Good DC
Most things in DC are free. It's the capital of free. You can leave your bags at a free locker in the Museum of Natural History, have a peek at some dinosaur bones, walk unburdened to see the crazy-small Spirit of St. Louis at the Museum of Air and Space, and enjoy an ice cream at the National Gallery sculpture garden. The sculptures are a bit "eh?" but the National Gallery had some truly lovely platinum prints by Irving Penn once. Like George Balanchine and a hot ballet muse, or Pablo. The National Portrait Gallery, now that's where awesomeness lives. I like to drop by to say hello to Jimmy Carter.
I've seen plenty of indie movies during work hours at the E Street Cinema, and I am not ashamed. I didn't have time to go downstairs the day Bill Clinton signed books at the bookstore across the street from my office, so work owed me. I used to sneak off to the (free!) National Geographic Society, too. Once they had breathtakingly beautiful plant and animal portraiture by David Liittschwager and Susan Middleton. Another time they had a room-size diorama of a medieval castle under siege, which was so giggle-worthy that I'm still giggling.
And I really miss the music. Once there were these insanely good Russian folk singers, I mean Olympic-trained national treasure good, just playing (free!) for an hour at the Kennedy Center. And the Washington Ballet is stunning. In my next turn through DC's revolving doors, I'm going to join the Jeté Society so I can watch the dancers rehearse and then drink beer with the beautiful people.
So I'm looking forward to eating Ethiopian food again, dancing at house parties, having veggie chili and Shiner at Hard Times Cafe, maybe finally catching Over the Rhine in their almost-annual visit to the Iota Club, hopping the Chinatown bus to New York for a theater break, going to book readings (DC-ers who read this, I hope you didn't miss Michael Chabon and Nick Hornby this month), and running off to the countryside for a lazy weekend of Shakespeare. Maybe I'll even go to Annapolis again just for the crabs. This is, after all, where I used to live.
Re-entry is 100 days away, and I get kind of excited thinking...edgy houseshare in Petworth? ...luxury apartment by the Arlington public library? ...leafy greenery in Takoma Park? ...down the street from Politics & Prose in Friendship Heights? ...house with garden in Alexandria? I just can't decide. Help me, Craigslist.
I've seen plenty of indie movies during work hours at the E Street Cinema, and I am not ashamed. I didn't have time to go downstairs the day Bill Clinton signed books at the bookstore across the street from my office, so work owed me. I used to sneak off to the (free!) National Geographic Society, too. Once they had breathtakingly beautiful plant and animal portraiture by David Liittschwager and Susan Middleton. Another time they had a room-size diorama of a medieval castle under siege, which was so giggle-worthy that I'm still giggling.
And I really miss the music. Once there were these insanely good Russian folk singers, I mean Olympic-trained national treasure good, just playing (free!) for an hour at the Kennedy Center. And the Washington Ballet is stunning. In my next turn through DC's revolving doors, I'm going to join the Jeté Society so I can watch the dancers rehearse and then drink beer with the beautiful people.
So I'm looking forward to eating Ethiopian food again, dancing at house parties, having veggie chili and Shiner at Hard Times Cafe, maybe finally catching Over the Rhine in their almost-annual visit to the Iota Club, hopping the Chinatown bus to New York for a theater break, going to book readings (DC-ers who read this, I hope you didn't miss Michael Chabon and Nick Hornby this month), and running off to the countryside for a lazy weekend of Shakespeare. Maybe I'll even go to Annapolis again just for the crabs. This is, after all, where I used to live.
Re-entry is 100 days away, and I get kind of excited thinking...edgy houseshare in Petworth? ...luxury apartment by the Arlington public library? ...leafy greenery in Takoma Park? ...down the street from Politics & Prose in Friendship Heights? ...house with garden in Alexandria? I just can't decide. Help me, Craigslist.