Queens, NY - A clear and warm sunny afternoon in the Big Apple.Its exciting to be in the northeast, finally, after my epic-length journey through the south. There is no place in the world like New York City. My friend Pete put it like this: "Here in Queens, we're a twenty-minute train ride to the center of the world." New York has that kind of feel to it. It never sleeps. At any hour of the day there's something going on.
But first, lets talk about Washington D.C.
After my last post, we collected the last of our stuff at the beachhouse, stalling a bit for time. 
None of us really wanted to leave. There was such a feeling of being unplugged from the world in the Outer Banks. We all knew that, as soon as we left, we would have to re-plug. I already remember that week as a happy blurry dream. However, I definitely felt as though I had lost momentum. Driving to Washington, I remember feeling sluggish, my normal explorative zeal dulled by a solid week of sunshine, beachside naps, and late-night parties.
None of us really wanted to leave. There was such a feeling of being unplugged from the world in the Outer Banks. We all knew that, as soon as we left, we would have to re-plug. I already remember that week as a happy blurry dream. However, I definitely felt as though I had lost momentum. Driving to Washington, I remember feeling sluggish, my normal explorative zeal dulled by a solid week of sunshine, beachside naps, and late-night parties. It took me about five hours or so to get to Adam's place in Arlington, VA. Adam was one of my first roommates at the house in San Mateo. He went to Colby College with Heather. In DC, Adam works as an appraiser, and has a lovely condo in the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington. He's only a ten minute drive to the monuments, in good traffic.
After catching up a little, Adam took me to the "Old Town" district of Alexandria, which is truly gorgeous. Sitting along the Potomac, Old Town is littered with beautiful two/three story brick townhouse buildings. Many of the streets are cobblestoned. It reminded me a little of Princeton, NJ. Adam, the history buff, gave me brief overview of the history of DC. He told me of floods Alexandria had endured, pointing out a building which had depth markers along its granite corner.
We got dinner at the Union Street Public Market. I had the rib-eye steak. The restaurant provided, with my steak, a side of blue cheese. I'd never seen that before. As though the Guinness and steak weren't already enough, I added insult to
injury by dipping chunks of my steak into delicious chunky blue cheese. Adam added that the restaurants of the area weren't particularly health-conscious, which seemed a bit of an understatement at the time.
injury by dipping chunks of my steak into delicious chunky blue cheese. Adam added that the restaurants of the area weren't particularly health-conscious, which seemed a bit of an understatement at the time.After dinner, Adam suggested a few different things we could do, which included taking an hour-long drive to the coast of Maryland for a party. My zeal for adventure restored, I voted for the party.
The party was held on a dock along some ocean inlet near Leonardtown, MD. Some thirty or so people were enjoying the bluegrass 
harmonies emitted by a six-piece band. It was a lovely scene, and I had one of those moments. I felt as though I had stumbled upon a secret little pocket of American life. People were drinking beers and wine, rocking in their motored and pontoon boats to sweet harmonies and banjo pluckin'. I was a happy little fly on the wall.
harmonies emitted by a six-piece band. It was a lovely scene, and I had one of those moments. I felt as though I had stumbled upon a secret little pocket of American life. People were drinking beers and wine, rocking in their motored and pontoon boats to sweet harmonies and banjo pluckin'. I was a happy little fly on the wall. That is, until I took a ride on the electric boat.
Amongst the variety of boats at the dock was an electric motor boat. It ran off twelve batteries, one at a time, and could theoretically run for a very long time before needing recharging.
With the bluegrass outfit finishing, the collective BAL of the party was approaching its zenith. Everyone was talking about the electric boat. Discussion continued for fifteen minutes or so before about sixteen people (yours truly included) got on the electric boat for a spin around the inlet river.You could barely make out the murmur of the boat engine. We cruised with libations. There was hootin' and a hollerin' amongst the passengers. Around midnight, the captain decided it was time to drop in on some neighbors. He was eager to keep the party moving. Low on provisions, we docked and sent a small search party to the house. The team returned a few minutes later with an escort from the residence. Not happy to have had their party crashed, words were exchanged. Inebriated accusations were flung about. Melodrama ensued. We cast off and, with the safety of space between us, the escorts grew bolder with their angry tirade.
Shaken by the confrontation, a soap opera of drunken proportions ensued on the electric boat. The captain swore that he would return to the house the next morning to "clear up the matter". I got the impression that, with little else to do in this riverside community, the locals were prone
to scuffles like this. I had seen both the beautiful and the ugly of the place in one night.
to scuffles like this. I had seen both the beautiful and the ugly of the place in one night. It just goes to show: Every coin has two sides.
Adam offered to drive his friends at the party back to theirs. We squished six people into Adam's Saab and drove for twenty minutes or so to another inlet town. Clambering out, I noticed that I had totally lost sensation in my right leg. Inside Adam's friends' place, I met Smarty the cat. We got back to Adam's around 3am, or so, and slept soundly.
