Secrets

Sharing a quiet moment on the river

I captured this couple sharing a quiet moment along the Potomac River in East Potomac Park a couple of weeks ago.

Another perspective on the same moment...

Which of these two do you like better? (Click images to enlarge.)

Happy weekend, everyone!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 5/08

East Potomac Park: Seagulls

Seagulls in a row on a railing on the Potomac River

I took (and am including) this photo not just for the line of sight,
but for the view of Washington National Cathedral on the horizon.
The cathedral is more than five miles from the point where this photo was taken!

Solitary seagull in silhouette at sunset

Don't you just love a good alliteration? I do!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 5/08

East Potomac Park: Sailboat

Underway on the Potomac River

Sailing in the sunset...

I can't decide which of these two pictures I like best, though I love all the elements in the bottom one: the sailboat, the seagulls, the plane in the background landing at National Airport, the U.S. Air Force Memorial below the sun, the sunset itself... What do you think? Which do you like best?

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 5/08

Sunset, Seagulls, Sailboats and So Forth...

Today begins a series of photos I took over in East Potomac Park a couple of weeks ago. This is another of Washington's urban treasures of tranquility. For more than 20 years, it was the home of The Awakening at Haines Point, but several weeks ago, this well-loved sculpture was dug up and moved to the largest development project in the country--Prince George's County's National Harbor. A monstrosity to consumerism, but touted as a destination point and the place to live and work, it will soon feature this fun sculpture.

Haines Point is still a lively spot in the city, but it's a bit sadder and lonelier without The Awakening and, once a fun place to take visitors and tourists to see something out of the ordinary, it's no longer a specific point of interest unless you like watching airplanes take off and land from Washington National Airport on the other side of the river. In general, though, it's still a lovely park and a nice respite off the beaten paths and frenzied energy of the city.

Sunset, Seagulls, Sailboats and So Forth... will run sporadically over the next week or so along with my regularly scheduled posts. I hope you enjoy it.

East Potomac Park: Cyclists

Cycling in East Potomac Park

East Potomac Park is a popular spot with cyclists. They can ride a one-mile circuit in relatively light traffic on two lanes running one way. Here are just a couple of pictures of folks making the circuit.

Cycling at sunset

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 5/08

Two Things Challenge: Noisy / Peaceful

Looking west/southwest along I-395. Traffic on the right is coming off
of I-295 and headed into Virginia. Traffic on the left is coming off the
14th Street Bridge and heading east into Washington.

This week's Two Things Challenge was Noisy / Peaceful. My interpretation of Noisy: Traffic. Washington, D.C., ranks second in the nation for worst commute. Commuters from all over the region spend an average of 29.3 minutes per day traveling to and from work. We rank fifth for road rage and general discourteousness.

Looking east along 1-295. Traffic on the right is heading into southeast Washington,
traffic on the left is westbound headed toward Virginia.

These two photos show I-395, an artery that feeds into Virginia and I-295, an artery that feeds into southeast D.C. and Maryland. They meet at the point where I took these pictures--the top of L'Enfant Plaza. I should have taken these photos at the height of the commute hours to emphasize my statistics, but that would have put me in crappy traffic and might have made me angry and who needs that, right?!

The Sonoma Coast in springtime, Sonoma, California

My interpretation for Peaceful comes from my archives. These pictures are actually four or five years old, but they represent this second part of the challenge perfectly for me. One of the biggest things I miss about living in the East is the beach.

Patrick's Point State Park, Humboldt County, California

I moved back to D.C. from northern California and, for me, the beach was the place I went to re-energize and center myself. There's nothing more bracing than a good, stiff coastal wind to blow the cobwebs out of your cluttered mind and soothe your soul. D.C. sucks you dry and spits you out and offers few spaces and places to regroup. At least, that's the case for me. When I think of peaceful, I think of the coast.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Gull, Gull, Gull, Gull... DUCK!

This mallard and the line of seagulls just cracked me up. Ducky was pretty vocal, too. He kept quacking away and keeping an eye on me. Funny little guy! Meanwhile, the gulls were totally indifferent to it all.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 5/08

Fish Market

Captain White Famous Fish at the D.C. Fish Market

The Maine Avenue Fish Market on the Southwest waterfront is one of the last of its kind on the East Coast. Established along the waterfront in the 1930s, I've heard tale it was once--and possibly still is--the largest fish market in the United States, but I find that hard to believe given the fish market in Seattle. I could be wrong, though. What I do understand, though, is fish markets like this are largely non-existent now in port and seaboard cities along both coasts, so this is a rare treasure I guess.

