This past Saturday night, I got my jacket stolen from Masa on 14th street.  A devastating blow to my fall wardrobe, it got me thinking about all of the other things I’ve lost.  My dad, a learned scholar of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, often tells me that whenever we cry, we are really mourning our past losses.   Ain’t that the truth;  I can’t stop thinking about everything else I have loved and lost.

Loss #1: D.A.M.M. (Drunks Against Mad Mothers) T-Shirt

• Place of Purchase: Salvation Army on Boston Road, Springfield, MA
• Date of Purchase:  1996
• Purchase Price:  $2.35
• Last Seen:  Unknown
• Additional Details:  Anyone that went to Cathedral High School knew the importance of the perfect undershirt.  To be worn under the CHS embroidered polo it needed to be (1) tight enough to avoid the extra bulk (2) worn-in just enough so it didn’t itch and (3) nondescript enough to pass the muster of the hawk-eyed nuns that monitored the hallways during class changes and lunchtime.  The most important characteristic?  It had to be cool enough to wear in the parking lot after school.   As you can tell, this shirt’s creative spin on M.A.D.D. made me particularly cool when I was a junior.

Favorite Item #2: Blue and White “Royals” T-Shirt w/#6 on the back

• Place of Purchase:  Goodwill on Cooley Street, Springfield, MA
• Purchase Price:  $2.15
• Purchase Date:  1998
• Last Seen:  Friend’s boat in Hawaii Kai
• Additional Details:  Kid’s baseball shirt, with signs of an accidental bleach washing on the left sleeve and rear bottom corner.   I suspect it was repeatedly washed by the mother of an 8-year old boy with snot running down his face and dirt on his knees.   I assume it was donated once the season ended.  The combination of shrunk cotton and disintegrated threading made it a key component of my college wardrobe:  tight enough in the sleeves to show off the toned arms I earned at the gym…and loose enough on the bottom to cover up the beer-gut I earned at the bars.

I can’t go into detail about my recent loss (perfectly tailored asymmetrical shoulder pads=salt in an open wound) so I can only hope the after life has its own unique tailoring.  For me, eternal joy will come once St. Peter greets me at the golden gates of heaven with my wings, halo and Salvation Army t-shirts.

Sidebar: Masa just opened, so I should probably tell you how great the food was.   However, because I am not entirely convinced a member of their staff did not steal my beloved black leather blazer,  you can read about it on someone else’s website.

5 reasons to have a Carribbean Party
1. You can breakout he Limbo stick and steelband music
2. You can play Hot, Hot, Hot & The Banana Boat song all nite
3. Bikini's,  briefs, & coconut bras
4. You can take a trip to Margaritaville
5. Bob Marley, irie

Pelo menos uma vez por ano eu preciso ler novamente todos os grandes clássicos das hqs, batman é o personagem que mais me cativa neste quesito, então aqui tem um amontoado com o que batman tem de melhor!

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Batman: Ano Um

Sinopse:

Batman – Ano 1 reformula a origem do Homem-Morcego mostrando as primeiras aparições do herói na visão de Frank Miller.

Após o sucesso de O Cavaleiro das Trevas, esta história consolidou o Batman como o personagem sombrio que é hoje.

Se você nunca leu nada do Morcego, mas gostou de Batman Begins, com certeza, adorará esta história e verá que praticamente tudo de bom no filme foi tirada dela.

É difícil analisar esta edição de modo imparcial, como ela teria sido quando foi lançada, em 1987, pois hoje ela é um clássico que consolidou o que havia de melhor sobre o Batman em uma origem definitiva, até hoje base para o personagem.

Junto com O Cavaleiro das Trevas, também de Miller, esta saga sobre o primeiro ano do Morcego teve um grande impacto para os leitores da época. Hoje, alguns desses fãs trabalham com quadrinhos e têm suas histórias inevitavelmente influenciadas e comparadas a esses clássicos.

A narrativa entrecortada que fica alternando de narrador entre o então tenente James Gordon e um Bruce Wayne em busca de seu caminho na vida, dá o equilíbrio entre duas visões distintas de Gotham; duas idéias de justiça; duas trajetórias seguidas por dois homens tão distintos, mas com o mesmo objetivo: combater o crime.

Batman: O Homem Que Ri

Está pode ser considerada a primeira história do Coringa, varios corpos são encontrados em um deposito de Gotham, todos com sorrisos, logo em seguida uma reporter é morta ao vivo e uma ameça é dirigida a um milionário, e os assassinatos vão acontecendo sem que a policia comandada pelo capitão Gordon e Batman consiga evita-los, que é esse homem que ameça a enlouquecer a cidade toda, nem Bruce Wayne é poupado, por Eddie Brubaker e Doug Manhke.

Batman: Asilo Arkhan

Sinopse:

Feito pelo ainda nem tão conhecido Alan Grant. Asilo Arkhan tornou-se um dos grandes marcos na história do homem-morcego, colocando em xeque o próprio conceito de herói de batman. Seguindo a tendência noir do personagem, Grant foi diminuindo a distância entre os vilões e heróis do universo gótico. Não deixa de ser maniqueísta (como é natural nas histórias de super-heróis). Mas o grande vilão deixou de ser o mal e passou a ser a loucura. Loucura a qual batman também é propenso. Enfim, é uma obra excelente e ajudou a fazer a fama de Grant.
Foi a primeira vez na minha vida em que tive medo de uma hq.

