Cultural Places: Once on the top, now decadent... still charming. (Monday, Sep. 23)

It was our last full day in Washington DC, and we spent most of it like the other days: walking a lot!
It took us about 40 minutes to walk from the hotel to Georgetown, this cute and historic neighbourhood.

Cats for Kamala!

PS. I think it's safe to say that people here are with Kamala Harris. 

I haven't seen any Trump supporter. 

I love the row houses and their details. 

The black metal stairs are popular here historically.

FROM: https://www.urbanaironworks.com/

Wrought iron is a remarkable substance. During the 17th century, it enjoyed a heyday, when blacksmiths were using iron to create furniture, gates, beds, spiral stairs, and monuments. Iron was everywhere due to a few qualities that made it the material of course in that era. First, wrought iron is malleable — which means it’s easily shaped while hot, and has just a little bit give (i.e. won’t shatter) even in the coldest winter. Second, it easily withstands extreme conditions and extreme condition changes, so it is an ideal material for places like the District of Columbia that have fairly hot summers and fairly cold winters. Finally, it corrodes very slowly and is easy to care for, and will last for several generations — every piece of wrought iron in your family is a potential heirloom.

Adorable door detail!

It was nice to walk by so much urban green.

Bridges and highways kind of set neighbourhoods boundaries.

GEORGETOWN

We got there! 

The famous and hip Georgetown.

First thing we did was breakfast, and luckily we found our favourite bakery Tatte. 

My favourite order: 

GF Smoked Salmon, Avocado, & Egg Sandwich

Smoked salmon, avocado, red onion, capers, alfalfa sprouts, and creamy scrambled eggs served on gluten-free bread with green herbed dressing.

FROM https://washington.org/dc-neighborhoods/georgetown

Georgetown is home to some of the city’s top shops, tastiest restaurants and most luxurious hotels, and it's a favorite of tourists and locals alike. And it’s easy to see why: Though M Street may be best known for a wide-ranging retail scene that includes such mainstream crowd-pleasers as Anthropologie and H&M and exclusive high-end designers like Billy Reid and Rag & Bone, the neighborhood is also home to a solid selection of upscale home design stores, independent small businesses and many of the city’s best fine art galleries.

If shopping’s not your thing, there are plenty of other things to do, too. History buffs can tour stunning historic 18th and 19th-century mansions or see the one-time homes of JFK and Julia Child. Foodies will find locally-owned gems that appeal for a quick bite alongside world-class restaurants perfect for a leisurely dining experience. Outdoor and waterfront enthusiasts flock to Georgetown Waterfront Park for some of the most picturesque kayaking, jogging and cycling backdrops the city has to offer.

It took us a little bit of time to find the Chasepeake & Ohio Canal (known as C&O) because it was dry, but we still enjoyed the picturesque view.

FROM https://www.georgetowndc.com 

Georgetown was originally established as a tobacco port town in Maryland, and housed a lumber yard, cement works, and the Washington Flour Mill. More than two centuries later, in 1967, Georgetown was designated a National Historic Landmark. It’s included in the inventory of Historic Places, as well as the National Register of Historic Places.

What a beautiful garden in such a small space!

My favourite tourist. :)

GEORGETOWN WATERFRONT - POTOMAC RIVER

This is the Georgetown's Waterfront, where we can see the Potomac River.

I am not sure that this weird looking building is, but I found those metal walls interesting. 

I assume they protect the property from the rise of the river, which is crazy to imagine that it happens.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potomac_River

The Potomac River is a major river in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States that flows from the Potomac Highlands in West Virginia to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. It is 405 miles (652 km) long, with a drainage area of 14,700 square miles (38,000 km²), and is the fourth-largest river along the East Coast of the United States. More than 6 million people live within its watershed.

