Mel's Travel Blog

Review of the Russia House

2009-09-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

I'm frankly amazed at myself that I have never done a proper review of the Russia House.

Housed in an old DC building with a lot of character, the restaurant spans several dark, red, moody floors. It is where you take someone when you want your romantic dinner to turn naughty.

Being a Russian restaurant, they have loads of vodka. The best thing to do is get a vodka tasting. They'll bring out an iced tray of shots in whichever flavors you choose. I love the chocolate vodka.

The food is excellent, much to my surprise. My experience with borscht growing up was not a positive one, but theirs was delicious. The duck salad was excellent as well.

Happily, I live within site of the Russia House. Unhappily, I can't afford to eat there too often. That's mostly because eating there means consuming copious amounts of vodka. I don't know though. I think I might be due for a visit.

Russia House, 1800 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC

Review of Le Pain Quotidien

2009-09-10T04:00:00.000-07:00

Dupont Circle finally has its very own Le Pain Quotidien.

Part of a worldwide chain, this bakery/restaurant manages to feel like it isn't a worldwide chain. They have a good selection of breads and pastries, very tasty lattes, and a decent menu.

Dupont Circle doesn't have that many breakfast places nearby, so I wasn't exactly sad to hear I had another option. I love Afterwords and all, but the food just isn't that great and the lines can be long.

Chris and I were famished when we arrived, so we over ordered a bit. We shared a perfectly cooked Paris Ham & Gruyère omelet. We also shared a super sweet Belgian sugar waffle and two other pastries. Oh, and then there was the bowl of fresh berries. I really couldn't complain about any of it, although I won't say anything knocked my socks off. Also, we blew about $50 before we knew what hit us.

Le Pain Quotidien, 2001 P Street NW, Washington, DC

Ramp it Up Exhibit at the NMAI

2009-09-09T04:00:00.000-07:00

The National Museum of the American Indian in DC has an interesting exhibit right now on Native American skateboard culture.

The exhibit starts with surfing (an indigenous Hawaiian invention). It shows how surfing's land-based cousin gained in popularity and how influential skate culture is in native communities.

Different native skaters are highlighted, but the most interesting part for me were the skateboards. The artwork is really cool and I totally want to order some for my wall.

Check it out. It runs through October.

The Great Nationwide Kiss In

2009-09-08T16:54:00.000-07:00

I thought the Great Nationwide Kiss-In was a pretty cute idea.

A same sex couple had been harassed after kissing outside a Mormon church. Protesters started going to the church to kiss in protest. That little idea germinated until someone decided we should have a big kiss-in around the country.

It could have been great. Thousands of people gathering to make-out in public was a clear message. And the more we see same sex people kissing, the less of a big deal it will be.

Although thousands signed up on Facebook, including about 800 for Washington DC, this was the sad little group that actually showed up. What's that, maybe twenty people?

Review of Capt. John's Crab House

2009-09-07T04:24:00.000-07:00

Captain John's is in tiny Cobb Island in Southern Maryland. It's the kind of place where they lay paper out on the table and your neighbor might be a family of bikers.

We feasted at Captain Johns. I mean we really didn't hold back. One order of king crab legs was so enormous we actually had to take some home with us. They were amazing, succulent, buttery, and a must if you are in the area.

It was my first experience with soft shell crab and, I must say, I wasn't a huge fan. The meaty part inside was o.k., but the goop and the shells...eh, eh.

We also ordered fritters, which I had not had since I was a kid. They were just as dense, sweet, and doughy as I remembered. The corn side was a huge disappointment. They came to the table with a soggy mess that could have come out of a can and we had passed a dozen farm stands selling corn on our way there. Sad.

I'd still go back though, just for those crab legs. Holy crap were they good.

Solomons Island, Maryland

2009-09-04T04:18:00.000-07:00

We were only on Solomon's Island for a skip. We stopped at the Annmarie Sculpture Garden and then headed to the town center.

The town center is tiny, just a few old houses converted into beachy stores. At the end of the strip, and around a little bend, sat the Tiki Bar.

This was the view from our bar stools at the Tiki Bar. It reminded me a lot of Fort Lauderdale, back when it was a little seedier and filled with bikers and blue collar types.

Everyone was drinking Coors and shooting the shit. I ordered a cocktail made with fresh squeezed orange juice, but I can't remember the name of it. After our drinks we wandered through a few of the stores and took off. I can see how this might be a relaxing spot for a weekend, if all you want to do is lay around and boat.

Not much going on though.

Annmarie Garden on Solomons Island

2009-09-03T04:00:00.000-07:00

We almost didn't stop at the Annemarie Garden. I'm so glad we did. It turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip.

Annmarie Garden is affiliated with the Smithsonian, specifically the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. If you have ever been to the sculpture garden here in DC, you have an idea of what Annmarie Garden is like.

Except Annmarie is even better. There is a wooded area that is filled with sculptures. There is a whole walkway filled with just sculptures of women. There are modern pieces and quirky faces in unexpected places. Some of the trees have paintings.

There is also a beautiful gallery inside. It is filled with really interesting pieces. My favorite was a mosaic butterfly. I also loved the giant, elegant rabbit in a reclining pose that looked like it should have been at the entrance to temple.

There were crazy fish and disco balls and horse heads and even some roadkill. (In case you haven't figured it out, they were exploring the animal kingdom in their exhibit.)

They don't stop there though. The museum is very interactive. There are activities dispersed all over the place. When we arrived, we were drawn to a picnic table outside set up with paints. Visitors were asked to paint a gourd with the theme of "home is where the ____ is." The gourds are going to be used for an art exhibit. The ones that are done are currently displayed in the sculpture forest in some crazy baskets.

They also have a school where they teach everything from painting to ceramics to jewelry making. Oh, and did I mention the very cool gift shop? If I lived around there, I would be at that place all the time.

Wine Bar and Cafe in Leonardtown, MD

2009-09-02T04:00:00.000-07:00

Not far from St. Mary's City is a little place called Leonardtown. We stopped there for lunch at the Wine Bar & Cafe.

As expected, the restaurant had plenty of wine. The decor was a little cheesy. The waitress was not old enough to serve the wine (maybe the owner's daughter?).

The wine was a bit disappointing and had cork in it, but the lobster bisque was tasty. My crabcake was the highlight for sure. It had the perfect amount of breading (not to much).

Chris had some sort of panini that wasn't very good, so unmemorable that I don't even know what was in it. We ended the meal with a chocolate scone pudding that was very rich. It put me over the top.

Not the worst meal I ever ate, but (aside from that crabcake) nothing to write home about.

Point Lookout Prison Memorial

2009-09-01T04:42:00.000-07:00

Just outside of Point Lookout State Park in Southern Maryland, Chris and I spotted a monument covered in confederate flags. We were completely creeped out and so had to stop.

The monument is actually a memorial for confederate soldiers. Not just any confederate soldiers though. Turns out there was a prison located at Point Lookout and, according to the monument, prison conditions were so bad that thousands of the prisoners died.

I don't have much sympathy for the confederate "cause" or for confederate flag flying, but I do believe in prisoner rights and the Geneva Conventions (which were, ironically, being incubated during this time). So I found the monument interesting. I suppose if my great grandfather died in a union prison I'd have a slightly different impression of the union soldiers.

St. Mary's City, Maryland

2009-08-31T04:21:00.001-07:00

St. Mary's City was Maryland's first capital. It turned 375 years old this year.

For a long time, the remnants of the city lay buried under farm fields and a more modern house (the Brome Howard Inn). In the 1970s they decided to excavate the site.

Today, the site contains "faithfully" rebuilt structures and a lot of old timey people who show you how things were done in the 1600s. I believe many of the people are associated with the university and actually know what they are talking about.

There is a print shop (my personal favorite), an ordinary (like an inn), a church, a store, an old house, and even a recreated Indian hamlet. One of the most impressive sites is an old sailing ship. It isn't a reproduction of the actual ships that landed on St. Mary's shore, but it is from the time period. There's just something about old sailboats.

There's also a museum on site where you can watch a film about St. Mary's history and (of course) a gift shop. There are demonstrations throughout the day. It's complete nerd entertainment.

Farm Stands in Southern Maryland

2009-08-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

Although the Amish places were closed on Sundays, there were still some heathens around willing to sell their produce on Sundays.

The kid running this stand was having teenage problems. We very carefully avoided getting into a conversation with him about them.

We bought a dozen ears of corn, peaches, watermelon, and a whole bunch of other stuff I can't remember. The peaches were amazing, but the watermelon was the best.

Chris froze it and used it for frozen, watermelon cocktails. He made them with triple sec and brandy. They were amazing. And the watermelon lasted us like a week. Highly recommended.

Amish Crossing in Southern Maryland

2009-08-27T04:00:00.000-07:00

Sadly, I did not get pictures of any of the Amish people we saw in Southern Maryland. I did; however, get a pic of this Amish crossing sign. Gotta love it.

