Alberto's Wooden Pencil Cases & Chaulk Boards for Children

During my March 2008 trip to Fort Lauderdale I happened upon Alberto & Sandra's Designs at the 8 March 2008 Las Olas Art & Crafts at Las Olas Riverfront / Riverwalk.

A husband and wife team, Alberto's and Sandra's Designs wares, all designed for children, also include Peruvian handcrafts and handmade clothing.

Contact Alberto and Sandra by email at soviediz@hotmail.com

17 - 20 April 2008 Cherry Weekend / WDC

Jim Lucio (defekto) book signing at Shine in Hampden / Baltimore tonight from 6-9pm

Just a reminder that Jim Lucio, aka Defekto, will be holding a 6 - 9 pm book signing tonight at Shine Collective in the Hampton area of Baltimore.

Only 100 books were printed, each signed, numbered and come with an original Polaroid! Books are $50 and your support will help Lucio to continue to promote his work to produce bigger and better things.

And as most of you already know, Polaroid has stopped production on its film. Going the way of the dodo bird, what is available is scarce and already hard to find, this really is the beginning of the end for this type of photography.

Shine is located at 1007A West 36th Street in Hampden. The number there is 410.366.6100.

Friday's Photo of the Week . 4 April 2008

Mirror, Mirror! . Anacostia Riverwalk Trail

Beneath the CSX Transportation / Washington Railway

Maine Avenue, SW, WDC . 1 April 2008

2008 Fridays' Photos of the Week

FIRE, 40 Years Ago: Sam Smith's reflections on the 1968 Riots

This Friday, 4 April 2008, marks the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination.

In "Fire", an excerpt from Multitudes: the Unauthorized Memoirs of Sam Smith, writer, activist and social critic and the Editor of The Progressive Review / DC CITY DESK reflects on the '68 riots in Washington DC.

Click image by Sam Smith to read article.

Berlin Artist Nicolaus Schmidt's "Kosmographie Gayhane" Exhibition at NYU's Deutsches Haus

Following a September 2007 visit in connection with his New York Breakdancer ( Steps Away Dancers) Project, Berlin artist Nicolaus Schmidt will return to NYC for the 12 April 2008 "Kosmographie Gayhane" Opening Party at NYU's Deutsches Haus.

Click image for details.

Founded in 1977 as one of New York University’s prestigious international houses, Deutsches Haus at NYU is a key American institution in the New York City area fostering German-American and international understanding.

For media purposes, Nicolaus Schmidt can be reached by email at nicolaus.schmidt@gmx.de or nicolaus.schmidt@lycos.de. Since I'm not able to locate Fatma Souad's contact info, perhaps the staff at Berlin's SO36 Club, which is where Gayhane is held, may be of assistance.

Deutsches Haus at NYU is located at 42 Washington Mews, one block north of Washington Square Park. Telephone is 212.998.8660.

The exhibit will be on view from 12 April through 17 May 2008.

Robert Parry at Mark Crispin Miller's 1 April "First Tuesdays Series" Book Talk in NYC

Award-winning investigative journalist Robert Parry will be discussing his latest book, Neck Deep: The Disastrous Presidency of George W. Bush as part of Mark Crispin Miller's "First Tuesdays Series," at 7 pm on 1 April 2008 in New York City.

The book talk will be held at McNally Robinson Booksellers, 52 Prince Street, New York City, between Lafayette and Mulberry.

Parry also will be available to sign copies of Neck Deep, which he co-authored with two of his sons, Sam and Nat.

For more details on the event, contact McNally Robinson Booksellers at 212-274-1180.

For our spring fundraiser, we have set a modest goal of $25,000. But we must reach it if we are to continue functioning through the months ahead.

You can make a tax-deductible donation by credit card online or by mailing a check to Consortium for Independent Journalism (CIJ); Suite 102-231; 2200 Wilson Blvd.; Arlington VA 22201. ( For readers wanting to use PayPal, you can address contributions to our account, which is named mailto:consortnew@aol.com).

With donations of $100, we'll send you an autographed gift copy of our latest book, Neck Deep: The Disastrous Presidency of George W. Bush. (Or you can request that we substitute either Robert Parry's Lost History or his book on the rise of the Bush dynasty, Secrecy & Privilege.)

With donations of $150 or more, we'll send the hard cover version of Neck Deep. (We also have a few copies left of Parry's Trick or Treason, which we can substitute, if you wish, while supplies last.)

"Mondo Defekto: The Polaroid Photography of Jim Lucio" booksigning at Baltimore's Shine Collective on Friday, 4 April 2008

Twenty years in the making, NYC defector and now Baltimore inhabitant Jim Lucio will be on hand this Friday evening, 4 April, in Baltimore at the Shine Collective's 'First Friday' event to sign his new book, "Mondo Defekto: The Polaroid Photography of Jim Lucio".

