St. Patrick’s Day in Pictures
• April 23, 2015

View our photos of the 44th Annual Washington D.C. St. Patrick’s Parade from Sunday, March 15, by clicking on the photo icons below. One of the parade’s missions is to celebrate the Irish culture in America. The popular annual event features floats, marching bands, Irish step dancers and antique fire engines. We were also welcomed by Monsignor Salvatore A. Criscuolo of Saint Patrick’s Church to take pictures as Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, celebrated mass to honor the patron saint of Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. (photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="135066,135042,135040,135038,135036,135034,135032,135030,135028,135026,135044,135046,135064,135062,135060,135058,135056,135054,135052,135050,135048,135024,135022,135020,134996,134994,134992,134990,134988,134986,134984,134982,135067,134998,135000,135018,135016,135014,135012,135010,135008,135006,135004,135002,102017" nav="thumbs"]

Another Eggcelent White House Easter Egg Roll (photos)
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The First Family hosted the 137th annual White House Easter Egg Roll under sunny skies and summer-like temperatures on Easter Monday, April 6, 2015. 35,000 guests and celebrities joined the First Family in their “back yard”. This year’s theme was “#GimmeFive,” encouraging children to lead healthy, active lives in support of the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” initiative and featured traditional Easter activities, live music, and storytelling with the President reading from Maurice Sendak’s “Where the Wild Things Are”. The President noted it was the 5 year anniversary of his wife’s “Let’s Move” initiative and the singing group 5th Harmony led the crowd in singing Happy Birthday. Mrs. Obama urged participants to find five new ways to lead a healthier lifestyle. The White House Egg Roll dates back to 1878 under President Rutherford B. Hayes.

View our photos from the White House Easter Egg Roll by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="102037,134768,134770,134772,134774,134776,134778,134780,134782,134784,134786,134788,134790,134792,134794,134796,134798,134802,134766,134764,134762,134800,134730,134732,134734,134736,134738,134740,134742,134744,134746,134748,134750,134752,134754,134756,134758,134760,134803" nav="thumbs"]

‘Mad Men’ Artifacts Donated to Smithsonian (photos)
• April 13, 2015

The popular television series “Mad Men” is completing its final season on AMC, but the artifacts will live on in the collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. In a special ceremony on March 27, the museum accepted a donation of more than 50 artifacts from “Mad Men,” including costumes, props, and a script, as well as some of series creator and producer Matthew Weiner’s personal notes from the dramatic series. Period costumes from the 1960s included Don Draper’s charcoal gray suit and Cordova fedora and Betty Draper’s yellow house dress and apron. Also at the donation ceremony in addition to Matthew Weiner were actors Jack Hamm (Don Draper), Christina Hendricks (Joan Harris), John Slattery (Roger Sterling) and AMC President Charlie Collier. The “Mad Men” artifacts join those of other popular TV series in the Smithsonian’s collection, including “MASH,” “All in the Family” and “Seinfeld.”

The museum will open its first-floor innovations wing July 1. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History is located on the National Mall at 14th Street and Constitution Ave. N.W. and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Admission is free.

View our photos from the donation ceremony by clicking on the photo icons below. [gallery ids="102032,134844,134846,134848,134850,134852,134854,134856,134860,134842,134840,134824,134826,134828,134822,134830,134832,134837,134861,134858" nav="thumbs"]

LeRoy Neiman’s ‘Big Band’ and $2.5-Million Endowment Trumpets Jazz Expansion at Smithsonian
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The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History kicked off Jazz Appreciation Month a day early by announcing the LeRoy Neiman Foundation’s donation of a $2.5-million endowment towards the expansion of jazz programming.

In a March 31 ceremony, the museum unveiled Neiman’s painting, “Big Band,” an epic jazz painting the artist considered as one of the greatest in his career. The painting is 9-by-13 feet and features 18 iconic jazz musicians. Visitors can view the painting just inside of the museum’s Constitution Avenue entrance, next to the newly named LeRoy Neiman Jazz Cafe.

