Thursday's FRESHFARM Farmers’ Market returns to Penn Quarter 19 April

Thursdays, 19 & 26 April 2007 @ 3 - 7 pm
Penn Quarter FRESHFARM Farmers’ Market

Since 2003, FRESHFARM Farmers’ Market has continued to bring the freshest products from local farmers and producers to the Penn Quarter market each spring. Located on the north end of 8th Street, between D and E Streets, the annual market returns this month to showcase the best of the regions agricultural offerings. Enjoy fresh and local fruits, vegetables, cheeses, baked goods, soaps, plants, cut flowers and meat - all produced within a 150-mile radius of DC. The market is open every Thursday through November 15, from 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm.

For more information, visit www.freshfarmmarkets.org.

Info excerpted from DowntownDC BID Events Update and Newsletter dated Friday, 13 April 2007.

WalkingTown, DC . Spring Edition 2007

Saturday & Sunday, 21 - 22 April 2007

Join Cultural Tourism DC for more than 60 free walking tours (and a few bike and boat tours) in 18 neighborhoods across Washington, DC. Select from the overview schedule.

Or email info@CulturalTourismDC.org or call 202-661-7581

DC Emancipation Day "Voting Rights March" . Monday, 16 April 2007

click image for details

Friday's Photo of the Week . 13 April 2007

STREET VENDORS: Golden Triangle - WDC

K Street between Conn Ave & 18th Street, NW, WDC . 3 April 2007

2007 Fridays' Photos of the Week

Blue Ball - Philly - 4 - 6 May: CALL FOR ARTISTS

The Blue Ball Space and Design Team is looking for artists and art students interested in applying their talents. See Craig's List for details.

Mayor Fenty to Deliver 10 Millionth Food & Friends' Meal

Join special guest, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Food & Friends' clients, volunteers, Board, staff and supporters as we commemorate our 10 millionth meal!

Mayor Fenty will package "Food & Friends'" 10th millionth meal and deliver it to a Food & Friends client.

Tuesday, April 17

8:30 - 9:30 am

Food & Friends

219 Riggs Road, NE

Shuttle Service available from Fort Totten Metro Station

Breakfast will be Provided
RSVP by this Friday, April 13

ARTOMATIC 2007: 2121 Crystal Drive in Crystal City

Doors open at 3pm tomorrow April 13, 2007. Eclectic, crazy, Artomatic 2007 will be open to the public. We suggest that you plan many visits to stave off the possible over-saturation of so much art at one time. Along with over 400 visual artists: there will be music, films, theater, and dance each of the 33 days. All free. Opening Night is a costume night – if you can’t come up with anything else, wear a blonde wig. The more blonde wigs the better!

(Ryan Keith Skipper) Florida Hate Crime Vigils . Saturday, 14 April

Brutal Anti-gay Murder in Polk County

Ryan Keith Skipper, a 25-year-old Polk County man was viciously murdered and his body left on the side of a road in what the Sheriff's office is classifying as an anti-gay hate crime. (read more).

Though most vigils posted at Equality Florida takes place in South Florida, the web site also lists that 14 April - Hate Criminal Vigil and Memorial Tribute in Dupont Circle, WDC, beginning at 6:30 PM.

Visit In Memory of Ryan at MySpace.

CALOR's Sunrise Dance Party, 15 April @ Club Five - 6a - 12p

Arts District Hyattsville: One Year Ago Today

It was exactly one year ago today that on Wednesday, 12 April 2006, I took a Day Photo Trip to the Arts District Hyattsville in PG County MD.

Where in the process of taking an F8 bus from the West Hyattsville Station to the Arts District Hyattsville area I took a series of Drive/Ride By Shootings. And between a morning session which included images of the Hyattsville Justice Center and Christopher Janney's Hyattsville Horn Section and afternoon shootings I lunched at Franklin's. And when waiting for a metro bus for my return trip to the West Hyattsville Station I took a series of Houses / Hyattsville photos.

My hope was to revisit the Arts District Hyattsville area exactly one year later but, due to today's weather forecast which calls for rain and cooler temperatures than expected for this time of year - and the fact that one of my cameras is in the process of being repaired, I'll wait until the weather is much better. Since, during my next day trip to the Arts District Hyattsville area I plan to revisit College Park and the University of Maryland.

Since my April 2006 visit to the Arts District Hyattsville I have become more familar with EYA at EYA's Capitol Quarter Project located in the former Capper / Carrollsburg Community which for many years was knowned as the Arthur Capper Projects in Near Southeast DC.

Click above One Year Ago Today - Arts District Hyattsville - 12 April 2006 photo which is included in the Arts District - Hyattsville (12 April 2006) photoset.

Global Warming rallies in Annapolis and Arlington this Saturday

As part of the National Day of Climate Action on Saturday, 14 April 2007, the Coalition for Smarter Growth in collaboration with the Sierra Club and Audubon Naturalist Society is co-sponsoring STEP IT UP 2007 rallies in Arlington and Annapolis. Click image for details.

