Friday, April 10, 2009

New Post - Eight Books

Check out my new post "Eight Books" on my website to learn about the books I'd take with me on a trip to Siena, Italy.
http://giovannapalatucci.weebly.com/2/post/2009/04/eight-books.html

Thursday, April 9, 2009

BIG Discoveries on Capitol Hill


Thanks for sticking in there with me as I slooooowwwwly put up the last few posts from my spring break trip. I'd much rather be blogging than thesis writing, but people convinced me that graduating is probably a bit more important. So finally.... Day 5 of Ready, Set, Go DC!

Friday was dedicated to learning about our nation's beginnings on Capitol Hill and at the National Archives. We started the day meeting my roommate Kathleen at the Rayburn Building where she works for a member of Congress. We had lunch in the cafeteria, but unfortunately we were not lucky enough to spot any politicos. I guess the cafeteria isn't really the place to go for Congressional sightings. You'll have more luck at The Palm or Occidental Room.

After lunch, Kathleen took us upstairs to see her office. Actually, anyone can walk right into the Congressional office buildings and visit their Senator or Congressman. It's where you can go to go get tickets for Capitol gallery tours and tickets for other tours like the White House (although I believe the typical wait time for that is 6 months or so and with Obama in office probably longer). Kathleen showed us her desk- she recently was promoted to special assistant! - and we met some of her co-workers. For a junior Congressman the office was a nice size with plenty of room for a full, hardworking staff to operate comfortably.

Kathleen graciously gave us two tickets to view the House Gallery and sent us on our way to the new Capitol Visitors Center located right beneath the steps of the Capitol Building between the Capitol and the Library of Congress. The new Visitors Center is a brand new museum that opened in December '08 and has quickly become my favorite museum in DC. Visitors to DC looking to explore the three branches of government should definitely incorporate this stop into their tour.

Inside the Visitors Center is a brand new museum detailing the history of the Capitol Building and its architecture as well as the history of the legislative process. The gallery is split into two parts. The first part highlights the legislative powers delegated to Congress by the Constitution. For example, a power of Congress is to promote Sciences and Arts, so in the display describing these responsibilities it featured a description along with an example-- the official letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to donate his collection of books to the Library of Congress. Very cool stuff.

The other wing of the exhibit told the chronological history of the Capitol building and the legislature complete with a scaled model of the Capitol grounds how it looked during progressive phases of construction. These wings were filled with photos, artifacts, and videos. I could have spent days reading over all the information. It was beautifully arranged. I was so intrigued.

After making our way through the exhibits, Josh and I took our tour of the House Gallery. It looks much smaller in person than on TV during the broadcasts of the State of the Union. Nevertheless, it's always a surreal experience to sit in the exact place where laws and legislation are being debated and implemented every day. Next on my growing list of things to do.... sit in on a session of Congress. Kathleen told me for major Presidential addresses there are strict rules in place about saving seats on the aisle. To avoid a stampede for the coveted aisle spot, prime location for shaking the President's hand, Congressmen are not allowed to pick their seats until 4pm, and once they sit down, there's no getting up. Furthermore, you can't have a staffer save your seat for you. You have to do the work yourself. It's like camping out over night for concert tickets, except picturing Congressmen in suits doing this just makes me laugh.

After we finished up at the Capitol Visitors Center we headed down the street to the National Archives. The Archives houses an original copy of the Magna Carta as well as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights. Although the founding documents are certainly a highlight of the Archives, the museum also puts up impressive temporary exhibits featuring the numerous primary source documents housed in their vaults.

During our visit we checked out the BIG exhibit, a show dedicated to large-in-scale documents and artifacts in archives. One of the most interesting pieces on display was the role call of House votes to declare war on Japan in WWII. Other impressive artifacts were the bathtub constructed for 300lbs+ President Taft, Shaquille O'Neal's autographed basketball shoe presented to President George W. Bush, and a 36sq ft. map of Gettysburg drafted during the Civil War.

We had a fantastic day learning more about our nation's history.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Sounds and Flavors of Downtown DC

Thanks for being patient while I catch up on my posts! Here's what happened during a fantastic Thursday evening on the town:

Two of my favorite museums are housed under one roof in Downtown DC. The American Art Museum and Portrait Gallery always feature new and interesting temporary exhibits in addition to their impressive permanent collection. The portrait gallery is where you can find the America's Presidents exhibit, the only complete collection of Presidential portraits outside the White House. Stephen Colbert somehow convinced the curators to temporarily hang his portrait in this gallery (right by the entrance to the restrooms). It's now on display at the American History Museum.

