Rocket Bar

Rack : The Rocket Bar : Penn Quarter : Washington, D.C.

A departure from my usual fare today: pictures from a pool hall. I took these during a blogger meet-up a few weeks ago and liked how they turned out. I played with a few of them, obviously, but I shot all of these without a flash. They aren't what I would consider high-quality, but I like their grittiness. (What I didn't like, was the guy who wasn't paying attention to where he was walking and almost knocked an entire pint of beer off a table and into my shoes as I was exiting this Penn Quarter watering hole.)

Seems some things never change. We're all still hanging out against the wall, waiting for the
cute boy or girl to ask us to dance. Or in this case, I guess, to buy the other a drink?

The Rocket Bar was pretty low key, as far as I could tell, until the Capitals hockey game let out. Then there was a line out the door. As one of the bloggers in our group, who also happens to be a restaurant manager, stated as we were leaving, "This is an okay location, but I wouldn't stand in line for it." I wouldn't know about that, but I did enjoy the photo opps.

The dude on the far left in the hat looked like Hugh Jackman.
I wonder if he can sing and dance like him, too? I should have asked.

*****

Six ball, off the right side, off the top, and into the center left... Or not.

Continuing my 100 Strangers series, the four guys playing a rack in the photo above were intrigued by the fact that you could take pictures inside in low light without using a flash. They were a polite bunch and even struck a pose for one of the pictures I took. Unfortunately, it looks corny, so I've omitted it here.

*****

Tomorrow: I pay tribute to seven photographers who inspire me and tell you five things I've learned as a result of looking through a lens for the last year.


Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Busts

George S. Pickett, U.S. Army:
Led the futile and bloody assault at Gettysburg
known as Pickett's Charge.

This week, I'm going to feature some photos I took at the National Portrait Gallery last week. Photographing art is often a challenge, but museums provide so many opportunities not only for capturing great art, but also for capturing people interacting with the art. During my recent visit to the NPG, I tried to focus strictly on busts. Here are a couple of examples of my efforts.

In the painting, Harriet Beecher Stowe joined by her contemporary in bust, Susan B. Anthony.
The former, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. The latter fought for woman's suffrage.

Several busts were in galleries featuring paints of the subjects' contemporaries. I'll feature an interesting and apropos pairing on Wednesday, along with a book recommendation.

Date Night

Continuing my 100 Strangers series, I was originally intent on photographing the frame around the painting of U.S. General Ulysses S. Grant, but then this couple stepped into the gallery and they became part of the composition. I think I like this better than if I'd simply just photographed the painting in its frame, don't you?

*****

As an aside, I want to call attention to an article in yesterday's Washington Post Travel section about Vienna, Austria. If you are from Vienna or if you've ever lived there (as I have), if you've visited the city on the Blue Danube or have plans to, this is an article worth reading. I'd love to hear what our daily photo bloggers from/in Vienna, the City of Dreams, think of it.

Here is In the Presence of the Past: Vienna's Complicated History is Never Too Far Out of Reach. The article also includes a section on how to get to Vienna, where to stay, what to see, where to eat, and so forth. Any other suggestions for things to see and do in this magical city?

*****

Tomorrow's D.C. Confidential: Funerary Sculpture

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 11/08

Jazz Night

The Lovejoy Group performs in the Kogod Courtyard : SAAM/National Portrait Gallery

Last night, I met my friend Sylvia in the Kogod Courtyard adjoining the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. We had originally planned to see--or rather thought we would be seeing--part of the DC Fotoweek exhibit going on all over the city in galleries and museums this week. Alas, what we saw was a slide show of photos from the exhibit and listened to the jazz renderings of a group called The Lovejoy Group as part of the museum's weekly Take Five! series.

An evening in the Kogod Courtyard

It wasn't bad, but it wasn't what either of us expected. (And I still have no idea if my two photos I submitted ever made it into the exhibit. I never received a confirmation email from the organizers. But I have managed to garner 12 separate Evite emails from them inviting me to tomorrow night's closing fete at the National Georgaphic for $85 a pop! In the immortal words of someone: "I don't think so.") We ended up decamping to IHOP out in the states for a plate of pork chops (Sylvia) and pumpkin pancakes (me.) That did live up to expectations!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 11/08

Newseum

The Newseum: Dedicated to promoting free press and free speech

Located on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 6th Street NW, the Newseum is Washington's museum to news and journalism. Built at a cost of $450 million, it opened to the public in April 2008. Originally based in Arlington, Virginia, the Newseum closed its doors in 2002 to build at this location.

