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I was able to get a ticket to Tuesday nights Caps game verse the Canadiens at the Verizon Center.  Matt was suppose to go, but because of a scheduling conflict I was offered the ticket.  I felt bad because the ticket was a Christmas gift and meant to be a surprise, he is certainly more of a Caps fan than I am.

I got together with my Dad, Pat, and Marvin at their house and we headed to Shirlington for some dinner before the puck dropped.  Pat had heard about this great Mexican restaurant from several people and said we should try it.  I try to eat Mexican whenever I can, Nancy doesn’t care for it so when I have an opportunity I take it.  As Pat points the restaurant out on our left I see the name and instantly recognize it, Guapo’s.  This is actually a chain restaurant with one right across from my office that I frequent for lunch.  They have great rotisserie chicken, tacos, and their Lupita’s salad is awesome!

Lets Go CAPS

Walking in I was impressed with the decor and setup.  I am use to a walk up register where you order and 3 minutes later they call your number.  You take your food and find a table, I really think of it as very good fast food.  This spot is much more formal.  The hostess seats you with a bevy of waiters to take your order, bring chips, drinks, and your food.  The menu I am use to is limited to maybe a dozen items, this one is a full menu with dozens of choices I have never heard of.  Because I am a creature of habit I got the taco platter.  Everyone enjoyed the food and the price was just right.  After our quick meal we headed into the city for the game, noting the time we where going to be cutting it close to the puck drop.

The city was a mad house around 6:30 when we arrived, a ton of fans driving and walking around to the venue.  Plus with the holiday week still in full swing the city was a buzz with travelers.  Fortunately we got to the venue and inside with just enough time to spare.  I would say we hit our seats about 6:55, enough time to catch the pre-game hype and hysteria.  When the puck dropped at 7:10 we were in for a thrilling game.  Our seats where only 10 rows back from the boards and located right along the Caps goals.  During the first period we unfortunately had a lot of excitement down at our end but Varlomov was stopping everything the Canadiens throw at him.

We slowly clawed our way back into the fight late into the period and scored two goals.  In fact we should have had a third but the ref called it a no goal.  Ref said the goalie had stopped the puck but clearly on the replay he had not.  The puck was still in motion the whole time, never once coming to a complete stop.  All night the refs had it out for the Caps, not calling obvious penalties against us and calling very minor things on the Caps.  Half the period one of our players was in the penalty box it seemed.  Being as it was, the penalty killing lines did a great job not allowing the Canadiens to score a single goal during penalty time.  Even one of the Canadian players, #76 P.K. Subban, had it out for us with lots of cheap shots on our players.  By the end of the game the entire arena would boo every time he got the puck.

a little blood

When the second period rolled around we were leading 2-0 but last years playoffs loomed over us.  We faced the Canadiens in the first round and lost.  Knowing they would fight hard to win the game, we couldn’t rest on our two point lead to carry us to victory.  For the entire second period it was a back and forth game between the two teams, each playing fantastic hockey with several shots on goal.

Going into the third period we felt more confident.  We were able to shut them out the entire second period, as they did us, but we had the momentum.  The Caps played hard all third period, keeping the Canadiens guessing and never allowing them to adjust to our game play.  With 1:20 left in the game the Canadiens decided on a last ditch desperate move and pulled their goalie.  Things didn’t look good for us as most of the action was happening down on our side of the rick, but Ovechkin took away the puck and made a sprint for the open net.  Without much effort he was able to get a score and from what I heard later by other fans, break a long streak of no goals.  In the end it won’t matter that it was an open net goal with less than an minute left in the game, it will be marked as a goal for Ovechkin.

When the game ended the arena was euphoric.  Recently the Caps have been in some what of a slump so pulling this inter-league win out against the team the knocked us out of last years playoffs was an oh so sweet victory.  The game was exciting and the action fast paced.  I found it difficult to take pictures, but I did what I could, in the end deciding to enjoy the game more than document our victory in photographs.

post for MMW@9:30 Club

It has become an annual tradition that I try to see a show on or around my birthday. For the last few years Medeski, Martin and Wood has toured in late fall and hit the Washington DC area on or within a few days of my birthday and I have been lucky enough to catch a couple of the shows. The one I missed and still kick myself over was when they played with John Scofield, tickets sold out before I could purchase them.

