Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Seen in DC... ..

A friend of mine saw the strangests of things in DC last night. Projected - Yes I said PROJECTED - onto the Washington Monument - facing the Lincoln Memorial, the words "HELL OR HIGH WATER".

I have tried finding out what this was art? demomstration? Can it be confirmed and not just a trick of my freinds eyes driving down Independence Avenue? Well, a bad mock up of what it might look like is included....
As for me, I'll continue the search for answers...

Update: My friend - a thoroughly Rotten Rabi, found the source: Greenpeace !

Here's the link; and what I presume is a picture of what it looked like, though I have no confirmation.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Is there a Doctor in the House?


Yes it is the last Hurrah of the Good Doctor Dremo's Taphouse. And although I only knew it for a short 4 years of its 14+ years long existance - it was still the best Dive bar in town.

It (and the Taco Hell next door) are being replaced by condo's. We don't know know the future fo the business (if they relocate) but it was fun while it lasted.


Thank you Dremos.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

The Future Sure Looks Bright !

GO !

Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind (TML for short) is an amazing set of ever rotating plays put together by a group from Chicago called the NeoFuturists. Based on my friend Stefanie's recommendation I went to see this after missing catching it during last summers Capital Fringe Festival ( I think i ended up seeing A Romeo & Juliette - suicide prevention play) . This is a neat perspective to convene VERY short plays into one hour - specifically 3- plays, one hour. For each performance the audience chooses the order and the Neo-Futurists create a non-illusory collage of the comic, tragic, political, personal and experimental all while embracing chance, change and possibly a little chaos.

Now as some have already made some notes on this (near bottom), I wont be overly repetitive. Other than a few of my favorites listed:

Moonlit Theatre Presents: Apollo 11 Lunar landing - Definitely "Moon" lit.... just imagine where the flag on the moon is planted...

The simple and eventually cancelled - United Airlines Flightplay 15
Night of the Wild Tortilla Throwers - where else can you throw tortillas anonymously BACK at the stage?

Ryan Walters: Bad Ass Bike Messenger - yeah I'm AM Inspired to be one... I think....

Baggage (the mini series) - Damn with the Writers Strike ! this is better than TV - when your baggage stars as the main character.

The enigmatic THE CHAIR play... What do you see it? What is it? NO it's not....

And because they don't deserve to go into obscurity - as what I see will probably be Nothing like what I would see in three months from now (due to them constantly removing old plays and adding new ones), honorable mentions are:

Veterans Day: July 4th Edition - a poignant yet (politically) neutral comment on a soldiers homecoming from Iraq.

Low Stakes/High Drama - all I could think of was of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly as I saw this one a mile away - still couldnt help myself from laughing uncontrollably.

Fame - How do you make a social commentary on Columbine or Virginia Tech... Well Done Neo-Futurists, Well Done
Night of the Flying Tortillas - They figured on an interactive play, they didnt think the Audience would interact back. Yes watch for a horror movie with a similar titlle ... maybe Attack of the Giant Tortillas!

And the Self explanatory: Pastie on My Dick (alas poor Ryan Walters who had to preform this, and kudos for the imaginative use of the OTHER Dick !)



CURTAIN


Epilogue: Apparently in the flyer that you get with the title of the plays (and numbers you must call out to have them performed) There are "neo-futurist facts for the day"

I always thought Virginia had the most personalized License plates - nope its Illinois
The National Mall is 1.4 times larger than Vatican City
There are an average of 165 cans of beer in a keg

and

Topless Saleswomen are legal in Liverpool England - but only in Tropical Fish Stores

Monday, January 21, 2008

Of Sights and Lights

Over the last weeks I got to experience a couple of very different visual mediums. Both have left a very different impression on me, so we will start with the oldest, kind of..... (The rest will follow shortly)

Though I just saw it barely a week before it closes - The Ansel Adams Exhibit at the Corcoran Museum was breathtaking! And this is despite the Annie Liebowitz exhibit being closed already. I was pretty much exhausted with just one gallery as it was. Seeing this exhibit was rejuvenating. Adams was one of my inspirations for photography, and although I have never seen much of the scenery that he is famous for photographing, I have fallen in love with it dearly.



What I had forgotten (and my friend reminded me of the term), is Adam's use of negative space. So many shadows and intricacies in what initially looks just like black areas. It truly gives his work depth.

The Corcoran had a few other neat surprises one of which was a interactive photography display. Basically there was a rotating projection on the wall that would display the photos taken barely a minute before by a camera set up in the room. What you get is almost a photo booth style display on the wall - with all types of people doing everything from funny to serious to normal. In someways it reminds me of (though not as deep as) the WDYDWYD project that I gave thought to this summer (and still do). Perhaps its the spontaneity of the installation that I like - I was goofy at first - but then somehow I got a neat inspiration, and got a "RAD" picture. Almost a series if you would say.

