Tony Moran's "The Event 2008" NOW AVAILABLE at Masterbeat

Paladino Casting Call for BMXers & 'freelance' X-treme Sports Videographers in the WDC area

I received an email yesterday in my YouTube account from Emily Derr of Paladino Casting pertaining to a casting project for the Reebok website.

Paladino Casting is in search of people with interesting and unusual athletic skills, in particular, BMXers and 'freelance' extreme sports videographers in NYC, WDC and Barcelona who would be interested in having their images and/or videography featured on the Reebok website.

Based in NYC, Paladino Casting is currently making plans to visit WDC in the next few weeks for the purpose of scouting 'potential' subjects. While Paladino Casting hopes to spend a day or more videotaping and photographing BMXers in action at various locations in the metropolitan area - interested BMXers and 'freelance' x-treme sports videographers may also upload their projects to YouTube.

While union members or those under contract are welcomed to inquire and will may will be accepted, this particular project may be better suited for those who are non-union or are not under any specific contract.

In any case, it is important to obatain a signed model release from any subject and/or videographer involved in the project.

Contemplating visiting WDC next weekend or, perhaps, the weekend after ... Kristen Paladino has asked for my assistance in connecting her with BMXers and those who videotape them in the WDC area. However, since the cold weather is setting in and the BMXers (mostly from the suburbs) that I am familiar with frequent Penn Quarter, Navy Memorial, Freedom Plaza and Shaw Skate Park & Recreation Center in WDC it was my suggestion that she wait until the weather is warmer.

From conversations that I have had with the various BMXers, over the years, there are several BMX locations out in the suburbs that I have never visited.

So, if you are a BMXer or a 'freelance' x-treme sports videographer in the WDC area and wish to inquire further regarding this Paladino Casting project please telephone 212-741-2224. Or email Kristen Paladino at kristen@paladinocasting.com or Emily Derr at emily@paladinocasting.com.

In addition to that which you'll find at the Paladino Casting website here is a link to information pertaining to Kristen Paladino's casting background.

Click the above image of BMXer Eric, from Fairfax VA, to view my BMX - Penn Quarter photoset.

Friday's Photo of the Week . 04 January 2008

Creating New Memories / 2008

41st Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Roots of Virginia Culture

National Mall . WDC . 28 June 2007

2008 Fridays' Photos of the Week

Photographer Gerald Mocarsky's "Men Who Dance With Men" featured in January 2008 IN THE LIFE "Wide Stance" Episode

In the "IN THE LIFE" January Program Alert I learn of photographer Gerald Mocarsky whose "Men Who Dance With Men" historiographic project captures provocative images of men dancing together. From socials for senior citizens to ballet and hip-hop dancing, he uses his art to celebrate the honesty and beauty of coming to terms with oneself.

When viewing the JANUARY 2008 - WIDE STANCE video and then Mocarsky's website I was glad to observe another photographer who has similar interest and foci as I.

While my ongoing "And Without Apologies", "Out In The Life", and "Dancing The Night Away" series and Winter Party Festival 2007 Beach Party and 2005 Manhunt Pool Party collections attempt to document and celebrate 'gay life' my Movement Choreophotography Project captures folks of any and all sexual orientations, religious affiliations and political persuasion including those at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, in Dupont Circle, at Malcolm X. Park and the Black Family Renion or the Downtown Holiday Market 'dancing in the street'.

When observing Mocarsky in action on the WIDE STANCE video and viewing his work at his website ... I said to myself "George, I know exactly what it is that you are doing because I, too, have the same interests and similar foci.

IN THE LIFE's January episode, Wide Stance, features a diverse collection of stories, from a look at a film that examines biblical language about homosexuality, to a photo essay of men dancing together. We'll hear what it's like to be a gay rapper, take an unflinching and historical look at public sex and entrapment, through the lens of the Senator Larry Craig scandal. Throughout the show, the ever-controversial Margaret Cho, and lesbian comic Kate Clinton, go head-to-head in conversation.

To see when IN THE LIFE airs in your area, visit the Show Schedule finder.

Russell Richards 2008 Wall Calendar 'Limited Edition' available for only two more weeks

The limited edition of "The Art of Russell U. Richards" 2008 Wall Calendar featuring 12 months of inspiring artwork suitable for all ages, which he presented as gifts during this holiday season, will be available for only two more weeks from Russell U. Richards store at Cafe Press.

Click the image to order the limited edition 2008 calendar. Other products featuring "The Art of Russell U. Richards", including T-shirts and posters can be found at his Cafe Press Shop.

To learn more about Russell U. Richards visit his webiste at "The Art of Russell U. Richards.

Friday's Photo of the Week . 28 December 2007

Picture Man . Street Artists Series

in front of 14 U Cafe . 1939 14th Street, NW, WDC

Saturday afternoon, 22 December 2007

2007 Fridays' Photos of the Week

Showtime's "Holy Shit! Promo

By itself, such a promo would be unremarkable, given the R-rated content of so many Showtime skeins and movies. But the [HOLY SHIT] ad -- spearheaded by Showtime execs Frank Pintauro and Angie Speranza -- doesn't stop there.

