Ah, chrome. Before it was a web browser, it was a fun shiny part of many a car. Now you need to go to a museum to see it. At least I did. The Smithsonian American History Museum. This picture was taken before Ben Stiller showed up and everything came to life, btw.
The Washington Monument is one of the most recognized landmarks in Washington DC. It is also one of the most photographed. (You can see some of my shots of it here). Because of this, it can be hard to take an interesting and unique shot, especially in the middle of the afternoon when the bright sunlight is not your friend.
Inside the Smithsonian Museum of American History is an odd statue of George Washington done up like an ancient Greek dude, or perhaps a less ancient frat boy going to a toga party. This statue was done by some Italian artist, and when it arrived in DC, lets just say it was not what was expected. The leaders of the day must have looked on this mostly naked man art not unlike the mom from A Christmas Story looked at the ladies leg lamp. Anyway, this is his hand, and I think he is posed like this because he was in fact, #1. Either that, or he is indicated on what denomination of money he is featured.
On the day my lovely wife turned [redacted], this flamingo, along with [redacted] of his friends were waiting on the front yard. A sign of the times is that she did not discover this flamboyant flamingo flock by looking out the window. No, she discovered these via Facebook, where the erstwhile flamingo planters had recorded the deed. (I should mention it was dark outside when she arose, because the way my wife celebrates her birthday is to get up before dawn and run a half-marathon).
On the other side of this door is New York City - East Broadway at the Manhattan Bridge - right in the chaotic heart of a Chinatown morning. People are hurrying in all directions as vendors unload truckfuls of mysterious produce and other unknown wonders while cars and trains pass by noisily on the bridge. This side of the door holds quiet and calm, but that all changes as you pass through, and there is no going back.
I must have walked pass the door to this jazz club in Greenwich Village three times before I finally decided to take a chance and go in. As much as I like jazz and new experiences, it felt a bit weird to go into a place like this by myself. I am so glad that I did. B.D. Lenz Group played the exact kind of funky cool tunes that I needed to get out of my own head for a while and lose myself to the night.
Another shot from my last NY trip - this time from Greenwich Village, which I wandered through in search of some dinner. Unlike most of the time I'm New York, I was able to leave the office before dark which of course gives the city an entirely different look.
At my peak, I was a fairly average bowler. My peak however, was somewhere between 15 and 20 years ago. Since then, I had been bowling exactly twice. That is, until this fateful night in New York City during which I learned two things: 1) The rules of bowling etiquette are either not the same in New York or they are just ignored 2) Bowling is not the kind of activity that once you learn how to do it, you always remember, even after not doing it for a long time (can't think of a good analogy).
Thanks to Phill Price for letting me know about AudioBoo.
