George Washington welcomes you to Tysons Corner Center
Tysons, Virginia
Last week I went out to the Plaza at Tysons Corner Center. On Tuesday the MLB All Star Game was broadcast on a large screen. On this occasion the sports talk radio station 106.7 The Fan was there to give away prizes for the Washington Nationals. Danny Rouhier emceed some of the games, and running president George Washington came to say hello!
Running president George Washington on the Plaza
Prior to this week, there was a concert stage setup right where the large TV screen was installed. Rachel Platten sang for the crowd, and this night she was now singing the National Anthem at the All Star Game! Above all, George Washington was the star of this event. Undeniably being the tallest person in the room helps to garner attention!
Washington Nationals running president greeting kids on the PlazaDanny Rouhier emcee for the MLB All Star Game event at Tysons Corner CenterGeorge Washington mascot at Tysons Corner Center Plaza
Luckily, the weather in Tysons was just as good as San Diego where the game was played!
Nancy Kerrigan at the entrance to Tysons Corner Center
An Olympian Visits
Nancy Kerrigan will likely come to mind when you think of ice skating. She made the USA proud with her efforts on the Olympic teams in 1992 and 1994. For the first holiday season that Tysons Corner Center has their Plaza open to the public, they have a large ice rink installed. To open the rink for skating to the public, they had a show featuring some area ice skaters, and Nancy Kerrigan. What a way to open this exciting new installation!
Ice Skaters with Nancy Kerrigan at Tysons Corner Center
I was inside covering other events inside the mall as I posted
about previously. So I asked a photographer Nick Tettey from JB Elliott
Photography to help me get photos of the ice show. To see his photos of the
event, you can visit the Facebook page of Tysons Corner Center. I came outside
to catch the end of the show which gave me the opportunity to see Nancy skating
live. To see a professional that has practiced performing for large crowd for most
of her life is a gift. You can tell the muscle memory she has built to do such
complicated movements and to make them look effortless.
Ice Skaters with Nancy Kerrigan at Tysons Corner CenterIce Skaters with Nancy Kerrigan at Tysons Corner Center
Meet and Greet
After their show was done, Nancy and her skaters came inside to get some nice photos together. The stage set up in the Concourse was a much better setting for photos than the very dark and cold ice skating rink setup out on the Plaza. So I setup a large strobe as high as I could get it on a light stand. From here, it was very easy to get nice photos of the group together with Nancy.
Nancy Kerrigan Meet and Greet at Tysons Corner Center
She was very generous with her time. Lots of people wanted to come up to get some selfies with her, and she did so nicely with everyone that waited to see her.
At the end of the event, Nancy took a lot of time to meet with an older gentleman that came to ask her what the event was about. In explaining all of his buttons that he wore on his jacket and hats, he said that he used to be a pilot that used to fly Air Force One! Nancy humbly told him that she used to skate for the USA. I really enjoyed seeing her interaction with him and how she succinctly summarized her amazing career!
Nancy Kerrigan Meet and Greet at Tysons Corner Center
Back in February, I covered and appearance by Karl Alzner at Tysons Corner Center. He is a defenseman for the Washington Capitals. If you are not familiar, the Capitals are the professional hockey team based in Washington DC, and Alzner has been a standout player for the team since he joined them in 2008.
Karl Alzner Meet and Greet at Tysons Corner Center
Of all the professional sports teams in the DC area, it is a popular opinion that the Capitals are the team that is closest to winning a Championship. Although the did not make the playoffs in 2014, they have made it every year since 2008 reaching the conference semi-finals 3 times. It is a popular chant in the arena to ‘Rock The Red’ so the Concourse at Tysons Corner Center was decked out with red.
Washington Capitals Meet and Greet at Tysons Corner CenterWashington Capitals Meet and Greet at Tysons Corner Center
Karl greeted a lot of fans young and old. He signed autographs for a line of people that came prepared with memorabilia, shirts, pucks, for him to add his signature. While he was there, and they had the gear, he watched people take some shots at an inflatable goal setup. He gave tips to help some people make better shots through the back of the net. He was very patient and took a lot of time with those that came out to see him.
Karl Alzner skills challenge
Hockey shooting drill on the Concourse
There were other notable people that were in attendance. Grant Paulsen from 106.7 the Fan radio station was there to emcee the event. Being a host of a daily sports radio show made him a perfect person to keep the crowd entertained. Slapshot, the Eagle mascot of the Capitals was also there! He even put on some skate to take a few turn around the ice rink out on the Plaza!
Slapshot on the Plaza ice rink at Tysons Corner CenterGrant Paulsen directing the showSlapshot and the Red Rockers at Tysons Corner Center