Batman: O Messias

Sinopse:

Depois de um pesadelo, Batman acorda acorrentado e escorraçado nos esgotos de Gotham City. Não sabe ao certo quanto tempo está ali – mas acredita que ao menos uma semana já se passou. O Homem-Morcego foi subjugado pelo Diácono Joseph Blackfire, líder de uma seita que vem arregimentando os mendigos e desesperados da cidade para assassinar criminosos. E, por trás dos ideais de dar paz a uma população que convive com o crime em todos os cantos, articula-se um plano para ganhar a confiança do povo e, em seguida, tomar a cidade.O Messias é uma obra única na história do Homem Morcego, pois trata do ser humano por trás da máscara. Não do Bruce Wayne playboy com terno e gravata, mas das motivações e dos limites do homem que se veste de morcego. Minissérie em 4 Edições reunidas em 1 Link.

Não é uma grande narrativa quato Ano Um ou tão perturbadora quanto Asilo Arkhan, mas Messias tem o mérito de colocar um arma nas mãos de batman, o que me deixou maluco na época, sem contar que a história é bem legal.

Batman: O Longo Dia Das Bruxas

Um clássico de Jeph Loeb e Tim Sale, a dupla criadora dos especiais de "Halloween" de Batman.
Esta versão aqui é a minissérie lançada pela Editora Abril em 1998. A capa azul e a "introdução", são da edição encadernada americana. Eu traduzi o texto (muito toscamente, com meu inglês macarrônico) e adicionei a minissérie da Abril.
Grande história de onde foi baseada a trama de The Dark Knight.

Batman: A Piada Mortal

É UM CLÁSSICO ABSOLUTO DOS QUADRINHOS!!! Uma das melhores histórias de Batman de todos os tempos!!! A origem perfeita do Coringa escrita por nada mais, nada menos que o mestre ALAN MOORE!!

Esta grande história traz um coringa muito mais humano (e louco) do que jamais visto antes, Alan Moore é um genio.

Batman: Morte Do Robin

Jason Todd, o segundo Robin, sai em missão sem permissão de Batman Atras de sua mãe, no seu caminho está o Coringa, história que na epoca teve votação pra decidir se Robin II morreria ou não, participações de Superman e do Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Esta história não é das melhores, mas é uma grande mudança no universo de batman e desencadeará na melhor hq de todos os tempos!!

Eu partircularmente sem odiei todos os robins e devo dizer que me senti feliz o vendo morrer. Tenso.

Batman: O Cavaleiro Das Trevas

O Retorno do Morcego – Frank Miller mostra ao mundo sua visão de Gotham City dez anos depois da aposentadoria de Batman. Mas o crime não cessou na cidade e o Morcego, mesmo com mais de 50 anos, decide voltar à ativa.

Considerada a melhor história dos quadrinhos, e com méritos!! Bem, só quem leu conhece a magia (e a violência insana) desta história.

Download das 4 edições

Batman: Ano 100

Aposto que você pensou que já tinha acabado.

Batma ano 100 é uma relidade futurista de 2039, a históriaremete ao início de batman, como um detetive e contra organizações governamentais, grande história muito bem amarrada e com um desfecho magnífico, vale a pena conferir.

Seriously, who doesn’t like the holiday season? I love seeing more and more people volunteering during the holiday. It’s something I love to do on a regular basis throughout the year, but I do love seeing the the extra bodies coming in to give or help the less fortunate when Thanksgiving is right around the corner. One thing that isn’t fun is not being with my family. The weather is great here in Denver, but it’s the close friends and family that I miss from the DC, MD, and VA area. I know for sure that I volunteer because it’s always a great cause, but lately it’s also felt like I’m using it to fill a void in my life. I miss my last girlfriend. She was absolutely amazing in every way possible and fit me perfectly. We had a wonderful family and a life that couldn’t be better. I regret quite a few things in my life, but destroying that relationship, easily is the biggest mistake I’ve ever made. I can only learn from the stupid things that I do. I just hate how much this one haunts me and kills me each and every day. I miss her smile, her love, her laugh, her sarcasm, and how absolutely beautiful she was in the morning. I miss her kids and the weekends where we’d just hang out and do nothing together. I miss grocery shopping on Saturdays and lazy laundry Sundays. I miss our dog…………I just miss that life. I wish them the best and nothing but happiness. I hope they know how much I care for them and how much I still love them. They left such a positive impression on my life and I will FOREVER be grateful for that.

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Sinopse:

Essa mini poderia muito bem se chamar – Comissário Gordon – Ano Um, hahaha, aqui vemos Gordon como um jovem policial da Polícia de Chicago. Com suspeitas de que um colega está envolvido em atividades ilegais, ele começa a procurar evidências, e se torna alvo do polícial corrupto e seus associados. Junto a tudo isso, há um assassino internacional, que parece ter atração em salvar a vida de Gordon, e torna-se uma "pedra em seu sapato".

As histórias do batman sempre tiveram um gosto especial pra mim, não por simpatizar mais com o personagem, mas porque a maioria deles são muito bem trabalhados, confesso que os recentes filmes ajudaram também (Não consigo ver o Gordon sem pensar em Gary Oldman).

Our Worls at War, conhecido no Brasil como Mundos em Guerra, é um crossover publicado pela editora de histórias em quadrinhos DC Comics durante o verão de 2001. Seguindo os roteiros de Jeph Loeb, Joe Casey, Mark Schultz, Joe Kelly e Peter David, a série tratou de um conflito entre os heróis da Terra e a entidade conhecida como Imperiex, que desejava destruir o planeta. Entre os artistas da série incluíam-se Mike Wieringo, Ed McGuinness, Doug Mahnke, Ron Garney e Leonard Kirk.

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I was in L.A for what I’m normally in L.A for, to pick up printing supplies and screens. In this case I was picking up screens for Good Ink’s series 2 line of shirts when my buddy Jimmy over at Rheetech Print Supply told me I had to come back in an hour to pick up my stuff.

So with time to kill I headed over to Melrose to look at some gear in a few of my favorite shops.