The Freedom Forum, a non-profit foundation whose mission is dedicated to "free press, free speech, and free spirit for all people" funds the Newseum's operations. However, unlike the majority of museums located on or near the National Mall, there is a fee to visit the Newseum. Tickets are $20 for adults. I've heard mixed reviews about whether it's worth the twenty bucks, which is why I haven't been yet.

The subject of yesterday's photo, oriented properly today!

A staircase at the Newseum was the subject of yesterday's photo. And Wayne was right: I did turn the picture on its side. Here it is again, but this time right side up!

Just a different view of the same staircase.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Sister Cities

Memorial to the Victims of Communism

This month's City Daily Photo Theme is Sister Cities. CDPB suggested asking a friend in a sister city to take a picture for us to post on our blogs. Washington, D.C., has 12 sister cities and I'm sorry to say, I don't know anyone in any of these cities: Accra; Athens; Bangkok; Beijing; Brazzaville; Brussels; Chongqing; Dakar; Paris; Pretoria; Seoul; or Sunderland. Wanting to participate in this theme, I decided I could either take a picture of each country's embassy here in Washington or I could post a picture of Sister Cities International's global headquarters on Pennsylvania Avenue NW. Both sounded boring, so I started thinking a little harder. I finally decided to focus on Beijing and Athens.

In the case of Beijing, I chose as my subject the Victims of Communism Memorial on New Jersey Avenue and G Street NW. Based on a statue called the Goddess of Democracy created by Chinese students during the Tienanmen Square protests of 1989, the purpose of the memorial is to teach "the history of communist tyranny...to future generations." The U.S. currently has no credibility in the world as a leader in solidly upholding democratic ideals and we certainly have little ground to stand on in calling out China and others on their lack of democracy.

Greek philosophy and architecture underpin the halls of our democracy

In the case of Athens, I photographed the U.S. Capitol with its iconic Greek architecture and the seat of our country's government. Our democratic ideals--when they aren't being trampled on by overly zealous politicians on both sides of the aisles--are founded in the philosophies and writings of many early Greek thinkers and a great deal of our architecture with its solid Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns, pillars, and capitals are excellent examples of Greek influence in American life.

To visit other photo bloggers participating in this month's theme, click here.

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

Prototype + 400 + Buddy

Model of a statue honoring General George C. Meade

Yesterday's entry featured the Smithsonian American Art Museum and mentioned that its collections include renderings, prototypes, and models by various American artists. One of those prototypes is this model of a statue honoring U.S. Civil War general George C. Meade of Pennsylvania. The statue was commissioned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a gift to the city of Washington. It was designed by Philadelphian sculptor Charles Grafly. The prototype for the statue can be seen at the SAAM and the actual statue itself can be found in the plaza of the U.S. District Courthouse on Constitution Avenue across from the National Gallery of Art's East Building.

Actual statue of General George C. Meade by sculptor Charles Grafly

If you're wondering what that 400 is in the title, today is my 400th post! That just boggles my mind. Once again, my thanks to everyone who visits this humble blog. My goal was and remains to bring you America's capital city in picture and word. I hope you're enjoying the journey as much as I am!

My younger brother, refusing to have his picture taken!

And finally, Buddy is my brother Phillip, who is celebrating a birthday today. He doesn't like having his picture taken, so this is all I've got! (Actually, that's not true. Keep scrolling down.) Phillip is one of the finest people I know; he has a wry wit and a keen sense of playfulness. He's a sensitive soul who believes in honesty and integrity in all that he does and lives it out in his life. He's a good man.

Somehow I managed to snap this picture. Handsome guy, right?

Happy birthday, Buddy!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

SAAM

This hallway led into offices of the U.S. Patent Office.
Today, those office spaces are galleries filled with the works of American artists.

Yesterday's entry featured the Renwick Gallery of Art, a part of the Smithsonian's American Art Museum. Today's entry features pictures from the SAAM itself. Last week, I posted a picture of the SAAM's exterior. It occupies what was once the U.S. Patent Office Building and is on the same block, connected by a shared atrium, as the National Portrait Gallery.

Just a taste of some of the pieces on display in the museum.
Click on the other links throughout this entry to see the range of art the SAAM offers in its collection.