Finally I found one of my favorite pieces of classical American sculpture as part of the permanent exhibit: Hiram Powers, The Greek Slave. The Greek Slave is a piece that attempt to use classical lines to evoke in inner strenght of will. Even though this has been translated in many different ways, including for the abolitionist movement in the 1850's, I still think that this statue is pretty powerful.

This of course despite the obviousness of what very few sculptors have been able to do ever since the golden age of Greece. Most people don't notice it off hand but notice how most marble statues have some type of pedestal that the figures lean on? Even Augustus Caesar's Statue needed a little cherub for support (below, Right). The Greeks didn't do that (though most Greek statues that have survived are really Roman replicas) for example Hiram Powers - despite being acclaimed as one of the best in his age - still used that trick. My favorite sculpture work in the WORLD happens to be one that seems to defy that gravity. Just one look (for me) of the Winged Victory (also known as the Nike; below, left) of Samothrace and I was in deep love.




























She stands against the wind - defiant pose (her head is missing), and you can - almost feel the wind against her. Unfortunately she sits in the Louvre in Paris, and I still remember when I first came upon her: Up high on a dias at the top of a grand staircase, as if she was back on that prow of the ship she was meant to be upon; the shadows on her clothing, the wind whipping at her.... A sight that no picture can do justice. I would give my right arm or leg to own her.


It will be a while before I see her again.



Friday, January 18, 2008

HOT HOT Editors!

I say never! As you recall back in September I saw the Editors. It was my introduction to them - so I left the review to Club D. This time around having acclimated to them, gotten their music (2007's An End Has a Start), and now attending there show again - I will come every-single- time! Only next time I will plan ahead. The Editors had sold out!

Well people are discovering how good they are, because last September I was walked up day of the show, and bought tickets. This time - 5 days before they sold out. That left a handful of us scrambling for tickets. We managed to snag two off Craigslist (Thanks Stefanie!!) - and I got mine for face value at the venue! Lucky me! I have a feeling that the DCist tipped off DC with a good article on the Editors....

The show started with Hot Hot Heat! a group I had kinda heard of... somewhere in my head... that was because it was actually In MY Music Library already ! So when their opener went on - I was WAIT I know them! (the song was a gift from my friend Ruthie - pictured in pink with Cat - who were both also at the concert) . Hot Hot Heat (or HHH!) was a great energy band and opened up with Dirty Mouth (of which I just found out their Elevator album was produced by Neko Case of new Pornographers fame, and are an influence of the Eidtors ) and other great singles such as Oh Godammit and Goodnight. This group has some great melodies with which lead singer Steve (who I got to met later at DC9) pumps the crowd up - great performance guys!

The Editors though were truly the star & headliners. With lead Tom Smith smooth vocal (Ive heard a zillion people compare him to Robert Smith, but I say he is his own. His strange presence makes the girls go wild, and just (I guess from an untrained ear) sounds smooth & distinct from the music. That he didn't look like he was strung out on something made thsi an crisp - on target performance. But almost never mentioned is guitarist Chris Urbanowicz.

Chris's work really gives that music a frantic, energetic pace despite the dark lyrics (allot of death themes on this album). Its really quite a mix, but good enough that it garnered the group a best British Group Nomination from the Brit Awards. My bet is that soon they'll be hitting the grammys also!

Included in their set at the 9:30 club was An End has a Start, Racing Rats , Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors, Weight of the World, and Munich amongst others (click on the song to preview it below - especially An End has a Start cause all his strange quirks and hand motions etc. in the way Smith acts in the video is very much like he is on stage). This was well worth going to and will be going again. Of note for the 9:30 Club, they finally have a Dogish Brewery beer that I absolutely love: Raison D'Etre !! BRILLIANT!!

Friday, January 11, 2008

An Awakening

An interesting way to begin the new year is to kind of reflect on yourself for a little (as if banging ones head on a door and almost giving yourself a concussion isnt a way to bang in the new year) . So it comes with a little bi of de-ja-vu that last sunday, on an unusually warm winter day, I took a bike ride.... What made it so unusual was I ended up at Haines Point, and The Awakening Statue.

Its been about a year & a half since I last saw it, and was just as impressed with it back then as now. So it is sad to find out that it was bought and bieng shipped to the National Harbor shortly. Kind of an eye opener. (pics here).

Which, as cheesy as sometimes as it sounds brings me to all these self help things you see around the bookshelves and so forth. In general these places & books charge alot for simple advice that in most cases dont "catch". Most of us, as adults, have a pretty ingrained personality & quirks. None of these things are going to transform you overnight unless it comes with a shocking life experience. It comes from within.

