Winter Party Festival's 2nd Annual Family Pride Picnic

For the second year in a row, the Winter Party Festival collaborated with We Are Family and South Florida Family Pride to produce Winter Party's 2nd Annual Family Picnic. Which took place from 12 noon until 6 pm on Saturday, 3 March 2007, in TopeeKeegee Yugnee (TY) Park in Hollywood FL.

Photo depicts National Gay & Lesbian Task Force Executive Director, Matt Foreman, 'chit-chatting' with a family consisting of two lesbian moms, a young boy and a second child on the way. Since, the mother on the right is expecting in two months.

Images that I took during the 2nd Annual Family Picnic will be donated to the Stonewall Library & Archives, located in Fort Lauderdale FL.

When clicked, the above image links to my Winter Party 2007 - 2nd Annual Family Picnic photoset which currently features only a few uncropped and unedited images. However, once back in DC I will have access to my photo editing software and at that time, will upload more images from the event.

Top DJs Tony Moran & Brett Henrichsen team up for 2007 Winter Party Beach Party and CD

Brett Henrichsen started the Masterbeat label in 1996 with the goal of allowing the gay community to “take home the music” from dance events around the country. The Masterbeat brand quickly became a worldwide success and has released more than 60 compilations, including CDs for events such as Winter Party, White Party and Gay Days. Henrichsen took his passion for dance music to the next level by becoming a DJ in 2000.

In Februay 2007, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force announced that two of the nation’s top DJs — Brett Henrichsen an Tony Moran — had teamed up to play the 2007 Winter Party Festival's Beach Party as well as lend their talents to the official 2007 Winter Party CD.

When visiting the Winter Party 2007's Welcoming Center at the Doubletree Surfcomber Hotel on Friday afternoon, 2 March, to pick-up Sunday's Beach Party ticket and my press credentials Richard and I purchased a copy. Or rather, Richard purchased a copy for me.

Richard, unlike me, is not too much into 'circuit' or 'club' music. I, on the otherhand, am a bird of a different feathers. While my interest, definately, lie in the documentation of these kind of events as important and historic reflections of gay life/culture ... the driving force behind why I attend circuit events has a great deal to do with my love for the music and, of course, THE DJs.

In fact, engaging in my ritual light night to early morning writings, blog and photo postings and, of course, in anticipation of Sunday's Beach Party, I - at this very moment -am now listening to Masterbeat's Brett Henrichsen and Tony Moran's Winter Party 2007 compilation.

I hope to capture DJs Tony Moran & Brett Henrichsen on Sunday as part of my ongoing "DJs At Work/Play" project.

8th WDC International Wine & Food Festival

More than 280 international and domestic wineries will pour more than 1,100 wines in the Grand Cru Wine Lounge this year. Highlights include tastings, celebrity chef demonstrations and seminars featuring Leslie Sbrocco, author of the "Simple & Savvy Wine Guide" and Wine Spectator’s Gloria Maroti Frazee. One-day, two-day or Grand Cru ticket prices are $65, $85 or $150 before March 2 and $80, $100 or $180 after. Prices include tax plus a $2.50 administrative fee per ticket ordered in advance; seminars priced separately.

For tickets, call 1.800.343.1174 or visit DCWineFestival.com or Wine-Expos.com.

New 5 Week Letterpress Classes at Union Printmakers Atelier

New Letterpress Classes at Union Printmakers Atelier in DC to start March 13th, 2007. Meeting each Tuesday and Thursday from 10 AM to 1 PM. Ten (10) sessions for $400. Call Instructor STUART BRADLEY at 703-683-2335.

Union Printmakers Atelier is located at 926 North St. Rear NW, Washington , DC, 1 ½ blocks from Mount Vernon Square Metro Stop.

Director/Masterprinter SCIP BARNHART offers classes in Lithography, Intaglio (Etching), Monoprints and Bookarts as well as contract printing for all printmaking techniques.

For more information please call 202-277-1946 or email scip@unionprintmakers.com.

Dana Ellyn exhibits at Splash Contemporary in Ashbury Park, NJ

Washington DC artist Dana Ellyn is amongst several artists whose works will be featured at Splash Contempory Art's Opening Night Exhibition at the Shoppes at the Arcade located at 658 Cookman Avenue in Asbury Park, NJ.

Ellyn will exhibit 10 paintings - including four she created while traveling in Morocco last year, a couple from her “31 Days in July” series, and several large canvas and banner paintings.

Opening reception is this Saturday, 3 March from 6 pm until. The show runs through May 3rd.

Click image/flyer for details.

I. M. Pei leaves 'footprints' in Southwest WDC

It was around this time last year that I heard news that I.M Pei had designed several buildings in the Southwest area of Washington DC. According to the reports, including residential apartment buildings. Though, at the time, Richard and speculated as to which ones they may have been, since then, not only have I inquired of long-time SWers but have also searched the internet for information pertaining to I. M. Pei's architectural contributions to Southwest DC community.

I. M. Pei's architectural footprints, can be traced to two specific complexes in the Southwest area of Washington DC: The L'Enfant Plaza (Promenade) and the Town Center (Waterside) complexes.