We saw a few horse and buggy while we were out and about. and we saw an adorable Amish girl huffin it on her bike along the side of the road.

Unfortunately, since we were traveling on Sunday, all the Amish markets and farms were closed. Living in a city, you forget how Jesus shuts everything down on Sundays in some places.

Anti-Choice Display in Southern Maryland

2009-08-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

This is something you don't see in DC. It is a (presumably) faux fetus graveyard on the highway that leads to historic St. Mary's City.

The sign (in case you cannot read it) says "let us commemorate all of the American babies who have died because of choice." Creepy no?

When we first passed it I thought maybe it was for soldiers, people who died in Iraq perhaps. Why is it that church people are more concerned with sperm than actual people?

No really, I want to know.

Brome Howard Inn in St. Mary's City, Maryland

2009-08-25T04:08:00.001-07:00

This is the Brome Howard Inn in St. Mary's City Maryland. It is an old plantation house that now serves as a bed and breakfast.

The inn was built by Dr. Brome in 1840 and served as a tobacco and wheat plantation. There are a few outbuildings still, including a slave cabin (although you can't go inside).

The house used to sit on top of historic St. Mary's City, but they moved it in order to do an archaeological dig. They moved the entire house at one time.

Apparently, they built a huge pallet (like the kind you see in warehouses). They slipped the house on to the pallet and then used a tank to bring it to its new spot. They had to take out several trees and the electric lines on the road in order to do it. It was, we were told, quite a site. The whole town came out to take pictures. That was back in 1994.

The bed and breakfast only has four rooms. The one we stayed in was adorable. It was also huge and filled with books and magazines to keep you occupied.

The breakfasts were very good. The mushroom omelet was so flavorful that I had it twice. The blueberry pancakes were fluffy (although short on blueberries). The french toast was disappointing.

The house also has a restaurant that serves dinner nightly and brunch on Sundays. The atmosphere is understated elegance. The food is very good. I ate a perfectly cooked duck. Chris has an enormous steak. We finished things off with some refreshing sorbet.

Service in the hotel and restaurant were spotty. You have to be dedicated to run a bed and breakfast. They don't normally have a whole lot of staff. I got the impression that this couple is no longer dedicated. The in-room explanation misinforms guests about the proper time for breakfast on Saturdays (thus causing confusion on Sunday). There was no housekeeping. There was, in fact, often nobody around.

Still, it was a lovely house. It is very close to DC. The food is good. I don't think I would ever go back, but I wouldn't advise others away.

Dumbarton Bridge Buffalo

2009-08-21T05:55:00.001-07:00

The bridge between Dupont and Georgetown is officially the Dumbarton Bridge, named after the part of Scotland the 18th century owner of the property was from.

In 1914,Phimster A. Proctor, an American sculptor famous for western subjects, was commissioned to create four sculptures for the bridge. Each one is a buffalo that is nearly identical and (if you ask me) a bit creepy.

Some locals call it the Buffalo Bridge now. Make sure to say hi when you come by.

C&O Canal in Washington, DC

2009-08-19T05:08:00.001-07:00

Before eighteen wheelers, barges were used to move stuff around. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was used to bring things from Washington DC all the way up to Cumberland, MD (on the Pennsylvania border) until the 1920s.

Some of the canal isn't actually canal anymore, but the parts by Washington, DC are. In the pic you can see a tourist barge being pulled along by some historically dressed reenactors and a couple tired looking ~~horses~~ mules.

Bikers sometimes take the canal path all the way up to the end. There is a great website that gives you all the 411. Perhaps one day I'll be feeling very industrious. Or at least I'd like to bike up to Great Falls.

Call Box Art in DC

2009-08-17T05:28:00.001-07:00

Before you could call 911 for an emergency, DC had emergency call boxes all over town. The call system was removed, but the boxes have remained.

Rather than spend a fortune trying to remove the call boxes, Cultural Tourism DC has undertaken a project to turn them into art.

Some of the boxes are reproductions of historic paintings. Some are designed by local artists. Many of them have little historic tidbits about the neighborhood on the back.

This particular box depicting George Washington on his horse is in Dupont close to my house. You can find out more about the Art on Call boxes on the Cultural Tourism DC website.

Falun Gong in Washington DC

2009-08-14T05:09:00.001-07:00

I've said before that walking around DC is a learning experience. This is another event/protest that took place a few weeks ago.

Falun Gong is a spiritual practice/religion that came into the spotlight in the 90s when practitioners protested Chinese government actions. It has been brutally oppressed in China since then.

I won't try to go into a whole explanation. You can check out the Wikipedia entry here if you are interested.

Holy Rood Cemetery

2009-08-13T05:17:00.003-07:00

In Georgetown/Glover Park sits the Holy Rood cemetery. The cemetery dates to the early 1800s and used to be run by Holy Trinity Church. It is now owned by Georgetown University.

The place had apparently been allowed to get pretty dilapidated in the 90s, but they have since propped up fallen headstones and cleaned it up.

It's quiet and has great views (since it sits on a hill). Quite a few people were laying around relaxing in it when I was there.

Kickball on the Mall

2009-08-12T04:51:00.001-07:00

The National Mall really is like a giant yard. On weekends, people swarm out to use the space for all kinds of games.

Kickball is a favorite. I've also seen Frisbee, boccie, softball, and cricket. Afterwards, nearby bars are filled with beer-drunk yuppies in matching jerseys.

Review of Cuba de Ayer

2009-08-11T05:30:00.001-07:00

Cuba de Ayer is not actually in DC, it's in Burtonsville, MD. I was very excited to hear about a Cuban restaurant in the area and hopped over the first chance I got.

Although the outside looks like your average dumpy strip mall, the inside is actually quite cute. Deep red walls are covered with Caribbean paintings. Comfortable booths line the walls.

The menu has all the Cuban staples. Chris and I decided to stick with sandwiches. I got the chicken. He got the Cuban.

Disappointingly, my sandwich was not pressed. Also, they did not have any of the little potato crunchies on either sandwich. The sides we ordered were tasty (black beans and rice and yucca fries). The mojito I had was phenomenal, probably the highlight of the evening. The lowlight was the Cuban coffee.

Cuban coffee is not plain espresso! It is espresso with tons of sugar! It should be like syrup! It should have a froth on top!

If the place was close by I might stop by on occasion for a mojito and a passable Cuban sandwich, but the distance and the sad excuse for Cuban coffee means this will probably be a one time deal for me. Once again, a Cuban place disappoints. You just can't get good Cuban outside of Miami. I'm starting to think I'd even be disappointed with Cuban food in Cuba.

Review of Surfside

2009-08-07T04:00:00.000-07:00

You all are surely aware that I have been on a quest for decent Mexican food in Washington, DC. It is an impossible task, but I am an optimist.

I had gotten word that Surfside had the best tacos in town. Naturally, I had to put that to the test.

The line was long when we arrived, which is always a good sign. While you wait in line, you fill out a little order form. You can chose one of their pre-designed concoctions or make your own.

Chris and I went with the Cuba (carnitas on corn tortillas with pineapple jalapeno salsa, lime sour cream and cilantro) and the Maui (grilled fish on corn tortillas with black bean and corn salsa, guacamole, cilantro and lime sour cream). All of which was chased down with perfectly iced cold Pacifico from their fridge.

It was great!

I wouldn't go so far as to call it authentic Mexican. It is more like Californian. But it is so much better than most of the faux tex mex crap you get served around here. And it is inexpensive (under $10 for two generously heaped upon tacos).

We took our tacos (and some not-so-great salsa and chips) upstairs to their adorable rooftop patio. It was the perfect place to kick back with those beers.

We will definitely be back. In fact, dinner isn't too far off...

Surfside,2444 Wisconsin Avenue Washington, DC 20007

Washington DC Style

2009-08-06T04:00:00.000-07:00

There is a certain segment of the DC population (particularly centered around Georgetown) that likes the most unbelievably tacky clothes.

The pants in this Georgetown shop window are salmon colored with little whales all over them. And lest you think this is a joke, let me assure you that you will see people wearing these kinds of things.

Oddly, it is often people with obscene amounts of money that dress like this. I think it might be some secret code. The tackier you dress, the richer you are?

Cyprus Protest

2009-08-05T04:00:00.000-07:00

You never know what you are going to learn just walking around DC.

Chris and I came upon this little vigil the other day. The sign says "We Demand Justice, Stop the Denial." Underneath it has a link to the Cyprus Action Nework.

I am ashamed to admit that I know nothing about Cyprus. So it came as a surprise to find out that Turkey invaded Cyprus in 1974 and has since been occupying the northern part of the island.

And so ends today's history lesson.

Sad Ignorance at the Museum of American History

2009-08-04T04:00:00.000-07:00

So, as I mentioned yesterday, we went to the National Museum of American History a couple weekends ago.

