Random

Downward Mysterious
(Click to enlarge)

This is a photo I took a few weeks ago at a Thai restaurant in Alexandria. I think the door leads to the kitchen, but I'm not sure. I just liked the lighting.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Space as Art

Primarily

Just a couple more pictures from the Torpedo Factory, only this time, instead of featuring some of the art in the space, I used the space to make art. Or not. Mostly, I'm just makin' up crap as I go along, I guess!

Outside/Inside

I just realized I forgot to include a link to this quirky art center when I posted my Two Things Challenge. I have remedied that (see above.) And now, my work here is done for the day. I'm clockin' out!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Two Things Challenge: Shiny / Dull

This week's Two Things Challenge was Shiny / Dull. I've chosen a couple of pictures I recently took at the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria. This is Alexandria's industrial art space where you can not only see the work of various artists, sculptors, photographers, and jewelers, but you can also see them at work. I think the two pieces I've chosen are a good mix of shiny and dull.



What do you think? Want to see how others interpreted this challenge or would you like to join in? Visit 2 Things Challenge and be a part of the fun!

The Dairy Godmother

The Dairy Godmother--a Del Ray/Alexandria institution

About a year ago, while watching the local PBS station WETA, there was a little video about a custard shop called The Dairy Godmother (how great is that name?!) in Alexandria's Del Ray neighborhood. I kept saying I was going to go there and then I'd forget. Well, the other day, the video ran on WETA again and this time I wrote down the name of the place and made a commitment to go. Last Wednesday found me and some friends in Del Ray enjoying frozen treats at this wonderful little independent, woman-owned business!

Liz Davis: The Dairy Godmother herself!

The Dairy Godmother is to Del Ray what Ben's Chili Bowl is to D.C.--and worth every lick. If you like frozen custard or creative sorbets, this is absolutely the place to go! And, if you have a four-legged friend, owner Liz Davis also sells goodies for the pups. If you stop in, be sure to look for Liz and say hi! She's a down-to-earth woman who exudes joy in what she does and who has created a neighborhood space of lasting value. Believe me, I'll be going back very soon!

The Dairy Godmother is located at 2310 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia, and is open seven days a week.

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

Masonic

George Washington National Masonic Memorial, Alexandria, Virginia

About seven miles south of Washington, D.C., on the Potomac River lies the port city of Alexandria, Virginia. One of the oldest cities in the United States, Alexandria was a bustling seaport in its heyday. It was also the halfway point between the new U.S. capital in Washington and Mt. Vernon, the home of America's first president, George Washington.

Washington was, like many of his contemporaries, a Freemason. He became a member in 1752 in the Fredricksburg, Virginia Lodge and remained a Freemason his entire life. In 1793, he and fellow masons laid the cornerstone of the U.S. Capitol. Washington also belonged to the Alexandria Lodge and, four years after his death and shortly after the death of Martha Washington, the lodge began to receive items belonging to the Washingtons. Wanting to ensure the safety of these objects, Freemasons from all over the country banded together and created a memorial association.

Side view of the memorial

In 1923, construction commenced on a memorial temple and was completed in 1932. Located in Alexandria, the George Washington National Masonic Memorial is home to many important artifacts related to the life of Washington as a soldier, farmer, president, and mason. The Masonic Memorial is also home to two lodges: the Andrew Jackson Lodge and the Alexandria Lodge.

The memorial is open for tours seven days a week and includes a final stop on the 9th floor observatory where visitors can enjoy a million dollar view of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C.

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

Two Things Challenge: Night / Light

Lighting on the Lincoln Memorial at night

This week's Two Things Challenge offered two options: Day / Time or Night / Light. Those who participated had a choice of doing either or both. I chose both.

One of my favorite monuments at night is the Lincoln Memorial, as I'm sure you've guessed by now. I took this picture the other night when I was out and about while everyone else was inside watching the Super Bowl. (Note to fellow photographers: In the U.S., Super Bowl Sunday is the best time to go out and take pictures. There's no traffic and very few people to get in the way of some good photos.)

I've included thumbnails of two other photos I considered for this challenge. To see more detail, click on each picture for a larger image. The first is also the Lincoln Memorial. The difference in this version is lighting exposure, which is a bit brighter and includes the inscription over Daniel Chester French's sculpture of Lincoln.

The second photo is one I'll feature later in the week with information. It's of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, which I visited on Friday. I ventured over at 12:00 on Friday and stayed until 4:00, then met my sister for dinner. Afterward, we went back to take pictures of the Masonic Temple at night.

And now, I promise, I won't post anymore pictures of the Lincoln Memorial for a while!


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

Boundaries

SW3 Boundary Marker for the District of Columbia

In 1791, our nation was still young, but not so young that there wasn't some controversy about where the capital city for our new country should lie. Prior to that year, eight cities had hosted the U.S. Congress and two--New York (1785-1790) and Philadelphia (1790-1795)--served as the official capitals of the United States. During Philadelphia's tenure, debate continued to arise regarding a permanent location. It was understood that whichever state ended up with the national capital would be disproportionately powerful.

SW3 Boundary Stone Plaque placed by the Daughter's of the American Revolution

President Washington issued a proclamation in 1791 giving the boundaries for a capital city--or federal district--that would not be part of any one state. By June of that year, all of the landowners had signed agreements and a 10 mile diamond (100 square miles) had been designated out of land from Virginia in the west and Maryland in the north, south, and east.

In a quiet corner of a church parking lot is this unassuming object--
the SW3 Boundary Marker for the original border of the District of Columbia.

These photos show the SW3 boundary marker, which lies in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the parking lot of the First Baptist Church of Alexandria. This area and all of the portion that was in Virginia was retroceded back to the Commonwealth in 1847 leaving Washington, D.C., 61 square miles--it's current area. Today, many of the boundary markers are in decay or have been destroyed, but a map on the D.C. Daughters of the American Revolution website shows where they all are and I'm going to make an effort to photograph as many as possible in the next few months.

If Washington, D.C., was a state, it would be smaller than Rhode Island, but is part of the fifth largest metropolitan area in the U.S. In terms of population, more people--588,292--live in its 61.8 square miles than live in the State of Wyoming where 493,782 people live in 97,818 square miles!


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

Krispy Kreme Triptych

HOT NOW: Krispy Kreme Original Glazed = Ambrosia in a Doughnut

Tonight, I had dinner with my parents and siblings. Afterward, my brother wanted to make a trek to Krispy Kreme out on Route 1 in Alexandria. So, we piled into my car and made the trip to the very first--and for a long time, the only--Krispy Kreme north of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Now, there are franchises all over the country, but in Virginia, this was the first.

Mmmmm. Dooooughnuts.

Note: To view a sharper image, click on the image and it will open in a separate window.

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