Fate

Fate

For our visit to the Capitol and the Library of Congress, we parked the car in the parking deck at Union Station. On our way back to the car, Mary Ellen and I popped into the shops off the main concourse. As I was looking in a glass display case, I noticed a reflection of the skylights overhead. When I looked up, this is what I saw. I'm calling this photo Fate.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 02/09

Taxation

Colonnade in color

I can't decide which I like better--this colonnade at the Internal Revenue Service in color or black and white. What do you think? By way of information, the IRS is the tax-collecting arm of the Federal Government. Americans pay approximately 35% of their salary in taxes. The history of income tax in the U.S. dates back to the Lincoln Administration when the government instituted a tax to help finance the Civil War. The tax was never meant to be permanent, but it's also never been rescinded. There is continued debate regarding the legality of the IRS and income tax. I doubt they'll ever resolve it, though. As long as there's government and programs and citizens and the need to pay for services and benefits, there will be taxes.

Colonnade in black and white

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Two Things Challenge: Up / Down

Up : The Exorcist Steps are not a light climb

This week's Two Things Challenge was Up / Down. I chose as my subject "The Exorcist Steps" in Georgetown. This steep flight of stairs was featured in a scene in the 1973 film The Exorcist, based on the novel by William Blatty. The steps are located at the end of M Street and the beginning of Canal Road where both branch off onto the Whitehurst Freeway. This spooky staircase is adjacent to an old car barn from the days when D.C. had a street car system.

Down: About halfway up, this is the view from the Exorcist Steps.
In the background: Whitehurst Freeway, Key Bridge, and Crystal City.

Climbing the steps will result in two things: First, you can say "Feel the burn!" as your calves and lungs scream for mercy, and second, when you arrive at the top, you'll find yourself at Prospect and 36th Streets NW. Hook a left, walk a couple more blocks, and you'll find yourself at Georgetown University. I'll be featuring pictures of that storied, Jesuit school in a few days.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 08/08

The Bard

The Folger Shakespeare Library on Capitol Hill

Located on Capitol Hill with a view of the U.S. Capital and a hop-skip-and-a-jump from the Library of Congress is the Folger Shakespeare Library. The library opened in 1932, a gift from Henry Clay Folger and his wife Emily Jordan Folger who were collectors of Shakespeare's works. It contains one of the largest and finest collections in the world of the Bard's writings.

The Tragedies of Ivlivs Caeser

The Folger is open to the public and includes a bookstore, several exhibitions, and a theater. The library also has special reader access for scholars who are either pursuing a Ph.D. or who have a doctorate.

Top left: Detail from A Midsommer Night's Dream, top right: Romeo and Juliet
Bottom left: Detail from The Merchant of Venice, bottom right: The Tragedies of Richard the III

If you love Shakespeare, be sure to visit the Folger when you're in town! And, if you want to catch a performance of Shakespeare, several venues in the area stage the Bard's works, including The Kennedy Center, Carter-Barron Amphitheater, Wolf Trap for the Performing Arts, and The Shakespeare Theater Company, to name only a few.

Shakespeare in bas relief

And since you know you cannot see yourself,
so well as by reflection, I, your glass,
will modestly discover to yourself,
that of yourself which you yet know not of.
- William Shakespeare

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 6/08

Dumbarton House

Dumbarton House: Home of America's First Register of the U.S. Treasury

If you're interested in historic homes in the D.C. area, Dumbarton House should be on your list of must-sees. Located at 2715 Q Street NW in Georgetown, the home is a wonderful example of Federal architecture and decorating in the city. Originally owned by Joseph Nourse (pronounced Nurse), this historic home is now the headquarters for the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America. The home was built around 1800 and, according the NSCDA's website, is "one of few brick homes of its style still in existence in Georgetown."

Joseph Nourse, who was the first Register of the U.S. Treasury (today's equivalent of the Treasurer of the United States), lived in the home with his family from 1804 - 1813. While he lived there, it was called Cedar Hill. It features all the classic characteristics of a Federal style home right down to the furnishings, which are often present in duplicates and set so as to mirror one another. In the entry hall, the home features an Argand Chandelier that Mr. Nourse paid $10 for in 1804. The wood floor is covered with a piece of canvas that was painted seven times on both sides producing a look we would call linoleum today and was crafted to look like black and white squares of cultured marble tile.

One of the unusual features of the home are the rounded bays at the back of the home on both sides. This wasn't typically a component in Federal architecture, but was included as a means of providing more natural light to the rooms on the back of the house. In 1814, Charles Carroll bought the home and renamed it Belle Vue. It was here that Dolly Madison, First Lady and wife of President James Madison, having saved precious documents and a portrait of Washington, first stopped as she fled advancing British troops who burned the White House and the city.

The home is open to the public for tours. The cost is $5/person--relatively cheap compared to other historic homes--and is near Dumbarton Oaks, Oak Hill Cemetery, and within walking distance of Georgetown's waterfront. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed in the home, so all I have are exterior shots. The home features a lovely garden and side patio which can be rented for special events. Dumbarton House is Metro accessible. (Click on images to enlarge.)

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 4/08

Two Things Challenge: Old / New

Architecture spanning more than 150 years--old and new together

This week's challenge was Old / New. There's plenty of old around here, that's for sure. And lots of new if you count the new Newseum that's opening in a month or so or the new Target that opens next week or all of the new condo high-rise construction that seems to never end despite the housing slump.