L'Enfant Plaza Complex

Southwest Washington was once a working class and commercial sector of the city near the waterfront. But urban renewal ... or literal urban removal ... essentially wiped the area off the map. (The building of the Southwest Freeway helped too.). Architect I.M. Pei designed the L'Enfant Plaza Complex in the mid-1960s.

Refurbished in 2000 by then owners Sarakreek Management Partners, the La Promenade Shopping Mall along with the entire L'Enfant Plaza Complex is currently listed amongst JPG Companies properties.

Scheduled to open in 2009, a state-of-the-art National Children's Museum will be the centerpiece of a major new development at L'Enfant Plaza in Southwest Washington, DC.

The Town Center (Waterside Mall)

Two pairs of residential towers designed by legendary architect I.M. Pei flank Waterside Mall on M Street. The eastern pair, known as Town Center, is currently uninhabited. The western pair called Marina View, also slated for redevelopment, is currently occupied.

The four identical apartment towers, located just off the four corners of Waterside Mall, were initally called Town Center Plaza. The buildings were one of several projects of I. M. Pei, which resulted in his receiving the Brunner Award of the National Institute of Arts and Letters.

There are now plans by a division of Charles E. Smith Commercial Realty to redo the mall with housing, shops and offices. What began as The Town Center Plaza and later called Waterside Mall is now known as Waterfront Mall.

Winter Music Conference 2007 - Miami Beach

Dining Out For Life - WDC - 8 March 2007

DINING OUT FOR LIFE - WDC - Thursday, 9 March 2007, benefiting Food & Friends.

When you Dine Out at any one of the more than 150 participating restaurants, 25-100% of your bill will be donated to Food & Friends.

In addition to dining out, make sure to fill out one of our sweepstakes entry forms for the CHANCE TO WIN 2 Roundtrip Airline Tickets courtesy of American Airlines.

Last year, Richard and I dined out at Cafe Berlin on Capitol Hill.

Free daily musical entertainment @ the Old Post Office Pavilion

Did you know that on most days throughout the week the Old Post Office Pavilion hosts musical entertainment, which I first learned of when glancing through a December 2006 issue of Downtown DC Newsletter.

In recent weeks, in the process of my Saturday and Sunday Photo Walks, I've contemplated scenarios that would not involve me photographing outside in the cold weather.

As a result of a recent visit to the La Promenade at L'Enfant Plaza I decided last Saturday to launch a Saturday at the Mall historiographic project. And when I say mall I do not mean the National Mall as the focus of this particular project will be shopping malls.

Having recently learned of the Old Post Office Pavilion Entertainment I'd hurry from my apartment on Saturday afternoon and take the subway from Waterfront Station to Federal Triangle. Exit the system at the Woodrow Wilson Plaza and Ronald Reagan International Trade Center.

Run across 12th Street to the west side of the Old Post Office Pavilion, proceed a few more feet (north) to the entrance at 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue. When placing my items through the security check point - explaining to the guards that though my intention was to photograph the musical entertainment I inquired if there were any photography restrictions pertaining to other areas of the mall.

They said no. And that I should feel free to photograph what ever my heart desired. Which, though surprised, in these times of Homeland Security, made me very happy.

When one of the guards wanted to know more about the nature of photography I replied that with a long history and interest in musician photography in January 2007 I had launched the Friday Nights in WDC. And not unlike my Sundays at the Museums which speaks to my interest in art that my visit to the Old Post Office Pavilion would kill three birds with one stone. By adding to my musician series as well as launch my Saturday At The Shopping Malls project I would be able to avoid the cold weather outside.

I was delighted to learn that he was familar with Jazz Night in Southwest. And realized, then, that had I explained further, to the middle aged black male security guard, that my photography represents my weapon against racism - I am sure that he would've understood. Instead, I asked 'Which is the best way to get to the stage?".

My first installment of Saturday at the Mall features the 24 February 2007 performance of the Project Natale' Quartet at the Old Post Office Pavilion.

Both which I am sure I will capture again.

The Old Post Office Pavilion Entertainment series is free and open to the public. Sessions usually run from 12 noon until 1 pm during the week. And from 1 - 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

If you are a musician or a musical group and wish to perform at the Old Post Office Pavilion Entertainment series download their (pdf format) Performance Request Application. Or visit their website for contact information.

10th Celebration of Coyaba Dance Theater @ Dance Theater

Coyaba Dance Theater director Sylvia Soumah’s new work Destiny is an inspiring evening demonstrating how you can change your destiny and ultimately end up where you want to be. Through both traditional and contemporary forms of West African dance and music, Coyaba’s dancers and drummers “[stir] the soul and [get] hearts pumping” (Washington Post). The company will celebrate their 10th Anniversary Season with a reception on Saturday March 3 prior to the show. Tickets for the reception and performance on Saturday, March 3 are $40.

02-Mar-2007 at 8:00

03-Mar-2007 at 8:00

04-Mar-2007 at 4:00

Click image for details.

