Drummin'

This was a drummin' day with Mamady Keita in Baltimore, Maryland. What and awesome experience - he is really something to behold!

I was happy to see my friend Kitty at the workshop - Kitty and I met in Jonathan Murray's hand drumming class at Howard County Recreation last fall.

First Snow

Today, Saturday December 5, was the first snow of Winter 2009. This is a park area just down the street from my apartment in Laurel.

On This Day - I drummed at Meridian Park

I drummed at Meridian Park today. The picture is from a couple of weeks ago. My hands hurt tonight.

Before the Harlem Renaissance

Last Friday night I went down to the Lincoln Theatre for a wonderful performance about U Street and its influence on the Harlem Renaissance. Appropriately it was called "Before the Harlem Renaissance there was U Street." I have wanted to go to the Lincoln Theatre since it reopened – and this presented a wonderful opportunity.

At the will call window, my ticket was lost but my reservation was not. So I was given a seating pass and proceeded inside. I arrived early and the theatre was not open yet, so the crowd waited in the lobby area. I was struck immediately with a feeling of the fifties or maybe early sixties back in Sanford, Florida where I was born and raised. Here I was in the middle of Washington feeling particularly out of place – one of a few white faces in a sea of African American ones. Mind you, I did not feel uncomfortable, but rather mindful of a time and place from my youth – only with a feeling reversal.

I found my seat a few minutes later and next to me was a wonderful gentleman, Edward from Baltimore. He asked how I came to be at the Lincoln. I told him of my fascination with the Harlem Renaissance, of Zora Neale Hurston and Eatonville a few miles from my hometown, about how I was moved by the poetry of Langson Hughes and how reading W.E.B DuBois influenced my thinking as a young adult. We talked about our childhoods – mine growing up in the segregated south and his as a black man growing up in Crisfield, Maryland. Our stories were so different – our growth and experiences as a result of these childhood experiences, however, were surprisingly similar.

The performance was wonderful – music and dance from a bygone era – and a legacy that lives on.

Metro Rail - Aftermath Ride

Last Thursday I took my first Metro ride since the crash earlier in the week. As I drove to the station I was thinking that I should probably avoid the first and last cars on the train. Little did I know that everyone had the same idea - the middle cars were packed - standing room only, but you could get a good seat in the forward car! That evening there was a story on the local Washington news channel about folks avoiding the first and last cars on the Metro!

Saturday I am going back on Metro to Eastern Market to explore the opening of the new market building. I think I should get over my phobia about first and last cars and go for one where I can get a seat.

I've been riding metro since 1979 when I moved to this area the first time. I haven't lost my love of this means of getting around the city. Metro is truly a marvel and last Monday's accident was that - a horrible and tragic accident. With what we've learned in the aftermath, the woman driving that train is a true hero - It appears that she knew what was about to happen and did everything in her power to avoid it. It cost her everything.

Cheesesteak in South Philly

While exploring southeast Pennsylvania earlier this week, my daughter Cheryl and I ended up in Philadelphia. After a visit to the Liberty Bell and other downtown sights, Cheryl said she wanted to follow up on determining the best Philly cheesesteak sandwich. She had seen an challenge, probably on the Cooking Channel, about dueling sandwich stands, Geno’s and Pat's King of Steaks in south Philly. So we headed out walking from downtown – past South Street and through the Italian markets to cheesesteak central – Genio’s on one side of 9th Street and Pat’s on the other.

Not knowing which to choose we assessed the situation and determined that the line was longest at Pat's. So it was off to Pat’s where we ordered up a steak with wiz, mushrooms, and peppers (Cheryl said that wiz was the only authentic way to go). You order and pay for your sandwich at one window and then proceed down to the next one for drinks, fries and such. It was around 1:00PM on a Tuesday afternoon and not an empty table in sight … so we waited and snagged one as some folks were finishing up. It was an awesome and delightful artery clogging sandwich, I must admit.

When we finished, we walked across the street to Genio’s – and wouldn't you know it, we decided we would never know which was the best unless we tried both…so we ordered another…identical to the one we had just consumed.

It didn’t take our jury of two long to decide the verdict – hands down it is Pat’s King of Steaks!

Ben's Chili Bowl - A Washington Institution

Saturday evening, after a wonderful day of shooting photographs in the Adams-Morgan area, Springer and I headed to the U Street Metro and found ourselves at Ben's. Well, truth be told, I had been talking about going to Ben's all day long. Yes, there is a line around the block to get in - and yes, that's a streach Hummer limo parked outside, actually there were two of them. Ben's is an experience - and the chili dog was pretty darn good too!

