It goes down in DC
Trip Start
Nov 21, 2007
1
12
13
Trip End
Dec 06, 2007
Washington,
District of Columbia,
United States
Saturday, December 8, 2007
mountains surround you. I notice the Apps have much more of an immersive nature to them as compared to the Rockies or Sierras. They're significantly lower in elevation but the ranges seem closer to together, squished almost. Snow on the ground. It's gorgeous.
Quick sidebar, at a trailside coffeehouse at 6am in Damascus, I overhead a converstation between two guys about converting a short school bus to a mountain biking tour van. They were INTO it.
the AT
Snow covered the ground the whole way to DC from the previous day's storm. Today however, the sun was out. We drop right into the mall area from the interstate - where all the monuments and tourists lurk - and it's a sight to behold. I nearly crash trying to take pictures while driving. I am everything I hate about tourists at this moment.
Kaya and I explore the area on foot for a couple hours, splashing through the melting snow, chasing squirrels, saluting various fire hydrants and small trees. Being so close to the end of my trip and being in this city feels amazing.
That night, I'm invited to dinner in Georgetown by Joanna. A quick word on Jo: actually it won't be quick. If you should find yourself fortunate enough to be an acquaintance of hers and in the DC area, brace yourself. Thanks to her, the next 48 hours would be one enchanting experience after another. I am gushing about Joanna and her boyfriend, Ray (ironman triathlete slash badass polo player slash mayor of DC slash great guy) - amazing hosts.
There's almost too much to tell (and, as I write this, it's Saturday morning and Kaya and I are scurrying to leave DC for the outer farmlands) so I'll hit the highlights:
* Thursday night dinner table mates included the CEO of Rosetta Stone, a guy who makes documentaries about hip hop kids in Sudan/Darfur?, Smithsonian Institute board members (aforementioned Jo & Ray), and other delightful friends
woohoo
. One gets the sense of a young, highly educated, influential DC elite forming. Great conversation.* Crowded bar antics afterward.
* Friday, on Jo's suggestion, I visit the Corcharan(sp) for the Ansel Adams and Ann Lebowitz exhibitions. RAD. What a great pair. Totally different styles and eras but their coupling forces you to compare them, you almost don't want to, but their work is fun and very digestable. Lebowitz displayed a lot of personal shots with her paid work, telling an integrated story about her whole life way more compelling than the outlandish pop culture shots she's most widely known for.
* I strolled the city solo for a couple hours. So much to say about walking DC but I don't have the time. If you haven't done it, you have to. Much like the NY energy but not it - it's inspiring, thought provoking and intense. The gloom magnified it.
* A word on the security situation around the DC national mall area: much like power lines, you tend to not notice the details of them beyond mere presence until you stop and behold
micro
. I consider myself fairly familiar with overzealous policing, around movie studios, ultra-rich neighborhoods, etc - but it's something entirely different around the innner core of DC - justice dept, irs, white house, et al - there's no superficiality here, their role is entirely functional and just looking at them is enough to send shivers. They aren't for show.* Friday night: luxury suite at the Wizards/Suns game. Booyah. It was fresh. More interesting folks. Plus, a surprise visit by George Muresan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gheorghe_Mure%C5%9Fan), the 7 foot 7 Romanian former NBA center. I've got pics. We rapped about the Celtics title chances.
* Crowded bar antics afterward (during which, as I lamented with Jo & Ray the fact that Kaya was all alone in the hotel room, they suggested I go to their friend Andy's farm about an hour outside the city - Jo arranged, I relished).
And so here we are. I spoke with Andy about an hour ago and any friend of Jo's is a friend of his. So, we're off to the farm!
