Thanksgiving Basketball in DC

Chris and I decided to skip the whole traditional Thanksgiving thing this year. Forget the driving, the dealing with family, the jello molds. We went to the basketball game instead.

The arena was more than half empty, which is probably why Chris and I were able to get club level seats for $50. On the bad side, the Wizards got killed by the Magic in an embarrassing game. On the upside, Chris had a birds-eye view of the cheerleaders. (Oh, white boots.)

Hiking at Great Falls in Virginia

Great Falls is a national park in Virginia, about a half hour outside of Washington, DC. We went there on a work outing last year.

It's a nice spot for a picnic or an easy hike. On some trails, you can go horseback riding or bike riding. The Potomac has class II to class VI rapids for anyone who wants an adrenaline filled boat ride. Climbing and fishing are also allowed, but no camping.

It's a nice drive out of the city and a good place to go on a nice day.

Review of Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe

I'm about to head out the door to indulge in one of my many weaknesses, book buying. Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe is one of my favorite places to get a fix in DC.

The place has been around almost since I was born. The book selection leans heavily into politics, history, and travel - which is perfect for me.

The restaurant is open 24 hours on the weekends and is a great place for late night dining. It's probably most known for brunch and has the lines to prove it. (Those mini muffins are so good.) The nice thing is that you can kill time browsing through the books while you wait for your table.

The food is standard, but good. The desserts, on the other hand, are amazing. They have phenomenal apple pie and you can get cinnamon ice cream with it. I'm going to have a hard time avoiding the restaurant.

Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe, 1517 Conn. Avenue, NW, Washington, DC

World War II Memorial in Washington, DC

The World War II memorial is probably my least favorite in the DC. It looks nice at night, all lit up, but it looks like something that could be outside a really nice shopping mall.

Each state has a pillar with a Christmas wreath looking thing on it. There are a few inscribed sayings. They cleverly designed it so that you can see the Lincoln Memorial down one end and the Washington Monument down the other.

It just doesn't grab you.

Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC

You will undoubtedly recognize the Lincoln Memorial. It seems to show up in every film set in DC. And just so you know. The memorial is far from the capital building and there is no way Reese Witherspoon walked in those heels all the way to the Lincoln Memorial in Legally Blonde II.

There's been a lot of talk about Lincoln lately. People have been comparing Lincoln and Obama (two skinny dudes from Illinois). People mention Lincoln often as one leader who moved us closer to racial justice. He's even mentioned in Will-I-Am's new song.

A while back I read Assata Shakur's biography. Interesting book if you haven't read it. If you don't know who she is, she was a black civil rights activist in the sixties and seventies. She was in a car pulled over by police in New Jersey on May 2, 1973. The police claim she was involved in shooting and killing an officer. She claims she was injured so severely by police that there is no way she could have. She was convicted of murder, but escaped and has been living in Cuba.

To make a short story longer, in her book she challenges the assertion that Lincoln was such a great guy. She points out that he never really intended to end slavery (and said as much). She's right that he said that at one point. But he did speak out against slavery before he became president as well. What he never did was advocate for equality. In fact, according to a recent Smithsonian article, he very specifically said that he was "not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people."

So here's my question. When we remember Lincoln as only the president who freed the slaves, are we doing a disservice to ourselves and future generations? Is it similar to how I have forgotten most of the nasty things my father did now that he is gone? Is that o.k.? Do we need heroes so badly that it is worth overlooking their warts? Why?

Review of Moby Dick's House of Kabob

Chris and I are very excited about our newest cheap eats find. Moby Dick's is a local chain. The nearest location to us is hidden on N street where you would never think to look.

It has zero ambiance, but the food is great. Chris and I shared a spinach salad with feta, a huge chicken platter with rice and more salad, a generous portion of humus, and a drink.

The chicken was perfectly cooked. The rice was perfectly cooked. The humus was creamy. They gave us a ton of pitas. And the whole thing cost less than twenty bucks. That's quite a find in DC.

Moby Dick's House of Kabob, 1300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC

Obama Wall in Washington, DC

I wandered down by the monuments this afternoon, thinking I would see military types. It is almost veterans day after all. Instead I found an Obama wall.

Avaaz (sort of an international version of Moveon.org) collected messages and photos from people in 189 countries and posted the messages on a wall at the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial steps.

Passers-by added their own scrawls. They were messages of congratulations and anticipation. Many expressed their hope that Obama would tackle environmental problems, human rights violations, poverty, and violence.

It is going to be so nice to travel without having to hope nobody finds out where you are from. The people who make those Canadian flag emblems that backpackers have been using to disguise themselves better start making Obama buttons.

Review of Mitsitam Cafe

The Mitsitam is the museum restaurant at the National Museum of the American Indian. As museum restaurants go, the Mitsitam is outstanding. That is not to say that all of the food is great. The dishes are hit or miss.

The South America section usually has a few good items. I have had some excellent soup there before and some very decent tamales. The Plains section has passable buffalo burgers, but it is the honey-covered fry bread that is the real winner.

There is a Northwest section with salmon. There is a Mesoamerican section with burritos and tacos. There are an array of decidedly non-indigenous torts and cakes for dessert. There is also a wall of beverages that, last I went, included an amazingly delicious plantain drink.

The restaurant can get crowded and the popular stations can be a challenge to maneuver around as you carry your tray around. Still, its worth a trip even if you are not going to see the museum.

Mitsitam Cafe, National Museum of the American Indian, 4th St. and Independence Ave., S.W., Washington, DC

Day of the Dead at the Museum of the American Indian

On the Day of the Dead, Mexicans believe that the spirits of their deceased relatives come back to visit them. They are happy about this. I wonder if they get to chose which relatives come back?

Families leave offerings of food and flowers on household alters. They visit cemeteries, decorate grave sites, and make elaborate skeletal creations.

Pictured is a skull made entirely of sugar. The skull itself is molded sugar crystals. The decoration is done in icing. It looks delicious. Typically, you would find this on an altar with bread, water, candles, flowers, and keepsakes.

This particular skull had just been made by an artist who exhibited during the Day of the Dead celebration at the National Museum of the American Indian. She was one of several artisans there showing typical Day of the Dead pieces.

Dance of the Tecuanis in Washington, DC

This dance troop came from Puebla, Mexico to perform the dance of the Tecuanis (the thing that eats or devours). They performed at the National Museum of the American Indian for their yearly Day of the Dead celebration.

There are two lines of dancers. One line represents the indigenous people. The other line represents the Spanish. There are also people dressed as jaguars, a cow, a witch, a devil, and the grim reaper.

Each costume is decorated with paint and sequins. Each mask is hand made in Mexico. Each face has a different expression, representing all the emotions of life. They were caricatures come to life.

The performers have a crazy dance-off. The dance ends when they kill the jaguar that has been attacking the people and their cows. There is lots of piercing whistle music and jumping in the air. The jaguars have tails that they whack on the ground with thunderous explosions.

The best part is watching the kids reactions. Some of them were scared of the jaguars. The kids in front of me jumped back a foot when one whacked its tail nearby. Mostly, the kids seemed to really enjoy being scared.

Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC

The reflecting pool stretches from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial down towards the Washington Monument. It's one of the most famous spots in DC and is filled with thousands of tourists any day of the week.

The paths and tree-covered grassy areas on either side of the pool are where you will find the locals. It's a great place for a walk, jog, bike ride, or nap.