The museum also announced its new five-year plan for jazz programming, made possible by the Neiman Foundation gift, and the detailed calendar of jazz activities for April 2015.

As part of a special donation ceremony, the museum also received other jazz related acquisitions which include: the upright bass and archives of jazz musician and double bassist, Ray Brown; the complete collection of jazz photographer, Duncan Schiedt; as well as a poster of “Ella in Flight” by Neiman.

The ceremony was attended by donors Steve Bond, director of the LeRoy Neiman Foundation, Richard and Fran Rosman of the Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, Mark Dibner of the Argus Fund and Ray Brown’s widow Cecilia.

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History is located on the National Mall at 14th Street and Constitution Ave. N.W. and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Admission is free.

View our photos from the special donation ceremony at the NMAH on March 31 by clicking on the photo icons below.

[gallery ids="118032,118073,118067,118061,118054,118081,118098,118047,118024,118040,118016,118008,118093,118087" nav="thumbs"]

A Night at the Circus (photos)
• March 31, 2015

We captured a few moments of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus’s “Legends” show with our camera at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C., March 19. We have just a limited number of photos to show you this year as the media were only permitted to take pictures of the opening parade, and the traditional elephant walk through Washington, D.C., did not happen. Last month, the circus announced that it plans to phase out all elephants from its multiple traveling circus performances by 2018, no doubt responding to years of protests from animal rights activists. All 13 Asian elephants that are now part of the Ringling Bros. shows will be sent to the circus’s Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida. There, they will join the rest of the the Ringling Bros. herd of more than 40 elephants. On March 20, the circus in partnership with the D.C. United Foundation’s United Soccer Club did put on a private performance for D.C. kids from the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s Soccer for Success program, involving Kelly Ann, a 9,700-pound soccer playing elephant. D.C. United Manager Ben Olsen and circus clowns mixed it up with the kids.
The circus ran a total of eight performances in D.C. through March 22, but you can catch it at Baltimore’s Royal Farms Arena where it opens on March 25.

View our photos of the Circus by clicking on the photo icons below.
[gallery ids="102020,134954,134956,134958,134960,134962,134964,134966,134968,134970,134972,134952,134950,134932,134975,134934,134936,134938,134940,134942,134944,134946,134948,134974" nav="thumbs"]

40 Years of Home Rule and Nothing to Show for It
• January 29, 2015

Let’s stop kidding ourselves. It’s been 40 years since D.C. got “limited Home Rule,” and nothing has changed. We are still, as former Mayor Sharon Pratt so memorably said, “not part of America.”

Here is the situation. In our national legislature, we have no voting representation. We do have a non-voting delegate who is not permitted to vote on the House floor. We have no presence at all in the U.S. Senate. Every law which our local legislature passes can be overturned by the U.S. Congress. Every penny of our locally raised funds can be negated. Our local judges are appointed by the president — not by locally elected office holders.

Why has nothing changed in over four decades? First and foremost is the lack of advocacy by our own elected officials. The District Council views itself not as a temporary transitional body, but as a permanent institution. It is more interested in preserving its status than creating real self-government.

Our non-voting delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton is a major impediment to any real change. This champion of incrementalism is most dangerous to our advancement by the language she uses. She continually labels defeat as victory. This behavior goes back more than 20 years.

There was one vote on D.C. statehood in the House of Representatives — in November 1993. Up to 151 Democrats voted for it. Norton at a post-vote press conference raved that 60 percent of the Democrats had voted for the bill. The number needed for passage was 218. We were to be comforted or pleased that we made a modest showing. That was supposed to be sufficient.
Four months ago, there was a D.C. statehood bill introduced in the Senate. Norton refused to go to the four uncommitted Democratic senators on the relevant committee (Claire McCaskill, Mark Pryor, Jon Tester and Heidi Heitkamp) and ask for their vote. Council member Mary Cheh lobbied Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) for his sponsorship of the bill — not Norton. A hearing on the bill was good enough for Norton. When it was her turn to testify she never once asked for a mark-up of the bill or a vote on the bill, even though Democrats had a nine-to-seven majority.

