Two Things Challenge: Solemn / Playful

Ron Henderson, owner of Pulp, passed away from cancer February 15, 2009

This week's Two Things Challenge was Solemn / Playful. I chose as my interpretations a picture of a tribute to Ron Henderson, owner of Pulp on 14th Street. Ron's little shop of cards and unique gifts is a staple in the DuPont Circle / U Street Corridor / Logan Circle shopping district and a fun, happy place. Sadly, Ron's battle with cancer ended in February this year. His employees posted this tribute to Ron in the entrance of Pulp. If you get a chance, stop by the store and sign the condolence book on the counter.

Promoting world peace by pillow fighting!

The second photo was taken the same day in DuPont Circle at the World Pillow Fight Day. It was a blast to watch grown-ups and a kid or two pummel each other with pillows around the fountain! In fact, I think three things: First, D.C. should have a pillow fight every week. It would be a great way to relieve all the stress around here and everyone would go away with a smile on their face. Second, Congress should be required to come down to the circle once a month and let us pummel them with pillows for taking their sweet time about legislation. And third, all wars should be fought with pillows.

If you want to see how others interpreted this challenge or if you'd like to join in, visit Two Things Photo Challenge.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential / Janet Kincaid, 04/09

Checkmate

Checkmate: Some speed chess and lunch with a view.
(Click to enlarge)

Continuing with 100 Strangers, I give you three strangers and an extra. Mike, Victor, and David were playing speed chess the other day outside the Brown Bag, but it was the guy in the window who first caught my eye.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential/Janet Kincaid.

Two Things Challenge: Foot / Step

A touch of spring in their foot steps!

This week's Two Things Challenge was Foot / Step. Want to see how others interpreted this or want to join in the fun? Visit 2 Things Challenge.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential / Janet Kincaid, 03/09

All the News...

Reading the day's news while soaking up some spring warmth
(Click image to enlarge)

Continuing with 100 Strangers, I was downtown today to meet my brother for an early lunch and then to reconnect with a former colleague from my days working at a recycling non-profit. While I was waiting, I took some pictures of a few sights and some of the people out and about. This woman, reading a newspaper outside 14 & K Restaurant and Lounge, intrigued me. Her name is Nell Minnow. I didn't talk to her for very long, but I did compliment her on her name. She said she likes it, too!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential/Janet Kincaid, 03/09

Two Things Challenge: Window / Shop

Window: Jagermeister-in-the-Sun
(Wisconsin Avenue and N Streets NW)

This week's Two Things Challenge was Window / Shop and it was quite a lot of fun! I took photos in Penn Quarter, on 14th Street, in Columbia Heights, and in Georgetown. (PSA Alert:* Note to the wise: If you want to see Georgetown without fighting all the insane crowds and pub crawlers, go early in the morning before traffic gets too heavy and all the businesses open. It's a great way to see the oldest part of Washington without all the headache. /PSA)

Shop: The Vitamin Shoppe in Columbia Heights
(14th Street and Park Road NW)

I got some good pictures of windows, shops, and window shoppers! And again, a PSA: for some of the best window shopping in Washington, Georgetown tops them all! There are some unique stores on 14th Street with great window displays--like Pulp, Go, Mama! Go!, and Home Rule. There's certainly plenty of big box shopping in Columbia Heights--like Target, Giant, Staples, The Children's Store, and so forth. Penn Quarter has expansive windows for stores like Urban Outfitters, Aveda, Bed, Bath & Beyond, and similar national brands. But the best and most unique window shopping is in Georgetown where the shops aren't brand name and they've been around for decades.

Window shopper at City Sports in the Penn Quarter
(7th and H Streets NW)

To see a couple more pictures of the unique wares I found in windows in Georgetown, visit Standing Room Only.


* PSA = Public Service Announcement

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

Two Things Challenge: Corner / Stone

Corner : Market at Kennedy Street and Colorado Avenue NW

This week's 2 Things Challenge was Corner / Stone. My original plan was to go to Capitol Hill and take a picture of the cornerstone on the U.S. Capitol, which was laid by George Washington and his Scottish Rite Masonic brothers in 1789. Alas, other commitments and ailments kept me at home. Instead, I give you these: the Golden Corner Market at Kennedy Street and Colorado Avenue NW. I've never been inside myself, but it's a tiny little retail/restaurant strip typical of urban settings and quickly becoming extinct.

Stone : Sligo Creek : Takoma Park, Maryland

This second photo is of Sligo Creek in Maryland, which is where I went this morning for a walk. I'm not sure what the content is in the stones that fill this creek (I should have paid better attention in that geology class I took in college), but I thought the setting was pretty.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 07/08

Oh No, Don't Let the Rain Come Down...