Eric, freestyle 'street' bmx'er from NOVA

BMX (Bicycle Moto-cross(X)) is a form of cycling on specially designed bicycles which usually have 20-inch wheels. The sport includes races on earthern track - BMX racing - as well as the performances of tricks - BMX freestyle. Recently, BMX racing's international governing body - Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) - began sponsoring the UCI BMX World Championships.

When I began my BMX series in October 2004 with the capturing of War Town Crew Hoodlums at the Navy Memorial in NW WDC while I had photographed skateboarders at Freedom Plaza since the summer 0f 1992 I did not know that the bicycle sport was known as BMX.

Freestyle BMX is a creative way of using bicycles originally designed for bicycle motocross racing. It can be split into several disciplines, although riders will generally participate in more than one discipline. These are Street, (skate) Park, Vert, Trails and Flatland. Rather confusingly, in competitions, park riding is often referred to as 'Street'.

Street riding, [which is what I have focused on], occurs on public streets or private property, typically within cities and towns. Without purpose-made ramps, riders have to improvise with banks, walls, rails, gaps, etc. In fact, almost anything can be used as an obstacle, and it is precisely this that draws people to street riding. Riders enjoy street riding because they are not constrained to what a skatepark designer has planned for them to ride, so it allows a good deal of creativity. Street riding progresses relentlessly. Obstacles and tricks that were considered too big or technical to attempt become commonplace.

Beginning with my October 2004 War Town Crew Hoodlums series other favorite BMX - Freestyle - Street collections include a BMX - Freedom Plaza series shot on 23 July 2006 of a BMXer from Gaithersburg MD and that of Eric, from Northern VA, taken on Easter Sunday at Penn Quarter.

DC Comedy Festival . 12 - 14 April 2007

Tai chi may help prevent shingles

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tai chi is already known as a good low-impact exercise for older people. Now a recent study suggests it offers benefits beyond improving fitness and balance: It may help prevent shingles, a painful skin condition.

Researchers found older people who performed the slow, graceful movements of tai chi had a better immune response against the virus that causes shingles than those who only got health education, according to the most rigorous test to date.

It's unclear how tai chi, an ancient Chinese martial art that has become increasingly popular in the West, affects the immune system. But health experts were encouraged by the positive results.

USA Today Health & Behavior dated 09 April 2007

Click photo to view ongoing Tai Chi photoset.

Tues-Wed: US Filipino Vets March again in Washington

American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc.
Media Advisory 4/9/2007
Contact: Eric Lachica, 202 246-1998 & Guillermo Rumingan 703 862-5986

1. U.S. Filipino Veterans Will Sing at National WWII Memorial at Sunset Tuesday;

2. Ask for Equity at Senate Hearing Wednesday

WASHINGTON D.C. - Elderly Filipino Americanveterans will march and lay a wreath at theNational World War II Memorial to honor their fallen comrades at sunset on Tuesday, 5:30 PMApril 10, 2007.

At the ceremonial plaza, Philippine AmbassadorWilly GAA, retired U.S. Army Maj. General AntonioTAGUBA, and guests will join the veterans in abrief prayer and a song "Old Soldiers Never Die"before marching to the Bataan marker at thePacific fountain (near 17th and Independence St.S.W).

They will commemorate the 65th anniversary of theFall of Bataan when more than 60,000 Filipino andAmerican troops surrendered to Japanese invadersof the Philippines in 1942. Afterwards, more than10,000 of prisoners of war soon died on the60-mile Death March and in prison camps.

On WEDNESDAY morning (9:30 A.M), April 11, the veterans and their supporters will participate ina Senate Veterans Affairs Committee hearing ontheir legislation for disability pension benefits.

The chairman, Sen. Daniel Akaka, will hold thehearing in Senate Russell Building Room 418.

Filipino veterans leaders from Honolulu, Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Jersey City, New York,Virginia Beach, and metropolitan Washington, will attend the historic hearing.

On Wednesday afternoon, they will lobby door-to-door to get more cosponsors for their Equity pension bill S. 57 and Family Reunificationimmigration bill, S. 1287. Filipino soldiers were U.S. nationals and drafted by President FranklinD. Roosevelt during WWII.

For details, call 202 246-1998 or 703 862-5986 and visit the website at www.usfilvets.tripod.com.

ERIC LACHICA
Executive Director
American Coalition for Filipino Veterans, Inc.
841 South Glebe Road - Arlington, VA 22204
Phone: 202 246-1998 Tel/FAX: 301 963-6250
Web: www.usfilvets.tripod.com.
Web2: www.filamheroes.tripod.com.

Green Tea @ Artmosphere in Mount Ranier . Saturday, 14 April @ 8 pm

The time is approaching...when the Artmosphere Cafe in Mount Ranier, MD will experience the "GOOD MUSIC" takeover... so def come out and show generous support for Green Tea and the band SOul FoOd!!

You don't want to miss out...take a minute, pause, and have a cup of Green Tea!

Green Tea is looking for 50 of her dopest fans to come out and get their cups filled! You ready?

