Results tagged “birthday”

The National Zoo once again rolled out the fanfare for superstar giant panda Tai Shan this morning, as D.C.'s favorite ball of fur (and stick of butter) turned 4. Now a teenager in "bear years," the panda dug into a three-tiered, frozen "cake" made out of water, beet juice, bamboo and fruit that was prepared by Zoo staff. Crowds of onlookers were on hand early this morning to watch the panda dig in to his treat and wish him a happy birthday.

It's a big week of historical birthdays around the nation, but we'd be remiss if we failed to wish one of the D.C. area's more legendary figures a happy 191st. That said, we're blowing out candles today for Frederick Douglass, "the Lion of Anacostia." Abolitionist, ambassador, author, and an all-around American patriot, Douglass is believed to have been born on this date in 1818 in nearby Talbot County, Maryland -- though he became synonymous with the District after moving to the city in 1872, the same year in which he became the first African-American to run for the office of Vice President. The most visible local shrine to Douglass is likely his home in Cedar Hill, where he moved in 1877 and which is now known as the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site.

It was three years ago today that the National Zoo welcomed Tai Shan into the world. We fell in love immediately with the little fella, whom we named after the first press release deemed him the "size of a stick of butter." The Zoo later officially gave him a different name (despite our best efforts otherwise).