The “New” Melrose<NM> (Melrose West of Fairfax) is chock full of trendy stores, kinda like how old Melrose<OM> (East of Fairfax) used to be.  I only focused on the first few blocks of it which contained shops like DC, Adidas, Crooks&Castles, Johnny Cupcakes, Kid Robot, Paul Frank, GStar, Loyal Army and some others…like Bape, Toki Doki (coming December 2009) and I hear the Hundreds wasn’t too far away down Fairfax though I didn’t search for that one.  I wonder what the draw to this part of Melrose is, it lacks the character of the old section, everything feels kinda sanitized and hidden.  Honestly even in it’s dissolute state I like the feel of OM with shops like de la Barracuda vs. the vibe in NM.

There isn’t much for food , didn’t see any homeless people, barely anything resembling street art save for some stickers wheatpastes and stencils (especially liked the stencil of Banksy’s stencil…sarcasm?), I guess in other words it had no character.

Kid Robot is for sure a favorite of mine and I jumped in to grab a couple Dunnys from the new series.  Though I really wanted that McDonald’s supersized chalkboard Dunny up front…

And then I raced past Loyal Army, Paul Frank and G Star crossed the street and jumped into Johnny Cupcakes to see what new stuff they were cooking up…I mean baking …yeah yeah…

After that I headed over into the Adidas store to see what I might want for Xmas…Both of these would do…

I moved on past Bape (never really dug them, but I can respect what they do, ya know?)

And finally jumped into the Crooks Store which you could easily miss or might be intimidated to walk into if you aren’t looking for it or been there before…

Crooks had the usual suspects lined up against the wall with some girls stuff in the upstairs area, talking to one of the shop guys they were getting ready for a shipment and the store should be packed tight pretty soon if not already.

Altogether NM is what it is, a row of shops for people to shop at.  It’s not really a spot to kick it or at least not in the sense that OM was.  It serves it’s function and has some really cool gear for people who’ve got fat wallets.  Being the sentimental type, I just don’t feel the love like I used to…times change, lines evolve, and people move on.

Last night was the second annual Sh*tShaw Thanksgiving–a lovely event for those of us who live in the less-than-savory-but-always-entertaining neighborhood of Shaw.  Everyone brings a dish and their holiday spirit and we have a great time.

This year, with 20+ in attendance, our resident Meat Man prepared the turkey of all turkeys. We’ve all seen them stuffed and brined and deep-fried, but he really took it to the next level by stuffing massive amounts of sausage between the skin and the meat of the bird. Yea, let that kick around in your mental oven for a minute.

Yea. Add that to this:

Fill these seats with some of your favorite people:

And you’ve got one FANTASTIC meal.

you better believe i ate it all.

those on sweets patrol were no slouches either.

I brought Bacon-Smashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and the infamous pumpkin cheesecake. The potatoes and pie will be posted shortly.  The cheesecake had rave reviews yet again.

One of the best parts of the evening is once we’re all sufficiently stuffed, Brother Ern has us bring all the leftovers out to Sunday Suppers, a meal program run by a local church that sets up right outside the house where we were.  Its a great way to end the evening–doubling the warm and fuzzies we’re already riding from the wine and sugar by sharing the meal we all lovingly prepared with those in need.

And if you need another reason to make the cheesecake, as we were rounding up the leftovers, one attendee insisted, “there is NO WAY they’re getting this cheesecake.”  That’s the holiday spirit.

Iona’s Medical Equipment Loan Closet loans donated wheelchairs, walkers, canes, bath seats, bed-side commodes, and other durable medical equipment to seniors and caregivers throughout the metro area.  For more information, phone 202-895-9448.

DC Shares loans donated Medical Equipment to low-income DC residents.

Washington Area Wheelchair Society loans donated medical equipment to DC metro residents.  For more information, phone 301-495-0277.

Based on the Beacon Hill Village model, the DC villages are membership based non-profit organizations dedicated to helping their members age in place.  This AARP article describes the village movement, and lists local villages.

Join us on Saturday November 21 at Noon on Las Vegas Blvd
 
Let your Voice be heard. We need all Clark County conservative groups to participate
 
Pass this notice to everyone you know who is against Obamacare
 
Our Government, a body made up of powerful people entrusted to protect our liberty and freedom, has openly declared war on us.

 rsvp here
http://www.meetup.com/NEVADA-PATRIOTS/calendar/11713227/
 
http://www.meetup.com/Nevada-Healthcare-Professionals-Coalition/calendar/11683362/

I’m pleased to announce the arrival of CityLife, a unique online community who’s focus is highlighting the best that the Washington, DC area has to offer.

CityLife has been 2 years in the making and, as anyone in the internet business will attest to – there’s so much more involved when building a website, on any level.

Click the link below for our official press release and visit www.citylifecard.com and take a look around, as consumers and merchants alike can create accounts for free.

CityLifeCard.com is not just another social network. It’s actually the first Social Saving network that brings merchants together with consumers on a platform that allows them to interact and benefit from their connectivity in a new web base format. Enjoy the ability to market, to gain and retain a customer base by providing easy access to merchant information, exclusive deals, and cool social networking applications. These tools enable merchants to establish a social connection with their consumers and reward them for their loyalty.

Utilizing our website, CityLife members are presented with discovering new hot spots in the city and new saving opportunities through easy-to-navigate merchant profiles, which display videos, pictures, and consumer feedback.  Members stay updated on the latest deals from their favorite merchants through online newsletters and deal alerts. The possibilities seem endless as members can even share a wish list with friends. Merchants benefit from this network, because it gives them the ability to market to their consumer base while expanding their brand by utilizing the various marketing tools on the website.