After sleeping in a bit, Adam and I got some breakfast at Bob and Edith's. I asked if they had any fruit. They said they didn't, and I remembered 
Adam's comment of the healthfulness of the local eateries. We then made for the monuments. Washington D.C. on Memorial Day is amazing. We parked the car near the Jefferson Memorial and began our giant looping tour. The mall was a zoo. Veterans were everywhere. People were handing out little American flags. We started with the FDR Memorial, which is comprised mostly of giant sculpted blocks of dark granite. Enormous walls with famous FDR quotes carved out. Statues of the man himself and Eleanor. There were statues depicting the impact of the great depression. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FDR_Memorial)
Adam's comment of the healthfulness of the local eateries. We then made for the monuments. Washington D.C. on Memorial Day is amazing. We parked the car near the Jefferson Memorial and began our giant looping tour. The mall was a zoo. Veterans were everywhere. People were handing out little American flags. We started with the FDR Memorial, which is comprised mostly of giant sculpted blocks of dark granite. Enormous walls with famous FDR quotes carved out. Statues of the man himself and Eleanor. There were statues depicting the impact of the great depression. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FDR_Memorial)
Next was the Korean War Memorial, which depicts a number of soldiers in rain gear sloshing their way through combat. They wore tired and forlorn expressions. Most memorable to me was their eyes, empty and melancholy.
I was eight or nine years old, I think, the last time I was in DC. A family vacation. Roaming around the monuments that day, old synapses fired for the first time in over twenty years. Fuzzy memories surfaced of visiting the monuments as a child. I remembered my dad letting me take pictures with his SLR camera. I remembered the four of us getting dinner at some restaurant and leaving an umbrella behind. I remembered growing tired from walking. I remembered, most vividly, visiting the Air and Space Museum. I had really wanted to see the 
Lincoln Memorial then, but on the day my family visited, it had been closed due to a bomb threat.
Lincoln Memorial then, but on the day my family visited, it had been closed due to a bomb threat. So, with very long-standing unfinished business in mind, we next went to the Lincoln Memorial. It was nice.
We moved on to the Vietnam War Memorial, where an assemblage of soldiers from each branch of the military were presenting flags. The band played the national anthem, and I paused, hand 
over heart. I asked a man with a greyhound in tow if I could take his picture, not realizing that the assemblage has begun reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. I love this picture. The man was a veteran, and I could tell that, to him, the Pledge of Allegiance brought about deep reflections the likes I'll probably never know.
over heart. I asked a man with a greyhound in tow if I could take his picture, not realizing that the assemblage has begun reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. I love this picture. The man was a veteran, and I could tell that, to him, the Pledge of Allegiance brought about deep reflections the likes I'll probably never know.We continued on to the WWII Monument, which is a rotunda of identical obelisk-like sculptures, one for each state or territory. Adam spent five minutes or so trying to determine the significance of the order in which each state/territory was placed. It had something to do with the order in which they were incorporated into the union.
From there, I had wanted to see the American History Smithsonian. 
Unfortunately, it had been closed for quite some time for major renovations. Instead, we went to the Air and Space Museum, where a selection of the most treasured items from the American History Museum had been relocated. My favorite items were Kermit the Frog and the sign from the tv show M.A.S.H. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermit_the_Frog)
We next made our way to the National Archives, but had to wait a little while for the Memorial Day parade to cross. In front of the grandstand, a WWI veteran was honored. He was 100+ years old and had snuck into 
the army when he was 16.
the army when he was 16. The National Archives has these gigantic immovable steel doors at the front of the building. We went in to see the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights, but we never got any further than a very old Magna Carta document. There was a long line to see the other documents, and Adam and I were weary and impatient. We skipped the "big three" and visited Adam's brother Greg, who lived only blocks away. Greg and his wife Charlene live in an awesome condo which features a great roof-top view of the city.
Adam and I started our walk back to the car with our dogs barking. The trip was shortened a
little by taking a DC Metro train part of the way. After another couple miles of walking, we spent a minute at the Jefferson Memorial and drove back to Adam's.
little by taking a DC Metro train part of the way. After another couple miles of walking, we spent a minute at the Jefferson Memorial and drove back to Adam's.In the evening, Adam and I went to a local sports bar. Adam was a regular there, the waitress giving him a familiar pat on the back when she came to the table. We had wings, burgers, and beer. And were both able to watch our respective baseball teams play.
Later in the night, Adam and I went to the Loews Uptown Theatre, one of the movie palaces on my list. The Uptown holds the incredible distinction of having hosted the world premier of Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odessey."
The basic dimensions of the theater seemed familiar. The Uptown has a short 
breezeway leading to a small lobby. Cherry coke is for sale. There's floor level and balcony seating available. There is no Wurlitzer organ. The balcony felt as though it was a little too far away from the screen. The decoration of the theater is, at best, sparse. The seats had been recently replaced. The ceiling was ... I can't remember exactly what it looked like, but it was essentially bare. The balcony level has a narrow passageway behind the seats with restrooms. The restrooms have little parlor areas attached, similar to the ones I saw at the Tampa, but not decorated with antique furniture. The shining star of the theater is its screen. It's extremely wide and curves inward at both ends. It was almost too big to see all at once, but I liked it. Overall, the Uptown Theatre was unimpressive. It had obviously been modernized, and therefore sterilized, so thoroughly that little of its original character remained. I was glad to have seen it (especially that screen), but wasn't wowed as I had been with the previous movie palaces.