We checked out the new Lincoln exhibit featuring photos and portraits of a young and old Lincoln. The captions talked about the teasing Lincoln often received because of his unconventional looks. His response: "If I had another face, do you think I'd be wearing this one?". Who knew Lincoln had such a sense of humor? Another interesting photo was of Lincoln's first Inaugural address. Supposedly you can see John Wilkes Booth in the background ominously foreshadowing Lincoln's assassination.

In addition to the fabulous art, the museum offers great public programs and other free events including the Take Five! live jazz concert every third Thursday of the month. This month performing live was the Blue Sky 5, a swing band playing some great oldies from Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, and Benny Goodman. Accompanying the band was a group of professional swing dancers who impressed us with their fast footwork and acrobatic flips. I'm trying to convince Josh to take a lesson with me. Take Five! is a great Thursday night activity. The music plays from 5-8 so it's a perfect pre-dinner activity for one of the many restaurants right around the corner.

And that's exactly what we did. After listening to some great music, we headed over to La Tasca, a Spanish tapas restaurant right across the street from the Verizon Center. La Tasca is a popular after work dinner spot. They have great weeknight specials (we went on 1/2 price sangria night) that appeal to DC's young professionals crowd. Josh and I had a strawberry and blueberry sangria and feasted on some amazing dishes. Included in our favorites were the patatas bravas, a fried eggplant dish, and grilled lamb. La Tasca is definitely becoming one of my favorite restaurants in all of DC.

After dinner we went to Rocket Bar where in addition to your typical games like pool and darts, you can play Jenga and other boardgames. Here we caught some of the March Madness games and then ended the night at our favorite local hangout The 51st State.

That's all for now. Coming up... examining America's history and democracy: Capitol Hill and The Archives.

Friday, March 20, 2009

A Scottish St. Patrick's Day

Go DC, Day 3
March 17, 2009

We began day three of break by exploring another one of DC’s neighborhoods. Historic U Street is the Harlem of DC. It was the cultural epicenter of African-American nightlife, which continues to flourish today. Famous musicians like Duke Ellington played in many of the jazz venues that still line the streets, and visitors to U Street can see hints of this history infused into the current landscape.

A trip to U Street is incomplete without a stop at Ben’s Chili Bowl, a Washington hotspot that opened in 1958. Now an official cultural landmark, Ben’s serves up delicious hotdogs, burgers, and fries on a no frills menu that of course includes its famous chili. Ben’s chili is thick, spicy and delicious. I would recommend to first timers the famous Ben’s Dog: a jumbo beef dog with mustard, onions, and chili. Yum. At mealtime, diners line up out the door to get a taste of Ben’s. Cash only, the sign on the register indicates who can eat for free: Bill Cosby who used to singly claim this honor, but now shares company with the Obama Family.

U Street is one of my favorite places in DC. From the great jazz to its variety of ethnic eateries, it is a great place to spend a relaxing afternoon or a lively evening. Unfortunately the neighborhood is facing rapid gentrification and the original residents who descended from this area are slowly being forced out as Starbucks and luxury apartments move in. However it’s hard to break the spirit of this neighborhood. When I did a photo essay of U Street for a photography class last semester, I met so many friendly people on the street who eagerly asked me to take their picture. Many gave me suggestions of places and people to photograph. The residents take tremendous pride in the area and work very hard to preserve the authenticity of the place.

After our lunch at Ben’s, Josh and I headed to our next stop of the day, which was like taking a trip into a Dan Brown novel. We first discovered this next landmark last spring while we were taking a walk through the residential brownstones between U Street and Dupont Circle. As we rounded the corner of one block, appearing out of nowhere was this immense structure with towering columns and looming statues flanking the steps. We were astounded by the enormity of this building, which we soon discovered to be the House of the Temple headquarters of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. The temple was closed but we vowed to come back and learn what this place was all about.

Almost a year later, we finally made our return to the Scottish Rite Temple. We entered into the main lobby, which is a beautiful space supported by green marble columns and hand-painted ceilings. As I signed in for our tour at the front desk, I caught a glimpse of the sheet on the tour guide’s desk: a list of names and phone numbers under the heading, “Phone Extensions for the Supreme Chancellors”. What were we getting ourselves into? Although our tour would reveal the mysteries of the temple and Freemasonry, I am still baffled by the whole other world hiding in this residential neighborhood.

Beginning the tour, our guide, a graduate student in anthropology at GW not a Freemason, told us a little about Freemasonry. Freemasonry is an international fraternity with 1.7 million members worldwide. Despite the appearance of this temple, it is not a secret society. In fact, Freemasons perform charity work in many public spheres. When a Freemason completes the first three degrees of symbolic masonry, they may choose to continue their education in the tradition of one of two branches— the Scottish Rite branch or the York branch. Of the Scottish Rite branch, this headquarters is the largest in the United States and is the grandmother of all Scottish Rite Temples in the world. The highest degree of masonry one can attain is the 32nd degree with a special 33rd degree bestowed upon those masons who have proven outstanding work in the Rite or in public life.