Norton holds the moniker, “Warrior on the Hill.” This is an enormous misnomer. She is a perpetuator of the status quo. Her very presence in office holds us back.

In assessing blame, we cannot forgive the local population. What a passive lot! We are treated as third-class citizens. We accept it. We are excluded from democracy. We don’t make a fuss. No meaningful civil disobedience. No active effective citizens movement. No, we just take it.

I once asked Rev. Jesse Jackson when this would change. He simply replied, “When it rises to the level of personal insult.” African-American, white, Hispanic, Asian, it doesn’t seem to make a difference. We haven’t yet been personally insulted. We are far too polite, far too well behaved.

Be under no illusion. Full and complete self-government means one thing: statehood for D.C. Anything less is incomplete.

We missed two golden opportunities for making D.C. the 51st state. In 1993, there were 56 Democrats and 44 Republicans in the Senate; 259 Democrats and 176 Republicans in the House. In 2009, 60 Democrats and 40 Republicans comprised the Senate with 257 Democrats and 178 Republicans in the House. Both times, there was a Democratic president. The stars were perfectly aligned. We failed.

We were on the right side of history, but we lacked a strategy and a fierce discipline. Let us vow: never will we let these opportunities pass us by again.

Mark Plotkin is a columnist for The Georgetowner and The Downtowner as well as a political analyst to the BBC on American politics and a contributor to TheHill.com.

A Different Springsteen at Verizon Center for Washington International Horse Show (photos)
• November 19, 2014

Celebrating its 56th year, the Washington International Horse Show advertises itself as the country’s leading metropolitan indoor equestrian event, while attracting leading horses and riders from around the nation and the world.

Since 2000, the week-long WIHS has been held at the Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C., and takes place this year from Oct. 21 to Oct. 26. A full roster of equestrian events will cap off on Friday night with the $25,000 International Jumper Puissance, where horses leap over a wall up to and often exceeding seven feet, and on Saturday evening with the $125,000 President’s Cup Grand Prix, World Cup Qualifier.

The show’s website — wihs.org — contains the complete schedule of activities, which include community events, Kids’ Day, Barn Night, special exhibitions, shopping and hospitality, as well as ticket information.

View our photos from Wednesday night’s competitions by clicking on the photo icons below. Jessica Springsteen of Colts Neck, N.J., kicked off the first day of international jumper competition with a win, riding Davendy S. Jessica may not yet be as well known as her dad Bruce. (all photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="101899,136557,136562,136567,136573,136578,136582,136588,136594,136599,136604,136608,136613,136621,136553,136548,136488,136493,136498,136482,136502,136508,136513,136519,136522,136528,136533,136539,136544,136618" nav="thumbs"]

Hoyas Defeat Brown on 50th Anniversary of Football’s Return to the Hilltop (photos)
• October 28, 2014

The Georgetown Hoyas defeated Brown 17-3 under sunny skies before a crowd of 2,262 at Multi-Sport Field on Sept. 20 to even their season record at 2-2. It was also the 50th Anniversary of the return of football to the Hilltop and marked the Hoyas’ first victory ever against the Bears and a major reversal from their 45-7 loss to Brown a year ago. It was also the second win for new Head Coach Rob Sgarlata. It was the season opener for the Brown squad, which suffered four turnovers including a critical fumble on the Georgetown two yard line early in second quarter. Hoyas quarterback Kyle Nolan passed for one touchdown and running back Daniel Wright accounted for the other. The Hoyas rushed for 250 yards while holding Brown to only 88. Kicker Henry Darmstadter scored career-long 44-yard field goal for the Hoyas.

