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dustinprewittThursday, 22 April 04
The first place I stopped was at the 930 club for the Sleater-Kinney/Einsturzende Neubauten tickets, which involved a walk through the legendary DC ghetto about between 7-9th sts and P-V aves. Every major city has them- Barbershop-movie-type barbershops, bars on the windows, record stores selling exclusivly hip-hop type music, liquor stores, gas stations where everyone hangs out, bootleg cloathing and phone dealiers, etc. On one hand, it is intriguing to be immersed in such a culture, but on the other, it was also intimidating, feeling that I really didnt belong there and was not welcome, as well as general fear of crime/being mugged, etc. After waiting in a small line with good conversation, I grabbed the tickets and headed out for the 1st stop- the national archives. Where the most important documents of the US policy are stored, Compared to the size of the building, the area that was actualy open to the public was comparitivly small. But what it lacked in quantity, it more than made up for in quality. 1st there was an exhibit on the 1st contact between the US and Japan. Brady's opening Japan for westernization, etc. This piqued my curiousity, especialy since it was not too long ago that I had seen the Last Samuri. I found the documentation not just from the western perspective but also from the eastern perspective highly interesting- mainly the gradual evolution of Perry from being portrayed as a hairy demon from japanese folklore to an elegant japanese idealogy. Then the rotunda of freedom. Like a holy shrine, and on display, the charters of the colonies, the declaration of independance, bill of rights, and the constitution. The foundations of what it is to be America, and, just about the only thing to keep little boy bush from completly screwing us over. As Im sure Ive mentioned before, the constitution is one of the few things that I consider sacred in this world, so seeing the original copy so close, was akin to a religious experience. They did allow non-flash photographjy, and being the shutterbug that I am, was taking several pictures when suddenly, without warning, my flash went off. I was horrified, not so much as to what would happen to me, but the damage I might have done to the documents. They security just told me to put the camera away. Could have been worse...
Next stop- the Library of Congress, the St Peter's Cathedrial of us geeky librarians everywhere, which is no understatement. The interior design was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever beheld. After walking with a tour group for a little while, I became impatient and began to explore the exhibits available, which included the treasures of the collection, an exhibit on Winston Churchill, and an exhibit on Bob Hope. Sadly, I was not able to visit the main reading area- only cardholders had permission to enter unless with a tour guide. And most of the tour guides were gone. *kicking self*. But I was able to sneak a picture of the reading room through the window or the main entry door, as well as a picture of what could be the oldest printed book in the world- a gutenberg Bible, app. 1400.
Next stop- the Supreme Court. The supreme power and authority of the United States, defenders of the constitution. Tours were over for the day, so the building was eerily empty and almost everywhere but the main lobby was blocked by security. Not having much to see (but no less awed but what was available to see), I started toward the next stop on my tour- the capitol, where by contrast, where the constitution is spit upon and defiled on a regular basis, especialy as of recently. Lines were long, and after a long wait I was then told by security that one needed a ticket in order to tour the capitol, and they have all been distributed for the day, usualy all gone by 10am. Looks like one more early morning for me...
One long walk later I ws at the Union station. I didnt stay too long there, just long enough to admire the archetecture and listen to some very eligant and well-timed solo violin music by a street musician... The acoustics coupled with the sound and scenery were a match made in heaven... I took the metro station there to the next stop- the holocaust museum. Not so much out of respect for the subject, but mostly because I wanted to see if their gift shop had any of those graphic concentration camp video footages on DVD. I was impressed with the exterior design, and started clicking away, when security, fairly rudely, told me to empty the camera, claiming that photography was a security risk. I was lucky to be able to keep the camera and film... by then it was 5-ish and the door said the museum closes at 5:30. But the guard said they were closed anyway, for some special event, or whatever. Didnt matter... the museum wasnt that high up on my list of priorities anyway...
By that time, it was getting close to the sleater-kinny show. Standting in line, I noticed the general crowd make up: coffee house emo tree hugger, shallow types that believed that just because they were pro-democrat that they were intellectual and open-minded. Of course that is a somewhat unfair generalization, but thats the best picture I could paint of them. The club was a well designed place. Good sized stage, balcony, food, bar, etc. The opening act was unsurprisingly forgettable. But sleater kinney... I was surprised I forgot how much ass they could kick. What can I say now? I'm a fan. They also had a pro-gay rights booth with a pledge to vote (democrat) sign-up sheet as well. Anti-genre sentiment aside, I signed without hesitation...
The night still young after the show, it was time for Alchemy, being held at the Nation, a club along the southeast Washington pier area. The staff would not let me take my camera in, which upset me profoundly. Inside there was not one, not two, not three, BUT FOUR rooms, all featureing its own style of genre music- trance, industrial, 80s, darkwave, synthpop, etc., and an outdoor patio. AND ALL FILLED TO CAPACITY. So many people, I was overwhelmed. Everything I could have ever hoped for back home, right here in this former warehouse. But it was also sad, knowing that in the end, this was not Wichita, that this was not something that I had accomplished, and that it would probably never be. Despite it all, I did run into some people that I had met last night at purgatory, and despite my painfull feet, I danced the night away. The varity of music, the dancefloor crowd, I could have stayed forever. But tomarrow was another early day, so eventualy I did have to surrender, and go back to camp...