The museum has the Woolworth's lunch counter where Ezell A. Blair, Jr. , Franklin E. McCain, Joseph A. McNeil, and David L. Richmond sat down in 1960.

Hopefully, most of us have heard of how these four African American students set off a protest that ultimately desegregated Woolworths. But I don't think most of us know any more than that.

Well this poor kid at the museum was (while in character from the era) trying to educate the museum crowd. He kept asking questions and getting no response. You just know he goes home every day and marvels at our collective ignorance.

On a happier note, the crowd watching his performance was about as diverse as any I've ever seen. They just didn't know much about how they got that way.

The Scurlock Studio Exhibit at the NMAH

2009-08-03T04:00:00.000-07:00

The National Museum of American History has an incredible photography exhibit through February of 2010.

The Scurlocks were local photographers who chronicled African American life in Washington DC. The exhibit covers about eighty years of DC history.

The photographs are beautifully done. Particularly impressive was an overhead shot of a ballroom from the thirties or forties. I don't know how they got that shot with that old equipment.

Of course, there were plenty of pictures of famous people (Martin Luther King to Marian Anderson), but it was the shots of everyday life that I really loved.

Also, there is a spot in the exhibit where locals can write down their DC memories and they post some up on a board. My favorite was the woman who talked about how nylon stockings used to last six months when they first came out, but how they make them like crap now. (My words, but the sentiment is the same.)

If you can't make it to the museum, you can see quite a few of the photos online.

Iran Protest in Washington, DC

2009-07-29T03:36:00.000-07:00

So I inadvertently missed the big Iran protest this past weekend. But I did catch this smaller protest the weekend before on my way to the museum.

Not exactly bowling you over with numbers eh. You want to know the funniest thing about it? There were like four or five cop cars keeping an eye on them.

I mean really. It was totally family - all ages, lots of kids running around. What the hell did they think was going to happen. Why do police have to be everywhere all the time.

India Arie at the Merryweather

2009-07-28T04:38:00.001-07:00

That little white spec down there is India Arie. She opened for John Legend a couple weeks ago at the Merryweather Post Pavilion out in Maryland.

I knew she was going to be good, but...she is a goddess.

She gave Chris chills. She almost made me cry. (And you all know I don't cry in public.) She played all the songs I wanted to hear.

And she put on a good show. I particularly liked the part where she ripped off her dreads to reveal her gorgeous bald self.

If you ever get the chance to see her, go.

Review of Thomas Sweet

2009-07-27T04:00:00.000-07:00

So Thomas Sweet is not my favorite ice cream place in DC. In fact, I almost always head across the street to Dolcezza.

However, if I were a kid, I would probably like Thomas Sweet better than anyplace. They have all the ice cream flavors kids like and a zillion toppings. They have fudge and birthday cakes and plenty of places to sit and gorge on them.

So, if you are looking for incredible flavors, go to Dolcezza. If you want great ice cream and gruff service, go to Larry's. But if you have a troop of little ones you need to distract with vanilla wafer and m&m topped cookie dough ice cream, Thomas Sweet it is.

Thomas Sweet, 3214 P Street, Washington, DC

Review of El Chalan

2009-07-24T04:43:00.001-07:00

El Chalan is a little Peruvian place near Foggy Bottom. It is an aged looking place - the kind of place where middle-aged male waiters wear white shirts and dark pants.

The restaurant was nearly empty the day we were there, nothing to distract from the wood chairs and slightly worse for wear walls.

The food was good, not greats, but good. The pisco sours were good. The lomo saltado - good. You get the picture.

I get the impression that this place is more happening at lunch. I can picture some dudes in business suits from the World Bank or IMF coming into this basement restaurant to discuss policy over some meat and potatoes. For the rest of us, I would recommend Las Canteras instead.

El Chalan, 1924 I Street NW, Washington, DC

Review of Max's Best Ice Cream

2009-07-23T17:30:00.001-07:00

I've only eaten at Max's best once, but I'm going to review it anyways. Truth be told, there are so many amazing ice cream and gelato places in DC, there isn't much chance of my getting out to Max's much.

The place is tiny. The wall is covered with pictures of delighted children and DC celebrities (ie. dorky politicians). It is conveniently located right next to Rocklands BBQ and makes a handy dessert stop.

They have a great assortment of homemade flavors - from Mexican chocolate to cookie dough. If you are in the neighborhood, check it out.

Max's Best, 2416 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC

Hana Japanese Market in DC

2009-07-22T04:50:00.001-07:00

There is a new Japanese convenience store down the road from our house (on Florida). It is a snackers paradise.

It is also filled with cool looking Japanese packages - so colorful, like someplace you'd want to go on an acid trip.

They have real food too. You can get sushi grade fish, seaweed, all different kinds of noodles, and mochi. (O.k., some of you may not think mochi is real food, but I could totally eat those little dough covered ice creams for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I really hope this place manages to survive. It's not in the most trafficked area of the city. Get the word out.

Hana, 2004 17th St NW, Washington, DC

Review of Martin's Tavern

2009-07-21T04:19:00.001-07:00

This is going to be a quick and dirty review, because I won't be recommending Martin's Tavern to anyone.

Martin's has been around for 75 years, opened by Irish immigrants when Georgetown was still a working class port. It's an icon. JFK even proposed to Jackie here.

Too bad the food doesn't live up to the historic reputation - Think velveeta and white toast for a cheese dip.

Many of the Georgetown restaurants are sub par, but I found Martin's particularly disappointing.

United States Botanic Garden

2009-07-20T05:28:00.001-07:00

This is the U.S. Botanic Garden, just next to the capital. This picture is actually a bit old. It seems they have put up some covering since then, which is nice, cause it gets hot.

Inside, the conservatory is divided into sections - desert, jungle... Personally, I find most of the conservatory a bit claustrophobic. The paths are narrow and crowded with slow walkers.

The exhibit rooms are more spacious and more interesting than you might think. Christmas time they decorate the hell out of the place. They also have an annual orchid show.

At the moment, they have an exhibit called plants in culture that focuses on how people use herbs and flowers. You can walk around sniffing vanilla and patchouli and whatnot.

The garden also has a significant educational center where you can take classes on gardening and food. They even provide a certification class in botanic illustration (who knew).

Globes in Washington DC

2009-07-16T04:00:00.000-07:00

These crazy globes are all over the place near the Botanic Gardens on the mall.

They are part of the Cool Globes exhibit, meant to bring attention to sustainability.

I have to say, they are all pretty cool. I wish they weren't slated to come down in October. Personally, I think we should have art like this all over the city.

But alas, you have only another few months to check them out, so go to it.

Hotel Rouge in Washington DC

2009-07-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

The Rouge is a Kimpton Hotel and the only hotel in DC I have actually stayed in. As you can see, it is kinda funky, modern, hipster.

We got a great summer deal when we stayed there, but normally the place costs 2 - 300 per night.

The room was a decent size. They have a cool little, moody bar downstairs where you can get lovely cocktails and snacks.

On Saturday mornings, they serve cold pizza for breakfast. They also have a daily wine and beer happy hour for guests. Of course, they serve only red wine and Red Stripe. It is the rouge after all.

Like all Kimpton hotels, it has personality and the service is friendly. The fact that Kimpton is consistently voted as one of the best hotels to work for really shows.

If you have the cash or can get a good deal, you should definitely put this place on the top of your list.

The National Holocaust Museum

2009-07-14T04:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-13T04:00:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-07-12T06:35:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-09T04:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-08T04:00:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-07T04:21:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-06T04:04:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-07-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

What better place to be on Fourth of July weekend than Washington, DC. Get into your zen state so the crowds won't get to you and:

Hit the National Mall for the yearly parade, concert and fireworks display on Saturday.

Do not miss the Folklife Festival, especially not the Latin American music section. Sunday is the last day.

Sunday also closes out this year's Artomatic.

Not to worry, the Source Festival continues.

And Capital Fringe kicks off on Thursday.

Also next week is the DC Hip Hop Theater Festival.

Oh, and for all you skate rats, there are skateboarding demonstrations at the NMAI all weekend

Happy Fourth.

Review of Lauriol Plaza

2009-07-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

The search for a good Mexican restaurant has continued. Pictured here is Lauriol Plaza.

Lauriol Plaza has a few things going for it. They have a large outdoor eating area and a huge dining room. They make some great drinks. And they have an ideal location (between Dupont and Adams Morgan).

The first time I went there (for breakfast) I ordered the chilaquiles. They were awful. I didn't go back for a long time. The next time I was dragged there by my work and ordered a carne asada. It was flavorful and perfectly cooked.

I went back again with Chris. This time I ordered a salad and a tamale. He ordered an enchilada. The salad was passable. The tamale was good. The enchilada was delicious. All in all, Lauriol Plaza is a hit or miss experience. Stop by for a few drinks with friends. And stick to the few things on the menu they seem to do well.

