Anyone can see the coverage of “The Capitol Fourth” — D.C.’s Fourth of July celebration — on PBS, but I’ve always thought it irritating the way they fade out while the fireworks are still going on.

If you live here, as Sarah mentioned this morning, you have a spot to head to avoid the Mall crowds if you so desire. Personally, I like the Mall, but we opted to go the easy route of skipping security by heading over to the deck of the Kennedy Center, which overlooks the Potomac River. It’s not as nice as being down by the Lincoln Memorial, but it’s definitely less crowded (which is a huge advantage, in my book) and it’s still close enough to the launch site to be able to feel the thunder of the blasts.

Happy Independence Day, everyone!