Next our tour took us to the Temple Room, the main meeting space for all official Scottish Rite gatherings. It’s hard to describe the beauty and detail of this room. Every design carried significance. In the middle of the room was an altar because masons believe religion (any religion) should be center in one’s life. The glass windows featured serpents at the bottom of clouded glass that became increasingly translucent towards the top. The window design was to signify greater clarity that comes with greater spirituality and faith. The grandness of the room was breathtaking with every element, the desks, tile floor, columns, and curtains contributing to the room’s majestic ambiance.

Another point on the tour took us to a hall of portraits where we saw paintings of famous 33 degree masons. Some of these honorary members include Senator John Glenn, John Philip Sousa, Arnold Palmer, Bob Dole, Roy Rodgers, and Douglas MacArthur. Fourteen US Presidents have been masons from George Washington to Gerald Ford. Even former GW President Stephen Joel Trachtenburg’s portrait was hanging on the wall. Not only did he receive the high honors of the 33 degree, but he was also elected as a Grand Chancellor. Why am I not surprised?

A highlight of the tour was a complete artifact room honoring Freemason, Burl Ives. A dedicated Freemason, after his death Ives’ wife donated a treasure trove of memorabilia to the Scottish Rite. We perused items from hit records to Boy Scout badges while Ives’ hit songs played in the background. My favorite item was a figurine of the snowman claymation character that Ives provided the voice for in the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer holiday film.

We saw so many incredible rooms, artifacts, paintings, and architecture in the temple—far too much to describe them all on this page. Check out my photos to see the temple library, chancellor’s room, and other amazing details of the temple. Despite having the feel of a “secret society” the Temple is willing and eager to open its doors to the public. I was able to take pictures in every room and our guide provided lighthearted commentary on Freemasonry and its members. A visit to the Scottish Rite Temple should be included in every trip to DC.

After our Scottish Rite tour we headed to Duffy’s Irish Pub to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Duffy’s is a dive bar in U Street but it’s a great place to find good deals, watch the game, or scope out extra tickets for whatever concert is playing at the 9:30 Club down the street. For St. Patties we were entertained by Irish step dancers who were later going to be performing at the Kennedy Center and received all kinds of free, green “flair”. Duffy’s had a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, making it a place I’d definitely visit again. Great end to a great day.

Thanks for being patient while I catch up on posts! Stay tuned for jazz, tapas, and a Capitol tour.

Photos: Go DC, Day 3

Monday, March 16, 2009

#49... check



On GW’s student web portal there is a feature called “101 Things to Do” which is essentially a list of 101 items to accomplish at GW and around DC before you graduate. When I first read the list my freshman year, #49 (Sit on Einstein’s Lap) caught my eye and I’ve been anxious to check this one off the list ever since.

The Einstein Memorial is on Constitution Avenue between 21st and 22nd streets outside the entrance to the National Academy of Sciences. Tourists headed for the Lincoln Memorial or towards the reflecting pool on the Mall often walk right past this fun sculpture which his hidden between the trees. The large sculpture features a seated Einstein working on an equation. It’s a DC must to take a picture with Einstein while you sit on his lap.

The next item to be checked off our “to do” list was #84: Take in the views from the top of the Washington Monument. Tickets for the Monument sell out fast. It’s essential to buy them in advance online so you don’t have stand outside in person for tickets that usually sell out by 8:30am.

Unfortunately it was a rainy day, but after a 60 second ride to the top—the 890-plus stairs were closed, bummer—we were still greeted with amazing views of the city. Out the first window we saw the Lincoln Memorial (my favorite), out the next the Jefferson Memorial, then the Capitol Building, and finally the White House. It was very cool to see L’Enfant’s masterfully planned city from a bird’s eye view.

On the ride down, the elevator slowed at numerous points to reveal the monument’s interior where each of the 50 states has a commemorative stone built into the façade. Some of the states pointed out to us by the Ranger were Alaska, which sent a solid piece of jade and Florida whose Governor in the 1960s thought it would be innovative to send a hunk of plastic. On days when the stairs are not under construction you can walk to the bottom and spend more time looking at the commemorative stones. We wanted to book tickets again for the spring when the skies would be clear and the stairwell would be open. However, the Rangers informed us that tickets are booked through June. Oh well, next time.

I’ve now checked 58 items off the GW’s to do list. It asks me, “Who are you? Big George (our mascot)?”. By the end of the week I’m sure I’ll have checked a few more off the list, and by May I’ll have accomplished #101: Graduate in the city of presidents.

Pictures: Go DC, Day 2

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Buildings, Breweries, Bicentennial, and Billiards



Day one of Read, Set, Go DC - With my faithful travel companion Josh by my side, we set out to explore some places new and old in DC.

