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Washington Post
2 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
No eaglets this time for D.C.'s most famous bald eagle couple
D.C.'s most famous winged couple — two bald eagles — were left with an empty nest this spring, disappointing those who had hoped to see them produce eaglets. Mr. President and Lotus — short for Lady of the United States — previously had several years of successful egg laying and hatching at a nest about 70 feet up in a white oak tree on the sprawling grounds of the U.S. National Arboretum in Northeast Washington. This spring, experts thought Mama Lotus had laid at least one egg, and maybe two, and eaglets were expected to hatch in early April. But recently, after observing the eagle pair for weeks, the city's wildlife biologist, Dan Rauch, declared they had produced no offspring this season. He couldn't say definitively what happened to the eggs or possible eaglets that hatched. 'It's all unknown,' said Rauch. 'Everything seemed to be working fine. They seemed to be good, just as they had in the past. It is just a big mystery.' Some possibilities: A raccoon could have gotten into the nest and eaten the eaglets. An owl or a hawk may have swooped in and gotten a chick when the parents were out of the nest gathering food. Or the egg (or eggs) simply didn't hatch. Typically, experts do an annual 'eagle flyover' in a helicopter for a bird's-eye view of the nest, which overlooks the Langston Golf Course, to try to learn more. But after the fatal midair collision of a commercial airplane and a helicopter in January at Reagan National Airport, there have been restrictions on helicopters in the area, and experts weren't able to do the flyover. Plus, there's no longer a 24-hour live feed from a web camera in a tree near the nest to give wildlife lovers and experts a close-up view. Rauch has done his observations and analysis from the ground using a lens scope and binoculars. He's found the best position to see the eagle pair is along the tee box of the golf course's 15th hole. Earlier this spring, there were signs the pair appeared to be tending to a nest. Bald eagles have a 34- to 36-day gestation period. At one point, Rauch said, he noticed Lotus was 'sitting up higher in the nest,' presumably covering chicks that had possibly hatched. A few times, he saw Mr. President, also known as Mr. P, and Lotus flying together — a good sign they were tending to the nest and possible eaglets. But a few weeks later, there were no signs of the parents at the nest. Eventually, he noticed a new eagle, possibly a 4-year-old female, that should not have been in the nest pop its head up. 'At that point,' Rauch said, 'all signs were that the nest had failed.' The 4-year-old, Rauch said, was probably passing through the area and stopped at the nest. Rauch said he saw Mr. President in mid-May at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, not far from the nest at the arboretum. He was trying to steal fish from ospreys. 'He'd harass them in hopes of a dropped catch,' Rauch said. As for Lotus, he hasn't seen her in weeks. Bald eagles have made a hugely successful comeback across the country and in the D.C. region due to several factors: bans on pesticides, the passage of the Endangered Species Act in the 1970s, improvements to their habitats, and clean air and water efforts. Nationally, there were 71,000 breeding pairs of bald eagles in the Lower 48 based on data from 2018 to 2019 — a major comeback from the 1960s, when there were fewer than 500 breeding pairs, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Bald eagles were removed from the endangered species list in 2007, but they remain protected under several federal laws. The bald eagle officially became the national bird last December when President Joe Biden signed a bill. In the D.C. region, Rauch said this spring there were 23 other active bald eagle nests. One nest, located at the northern end of Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve in Alexandria, Virginia, had three eaglets hatch this year, Rauch said, making it the third year in a row there were triplets at the nest. At the arboretum, Mr. President has quite a legacy. He and his original partner — First Lady — met in December 2013 and built a nest that winter near the arboretum's azalea garden. It marked the first time a bald eagle pair had set up a nest at the arboretum in more than 60 years. Experts said bald eagles have adapted to downtown areas like D.C. and become more equipped to handle noise and air traffic. Mr. President and First Lady had their first eaglet in 2014 and went on to have a total of eight hatch. They had their last chick in 2018, and it later died of West Nile virus. Bald eagles typically mate for life as long as they're successful having eaglets together. But if there's a problem, they're known to switch up and find new partners. Mr. President's relationship with First Lady became rough after they failed to produce more offspring. First Lady would take off in warmer months and come back in the fall. During one of her trips away, Mr. President had other female suitors in the nest. At times, First Lady would chase off her mate's suitors with her 'talons out,' flying toward the nest at 50 to 60 mph, Rauch said. The two reconciled, but she laid no more eggs. Then on Valentine's Day 2022, she flew the coop for good. The next day, Lotus moved in. About two years ago, the pair moved to a new nest overlooking the golf course, about a mile as the eagle flies from their old nest. Experts decided not to install another camera at their new abode, which is in a more secluded, wooded area of the arboretum. Lotus is now 8 years old, and Mr. P is believed to be 16 or 17 — a bit on the older side for bald eagles, which typically live to be about 20, Rauch said. 'I'll be looking to see if I can find them together again,' he said. 'Hopefully, they try again next year.'