My sister many years ago, paid for me to go to "The Landmark Forum". Sure it was an eye opening experience (but then I also remember it for meeting this girl from greece that I was infatuated just as much). Sure it had a great message. But was it worth THREE days and a quarter grand spent?! No not really. And if I had done my homework on it.... I would have been somewhat disturbed at its origins. So in general I really do not trust those venues.

But yet the one book I have gone back to over the last four years - The Four Agreements - is just that type of book. Maybe though that I keep going back to it is a sign that it is different. I reread it in January each year - a simple book that puports to be "Toltec Wisdom". I pay no attention to that... ok maybe I do - because the 4 agreements are pretty basic (but hard to follow religiously):
  1. Be Impeccable with your word - Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

  2. Don't take anything personally -Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

  3. Don't make assumptions - Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreements, you can completely transform your life.

  4. Always do your best - Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.
But the thing I always found most fascinating is the introduction of the Toltec mythology & the "Dream of Planet"
The Toltecs teach us that we are living in a dream and there is nothing really solid about that dream. We can say that the human body is made for perception, and the human mind is made to dream. We each dream our personal dream of "reality," and we all dream together to create the “dream of the planet." The function of the human dream is to prepare the new humans by "domesticating" them and making them part of the human organ, so that our evolution continues.

So our upbringing is is deteremined by others (like Duh!) and society. And in this upbringing we make all these agreements taking on the view of our parents & society. Well - basically the need to unlearn all these thiings (our old agreements) and simplify to four. Its more complicated so I guess thats why theres a small book on it.
Maybe whenI finish that I can attemot to finish all the other books on my shelf sitting there unread; The History of Africa, Le Morte De Arthur, Collected works of Robert Frost, The Count of Monte Cristo..........

Monday, January 7, 2008

12 days , 12 things ....


So how many people actually know WHEN the 12 days of christmas are ? NO not before the "big day" but actually after. And of course there is always that song "th 12 days of Christmas" blah blah......

Well this year I actually decided for some strange odd reason, that I would keep track of what I "got" during those 12 days. Though by this point the initial bits are fuzzy in my mind - Here it goes:


Day One: One Great Xmas Day brunch thanks to Stefanie & her amazing Mom!

Day Two: Found out Sally had a blown head gasket, apparently a common problem with Subaru's from 1998-2002

Day Three: A Happy Hour with 3 Margaritas! (you're kidding me on the day AFTER Christmas? - well why not - it makes the work day seem easier)

Day Four: I found the approximate repair bill for Sally would be a 4 figure number ($2,000 !!!) . On the lucky side I found a Pro shop a few days later who can slash 40% off that price - the catch is He cant do it until early February)


Day Six: At least 6 of us went chopping wood! (See the theme) plus it released alot of stress doing it.

Day Seven: Seven Bottle Rockets! (Goodbye to 2007!)

Day Eight: Head wound free since January 2nd 2008!

What you may say? well some may recall an particualr biking accident circa Nov 2006. Well I went all of 2007 without hitting my head REALLY hard on anything - but 2 hours into 2008 - Lo and Behold - I get into an argument with a door latch and I loose - big time. Luckily I have freinds who know how to bandage me up, even if it is a little overenthusiastic!

Day Nine: Fuzziness sets in, a boring nine hour workday....

Day Ten: Played a Great Game of Imperial! (yes I am a geek)

Day Eleven: Saw 11 Shooting Stars (I stopped counting after that)


This was the capstone of the 12 days - A good dinner where I tried to recreate my Paella recipe from late September. And though it was different - it was nevertheless tasty! Even better that it was shared with good friends (right).

It was all to celebrate - even if it wasnt per the standard method- Three Kings day, also known as The Epiphany. For my family this was the official end of the holidays. The tree came down the weekend after this, there would sometimes be a parade on this day also. But the family wold get together and we would have a good meal together - though it was often times at a restaurant. I remember my grandparents ordering Paella on this occasion more than a few times. SO thus was my impetus to have a dinner with my family of friends. And its perfect timing. Since the holidays are soooo full - one can never throw a holiday party anymore - so throw a small afffair for some afterwards - BRILLIANT!

In the immortal Hannibal Smith's word : "I love it when a plan comes together"

So three Huzzahs! for my wonderfull 2nd family who came out for a great evening (which is what counts)

So on that note I this time leave myself a few thing to remember for the next time I cook Paella

1. It always takes longer than I remember to cook - 45 - 60 min to cut & prep, alot the same amount of time for cooking

2. The Sofrito is the key to the color, dont scimp on the tomatoes, they need juicy pulp (out of season tomatoes dont work as well)

3. As I needed to be reminded - the Mussels are good if they close (if they stay open before they are cooked its bad, if they dont open when cooked they are bad)

4. Clams are not as vital, Scallops do a better substitute

5. Hoard up on Spanish Chorizo - its harder to find than I thought - and the dish misses something when not used

6. Big burner is better than 2 small burners of a regular stove - and a bigger P.I.T.A

7. Seafood is cheap at the DC Waterfront! Take advantage of it - especially cheap Mussels!
8. It always helps to have an amazing sous chef! (how could I forget that point!)