Pink umbrella in a summer downpour

Yesterday evening, I went walking immediately after dinner. The clouds looked a bit threatening, but the weatherman said it was suppose to be dry all weekend. Regardless, I made sure to grab a plastic bag for my camera, just in case. And it's a good thing, too, because half way through my walk, it started to pour very suddenly and without warning. It was a frog strangler. A gully washer. A deluge of biblical proportions. I stood for a brief period under a bus shelter across from a Metro bus terminal at 14th and Kennedy Streets NW. I just finished snapping the first picture above and had turned off my camera when two Mormon missionaries on bikes furiously pedaled past. The best shot would have been of these two young men in front of the bus terminal, but I missed it and only just managed to get the shot I did. Poor guys!

Furiously pedaling Mormon missionaries caught in the downpour

Realizing the rain wasn't going to let up anytime soon, I decided to head home. Needless to say, I looked like a drown rat by the time I walked in the door. At least the rain was warm, as it tends to be this time of year. To see more pictures from yesterday's walk, go to Standing Room Only.

* * * * *

I'm throwing in a pitch for this week's 2 Things Challenge. The category is People / Watch. I mentioned several days ago wanting to improve my photographing-people-skills and a few of you discussed wanting to be braver about photographing people, too. Here's our chance! If you haven't participated in a 2 Things Challenge before, please do this week. The more, the merrier. And, if you want, try Thomas Hawks' approach.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 07/08. Video courtesy of YouTube.

Engraving and Printing

The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing at sunrise.
Paper currency is printed and circulated from this location and one in Texas.
Click images to enlarge.

The U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is an arm of the U.S. Department of Treasury. It is the bureau charged with engraving and printing U.S. paper currency. There are two BEPs: this one in Washington and a facility in Fort Worth, TX. (Contrary to popular myth, the BEP is not charged with making coins. Coins are cut and stamped at mints. U.S. Mints are located in Philadelphia, PA, Denver, CO, San Francisco, CA, and West Point, NY. A bullion depository is located in Fort Knox, KY. The Mint is headquartered in Washington, DC, but it does not mint coins.)

The most common denomination in U.S. paper currency is the $1 bill. The highest is the $100 note. At one time, the BEP also printed $500, $1,000, $5,000, $10,000, and even a $100,000 (Gold Certificate 1934 Series) but it discontinued printing and circulating these notes in the 1930s. Today's denominations come in $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills and feature, respectively, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Alexander Hamilton, Andrew Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant, and Benjamin Franklin. In recent years, U.S. currency has received a facelift, incorporating color into the designs and embedding anti-counterfeiting devices.

U.S. currency is still made using the age-old craft of intaglio printing. This involves a master craftsperson who engraves a plate of metal by hand with the images that will appear on the denomination. This plate is then wrapped on a cylinder, which is coated with a top secret dye that is then embedded into the equally top secret cotton-fiber paper stock. The result is a note with a three-dimensional appearance and a slightly raised texture. (Crane & Co., one of the oldest paper manufacturers in America, is the exclusive producer of currency paper stock for the BEP. You won't find information about their currency papers on their website, but you will find a beautiful selection of fine papers and stationary! They also have a retail location in Tyson's Corner.)

The BEP has been printing and circulating currency since 1861, when an act of Congress created the bureau. Prior to that, money was printed regionally and by banks. The result was a mish-mash of currencies and a great deal of fraud and bank failure. The BEP also prints other security documents and certificates for the government, U.S. postage stamps, and all White House invitations for events like state dinners and inaugurations. The BEP is open to the public for tours and is one of Washington's most popular attractions.

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

Rule

Home Rule and Go, Mama, Go!--
Two excellent home accessory and gift stores on 14th and S Streets NW

When I moved to Washington five years ago, there wasn't a lot that was upscale on 14th Street, except for these two stores--Go, Mama, Go! and Home Rule. Today, they are part of the anchor stores on 14th and S Streets that sort of got the ball rolling in revitalizing that part of downtown.

In addition to these two great shops, there's Pop, Pulp, and Garden District. As the years have gone by, more and more upscale retailers have moved in. And, in March of this year, the District will finally get a Target in Columbia Heights--about two miles north of 14th and S. While the big box stores are a welcome convenience for newer, more-accustomed-to-easy-access District residents, they also signal the demise of the corner Mom & Pop groceries, hardware, and smaller, specialized retail vendors.

One thing to note: Home Rule is named for the ongoing movement on the part of District residents to fully govern themselves and to have equal representation in Congress. As it stands now, Congress has oversight for Washington, D.C., and the Constitution prohibits us from having representation on the Hill.

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