Monumental

I was in the portrait gallery of the Smithsonian Museum of American Art when I received the news that Michael Jackson had passed. The best part? My mom was the one that told me. Through text message. R.I.P. the King of Pop. All around D.C. you could hear his music being played in tribute.

Today's adventures:

1. The National Geographic Museum

It's much smaller than it sounds. There were only two exhibits. One on leopards and other wild felines and another on Kodak color film. Both were very cool. The latter was an exhibit of photos taken as early as the 1940s all around Europe, remastered in technicolor. I like looking at the clothes that people used to wear, mostly because I like to think I'm a little old fashioned and try to liken my wardrobe toward more vintage tastes when I can.




2. The Smithsonian Museum of American Art

Mylene and I came across this by accident while searching for Chinatown. Since we didn't feel like continuing farther, we went inside and checked out a bunch of portraits. I now know what Ansel Adams actually looked like. There were portraits of generals from the Civil War too. Ulysses S. Grant was a fierce, stoic looking man. In the other wing, there was an exhibit of art from the Depression.

Smithsonian Museum of American Art

Portrait Gallery

Ansel Adams

Arrest warrant for Boothe

courtyard

3. Ben's Chili Bowl in Chinatown

This place is a landmark restaurant in D.C. not only because it is one of the oldest stops, but it's also known for its reasonably priced menu of chili dogs, chili burgers, half smokes, chili fries (what I ordered), and more. During the riots in 1968, protesters and police frequented it. A lot of celebrities such as Bill Cosby, Chris Tucker, Denzel Washington, and even Obama himself have stopped by at some point. For the second half of our time there, they played non-stop Michael Jackson songs.



4. Lincoln Memorial
Note to self: Do NOT attempt walking from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial at night. It is humid, tiring, and far! When you're in good company, though, it's not so bad. We cut across the lawn in front of the monument to get there faster, but it still took forever. By the time we got to the steps, we were all sweaty. Lincoln is huge. I don't think I even measure up to his knee, to give you a scale. The view from the top of the steps is beautiful. You can see the reflecting pool, the monument, and the Capitol right in front of you. D.C. truly is a beautiful city. An historic one as well.

Random

Old U.S. Post office

D.C.'s best coffee (so far)

Typical street in D.C.

Foggy Bottom/GWU Station

Tomorrow Chris, a fellow Anteater, is celebrating his 21st birthday in D.C., and we're going to a restaurant called The House Ebbot (?) to eat for dinner.

Other things I want to do this weekend:

• Watch Night at the Museum IN the Smithsonian (free showing!!)
• Visit the Ford Theater where Lincoln was assassinated
• Get lost in one of the Smithsonians
• Go shopping in Georgetown
• Laundry

Movies that take place in D.C.

• Burn After Reading
• Wedding Crashers
• Mars Attacks
• Forrest Gump (partially)

As always, I miss you guys and wish you could be seeing all of this with me.