Green Tea & SOul FoOd

Saturday, 14 April 2007

8 PM @ $10

Atmosphere Digital Cafe

3311 Rhode Island Avenue

Mount Rainer MD

Washington Post teams up with classical musician Joshua Bell for "Pearls Before Breakfast" social experiment

Pearls Before Breakfast
Can one of the nation's great musicians cut through the fog of a D.C. rush hour? Let's find out.

By Gene Weingarten
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 8, 2007; Page W10

HE EMERGED FROM THE METRO AT THE L'ENFANT PLAZA STATION AND POSITIONED HIMSELF AGAINST A WALL BESIDE A TRASH BASKET.

By most measures, he was nondescript: a youngish white man in jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt and a Washington Nationals baseball cap. From a small case, he removed a violin. Placing the open case at his feet, he shrewdly threw in a few dollars and pocket change as seed money, swiveled it to face pedestrian traffic, and began to play.

Click photo to read more.

This Week On Tyra Bank's: Keith Boykin discusses "Where It's Not In To Be Out!"

This week on the Tyra Banks Show, Tyra uncovers "3 places where it's not in to be out."

Keith joins former NBA player John Amaechi, former NFL player Esera Tuaolo, and several others as they talk about sports, the church and hip hop.

The show airs this Thursday, April 12. Check your local listings for air times.

Check out the Tyra Banks Show

Easter Does Not Mean To Me

After my 2004 Easter Project It Could Easily Have Been Me the 2005 Easter Project shed light on my Easter experiences, over the years. And, in 2006, I expressed that Easter does not mean to me, a black man, what it means to my white counterpart.

Nor does 4 July, Halloween or most holidays.

After my 2006 Easter Saturday and Sunday photo walks I began my Easter Monday 2006 photo walk by first passing through Lafayette Park to capture families en route to the White House Easter Egg Roll before heading down to the Emancipation Day Rally in Freedom Plaza.

Wanting to capture The African American Family Easter Celebration at the National Zoo, in the process of rushing to the Metro Center WMATA Station I happened upon this lady who I've seen many times at various protests.

Mentioning that I had just left the Emancipation Day Rally and was rushing to the National Zoo I inquired if she woulkd like for me to assist her to the Emancipation Day Rally. She said yes.

On the way down she asked where was I from. I told her that I grew up in Southern Maryland, attended the University of Maryland, worked for several years with the federal government in WDC and NYC. And that since the mid 80's I had worked in WDC's high end catering industry.

Saying that she was from Harlem she asked further what part of NYC had I lived in.

I said that I lived there in the 80's in the Chelsea, Gramercy Park and Greenwich Village areas.

She looked at me and said, "O' please ... unless you lived in Harlem or Brooklyn ... you ain't black!".

Women in Construction

Since I began photographing the area in southeast and southwest Washington DC that will be mostly impacted by the Near Southeast DC Redevelopment Project I have come across few women in construction.

When photographing one of these Women At Work last June I inquired if she knew how many other construction women were assigned to the area. She said she was one of only 4 or 5.

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) originally began as Women in Construction of Fort Worth, Texas. It was founded in 1953 by 16 women working in the construction industry. Knowing that women represented only a small fraction of the construction industry, the founders organized NAWIC to create a support network. Women in Construction of Fort Worth was so successful that it gained its national charter in 1955 and became the National Association of Women in Construction. NAWIC's core purpose is to enhance the success of women in the construction industry.

M. Saquon Everett Johnson, an inspiring fashion photographer

After the malfunctioning of both my cameras during my 01 April 2007 Cherry Blossom photo walk through the Tidal Basin I have spent much of the past week testing the cameras and making decisions about what to do.

It was during the Tuesday evening testing, of my cameras, that I captured M. Saquon Everett Johnson as part of my ongoing Golden Triangle Pedestrians series.

When he inquired why I had photographed him I told him that as part on my ongoing Pedestrian and Connecticut Avenue and Golden Triangle series what had caught my attention was his red tie and the white and black handkerchief which was arranged in the upper left pocket of his jacket.

Saquon Johnson is a Mens Clothing Sales Consultant at Nordstrom in Pentagon City. And an aspiring fashion photographer.

Japanese Stone Lantern "Gift of Light" Ceremony Today

Presented to the city of Washington on March 30, 1954, the Japanese Stone Lantern symbolizes the enduring cultural partnership that re-emerged between Japan and the United States after World War II. The lantern is one of two memorializing Tokugawa Iemitsu, the third shogun, or military lord, of the Tokugawa Dynasty, under his posthumous name Daiyuinden. Carved about 1651, it stood for over 300 years on the grounds of the Toeizan Kan'eiji Temple which contained the remains of the Tokugawa Shoguns. The temple was located in the ancient city of Edo, present-day Tokyo, in Ueno Park, a place famous for its cherry blossoms. Its twin stands there to this day.

A Lantern Lighting Ceremony, featuring traditional Japanese performers and Washington dignitaries will take place later today, Sunday, 08 April 2007, from 2:30 until 4:00 pm at the Tidal Basin's North Bank at the intersections of West Bank Drive, Independence Avenue and 18th Street, SW, WDC.