Repository III

Mosaic of Minerva outside the observation balcony above the library's Reading Room.

Returning to the Library of Congress, here are a few more photos from this beautiful building. I have nearly 100 other photos I could cull from and could easily post another 20 or 30 pictures of this magnificent building, but I'm going to end with this entry as there are other things I want to post in the next week. For example: information and pictures of the new Capitol Visitor's Center, photos from a two day trip I made this week to Williamsburg and Jamestown, some new strangers, and just stuff from around the neighborhood.

More art over a doorway. Also, notice the detail work in the lintel. Gorgeous!
(Click image to enlarge.)

Even the elevators are art.

Thanks to everyone who has commented on my LOC series. I'm glad you've enjoyed it. If you ever visit Washington, make sure it's on your list of absolute must-see places!

Detail in the marble carvings and a series of putti on one of the grand staircases.
(Click image to enlarge and see the detail.)

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

Repository II

Just a few more pictures of the art at the Library of Congress. Click each image to enlarge and enjoy the detail.




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

Repository

The Great Hallway in the Thomas Jefferson Building :
The Library of Congress : Capitol Hill
(Click on image to enlarge)

If America had a Sistine Chapel, the Library of Congress would be it. The LOC is made up of three buildings: the Jefferson, the Adams, and the Madison. The grandest of the three is the Jefferson. Built in 1870, the Jefferson Building features sweeping marble staircases, Italian-influenced carvings and sculpture, Renaissance art, frescoes, and mosaics that are breathtaking.

Art over doorways : Library of Congress
(Click image to enlarge)

To learn more about this national treasure, visit the LOC's website. Wikipedia also has some good information here. Over the next few days, I'll be featuring additional pictures of the world's largest book and media repository.

Hallway : Library of Congress
(Click image to enlarge)

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

Duke Ellington School

Intermission : Ellington Theater

Last Friday found me at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Georgetown. My sister's colleague invited her to attend a Christmas concert by the school's vocal musical students and she, in turn, invited me and a couple of friends.

The Duke Ellington School of the Arts was founded in 1974 and is the only school in the District of Columbia dedicated to an education in the arts. In addition to standard high school curriculum, each student majors in one of eight areas: Theater, Tech Design/Production, Visual Arts, Vocal Music, Dance, Instrumental Music, Literary Media, and Museum Studies.

The photography of student Hank Thomas is breathtaking social commentary.
On the left: Visitors view Thomas' work. On the right: The piece they were so interested in.
Click on the right image to enlarge. The photo is a graphic composition that plays on MasterCard's "Priceless"
advertising campaign. The text on the photo reads: "3-piece suit: $250, Pair of socks: $2, Gold chain: $400,
9mm pistol: $80, Bullet: $0.60, Picking a casket for your son: Priceless."

Photography wasn't allowed during the performance I attended (which was well done and a lot of fun), but there were exhibits in the hallways featuring art and photography by some of the school's students. These are just a couple of pictures of the works on display.

Title and artist unknown : Duke Ellington School

If you get a chance to visit the school or attend a performance, do it. These are talented young men and women, many of whom go on to become professional artists in their own right.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 12/08

Read to Me

Reading: Time well-spent with a child and a gift they'll cherish forever

Those who know me, know I'm a huge proponent of children reading (and really, just reading in general, regardless of age.) I grew up in a household where, until I was 16, we didn't own a television and my parents encouraged us to read. Our home was filled with books and both of my parents read to us as children. When you visit my home, what stands out are all of the books on a broad range of subjects. Books are the bedrock of a well-informed, intelligent civilization. Maybe that sounds elitist to some, but I truly believe that.

Books big and books little with bugs big and penguins little and lots and lots and lots of big words
for lots and lots and lots of little people. Books! Books! Books! Yeah, books!

That's why, in this internet world full of gadget craziness where soundbites rule and people get less of their information from reading and more of it from cable news shows, I'm always gratified when I see people reading. And I'm especially gratified when I see kids reading. Every time I see a kid with a book, I stop and talk to them for a few minutes. If their parent is with them, I thank them for encouraging their kid to read. I believe reading is one of the greatest gifts we can give to children and I applaud parents who give their kids books.

