or $15 with a student ID. Listed time is for doors. Talk starts 30 minutes later.) Image: Layla Taj portrays Cleopatra VII as part of an Egyptian Cultural Performing Arts Society production. (Photo by Amos Gvili / Wikimedia Commons.)

The Valentine's Day Lovers Tour of Lafayette Square DC! Wednesday, Feb. 14, 3:30 pm! A special Lovers Day history walking tour of America’s most esteemed park, Lafayette Square, and its environs!! In keeping with the spirit of the day, we’ll focus on fun, romantic, or uplifting stories about the Square’s many heroes and heroines, and inspiring events. As well as some rogues, Lotharios, and femme fatales. MEET outside the OAS building, 200 17th St NW, D.C. Corner of 17th St. and Constitution Ave. PrePay and Pre-Register at-- PayPal, sending $21 to via: https://www.paypal.com/us/home Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/valentines-day-lovers-tour-of-lafayette-square-dc-feb-14-tickets-1982883413668?aff=oddtdtcreator Or pay $21 in cash at the start of the tour. About 2 hours in length. The tour will draw on stories from the guide’s book, The White House’s Unruly Neighborhood: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-white-houses-unruly-neighborhood-edward-p-moser/1131103788;jsessionid=038717C145FB853CCBDEDDA8A59A0DA0.prodny_store01-atgap13?ean=9781476674865 Our fun itinerary will select from: • The “miracle mansion” that saved the Mayor’s sister • The future President who saved the lives of millions • The pedestrian who saved the President from death • How an enslaved grocer founded a family dynasty that ended segregation • How an intrepid First Lady saved the Constitution and the Declaration • The hilarious political fundraiser that gave us the terms “Big Cheese” and “Mammoth” • How a Congressman averted a Civil War • The love of country of the ghosts of St. John’s Church • How heartbreak created America's most influential soldier • How the Marquis de Lafayette saved a President, and how three Presidents saved Lafayette! • The astonishing, friendly bet between a Navy hero and an enemy captain • Where “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah” was written • Where “I Have a Dream” was written • The real-life Indiana Jones • The First Lady who saved Lafayette Square • The wildest, most fun Inauguration of them all • A famed author’s moving tribute to his deceased wife • America’s greatest caregiver • How Southerners and Northerners conspired to save Mt. Vernon • When a woman's love of freedom ended segregation • How a humble washerwoman helped rebuild the District after the War of 1812 • Presidential humor And more! Your host is a former Presidential speechwriter and “Tonight Show” writer, and author of such books on history as: Lost History of the Capitol: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-History-Capitol-Tumultuous-Congress-ebook/dp/B099JBSN9Q Alexandria Mystery: https://www.amazon.com/OLD-TOWN-HORROR-Americas-Historic-ebook/dp/B0BX27RWYG Spy Thriller: https://www.amazon.com/Femme-Fatalité-Lizzy-Thorne-Novel/dp/B0F5QN7PNC/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0 America A to Z: http://www.amazon.com/Patriots-America-Things-American-Should-ebook/dp/B00655SO9S/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-1&qid=1415975803 Celebrate Lover's Day with the historic loves of President's Park! There are many restaurants downtown for dining afterwards.

**Gaze at the Northern Lights, enjoy a sleigh ride, be a reindeer herder for a day, learn about the Sámi culture, visit an ice hotel, taste some good Scandinavian delicacies, visit the ABBA museum...My, oh my! These are just some of the fun activities we are planning to do during this once-in-a-life time adventure!** Like all our adventures, this one is crafted from the ground up with the true spirit of Meetup in mind. We handle every little detail before and during the trip, accompany and guide the group, creating a stress-free journey with a laid-back, friendly vibe. No big tour operators, no inflated prices — we work directly with locals to give you authentic experiences and unbeatable value. Come as strangers, leave as lifelong friends — and make memories that stick forever! ***We visit:*** * Stockholm * Kiruna (Lapland) * Helsinki * Copenhagen (optional pre-trip) ***The trip includes:*** \* 2 nights in Stockholm \* A night train from Stockholm to Lapland in a private sleeping compartment \* 4 nights in Kiruna \* 3 nights in Helsinki \* Airfare from Kiruna to Helsinki \* Arrival and departure transfers \* Sightseeing tours in Stockholm and Helsinki \* Boat ride in Stockholm \* Food tasting in Helsinki \* Breakfast daily \* 2 dinners and 3 lunches \* Northern Lights Tour \* Jukkasjärvi Icehotel Half-Day Tour \* Full-Day Reindeer Tour \* Husky Sleigh Ride **Price per person, double occupancy: $4995** (we match roommates for those wishing to share) **Price for single room: $6545** ***Not Included:*** x Transatlantic Airfare (we can help you arrange that) x Meals not listed above x Tips and any personal and incidental expenses x Optional extension to Copenhagen **The only way to secure your spot is a $500 deposit** **[Click Here for Secure Deposit Link](https://www.paypal.com/instantcommerce/checkout/TL3CB3BJL7MNA)** **Deposit is refundable up to 90 days before the departure (less PayPal fees).\*\*\* Final payment due 60 days before departure\*\*\*** ***[Click Here](https://forms.gle/MqXy8zWAB6pv2dW37)***[ and Fill out this Form if you are making a Deposit](https://forms.gle/MqXy8zWAB6pv2dW37) For a detailed Day By Day itinerary: **[Click Here](https://forms.gle/cQdqYw74gAYqphXX8)**[ to fill out our info request form](https://forms.gle/cQdqYw74gAYqphXX8) Limited capacity of 16 total. This trip will fill up extremely quickly. **\*\*\*Airfare from/to the US not included\*\*\*** **OPTIONAL PRE-TRIP TO COPENHAGEN offered at $590 per person/double or $785 solo occupancy (air from Helsinki to Copenhagen not included)** ***[Click Here](https://secure.meetup.com/messages/?new_convo=true&member_id=131297062)***[ to Message Direct to Anna with any questions including airfare quotes.](https://secure.meetup.com/messages/?new_convo=true&member_id=131297062) She can help you arrange the airfare and answer any logistics questions. [Click Here to see all our other fun events](https://www.meetup.com/CulturalArts/Events) SOT 2000318-10