The montage is set to the Centralia song "Holy Shit," which includes lyrics such as "I've been such an asshole/I've been such a prick" and "Holy, holy shit/We've got the world by the tit."

Read full VARIETY article, dated 17 August 2007, by Josef Adalian.

Click image to view YouTube video.

National Marathon Registration Reminder - Rates Increase After 31 December

A "Timely" Reminder

National Marathon and Half Marathon registration rates increase at the 1st of the new year. Be sure to take advantage of the last days of 2007 for the current race rate of $85 for the marathon and $70 for the half.

[Effective] January 1, prices increase by $10 in each category.
Get ready to run your personal best, sign up to run for your cause, or get a head start on your New Year's Resolution.

Here in DC, Everybody's Running for Something.

REGISTRATION - CLICK HERE.

The above photo by Elvert Barnes was taken at 8:01 am on the 7th Street Bridge in SW between E and H Streets, SW, WDC on 24 March 2007 during the 2nd Annual National Marathon.

Corcoran End of Year 'Annual Fund' Request

A Message / Request from Paul Greenhalgh, Director and President, of the Corcoran Gallery Art / College of Art + Design

As I sit here, adjacent to the crowds queuing to get into our gallery, I realize that the lively bustle of the crowd in the atrium is giving all of my colleagues a new sense of optimism and pride in the Corcoran.

The galleries are looking very sharply designed; the building looks cleaner and grander by the day; the ranks of our membership are swelling to a new size; we are approaching our education and outreach activity with new-found confidence and vigor. We are arriving in a good place.

Your commitment to the Annual Fund is vital. This fund is the foundation of all we do. It enables us to install world class exhibitions, expand the college by offering new degree programs and scholarships, repair and restore our National Historic Landmark Building, and support our community outreach programs.

We all know that the coming period is absolutely key for the future. We are only beginning the journey that will take the Corcoran to places it has not been for a hundred years. We will make the coming year into one of the best in our recent history.

Make your 100% tax-deductible gift to the Corcoran Annual Fund by December 31.

Thank you and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year.

Paul Greenhalgh
Director and President

Taken at the Corcoran on 2 June 2006 of John Fulton who was visiting WDC from South Boston VA, click the above image to view my ongoing Corcoran photoset and 17th Street, NW, collection.

Happy Kwanzaa 2007

Click image to view my Kwanzaa 2007 greeting card & video

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Click image to view my 2007 Christmas Greeting Card & Video

2007 Deadly Year for Police

According to data and analysis provided by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, 2007 is turning out to be one of the deadliest years in decades for police.

Recently, ABC's World News with Charles Gibson ran a two-part series that took an in-depth look at the growing dangers faced by police and what's being done about them.

Part 1 of the series which was entitled Officer Down: 2007 Deadly Year for Police and here is part 2, Increasing Assault Weapons in Criminal Hands.

Click the Christmas Eve, 24 December 2007 image by Elvert Barnes to view USPP 2007 and Cop Duty 2007 photo sets.

View Horseback USPP "Merry Christmas" Wish video here.

WOW Party Tonight with Larry Tee at Galapagos / Brooklyn

Every Saturday at Galapagos Larry Tee, Kevin Graves, Earl Dax, and Tobell von Cartier bring you the funnest new party in NYC!!!

This week special appearance by Bad Brilliance and performance from Tobell.

$5 or free if you RSVP to myspace.com/nylarrytee.

DON'T MISS THIS PARTY!!

EVERYBODY GETS LAID AT THIS PARTY!!!

Washingtoniana WMATA Oversized 2008 Wall Calendar

While my Washingtoniana WMATA Oversized 2008 Wall Calendar features images taken one year before, in 2007, of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority the Elvert Barnes 2008 Wall Calendar includes 2007 images of varying themes taken in WDC, NYC and South Florida.

Friday's Photo of the Week . 21 December 2007

National Christmas Pageant of Peace 2007

The White Holidays at the National Park

President's Park / Ellipse . NW . WDC

Thursday Night, 20 December 2007

2007 Fridays' Photos of the Week

24th Annual Market Place Festival at Reeves Center THIS WEEKEND

The 24th Annual Market Place Festival & Health Fair (formerly the African American Holiday Expo) will take place this weekend on Saturday and Sunday, 22 - 23 December 2007, at the Reeves Center from 10 am until 6 pm each day.

AAHA's MarketPlace Festival and Health Fair, serves as an example of Umoja, the Kwanzaa principle of cooperative economics, where the slogan, "For the Most Positive Holidays Ever - Spend Your Money Where it Counts" has been demonstrated annually.

The Reeves Center is located at 14th and U Streets, in NW WDC.

My first of several 2008 calendars available at Cafe Press

The first of several that I will create, this particular 2008 calendar features images taken in WDC, NYC and South Florida ... with the exception of that depicted for the month of December which was taken in December 2006, each month is represented by an image taken during the corresponding month, one year before, in 2007.