The savings start today as CityLifeCard has announced that all merchant accounts are Free till Jan 2010.So merchants in the DC Metro area, can start to utilize this amazing tool to assist them in driving customers to their locations during the holiday season at zero cost. It is the one deal a business owner cannot afford to miss out on this year and an online experience that all consumers will want to check out this holiday season for the savings.

For the first time, parents and students will have access to detailed information on fire incidents and education efforts at colleges and universities across the country after the U.S. Department of Education  published the final regulations for the Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know provisions of the Higher Education Opportunity Act  (The regulations can be downloaded from www.campus-firewatch.com). 

Starting in October 2010, schools with student housing  – including most of the schools in the District of Columbia – will be required to annually report fire safety information to the U.S. Department of Education, including:

• The number of fire-related fatalities and injuries
• The number of fires and the damage they cause
• Fire safety features of the residence halls including automatic fire sprinklers and fire alarm systems
• Fire safety education provided to students

More information on campus fire safety, including an Information Sheet on fatal fires, real time compilations of these incidents, Google maps and videos can be found at www.campus-firewatch.com.

When I received the invitation that read “seven course meal” I immediately thought “food coma” and was thankful that this dinner was scheduled on a Friday.

Armed with great company and an empty stomach, I ventured to Marrakesh.

Picture taken by Lindelle

When entering the somewhat hidden door, a sign read “reservations only”. NOTE: make reservations!

As my friends and I entered into the lavish dining room and were seated in the oh-so-comfortable lounges, we all realized that we were “Marrakesh-virgins” and were in for a treat. We definitely were not in DC anymore.

Unfortunately, since we were all pretty hungry, I was not able to get some food pics in. Keeping the readers in mind, I figured pictures of plates half-gorged by 10 starving people would not be in their best interest. We did eat through some amazing dishes of vegetables, chicken, lamb, butternut squash cous cous and so much more. Not to mention, a few house wine carafes were drunk (there were after all, 10 of us).

Photo taken by Lindelle

Halfway through meal 1 of 7, the lights darkened and birthday baklava with wine was distributed to each birthday person. Then it was the main event: the belly dancer. She arrived and made everyone (even the guys) jealous of her dance moves. As a certified klutz,I was most impressed when she danced with the scimitar.

After seven courses of food, which I somehow manage to make through, the ever-so-attentive waiter brought out our mint tea. Service was definitely excellent and the owner was so welcoming!

BOTTOM LINE: If you want to impress someone, bring him/her to Marrakesh. The atmosphere is wonderful, the food is delicious and the person is stuck with you for 7 courses. P.S. it took us 3.5 hours to get through all the courses.

Photo taken by Robin

Location: 617 New York Ave NW • Washington, DC 20001-3626

The Washington Post rightly takes University of Maryland officials to task for wanting to bulldozed nine acres of forested hillock to put up a parking lot and an equipment shed. Anybody else hearing the stylings of Joni Mitchell here?

We Love DC has fun photos of all the handlebars – as in bikes – and handlebar mustaches – as in Victorian Era – worn by cyclists in full regalia during yesterday’s Tweed Ride to benefit Art for the Aging.

Responding to news that Obama administration plans to put subway oversight in federal hands, Urban Places and Spaces argues for national standards.

New Columbia Heights advertises the Northwest Columbia Heights Citizens Association meeting tonight, where neighborhood safety and quality of life are on the agenda in the wake of the fatal shooting of a nine-year-old boy Saturday night.

WUSA has a USA Today story on how more US job seekers are looking overseas – to places such as Brazil and China – where they hope to find more opportunity.

Anacostia Now and DC Metrocentric write about development plans on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue within walking distance of the Anacostia Metro.

YIKES! Chemicals in plastics alter the brains of baby boys making them “more feminine,” researchers say. Would this have any connection to the Inter-sex fish in the Potomac?

Copenhagen climate talks are looking increasingly lame: World leaders have already bailed on negotiating a deal to combat global warming. Here’s a New York Times story on why nothing is expected to get done at the International climate summit.  And, here’s a “news analysis” of the situation.

While world leaders continue mucking up the fight against global warming, here’s a little something we can do to improve the indoor air quality at home. To wrap up this morning’s roundup, I leave you with a post from Mother Jones on house plants that naturally clean the air in your house or apartment.

That’s all for now, but come back later when I report a few interesting finds from last Saturday’s Energy Expo at the Washington Convention Center. Free software that can help businesses lower their light bills and carbon footprints, homes made of straw – straw bale, that is – water purification systems and more.

John Charlton, of The Post & Email, has just reported on election night irregularities in the Doug Hoffman, Bill Owens contest in NY-23. Is Doug Hoffman the winner?

“Looks Like Bill Owens’ Campaign orchestrated Election Fraud in NY-23″

“IMPOUNDMENT ORDER SOUGHT BY OWENS’ CAMPAIGN ENABLED HIS HOUSE APPOINTMENT”

“Even before a single vote was cast in the special election in the New York State 23rd Congressional District, the Times Union and Associated Press were reporting warning signs that might mar the credibility of the vote count.”

“But Tuesday’s vote will also mark one of the first large-scale uses of the state’s new digital devices, part of the long-awaited move from decades-old mechanical lever voting technology.

Of the 11 counties in the 23rd, seven will be using paper ballot/optical scanning voting systems rather than the lever machines, said John Conklin, spokesman for the state Board of Elections. Two counties will combine old and new systems, while another two — Clinton and Essex — are keeping lever machines.”

“Election-Night Irregularities

In the unofficial tally of votes in Madison County — published by the TCOT report — Hoffman received no votes in precincts in the towns of Fenner, Hamilton, Sullivan.  In Fenner and Sullivan, it appears that Hoffman’s votes were given to Scozzafava. It is not know whether these precincts were using the old lever-balloting systems or the new electronic scanning systems.  It should be noted that even in the electronic scanning systems, it is very easy to perpetrate voter fraud by tampering with the machinery or submitting duplicate ballots.