Buildings:
Some of the best things about DC are the free museums. Although the Smithsonian Institution features some of my favorite museums, it was time to check out one off the Mall. The National Building Museum is located right on the metro’s Red Line and features some great exhibits about cities, architecture, planning, and design. After taking an American Studies class on Cityscapes in which we talked about urban planning and design, I was eager to visit this museum.

Part of the National Building Museum experience is the site’s architecture. The building was originally constructed in the 1880s as the Pension Bureau’s headquarters. The architect, a US Army General, incorporated many military symbols into the building’s design like the marble frieze on the exterior of the building, which depicts soldiers from every branch of the military. Inside, the building’s Great Hall is truly a site to see. An open-air design with towering columns and a central fountain, this venue hosts many events such as an official Presidential Inaugural Ball. Unfortunately during our visit they were setting up for yet another event, but we were still taken by its stunning beauty.

One of the featured exhibits, Washington: Symbol and City seemed like a perfect way to start off our tour of DC. The exhibit told the story of the DC’s origins—planned by French visionary Pierre L’Enfant—and highlighted how the city’s design, architecture, and people reflect American democracy. Although this was an interesting exhibit, a temporary exhibition quickly became our favorite.

Green Community explores different cities and towns all over the world that represent a “mosaic of diverse approaches and issues that make a green community”. We learned about the technology, techniques, and efforts these communities are making to build a sustainable future. Working for the US Green Building Council, Josh loved this exhibit. In his opinion a huge obstacle preventing a full “green” movement is that people don’t realize the full potential of green efforts. He thought exhibit was a great introduction to conservation and sustainability and showed how real people are going green all over the world.

Here are two of my favorite cities featured in the exhibit:

Bogota, Colombia

For some time, Bogota had poured its resources into a disconnected highway system. However, because a majority of the population couldn’t afford cars, the community was distant and divided. Realizing this the mayor diverted the resources into a new bus system—clean, sleek, environmentally friendly buses—and the construction of green boulevards or alamedas. Featuring bike routes and green spaces for kids to play, the people can enjoy the community together. Not only did the mayor reunite the city, but he also cut pollution and crime.

Stella, Missouri
The 187 residents of Stella were unnerved by the opening of a Wal-Mart headquarters only hours away. Afraid of impending sprawl that might threaten their community’s survival the citizens persisted until they recruited the EPA to help save their community. Working with the EPA’s SMARTe program, a web-based planning tool that helps communities develop sustainable-master plans, the residents of Stella identified the traditions and treasured places in their town that they wanted to preserve. I liked this community’s story because it shows how important it is for people to take ownership of their communities and responsibility for its future sustainability.

Green Community is a terrific exhibit. It was a great introduction to the National Building Museum and a great start to our DC week.

Breweries, Bicentennial, and Billiards
I’ll make this next part brief because I spent so much time gushing about the National Building Museum. After our exhibition tour, Josh and I stopped for a quick lunch at Gordon Biersch Restaurant and Brewery—an American brewery in downtown DC. Although it’s a growing chain of restaurants we were impressed by the quality of the food and the beer. Another great microbrewery to check out in DC is the Capitol City Brewing Company—a unique DC venture.

After lunch our walk back to campus unexpectedly took us past the historic Ford’s Theater. Recently opened after major renovations, we had to peek inside. The theater is small but you can sit in the balcony, snap photos, and even take a closer look at the booth where Lincoln was shot. This year DC is celebrating the bicentennial http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifof Lincoln’s birth so there are hundreds of programs and events going on all over the city. We timed our visit just right. As we left, the line to get in was out the door.

Having just watched the Paul Newman classic, The Hustler and its sequel, The Color of Money, Josh and I were eager to test out our billiards skills. We headed to Buffalo Billiards in Dupont Circle. The place features 29 pool tables in addition to darts, shuffleboard, and screens to watch the big game. Let’s just say Fast Eddie makes 9-ball look way too easy. We certainly weren’t hustling anyone that night but it was the perfect way to end a great first day of exploring DC.

Photos: Go DC, Day 1

Welcome to DC: What to Expect



Spring Break has officially begun! Weather forecast for the week: rain. Just my luck, but of course DC rain could mean anything from a light mist all day to a one-hour downpour in the afternoon. Either way I won’t let the rain slow me down. I’ve got my boots; it’s time to start my DC adventure.

Although I can only guess what this blog is going to look like at the end, I hope my posts will be filled with basic travel essentials presented with my own personal spin: what these places mean to me. I’ll be visiting some popular tourist spots, lesser-known sites, places I’ve seen, and have yet to see. There will be photos and (all new!) links so you can check out the websites of the places that catch your interest.

Ready? Set? Let’s go explore DC.