This year I saw the 9:30 Club listed for November 12th and agreed with some friends we were going to the show at any cost. I will admit, I got tickets a few weeks in advance but it was not an issue purchasing three tickets for Nancy, Jeremy and myself. Being my birthday show we decided to make it a night on the town and head to the city early to grab some dinner before the show. Doors didn’t open till 10 and I figured the show would not start till at 11 so needless to say we had plenty of time to kill.

Seeing as the 9:30 Club is right near U street I wanted to eat at some restaurant along the corridor. Over the last few years the whole neighborhood between 14th St. and Vermont Ave. has been revamped. Many of the rundown buildings that dotted the street and surrounding areas have been demolished and new high rise condo/retail spaces have been put up. You can still find Bohemian Caverns, Twins Jazz, and Ben’s Chili Bowl along side a bunch of yuppie cafes and boutiques. When we got to the city we cruised down U St. and quickly realized there was not going to be any street parking so got a pay lot for $15 which ends up being a deal for a guarded lot all night long. Now the hunt was on for a place to eat.

As I lead the group down the street I scanned both sides trying to find some place that looked good but was also within budget. Half the places looked like slum pits but probably had some good food and the other half were to shi shi and I would not be allowed to step foot into the place because of my attire. Quickly loosing hope we crossed over 14th and I found U-topia. From the outside it looked like a whole in the wall but inside the place was packed with patrons. Looking at the menu on the window we certainly could find something for everyone. When we walked in I was surprised by the decor splattered on the walls and low ambient light. The artwork was a nice touch and gave you something to look at and I immediately felt very relaxed and welcome when we sat down at our table.

U-Topia Bar and Grill

Getting a waiter to take our order was a bit slow but once he arrived things came in rapid succession. For an appetizer we got the mussels in lemon caper cream sauce that was amazing. Nancy is not much of a sea food fan but she tried it and actually like it, eating just as many muscles as Jeremy and I. For the main course I had….actually I don’t remember, the appetizer was that good. After a few beers and some time talking we walked to the club for the show.

When we arrived just after 10pm there was a line outside the venue, the doors had yet to open with the line wrapping around the block. Waiting only a few minutes for will call tickets we got inline to actually get into the venue with everyone else. When the doors finally opened we grabbed a beer on the mail floor and headed up stairs to take up residency near the center stage bar. There was one stool remaining that Nancy took and Jeremy and I stood. It is nice to be close to the band but from the balcony we had an unobstructed view of the stage and all I needed to do was turn around to get a bar, so it worked out well.

With the late doors MMW didn’t get on stage till 11:15. Here it is close to midnight and MMW had yet to appear on stage, this was going to be a late night! Jeremy and I were debating on a two set performance or one long set. In the end it was one long sets. As the night got going I was feeling good and the music was great. Jeremy and Nancy kept feeding me beer and I was feeling just right, so when the groove of the base hit and Billy starts hitting that drum line followed by the high pitch whine of John’s keys followed suit I was in heaven. I wish I knew what the set list was but all night the song selection kicked ass. The grooves were tight and vibe was strong. After attending the MMW show with Jeremy at the Norva we were expecting a light turn out but the floor was packed well into the set. People did start dropping like flies as the time approached 1am. Jeremy and I both agreed this was a killer show and certainly in the top three of all MMW shows we have seen. It is still hard to top the double encore night at Rams Head Live! from so many years ago or the late night set at Bonnaroo in 2003, but this one came very close.