Ruff & Ready

2009-07-01T05:21:00.000-07:00

Ruff and Ready is on 14th street, not too far south of U. It's located in an old house that is quite literally falling apart.

The place is packed to the gills with antiques and junk. This is the patio area where they keep outdoor furniture, some dishes, pots, birdhouses, iron, and who knows what else.

Beyond the patio is a huge warehouse type room with furniture in a variety of conditions. Prior to the patio was the main house which is so packed that two people cannot get through any hall at any time.

Any kind of knickknack or whatnot you can think of can be found at this place. I could wander its dusty corridors for hours. Last trip, I discovered that they have a basement as well. Turns out it was just as packed as the rest of the place. It's nuts.

If you are a treasure hunter, this place is not to be missed.

Review of Lebanese Taverna

2009-06-30T05:05:00.000-07:00

There are several Lebanese Tavernas in the area, but I have only been to the one in Woodley Park. It has a very healthy sized outdoor eating area and a lovely dining room.

Pictured is the shankleesh (feta with paprika rolled in sesame, thyme and sumac). Another favorite, the fattoush salad, is perfectly spiced and flavored with olive oil.

The pitas are like puffy little pillows, perfect for dipping in hummos or shankleesh or (for the brave) their super spicy harissa.

Prices at Lebanese Taverna are surprisingly reasonable, although you always have to watch yourself in places with a large selection of small plates. Service can be a little spotty, but not usually terrible.

All in all a good choice.

Asia After Dark at the Freer Sackler

2009-06-29T04:54:00.000-07:00

Back on June 4th, the Freer and Sackler galleries had their first ever Asia After Dark event.

Tickets were only $15 each and included food, entertainment, and one cocktail. You could also wander around the exhibits.

The dancers in the picture are from the Silk Road Dance Company. They had two performances of traditional Middle Eastern and Persian Dance.

The woman who was describing the dances to us had the biggest hair I had ever seen in my life. She was also extremely cranky that nobody was listening to her shpeel.

It was a great event, with two exceptions. The DJ had every drunk person out there dancing up a storm and nobody was very happy that the dancing had to stop for the performance. Also, the food was stuck in two little corners. The lines for the food were incredibly long and then the food wasn't too great.

Still, I'll be looking forward to the next one.

Coming This Week

2009-06-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Another packed weekend here in DC:

For play addicts, the Source Festival continues until July 12th

For art addicts, Artomatic continues through July 5th

The Smithsonian Folklife Festival kicked off this past Wednesday. This year the focus is on African American storytelling, Welsh crafts, and Latin American music.

The annual Safeway BBQ Battle is this weekend

As is the grand reopening of Eastern Market, complete with free food and entertainment

Yoni Ki Baat, the South Asian version of Vagina Monologues has three performances this weekend at the DC Arts Center

Jazz in the Garden continues tonight in the Sculpture Garden

You can join the ACLU tomorrow to protest Don't Ask Don't Tell

And if you aren't completely exhausted by Sunday, you can hit the Festa Italiana

Three Servicemen Statue Vietnam Memorial

2009-06-23T04:05:00.000-07:00

When you think of the Vietnam memorial in DC, you probably think of the long, black, reflective wall of names.

The memorial actually consists of two parts, that wall and this statue called Three Servicemen.

Apparently, many people thought that the wall was too focused on death. They wanted something more heroic. The servicemen were added a couple years later.

Frankly, I think the focus on death was appropriate, but the statue is fine. The figures are not particularly heroic or grim.

They are just a few somber kids with very large weapons.

Theodore Roosevelt Island and Memorial

2009-06-22T04:11:00.000-07:00

Anyone who watches movies will recognize the Lincoln Memorial or the Jefferson Memorial, but Theodore's memorial never gets any play.

His statue might not seem as majestic as Lincoln's, but Teddy has an entire island to himself. You'd think people would be impressed by that.

You actually need to metro over to Virginia to get to the memorial. Then you walk over a long bridge overlooking the Potomac and Georgetown.

The island has walking paths, some interesting plants and quite a few little buzzing things. We also spotted locals fishing (brave souls).

It's a nice park and makes a great afternoon outing on a pleasant day. Just don't look for vendors or anything, cause you won't likely find any.

Coming This Week

2009-06-19T04:04:00.000-07:00

The weather report tells me we are going to keep seeing rain this weekend, so keep backup plans to any outdoor activities.

Brazilian jazz group Origem plays in the sculpture garden tonight

If you're looking for a more lively scene, it is reggae night at the Carter Barron

Tomorrow is the Juneteenth celebration at Walker Mill Regional Park

Tomorrow is also the Bourbon, Beer and BBQ Festival at the National Harbor

Saturday kicks off the Source Festival, which will run readings, short plays, and other crazy performances through July 12

Silverdocs documentary film festival is still going strong this week

As is Artomatic

Wednesday starts the not to be missed Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Korean War Memorial

2009-06-18T04:00:00.000-07:00

Of all the war memorials, the Korean might be the most impressive.

Soldiers are slogging through scrub brush. They are wearing rain gear and look worn down. The statues are slightly larger than life (just over seven feet).

It's particularly creepy as it gets dark and the shadowy soldiers are up lit.

If the Vietnam Memorial Wall brings home the death of war, the Korean Memorial brings home the suffering.

Behind the suffering soldiers is a wall with etchings of all the different military operations involved in the war, from air force fighters to navy transport.

Central Union Mission

2009-06-17T04:00:00.000-07:00

This is the Central Union Mission. They are a shelter and soup kitchen and have lots of other programs that I'm sure have helped many needy people.

Which makes it all the more shameful that, when I walk by that building, all I can think of is replacing the word unto with into or onto or some other perverse thought.

Good thing I don't believe in hell.

Giant Paella at Dupont Farmers Market

2009-06-16T04:58:00.001-07:00

Last Sunday, Jaleo restaurant kicked off their paella month at the Dupont Circle farmers market. They made a giant paella outside at the market. You're looking at maybe a third of the pan here.

The guy throwing fresh herbs in the paella is Jose Andres. He is the artist behind some of DCs best restaurants - Jaleo, Oyamel, Zaytinya, and Cafe Atlantico.

Also helping out was Jaleo's head chef, Rodolfo Guzman, a visiting chef from Spain, and a slew of Jaleo staff and their families.

I think watching them make the giant paella was even better than eating it (although eating it was pretty damn good ). I can't imagine the amount of time and money they put into their little demonstration. But it definitely made me want to make another visit to Jaleo.

Dreadlock Walking Stick Guy

2009-06-15T04:00:00.000-07:00

I don't know who this guy is, but I love him and think he should be our next mayor.

He can be spotted all around town. Here he is dancing at a hippie concert in Lafayette Park. He always has some sort of walking stick/spear with him.

I have a sneaking suspicion that he is an extraordinarily wise, Buddha, walk-the-earth type and that some day people will be wearing likenesses of him on t-shirts.

Either that or he is batshit insane. Either way, he should be mayor.

Coming This Week

2009-06-13T14:43:00.000-07:00

It's gay pride baby!

Saturday at 6:30 in Dupont Circle is the Capital Pride Parade

Sunday, from 11:00 to 6:00 is the Capital Pride Street Festival on Penn and 3rd. Keep an eye out for RuPaul

Also Sunday, the National Museum of the American Indian has a Hawaiian festival

The American Art Museum's Steinway Series puts on a performance of chamber music on Sunday at 3:00 p.m.

You can still catch a few more performances of the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival

The Silverdocs documentary film festival starts on Monday

And, of course, Artomatic has tons of events through next month

Fancy Fannie Mae

2009-06-11T04:00:00.000-07:00

This building is up in Friendship Heights, as is American University. At first I thought it must be part of the AU campus. Wrong.

It also has the vague aura of a country club, or perhaps a very large banking institution. Wrong.

This monstrously palatial building houses the government agency whose mission is (according to their website) "provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the U.S. housing and mortgage markets."

Hmmm. Think the banks loss of $23.2 billion in the first quarter of this year might have something to do with the fact that they seem to have a bit of trouble being thrifty? Nice example setting.

Oh, and can I just mention that they have their own stoplight. I'm sure all the cars who have to screech to a halt on Wisconsin in order to let people out of the Fannie Mae parking lot are thrilled.

DC Film - Air Force One

2009-06-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

Air Force One is typical of many of the movies set in DC, especially in the nineties.

Good guys include the United States government and military. They are led, of course, by the courageous president played by Harrison Ford. Bad guys include anti-capitalist foreigners with funny accents who like to beat up on women.

The movie begins with paratroopers sneaking into a palace, killing a bunch of people, and capturing the bad guy. We know they captured a bad guy because the paratroopers were accompanied by heroic American music.

Cut to a morally outraged Harrison Ford who declares their long wait to capture said bad guy was unacceptable. From then on, America would act immediately when confronted with "atrocity and terror." Of course, the advisor who declares that allies will be upset with the United States new cowboy strategy is a weenie.

