Shades of Gray
08/28/10 DC Council Chairman Vincent Gray works the crowd at an event Saturday afternoon at the Upshur Recreation Center in NW in his bid to become DC’s next mayor. A new Washington Post poll shows Gray with a 17 percent lead over the incumbent Mayor Adrian Fenty going into the September 14th Democratic primary.
1st Day of School
08/27/10 For the past six months or so, I’ve been shooting a special project for my high school alma mater, Gonzaga College High School. It’s a very special place in the heart of DC just a few blocks from the US Capitol.
Friday was the first day of school. I’m sure I must have been as small and young-looking as the incoming freshman but it seems hard to believe. The campus is larger and more elaborate than when my brothers and I attended. The neighborhood is more built up as well. It’s the same place though, brimming with the same energy. The kids are smart, brash and confident.
[The bell tower. Gonzaga was founded in 1821. It's the oldest boy's school in DC.]
[My classmate Joe Viola has been a teacher at Gonzaga for years now. Here he is taking roll on the first day of class.]
[Pep rally before Saturday's first game of the season versus McKinley Tech.]
[The school year starts with a Mass of the Holy Spirit in St. Aloysius Church. St. Al's was built in 1859 in the box-like "theatrical" style of Jesuit Baroque architecture patterned after the Gesu in Rome. It was used as a hospital for wounded troops during the Civil War. The painting over the altar was executed by Constantino Brumidi, who painted many of the frescoes inside the US Capitol.]
[Dr. John Warman - a legendary teacher at Gonzaga]
[My nephew Tim (in the center) starts his Sophomore year.]
PETA Chicks
08/25/10 A block North of the White House on the corner of H and 16th Streets. CLICK FOR VIDEO SNIPPET
From the PETA Press Release:
MEDIA ALERT – MEDIA ALERT – MEDIA ALERT
‘CHICKS’ TO HAND OUT EGG-FREE CUPCAKES AT WHITE HOUSE
PETA’s ‘Feathered’ Friends Show Washingtonians How to Avoid Salmonella
Following the recall of half a billion eggs during a
salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 2,000 people, PETA’s
scantily-clad “chicks” in tall “feather” headdresses and strategically
placed “feathered” bikinis will hand out egg-free recipes and eggless
treats near the White House during the lunch hour on Wednesday.
Hoffman’s Barn Sale
08/22/10 Taking photos with my iphone while wandering through Hoffman’s Barn Sale in Red Hook, NY on a rainy Sunday.
[Look magazine from 1947.]
Getting Back On Track
08/19/10 Jim Hughes, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s Director of Intermodal Planning holds a press conference on the platform of the Silver Spring Metro station on Thursday morning to announce that 5 Metrorail stations – Takoma, Silver Spring, Forest Glen, Wheaton and Glenmont – will be closed over the Labor Day weekend for track repairs. The track switch replacement is work that has been recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Fall Fashion Preview @ Neiman’s
08/19/10 Last night Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie hosted a “Fall Fashion Preview Party” with a twist. They asked two DC style mavens – soon-to-be-seen in the September issue of Vogue Magazine - Katie Rost and Andrea Rodgers to go through the store and present their favorite trends for Fall. It was an interesting study in contrasting approaches to personal style.
[Andrea Rogers and Katie Rost]
[Katie's choice: Theory black turtleneck and Alice and Olivia gold lurex and linen shorts.]
[Andrea's choice Carmen Marc Valvo cocktail dress with pink fur Adrienne Landau.]
[Katie's choice: Vince leather jacket over Kay Unger studded sheath dress.]
[Andrea's choice: St. John suit with Chanel purse. ]
[Katie's choice: Kay Unger 50's inspired herringbone dress.]
[Andrea's choice: Sue Wong feather cocktail dress.]
[Katie's choice: Aidan Mattox green sequined dress.]
[Liberty Jones of Neiman Marcus Mazza Gallerie talks Fall fashion trends.]
[DJ Neekola spinning tunes.]
[Model Anna C. wearing Diane Von Furstenberg (Andrea's choice) waits for her cue.]
