Raduno 2023: Atomic Fireball Ride II

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This DC locals’ tour starts at the Embassy of Italy, winds through a neighborhood of Ambassador's homes and up into leafy twists and turns of Rock Creek Park. 

Exiting the park, we pass through Mount Pleasant and past the National Zoo, on our way to nightlife districts Adams Morgan and U Street corridor, riding by the 9:30 Club and Atlantis (music clubs). 

We cruise the edge of the Howard University campus and take a quick dip through historic LeDroit Park, a hidden gem of a neighborhood.

Then we head to Union Market for lunch at A. Litteri (or your choice of a multitude of food stalls in the newer market building). Grab a selfie at one of the many Instagrammable murals, and tag them

After lunch, we are welcomed to Casa Italiana, the original home of VCDC and host of the very first Raduno in 2018. We’ll get a short tour of the Italian-American Museum inside. (If we are lucky, the espresso machine will be cranking and you can re-caffeinate!) From there, we go back across town, ending at the Church of the Pilgrims parking lot at 22nd & P Streets NW. We’ll aim to get there at 2pm for the gymkhana (scooter games) and scooter show.

Learn more about 51 Murals project here. The number 51 represents the goal of the District of Columbia becoming the 51st State.

Here’s a map of all 86 murals, if you want to find a few on your own!

Date > Saturday 30 September 2023

Time > Kickstands up at 11:00 am

Route > Distance is approximately 20 Miles round trip. Speed will be under 35 MPH. 

Important:

1. Bring water
2. Start with a full gas tank!
3. All riders will be asked to show their wristbands at the start point, to show that they have signed the Vespa Committee liability waiver 

Start Location > Embassy of Italy, 3000 Whitehaven St NW, Washington, DC 20008

End Location > Church of the Pilgrims parking lot, 2001 P St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037

The route:

https://maps.harley-davidson.com/share/rides/XN6Fe9uYb

• Lunch/Food Lunch purchase is on your own. We will stop at A. Litteri for sandwiches. 517 Morse St NE, Washington, DC 20002 https://alitteri.com/ Union Market has outdoor seating and plenty of other food stalls across the street.  
• Fuel There are NO planned gas stops during the ride, please arrive with a full tank. 
• Safety We will practice safe group riding practices and will review them before the start of the ride. Reckless riding is not tolerated.
• Breakdowns In the event of a breakdown we will pull over to make sure no-one is hurt / in trouble. If the issue creates a total stop for your scooter, please have a backup plan to call your insurance or tow company. The ride will have to continue on to the destination.

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

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Ride Agenda / Stops 

• 11am Start - Italian Embassy, 3000 Whitehaven St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008
• 12pm - 1pm Lunch (self-paid) - 
• A. Litteri 517 Morse St NE, Washington, DC 20002, https://alitteri.com/
• outdoor seating at Union Market, 1309 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20002, https://unionmarketdc.com/
• 1:30pm Tour of Italian-American Museum of Washington, D.C., Casa Italiana Sociocultural Center, 595 3rd St NW, Washington, DC 20001, https://www.casaitalianacenter.org/copy-of-iamdc
• 2:30pm End Point -  Gymkhana (Scooter games) and Scooter show @ Church of the Pilgrims parking lot, 2001 P St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037

A 41 mile round-trip ride into the northern Virginia countryside featuring winding roads, horse farms and multimillion dollar mansions. Other features include spectacular Potomac River views, historic Chain Bridge crossing. After a short stop at River Bend Park we will ride to Deli Italiana in the town of Great Falls. After lunch we follow the gentle hills and twisties eastward on our return to DC by way of the historic Georgetown Pike and Chain Bridge.

Date > Saturday 30 September 2023

Time > 11:00 am at the Italian Embassy for Meet & Greet / Kickstands up at 11:15 am

Route > Distance is 40 Miles round trip. Speed will be 40-45 MPH. 

Important:

1. Bring water
2. Start with a full gas tank!
3. All riders will be asked to show their wristbands at the start point, to show that they have signed the Vespa Committee liability waiver 

Start/End Location >  START: Italian Embassy, 3000 Whitehaven St NW, Washington, DC 20008, END Church of the Pilgrims, 2001 P St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037

The route: 

https://maps.harley-davidson.com/share/rides/cNskqczYb

• Lunch/Food Lunch purchase is on your own. We will stop at Deli Italiana in Great Falls, VA  The menu includes pizza, calzones, pasta, salads and italian subs. There is indoor and outdoor seating.
• Fuel There are NO planned gas stops during the ride, please arrive with a full tank. The nearest gas stations to the start point are: 5 minutes away, Sunoco Gas Station, 2450 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007
• Safety We will practice safe group riding practices and will review them before the start of the ride. Reckless riding is not tolerated.
• Breakdowns In the event of a breakdown we will pull over to make sure no-one is hurt / in trouble. If the issue creates a total stop for your scooter, please have a backup plan to call your insurance or tow company. The ride will have to continue on to the destination.

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Ride Agenda / Stops 

• 11am Start - Italian Embassy, 3000 Whitehaven St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008
• 11:15 am - Depart heading towards Chain Bridge on the Potomac River
• 11:45 am - Stop at Riverbend Park Visitors Center, 8700 Potomac Hills St, Great Falls, VA 22066
• 12:15 - Stop for self pay lunch at Deli Italiano, 9911 Georgetown Pike, Great Falls, VA 22066
• 2:00pm End Point -  Gymkhana (Scooter games) and Scooter show @ Church of the Pilgrims, 2001 P St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037