Oregon Ridge Hike

This morning Oregon Ridge Park (Baltimore County, MD) held their annual pancake breakfast featuring locally made maple syrup - what an awesome beginning to a wonderful day of hiking. The group today numbered probably 60 or 70 hikers - we split into two groups to minimize our footprint and impact - and to make for a more manageable group photo!

We hiked four miles or so along the Oregon Ridge trails - probably not enough to offset all that maple syrup - but it was a wonderful day to be outdoors - the weathers was about 70 degrees and gently overcast.

Winter Wonderland

It's early March. We had somewhere between 4 and 5 inches of snow on Monday. It's cold here in Maryland ... I really miss Florida!

The Lincoln Cottage

About three miles from the White House, on the grounds of the Soldiers’ Home, is the newly renovated Lincoln Cottage. During his presidency, Lincoln spent considerable time at the cottage where he would go with his family to escape the heat and humidity of Washington summers as well as the burdens of the presidency. The cottage was used by several presidents of the time, much as Camp David is used by contemporary occupants of the White House. Since its use as a presidential retreat, it was occupied as general officer's quarters and more recently as office space before undergoing a significant restoration to its former Lincoln period style. It was designated a National Monument by President Clinton in 2000.

The story goes that Lincoln would spend his days at the White House, his so called “Iron Prison,” and travel by horse to the cottage for the evening. Even in those days there was concern for the safety of the president, but he had no bullet proof carriage and indeed not much protection at all as the traveled to and fro. It was at the cottage that he received guests, mingled with the soldiers camped on the lawn and in the general area, watched the funerals of the fallen at the nearby national cemetery, and pondered… He found refuge at this cottage, wrote a famous proclamation, and weighed the wages of war.

The cottage is open for tours and is under the care of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Happy Birthday Abe

Remember the song from "Hair" ... Abie Baby - well here we are celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. In the back of my head - running non stop all day -was "Happy Birthday Abie Baby, Happy Birthday to you..."

Last week, while scouting out some potential new adventures, I happened on Lincoln Park (also known as Lincoln Square). It's a few blocks from Eastern Market, east of Capitol Hill. One of the highlights of the park is this sculpture, The Emancipation. So, in honor of the Abe's birthday, I thought I would post a photo of the sculpture in Lincoln Park.

This sculpture was dedicated on April 14, 1876, the eleventh anniversary of Lincoln's assassination. It was commissioned by the Western Sanitary Commission of St. Louis entirely of funds contributed by emancipated slaves. The first contribution, five dollars, was made by Charlotte Scott a freed woman from Virginia. The slave in the sculpture was modeled after Archer Alexander, the last slave to be captured under the Fugitive Slave Act.

It is a lifesize bronze sculpture. The sculptor was Thomas Bell; the architect was Major O. E. Babcock. It is located in Lincoln Park on East Capitol at 11th Street NE, Washington, D. C.

Margaret 001

This is Margaret.

She was sitting on the side of H Street (Washington, DC) waiting for the Chinese New Year day parade when I happend to pass. I came back and for the entire parade I sat in front of her as the dragons danced down the streets and children played and bands of exotic instrments marched. It was a wonderful parade.

When it was over I asked her name and if it was OK for me to take her picture. I was thinking of the 100 strangers project and how perfecte she would be. She agreed to the photo and we enjoyed a few minutes of conversation - actually she was so happy that I had taken time to talk to her and I was so warmed and delighted with getting to know her if only for a few minutes on a busy street corner. So Margaret was posted as the first of my 100 strangers. She's not the first person I have photographed for this assignement, but the first I have posted. Others, for various reasons, I have chosen to keep as my own.

Margaret is a special lady.

Swamp Tromp through the Everglades - January 2009

The Everglades trip was awesome. There were eleven of us this year (left to right):

• Gary Gibson
• Mark Massey
• Susan Iwaniw
• Paul Semenec
• Mike Semenec
• Armand Van Den Bogaert
• Me
• Albert Van Den Bogaert
• Rachel Doran
• Ludo Van Den Bogaert
• and Betty Dawson (not pictured)

It was a four day adventure - we left from Chokoloskee and spent the first night at Pavilion Key. We then ventured to the haunts of the Watson Place, the Lopez Place, and back to Chokoloskee.

Details to follow....