They spend a bit of time showing what a great guy Harrison Ford is. He humbly jokes with the crew. He calls everyone by their first name. He can't wait to watch the game (so manly).

Meanwhile, some "Russian nationalists" who want their general freed from prison have posed as a news crew and are on Air Force One with the heroic president, his lovely wife, precocious child, and loyal staff - except for one traitor who is working with the bad guys.

The infiltrators take over the plane, kill people, act really creepy with the president's daughter, scare the crap out of the presidents wife, make nasty comments to the female vice president (played by Glenn Close). Ford, in contrast to the women-abusing bad guys, refuses to leave the plane in his escape pod (seriously) and stays on to heroically save the girls.

Predictably, he is able to one by one take out the hijackers (although somewhere along the way the five hijackers seem to have multiplied). Ford's morality and manliness (exemplified by his refusal to negotiate with terrorists) are legendary.

A few crazy mid air accidents, a group of (Indian?) bad guys in fighter jets (Chris says outsourcing), and a daring military mid air rescue by our military boys follows. After which the idyllic nuclear family (and therefore all that is good and pure) is saved.

Not sure why I didn't see this move when it came out. It got great reviews, except from Roger Ebert, who I should pay more attention to I think.

The scenes of Washington amounted only to the usual Whitehouse and monument shots to give the impression of the city.

Art Truck at Glen Echo Park

2009-06-08T04:00:00.000-07:00

This crazy car was parked outside of Glen Echo Park for the folk festival. It also had musical accompaniment from outside.

The other side of the car had some kind of scripture. If you are going to go all publicly jesus crazy, this is the way to do it.

I don't believe there was a single person arriving that didn't stop to check this thing out. I saw some people even peering inside, but somehow that seemed awkward. I had the sneaking suspicion someone was in there sleeping.

Coming This Week

2009-06-05T14:08:00.000-07:00

If the free lemon filled Krispy Kreme I received for doughnut day wasn't enough to lift my spirits, we are actually going to see sun for the next few days. Finally.

First Friday Dupont is tonight, although I think the current weather and my general blahness might keep me inside. (You know it's bad if I'm turning down free booze.)

Jazz in the Garden is also tonight, but it isn't much of a garden evening.

Euroasia shorts film festival is more appropriate for the current weather, although shows are sold out and only a handful of at the door tickets will be available.

Artomatic is still kicking, of course, I might hit the Indian Classical Dance show tomorrow night.

The Duke Ellington Jazz Festival has an amazing lineup of artists this year. There is also a jazz n families fun day on Sunday that, despite the guarantee of many little people, sounds interesting.

There is an Armenian Festival Saturday in Alexandria.

There is a Food and Wine Festival at the National Harbor this weekend, but the tickets are $65 a pop. Ouch. That includes some booze tastings, but "dine arounds" are extra.

Eastern Market has concerts Sunday for it's music series.

Jaleo is kicking off a Paella festival with a demonstration and samples at the Dupont Farmers Market on Sunday and a happy hour (with free samples) at the Arlington location on Monday night.

Busboys and Poets will be having a discussion about reparations on Sunday at 4:00

PJ O'Rourke is in town promoting his book Driving Like Crazy, including an appearance at CATO on Tuesday.

Tuesday night concerts include Yanomanem on the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage and Pink Martini at the Wolf Trap

Seriously, anyone who gets bored in DC is crazy.

Florida Avenue Market Tour

2009-06-04T04:00:00.000-07:00

Another Cultural Tourism DC tour that I started and then ditched this weekend was of the Florida Market.

That's the gargantuan group wandering around. Our tour guide was a mumbler. Not good when about 70 people show up.

No matter, I had a blast. The Florida Market is my new favorite thing in DC.

Want to know where all the area Asians, Latinos, Africans, and West Indians are on the weekend? They're at the Florida Market. And they've got every kind of food you can think of. Need some pig ears? Cow hoofs? Mexican pastries? Chinese rice noodles? No problem!

The warehouses at the Florida Market contain wholesale businesses that sell to area restaurants and ethnic food stores. Many of them also sell retail. There is also a flea market, a farmer's market, a few restaurants, and a handful of random people just selling things. I bought the most delicious pork and cheese pupusa from the back of some woman's van. It was perfection.

The market is right off of the New York Avenue metro station. You should hurry up and get out there. The area is gentrifying fast and it probably won't be around much longer.

Peck Mural Tour of Washington DC

2009-06-03T04:00:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Cultural Tourism DC sponsored a bunch of tours around town. One of them was a mural tour led by artist G. Byron Peck.

If you notice a mural in the city, there is a good chance Peck did it. Pictured is the Duke Ellington mural on the True Reformer Building on U Street.

Appropriate that the mural ended up on the True Reformer Building, since it was in that building that Ellington had his first paying gig. He made 25 cents according to our guide.

Also on the tour was the Black Family Reunion Mural up 14th street, the Mayan Mural on Florida and 18th, the Columbia Heights Mural on 14th and Clifton, and the Dupont Circle Fountain Mural on Connecticut.

Truth be told, I skipped out after the first two. A tour has to be really good to keep me herded along with the crowd. It was all moving a bit slow, all the more so because one of the volunteers along for the ride kept interjecting.

Also, while I liked the murals, I didn't love them. All of Peck's murals have a very graphic quality to them. I prefer work that is a little more organic. More importantly, I found them a little topically bland. There was little passion and no controversy. Undoubtedly, the fact that many were painted with support from large organizations, like McDonalds, contributed to that.

Washington Folk Festival at Glen Echo Park

2009-06-02T04:00:00.000-07:00

The Washington Folk Festival at Glen Echo Park was this past weekend. They had every kind of music from bluegrass to gospel. That'd be the gospel group in the pic.

Weather was idyllic. Crowds were thick, but not impossibly so. There were a lot of kids around, which didn't make the boyfriend too happy. The small people eventually pushed us off.

Aside from music, the park was highlighting arts and crafts, many of which were made on premises. Glen Echo has classes in ceramics, painting, glass blowing, writing, and just about every other creative thing you can think of.

There is also a historic merry-go-round, a dance hall (where they teach dance), and a cafe. It's pretty much a crafty person's dream. The highlight for me was watching the glass blowing. I really need to learn how to do that. Look how happy he is!

DC Film - All the President's Men

2009-06-01T04:00:00.000-07:00

We watched another classic DC film this weekend, All the President's Men. For the other five people out there who haven't seen this film, it is about Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's uncovering of the Watergate scandal.

In case you were also born too late to remember Watergate and/or a product of the United States school system. I'll give you a quick rundown.

Some former CIA were caught breaking into the democratic headquarters at the Watergate hotel. A crazy investigation by two Washington Post reporters eventually uncovered that the break-in was just one part of an operation to spy on, discredit, and keep from power democratic candidates.

The President, the CIA, the FBI, and a whole lot of republicans were implicated. Nixon resigned. Ford became president and then pardoned Nixon for all crimes. Incredibly, this complete implosion of the republican party resulted in a one term presidency for Jimmy Carter and then right back to the Republicans. Yikes. How'd the dems screw that up.

Despite being nothing but newsroom shots, interviews, and news clips; the story moves. Robert Redford was intense as Woodward. Dustin Hoffman, as the chain-smoking Bernstein, was just a little sleazy. It's an incredible story, but it needed those two to carry it off.

There are all kinds of great DC shots in the film. You see the Capital right off the bat, the Whitehouse several times, the Library of Congress steps, The Kennedy Center, the Washington Post building, and some neighborhood street shots.

Coming This Week

2009-05-30T05:06:00.000-07:00

Another week of overwhelming choices. It's really summer now.

Artomatic kicks off this weekend. Visual artists, performing artists, music artists, and other local artistic types gather for a little art democracy. This year's Artomatic is in an empty office building off the Navy Yard metro station. Not to be missed.

Cultural Tourism DC is offering a smorgasbord of free tours this weekend.

Dan Fleshler will be at Busboys and Poets peace cafe on Sunday morning talking about his book Transforming America's Israel Lobby.

The Washington Folk Festival at Glen Echo Park has more than 400 performers this weekend.

The Old Town Arts and Crafts Festival is also this weekend.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company has a free reading of Britannicus Monday night.

The EuroAsia shorts film festival kicks off this week, many films are showing at the Goethe Institute.

Thursday night, the Freer Gallery is putting on it's first ever Asia After Dark party with food, booze, and entertainment.

Adams Morgan Mural About DC Voting Rights

2009-05-29T04:00:00.000-07:00

This mural in Adams Morgan says "If you lived here you'd be home now. But you still couldn't vote."

If you were not aware, DC does not have any voting representatives in congress, although it looks like that may change soon.

Unlike some places, Puerto Rico for example, that don't have voting rights, DC residents pay full federal taxes. Hence, our DC license plates say "taxation without representation."

Even worse, all our local governments decisions can be reversed by the congress, even though we have no representation.