Impoundment Order sought by Owens’ Campaign used to his advantage

Nathan Barker of the Gouverneur Times reported just 50 minutes ago, that it was Bill Owens’ campaign which sought to have the voting machines impounded on Nov. 2nd, out of allegations of possible voter fraud, thus establishing cause and giving reasonable motive why Nancy Pelosi should not have seated Owens in the House.

The Owens’ campaign obtained an impound order, and kept the results under lock and key, until Hoffman conceded the race.  Only then did the Owens campaign release the impound order and allow the alleged initial vote count to support his claim to be victor. Nathan Barker writes:”

“Indeed, Nathan Barker of the Gouveneur Times just reported in a second article, 10 minutes ago, that this impounding order and the effect of preventing the U.S. House clerk knowing the actual election results on the day of the election, until such time as Hoffman conceded:

The Clerk of the House of Representatives requested results of the election from the NYS Board of Elections.  The NY Board of Elections could not release those results while the vote was impounded but after Mr. Hoffman’s concession of the election, based on erroneous information Hoffman had received with regard to the vote count, the Owens’ Campaign released their impound order.  This put the Board of Elections in a position where they could report the vote count to the Clerk of the House, although they emphasized that the results were unofficial and that they could not certify the result.”

“Hoffman’s Chance of Winning

Jude Seymour of the Watertown Daily Times, reported early this morning, also, that Hoffman does have a mathematical chance of winning, though it will be very difficult:

At the low point of her support during her active campaign, a Siena Research Institute poll released the day Ms. Scozzafava suspended her run suggested she had support from 20 percent of voters. If Ms. Scozzafava takes 20 percent of the absentee vote, Mr. Owens will need just 1,282 votes, or 18 percent, to hold off Mr. Hoffman.

The gap between Mr. Owens and Mr. Hoffman has shrunk by 2,159 since election night, after Oswego and Jefferson elections commissioners discovered human error had led to inaccurate reporting of results.”

Read more:

 http://thepostnemail.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/looks-like-bill-owens-campaign-orchestrated-election-fraud-in-ny-2r3d/#comment-2519

Club Bali at the corner of 14th and T (courtesy of the book, Greater U Street DC)

This is the first post of a new feature in which I look back at the history of a building in the U street area. I’ve always been interested in the history of buildings, and after a few posts Prince of Petworth had of pictures of the area, showing how completely it had changed in just a few years, my curiosity just grew. Thanks to some Internet research, I present to you my first Looking Back post.

The first building we’re looking at is at 1901 14th street, which was formerly Club Bali, a popular place where jazz greats like Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, and Cab Calloway performed. Now the building is home to the Arena Stage’s Community Engagement Studio.

Benjamin Caldwell opened Club Bali in 1943 as mainly a venue for live music. The club also featured tap dancers and chorus girls. Club Bali supposedly held 200 or 300 patrons, one of the largest clubs in the area. Club Bali was one of the first clubs to successfully charge a cover to get in. In the 1940s it was five dollars (which was a lot of money in the 1940s!). And, in contrast to the name, they also served a not-often found cuisine in the time: Korean food prepared by George Kim.

The building that housed Club Bali was built in 1907 as a billiards and bowling alley (PDF). In 1937, the building featured the exhibit “National Memorial to the Progress of the Negro Race in America.”

Arena stage building, now

“It was a magic place, its rear garden lit with strings of lights in the summertime…the magic often continued late into the night, as name entertainers, winding down after formal engagements, played to intimate gatherings into the wee hours of the morning in the many tucked-away, after-hours clubs located throughout the neighborhood.” (from U Street Heritage trail).

In 1950, owner Benjamin Caldwell was convicted of jury tampering in a gambling case. After his conviction, the former Club Bali housed numerous restaurants and clubs in the 1950s and 1960s, including Cafe Trinidad. It eventually became Jack Wiseman’s Lounge. In 1975, Jack Wiseman was murdered in his office in the building. Police attributed his murder to participation in a heroin drug ring, but his murder was never solved.

After Jack Wiseman’s murder, the building remained vacant until a string of theater companies, starting in the 1980s, used it as their home.

A feature in which I look back at the history of buildings in the U street area.

I’m finding that I’m more and more dissatisfied with the Superman books. While I’ve not entirely enjoyed the stories (the writing’s been good, though), the art on the various books have really put me off. As such, I haven’t paid much attention to details, as I just try to enjoy what I can of the stories.

This past week’s Action Comics issue presents Flamebird and Nightwing in new costumes, it seems–the duo having given up the “Iron Man meets Sandman” getups for a more super-heroic look. The next sleeper they’re tracking has also been revealed, AND we see Chris age yet again, providing a fairly worrisome cliffhanger.

Though I’m interested in what happens, and find the stories to be well-written (if not likeably-illustrated)…my interest on the whole continues to decline.

Also, while this week’s Booster Gold issue brought Blue Beetle into the main story (foregoing the backup/”Second Feature” status of BB) quite effectively, I doubt this title will do that anywhere near as effectively with Captain Atom, whose “Second Feature” story seems to have brought him into the current status quo.

I have particularly mixed feelings on the Red Robin title–the sole Bat-title I’m continuing with at present. This latest issue has some nice imagery (the cover resembles that Jim Lee cover of Batman on the Gargoyle, overlooking the city, giving Tim Drake a similar “iconic” image).

Yost continues to add a bit of depth to the League of Assassins, and seems to be telling a very capable tale of Tim Drake and his journey to find Bruce Wayne. I also appreciated the acknowledgement of the Blackest Night: Batman mini and Tim’s “break” to go back to Gotham and having faced the Black Lanterns.