Folk shopping for fresh fish and shrimp

Snapshots of the fine seafood available at the fish market
(Click on images to enlarge)

Located near the top of L'Enfant Plaza and mere blocks from the National Mall and all the tourists this town takes in, it is a local favorite and one of the few places not overrun by the aforementioned touristing types. If you want fresh fish and seafood, this is the place to go!

View of the Fish Market from the top of L'Enfant Plaza.
I-395 is on the right and passes over the market.

Here are some fun articles on the Fish Market: ZipUSA: 20024 (National Geographic); Fish Market Forces (DCist); and Washington DC Fish Market (Great Public Spaces).

Shiny and decrepit, all in one!

This last picture was a just a random composition I photographed as I was leaving the market. I'm trying to see a potential picture in everything and these shiny vending machines against the weather-worn building seemed photo-worthy!

And now, I'm off to Richmond and the Capital of the Confederacy for a day trip. I'll be back tomorrow and will have pictures aplenty to post from that great southern city, I'm sure!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 05/08

Flying Lessons?

Flying lessons? Or are seagulls plane-spotting enthusiasts?

A week or so ago, I was in East Potomac Park taking pictures of bicyclists and blossoming chestnut trees and sailboats and planes landing on the other side of the river at Washington National Airport and the like. Eventually, I got in my car to go take pictures of the U.S. Capitol when I drove past all of these seagulls lined up on the fence at the river's edge. It was too good not to photograph!

Seagulls at sunset, planes on approach, and the U.S. Air Force Memorial in the background:
A perfect scenario for flight all around!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 5/08

L'Enfant Plaza

Just one small section of the boulevard that comprises L'Enfant Plaza.

In the background, Benjamin Banneker Park.

L'Enfant Plaza is a rather utilitarian mish-mash of government office buildings and agencies on the southwest waterfront. Named for Pierre Charles L'Enfant, who mapped and laid out the city in its confusing grid of avenues and traffic circles, the plaza is ironically uninteresting as a whole.

Close-up of the fountain in Benjamin Banneker Park.

Regardless of its aesthetic shortcomings, the plaza contains a number of treasures, including a park with a fountain dedicated to Benjamin Banneker, a freed slave who assisted in surveying the future boundaries for the city. Despite its disheveled appearance, L'Enfant Plaza at dusk can look lovely. These are just a few examples.

Detail of one of the lamp fixtures in L'Enfant Plaza.

About the only architecturally stunning feature of L'Enfant Plaza are the lights that line the wide boulevard on both sides. The first picture shows just a small portion of the lights. As I was getting into my car to leave, I looked up and saw the above photo opp and took it!

The only other treasure in this dull plaza is the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel's courtyard. See the entry below for pictures of that.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 5/08

L'Enfant Plaza Hotel

The only interesting architectural feature of the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel:
this Pei-esque/pyramid-like-the-Louvre skylight.

Located near the top of L'Enfant Plaza is the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel. The front of the building is an office for yet another ubiquitous federal agency. The hotel itself is on the back side of the building and features subterranean retail space. That space is capped by this Pei-esque/reminiscent-of-the-Louvre pyramid skylight. This is about all that's interesting in this space.

Subterranean space at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel

As I was leaving the hotel's plaza, I noticed this stairway to the subterranean space and thought it made a nice composition. My understanding is, the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel has pretty reasonable rates and is far less expensive than hotels about a mile away in the Penn Quarter and Golden Triangle neighborhoods. The hotel is also very conveniently located to the National Mall and all of the Smithsonian Museums. Plus, it's just a short walk down a hill to the Southwest Waterfront and a fish market where you can get fresh crab, lobster, shrimp, and a wide variety of fresh fish. I'll feature photos from the fish market in a week or so.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 5/08

Capitol

The U.S. Capitol from L'Enfant Plaza

Just another picture of the U.S. Capitol building. This one was taken Friday evening at dusk from L'Enfant Plaza. I'll be posting more pictures of L'Enfant Plaza on Tuesday.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 5/08