The river forms part of the borders between Maryland and Washington, D.C., on the left descending bank, and West Virginia and Virginia on the right descending bank. Except for a small portion of its headwaters in West Virginia, the North Branch Potomac River is considered part of Maryland to the low-water mark on the opposite bank. The South Branch Potomac River lies completely within the state of West Virginia except for its headwaters, which lie in Virginia. All navigable parts of the river were designated as a National Recreation Trail in 2006.

This was the only real shopping area we walked by in our trip so far - which turned out to be a good option to hide from the occasional rain outside. 

UNION STATION

Mike left me in the mid afternoon to go back to Toronto for work, and I stayed solo for another day in Washington. 

Since I have done most of what I came here for, I decided to go for an adventure to the Union Station, downtown.

The place was a bit rough, still beautiful inside. 

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Union_Station

Washington Union Station, known locally as Union Station, is a major train station, transportation hub, and leisure destination in Washington, D.C. Designed by Daniel Burnham and opened in 1907, it is Amtrak's headquarters, the railroad's second-busiest station, and North America's 10th-busiest railroad station. The station is the southern terminus of the Northeast Corridor, an electrified rail line extending north through major cities including Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston, and the busiest passenger rail line in the nation. In 2015, it served just under five million passengers.

At the height of its traffic, during World War II, as many as 200,000 passengers passed through the station in a single day. In 1988, a headhouse wing was added and the original station renovated for use as a shopping mall. As of 2014, Union Station was one of the busiest rail facilities and shopping destinations in the United States, visited by over 40 million people a year. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors caused a sharp decline in retail and dining; by late 2022, more than half its commercial space was vacant, but Amtrak is attempting to regain control of the station and plans a major renovation and expansion.

The place is really beautiful, but it needs some love.
It feels a bit decadent in here, although we can imagine how glamorous this train station used to be once it was built. 

Check out those stairs railings!

I can picture long dresses ladies with their fancy hats and men wearing 19 century trench coats.

The food court could also go through a renovation, although it has some character now.

ÇHINATOWN

My next stop was Chinatown, not too far from the Union Station. 

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatown,_Washington,_D.C.

Washington, D.C.'s Chinatown is a small, historic area of Downtown Washington, D.C. along H and I Streets between 5th and 8th Streets, Northwest. The area was once home to thousands of Chinese immigrants, but fewer than 300 remained in 2017. The current neighborhood was the second in Washington to be called “Chinatown” since 1931. Originally, the first Chinatown was built in the Federal Triangle on the south side of Pennsylvania Avenue some time after 1851, but was moved to the H Street area when a new federal building was built there. In 1986, a Chinese gate was built over H Street at 7th Street. By 1997, prominent landmarks such as the Capital One Arena, a sports and entertainment arena, occupied the area. The neighborhood is served by the Gallery Place station of the Washington Metro.

I have never been to China, but I thought this building represented my idea of some mid 20th century places in Beijing.

It was already late in the day and I decided to have my late lunch/early dinner here at the Full Kee restaurant.  

I read about this place: 

"During the pandemic, Full Kee became one of those if you-know-you-know spots, and that’s because their dumpling soup kept people sane. Back then, people took their order to go, but now it’s best to dine in and eat your meal right away. That way, you can enjoy the plump shrimp dumplings when they’re warm and slurp noodles that have been tenderized by the broth. The restaurant itself is bigger than it looks, with downstairs seating that’ll accommodate large groups of people around geometric wooden tables. The floors here are sticky and so are the menus, both signs that the food is worthwhile."

As the article suggests, it's not the greatest atmosphere inside but the food was good.

A cultural day (Sunday, Sep. 22)

THE WHITE HOUSE

We started the day trying to get breakfast with Mr. President, Joe Biden.
I am kidding, obviously, but we did come to visit his home, the White House. 

As you can see, we were not invited to come in, but we registered the visit on the other side of the tall gates.

Some regulars use the front of the one of the world's most prestigious home as a stage for their ideas. 

I like this guy!

A picture between the gate bars. 