Unfortunately–for the title, if a single reader matters–I’ve been losing interest overall. With rumours out there that Bruce will be brought back as early as Summer 2010, I’m hesitant to “invest” in this title not knowing if it can survive long-term…but I’m banking on payoff in the form of this being where any “Return of Bruce Wayne” story might kick off.

Both Action Comics and Red Robin faced stiff competition this week, with 3 Blackest Night issues out, and two Deadpool-related issues. I’m rather disappointed to say that Action Comics actually earned the “Bottom of the Stack” status this week–though I chose to buy it, the issue went straight to the bottom when I was sorting comics by order I planned to read. (Booster Gold #26 was top of the stack).

The fact that both these titles went to the bottom in deference to the Blackest Night and Deadpool issues out of hand rather than winding up there by necessity of SOMETHING being at the bottom gives me something to think about in terms of buying vs. not-buying.

On another note, Radical Comics had a preview book out this week. My local comic shop was giving it away “free” with any $5 purchase. I nearly didn’t grab it, but figured I was already buying at least $5 in product, so might as well take a look-see.

This book is basically a bunch of double-page ads for various upcoming titles Radical is putting out. The art has its merit with all of these, putting a great foot forward. Each title has a premise given with the art as well as the creative/writing talent behind ‘em. Most of these seem pretty interesting in concept…but I’m not willing to–at $2.99 or more per issue–invest in these mini-series.

I find that for the most part (Blackest Night stuff being an exception offhand) I have near-zero interest these days in any mini-series. The projects put forth in this preview all read like something I’d be MOST interested in reading in their “graphic novel” or “collected volume” format. That way, even if there’ll be ongoing/serialized minis, I’d be assured a more full story.

On the other hand, an anthology with a few pages of each of these stories per “issue” might be something I’d be interested in giving a try. As-is, I get the impression that Radical’s output is largely to “sell” the concepts as movies moreso than any ongoing story universe, which adds to my disinterest in any single-issues they might put out, at least while I have no real track record to follow by way of their past output.

Saturday was another early morning run with the group. With 10 miles on the agenda again, we set out on a similar route; my buddy & I decided to take those initial 3 miles of Hills just a little slower this time.

Yes, that was “the plan”…..

8:42 – 8:14 – 8:19

Starting off right on target! Going up up up….
The second beep came faster than expected – we had a flat break between the next incline, so we’ll blame the flat. That third uphill mile? No explanation – too fast – but we survived!

8:31 – 8:20 – 8:27 – 8:33

Turning into Rock Creek Park, slowing down to make sure we both lasted all 10. It’s either my day or his, we’re rarely Both having a great run. This oddly works out – one of us carries the other along (not literally. You know.) Saturday was all me…..

These miles were flying by! I was chatting his ear off; I don’t even know what I was talking about. My legs and I were just in a great mood – sunny, gorgeous Fall temps, running miles through a gorgeous park all morning? Yup, I’m just fine with this start to my weekend.

Every. Single. Split. was met with this reaction – another mile?! sweet!

8:21 – 8:21 – 8:23

Still truckin’ right along – we headed up the P St hill in in the last mile, and intended to keep running til that watch struck 10.0.  At one point I got the (sarcastic) comment “our friendship is suffering here!”, being that I was Far from that “8:45″ goal pace. Ha, moving on! We got there. 10 miles in.

10.0 miles – 1:24:00 – avg 8:24 min/mile

*****

With a high of 70* for Sunday, I had to have Some plans that involved being outside! Last weekend I spent hours cooped up with my books, highlighters and notecards. This time around? I wanted to explore; we had plans to go hiking!

Due to some extra hours of “fun” on Saturday night, we didn’t head out until noon. It was a gamble as to whether any of us would last too long, but at least we were out! We took on some easy trails, hiked up a little bit, saw some great views, and I took a few (ahem, 30+) pictures…..

“This tree still has leaves!” Gorgeous.

These little red berries stood out so boldly
in a sea of dark green leaves and dying trees.

Our afternoon jaunt was followed by cravings for something sweet; sitting outside (must take Full Advantage of this crazy temp!) at a cafe in Dupont was the perfect cap on the afternoon/weekend. A bowl of soup coupled with a bowl of chocolate ice cream didn’t hurt either. Yummm.

Thank you, DC, for a wonderful weekend.

]]> http://colsogno.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/interviste-perse-nel-web/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:28:18 +0000 colsogno http://colsogno.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/interviste-perse-nel-web/

Mi è capitato di trovare queste interviste perse dentro i motori di ricerca. Nonostante risalgano a non meno di tredici anni fa, sono senza ombra di dubbio davvero interessanti per chiunque abbia curiosità relativa alla storia di Cologno Monzese.

12 nov. ‘95 – Incontro con P.

Per P è G. la fonte privilegiata per ricostruire la storia di Cologno fra 1950 e 1980. Egli è stato dentro il microcosmo del mondo politico locale – un campione antropologicamente e sociologicamente interessante dell’Italia di quel tempo, grazie alla presenza di immigrati da varie regioni italiane – e lo conosce a fondo anche nei suoi meccanismi sotterranei.

Su di essi probabilmente tenderà a tacere; ma al posto delle “confidenze”, secondo P, può risultare più utile riesaminare le dichiarazioni pubbliche fatte in consiglio comunale e fare un’analisi linguistica dei suoi interventi.

G. intorno all’’80-’81, con Craxi al vertice (di cui è stato amico), ha controllato il PSI locale, campo di scontro fra le varie cooperative costruttrici. Nella lotta (i legami con le grosse imprese erano del tutto incontrollati; spesso i bilanci erano fittizi) attorno al “mattone” si sono giocati grossi interessi economici. Per la costruzione di un appartamento ci poteva essere un guadagno di decine di milioni, reinvestibili in vari modi (“Ti potevi fare le campagne elettorali”).