While I was out shooting pictures for yesterday's Two Things Challenge: Big / Little, I went into Border's Books and Music and took these pictures of parents (big), kids (little), and books. (And yes, I asked and received permission to post these photos.) I also singled out some children's book titles that feature the words big and little. I know these photos would work well for the upcoming City Daily Photo theme, but I couldn't wait.

Whether it's reading about green eggs and ham or princesses, quantum mechanics or the politics of hope,
the effect is the same. Words and ideas and our ability to understand and articulate them empower us.
So, get up from your computer and go read a book! ;-)

If you have children in your life--whether your own or others--please read to them or give them books. In addition to your time, it's one of the greatest gifts you'll ever give them.

P.S. A couple of you emailed me and said that the new "embedded below the page" comments set-up I had (thanks to Blogger who changed it without asking my permission), was making it difficult for some of you to leave comments. I've changed the settings so it's back to its original full page set-up. Hope this makes it easier for folks to comment. Thanks for stopping by!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 10/08

In Session

Takoma Education Center : Piney Branch Road and Aspen Street NW

School starts today in the District of Columbia and the State of Maryland. Universities and colleges, high schools and middle schools, and elementary and pre-K all go back to shiny classrooms. It's time for new pencils and crayons, books and paper, glue and tape, clothes, shoes, and backpacks--all the stuff that makes returning to the halls of education exciting for about five minutes!

L: Calvin Coolidge High School at 5th and Tuckerman Streets NW
R: Paul Junior High Charter School at 8th and Oglethorpe Streets NW

These are pictures of four of the schools in my neighborhood. I wanted to take snaps of kids and parents arriving, but given how weirded out people get by strangers with cameras around kids and sans children of their own, I decided to skip that.

Brightwood Elementary School : 13th and Nicholson Streets NW

To everyone returning to school, have fun! To those of you driving on the roads of Maryland and the District, please drive carefully. And to the kids in the Commonwealth of Virginia, enjoy your last week off!

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

Educating the Whole Person

Healy Hall--the iconic building on the campus of Georgetown University.
A statue of founder Father John Carroll sits in the plaza.

Founded in 1789, Georgetown University is the oldest private university in Washington, D.C., and the oldest Roman Catholic and Jesuit university in America. The school's origins really date back to 1634 with the establishment of the Province of Maryland by Jesuit settlers from Great Britain. After the American Revolution, Father John Carroll was appointed by Pope Pius VI to lead the Catholic Church in America. He then set about establishing a university, which officially opened for instruction on Dumbarton's Quadrangle on November 22, 1791.

Georgetown is an internationally renowned school that is still run and influenced by the Jesuits. The school has four undergraduate and four graduate programs with strong emphasis in law, business, medicine, and international relations. The school has its main campus at 37th and O Streets NW, its law campus on New Jersey Avenue NW near Union Station, and an all-girls school--Georgetown Visitation--near the main campus. Healy Hall, the main, iconic building on campus is named for university president Patrick Francis Healy and is a designated National Historic Landmark.

The back of Healy Hall: (L) Blending new architecture in with the old.
(R) Detail of a rain spout (gargoyle?) on Healy Hall.
(Click on images to enlarge.)

Among Georgetown's alumni are King Abdullah of Jordan; former U.S. President Bill Clinton, E.U. President José Manuel Barroso; Felipe de Borbon, Crown Prince of Spain; and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, President of the Philippines; as well as presidents of Panama, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Bosnia. Twenty U.S. state and commonwealth governors have graduated from Georgetown, including Luis Muñoz Marín the first democratically elected Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Numerous Cabinet members, U.S. ambassadors, judges, members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, business leaders, and military officers are graduates of Georgetown. The world of arts, media, and entertainment is also peppered with Georgetown grads. To see a full list, visit this Wikipedia link.

Cemetery on the grounds of the university:
the final resting place of the school's Jesuit community.

Georgetown is a powerhouse in several sports, including basketball, rowing, sailing, rugby, lacrosse, and track and field. The Hoyas lead the Big East Conference with seven championships and more than 20 appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Here's one final, notable fact: Georgetown graduates participate as volunteers in Peace Corps more than any other private university in the U.S.

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

Campuses, Patriots, and Pirates... Oh My!