My current two stores at Cafe Press are Elvert Xavier Barnes Creations and Elvert Barnes Washingtoniana.

Hopefully, by the first of the year, they will be pretty much all set up.

Harold Flagg's WWII Memoir "GI Odyssey"

Author Harold Flagg's of Fort Lauderdale FL, a traveller and sometimes tourism consultant, recently has had his second book published through Xlibris, a self publishing divison of Randon House Inc.

A military auto-biography, GI Odyssey: World War II Memoir/Novella is a highly enjoyable tour de force about a teenager’s coming-of-age during World War II.

Harry “Harold Flagg” Bandera writes his story in third person and uses mental time travel to depict life on an Ohio farm, sightseeing in Paris, skiing in Switzerland, meeting English cousins by the dozens, earning a university degree, and surviving $90,000 worth of cancer treatments—all on Uncle Sam’s tab.

Come, crawl between the sheets, and read how it all went down.

Here are exceprts from the book.

Though Flagg has all but recovered from his recent bout with cancer, last spring, in observance of the Silver Anniversary of Conch Republic Independence Day Celebration, he joined many for a National Endowment of the Arts bus ride from Fort Lauderdale to Key West for a lunch, lecture and tour of the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum.

Flagg's writing style is similar that of Hemingway.

When communicating with Flagg, by email, seldom does he not speak of and reminisce about Paris. A city and country that he 'longs for' ... and soon hopes to revisit.

Currently available through Xlibris, within a few weeks Harold Flagg's GI Odyssey: World War II Memoir/Novella may also be purchased from Amazon.com, Barnes&Noble and Borders.com.

His first book "Affordable LuxuriesCaviar Living on a Tuna Diet" is available at Amazon.com, World Retail Store, and MSN Shopping.

Citylife Barbers on 9th Avenue in Chelsea

I first came across Citylife Barbers on 9th Avenue in Chelsea in March 2006 when during a photo walk that I focused on NYC barber shops as part of my ongoing barber shops series.

Though, at the time, I did not need a hair cut I stepped inside to introduce myself and informed the staff that as a visitor from WDC barber shops was amongst my ongoing themes.

The staff was so very pleasant that I vowed that when I returned to NYC in the future that I would make a point to stop in Citylife Barbers for barber service.

Which is exactly what I did, three months later, when I rode up to NYC with Mark and Ken for the June 2006 Heritage Pride Parade. But, after a late night / early morning of 'partying' at the West Side Club when I did stop in at Citylife Barbers late Saturday evening, 24 June 2006, they were just then closing up shop.

However, when Richard and I visited NYC in September 2007, I made a point to stop in at Citylife Barbers on a Saturday afternoon.

And as one reviewer says, I was "... greeted by the friendliest staff in NYC". Which was my first and second impressions when stopping in the two previous times before.

Though each barber was busy, at the time, I was the next person to be serviced. While waiting, reading the news paper, viewing images on my digital camera and watching the plasma TV one of the barbers offered me a bottle of water. Which I thought was a 'very nice touch'. Thanking him, I said 'Yes'.

After about a 5 or 10 minute wait I was in the barber's chair. And Jeovani would provide excellent service. While he cut my hair, I explained further the nature of my photography and told them that I would be attending a wedding on Long Island the following day.

Another 'added treat' occurred just before I was released from the chair when Jeovani wrapped my face and head with a hot eucalyptus towel.

If I remember correctly, the cost was $20 and I gave him $30.

I highly reccommed Citylife Barbers which, located at 201 9th Avenue between 22nd and 23rd Street in Chelsea NYC, the barbers provide TOP SERVICE.

Hours: Monday thru Thursday, 9 am - 8 pm. Friday and Saturday, 8 am - 8 pm. No appointments necessary.

Telephone 212-366-5369.

Rally to Protest Market 5 Gallery's Illegal Eviction and Breakin by DC Government

Join Market 5 Gallery and its supporters Saturday, 15 December at 1 pm to protest the eviction of Market 5 Gallery. Washington, DC's Office of Property Management (OPM) and its contractors have bullied and harassed Market 5 Gallery ever since it was given oversight of Eastern Market's North Hall.

On Tuesday morning, OPM broke in the gallery and changed the locks under the guise of a window inspection. Later that day an OPM official said it was a mistake and that they would send someone to let gallery staff in on Wednesday. Somehow, the window inspection and lock change caused the gallery computers to crash. Computer Geeks will give a full report of the problem when the computers are fixed. We need your voice to put an end to this kind of harassment and illegal activity by the government. We need you to:

• View the video of the recent lockout, rate it and leave comments to boost visibility of the gallery's predicament
• Join us for a rally and petition signing at Market 5 on Saturday, 15 December at 1 pm. Rain, snow or shine!
• Sign the online eviction protest petition.
• Contact the mayor and city council to express your outrage. Telephone Mayor Fenty at 202-727-2980 or fax at 202-727-0505. Email at Mayor@dc.gov.
• Help us spread the word even if you can't make it to the rally. Post it on your web site or blog, e-mail and call friends.