Hold Out

Hold out against development

As economic development has changed the cityscape in Washington, many older rowhouses and residences have been torn down to make way for high-rise, high-priced condominium living. Every once in a while, though, someone resists being bought out by developers. A few years ago, the owner of a family business on Massachusetts Avenue did just that. Unlike others, he refused to be bought out, so the developers had to build around his rowhouse. The result is the picture above. Rumor has it, the rowhouse owner is planning to reopen his family's pizza business in the building.

P.S. I'm letting my photography blog get away from me. I'm going to attempt to only post one large photo per day and put the rest in thumbnails, particularly if there's a special exhibit, unusual monument, or new city I've seen that I really want to call to your attention. Also, three days a week I do double posts: Sundays, Mondays, and Saturdays. I certainly have more than enough pictures to continue doing what I'm doing, but I need to focus on getting my professional resume writing and editing business up and running, especially since the bills aren't paying themselves. Darn bills! Besides, as the saying goes, "More isn't always better, Linus. It's just more." (And if you can name the movie that line came from, I'll be very, very impressed.)

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

Metro

Chinatown/Gallery Place Station

Washington, D.C., is home to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA), or Metro. A system of five subway lines, numerous bus routes, and transfer stations, Metro is the most loved and reviled transit system in the area. Known as often for its accidents, breakdowns, overcrowding, and stupid riders (read: clueless tourists) as it is for its ability to transport hundreds of thousands of commuters every day, Metro is also under utilized as evidenced by gridlocks on the highways, freeways, and byways in the larger Washington metropolitan area.

This photo is inside the Chinatown/Gallery Place station on the Red, Green, and Yellow lines.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 11/07

Dancing In the Streets

Dancing Jogger Guy, Chinatown

Yesterday, while wondering through Chinatown, I came across this guy again. I've seen him before. I call him "Dancing Jogger Guy." He literally dances in circles across the crosswalks in an intersection. He'll make the rounds in an intersection for several light revolutions. He's a character and one of these days, when I see him again, I'm going to ask him why he exercises in such a unique manner.

While trying to take this picture, a young woman approached me. She was wearing a t-shirt that said, "Stop Bitching! Start a Revolution!" She was rather insistent that I buy a shirt from her and asked me if I bitch a lot. I said, "Yeah, a bit." To which she said, "Well, then stop bitching and start a revolution!"

"Okay, fine," I said. "Move out of my way! I'm trying to take a damn picture! There! Is that revolutionary enough for you?"

She moved on to the next person.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential (Janet M. Kincaid, 05/07)