The DC Traveler

While it looks like a government building, the neoclassical building near  Dupont Circle is actually the headquarters of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

The inside of the building holds in rather unique museum with very eclectic pieces of freemason history from presidents to actors, G-men to generals.
The museum includes:

36 original still life oil paintings of the various Rite elements by Robert H. White.
The official collection of memorabilia from FBI Director, J. Edgar Hoover.
A letter from former President Harry S. Truman.
A life mask of President Abraham Lincoln.
A large collection of memorabilia from the actor Burl Ives, known for his roles in Cat …read more

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Seismologists at the U.S. Geological Survey research and monitor seismic activity.
Using technology first developed by Charles F. Richter, a professor at the California Institute of Technology in 1935, scientists track and record every earthquake and seismic event that occurs around  the world.
And volcanic eruptions, major earthquakes and deadly tsunamis have dominated the recent news.
While they can’t predict earthquakes, they do build models that estimate the probability of an earthquake occurring in specific regions of the world. 
Besides measuring earthquakes, the U.S. Geological Survey is the governmental science organization responsible for providing reliable scientific information to help the government, …read more

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It’s voting season – but I’m not talking about the presidential election. It’s time to vote for your favorite “short”, short film, that is.
The 102 short films presented at the 5th annual DC Shorts Festival in Washington, DC run from just one minute to over 20 minutes, and include a wide ranges of genres – dramas and documentaries, comedies and science-fiction, animation and creative, and of course, a few experimental shorts. Six screenplays will also be performed live.
Besides the films, there will be two free seminars for budding filmmakers on Friday, September 12th at Flashpoint (916 G Street, …read more

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One of the best and, best attended, neighborhood street festivals in Washington, DC is the annual Adams Morgan Day Festival. 
As the longest running street festival in DC (30 years), it brings a full day of live music and exciting dance performances, artisans selling their original and hand-crafted goods, interactive performance workshops, and food from around the world.
With two main stages feature live music from a wide range of genres from Rock, Latin, jazz to Americana, bluegrass and funk, and more. Plus dance performances from Bolivia to Africa , Cuba to Spain.
Located on a tree-lined street, Arts on Belmont …read more

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Since It’s Monday, and I typically write a Monument Monday, but here’s one that’s monument to the performing arts – The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Next weekend, enjoy over 30 FREE music, dance and artistic performances at Washington, DC’s premiere center for the arts, The Kennedy Center and their annual Open House.
The range of entertainment of as varied as the number of performers.
Here’s just a sampling of the many free performances:

The Kennedy Center’s own Suzanne Farrell Ballet. Suzanne Ferrell  who was one of one of George Balanchine’s most celebrated ballerinas.
Washington’s own, National Symphony …read more

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If new and different world music is your thing, don’t miss the Planet Arlington World Music Festival on the grounds of the Iwo Jima Memorial just across the Potomac River from Washington, DC.
This year’s line up includes:

Solas, my new favorite a US-based Celtic band, featuring some lightening-fast and well-crafted traditional Irish music. 
Lebanese vocalist Tania Saleh, who will be featured in an upcoming documentary on PBS on Lebanese musicians and singer who performed at the Roxy Theater in Hollywood.
The Jimmy Hendrick’s of the Chinese two-stringed bowed erhu, Yang Ying, from China. 
Congolese-Angolan spicy salsa of …read more

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Associate Conductor, Emil de Cou, conducts the National Symphony Orchestra for the annual Annual Labor Day Concert on the West lawn of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

National Symphony Orchestra Labor Day concert West lawn of the US Capitol Building E. Capitol and First Streets, NW  Washington, DC   (map it)
Dates and Times – Sunday, August 31, 2008, 8:00 p.m. Gates open at 3:20 p.m.
Tickets – FREE , no tickets required, but all attendees are subject to a security search
Nearest Metro Subway Station – Capitol South – Blue and …read more

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The National Building Museum is usually not on most visitor’s must see list, but I think it should be.  It’s worthy of a quick walk through, mostly for the building’s architecture and massive columns. Also, if you’ve dragged very young children from museum to museum who might need a bit of “playtime”, check out the Building Zone.
The museum has four main galleries.

A great retrospective of architect Eero Saarinen – designer of Dulles Airport terminal, the classic TWA Flight Center at New York’s JFK Airport and the St. Louis Arch (Jefferson National Expansion Memorial). Through Aug. 23, 2008.
Cityscapes Revealed – …read more

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Labor leader Samuel Gompers was the president of the American Federation of Labor (AFL), for 38 years, after he first founded the labor federation in 1886.
It consisted mostly of skilled labor craft unions. While active, the AFL fought for better pay, safer working conditions, and more worker or union control over jobs.
Early in its history, it help organize or fund new unions, including the United Brotherhood of Teamsters and American Federation of Musicians unions.
In 1955, the AFL merged with the CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations), to form the AFL-CIO.
A total of 61 major unions are part …read more

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The National Firearms Museum in suburban Fairfax, Virginia tells the history of firearms, from the earliest Match and Wheel Lock muskets, first introduced to the New World in the 17th century by the Spanish, to modern day hunting, target, military and collector’s weapons.
And America’s history is steeped in gun and firearms history.  The firearm played important roles throughout history, starting with the initial settlement of the New World.  Events such as the American Revolution, major wars and minor battles, the rise of organized crime in the 1920s, and law enforcement’s response would have never occurred.
The museum has one of …read more

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