Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

You might remember the classic 1939 Frank Capra film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.  The film tells the story of Mr. Smith, played by Jimmy Stewart, who is a newly appointed U.S. Senator who fights against political corruption in Washington, D.C.

Another Mr. Smith recently came to Washington.  Rob Smith is Susan's brother-in-law, married to Susan's sister Sally.  Rob and Sally recently visited us here in D.C.  So, it was a case of Mr. & Dr. Smith Go to Washington.

The story continues.  While visiting D.C., we dined with the Smith's at a D.C. branch of The Smith restaurant.   

The Smith's at The Smith

We enjoyed dining with the Smith's at The Smith.  

P.S.  For dessert, we opted for Cherry Chocolate Pie, instead of the Granny Smith Apple Tart.

Museums: National Gallery of Art #15

Visiting the National Gallery of Art many times during Year 3 has been a great pleasure for us.  

Typically, each time we visit, we select specific galleries, such as the Rothko gallery in the East Building.  

A recent visit was different.  Instead of focusing on a specific group  of paintings, we rambled around the museum and even outside.  A few works of art caught our attention and we are sharing them here.

Below is a recent acquisition of a modern work.  The painting came to the National Gallery when it inherited most of the art collection from the now defunct Corcoran Gallery of Art.  

The painting caught Greg's attention because it is very large with a spectrum of blended colors that seem to pulse when stared at.  

To create the effect of a spectrum of shifting colors, the artist painted thin stripes of slightly different shades whose width narrowed as the colors grew darker.  Like a Claude Monet lily pond painting, the painting is simple and static when viewed up close. Viewed at a distance, the painting comes alive.

Close up view of The Hard White Edge

Another painting that caught Greg's attention was Jean DuBuffet's abstract painting pictured below.

DuBuffet's painting is fairly dark and monochrome.  Yet, after viewing the painting for a short while, three-dimensional shapes start to appear.       

Another work of art that caught our attention was in the museum's outdoor sculpture garden.  You might remember the Pop Art image LOVE by Robert Indiana.  Below is a variation on LOVE.  

Thanks for rambling around the National Gallery with us.

Cars in D.C. #3

While strolling in Georgetown recently, we spotted the classic car pictured below.  

The car is a 1967 Mercedes Benz 250 SL Roadster.

The car itself was eye catching. 

What also caught our attention?  The vanity plate--"250SL67"--and the bumper sticker--"Kennedy Johnson".   

Of course, the bumper sticker predates the car by several years, but we thought it was a nice touch for the classic car.

In case you want to see the front of the car, here is a borrowed photo of a '67 250 SL.

Music in D.C.: Millennium Stage--Charles Covington

We recently visited the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage to hear jazz pianist Charles Covington perform.

Charles Covington performing at the Millennium Stage (8/18/19)

The performance started on a high note, with a musical tribute to Aretha Franklin.  As the performance progressed, Charles Covington added a string quartet to accompany his experimental jazz compositions.  You can hear for yourself by clicking here. 

The performance was a bit out of the ordinary.  At the midpoint, Charles Covington came to the edge of the stage and performed magic tricks with large coins.  He made the coins disappear and reappear. The magic show lasted about 5 minutes.  Since we have not seen Charles Covington perform before, we don't know whether magic tricks are a usual part of his shows or not.  Although odd for a jazz performance, the magic tricks were amusing.

Who knew we were going to a magic show?  

P.S.  Before the performance, we ventured to the terrace on the top of the Kennedy Center, with visitors Sally and Rob.  Sally is Susan's amazing sister and Rob is husband extraordinaire.  

Cars in D.C. #2--UPDATE

In our April 2 post this year, we featured a vintage car that we spotted in our building's garage, a Citroen CX Pallas.  

We recently met the car's owner, who lives in our building.  Because of the special license plate and stickers ("MC" means Monaco and "CD" means diplomat), we had speculated the owner was perhaps a diplomat from Monaco living in D.C. in our building.

We asked the owner and learned that he is a born-and-bred American who collects exotic cars.   He said he currently has a dozen cars stored in parking garages around the neighborhood.  So, we were wrong about the owner being a diplomat.

Here's where the story, if true, gets interesting.   We learned from our neighbor that the car was once owned by some people named Grimaldi, as in Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco.

The Prince and Princess supposedly kept the car in Paris and used it when they visited their home there.  Eventually, the car was sold and our neighbor bought it to add to his collection.

Although the car is not flashy, it has history.

Who knew?

Only in D.C. #1

While enjoying a stroll along the riverfront in Georgetown, we were shocked to see pirate ship coursing its way upriver.  We were afraid at first but, after taking a closer look, the motley crew told us there was nothing to fear.  It was probably some members of congress enjoying a booze cruise. 

Only in D.C.

Everyday Life in D.C. #4 (Part 3 of 3)

More about the 12th Street Y.M.C.A.

Susan teaches adult literacy at the Washington Literacy Center, which is housed in the 12th Street Y.M.C.A.

The building, located in the historically African-American neighborhood of Shaw, was completed in 1912, after John D. Rockefeller, Sr. pledged matching funds for the building's construction.  The building was the new home to Shaw's Y.M.C.A., which was started in 1853 and was the first African-American Y.M.C.A. branch in the United States.  

Architect William Sidney Pittman, one of the first African-American architects and the son-in-law of Booker T. Washington, designed the building in the Renaissance Revival style.  

Facade of the 12th Street Y.M.C.A., with a Tuscan style portico

During the first half of the 1900's, the Shaw neighborhood around the 12th Street Y.M.C.A. was a thriving middle- and upper-class African-American community and cultural mecca.  The Y..M.C.A. likewise thrived during that time and was home to notable persons, such as famed poet Langston Hughes, who lived there while working around the corner as a busboy in the Wardman Park Hotel.  

When Shaw residents relocated to other city neighborhoods and to the suburbs following WWII, the Shaw neighborhood slowly declined and then was devastated during the April 1968 riots following the assassination of the the Rev. Dr Martin Luther King, Jr.  Many stores and homes were boarded up and abandoned after being burned and looted.  The Y.M.C.A. survived the fires and looting and reopened after the riots.  It continued to operate despite the unfortunate condition of the neighborhood, which became known as a drug haven around 14th and T Streets. 

The 12th Street Y..M. C.A. in the 1970's 

The Y.M.C.A. closed in 1982 and the building was shuttered.  Fortunately, the building was designated a national historic place in 1983 and a national historic landmark in 1994 and was restored.  In 2000, the building reopened as a community center, the Thurgood Marshall Center for Service and Heritage.  Future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall had previously met with his colleagues at the Y.M.C.A. while developing the legal strategy for overturning the precedent of "separate but equal" education.  

Today, the once devastated Shaw neighborhood has been gentrified.  The main thoroughfare is U Street and it is lined with bars, restaurants and new condominium buildings filled with Millennials.  Still, the neighborhood's history is evident and is celebrated.  For example, the 12th Street Y.M.C.A. is featured on the Greater U Street Heritage Trail.  You can read more below.

Thanks for visiting the 12th Street Y.M.C.A. with us.  

P.S.  A fun fact:  John Thompson, Jr., coach of the 1984 NCAA National Champion men's basketball team, once played youth basketball at the 12th Street Y.M.C.A.  Go Hoyas!