I sindaci di Cologno dal dopoguerra agli anni ‘80 sono stati tutti socialisti (in successione: Barbanti, Cappalunga, Bonalumi, Giallombardo, Cantalupo) e la loro affermazione “Cologno l’abbiamo fatta noi socialisti” andrebbe presa alla lettera e intesa materialisticamente.

La ricerca dovrebbe essere in grado di ottenere informazioni dettagliate prima sulla vendita dei terreni agricoli da parte di un gruppo ristretto di grandi famiglie “colognesi” (i Casati-Venino ad es.) e poi su come la loro potente influenza si è fatta sentire nei vari partiti durante tutto il secondo dopoguerra (Secondo P soprattutto nella DC e nel PSI). Da indagare è la storia della costruzione dei quartieri più importanti: il quartiere Stella; il condominio di viale Lombardia 83; quelli dell’immobiliare Bogliardi (in Via Bolzano); il cosiddetto Colosseo di via Boccaccio (operazione condotta in porto da socialisti e democristiani nel periodo del centro-sinistra, 1962-’75, con appartamenti offerti a prezzi scontati).

Questi quartieri sarebbero stati costruiti secondo la logica di relegare gli immigrati a debita distanza dal centro.

Un altro aspetto interessante è l’analisi della gestione del Comune.

Si tratterebbe di indagare sui modi di assumere il personale (ai tempi di Cantalupo, pare che furono assunte 110 commesse a tempo determinato, per 3 mesi), di scambiarsi favori in cerchie ristrette, di conoscere in dettaglio le ricorrenze familiari e parentali nella distribuzione degli impieghi pubblici e, infine, l’ideologia degli amministratori. P ricorda che G. teorizzava già a quei tempi il Comune come “impresa economica”.

Degli altri personaggi politici di Cologno P si limita a delineare alcuni tratti:

- Milan è cresciuto nella destra tecnocratica democristiana e nelle esperienze del solidarismo cattolico; e si è trovato (forse anche per aver avuto un padre antifascista..) più vicino ai comunisti che ai socialisti;

- Secondo la tradizione del PCI, Ballabio è stato il tipico funzionario mandato dalla Federazione milanese a gestire le sezioni di Cologno, quasi mai in grado di esprimere dirigenti locali di rilievo (come è accaduto invece per il PSI). E qui si aprirebbe tutto un capitolo su rapporti interni ai partiti fra militanti di diverse regioni: il Psi è stato sicuramente un partito più meridionale rispetto al PCI e ha anche espresso di più il conflitto meridionali-locali; l’ideologia di base di Ballabio sarebbe stata un liberalismo manzoniano.

23 gen. ‘96
Incontro con Giampiero Cassio

Cassio è arrivato (“per caso” mi dice) a Cologno nel 1965. Proveniente da una zona del Lago Maggiore, si era laureato in economia nel 1959.

Sempre nel ‘65 è entrato a far parte del PIM (Piano Intercomunale Milanese), centro di ricerca per la programmazione economica e territoriale. Contemporaneamente ha iniziato la sua militanza nella DC.

A Cologno in quell’anno ci fu il commissario prefettizio e l’anno seguente, dopo l’elezione a sindaco del socialista Cappalunga, s’avvio l’esperienza di centro-sinistra.

Cassio, da subito segretario di sezione, fu eletto segretario cittadino nello stesso anno. Fu animatore di una linea di impegno cristiano-sociale, vicina alla corrente di Forze nuove, a Vittorino Colombo e alle Acli.

Si occupò a Cologno della gestione di 4 cooperative edilizie (denominazione Casabella [?]). Contemporaneamente s’interessò a progetti urbanistici, collaborò alla rivista “Regione e potere locale” e prese parte a viaggi-studio di amministratori locali in diversi paesi europei.

Oggi sottolinea la debolezza della cultura urbanistica di quegli anni e la strumentalità di certe visioni presenti nel PIM.[1]

Ricorda, comunque, che Milano in quegli anni era una città viva e in crescita e anche stare a Cologno, in periferia, non comportava un’esclusione dalla circolazione di idee e dalle pratiche d’innovazione.

Il rapporto fra Cologno e Milano, all’interno della struttura provinciale della DC, gli appare ora del tutto insoddisfacente, ma ritiene che la debolezza elettorale della Dc colognese non permettesse di pesare in modo più significativo nelle scelte decisive.

Nessuno dei dirigenti colognesi – ricorda- ha mai fatto veramente carriera politica nella DC e pochi hanno operato al livello provinciale.

La scelta di molti militanti fu quella di concentrarsi sui problemi locali, prendendosi una certa autonomia rispetto alla dirigenza provinciale.

Cologno in quegli anni era un “buon laboratorio politico” e gli ha permesso di affinare il “gusto di far politica vedendo il risultato di quello che fai”.

L’attività politica di Cassio s’è svolta in consiglio comunale dal 1976 al ‘90.[?]

E’ stato assessore al bilancio nella giunta Cantalupo, dal 1985 al ‘90, poi all’Urbanistica nella giunta Ballabio.

Ritiene che nel consiglio comunale ci sia stata una feconda dialettica politica e non ricorda “colpi bassi”, neppure all’interno del suo partito. Forse una certa “sofferenza” ci fu con l’emarginazione di Borghetti dalla vita del partito.

Nei rapporti fra i vari partiti, Cassio afferma di aver cercato di “capire prima le persone” che le linee politiche. Pur avendo mantenuto una posizione nettamente anticomunista, ha avuto sempre rapporti cordiali con gli esponenti del PCI e riconosce ancor oggi a quel partito non solo “correttezza ed onestà”, ma di aver svolto una positiva azione di formazione quadri, anche se gli rimprovera “dogmatismo e mancanza di duttilità”.