I personally liked more the building beside it, connecting to the White House: the Executive Office Building.

My favourite flower making presidents happy too.
Big red hibiscus give the place a bit of colour and warmth with its natural beauty.

I see you and you see me.... cameras everywhere. 

There were a few Secret Services agents around, but nothing too flashy.
Over all, it was a quite and not too exciting visit and we were done seeing the White House in 10 minutes.

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE

I have been wanting to visit this museum since it opened, while I was working on a series of documentaries about the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
It's an incredible space, as much as it is heavy and sad. 

Still, it's an important way to learn and reflect on our sad past and how to work towards reconciliation. 

FROM WIKIPEDIA: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_African_American_History_and_Culture

The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), colloquially known as the Blacksonian, is a Smithsonian Institution museum located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in the United States. It was established in 2003 and opened its permanent home in 2016 with a ceremony led by President Barack Obama.

Powerful entrance already.

Black Lives Matter movement.

Early efforts to establish a federally owned museum featuring African-American history and culture can be traced to 1915 and the National Memorial Association, although the modern push for such an organization did not begin until the 1970s. After years of little success, a legislative push began in 1988 that led to authorization of the museum in 2003. A site was selected in 2006, and a design submitted by Freelon Group/Adjaye Associates/Davis Brody Bond was chosen in 2009. Construction began in 2012 and the museum completed in 2016.

The NMAAHC is the world's largest museum dedicated to African-American history and culture. In 2022 it welcomed 1,092,552 visitors, and was second-most visited Smithsonian Museum, and eighth in the List of most-visited museums in the United States. The museum has more than 40,000 objects in its collection, although only about 3,500 items are on display. The 350,000-square-foot (33,000 m²), 10 story building (five above and five below ground) and its exhibits have won critical praise.

Here is the art that inspired the building where the museum is located.

FROM: https://nmaahc.si.edu/about/building#:~:text=From%20one%20perspective%2C%20the%20building's,Yoruban%20art%20from%20West%20Africa.

From one perspective, the building’s architecture follows classical Greco-Roman form in its use of a base and shaft, topped by a capital or corona. For our Museum, the corona is inspired by the three-tiered crowns used in Yoruban art from West Africa. Moreover, the building’s main entrance is a welcoming porch, which has architectural roots in Africa and throughout the African Diaspora, especially the American South and Caribbean. Finally, by wrapping the entire building in an ornamental bronze-colored metal lattice, Adjaye pays  homage to the intricate ironwork crafted by enslaved African Americans in Louisiana, South Carolina, and elsewhere. 

The museum covers a large history and culture of African Americans, from artists and people who marked this country through many segments of the society, like the military and power. 

This army suit belonged to Colin Powell, US secretary of State (2001-2005).

There are many black athletes contribution, like the boxer Muhammad Ali...

... and basketball player Michael Jordan.

These statues marked on of the most overly political statements in the history of the modern Olympic Games, in 1968, the Black Power salute.

FROM WIKIPEDIA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute

During their medal ceremony in the Olympic Stadium in Mexico City on October 16, 1968, two African-American athletes, Tommie Smith and John Carlos, each raised a black-gloved fist during the playing of the US national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner". While on the podium, Smith and Carlos, who had won gold and bronze medals respectively in the 200-meter running event of the 1968 Summer Olympics, turned to face the US flag and then kept their hands raised until the anthem had finished. In addition, Smith, Carlos, and Australian silver medalist Peter Norman all wore human-rights badges on their jackets.

The contribution of black women is also celebrated in this gallery.

Do you recognize anyone in particular in this picture?

Part of the exhibition shows the history of segregation in schools and how education is a way to make   changes happen. 

Black pop culture is a huge part of the museum, with African American actors, singers, producers,  directors, who made a difference in the US culture scene. 
This group of visitors is learning dancing some movements. 

