Turkish Festival celebrates on Pennsylvania Avenue

At the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue, it was possible to be someone else. The Washington City Paper says it's"the best cultural festival in D.C."/Photo by Patricia Leslie

At the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue.  If you can't go to Turkey, why not let Turkey come to you?/Photo by Patricia Leslie

What is $20 for a fortune telling session to find out the outcome of the November 4 general election a month ahead?/Photo by Patricia Leslie

These dancers from the Yeditepe University Folklore Club are ready to show off their talents at the Turkish Festival Sunday but first, a pose or two/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Members of the Kardelene Dance Ensemble at the Turkish Festival on Sunday.  Dancers and musicians filled the stage non-stop for seven hours/Photo by Bianca Bahary

Members of the Yeditepe University Folklore Club at the Turkish Festival on Sunday/Photo by Bianca Bahary

While the professionals danced on stage at the Turkish Festival Sunday, these young lasses captured the street with their own dance/Photo by Patricia Leslie

The stoplight in the background elongates the dancer's body. Do you think the U.S. Capitol sprouted flags in celebration of the Turkish Festival on Pennsylvania Avenue?/Photo by Patricia Leslie

From the Embassy of Turkey came First Counselor and spokesperson, Aydan Karamanoglu, with his two sons, Fernando (left), 11,  and Daniel, 9, at the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue.  They have been here about a year, and the boys have adjusted well to their new school, their dad said.  Mr.  Karamanoglu's favorite part of the festival is the food. To  become an ambassador requires 20 to 25 years of experience, he said.  When asked about Turkey's role in the ISIS conflict in the Middle East, Mr. Karamanoglu smiled and said:  "That is political, and this is cultural."/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Jewelry for sale at the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Scarves and wraps for sale at the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue where 25 vendors sold goods/Photo by Patricia Leslie 

Yikes!  A heavy metal man! If you stared at him long enough he would bend and respond with a smile before his metal took over.  With girls his age, the statue flirted quite a bit and provided good humor at the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue.  The floral bouquet in his hands was heavy metal, too/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Turkish Airlines was a popular tent at the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue since it gave away two roundtrip tickets to where else?/Photo by Patricia Leslie

That is chicken and gyro on the left, and mixed beef and lamb on the right from Rudy's Mediterranean Grill in Columbia, MD.The butcher kindly gave me some samples which were exquisite.  I'll never miss the Turkish Festival again/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Grape leaves and hummus on pita, my favs at the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue, and everywhere.  Also for sale at the festival were doner kebab sandwiches with rice, lahmacun, vegetarian sandwiches, baklava with pistachios, sea bass, sea bream, anchovies, red mullet, and horse mackerel "fresh from the pure waters of the Mediterranean."  To die for.  I love to eat/Photo by Patricia Leslie

These food vendors dressed for the part at the Turkish Festival Sunday on Pennsylvania Avenue/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Alas, from out of the shadows or "behind the scenes" came Inspector Foodso from the D.C. Health Department, issuing citations to vendors who prepared food off-site, which is strictly prohibited, the inspector told me, because the preparation is not done under the watchful eyes of the Health Department.  What immediately drew my attention was a crowd of vendors dumping a vat of fresh (it looked like) untouched chopped lettuce and tomatoes into a large, black plastic garbage bag.  (In a low voice, Inspector Foodso told me it also had dressing.) We consumers appreciate what you do, I told the inspector, who replied:  "Not everyone does."  The vendors responded positively to the inspector who told one, "I'll be back at 1."  He told me every food tent had hand washing supplies for the help staff, and he was one of two inspectors on-site/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Anywhere is a good place to play bridge, like at the Turkish Festival in front of the Justice Department/Photo by Patricia Leslie

No one should miss all the fun and delicious food at the Turkish Festival on Pennsylvania Avenue. Can't wait for next year!/Photo by Patricia Leslie

 

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