Ben's at night, Michael Williamson

When the show ended I was exhausted but satisfied. The boys put on a worthy show, well worth coming out for and staying up well past everyone’s bed time. Not wanting to end the night so soon, and being hungry, we headed back down to U Street for Ben’s Chili Bowl. I got the chili cheese fries and split them with Nancy, Jeremy ended up with a chili dog. Let me tell you, that hit the spot after a long night of dancing and drinking, making the long drive home to Stafford just a little more bearable on a full stomach.

When it comes to MMW shows I have never been disappointed with there performances. Sure they have their off nights *cough* Norva 2010 *cough* but never a bad performance every. This one is near the top of my list all time and being a birthday show made it that much more meaningful. I hope they tour again soon, still trying to make it out to a show in another country, and hopefully a return to DC around my birthday in 2011! I can’t thank Nancy and Jeremy enough for coming out and partying with me all night, especially for all the beer and extra special for Nancy driving my drunk ass home that night. When we finally did get home around 3am my ass crashed hard. The following day we were headed to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore for a special night to celebrate my birthday further. I will get the details of that wild night posted shortly (Update: finally got that post written).

Set 1 starts at 11:14pm
?
ends at 1:22am

encore starts at 1:25am
ends at 1:42am

Blossoms blooming on the side of the trunk.

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It took a little arm twisting but I convinced Nancy to head into the city to see the cherry blossoms around the Tidal Basin.  She knew it would be crowded and that driving would have been useless.  Fortunately perfect weather over the weekend lessened the blow of the large crowds and taking metro.  As we pulled up to the Vienna Metro I could see a line of people crossing the bridge over the highway.  When we arrived at the parking garage you would have thought it was a work day with how crowded it was.  After a quick survey everyone was waiting to get tickets, but there was no line at the SmarTrip machines.  Go to the head of the line, I got her a Metro pass and we were off to the city.

The route I planned for us had us getting off at Arlington Cemetery and walking across the Memorial Bridge.  The Smithsonian stop is the closest to the Tidal Basin and would have been the most crowded.  I was hoping to avoid a large portion of the people and to just do something different.  We walked across the bridge and stopped off at the Lincoln Memorial.  It has been a long time since I had been here and it was great to see it up close again.  The steps where filled with people hanging out and relaxing, inside you could hardly turn around it was so crowded.  As we looked across the reflecting pool towards the Washington Monument, people mingled and strolled along the wide paths on either side.

looking from Lincoln to Washington

The crowd was a bit much for Nancy so we headed to the Potomac to get our first glimpse of the cherry blossom trees.  This far from the Tidal Basin not many people where out and about which was rather nice.  As we got closers, the crowds started to thicken.  By the time we hit the FDR Memorial there was no hope of peace and quite.  The crowds where thick with tourists and I was loving.  Nancy generally doesn’t like huge crowds, but she kept her wits about her and drudged forward like a real trooper.  Along the basin the trees where numerous and thick with blossoms providing some exquisite views and picture opportunities.  One tree I spotted was quite popular because as I am setting up my shot I heard a bevy of SLR camera snaps.  I was really digging the blossoms and all the people.

We had enough of the blossoms and where getting hungry so we headed over to the Washington Monument to setup for a picnic.  We walked passed the World War II Memorial and stood in amazement at all the traffic, all these morons driving around looking for parking.  This was not the time to be driving, Metro was bad enough, but there was no hope if you where in a car.  Laughing at everyone we sat down for a some snakes and a quick nap.  We must have laid there for 30 minutes just soaking up the sun.  It was an gorgeous weekend after such a long hard winter, the warmth of the sun felt so good.

Once it was time to leave we headed to the Smithsonian station and back to Vienna.  This is when we realized just how busy the Metro was.  It took longer than usually for the Orange line to arrive and whisk us away down the tunnel.  When we finally arrived back at the Jeep it had been a long day but a well deserved break.  The weather was perfect and the blossoms were beautiful to see.

sculpture hallways at the National Gallery of Art

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Monday was a federal holiday so both Nancy and I had off. With all the snow still on the ground we wanted to get out of the house for a while and decided to take a trip to DC. Last semester Nancy had an art appreciation class, for extra credit she could visit any art museum and write a one page report.  The class is long over, but we finally decided to visit the National Gallery of Art.