Moscow String Quartet at the Freer Gallery

2009-05-28T04:00:00.000-07:00

The Freer Gallery put on a free concert last week. the Moscow String Quartet performed four compositions.

First, let me say that these women were amazing musicians. Two of the songs they played were beautiful, one by Mikhail Glinka and the other by Alexander Borodin.

The other two pieces were written by Sofia Gubaidulina. That's her all the way on the right. They were a little crazy.

The first piece should have been playing in the background of a 1950s murder flick. It was, as Chris pointed out, the perfect music to strangle someone by. And there were quite a few candidates in the audience - the guy in the front row who was reading and fidgeting rudely, for example.

Also, the old, rotund, curmudgeon who yelled at the ticket people when we arrived was a good candidate for strangling. The other curmudgeon who yelled at someone for looking at one of his programs could have used a good throttle too. There were a lot of jerks in the audience is what I'm saying.

But I digress. The last piece was truly bizarre. They flashed red and green lights on the stage. The women played their instruments with little balls on slinkys. I know there was supposed to be music in there somewhere, but I did not get it.

Most of the audience still gave a standing ovation at the end. The musicians deserved it. They were amazing, even if one of their songs was kooky. The composer....well, she was old and we were polite.

Gay Rights Rally in Dupont Circle

2009-05-27T04:00:00.000-07:00

Last night there was a rally in Dupont Circle in support of gay marriage and civil rights in general. I'm bad at guessing crowds, but I would say at least 500 people showed up.

That's as good a protest crowd as I've seen since I've been in DC. Interestingly, while most of the anti-capitalist/anti-war type protests have more cops than protesters, I only saw one cop.

Apparently, hundreds of homosexuals gathering in a public place to chant does not bring fear to the DC police. Two homosexuals getting married, on the other hand...

Speakers included two clergy, the vice president of the National Organization for Women, and Council Member Phil Mendelson. One of the clergy, told us to expect a coming out party next Tuesday of DC clergy in support of gay rights. He said the group includes black, white, straight, gay, baptist, methodist, and catholics. Stay tuned for that.

Taste of Eleven Benefit

2009-05-26T04:06:00.000-07:00

Last Wednesday there was a benefit for the Capital Area Foodbank called Taste of Eleven. The benefit, sponsored in part by the Wizards and Mystics, was held at the Verizon Center.

For eleven bucks, you received six tickets good at thirty six different food stands. The food selection ran the gamut from McDonalds to Cafe Atlantico.

Amazingly, some of the biggest lines were for fast food. Chipotle was packed. No problem. That just meant the lines for Cafe Atlantico ceviche and Jaleo octopus were short.

A little guacamole from Oyamel and a couple sliders and my office mate and I were good to go...to wait on line for ice cream that is. One thing that all the attendees seemed to agree on was the need for a stop at Gifford's Ice Cream. The line was LONG.

It was a great event. Fun. Inexpensive. Something for every taste. And I'll bet they raised some serious cash too.

Coming This Week

2009-05-22T05:48:00.000-07:00

The list of events is surprisingly thin this week. I imagine most of the town will be getting away for memorial day. Not to worry, it is going to be warm and the weather report is getting sunnier by the day. Also, a lot of summer-long events are kicking off this weekend.

Jazz in the Garden starts tonight. The National Gallery Sculpture Garden will have jazz concerts every Friday from now until September 11th.

Public pools around DC and Maryland open this weekend.

It would also be a great weekend to hit the U.S. Botanic Garden where they have a chocolate exhibit.

Or perhaps we will finally check out the National Arboretum or one of the parks around DC

Sunday morning at 9:00 Mohammed Sawalha, a Palestinian human rights activist whose son is in Israeli prison, speaks at the Busboys and Poets Peace Cafe. (Peace Cafe brings together Jews and Arabs around the issue of Israel/Palestine.)

Sunday night is vintage soul, jazz and South American music at Marvin

Monday is the annual memorial day parade and preceded by a wall side ceremony

I think we'll manage to find something to do.

Hawaiian Plays and Fainting Spells

2009-05-21T04:30:00.000-07:00

Friday, Chris and I went to a play at the National Museum of the American Indian. Before the play, this Hawaiian group played music in the Mitsitam Cafe.

The cafe served Hawaiian food, including some rather delicious lumpia (little egg rolls). They also had a sweet and imminently drinkable pineapple coconut cocktail.

The play was called The Conversion of Ka' ahumanu. It takes place in Hawaii and focuses on two women missionaries and three Hawaiian women. Subject matter ran the gamut from European exploitation of indigenous people (and resources) to indigenous people selling their women like cattle. It was a very feminist play.

I won't say I liked the play, but I did find it thought provoking. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the end.

I fainted.

You see. I am very, very (did I say very) squeamish. I have a particular phobia when it comes to needles and knives. The play had a very, very (did I say very) long act about one of the women's mastectomy. It was a mastectomy without drugs. It was descriptive. It was pretty much my worse nightmare.

I started feeling nauseous, but I didn't want to get up in the middle of the play. It's rude. Next thing I know, the voices got really far away. Chris says I let out some sort of moan and started slipping down in my seat. He had to help me out of the theatre.

After my recovery (head between the knees outside of the theatre), I stopped in the ladies room. While I was in there, one of the actors from the play came and asked Chris if I was all right. Apparently, they noticed from stage!

So embarrassing.

Dupont Farmers Market Tomatoes

2009-05-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

The Dupont Circle Farmers Market is getting so good now that summer is close. They finally had strawberries. They also had the most amazing tomatoes.

We've been eating caprese with these tomatoes and some of the Blue Ridge Dairy Company fresh mozzarella. It is soooooooo good.

They also had someone there from Hello Cupcake handing out samples of their strawberry buttercream. I could have eaten a vat of that. I would have had to throw up afterwards, but it would have been worth it.

Mid City Artists Open Studios Tour

2009-05-19T05:37:00.001-07:00

Mid City Artists Open Studios was this weekend. Chris and I managed to hit a few placed on Sunday afternoon.

The cool thing about open studios is, not only do you get to see cool artwork, you also get to see inside the old brownstones in Dupont and Logan Circle.

Also, it's a great opportunity to meet the cool neighbors. We spoke with the artists, checked out their studio/homes, and looked at some beautiful pieces.

Because we got started late, we only had time to visit Lucinda Murphy, Mark Parascandola, Peter Alexander Romero, and Regina Miele. Mark's photography was the highlight for me. Chris loved his photos of an old graffiti covered prison in Spain. I loved the shot up stop sign in Alaska.

If you missed Mark at Open Studios, you can catch him at Artomatic.

DC Film - Strangers on a Train

2009-05-18T07:29:00.000-07:00

Hundreds of movies have been filmed in DC, including some real classics. Last night Chris and I watched Alfred Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train.

Two men meet on a train. A tennis player with political aspirations, in love with a senator's daughter, has a horrible wife he can't get rid of. A trust fund baby has a father he hates. The trust fund baby suggests that they each murder the others problem.

The tennis player thinks the stranger is a kook and forgets about it. Problem is, the stranger was for real. He murders the tennis player's wife. When the tennis player doesn't return the favor, the murderer stalks him. The tennis player won't tell the police because he thinks they won't believe him.

As usual, Hitchcock manages to squeeze in quite a few creepy phobias and create a couple new ones. It has mentally imbalanced strangers who won't leave you alone, the random murder of a young girl in the middle of the woods, a constant fear of being blamed for something you didn't do, and the guilt of knowing something you shouldn't. Plus it has crazy carnys and the best carousel ride ever.

Washington, DC features prominently in the film. The film begins in Union Station, although looking much different from the shopping mall it is today. The Capital Dome is in the background of quite a few scenes. The Lincoln Memorial and National Monument show up as well. Best is the scene where the murderer is standing alone on the Jefferson Memorial steps. The pillars of the memorial tower over him, but he still looks ominous.

Strangers on a train was one of Hitchcock's favorite films. According to Charlotte Chandler, who wrote a Hitchcock biography titled It's only a Movie, it was also the movie that scared him the most. The guy in the carousel scene isn't a stuntman. He is a carnival worker who could have gotten his head chopped off by that thing. You'll know what I mean when you see it.

Hitchcock's daughter Pat is adorable as the tennis player's girlfriend's sister. Oh and keep an eye out for Hitchcock's appearance. He gets on one of the trains as the tennis player gets off.

Coming This Week

2009-05-15T13:56:00.000-07:00

I have major decisions to make this weekend. So much going on and I just won't be able to see it all.

The Conversion of Ka'ahumanu is a play about Christian missionaries and indigenous Hawaiian women. There are two showings (tonight and tomorrow) at the National Museum of the American Indian. Tonight's showing is preceded by Hawaiian food, beverages, and music in the Mitsitam Cafe.

The Asian Heritage Festival street fair is tomorrow on Pennsylvania between 3rd and 6th.

