Hospitality_Recreation

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Widad Parsons, of Ashburn, Va., left, sips coffee while taking a break as a weary shopper naps nearby at the Tysons Corner Center mall in McLean, Va., on Dec. 26, 2011. The National Retail Federation projected this years' holiday sales to be up 3 percent over last year, but the Tysons mall is up 4 percent over last year's sales figures for the Black Friday to Christmas Eve period. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/ The Washington Times)

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Shoppers head to their cars at the Tysons Corner Center mall in McLean, Va. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/ The Washington Times)

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Shoppers file through Macy's at the Tysons Corner Center mall in McLean, Va., for returns and after-Christmas sales on Dec. 26, 2011. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/ The Washington Times)

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Kim Phan, 11, from right, and Sam Thai, 16, both of Annandale, Va., play a dancing game at an Xbox display in the Microsoft store as a crowd gathers to watch the two dance at the Tysons Corner Center mall in McLean, Va., on Dec. 26, 2011. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/ The Washington Times)

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Mychelle Dickson, from left, and William Cobb, both 16, of Temple Hills, Md., wait outside a store as shoppers crowd the Tysons Corner Center mall in McLean, Va. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/ The Washington Times) **FILE**

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Meredith Wade, second from left, of Bethesda, Md., shares ice cream with her children, Olivia, 7, form left, Caleb, 5, and Juliet, 3, after seeing a movie at the Tysons Corner Center mall in McLean, Va. on Dec. 26, 2011. "Before I had kids, I would brave any crowd for a sale," said Meredith, "but now I won't go in to a store." (T.J. Kirkpatrick/ The Washington Times)

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Shoppers crowd the Tysons Corner Center mall in McLean, Va. on Dec. 26, 2011. The National Retail Federation projected this years' holiday sales to be up 3 percent over last year, but the Tysons mall is up 4 percent over last year's sales figures for the Black Friday to Christmas Eve period. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/ The Washington Times)

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Caitlin Schultz, 18, of Waldorf, Md., at left, crosses bridge near decorations of hanging lights as shoppers crowd the Tysons Corner Center mall in McLean, Va., for returns and after-Christmas sales on Dec. 26, 2011. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/ The Washington Times)

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In this Dec. 26, 2011, photo, Facebook website founder Mark Zuckerberg rides a water buffalo in northern resort town of Sapa in Lao Cai province, Vietnam. (AP Photo/VnExpress, Le Thanh Hieu)

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**FILE** Clarence Turner of Little Canada, Minn., hands in his resume Nov. 2, 2011, at the Minneapolis Career Fair in Bloomington, Minn., where he was looking for a hotel audit job. (Associated Press)

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Widad Parsons, of Ashburn, Va., left, sips coffee while taking a break as a weary shopper naps nearby at the Tysons Corner Center mall in McLean, Va., on Dec. 26, 2011. The National Retail Federation projected this years' holiday sales to be up 3 percent over last year, but the Tysons mall is up 4 percent over last year's sales figures for the Black Friday to Christmas Eve period. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/ The Washington Times)

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Yemen's outgoing President Ali Abdullah Saleh wants permission to travel to the U.S. for medical treatment. (Associated Press)

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Bill Langdon co-owns the Grand Ole Pub in West Chester, Ohio. He said he hears more people in the popular gathering spot for Republican partisans who like Newt Gingrich in the GOP presidential field. (Associated Press)

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Backed by the late afternoon sun, the Potomac River rolls over the rocks at Great Falls. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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A blue statue of the Virgin Mary is surrounded by yellow, green and red grave markers at the Southdown Cemetery in Houma, La. Local lawmaker Alvin Tillman is pushing for legislation that would make it illegal to paint a tomb anything but white. (Houma Courier via Associated Press)

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Pat Troy, owner of Ireland's Own restaurant and pub, remembers that President Reagan had corned beef and cabbage along with a beer when he visited the pub in 1988. Mr. Troy's book, "I Have a Story to Tell," is the product of decades of experiences as an Irish immigrant and businessman. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Customers exit Pat Troy's Ireland's Own restaurant and pub, a local landmark for 31 years in Alexandria. The owner has written a book about his experiences and the famous people he's met, including President Reagan and aviator Charles A. Lindbergh. Mr. Troy also hosts "Pat Troy's Irish Radio Show" on Sunday mornings. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis has a rebuilding plan that includes center JaVale McGee, who flashed his ability to dazzle in a preseason loss to Philadelphia. Perfecting a sky hook would make McGee a nice fit in Washington's lineup. (Associated Press)

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Washington Redskins wide receiver Jabar Gaffney has been encouraged to seek a trade, as he no longer fits in the team's plans. (Andrew Harnik / The Washington Times)

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For the 26th year running, Santa and his retinue -- elves, reindeer, the Grinch, Frosty -- will take to the waters of the Potomac River for, you guessed it, water sports. Catch this year's show Saturday, Dec. 24, at National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md.