When we arrived in the DC it was pretty desolate with the federal government closed and the city declaring a snow emergency. Finding a garage near the National Gallery of Art was actually real easy. When we surfaced from the depths of the building we had a choice to make, see “old” art or the “new” art. I have been once before to the old art gallery and I was impressed. The marble architecture of the building is amazing. Outside the building looks like any other museum on the Mall. When you walk in from the Mall entrance you are greeted with a huge rotunda and a fountain. There are giant black pillars of marble that ring the space and go all the way to the ceiling.

random sculpture

From this main hall you can go two ways, left or right.  (Map: ground, main)  Down each hallway you will find various exhibits ranging in style, country and period. Starting from the 13th century and going to the 19th century spanning most every country in Europe. The collection of art includes paintings by such notables as Rembrandt, Monet, Van Gogh, da Vinci, Picasso and many others. Not being familiar with art I was able to point out many famous works myself. Those paintings when you see them you say “I know that piece,” you might not know who painted it, but you know they are world famous works of art.

If you have time I would suggest bringing a book to read while you are there. I know it sounds weird, but there are two garden courts that are just beautiful and so peaceful. Being an art museum there is not a lot of talking, just low murmurs from patrons. In fact the museum has a policy that cell phones are not to be used in the exhibit areas. If I worked in DC I would take my lunch breaks at the two garden courts to relax and decompress. Or sit in front of some of the pieces of art, many of the master works have couches you can sit in while contemplating the meaning of life or what ever the artist intended.

I have always had a great respect for artists; painters and photographers in particular. They have this vision in there head and they somehow transfer that to canvas or cellulose. I might not be able to appreciate all the finer details, but I can still appreciate the work.

The House of Parliament, Sunset by Claude Monet

After leaving the museum we were hungry so we found a sports bar to grab a drink and lunch. I was hoping to have more options, but most places where closed. We found the Penn Quarter Sports Tavern to enjoy a nice cold beer and some sandwiches. As we ate our lunch the snow really started to come down. The ground was to warm for any accumulations, but at least it was snowing. By the time we left it was almost a full blizzard and I was loving it. Nancy couldn’t wait to get back to the Jeep and into the warmth. On the short walk back to the Jeep Nancy magically transformed herself into the squirrel whisperer.  There where a ton of squirrels inhabiting a small park with some trees.  Living in the city they are use to humans and probably get a lot of hand outs.  Well Nancy starts squeaking and one decided to be brave and check it out. Fortunately it didn’t get to close, but I got some good closeups.

Driving out of the city with the snow proved to be a bit of a nightmare.  It was not a full blown rush hour, but traffic was heavy and slow.  We finally arrived back at her apartment around 5, almost time for me to leave for class.  It was great spending the afternoon in the city as it was almost empty.  The snow kept most people away so the streets and museum were pretty quite.  I still want to hit the modern art museum next door, might have to do that when spring arrives so I can take advantage of the color the season brings with it.

path along the Reflecting Pool

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For most federal holiday they happen on Monday or Friday and often the government shifts around the day off to fit this ideal model.  So having Veterans Day in the middle of the week just felt odd and out of place.  On top of that Hurricane Ida hit the Gulf Coast and decided to sit on top of Virginia ALL day.  I was planning on getting outside to do a little hiking but that got washed out, literally.  So when my dad called saying he was going to DC to visit the Vietnam Memorial, possible Arlington National Cemetery, and the Smithsonian’s American History Museum I decided that was a better day spent than inside my house.

We got some what of an early start, I went to his house around 10am so we could take Metro into the city.  I was not overly concerned with high traffic today, middle of the week and rain would keep most people away.  Plus the more people I talked to it was about a 50/50 split on who had off.  Needless to say there was plenty of parking in the garage and seats on the train.