Axios
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Your D.C. Weekend: Mother's Day, spring festivals and EU Open House
It's Mother's Day weekend, and we found fun activities beyond the typical brunch that moms, mom figures, aunties, and friends can all enjoy. State of play: It's peak spring festival season, and even if you're not celebrating Mother's Day, there are some lovely outdoor events to attend. Potomac Bonsai Festival | National Arboretum Lil' tree enthusiasts can head to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum in Northeast D.C. (Fri-Sun) for exhibits, free demos and interactive workshops, kids activities and a marketplace. All levels welcome (schedule here). Fine Day Fair Home & Garden Show | Chevy Chase, MD Shop hundreds of curated and vintage goods and gifts at this European-inspired brocade fair that started in New York (Sat-Sun, 9am-4pm). Tickets starting $25 (kids under 16 are free). Books in Bloom Festival | Columbia, MD The free outdoor book festival (Sat, 10am-4pm) at Color Burst Park features top storytellers from around the country like Kwame Alexander, Eric Puchner, and Laurie Frankel, plus a family-friendly reading garden, outdoor bookstore, flower shop, wine bar, and light bites. Takoma Flea and Porch Fest |Takoma Park A free afternoon of shopping and music awaits in quaint Takoma, MD. A vintage market (Sat, 10am-4pm) takes over Grant Avenue with fashion, home goods, records and more. Musicians set up around the neighborhood (Sat, 2-6pm) playing jazz, bluegrass, cover rock and beyond. Mother's Day Weekend Garden Party | The Roost The Capitol Hill food hall hosts a free Saturday soiree (11am) inspired by elegant tea parties. Pinkies up with Buzz pastry trays ($35) and floral-infused tea pots ($6), alongside the Roost's regular offerings. More fun things to do this weekend: 🚗 Union Market Drive-In: It's back for the 13th season (Fri, 7:25pm lot opening, 8:20pm start) with a screening of "Sister Act." Advance parking tickets recommended ($20). 🇪🇺 EU Open House: Over 20 European embassies, delegations and cultural centers open their doors (Sat, 10am-4pm) with live music, cultural experiences, food and drink, and more. It's free, but IDs may be required, and bags are discouraged. 🍻 Maryland Craft Beer Festival: Over 200 brews from dozens of crafters are featured at the suds-filled festival in Frederick (Sat, 12-5pm). Tickets start at $45. 🗣️ Language Science Fair workshop on Sunday.
New York Times
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
They Fell in Love One Bite at a Time
When Elizabeth Nan Rasmussen met David Maynard Amini at a party hosted by the magazine Edible DC, she knew instantly that she needed him in her life, just not necessarily as a boyfriend. Their mutual friend AJ Dronkers, the magazine's associate publisher at the time, introduced them, but Ms. Rasmussen, who goes by Libby, wasn't looking to be set up on that evening in the spring of 2017. 'Initially, I was like: 'I'm really interested in being your friend. You're really cool. I need to have you in my orbit,'' she said. Mr. Amini, on the other hand, was interested in more. 'I feel fulfilled just by being near her and her excitement,' he said. At the time, Ms. Rasmussen, now 34, worked in event planning and was building her online presence as a content creator about town. Mr. Amini, also 34, worked as a baker at Ellē in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood of Washington. Their shared love of food brought them closer, and they started hanging out at food events and sharing recipes. When Ms. Rasmussen found out his 27th birthday was coming up, she told Mr. Amini she was taking him out. They shared treats at Seylou Bakery, and she had him write down 28 things he wanted to accomplish before he turned 28, a birthday ritual Ms. Rasmussen holds for herself. Then they took a stroll around the National Arboretum in Washington. They later came to view that day as their first date. The time they spent cooking and eating together were formative in the early days of their budding romance. Ms. Rasmussen knew things were serious when Mr. Amini, who typically baked on his own, invited her to make croissants with him. Croissants are famously complex to make and can take hours. The two made them on a snowy winter morning and Ms. Rasmussen said she realized he must really like her to commit to such an undertaking. 'Seeing someone make croissants, have the patience and the perfectionism, but also enjoying the mess of it all,' she said, 'felt really special.' Not too long after, at a cheese party with friends, Mr. Amini pulled Ms. Rasmussen aside and said, 'I just have to tell you I love you.' Though they met in D.C., the two came from different worlds. Ms. Rasmussen grew up in Oshkosh, Wis., where she rode horses, visited antique malls with her parents, Kathleen Rasmussen, a psychotherapist, and Jeffrey Rasmussen, a plumber, and attended Harley-Davidson bike nights with her older brother, Zach. For Mr. Amini, a mall was a building with PacSun and Sharper Image. He and his younger sister, Elizabeth, grew up in Mt. Pleasant, where their father, also named David Amini, worked for the State Department and coached youth soccer, and their mother, Jocelyn Amini, was a nurse. Ms. Rasmussen left the Midwest to earn a bachelor's degree in political science at American University in Washington and planned on becoming a lawyer. Right before law school, however, she began assisting with events — including ones planned by Evoke Design & Creative, who planned her wedding years later — and decided she didn't want to pursue law after all. 