From the author: "The book is a self-published, limited edition of 100 signed and numbered copies. The images were selected from the 1,000s of Polaroids that I've taken over the course of 20 years. Most of the images included were taken in Baltimore over the last few years. The support I get for this book is allowing me to further promote my Polaroid work and hopefully get a book deal that would allow for a more complete and retrospective look at what I've been photographing with my Polaroid cameras all these years."

For this book signing Jim will be taking personal photos of the buyer. Please note- for the first time since 1943, Polaroid film production has ended. As of this moment, there is no new Polaroid film available in any markets anywhere- only what can be found left on the shelves of random drug and grocery stores. This is a rare moment in the history of photography.

In true form with his medium, Lucio's book is very limited. Pre-order now and reserve your copy. $50.

Shine Collective was founded in 2002 by Melissa and Matt Kirby. Having lived in NY and LA- but moving back to be with family in Baltimore, their experience in fashion, music and film industries left them wanting to bring it all back home. Shine's original mission was to combine their affection for fashion, film, music, art and independent designers into one store.

A 'First Friday' event, the Mondo Defekto: The Polaroid Photography of Jim Lucio's book signing will take place this Friday, 4 April 2008, from 6 until 9 pm at Shine Collective which is located at 1007A West 36th Street in Baltimore, MD. Telephone at 410.366.6100.

Learn more about the artist Jim Lucio, aka Defekto, by visiting his website. Email at defekto@gmail.com

Baltimore '68: Riots and Rebirth Conference at University of Baltimore . 3 - 5 April 2008

For two weeks in April 1968, beginning in the dark hours following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., the city of Baltimore was devastated by a series of civil disturbances that left six dead, dozens injured and hundreds of properties, both private and public, burned, shattered and in ruins. The events, which culminated in the deployment of thousands of armed National Guard troops across the city on the orders of Gov. Spiro Agnew and the addition of regular Army troops by Pres. Lyndon Johnson, riveted the attention of the nation, which already was reeling from similar riots in other cities across the country.

In 2008, the 40th anniversary of King's death, the University of Baltimore will offer a close-up examination of the riots—their causes and the short- and long-term consequences—in a series of public events called "Baltimore '68: Riots and Rebirth".

The highlight of the events will be a conference exploring the effects of the riots and the many efforts at civic healing that followed. This national gathering of experts, including scholars across disciplines as varied as race relations, civic engagement and 20th-century history, will take place on campus in April 2008, 40 years to the date of King's murder and the unrest that followed.

Register online now.

DC Cowboys DVD Release Cocktail Party at Nellie's Sports Bar - Friday, 4 April

On Friday, 4 April 2008, the DC Cowboys Dznce Company will host a "DC Cowboys: On Stage and At Play" DVD release party at Nellie's Sports Bar / Upstairs Pub Room.

Enjoy complimentary vodka cocktails from 8-9PM and 1/2 price vodka cocktails from 9-11PM sponsored by Surreal Vodka while you watch the exciting DC Cowboys: On Stage and At Play DVD - 70-minutes of non-stop action! For the first time on DVD, see live theater performance footage of the DC Cowboys as well as a behind-the-scenes peak at a nude photo shoot from a local B&B in Dupont Circle and never-before-seen dancer interviews and backstage photos.

Get your copy of this professionally edited, performance DVD at our Nellie's party or at our on-line store for $20.

50% of the proceeds will benefit Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry's (NOVAM) ORION Program a peer-facilitated HIV/AIDS education and prevention program for GLBTQ youth.

Situated at the corner of 9th and U Streets, Nellie's Sports Bar is located at 900 U Street in NW Washington DC. Telephone (202) 332-NELL (6355).

Here is my DC Cowboys Dance Company FLICKR COLLECTION.

Graffiti Epidemic on 14th Street

Though graffiti has always been of interest to me as evidenced by my very first photography exhibition, "Graffiti, Propaganda & Other Writings on the Wall" at Cafe Luna on P Street in NW Washington DC from June through September 1994 ... it has been since June 2005 that in the process on my 14th Street and Logan Circle photo walks that I have taken particular note to document graffiti along 14th Street.

So when I heard news last week of the graffiti epidemic on 14th Street though, not surprised, I felt 'affirmed' in the fact that I had had the 'foresight' to document / record the 'epidemic' in the process of my walks.

While, in the past, I may not ventured north on 14th Street beyond Columbia Heights with my camera gear, my exploration of the corridor will eventually lead to the Maryland border just as my exlploration south has already taken me through Thomas Circle down to Ohio Drive at the Tidal Basin - East in SW and the 14th Street Bridge Complex.

Where when crossing the Potomac River by the WMATA Yellow Line I seldom miss an opportunity to 'capture' the traffic along the 14th Street Bridge. And the the graffiti on the CSX Transportation - Washington Railway and Virginia Railway tracks, as well.

Fortunately, for District residents and business owners along 14th Street Corridor, last September the DC Department of Public Works announced its Graffiti Removal Voucher Program for those whose property has been defaced by graffiti.