Waterfront Mall's "SW: Here & Now" historic images display to be developed as virtual exhibition

With news of the then (still) pending demolition and eventual redevelopment of what initially was named as The Town Center and what for many years I had known as Waterside Mall, it was one year ago on Saturday, 25 February 2006, that I photographed the "SW: Then & Now" photographic display at what in recent years has been referred to as the Waterfront Mall located at 4th and M Streets, in SW, WDC.

When searching the internet for information pertaining to the historiography project I learned that plans were formulated in the fall of 1999 when the Southwest History Task Force (HTF) was founded to create a photo exhibition for the Mall, that would show the history and main features of SW.

When in the spring of 2000, that HTF heard news that DC and its neighborhoods were to be the featured areas for the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival, HTF curated the "Southwest Then and Now" Exhibit which opened on June 30th, the first week end of the Festival. With a symposium held in the old Roy Rogers space in the Mall.

Since then, and under the auspices of the DC Heritage Tourism Coalition, several historiographic projects have been developed. In particular, the Southwest Heritage Trail and its accompanying Wayfinding Signage Project and Walking Tour of Southwest.

Also of note, is the Call Box (Art on Call) Project which, I was aware of in the Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan and Kalorama areas. But was not familiar with a coordinated effort in the Southwest Community when I began my Southwest DC Call Box Project at Call Boxes - SW - WDC.

Southwest has about 28 of the old fire and police call boxes still remaining on the streets. Mark Farrell has taken on the chairmanship of this Project and will be working to find artists and sponsors for each box. Historic documents or photos will be inserted in the boxes to accompany the Heritage Trail. Mark is looking for artists and for sponsors of boxes to help select their historic material and to help maintain and monitor the health of their box. Call Mark at 484-0132 if you would like to help.

According to the Southwest Neighborhood Assembly, Inc. Annual Report 2005 - 2006 dated March 27, 2006 ... a grant has been provided to move the SW: Then and Now historic images display from the Waterfront Mall to a web-based presentation.

As a documentary photographer I understand what may involved with the development and curation of historiographic projects such as SW: Then & Now!".

And I am damn glad to learn that the "SW: Then And Now" photographic project will not be destroyed. As will be the fate of the four I. M. Pei designed apartment buildings comprising the Marina View Towers and Town Center complexes.

As a documentary photographer I hope for the opportunity to record their demolition.

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, ACLU and HRC seek workplace discrimination stories for upcoming push on ENDA

Call for personal stories to put face to policy

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Inc., American Civil Liberties Union and the Human Rights Campaign are working together to engage more lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans in the national campaign to end workplace discrimination for LGBT workers. The campaign, which urges LGBT people who have faced job discrimination to share their stories, will be used to boost lobbying efforts for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), a federal bill that would protect LGBT people against workplace discrimination, and for similar state proposals.

Click photo to read more.

"Survivor's Guide: Against All Odds" Film Screening and Reception

FILM SCREENING & RECEPTION

28 February 2007 @ 5 - 6 pm

U.S. Senate, Dirksen Office Building . #G50

1st and C Streets, N.E

click image

National Building Museum's Docent Training Open House - Tuesday, 27 February 2007 @ 6 - 8p

National Building Museum volunteers range from interns to docents to information specialists, all giving their time to activities such as organizing archives, leading tours, and staffing Museum festivals. Last year, volunteers donated nearly 12,500 hours to the Museum, playing an integral role in the operation of the institution.

While some NBM volunteers are behind the scenes, many of the most visible ones are the docents, who lead tours of the Museum's historic home and exhibitions.

The term "docent" derives from the Latin word ducere, meaning to lead. NBM docents are trained to offer thought-provoking and interactive experiences that guide visitors in their own learning processes. Docents participate in four hours of weekly instruction over a six-week period, attending sessions with architectural and DC historians, curators, Museum staff, and others to prepare for their tours. They also enjoy enrichment activities designed to enhance their knowledge and volunteer experience.

Learn about the Museum’s docent program and see if you’d like to give tours of the Museum’s historic home and groundbreaking exhibitions. After this introductory session, training begins in mid-March and continues through April.

The National Building Museum is hosting a free Docent Training Open House tomorrow evening on Tuesday, 27 February 2007, from 6 till 8 pm.

Registration required by emailing kcotner@nbm.org. For more information on docent or other Museum volunteer opportunities, please call Kristi Cotner at 202.272.2448, ext. 3302, or visit www.nbm.org for an application.

I, myself, am considering volunteering for the Investigating Where We Live or CityVision outreach program.

African American Officers: A Long History of Service and Sacrifice

In honor of Black History Month, NLEOMF Chairman Craig W. Floyd remembers African-American officers killed in the line of duty throughout history.

Pictured is Jacob J. Chestnut, an 18-year police veteran, who along with U.S. Capitol Police Detective John Gibson was slain at the U.S. Capitol, in July 1998, by crazed gunman named Russell Weston Jr..

Officer Chestnut represents one of 13 African Americans killed in federal law enforcement service and is among the nearly 600 who have made the ultimate sacrifice throughout our nation's history.