Here are my contributions to this week's challenge. The first was taken at the half block of Church and 16th Streets NW. Starting on the right are two old rowhouses that were built in the mid-1800s. In the center, an Art Deco apartment building likely built in the early-1900s. And on the left, a minimalist apartment building that probably went up in the late-1980s and received a facelift--the windows and girders on the front--in the last five years. Old, new, newer...

The Old iPod Shuffle and the New iPod Shuffle, courtesy of Apple

This second photo is of the first and second generation Apple iPod Shuffle. When the first one came out, it was marketed as "smaller than a pack of gum." Today's iteration clips onto whatever you're wearing or carrying. Old Shuffle, New Shuffle. Cha cha cha...


Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 3/08

Warm Arches

Calvert Street Bridge over Rock Creek

Heading out to the States today for a brunch, which means I'll be traveling Beach Drive to Rock Creek Parkway. This is the arch that holds up the bridge that connects the neighborhood of Woodley Park with Adams Morgan.

This would be really pretty with some snow, but I shouldn't complain too much. At least it's sunny and blue skies today, unlike the many that have been battleship gray and cold.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 2/08

Vastness

Soaring arches, beautiful stained glass
Washington National Cathedral

One of the things I love most about Washington National Cathedral is the vastness of the space. I also enjoy the light coming through the stained glass. If I could, all of my southwestern facing windows in my house would be stained glass. This picture shows the grand arches of the cathedral, along with the beautiful Rose Window at the western end of the church above the entrance. The cathedral has three Rose Windows depicting: Creation (see above), Church Triumphant, and Last Judgment.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 1/08

Two Things Challenge: Empty / Full

Empty archways leading to the north portico

Washington National Cathedral

Empty (adjective): containing nothing; not filled or occupied.

This niche, with the bright winter sun as backdrop, seemed to represent empty. Although, I suppose you could turn it on its head and say that it's "full of light." This was taken at the bottom of the stairs leading out of the Garth and into a portico with doors going into the cathedral proper.

Full archways from the north portico
Washington National Cathedral

Full (adjective): containing as much or as many as possible; having no empty space.

This is the same niche, but shot from the top of the stairs in the portico looking back down into the Garth. I like how the arches cascades into more arches ending in the garden. This picture seems very full to me. By the same token, you could also turn it on its head and say it's empty because what's a garden without people in it?

(Not bad for someone who's still laid up with whatever gunk this is I have, so I'm using pictures I took a couple of weekends ago. These are also from Washington National Cathedral. If you haven't noticed, I'm working my way from the outside to the inside, so this won't be the last of my pictures from this beautiful structure.)

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 1/08

Breezeway

Gothic breezeway, Washington National Cathedral

Architectural structures offer so many photo opportunities. This is the breezeway on the northeastern side of Washington National Cathedral that connects the cathedral proper with church offices on the back. To the left is a quiet little garden space I'll post a picture of later.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 1/08

Two Things Challenge: Foot / Loose

The feet that hold up a Gothic cathedral: Piers

Foot (noun): the lower or lowest part of something standing or perceived as standing vertically; the base or bottom.

The architectural feature that makes the soaring arches and open spaces of Gothic cathedrals possible are the buttresses and piers. In the case of the latter, these are the feet of the cathedral and are the load-bearing columns. This picture shows several piers within National Cathedral.

Loose roots around an old tree in Georgetown

Loose (adjective): not strict or exact.

I chose exposed tree roots as my interpretation for loose. I happened upon these a couple of weeks ago when I was out shooting pictures in Georgetown, D.C.'s oldest and toniest neighborhood. I'm always intrigued when nature behaves in a manner contrary to what we were taught in primary school. According to my kindergarten teacher, roots grow below the ground and under the tree. Obviously, this tree had other ideas and chose not to stick as strictly to the rules of botany.

There you have it. My two things for this week...

Okay, truth be told: I've been laid up in bed with the flu for the last several days, so I haven't been out shooting off my camera. I had a couple of ideas for this week's challenge, but instead I've had to cull from my archives and use what I've got. This is what I've got. Or, as my sister would say, "Just making up sh*t as you go along, huh?" Yeah. Pretty much.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 1/08

Emancipator

The Lincoln Memorial at sunrise.

South side of the Lincoln Memorial looking east toward the Washington Monument and the Capitol.

Detail of Lincoln's hand.

Abraham Lincoln of Illinois. Woodsman, Lawyer, Senator, President, Emancipator.

Located at the west end of the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial—honoring our 16th president, the Great Emancipator, Abraham Lincoln—was authorized by Congress in 1911 and construction commenced in 1914. Building was completed in 1922 and dedicated by President Warren G. Harding. Lincoln’s only surviving son, Robert Todd Lincoln, attended the ceremonies. The Lincoln Memorial has been the site of many historical events, including the Rev. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, delivered in 1963 on the steps of the memorial (a plaque in the steps commemorates the event.) As you enter this memorial, take time to read Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, his Second Inaugural, and the quote above Lincoln’s statue sculpted by Daniel Chester French which reads:

In this temple, as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the Union, the memory of Abraham Lincoln is enshrined forever.

Zip: 20024

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 10/07.