When we got to the Smithsonian stop and took the long escalator ride up we got our first taste of just how miserable the weather was going to be.  I was hoping that the further north we traveled things would improve, but of course that was wishful thinking.  The wind would howl blowing cold moisture soaked air, layers of warm cloths were the only defense against this onslaught of mother nature.  A good rain jacket or umbrella was a must too.  My dad’s umbrella decided to break down and provide only minimal defense against the rain, but for today it would do the job well enough.  The rain falling was never heavy, just a steady, even, rainfall.  Enough to make it not fun to be outside.

Vietnam Memorial

The walk from the Metro stop to the Vietnam Memorial is about a mile and half, not that far, but no fun in the rain.  We made the most of it and I was able to get a couple nice shots considering the day.  We passed the Washington Monument and the WWII Memorial before we reach our destination.  Around the memorial were a ton of veterans mingling and reminiscing about days of old.  The cold and rain were not enough to keep these guys from honoring the memories of their fallen brothers.  It was inspiring really, I imagine many of them dealt with much worse in the jungle to let a little rain bother them today.  We tried to get close and walk along the wall but police had it blocked off to the public.  An officer said they were preparing for a ceremony at 1pm and we should come back around 3pm if we wanted to get closer.

We spent a good amount of time standing around looking at the wall talking about Vietnam and the current war.  The conversation around the memorial was definitely different than the one on the train ride up or the walk over.  My dad was in country for 17 months as a MP at a southern airfield.  He has never talked about it and I never bring it up.  But I know it affected him.  We talked a little about what the American public was like back then and again now.  To me it is eerily similar now as it was back then.  The public is loosing patience with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, just like in the late sixties with Vietnam.  It will be interesting to see what happens in the next couple of years.  Will history repeat itself?

lobby of the museum

With our sole searching done we trudged along towards the American History Museum.  They recently remolded the museum and opened it back up to the public, plus we wanted to get out of the rain.  Walking along Constitution Avenue we quickly noticed that the roads were blocked off, not even pedestrians were allowed to cross the road.  We knew it was for someone important, and we assumed the President.  A few minutes later we see police motorcycles drive by followed by three heavily armored limousine and 10 or so black SUV’s.  The motorcade even had an ambulance thrown in for good measure.  One of the SUV’s looked like it could have communicated with Spirit and Opportunity on Mars.  That’s just the way he rolls.

Getting to the museum we made a quick stop at the cafe on the first floor for some lunch and much needed hot coffee.  It felt good to be inside and out of the rain.  Next we got a map of the museum and started exploring.  The guide we talked to recommended the Star-Spangled Banner, Julia Child’s Kitchen, and American Presidency.  But before we saw any of these we started with America on the Move since it is on the first floor.  My dad loves trains so it was an obvious first choice.  It is pretty amazing to see how far we have come in this country.  But when you considering how massive it is, it’s no wonder we love to travel.

Next it was up to the third floor and work our way down.  The big attraction here is the Price of Freedom display which shows every war America has been in.  From our countries the little known wars in our early history all the way up to the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan we are bravely fighting.  We took our time especially walking through the Vietnam section.  I am pretty sure it brought bake memories for my dad.  He pointed out on a giant map the place he was stationed in country which was pretty neat.

a funny statue of Washington

On the second floor is the Star-Spangled Banner, this is the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write what eventually became the national anthem of our country.  When I was a kid the flag use to be displayed so when you walked in from the Mall entrance it was the first thing you saw.  As time went on they covered it and would only display it for a brief time during the day.  Now, it is entirely encased in a environmentally controlled chamber away from people and light.  Throughout the flags history people have not taken the best care of it.  Large sections were cut out and sold and at one time it was displayed outside on the museum wall.

We had time to check a few other section of the museum in our limited time.  Of course we couldn’t see everything in the few hours we had, but we saw everything we wanted to.  It was great spending the day with my dad in the city.  It reminded me of my youth when he would take my brother and I up regularly to check out the museums.  Even in my thirties going to the museums with my dad is a lot of fun.