Also tomorrow and Sunday is the Dragon Boat Festival where groups race their dragon boats down the Potomac from Georgetown Waterfront Park.

Still another event tomorrow and Sunday is Mid City Open Studios where, as the name implies, Dupont Circle area artists open their studios to visitors.

And as though that weren't enough, Saturday is DCs Chile cook-off. The cook-off supports the National Kidney Foundation (and probably the makers of Prilosec)

Saturday evening Vijai Nathan performs her one woman show at the Freer Gallery's Meyer Auditorium for free.

Sunday, the Dupont Circle farmers market is going to have strawberries and asparagus, not to mention a cupcake making demonstration. (Can you say samples?!)

And if I could manage to get myself up to Baltimore, the exhibition from Picasso to Leger closes this weekend.

Next week's activities are a bit more somber.

On the 19th there are several events around town in honor of Troy Davis, including an interfaith service at All Souls Unitarian Church.

Thursday there is a screening of the Grapes of Wrath at the American Art Museum

Also Thursday, the Moscow String Quartet gives a free concert in the Meyer Auditorium.

Coming Soon - California

2009-05-01T20:33:00.000-07:00

We arrived in California this afternoon for a short family/friend vacation. More on that adventure when we get back next week. In the meantime, I would just like to point out that Northwest Airlines does not actually land at the San Jose airport (contrary to what our ticket said).

It landed somewhere out in Timbuktu. Then we were herded into a long narrow line under a tarp. This line seemed to lengthen as we walked through it. That may have been due in part to the absurdly slow walkers ahead of us. Or it may have been due to my desperate need for a restroom.

Once we finally reached the end of our journey from the Timbuktu tarmac to the airport, we had to wade our way through about 12 million people. Incredibly, they all seemed elderly and reliant on wheelchairs, walkers, and canes to get around. Inevitably, there was also an enormous lines in the women's bathroom.

In short, should you fly into what they say is San Jose, suck it up and use the plane lavatory before you get off.

Shakespeare's Birthday at the Folger Library

2009-04-29T04:44:00.000-07:00

The Shakespeare Folger Library celebrated Shakespeare's birthday on Sunday. These poor people looked fabulous, but they must have been dying in the 90 degree heat.

Activities included face painting, a Renaissance fashion show, a plant sale and juggling class. Small people could make their own brooches or garlands, write with quills, and participate in a scavenger hunt. There was also a huge birthday cake for all the guests.

The library turned out to be an amazing building. I'll have to go back when I can take more pictures for you all. The place was packed on Sunday.

We managed to catch a performance by the Classical WETA players. They were good. Here's a little taste:

Bank Protests in Dupont Circle

2009-04-28T04:44:00.000-07:00

This was the scene in Dupont Circle on Sunday. If you didn't know, this weekend was the Spring Meetings of the World Bank and IMF.

Its been a couple years since people paid any attention to the banks. Seattle was a bazillion years ago. But now that so much bailout money is going to the IMF, people are paying attention again.

What I liked about these guys was how ascetically appealing they were. In addition to the way-better-than-average- protest signs, they had adorable fliers. They definitely have some artists in their midst.

It's hard to say how many people actually showed up for the protest. Dupont Circle is pretty packed on a sunny Sunday and people tend to stop for a minute. If they had 50 or sixty protesters, it was a lot. (I'm not including cops.) They did; however, have camera crews. That's a coup, especially if they got coverage.

Idle Time Books in Washington, DC

2009-04-27T08:58:00.000-07:00

Idle Time is a used and rare bookstore in Adams Morgan. It's smaller and slightly pricier than Second Story Books in Dupont, but it has a decent selection and great staff.

It has some nice hidden corners upstairs to chill out and a decent selection of books in Spanish. They also sell cards and mags.

If you're in the neighborhood, you should definitely stop by.

Idle Time Books, 2467 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC

Coming This Week

2009-04-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

Coming this week:

American University has a free comedy show Friday night

8th Street restaurants are having Taste of 8th on Saturday

Joe's Hoop Jam is Saturday

French Market at Patisserie Poupon is Saturday as well

Craft Week displays are up in the National Building Museum

Shakespeare's birthday is celebrated at the Folger Shakespeare Library on Sunday

DC Film Festival is still going strong

And there are still lots of plays I want to see - The Faithkiller, True History of Coca Cola, and the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster Holiday Pageant

Review of The Diner

2009-04-23T04:40:00.001-07:00

Every town needs that go to place at whatever hour you need to eat and the Diner in Adams Morgan is it for DC.

It is open 24 hours. They serve everything from Philly omelets (a personal favorite) to grilled salmon with mango salsa. The food is all surprisingly tasty and it's nice to have choices from heart stopping to healthy.

It's a bit upscale from your standard route 66 kind of diner, but the prices are DC reasonable. The crowd changes a bit depending on the hour, but it's usually an eclectic mix.

The service has always been pretty good and the staff seems to get along. All in all, this is a good place to go anytime. It's a particularly good choice for late breakfast or post partying sustenance.

The Diner, 2453 18th St NW, Washington, DC

Tulip Explosion in Washington, DC

2009-04-22T17:00:00.001-07:00

Washington DC is full of tulips right now. Apparently, this is a yearly thing. According to the National Park Service, hundreds of thousands of tulips are planted around town.

They aren't quite as impressive as all those cherry blossoms, but they're gorgeous all the same.

Earth Day in Washington, DC

2009-04-21T04:16:00.000-07:00

We stopped by the earth day celebration on the National Mall this Sunday. It was a cross between a science fair and a shopping mall.

Everyone was walking around carrying these NASA shopping bags. Long lines lead to any booths giving away free crap.

Lots of marketers were there. Fedex had a booth, as did Timberland. There was a whole section of hybrid cars. It was one big consumer fest.

A dark tent full of scientists (many from government agencies) showed off their wares. And the concert stage had a stream of local environmental groups and politicians giving speeches.

Chevy Case was there introducing everyone. He was old. It was old.

Poetry Marathon at Teatro de la Luna

2009-04-20T04:57:00.001-07:00

This is the Teatro de la Luna (Theater of the Moon). It is a teeny, tiny hole in the wall near the Georgia Avenue metro station. They put on Spanish language plays.

Friday and Saturday they had a poetry marathon. We only managed to catch the last hour and a half or so. They had award-winning poets from all over the Spanish speaking world.

Jose Acosta, Dominican Republic
Roberto Arizmendi, Mexico
Sergio Badilla Castillo, Chile
Leon Felix Batista, Dominican Republic
Noni Benegas, Argentina
Iliana Godoy, Mexico
Eduardo Mosches, Argentia
Maria Angeles Perez Lopez, Spain

They also had open mike parts where audience members got up and read. Of course, the audience was mostly made up of people involved in the theater. It was a big, jovial family. Next year I'll be going and dragging some more people along with me.

Coming This Week

2009-04-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

There is so much going on in DC right now, my day job is really getting in the way. This coming week's festivities include:

DC Film Festival

Plays galore - including The Faithkiller, True History of Coca Cola, and the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster Holiday Pageant

Earth day Concert on the National Mall with the Flaming Lips

The Bethesda Literary Festival

Spanish Poetry Marathon at Casa de la Luna

Thai Restaurant Week

Community Potluck and Recycling at Joe's

Picnicking in Rock Creek Park

Flamenca Show at the National Theater

Ra Ra Rasputin post punk concert at the Black Cat

I'm tired just thinking about it. We'll see how much I can actually pack in.

Rodman's Discount Food & Drug

2009-04-16T04:59:00.000-07:00

This is Rodman's. It doesn't look like much from the outside I know. The inside isn't exactly spectacular either, but it has its charms.

Aside from an assortment of gourmet, "ethnic", and regular foods, Rodman's has an enormous wine and beer section. And they actually have people working in it. And they actually seem to know what they are talking about.

Even more importantly, they sometimes offer samples. Last time we were there, they were sampling several different kinds of beer. Needless to say, the boyfriend loitered around the sample guy while I perused the store.

If you're in the Friendship Heights neighborhood have a look.

Rodman's Discount Food & Drug, 5100 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington, DC

Pillow Fight in Dupont Circle

2009-04-15T04:36:00.000-07:00

Chris was wandering around town the other day and came across a bunch of people in Dupont Circle having a pillow fight. These two were getting ready for a showdown.

I finally got around to finding out what this was all about. Turns out that April 4th is world pilllow fight day. Who knew?

I just added my name to their mailing list so I'll know for next year.

Review of Ben's Chili Bowl

2009-04-14T05:03:00.001-07:00

We finally made it to Ben's Chili Bowl this weekend. I can't believe we waited this long. It was goooooood.

Ben's has been around since 1958. It has survived eleven presidents, the DC riots, economic blight, and the building of a metro station across the street that killed business for five years.

Ben's managed to survive with the help of some very high profile plugs from Bill Cosby. Cosby gets to eat free at Ben's. He used to be the only one.