The focus of SAAM is to house art and crafts by American artists. The collection includes everything from landscape paintings sculpture to woven baskets and glasswork, light displays and furniture to artists' prototypes and renderings for larger pieces, from classical to contemporary. The range and variety is as vast and diverse as our own country!

Tiffany skylight in the main hall of the Smithsonian American Art Museum

Again, if you're in Washington and you want to see great American art, visit the American Art Museum. And while you're there, cross through the atrium and visit the National Portrait Gallery. Both are treasures beyond compare!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Two Things Challenge: Hard / Soft

The Hard Rock Cafe next door to Ford's Theater

This week's Two Things Challenge is Hard / Soft. Coming up with something for hard wasn't too difficult. Any number of the marble and granite buildings in this city would have worked, but I wanted to do something out of the ordinary. So, I went downtown the other evening, after taking pictures at the airport, and snapped this photo of the Hard Rock Cafe. This chain is located next door to Ford's Theater, where President Lincoln was shot on April 14, 1865. Here's a sad anecdote: I've actually had guests with teenagers who get upset if their parents don't take them to the cafe, but they couldn't care less about seeing Ford's Theater.

Soft, fluffy clouds

Soft was a little tougher. I was getting desperate and was going to post a picture of the cat, but I did that a few weeks ago. Instead, I decided to go with clouds. They're fluffy and soft, right? And there you have it!

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

Lunch

Walking on sunshine, yeah, yeah... Or, in this case, sitting in the sunshine. :
On the steps of the Smithsonian American Art Museum : Penn Quarter

This group of guys caught my eye as I was walking past the Smithsonian American Art Museum around lunchtime the other day. They seemed to be enjoying (if that's the right word for their culinary choice) McDonald's for their midday repast. Can you guess what their job is?

In other news, it seems that Mirage over at Vienna Daily Photo, has deigned to bestow upon me her Photography Buddy Award. Needless to say, I am flattered. Thank you, Mirage! The feeling is mutual. For those who don't know, I lived in Austria for nearly 20 months back in the late 1980s/early 1990s and spent nine months living in Vienna. I absolutely loved it! It's a beautiful city and a lovely country. Herzlichen Dank, Mirage.


Now here's a question: Am I suppose to pass it on? I really enjoy doing D.C. Confidential. The added bonus is all of the great people I've met in cities near and far. My thanks to those of you who visit this little blog and motivate me to continue bringing you my country's capital city in picture and word. And thank you to everyone who shares their corner of the world with the rest of us. You open our eyes and help us understand one another in ways our politicians and leaders are failing to do.

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

Take My Hand...

Take my hand : Penn Quarter

I saw this couple the other day while I was downtown and I just had to snap their picture as they were crossing the street.

Love knows no bounds, eh?

And now I've got Dido's Take My Hand running through my head. Sublime.

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

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

Smart Start

D.C. newest step toward becoming a green city:
a self-service public bike program!

In an effort to become a greener city, Washington, D.C., is launching a program that will hopefully allow it to join the ranks of Paris, Lyon, Montreal, Cheltenham,* Seville, Barcelona, and Amsterdam as a bike-friendly and green city. Yesterday, the city--in partnership with Clear Channel Communications--officially kicked off Smart Bike DC. Billed as America's first self-service public bike program, it allows subscribers to buy a membership for $39.99/year. Users can take a bike for three hours at a time from a variety of locations in and around the downtown area. Eventually, it is hoped, the program will expand citywide and will encourage people to get out of their cars and get on a bike.

Grab a Smart Bike at the corner of 7th and F Streets NW!
It's quick, easy, reliable, and environmentally cool!

There are currently nine locations throughout downtown and most are within walking distant of a Metro station. Here's to Smart Bike! May it be successful and fun and may it radically change the commuting habits not only of Washingtonians, but also of those who commute to our city from the suburbs of Maryland and Virginia.

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

* Thanks to Marley at Cheltenham Daily Photo who reminded me his city has been participating in a similar program for a while. Check it out here.

America!

Digital America : Smithsonian American Art Museum : Penn Quarter

Today is our nation's 232nd birthday. In 1776, we declared our independence from the sovereign kingdom of Great Britain and the rule of King George. Today, we are a constitutional federal republic made up of 50 states, one federal district (that's us!), and a handful of territories and protectorates. We are the melting pot of the world with a population of 304.5 million people from every country on the planet.