The first place I stopped was at the 930 club for the Sleater-Kinney/Einsturzende Neubauten tickets, which involved a walk through the legendary DC ghetto about between 7-9th sts and P-V aves. Every major city has them- Barbershop-movie-type barbershops, bars on the windows, record stores selling exclusivly hip-hop type music, liquor stores, gas stations where everyone hangs out, bootleg cloathing and phone dealiers, etc. On one hand, it is intriguing to be immersed in such a culture, but on the other, it was also intimidating, feeling that I really didnt belong there and was not welcome, as well as general fear of crime/being mugged, etc. After waiting in a small line with good conversation, I grabbed the tickets and headed out for the 1st stop- the national archives. Where the most important documents of the US policy are stored, Compared to the size of the building, the area that was actualy open to the public was comparitivly small. But what it lacked in quantity, it more than made up for in quality. 1st there was an exhibit on the 1st contact between the US and Japan. Brady's opening Japan for westernization, etc. This piqued my curiousity, especialy since it was not too long ago that I had seen the Last Samuri. I found the documentation not just from the western perspective but also from the eastern perspective highly interesting- mainly the gradual evolution of Perry from being portrayed as a hairy demon from japanese folklore to an elegant japanese idealogy. Then the rotunda of freedom. Like a holy shrine, and on display, the charters of the colonies, the declaration of independance, bill of rights, and the constitution. The foundations of what it is to be America, and, just about the only thing to keep little boy bush from completly screwing us over. As Im sure Ive mentioned before, the constitution is one of the few things that I consider sacred in this world, so seeing the original copy so close, was akin to a religious experience. They did allow non-flash photographjy, and being the shutterbug that I am, was taking several pictures when suddenly, without warning, my flash went off. I was horrified, not so much as to what would happen to me, but the damage I might have done to the documents. They security just told me to put the camera away. Could have been worse...
Next stop- the Library of Congress, the St Peter's Cathedrial of us geeky librarians everywhere, which is no understatement. The interior design was one of the most beautiful sights I had ever beheld. After walking with a tour group for a little while, I became impatient and began to explore the exhibits available, which included the treasures of the collection, an exhibit on Winston Churchill, and an exhibit on Bob Hope. Sadly, I was not able to visit the main reading area- only cardholders had permission to enter unless with a tour guide. And most of the tour guides were gone. *kicking self*. But I was able to sneak a picture of the reading room through the window or the main entry door, as well as a picture of what could be the oldest printed book in the world- a gutenberg Bible, app. 1400.
Next stop- the Supreme Court. The supreme power and authority of the United States, defenders of the constitution. Tours were over for the day, so the building was eerily empty and almost everywhere but the main lobby was blocked by security. Not having much to see (but no less awed but what was available to see), I started toward the next stop on my tour- the capitol, where by contrast, where the constitution is spit upon and defiled on a regular basis, especialy as of recently. Lines were long, and after a long wait I was then told by security that one needed a ticket in order to tour the capitol, and they have all been distributed for the day, usualy all gone by 10am. Looks like one more early morning for me...
One long walk later I ws at the Union station. I didnt stay too long there, just long enough to admire the archetecture and listen to some very eligant and well-timed solo violin music by a street musician... The acoustics coupled with the sound and scenery were a match made in heaven... I took the metro station there to the next stop- the holocaust museum. Not so much out of respect for the subject, but mostly because I wanted to see if their gift shop had any of those graphic concentration camp video footages on DVD. I was impressed with the exterior design, and started clicking away, when security, fairly rudely, told me to empty the camera, claiming that photography was a security risk. I was lucky to be able to keep the camera and film... by then it was 5-ish and the door said the museum closes at 5:30. But the guard said they were closed anyway, for some special event, or whatever. Didnt matter... the museum wasnt that high up on my list of priorities anyway...
By that time, it was getting close to the sleater-kinny show. Standting in line, I noticed the general crowd make up: coffee house emo tree hugger, shallow types that believed that just because they were pro-democrat that they were intellectual and open-minded. Of course that is a somewhat unfair generalization, but thats the best picture I could paint of them. The club was a well designed place. Good sized stage, balcony, food, bar, etc. The opening act was unsurprisingly forgettable. But sleater kinney... I was surprised I forgot how much ass they could kick. What can I say now? I'm a fan. They also had a pro-gay rights booth with a pledge to vote (democrat) sign-up sheet as well. Anti-genre sentiment aside, I signed without hesitation...
The night still young after the show, it was time for Alchemy, being held at the Nation, a club along the southeast Washington pier area. The staff would not let me take my camera in, which upset me profoundly. Inside there was not one, not two, not three, BUT FOUR rooms, all featureing its own style of genre music- trance, industrial, 80s, darkwave, synthpop, etc., and an outdoor patio. AND ALL FILLED TO CAPACITY. So many people, I was overwhelmed. Everything I could have ever hoped for back home, right here in this former warehouse. But it was also sad, knowing that in the end, this was not Wichita, that this was not something that I had accomplished, and that it would probably never be. Despite it all, I did run into some people that I had met last night at purgatory, and despite my painfull feet, I danced the night away. The varity of music, the dancefloor crowd, I could have stayed forever. But tomarrow was another early day, so eventualy I did have to surrender, and go back to camp...
Old Shawnee Days -
Anyway. We'll see what happens with the monkey. And if you were there, tell me so I can kick myself for not saying hi, or pat myself on my back for m vivid imagination. o_0.
.Cass.
Re: Old Shawnee Days -
Blah.
And '80's... my fave. ^_^
.Cass.
Re: Blah.