Now the sign says that Cosby and the Obama family eat free. Except, since Barack paid, someone wrote at the bottom of the sign "but he paid." I came so close to going to Ben's the day that Obama showed up. I can't imagine the energy in that place.

The energy was pretty good on a random Saturday night when we went. It was packed, as always. They were blasting Motown and old 80s r&b on the radio. A million employees were squeezed behind the narrow counter. Happy people gorged on chili covered half smokes, burgers, chili fries, and thick chocolate shakes.

If you think Ben's has gotten to the point where it relies on its notoriety and constant appearance on travel shows, forget about it. The place is still filled with locals. The food is great (if possibly heart attack inducing). It's a must stop in DC.

Ben's Chili Bowl, 1213 U Street NW, Washington, DC

Bajofondo Comes to Washington, DC

2009-04-13T04:59:00.000-07:00

If you don't know Bajofondo, they are an Argentinian/Uruguayan band that plays (what I like to call) techno-tango. You can hear them on their MySpace page.

They played at the 9:30 Club. It's a good space, but the trick is to get there early and stake out a spot on the balcony. We got held up at Ben's and arrived late, hence the picture from afar.

They were good, a little too good even. Being electronic, they sample a lot of stuff. It felt like the instrumental equivalent of lip synching. Still, they were worth seeing, even if I spent the whole time wishing I hadn't quit doing drugs.

The crowd was waaaaaay yuppie (picture striped button down shirts under cable knit sweaters). Also, who knew there were so many Argentinians here in DC?

Free Hugs in Washington DC

2009-04-10T05:01:00.000-07:00

You may remember my post about the kite festival a couple weekends ago. What I didn't mention was this couple giving out free hugs by the National Monument.

If you watch Oprah, you may know about the guy who started the free hugs campaign. I'm not an Oprah watcher, so I just discovered this when I googled free hugs.

Apparently, it is something of a phenomenon and there are photos of people giving free hugs all over the world.

It's amazing how many people stopped to get hugs from these two. Even the people who didn't stop got a kick out of it. Am I sick for thinking that kid just wants to feel her up?

Sculpture Garden in Washington DC

2009-04-09T04:34:00.000-07:00

The sculpture garden isn't just a place for winter ice skating escapades. It's a perfect hangout in good weather too.

The park is next to and part of the National Gallery of Art. It's paths take you past all kinds of crazy sculptures - a thoughtful rabbit, freeform chairs, something that looks like you could rebirth out of it.

The picture shows the giant typewriter eraser. For those youngsters who are saying "what the hell is a typewriter eraser," I hate you. Go look it up.

The garden has an overpriced, but fairly decent cafe where you can get sandwiches and drinks (alcoholic included). Grab a glass of wine, snag an outdoor table, and soak up the sun.

Whitehouse Hippy Protest

2009-04-08T15:27:00.001-07:00

I believe I have mentioned in past posts that protesters often gather in Lafayette Park behind the Whitehouse.

Sometimes people camp out, sometimes they just walk around with sandwich boards and a megaphone. Code Pink likes to get creative - shoe throwing, animal outfits...

A couple weeks ago, Chris and I were walking through Lafayette on our way somewhere and ran into these two (pretty awful) musicians who were giving a concert straight out of 1969.

They had all of about four people grooving to the music and another twenty or so tourists taking snaps and moving on. The sign says "Wanted Wisdom & Honesty Peace Park." Peace Park is a 24 hour a day vigil that has been going on in Lafayette Park since 1981. Not sure how camping in the park is supposed to bring peace, but I guess it can't hurt.

Now if they started a little Lafayette Park agriculture project, that might spread some peace.

First Friday Gallery Walk in Dupont Circle

2009-04-07T05:08:00.001-07:00

This past Friday was the first Friday of the month. That meant Dupont galleries were open late. More importantly, it meant free booze.

From 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. every first Friday, Dupont galleries serve snacks and wine. Hoards of art lovers and poor/cheap people descend into the streets. The former can also enjoy some interesting pieces and possibly meet the artists.

At the Washington Printmakers Gallery, I met Fleming Jeffries and spent some time talking to her about a book she made. Her work is colorful, organic, and feels a little eastern.

My favorite work by far was by Steve Lapin. He makes crazy works in ceramics. One piece was a circular on the wall with a car bursting forth through a brick wall. The car popped out at you. The bricks flew out at you. The pieces were fun, colorful, whimsical, and amusing. Then, when you got closer, they were incredibly detailed and beautiful. Photos don't do them justice, but here are a few anyway.

Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin

2009-04-06T04:56:00.000-07:00

The cherry blossoms were out in force yesterday, as were the tourists. This is the spot Chris and I picked for our afternoon nap.

Looks peaceful doesn't it. It would have been except for the helicopters regularly passing overhead and the occasional screaming child.

It says something about how beautiful the trees are that I'm willing to deal with the crowds and the screaming kids and the people who bring their bikes and HUGE strollers on the narrow tidal basin path.

Next year I'm going to cut out of work one day and rent a paddle boat so I can avoid the crowds.

Review of Chinatown Express

2009-04-03T20:31:00.001-07:00

Chinatown Express is a a little dive in - surprise, surprise - Chinatown.

The front window gives passers by a view of the chefs making noodles in the window. That's about as atmospheric as the place gets. It's a bit shabby. Service is perfunctory, but fine.

The fresh noodles are definitely the way to go. I like the super dense won tons in the won ton soup. The lo mein is a bit on the greasy side, but the portions are huge.

Although the prices aren't dirt cheap, two people can easily eat here for under $20. Lunch is even better. You can get their lunch special for like $6. All in all, not a bad option if you're in Chinatown, slightly broke, and very hungry.

Chinatown Express, 746 6th St NW Washington, DC

Coming Soon

2009-04-02T04:42:00.001-07:00

The weather people insist that it is going to be in the sixties and sunny this weekend. Gorgeous. Aside from sitting outside and soaking it all in:

Thursday night we'll be hitting the Wizards v. Cavaliers game, probably the last one of the season

Friday afternoon I have a conference at the Cato institute on drug decriminalization in Portugal

Friday night is open gallery night in Dupont Circle

It'll be hard to drag myself to yoga and an Artomatic meeting on Saturday, but it should leave me enough time for wandering through the cherry blossoms.

No plans on Sunday and I plan to keep it that way (oh wait, I guess that's a plan)

And to cap it off, Walter Mosley will be at Politics and Prose on Monday night

Goethe-Institute Human Rights Films

2009-04-01T04:52:00.000-07:00

The Goethe-Institute is a German cultural center with locations all over the world, including in DC. They have exhibit space, a theater, events spaces, and classrooms where you can learn German.

This past weekend they were showing films from a human rights film festival based out of the Czech Republic. Chris and I saw two of them.

The Reckoning was about the International Criminal Court (ICC). It gave an overview of international justice, starting with an interview of the attorney who prosecuted the Nazis at Nuremberg. Then is followed the ICC through its formation and its first few cases - Uganda, Sudan, Colombia. It was sad and fascinating and made me want to punch John Bolton in the face.

The second film we watched was called Life After the Fall. A documentary filmmaker who had been living in London and working for the BBC for decades returned to his home country of Iraq after the fall of Saddam. The film follows his family for four years, watching them grow increasingly frustrated, disillusioned, and dejected. It's a long film, Lord of the Rings long, but it's worth it.

Best of all, most of the events at Goethe are free.

Cherry Blossom Festival Opening Ceremony

2009-03-31T17:14:00.000-07:00

I love the ballet. I also love free stuff. So when I have an opportunity to see free ballet I am all over it.

The Washington Ballet performed The Waltz of the Cherry Blossoms for us on Saturday, their version of The Nutcracker dance. It was beautiful and worth wading through the whining children who came out for family day.

There was a litany of boring speeches after the ballet, including one by Eleanor Holmes-Norton. There was also singing of the American and Japanese anthems, a bunch of kids on violins, a Stomp-like group of Asian women, and a Japanese hip-hop dancer. They were o.k., probably not worth coming out for.

The most interesting part of the festivities was a performance by Jero (Jerome White, Jr.). He's an African American from Pittsburgh who sings Japanese blues music. It sounds a lot like James Bond theme song music. I had never heard of Japanese blues or Jero, but apparently this guy is huge in Japan. Tweens and elderly Japanese women were screaming like he was Michael Jackson in the 80s. How could I not know about this?

I made a really poor quality recording of Jero with my camera. Check it out.

Kite Festival in Washington, DC

2009-03-30T09:43:00.000-07:00

The Cherry Blossom Festival kicked off last weekend and our first stop was the Kite Festival.

Hundreds came out despite the gloomy, misty weather. Small kites, large kites, homemade kites, state of the art kites, butterfly kites, Spiderman kites, and even this lovely rasta kite filled the sky around the national monument.

Lots of kids were running around getting dirty in the muddy grass, quite a few adults too.