We have serious problems in this country that need serious, wise solutions, but we're a great country and I'm grateful to live here. Happy July 4th, America! And have a safe and fun holiday weekend everyone!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 7/08

Two Things Challenge: Round / Square

Round with a view...

This week's Two Things Challenge was Round / Square. As with every week's challenge, I tried to have fun. Here are my results. For Round, I thought this was unique. This is one of those poles used to chain off driveways at a BP gas station on Georgia Avenue.

Round and square all in one!

This second picture features square bricks with round holes, which make up the perimeter wall of a home in my neighborhood. I like how it combined both Round and Square!

Squares in tiles in the floor of the American Art Museum
in the Old Patent Office Building.

And finally, this last picture is all about Square. I was going to post a picture of some of Washington's more conservative politicians, but I try to avoid partisan politics on my blog, so I went with this instead. This is part of the tile flooring in the Smithsonian's American Art Museum, which sits adjacent to the National Portrait Gallery and is housed in what was originally the U.S. Patent Office Building.

The weekly Two Things Photo Challenge is open to anyone who'd like to join in. Come check it out and play along!

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Two Things Challenge: Symmetrical / Abstract

Symmetrical bathroom fixtures

This week's Two Things Challenge was Symmetrical / Abstract. Here are my interpretations. The first is the sink in my bathroom. The faucet and bowl are from IKEA. I like the symmetry of these fixtures, so it worked well for this part of the challenge. At least, I think it did!

The new atrium at the National Portrait Gallery:
Abstract sunroof creates abstract light creates abstract art.

The second photo is one I took on Friday when I was out with friends. We went to the National Gallery of Art to see a special exhibit I'll be posting in a few days. On the way back to Metro, we stopped at the National Portrait Gallery so I could take a picture of the recently restored and renovated Atrium. The new atrium includes a water feature that is very popular with parents as a cooling and diversion station for their kids. Unfortunately, we were there around COB and missed all the kids. More importantly, though, it features a very abstract sunroof, which I thought was appropriate for the challenge!

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

Busted

Backside of a bust of Andrew Jackson, seventh U.S. president

This bust of Andrew Jackson, America's seventh president (1829-1837), resides in the National Portrait Gallery. Jackson was this nation's first "frontier" president. Although he was born in South Carolina, he spent a great deal of his life and career in Tennessee. Jackson has the distinction of being the last president to be a veteran of the Revolutionary War and only the second president to be a prisoner of war (George Washington was the first.) Andrew Jackson was known as "Old Hickory" for his toughness and distinguished himself as a lawyer, chief justice, and military officer before assuming the mantle of the presidency. He's also infamous for encouraging what came to be known as the "spoils system"--awarding high level government positions to friends and party loyalists to the detriment of the government and service to the people. Hm. I wonder if today's president is taking a page out of Jackson's book?

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

Diffusion

Smithsonian Castle

One of the best things about Washington, D.C., is the Smithsonian Institution, which is a system of archives, museums, exhibitions, and education programs that are among some of the best in the world of arts and industries. In Washington alone, the Smithsonian includes 13 museums and a zoological park, with an additional museum in New York City and a sister museum in Chantilly, Virginia.

This most visited museum in the Smithsonian system is the National Air & Space Museum. It includes a sister museum, the Udvar-Hazy Center, in Virginia. If you want to see portraits of America's founders, the National Portrait Gallery is the museum to visit. At the Natural History Museum, you can see the Hope Diamond and in the American History Museum, you can see the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star Spangled Banner." If you like modern art and sculpture, the Hischhorn is your museum. Asian art can be found in the Freer and Sackler Gallery, while the Renwick houses some of America's finest artists. If you're interested in African art or African American history, the National Museum of African Art and the Anacostia Community Museum, respectively, are for you. To see Tai-shan the panda, visit the National Zoo. The Smithsonian's newest museum is the National Museum of the American Indian.

The best part about the Smithsonian museums and zoo: they're all free. How is this possible? A bequest from a British scientist named James Smithson named the United States as the benefactor of his estate. Upon the death of his nephew, his only heir, Smithson's estate--valued at around $500,000 in 1838--was given to the United States "to found at Washington, under the name of the Smithsonian Institution, an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." To learn more about the Smithsonian, go here. For a complete listing of Smithsonian museums and institutions, go here.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 10/07.

