Theodore Roosevelt Island and Memorial

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

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

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

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

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

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

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