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The whiskey booth was popular at the British EmbassyOpen House.
The British Embassy was popular with the crowds at the European Union Open House in Washington, D.C., as over 6,000 visitors streamed through the gates to visit the displays and the gardens.
Naturally, with the number of Brits and their descendents living in the area, and the close ties between the U.S.A. and the U.K., it is a large embassy. They went all out to create an outdoor festival atmosphere designed to help visitors learn more about the UK, and to encourage tourism.
The Famous Grouse Whiskey being offered, either straight and pure, the way I like it, or with ginger ale over ice, which, I guess, is also a way I like it, certainly cheered up the visitors. There were plenty of bottles of cool water.
The extensive gardens are lovely for an afternoon stroll, with rolling lawns, flowers, and benches placed for resting and enjoying the day. There is a red British telephone booth for decoration, which was enjoyed by cheerful teenagers seeing how many people they could cram into it.
The ambassador’s house, at 3100 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C., is the only house in America designed by Sir Edwin Lutyen. It was built in the late 1920s and became the British Ambassador’s residence in 1930. The British Embassy was the first to build on what would later become Embassy Row.
There was definitely a green theme to the day. Materials were available to encourage saving energy and saving water, and a fact sheet to explain the bigger picture of climate change as it relates to the UK. An electric Mini was parked in the driveway.
Additional Note: Wales will be the featured nation at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in June and July 2009, and many other events are planned to coincide. Wales is known as “The Land of Song” so music will be a big part of the summer events.
Links to other articles about embassies:
Embassy of Portugal
Embassy of Luxembourg
Embassies of European Union members Open House
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