Everglades Bound...

Joe Long and Gary Gibson - Everglades 2005

It is approaching MLK Weekend - that can only mean that it is time for another Swamp Tromp through the Everglades! In Washington the crowds will be shivering through an inauguration. Me - I will be basking in the Florida sun paddling my kayak through the Everglades. Oh, I miss my kayak and Florida winters!

This year we are planning to leave from Chokoloskee and head toward either Pavillion Key or Rabbit Key for an island overnight. Then it's off to the Watson Place - Gary has dreamed of a return to the Watson Place for years - it's haunted you know. It also has monster mosquitos! I think we are planning the final night at Lopez River - one of our more frequent destinations. All our plans this year are for land camping rather than using the chickees. In 2005 there were 11 of us and we stayed one night on Sweetwater Chickee (see photo below). While Sweetwater was rated for 12 people - it was very cramped and I was afraid to roll over for fear of falling in! There was a gator under the chickee most of the night - with every swish of his tail, the bio luminance glowed - it was awesome.

This is the Sweetwater Chickee - taken as we were leaving. That's Ludo VanDenBogaert and I believe the other person is his son Brian. Again, from the 2005 adventure.

Secretary of Arts

Quincy Jones (right) recently made a comment that the next time he talked with Barack Obama it would be to suggest the establishment of a cabinet level position for the arts. Can you imagine - a cabinet level position in support of arts and culture? Maybe we could see support for arts in public schools - what a novel concept - and a whole new twist on whole child education.

What do you think - Secretary of Arts and Culture? See the op-ed piece in the NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/27/opinion/27ferris.html?_r=2

Monuments by Moonlight

The DC monuments by moonlight are awesome! Last Friday, the Maryland Hiking Meet-up Group I belong to joined up with the Sierra Club for a memorable (for a number of reasons) sneaker hike around the monuments. The hike was lead by Jim Finucane, a knowledgeable and fun hike leader. Jim’s leader apparel included a beanie with a propeller on top – not exactly suited for the 30 degree weather but most appropriate for his personality – he said it was a gift and that he really needed a place to wear it.

Toby, Liz and I were late getting to the meeting point – by about thirty minutes. We took the subway in but traffic getting to the Greenbelt station was terrible. And of course, we sat on the train for another ten minutes before it left the station. We got to Federal Triangle and went looking for the group – first our part of the group (Kellie, Daryl, MaryC, and Dega the dog) which we eventually met at the Washington Monument and then the other part of the group, the Sierra Club part. We finally merged outside the Air and Space Museum. You would think it would be easy finding a group of 15 people at 8:00PM on a Friday night on the DC Mall – wrong! The miracle of cell phones made it happen!

So we missed Jim’s tour of the Capitol grounds – with all the construction for the inauguration on the 20th. We stopped at the Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden and admired the great art from above as it was closed for the evening. Then we were off to the Washington Monument, the WWII Memorial, and the Jefferson Memorial. The Jefferson Memorial was awesome in the moonlight (and has indoor heated restrooms!). From there we walked along the tidal basin to the FDR Memorial – what an awesome place at night – having been there during the day, I had no idea how different it came across on what was rapidly becoming an overcast and cloudy moonlight night. We wondered through the Korean War Memorial with haunting soldiers on patrol, past the Lincoln Memorial, and though the Viet Nam Memorial. By this time it was nearing 10PM and there were still folks there doing charcoal rubbings, reflecting and mourning – will it ever end? One remarkable thing about the hike was that the fountains were all working – the fountains at the WWII memorial and those at the FDR memorial – I think it must be that they are putting on a good face for the inauguration crowd because they would otherwise be down for maintenance this time of year!

About the time we were at the Jefferson Memorial – I got this craving for Chinese food – Chinatown Chinese food. At FDR I voiced it again, and by the end there were six of us headed to Chinatown. Micah, a wonderful young man on the hike and a Washington “foodie,” recommended Full Kee Restaurant on H Street. So sometime after 11PM – the six of us descended on Chinatown for dumpling soup and a few entrees of some really fantastic ethnic dishes. Since we had been hiking for about four hours in about 30 degree weather, I really welcomed the hot tea too.

I got home somewhere around 2am, I think… and didn’t get up until about noon the next day. Talk about sleeping in after a wonderful hike.

I recommend the monuments in moonlight. I would love to take my camera and try to capture some night time images. Visitors beware – I feel a need to alter my DC tours to include some “night life” as well.