Fort Reno in the summertime (as compared to the late winter/early spring)

Yesterday evening, I decided I needed to get way out of my neighborhood and into a completely different section of the city. So, I went to Tenleytown/Fort Reno. My walk took me past sights that are familiar and iconic to Northwest city dwellers including: Fort Reno Park, WAMU 88.5 (if you like old-time radio, this is the station to listen to on Sunday evenings. They have a show called The Big Broadcast and they play Johnny Dollar, Gunsmoke, Dragnet, Five-Minute Mystery, and a host of other shows. It's a ton of fun to listen to.)

L: WAMU 88.5--Your NPR News Station in the Nation's Capital
R: Guapo's--the only decent, nearly authentic Mexican in the D.C. area

Guapo's, my favorite Mexican restaurant and the only decent Mexican food in the entire D.C. area (and I'm not exaggerating or engaging in hyperbole here either) is located in Tenleytown. This area is also home to American University, the Embassy of Japan, the Residence of the Ambassador of Sweden, NBC TV, the National Presbyterian Church, and Ward Circle.

The American University - Tenley Campus

Just by way of information, the American University was originally conceived by George Washington to be a national university in the nation's capital. In 1893, Congress finally passed an act creating a charter for the school. In 1896, ground was broken and fundraising started. Today, AU is among the premier universities in the city, competing with Georgetown and George Washington University as one of the finest institutions of higher learning on the East Coast.

L: Artemas Ward--patriot and congressman
R: Spire of the National Presbyterian Church

The National Presbyterian Church, as a congregation, is more than 200 years old. As a governing body, it is the national headquarters for the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. The campus of the NPC includes a children's school and a Center for Leadership. It houses a sanctuary, a fellowship hall, and the Chapel of the Presidents. I wasn't able to go in yesterday as it was after 6:00 p.m. when I walked by, but I'll certainly be going back. The NPC features some lovely gardens and eye-catching architecture, including several biblical quotes on walls surrounding the gardens and a fountain.

Ward Circle is the intersection of Massachusetts and Nebraska Avenues and signals the western boundary of AU. The circle is named for Artemas Ward and is capped by a statue of the same. Ward was a major general in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and served under Gen. George Washington. After the war, Ward served as a congressman from Massachusetts.

We Were Pirates performs at Fort Reno Park on a warm summer's evening

On my way back to my car, I walked again past Fort Reno Park and stopped for a little bit to listen to We Were Pirates. Fort Reno Park hosts a summer concert series with bands performing every Monday and Thursday. Here's the schedule, if you're interested. We Were Pirates sounded pretty good. I wonder if they're on iTunes?

To see more pictures of Tenleytown and some of the pretty stuff along the way, visit Standing Room Only.


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

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

Magnificence

The Library of Congress--America's de facto national library

Washington, D.C., has some stunning classical architecture, but none is grander than the Thomas Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. The LOC consists of three buildings: the Thomas Jefferson, the John Adams, and the James Madison Buildings. All three buildings are bordered by Independence Avenue on at least one side. The Jefferson Building, which is the first and main library, faces the U.S. Capitol.

Neptune's Grotto--The main fountain at the Library of Congress

In 1800, the LOC was established by an Act of Congress that also transferred the federal capital from Philadelphia, Pa., to Washington, D.C. Initially, the library was meant exclusively for the use of Congress, but over time has become a source for politicians and scholars alike. The original library was housed in the Capitol, but when the British burned the city in August 1814, they also destroyed the library. After that tragedy, retired U.S. president Thomas Jefferson donated his personal library--6,487 volumes and works--and the national library was born. To read more about Jefferson's legacy, go here.

Detail of the front of the Thomas Jefferson Building, Library of Congress

What is striking about the Thomas Jefferson Building is the ornate architecture. This is the only building in the city I can think of that is so strikingly reminiscent of the beautiful architecture found throughout Europe, it is literally breathtaking! The building is open to the public and there is a wonderful tour that features stunning mosaics. Access is available to the reading rooms, but books cannot be checked out by the general public. The Library also features exhibitions and special events throughout the year. In the James Madison Building, you can see the Gutenberg Bible! Also be sure to check out the Library's prints and photos collection.

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