This gallery also tells the story of the Green Book - a travel guide book published between 1936 and 1966 that listed hotels, restaurants, bars and gas stations where black travellers would be welcome in the US. 
The story became popular on the 2018 film of the same name.

If the higher floors of this museum are about resilience, fight and victories, the basement is about learning how we got here. 

The horrible history of the Transatlantic Slave Trade is told in a dark, cold, sad basement, making us imagining the basements of the ships which were used to forcibly bring over Africans to be enslaved in the Americas and Europe.

Chills. It's hard to not feel emotional.

As hard as this history can be, this museum is a necessity... for ALL of us.

 

 

I enjoyed very much seeing Rosa Park's dress and Harriet Tubman's Handkerchief.

They are real pieces that belonged to real and brave women.

Walking inside the segregated train car also gave me goose bumps... to imagine what was like for blacks to exist in those hostile environments. 

 

The exhibition ends with victory/hope and looking into the future.

Afternoon "snack" at the museum's cafe: pulled pork, coleslaw and corn bread.

Outside the museum, vendors remind us that change also comes with vote.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 

The National Gallery of Art is huge, but we only had time to see the modern and contemporary art.

Amazing place! 

Atrium with a big piece of Alexander Calder.

FROM: https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.2047.html

Alexander Calder is perhaps best known for his large, colorful sculpture, which incorporates elements of humor and chance into uniquely engineered structures. Calder was born outside of Philadelphia to a successful, artistic family. His father and grandfather--both named Alexander Calder--were distinguished sculptors and his mother was a portrait painter. Although he initially studied mechanical engineering, receiving a degree from Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, he eventually enrolled in the Art Students League in New York City (1923-1926) and studied painting with John Sloan and George Luks, among others. While working as a graphic artist on assignment at the zoo and circus, Calder discovered his facility for sketching animals. This subject would become a lifelong passion.

Pablo Picasso,  Head of a Woman (Fernande)

Wilhelm Lehmbruck, Seated Youth (1917)

Andy Warhol, A Boy for Meg (1962)

Roy Lichtenstein, Painting With Statue of Liberty (1983)

Roni Horn, Opposite of White (2006-2007)

Michelangelo Pistoletto, Donna Che Indica (Woman Who Points- conceived 1962, fabricated 1982)

Piece with tire rubber.

Rooster on the roof.

FROM: https://www.nga.gov/press/2021/fritsch.html

A beloved addition to the East Building's Roof Terrace since it opened in 2016, Katharina Fritsch's Hahn/Cock (2013) will now call the National Gallery of Art, Washington, its permanent roost. The 14-foot-tall sculpture of a blue rooster, an animal often associated with regeneration, awakening, and strength, has been donated to the nation's art museum on its 80th anniversary by Glenstone Museum in honor of the resilience of the American people during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

TRIP TO ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

As if our day was not already packed, we bought tickets to see a play at the SignatureTheatre in Arlington, Virginia, which s basically on the other side of the river. 

That gave us the opportunity to check out Washington's subway system, which, by the way, worked fine.

The train comes to the surface at some point and we could see the Pentagon while passing by.

We got off at the Pentagon City station and then got a bus to Shirlington Station, which is a lovely area with restaurants and small shops. That's where the Signature Theatre is located.  

We watched a powerful and intimate play called Primary Trust. 

The acting was amazing and really moved us. 

FROM https://www.sigtheatre.org/

A touching and funny story of finding connection and moving forward that won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize.

Wally’s Tiki Bar serves the sweetest mai tais in town, and Kenneth never misses a happy hour with his best friend. But when a job loss upends Kenneth’s static existence, he must discover the courage to open a new door and change his life – even if it means facing the past and letting go.

A New York Times Critic’s Pick, this DC premiere is a beautiful and tender journey towards new beginnings and seeing the world for the first time.

“It will restore your faith in theatre’s elemental storytelling powers.” – The Observer

One of the cute theatre - The Ark - before the play started.

Here, we ended our cultural day in Washington DC.