Thats all for now, i'll add if I remember more.

Friday, January 4, 2008

A Cold Shower

No despite having had problems with the water heater staying lit at the house, this has nothing to do with water, but more to do with the Quantrid Meteor Showers (an approximated view of something similar is pictured, left). And it just happens that, it was Father Universe (in contrast to Mother Nature I guess) gave us New Years Eve Fireworks, even if on his/her own time schedule. So that left no choice but an INSTANT Mini- Road Trip !

Usually I am used to the Perseid Meteor Shower having seen them once or twice while living in Miami. Its a great place for stargazing, because you can always go deep enough into the Everglades, away from the light pollution, as long as you dont mind fighting off the Mi-go sized mosquitoes.

Either way Jon, Mary, Dave, Reagan (the star of almost every picture) & Me piled into the car at the incredulous hour of 11:30 to see this shower that I had never seen (you need to be in the northern lattitudes). Our first bit of bad-luck was missing our Sheetz stop over (to get hot chocolate/coffee) heading out to Bluemont, VA near the Ravens Rock hike area we did. Our second was not finding the spot that we were told was perfect for the shower viewing.

But as intrepid as we were, we managed to find a spot by a field and set up our bundles of attempted warmth. Now mind you, it was approximately 17 DEGREES OUT! We could have used that liquidy warmth like the Miami Dolphins need a new Coach & Quaterback! Still we persevered we spotted lots of Shooting Stars (met my goal of at least 11 personally) plus tons of constellations, The star Polaris, Orion, some Sattelites, a few Planes, and Mighty Mars bright as ever in the sky.

Sure I almost froze my toes off huddled on a un-inflated airmattress with the others, but it was well worth it, especially since I didnt have to fight off those Mi-Go's.......

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Banging in the New Year

I have realized that I am not as engrossing as some of my other friends in writing, especially when one has a gift of gab, and often find myself slow on posting up stuff. So here I am with suddenly a zillion things to ramble about, 3-4 days later sharing my New Years celebration.

My good friend Jamie and her beau organized yet another amazing cabin trip like the Tulip Tree cabin or Myron Glaser. This time we went to much ballyhooed Mutton Top Cabin which was very near Morris Cabin. Needless to say despite shoving 9 people and 7 "dogs" into the cabin, it was a phenomenal and novel way to spend New Years eve. Avoid large crowds, avoid drunk drivers, and still be with some (sadly not all) of your great friends.

The days were spent chopping wood, chillin by the fire (some went hiking), spending time with firends - the night cooking, playing games, and ... chillin by the fire. We ate well too... so much for roughing it.

A few rebellious cabin-goers defied the no dress up pact (darn that was smart of them) and thus Jon & Alexandra promptly got declared King & Queen of the ball (oddly King didnt get to be King). Its hard to just put a narrative to the weekend, but here are a few cherished memories:

An AMAZING Sunset over the cabin & Valley

Wacthing the cold front moving over us, a thick line of clouds passing over and revealing brilliant stars overhead.

Waking up in the morning looking into the valley with just the hill tops visible as a blanket of low clouds/fog cover everything else - breathtaking!

Chopping the big 20 foot log of a tree and hauling another 25 foot fallen from the tangled vines & brambles for the bonfire.

Who would ever think you could have Pho at a rustic cabin! Thanks to Linny, we did, and made my stomach very happy.

Regretting a cool waterfall hike, yet I wouldnt have had my Tree experience if I had gone.

Hanging around the bonfire with Glog, Icewine & shooting off cheesy bottle rockets!
Stars Stars Stars!

Playing Bag of Nouns on Team Short Bus (since we were apparently soooo horrible we could be compared to ... well....). Bag O nouns is played by each player on a team writing 5 nouns on 5 slips of paper. Then in alternating order each team needs to guess as many words drawn from a bag/hat etc, which need to be guessed by the teams in 3 consecutives rounds via Taboo like fashion first, then bu using only one word, and the third round only in charades. Some interesting words people came up with:


Va-jay-jay, female pee funnel, Darren Biggs, Rickets, Buffalo Nickel, 3 different states, Jalopy, F-1 Racing, Quattro (think "Menage a Trois" +1, but in Latin), Grape Ape, and various other sundry & mundane words, of which I should seriously challenge!

Seriously this was a good way to cap off the Good Times in 07, and a Bang up way to ring in the New year (more on that later!)