The National Holocaust Museum

This is the National Holocaust Museum. It is enormous and anyone visiting should set aside several hours.

You'll need tickets to see the main exhibit. You can get them online (with an appointment time). Alternatively, you can show up early and get them first come first serve at the museum, but you may have to wait a while to get in.

Our appointment wasn't for a while, so we wandered around the other exhibits first. They have a multimedia genocide exhibit that covers current crisis, like Darfur and the DRC. Unfortunately, the exhibit is in a tucked away corner of the museum that wasn't heavily trafficked. It would be better if they focused more on getting people involved.

Another exhibit was the diary of a young boy who survived the concentration camps. They recreated the home he lived in before and the ghetto they had to move to afterwards. At the end of the exhibit, there was an activity center for people to write down their feelings about the exhibit.

There was also an exhibit about the Protocols of Zion, something I had never even heard of until recently. This book is, apparently, the go to text for all people who think the Jews are trying to take over the world. Though it was proven a fraud, it has been translated into multiple languages and can be found within all sorts of antisemitic communities.

The main exhibit, which starts with an elevator ride to the top floor, works its way down through the history of the holocaust. It covers historic antisemitism, Hitler's life, the Nazi rise to power, the ghettos, the camps, and the world's reaction.

One of the most remarkable things to me was not the stories of those people who closed their eyes to what was going on, but the ones who didn't. The entire country of Denmark banned together to save their Jews, while all those other countries did not. One entire town in France hid Jews, despite great danger to themselves, while other nearby towns did not.

I've stopped being surprised about people being caught up in a wave of evil or acting out of pure selfishness. But I am in awe of those people who fight the wave, while everyone around them succumbs. Makes me want to go to Denmark.

Review of the Tabard

The Tabard is an inn and restaurant. The eclectic inn has been in operation since 1917. I've never stayed there, but it is the place I usually put up guests when they come to town.

The restaurant; however, I have been to on several occasions. Tucked into the back of the house, it feels like a hidden bistro. The small, brick enclosed and covered courtyard is one of the best places for a weekend brunch (assuming you can get a reservation) or a quiet weekday breakfast.

The dining room is the scene of power lunches during the day and romantic dinners at night. The highlight of all meals are the sweets. They have an incredible desert menu, currently highlighting Turkish Creme Brulee and chocolate truffle torte.

My least favorite meal at the Tabard was the salmon I had the one time I ate there for dinner. It was, sadly, a bit mush. The other diners were much happier with their meals, but I still prefer to stick with breakfast, lunch, and desert. If you are going to drop $25 or $30 for an entree, there are better places in DC to do it (food wise).

Brunch and lunch, on the other hand, are hard to beat. And, in a city with a serious shortage of hotels, the Tabard is one of the best (and most economical) choices.

I was remiss on Friday and didn't post upcoming events. Bad!

• Both the Source Festival and Capital Fringe continue to entertain, although Source wraps up on the 12th.
  

• Also on the 12th, Busboys and Poets is screening the movie Medicine for Melancholy. The filmmakers will be around for a post film discussion.
  

• The 14th is Bastille Day and French restaurants around town are celebrating. The most raucous crowd promises to be at Bistrot du Coin.
  

• The 15th, there is a revolutionary puppet show and food drive at La Casa Community Center (3166 Mt. Pleasant Rd. NW, Washington DC 20010)
  

• The 15th is also a Wednesday, which means free concerts at the Strathmore.
  

• Thursdays free concert is jazz at the American Art Museum.
  

Fourth of July Parade 2009

This is definitely my picture of the month. It was taken at the tail end of the yearly Fourth of July parade.

Chris and I didn't go to the parade, but we caught the last float on our way to the Folklife Festival. Thankfully, the last float just happened to be the Hare Krishnas.

It was quite festive. This long haired, bearded hippy was truly loving life. I'm not sure all that jubilation was just from singing, but whatever.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2009

Every year the Smithsonian puts on a Folklife Festival on the National Mall. This year's themes were African American storytelling, Wales, and Latin American music.

The Latin American Music section had three stages with musicians from all over. They played everything from merengue to conjunto.

The African American storytelling section had different stages set up, including a kitchen, a barbershop, and a stoop. Performers told stories, recited poetry, and sang.

Craftspeople from Wales also set up demonstrations. Pictured is the spinner. There was also a bookbinder, an animator, basket weavers, wood carvers, boat builders, and a baker. It made me want to learn something useful.

Each section had food as well. We ate in Central America (platanos and chicken with rice). Nothing to write home about.

Review of 2 Amys

Ask most people what the best pizza place in DC is and they will send you to 2 Amys. There you will get authentic Neapolitan pizza, as certified by the Italian Verace Pizza Napoletana Association. Very official.

The restaurant is a bit off the beaten track, several blocks from the Tenleytown metro. Not to worry. I guarantee you will need to walk off the extra food you stuffed in while you were there.

They use the best ingredients. I was blown away by the my stuffed pizza. The Ripieno Extra was filled with salami, prosciutto, pancetta, tomato, grana and the freshest ricotta I have ever tasted.

The pizza was preceded by a simple and flavorful mixed green salad with a lemon, red wine vinegar and olive oil dressing. It was followed by creamy, homemade ice cream.

Service was perfect. Prices are reasonable. You really can't go wrong. (Unless you don't like pizza. And that's just weird.)

Review of Matchbox

Matchbox has found some sort of magic formula, thus ensuring that there is almost always a long wait for a table (at least in the Chinatown location).

The restaurant takes advantage of its row house location. Exposed brick and wood dominate the decor. Aside from the cramped bar, the narrow dining areas are cozy.

Service is generally good. Although, like all crowded places, your server can disappear for a while. If you can manage to get there at an off hour when it isn't jammed, eating at the bar is a treat. The bartenders are on it.

The beer, wine and mixed drink menus are extensive. I'm a particular fan of the Watermelon Tease (house-infused watermelon vodka, rum, gin, tequila triple sec, splash sour mix, Coke & Sprite). Although you can't go wrong with a glass of the Brooklyn Weisse wheat beer.

Their specialty at Matchbox are sliders, tasty mini burgers covered in thin, crispy onion rings. You can get them with gouda, mozzarella or gorgonzola cheese. Also incredibly good are the pepperoni and meatball rolls - perfect crusty dough stuffed with spiced meat, cheese and sauce and then baked in the wood-fired oven.

Prices are very reasonable, especially by DC standards, and it's a great place to go with guests or friends. It is not; however, a great place to go to actually hear what people are saying. As it gets loud as hell in there.