'I realized there are more options and I didn't want to be stuck in a career that I would have to be in the rest of my life,' Ms. Rasmussen said. Among her endeavors was a disco ball business, and during the pandemic she channeled her love of vintage into a reselling business with porch pickups. Now she owns Vintage Vintage Vintage, a store in D.C.'s Union Market District with 20 vendors. Binge more Vows columns here and read all our wedding, relationship and divorce coverage here. Mr. Amini earned a bachelor's in anthropology with a minor in social entrepreneurship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and when he came back home after graduating, he wasn't quite sure what to do. So he gave baking at Ellē a try — coincidentally, his mother had worked for the building's previous tenant, Heller's Bakery, in her youth — which he enjoyed until the pandemic rocked the restaurant industry. Leaving the bakery behind, he followed in his father's footsteps and became a program analyst at the State Department, where he currently works with embassies in the Middle East. When they first started dating, weekends meant different things to them. Ms. Rasmussen filled hers with antique hunting while Mr. Amini went bird-watching with seniors. Over time, their interests aligned and even Mr. Amini now appreciates shopping for vintage, especially having shopped with her family in Midwestern antique malls. 'She really opened my eyes to older things and the pleasure of finding those treasures,' he said. After living with roommates her whole adult life, Ms. Rasmussen was ready for her own space. In 2019, she got a heads-up from Mr. Amini that a one-bedroom apartment in Mt. Pleasant was available. It checked all her boxes and was close to him, so she took it sight unseen. Two years later, the couple moved in together, and suddenly the apartment felt a little too cozy. 'It was a challenge having that limited amount of space, especially given the limitations that were imposed by Covid regulations at the time,' Mr. Amini said. But they worked through the adjustment period and found ways to make it work, like planting a garden on the fire escape. 'For me, that was a really great place to spend a lot of time to get fresh air and give space to Libby, too,' he said. It taught them how to be nimble, which is 'something we'll take into our marriage,' he added. In October 2023, Mr. Amini recreated their first date: a bite at Seylou Bakery and a stroll around the National Arboretum. Only this time, he proposed to Ms. Rasmussen in the bonsai section with a 100-year-old toi et moi ring they had chosen together. Ms. Rasmussen and Mr. Amini knew they wanted to get married in the woods of Serenbe, an upscale planned community outside of Atlanta in Chattahoochee Hills, Ga., where her parents live. The date was set for Saturday, May 3, but with a storm on its way, they made the day-of decision to hold their ceremony on Friday, May 2. The bride wore her mother's 1983 Carolina Herrera dress, the groom a black suit with jewels designed by Bode. Ms. Rasmussen's uncle, Curt Drexler, a nondenominational pastor who retired from Christ the Rock Community Church in Menasha, Wis., officiated. At the reception, which was held the next day, friends spoke of how the ceremony glowed at sunset. If the ceremony was for weeping, the reception was for revelry. Guests sipped brandy old-fashioneds at the cocktail hour (a nod to her Wisconsin roots) in a field, as horses grazed in the distance, while Tom Ellis of the Hudson Valley-based Swell Party prepared a feast over an open flame. For dinner, held under a pavilion, 85 guests were seated at two communal tables adorned with green hydrangeas and bells-of-Ireland. As soon as the roasted beet salad hit the table, the storm rushed in. The crowd cheered when the brightest lightning bolts cracked outside the pavilion. Cedar Hill, a bluegrass band from Atlanta, played twangy rock covers, but it was 'I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow,' famously sung in the film 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?,' that the entire party dancing in a conga line around the tables. Mr. Amini reflected on the weekend in an impromptu speech at the end of the evening. 'The Japanese have a phrase, 'ichi-go ichi-e,' which basically means that every moment is unique and won't happen again,' he said. 'The likelihood of all these people being together again is very low, so we should all enjoy ourselves.' When May 2 and 3, 2025 Where Serenbe, Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia Something custom For the reception, Ms. Rasmussen wore a custom veil by Emily Adams Bode Aujla of the brand Bode. 'She has never done one before, which is very, very cool,' Ms. Rasmussen said. For the after party, Mr. Amini wore a shirt made out of a tablecloth crafted by Fei Mancho, a vendor at Ms. Rasmussen's store. Vintage touches Leading up to the wedding, Ms. Rasmussen sourced vintage shrimp cocktail forks for the wedding as well as other vintage silver pieces. 'Mom and I have been polishing lots of silver leading up to the wedding,' she said. Personal details Ms. Rasmussen's father built a riser for the couple to stand on for the ceremony, and they surrounded it in white gladiolus, a tribute to her late grandparents. The couple also participated in a Persian Sofreh Aghd ceremony, in which they shared honey to honor Mr. Amini's heritage. Many layers After baking a Ukrainian medovik cake, made with burned honey, the couple knew they wanted to serve it at their wedding. They found a Ukrainian-owned bakery, the Cake House, in nearby Newnan, Ga., which made them a four-foot-long cake. Ms. Rasmussen's best friend decorated the cake with edible flowers.