K Street Kate’s 4th Anniversary
08/18/10 Last night my friend (and social media star) Kate Michael celebrated 4 years of “trendsetting, taste making & talent scouting” with her online lifestyle magazine KStreetKate.net. The party at Luxxery Express (a new “Medical Spa” in Georgetown) overflowed with well-wishers and was followed by an intense after-party at The Mighty Pint.
Bloomberg endorses Fenty
08/17/10 New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg endorsed DC Mayor Adrian Fenty for a second term this afternoon at Carmine’s restaurant in the Penn Quarter. Carmine’s, a restaurant chain from New York, expanded to Washington, DC earlier this month. The 700-seat restaurant is now the largest in the District and has hired over 200 DC residents since opening, according to the Mayor’s office.
[NBC 4's DC politics reporter Tom Sherwood asks Mayor Fenty if there is going to be an attitude adjustment if he wins a second term.]
The Dunes Presents: The Gallery at Social
08/14/10 My friend Ora threw a party that was firing on all cylinders last night – a cool new venue, stylish crowd and interesting artwork. Last night was a private friends and family opening preview of “The Gallery at Social” in Columbia Heights. The gallery featured a video exhibit by Jocelyn Weiss and photo installations by Pete Muller, Peter Van Agtmael and Yacouba Tanou. It should be the first of many events: “The Dunes regularly will showcase DC-area creatives, exploring the intersection of art from all media, music, fashion, cuisine, and mixology.”
[Music by DJ Adrian Loving]
[Everyone was very happy to see Indrid last night - sightings of her out on the town have been infrequent since announcing her pregnancy. PS It's hard to put into words how fantastic these 4 ladies are.]
The Cupcake Craze
08/12/10 I have to admit that I don’t get the cupcake craze which has engulfed Washington. The last time I got excited about a cupcake, I was 5 or 6 years old. Nowadays when I go to a swanky party and see the obligatory ziggurat of cupcakes I wonder if the next big trendy thing will be a round of “Pin The Tail On The Donkey.” It seems so kindergarten.
Today I walked by Georgetown Cupcake hq and saw a line of people humbly STANDING IN THE RAIN to purchase a product indistinguishable from that which they could buy for much less at a local grocery store.
[Standing in line in the rain for a chance to enter the Holy of Holies.]
[Commune of contrarians just a couple houses up 33rd St. from Georgetown Cupcake.]
UPDATE! The Washington Post video: “Neighbors frosted over Georgetown Cupcake’s popularity“
Senator Ted Stevens Killed In Plane Crash
08/10/10 News reports from Alaska this morning report that former Senator Ted Stevens has died in a plane crash. Here’s 3 images I took of him over the years:
[Senator Stevens is introduced by his best friend Senator Daniel Inouye during a luncheon at the JW Marriott in DC in 2004.]
[From my notes: In a Senate hallway on 6/27/02, Senator Stevens says to me "Will you be our photographer?" He and Senator Byrd are both wearing Red, White and Blue flag ties in reaction to the 9th circuit court decision yesterday that it's unconstitutional to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in classrooms. Stevens: "We both had the same thought".]
[Senator Ted Stevens gives a speech at La Colline breakfast in '05 on IT and FCC issues with figures in the painting behind him looking bored. Note also he’s wearing his Incredible Hulk tie.]
O’Malley on the Red Line
08/10/10 Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley (D) greets morning rush-hour commuters at the Bethesda, MD Metro station. O'Malley is running for another term as Governor of the Old Line State. Image © 2010 by Patrick G. Ryan www.snarkinfested.com
Reid x 5
08/05/10 Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D NV) at a press conference Thursday morning announcing a deal to pass the $26.1 billion bill paying for teachers to stay on the job and extending low-income healthcare.
Not Less but Morso
08/05/10 My favorite Georgetown publication (there’s a lot of them nowadays) The Georgetowner had a fun event last night – showcasing Ann Hand jewelry – at a new place called Morso on the corner of 33rd and M in Georgetown.
[Bro Tim with the lovely and talented Kadrieka Maiden]
[Sophie Pyle!]
[I'm very happy to hear that my friend Adra (on left) has moved back to DC from Dallas.]