American Art

One of the few redeeming factors in Washington, D.C., is its museums, especially those in the Smithsonian system and the National Gallery of Art (which is not a Smithsonian museum, but is often confused as one.) All of the public museums are free, the result of generous bequests on the part of James Smithson of Britain and Andrew Mellon of the United States, respectively.

Cape Cod Morning, Edward Hopper, 1950

On Friday, my brother and I met up during lunch and wandered over to the National Museum of American Art (SAAM) and the National Portrait Gallery. While we were there, we saw a number of pieces by known artists. We also had the opportunity to converse with the director of the SAAM, Dr. Elizabeth Broun. She suggested we see the works of Albert Pinkham Ryder and Nam June Paik, in addition to our interests in Andrew Wyeth, Albert Bierstadt, and Thomas Moran.

Achelous & Hercules, Thomas Hart Benton, 1947

The pieces contained here are from the permanent collection of the SAAM and are shared here for your viewing enjoyment. To see greater detail, simply click on each image and it will open in a larger version in a new window. To learn more about each of the pieces, click on their respective titles.

Golden Gate Bridge, Ray Strong, 1934

Currently, the SAAM is hosting an exhibit of photographs by Harry Benson, as well as works on loan from the National Portrait Gallery of London and an exhibit by William Christenberry. All worthwhile and worth seeing. If you're in D.C., stop in and spend a few hours.

Interception, Mark Tansey, 1996

The museum allows photography in most of the galleries, but not in the special exhibits. The artworks contained in this entry were photographed by me, but are the property of the museum.

Zip: 20004

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

All art depicted in this entry is the property of the National Museum of American Art/Smithsonian American Art Museum. All rights reserved.

F.B.I. Flags

Flags Throughout History, The Federal Bureau of Investigation,
National Headquarters, 1001 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

First, a confession: I didn't take this picture today. I took it several days ago, when the weather was sunny and moderate. Unlike today, which was cold and overcast--odd for May, but not unwelcome. The picture I took for today didn't turn out as I would have liked, so I'm scrapping it for another day.

This is the outside of the F.B.I. Headquarters. Located just six blocks from the White House, the Bureau is home to America's federalized, domestic investigative agency. The F.B.I. was started in 1908 as a result of a conversation between Teddy Roosevelt and General Charles Bonaparte in 1892. Roosevelt became president in 1901 and, four years later, at the beginning of his second term in office, he nominated Bonaparte to be U.S. Attorney General. Bonaparte created a special corps of agents, drawing from the ranks of the Secret Service and police detectives.

Today, the F.B.I. has field offices in every major city in the U.S., as well as offices overseas. Among other domestic spy duties, they are charged with countering terrorism, though their competence at such endeavors has at times been overshadowed by spy scandals (Robert Hanssen) and technological glitches and misspending. They list Osama bin Laden as their Number 1 Most Wanted Man, offering a $25 million dollar reward for his capture--dead or alive. If you've seen that wily terrorist anywhere, called your local F.B.I. field office.


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

Lincoln L'Oeil

An otherwise nondescript series of office buildings in the Penn Quarter.
Note the mosaic of Lincoln on the side of the building to the right, though.

Yes, that building!

Dig the balconies on this place!
And the mosaic of Lincoln.

One of the best art exhibits I ever attended was an exhibit of trompe l'oeil (the art of optical illusion) at the National Gallery of Art. Today, I ran out for a few minutes to go to the bank. I just happened to glance up 10th Street NW and noticed this fabulous example of trompe l'oeil art. At first, it looked like an arch over a set of balconies with a young Abraham Lincoln as the focal point above the arch. Upon closer inspection, though, I immediately realized this was trompe l'oeil.

This optical illusion is painted onto the side of a building that is directly across the street from Ford's Theater, where President Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth in April 1865. The theater is one of D.C.'s most popular attractions and is currently undergoing a major renovation--it's first since the National Park Service took over the building almost 40 years ago. Prior to that, the building sat empty for more than 100 years.

To see this excellent example of tromp l'oeil art, go to 514 10th Street NW. The best views are from the corner of 10th and E Streets. (Or, if you can't come to D.C., click on the images above to see larger versions.)

Zip: 20004

Photography copyrights: D.C. Confidential (Janet M. Kincaid, 05/07)