View our photos from the game by clicking on the photo icons below. (All photos by Jeff Malet) [gallery ids="101861,137770,137727,137732,137736,137741,137747,137752,137757,137774,137710,137704,137686,137692,137722,137675,137682,137716,137767,137698,137762" nav="thumbs"]

American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial Dedication Ceremony (photos)
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The new American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial came to life on Sunday, Oct. 5, under clear skies with a solemn dedication ceremony attended by President Barack Obama and scores of disabled veterans. The new memorial is the first of its kind to recognize all veterans, those with physical injuries and invisible ones, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. The president challenged all Americans to remember what they owe to veterans, particularly those that are disabled. And that includes, he said, an obligation to “never rush into war,” but to do so only when it is “absolutely necessary.”

“To every wounded warrior, to every disabled veteran, thank you,” Obama said.

Also participating in the ceremony were Robert A. McDonald, Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Sally Jewell, Secretary of the Interior; national spokesperson for the memorial, Gary Sinise; and board members of the Disabled Veterans’ Life Memorial Foundation, the organization that’s been instrumental to bringing Washington’s newest memorial to life. Former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood served as master of ceremonies. The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” performed.

This 2.4-acre, granite-and-glass monument to service members who have been wounded in battle was 14 years in the making. Congress adopted legislation establishing the memorial on Oct. 23, 2000. It was the initial inspiration of philanthropist Lois Pope, former U.S. Secretary of Veteran Affairs Jim Brown and the National Adjutant of Disabled American Veterans, Art Wilson. (Together, they created the Disabled Veterans Life Memorial Foundation in 1998.) Pope donated $10 million herself and helped raise the rest from private donations to reach the $80 million that was needed. The structure of the memorial symbolizes the people it represents. Architects used granite and glass to convey strength and vulnerability. A reflection pool shows a star with a single flame in the middle and a grove of trees stands to show the persistence in hope.

The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial is located across the street from the United States Botanic Garden and also across from the Rayburn Building near the U.S. Capitol at 150 Washington Ave., SW. Members of the National Park Service, who will be administering the site, indicated that it will be open to the public at all hours. The easiest way to reach the memorial by Metrorail is by taking either the Orange or Blue line to the Federal Center SW station. Metrobuses numbers 32, 34 and 36 also stop near the U.S. Botanical Garden Conservatory, just a block away.

View our photos of the dedication ceremony by clicking on the photo icons below. [gallery ids="101874,137014,137019,137023,137050,137055,137098,137035,137040,137044,137103,137091,137061,137067,137072,137079,137010,137005,136942,136947,136961,136936,136950,136956,136964,137028,136974,136980,136970,136984,136989,136995,137000,137085" nav="thumbs"]

American Indian Museum Celebrates Its 5th Annual Living Earth Festival (photos)
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The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian Celebrated its fifth annual Living Earth Festival — July 18 to July 20 — with traditional music and dance performances, an “Iron Chef”-style cook-off and a concert — all featuring Native American entertainers from across the Americas. There was also an outdoor farmers market featuring local produce, a basket weaving demonstration and hands-on family activities. Performers included the Southern Ute Bear Dancers (southern Colorodo) and the Pokagon Drum and Dance Troupe (Michigan). The festival included an exclusive concert Saturday evening with blues father-and-son duo, Twice as Good, with opening act, Missy Knott. On Sunday, Oneida chef Arlie Doxtator competed in an “Iron Chef”-style competition against Oaxacan chef Neftali Duran in preparing two appetizers, entrees and desserts that incorporate cranberries, a fruit indigenous to North America. Three local chefs served as judges. Chef Sue McWilliams, culinary instructor at Paint Branch High School Culinary Arts Program, chef Brian Patterson, an instructor and L’Academie de Cuisine, and chef Pedro Matamoros from the Golden Flame Restaurant, Silver Spring, Md.

View our photos of the Living Earth Festival by clicking on the photo icons below. [gallery ids="101816,139774,139779,139783,139788,139794,139799,139802,139808,139813,139818,139822,139827,139832,139836,139843,139768,139765,139759,139682,139688,139694,139699,139705,139709,139714,139720,139726,139730,139735,139740,139746,139750,139754,139841" nav="thumbs"]