Nello sviluppo urbanistico di Cologno, Cassio legge una vera e propria “stratificazione delle politiche urbanistiche”.

Periodizzando, si può dire che:

- fino al ‘65 esso si è svolto nel disordine;

- dal ‘68, anno della Variante al Piano Regolatore, si è avviato un recupero. Lo sviluppo è stato più “contenuto”, malgrado una “scivolata” (le case del Ministero del Tesoro) e si è cercato di alzare il livello qualitativo del paesaggio urbano (pista ciclabile, isola pedonale, edilizia pubblica del CL6.

Il peso preponderante nelle scelte di politica urbanistica a Cologno spetta, in modo indiscutibile secondo Cassio, ai socialisti (fra loro distingue i “socialisti di vecchio stampo”: Cappalunga, Bonalumi, ecc. da quelli dell’”era craxiana”), i cui operatori immobiliari hanno investito quote rilevanti nell’attività edilizia.

L’edilizia popolare ha avuto un peso più ridotto con le cooperative ed è stata comunque dominata dall’egemonia socialista. Cassio riconosce che l’assegnazione degli alloggi non ha sempre avvantaggiato i nuclei sociali più deboli.

Parlando dell’ultimo Piano Regolatore, mi fa notare che i comparti strategici CIS [?] richiedono un controllo “forte” da parte dell’Amministrazione Comunale; che certe strutture edilizie “abnormi” (Quartiere Stella, zona di via Petrarca) non si possono più rimuovere; che si può giocare ancora su alcune aree, per incentivarvi le riqualificazioni invece di procedere ad altri insediamenti di bassa qualità.

Ricorda che a suo tempo [?] si svolse un concorso di idee per l’area del Bettolino e si affacciò la proposta di farne un polo per la fiera di Milano. A suo avviso certe potenzialità non vengono raccolte dalla Giunta attuale, che si muove con eccessiva prudenza, anche se riconosce che “elevare il ruolo di Cologno” non è facile e che certi insediamenti non interagiscono positivamente con la realtà cittadina (è il caso dei complessi di Berlusconi).

Il rapporto fra gli immigrati degli anni ‘60 e la popolazione già residente gli sembra senza grossi problemi.

Riconosce nel PSI “il partito con più meridionali”. Ma la “meridionalizzazione”, che lui intende come gestione “degenerata” del potere (il “gioco delle tessere”, il rigido controllo delle preferenze) avrebbe investito anche la DC locale, pilotata e imposta proprio da quadri che avevano alle spalle esperienze politiche nel Meridione e hanno messo ai margini gli esponenti locali (fa ancora l’esempio di Borghetti, che veniva dalla Resistenza…).

Negli eventi attuali Cassio non vede nessuna presenza di forze interessate a fare di Cologno una “città migliore”, come invece era accaduto negli anni ‘70, che avevano visto una forte e vitale partecipazione.

Ogni vita di comunità è venuta meno. Anche le parrocchie l’hanno persa, pur mantenendo le strutture. Ed è aumentata ancora di più la dipendenza di Cologno da Milano, specie per il tempo libero.

C’è la palude, il blocco di ogni iniziativa: “per avere un pubblico devi chiamare il cantante, ma sul piano politico non si mobilita più nessuno”.

La causa di ciò, per la sinistra, va cercata nel “crollo del comunismo”. Quanto alla DC, da cui è uscito nel ‘90, perplesso sulla sua involuzione e sul rapporto con il craxismo, che non l’ha mai entusiasmato, s’interroga su ingenuità e connivenze che hanno sorretto quel sistema di potere.

La caduta dell’impegno politico ha lasciato un vuoto pesante e la “fine del rapporto sociale” non è surrogata da nessuna “rete amicale”.

Per lui forse solo la Biblioteca Civica mantiene un ruolo socioculturale sul territorio. Da economista poi ha visto andare in crisi il concetto stesso di economia mista e quello di programmazione e si sente il suo rifiuto di un liberismo totale, mirante a sbaraccare ogni forma di economia pubblica, come premessa per un inserimento “inevitabile” in Europa.

http://digilander.libero.it/samizdatcolognom/3due%20interviste%20inedite%20stocolognom.htm.

When i’m not counseling kids at work, you can find Mike King relaxing at the house or practicing the Steeldrums and chilling with the family. I’m a music lover and my passion for music spreads across many genres. Currently I’m getting into Brazilian Jazz artists such as Paula Lima and Tania Maria. My Ipod is loaded with diverse music. Right now you can hear everything from Marley to NAS to Fela Kuti to Sly and the Family Stones and Andy Narrell. I also vibe with the the Commodores and contemporary Gospel. I try to stay on the cutting edge and discover new music artists such as Esperanza Spalding (check her out on my space). I really appreciate live music and the complexity of arrangements with vibrant harmonies and a catchy melody. Checkout my band’s C.A.I.S.O. website at http://www.steelpanband.net
You can hear our sounds and view pictures from recent performances.

So my best friend and fellow gourmand went to an old favorite, Bistrot du Coin, a Dupont Circle fixture, bastion of French food.

Going to Bistrot du Coin tonight was like seeing an old friend you’re sorry to have lost touch with. Hadn’t been here in a very long time, probably because of not living in the city anymore, but there was a time I could recite the menu.

Something new-ish on the menu: perfectly lucious seared foie gras with truffle sauce and risotto. Here are the before and after pictures.

They also had a hazelnut mousse that was to die for. And then, to work off this meal, we went shoe shopping.

What a perfect birthday.

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