oh, about Gravelly Point - as mentioned above, there are a lot of trees at the north end that end up blocking the view; its better to walk up further north past the bridges to the cut to the Pentagon Lagoon marina (Columbia Island Marina) where you can get a view with no trees in the way. Also, Gravelly Point parking fills up VERY early (lots of boats put in there) so one would have to get and stay there VERY early, like before 12 noon for a 9:15pm show. and then wait another hour to get out.... Alternatively, parking at the airport is a good way to go, its a relatively short walk to/from and exiting onto the Parkway going south tends not to be ridiculously congested (bonus sneak tip!).

But Gravelly Point is a fantastic place to plane spot - they are only about 100 feet over your head when landing from the North, it feels like you can jump up and touch them, and if you listen closely, you will hear the trailing turbulence whooshing by....