The DC Traveler

Close to 200 unforgettable photographic images from 50 photographers, reflect the cause, struggle and changes the nation faced during the civil rights movement the tumultuous 12-year period of the 1950s and 1960s at the Smithsonian International Gallery through March 9, 2009.
The collection chronicles from the historic event of Rosa Parks being arrested for not giving up her bus seat, to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination in 1968.
The Road to Freedom – Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement – 1954-1968, offers historic mages that capture the non-violent civil rights movement movement through non-violent awareness raising, the events surrounding the …read more

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Veterans Day is the one day each year Americans can honor the service and sacrifices of the American soldier.
Originally called Armistice Day, November 11th, commemorates the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I.  The “Great War” formally ended 90 years ago today, on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month in 1918.  Sadly, news of the wars end did not reach many non-European fighting fronts due to poor communications, notably across Africa, for up to two weeks.
After World War II, President Eisenhower signed a bill into law in 1954 to rename …read more

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One of my favorite television cooking shows is America’s Test Kitchen on PBS.  The show, in its eight season, is not only the most watched cooking show on PBS, but also very informative and instructive.  Plus it lacks all the personalities and “bam” of the other cooking shows.

The test kitchen chefs select a couple dishes to perfect, then try dozens, and sometimes over a hundred versions of the dish until its perfect, easy for the home cook and as easy as possible.
The resident chefs show step-by-step instructions making recreating their dishes simple and stress free.
The show also tests cooking equipment …read more

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Something to think about….

Yet I hope it’s not true!!
Seen on a DC lamp post near F and 18th Streets, NW in Washington, DC.
Image – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti 
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Best selling author, story teller, humorist and Public Radio’s This American Life radio contributor, David Sedaris brings his unique wit and self-deprecating social critique that effectively cuts through much of today’s political correctness to Washington, DC for one night.
As the best-selling author of million plus sellers such as “Me Talk Pretty One Day” and “Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim,” he’s what some call the literary equivalence of a rock star.
His show should be an evening of wit and satire as he examines the human condition from his unique vision coming from a middle-class, North Carolina background.
His published …read more

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In Washington, DC, when you are outside in public, you have to believe you are being monitored or at least will be at some point.
With over 5,200 surveillance cameras operational in the District, not including the ones in and around private and public schools, cameras run by news organizations, hotels, tourist attractions and even the public, you can assume you will at some point, be under someone’s watchful eye.
There’s even a live National Park Service Cherry Blossom cam and a dozen or so at the National Zoo, spying on the pandas and tigers, 24 hours-a-day.
But the most notable cameras …read more

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This week in Washington, DC, the Smithsonian turned 162 years old.
The Smithsonian Institution was based on a gift of James Smithson, a British scientist, who left his entire estate to the United States of America in 1827.  His gift of over 100,000 gold sovereigns, or $500,000, (just under $9.5 million in today’s dollars) required the government to establish the Smithsonian Institution, to “increase and diffusion of knowledge."

An act of Congress in 1846 expanded the growth of collection into the world’s largest museum complex (16 museums) with over 140 million objects and the National Zoo in Washington, DC. …read more

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The first female Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, has a new book coming out this month, Know Your Power. 

She’s hitting book tour trail in the month before she takes over as permanent chairperson of the Democratic National Convention, happening at the end of August in Denver.
Her 192-page book recalls her learned insights from her San Francisco roots to spending 28 years in Congress.
Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi
Sixth & I Historic Synagogue
600 I Street, NW
Washington DC  (map it)
Dates and Times – Wednesday, July 30, 2008,  7:00 p.m.
Tickets – 23.95, which includes tickets for two attendees, plus …read more

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Controversial novelist and British knight, Sir Salman Rushdie became known around the globe in 1988, based on reactions to the release of his fourth novel, The Satanic Verses.  The book received critical acclaim in Great Britain, yet in other parts of the world, it was received with anger and hatred.
Within months of its release, the book was banned in numerous countries including India, Bangladesh, Singapore, Thailand, South Africa and six other nations, due mostly to complaints from the Muslim community regarding controversial characters. Additionally, the story line of the novel, considered provocative by some, noting how some Muslim characters …read more

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Lafayette Park, directly north of the White House, was originally part of a larger “President’s Park,” which makes up much of the grounds surrounding the White House. It was until 1804, originally part of the White House grounds, but when President Thomas Jefferson ordered that Pennsylvania Avenue be connected between 15th and 17th Streets, the plot of land was cut off from White House grounds.
Twenty years later, the 7-acre President’s Park was renamed Lafayette Park, after the French General who participated in the Revolutionary War.  He was one of the six foreigners that were ever granted Honorary Citizenship of the …read more

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