breezeway leading to a small lobby. Cherry coke is for sale. There's floor level and balcony seating available. There is no Wurlitzer organ. The balcony felt as though it was a little too far away from the screen. The decoration of the theater is, at best, sparse. The seats had been recently replaced. The ceiling was ... I can't remember exactly what it looked like, but it was essentially bare. The balcony level has a narrow passageway behind the seats with restrooms. The restrooms have little parlor areas attached, similar to the ones I saw at the Tampa, but not decorated with antique furniture. The shining star of the theater is its screen. It's extremely wide and curves inward at both ends. It was almost too big to see all at once, but I liked it. Overall, the Uptown Theatre was unimpressive. It had obviously been modernized, and therefore sterilized, so thoroughly that little of its original character remained. I was glad to have seen it (especially that screen), but wasn't wowed as I had been with the previous movie palaces.Oh yeah, and we saw "Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End." Horrible. Three hours of my life which I'll never get back. (D+)
In the morning I said my goodbyes to Adam and spent a little while getting lost before finding my way 
back to I-95. The drive was pleasant. I drove through Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York in about six hours. It was nice to drive along the Jersey Turnpike. I grew nostalgic driving past exit 9, which will take you to New Brunswick, home of Rutgers, my alma mater. I was boggled at how many tolls I had to pay to reach New York. In total I spent about twenty dollars for the privilege of crossing various turnpikes and bridges. While getting gas, Pete called me to check my progress. He recommended taking the Lincoln Tunnel to Manhattan, rather than the Verrazano Bridge (as I had originally intended). Following his advice, I meet with no traffic crossing into New York City. It was an absolute pleasure driving across Manhattan. I passed Times Square and Radio City Music Hall before reaching the Queensboro Bridge. I found Pete's place in Queens pretty easily.
back to I-95. The drive was pleasant. I drove through Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York in about six hours. It was nice to drive along the Jersey Turnpike. I grew nostalgic driving past exit 9, which will take you to New Brunswick, home of Rutgers, my alma mater. I was boggled at how many tolls I had to pay to reach New York. In total I spent about twenty dollars for the privilege of crossing various turnpikes and bridges. While getting gas, Pete called me to check my progress. He recommended taking the Lincoln Tunnel to Manhattan, rather than the Verrazano Bridge (as I had originally intended). Following his advice, I meet with no traffic crossing into New York City. It was an absolute pleasure driving across Manhattan. I passed Times Square and Radio City Music Hall before reaching the Queensboro Bridge. I found Pete's place in Queens pretty easily.After a bear hug from my old friend, we spent a 
couple hours catching up. Pete and I were buddies at Rutgers. He and I, and his wife Sara, were also members of the College Avenue Players. CAP is a student-run non-theater-major acting troupe which uses Scott Hall (an ordinary lecture hall) as its performance venue. Not being intended for stage performances, Scott Hall is transformed before each show into something resembling a stage. Immediately after a show the entire thing is broken down. CAP, back in those days, would put up six shows a year. The group did dramatic plays, but specialized in sketch comedy. Those were good times back then.
couple hours catching up. Pete and I were buddies at Rutgers. He and I, and his wife Sara, were also members of the College Avenue Players. CAP is a student-run non-theater-major acting troupe which uses Scott Hall (an ordinary lecture hall) as its performance venue. Not being intended for stage performances, Scott Hall is transformed before each show into something resembling a stage. Immediately after a show the entire thing is broken down. CAP, back in those days, would put up six shows a year. The group did dramatic plays, but specialized in sketch comedy. Those were good times back then. Later in the evening, my friend Jay arrived. Jay and I became friends our freshman year living on the fourth floor of the Tinsley dormitory at RU. We spent the next three years as housemates living off 
campus. Sara joined up with us a little later. It was so cool to be hanging out with this group. These are some of the funniest people I know, and I laughed really hard that night. We cruised Pete's neighborhood and went to a few Irish bars for Guinness and dinner. I had shepherd's pie in one of them (C).
campus. Sara joined up with us a little later. It was so cool to be hanging out with this group. These are some of the funniest people I know, and I laughed really hard that night. We cruised Pete's neighborhood and went to a few Irish bars for Guinness and dinner. I had shepherd's pie in one of them (C). And now, this morning, I'm drinking lots of coffee and writing. The den in Pete and Sara's apartment is very conducive to writing, I must say. I was describing to Jay last night how much of a pleasure it has been writing this blog. It sometimes feels like a dream job. I need to find someone who will pay me to do this stuff.
Later today, Pete and I will roam about Pete's neighborhood and then I'll be seeing his show "Chicago City Limits" in Manhattan. I've seen the show once before in San Luis Obispo, CA, but because it's an improv show, I expect it to be completely different.
Here I go, once again. Still having a ball.
More soon.
Andy
- To see all the DC and NYC pictures to date:
1 comment:
Andrew,
Did you visit the Grease Trucks? I remember the "Fat Filipino" sandwich I had when I visited Rutgers. Mmmm!
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