I love when I find just the message I need exactly when I need it, especially when that image is packaged in art. Thanks, Universe. Stay humble.
Tag: Washington D.C.
Wonder: Behind-the-scenes at DC’s Union Market
On Friday night, I joined a meetup group to get a behind-the-scenes tour and tasting at Union Market. That area of northeast DC had been a bustling area of the city for a century before it fell into decay in the 1960s. About 10 years ago, just as I was leaving the city to go to grad school at UVA, this area started to be revitalized and Union Market is now a magnet for residents, visitors, and businesses alike.
The premise of Union Market is a food incubator, allowing enterprising people to launch a food-based business for a fraction of the price it usually costs to enter the market. These startups are varied and thriving—from brothers who own a knife sharpening business to bakeries to a 1950s-style soda shop to spice vendors to seafood to BBQ—Union Market is showcasing the very best of DC’s future food scene.
The aromas and visuals were stunning, though what really got me was the energy, the spirit of the place. Customers were smiling, laughing, and chatting. Business owners were happily cooking and serving up love on many plates and in many glasses. Union Market is a place rich in possibility, and that is a wonderful thing.
Wonder: Rhiannon Giddens’s unique sound is now finding the audience
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to seek out new music and see more live shows. I learned about Rhiannon Giddens on CBS Saturday Morning Saturday Sessions. I was making breakfast and when she started to sing, I popped my head around the corner from the kitchen to see who she was. Her sound was so unique—both her voice and her band’s orchestrations. She’s managed to take her multiethnic heritage and meld all of the parts of her ancestry and experiences into something wholly new and very powerful. There is something about her earthy voice and music that stirs something in everyone who hears it.
Giddens and special guests will be at Lisner Auditorium in Washington, D.C. on February 26th at 8pm. The concert is described as:
“Led by Rhiannon Giddens, founding member of the Carolina Chocolate Drops, this concert will explore the songs of resistance of the South, both old and new, the deep history of protest songs from Leyla McCalla’s Haiti and Louisiana, and the modern outsider-looking-in observations of 1st generation American Bhi Bhiman.”
I snapped up a ticket immediately. I hope you will, too.
Wonder: A kind soul in Petworth returned my stolen package
I bought a new batch of toys for my pup, Phineas, and his friend, Otis, and someone stole the boxes right off our porch. On Sunday, a good Samaritan found the open box with the partial order in an alley and returned it to me with this note. Because they didn’t sign it, I’m hoping that by posting this I’ll be able to find them and give them a proper thank you. Things that are lost can be found, with the little help from the community around us.
Wonder: The Ghost Ships of Mallows Bay
Less than an hour’s drive from Washington D.C., there are ghosts that have found a new and unexpected life. There are 185 archeologically-documented shipwrecks in Mallows Bay, part of Charles County, Maryland. The area is about to be declared an official marine sanctuary and is literally overflowing with wildlife in the water, on the shores, and inside the ruins of the boats. Once the weather gets a bit warmer, I’m looking forward to seeing it for myself and photographing it. I love a good story of redemption and life restored to something considered long gone.
Wonder: I’ll be teaching a playwriting workshop for kids on 1/9 & 1/23 at 826DC
Two things I’d like to do more of in 2016 is teach and be personally involved in theater again. To get that going, I’m teaching a free playwriting workshop, On With the Show!: Playwriting and Performance, for kids ages 6-12 at 826DC’s office at 3333 14th Street (Columbia Heights neighborhood) on Saturday, January 9th, and Saturday, January 23rd, from 1pm – 3pm.
Together we’ll learn about storyboarding, plot development, character development, and snappy dialogue. To register your child, visit the 826DC workshop website and fill out this form. See you there!
This just in: Find Wonder at Renwick Gallery
I went to visit the Wonder art exhibit at the Renwick Gallery in Washington D.C. The exhibit sparked a conversation with my friend, Jeff, about the definition and importance of wonder. As I cultivate new personal and professional opportunities in 2016, I’ve been thinking a lot about the idea of wonder. For me, it’s about being open and allowing myself to be amazed. It’s the ability to be delighted and filled with joy. This world is wild. Sometimes it’s downright cruel. Wonder is what keeps us going, in times of light and darkness. And I’ve found that the more I look for wonder, the more I seek out opportunities to be happy and free, the more of them I find. As we turn the page today, letting go of 2015 and welcoming 2016, I hope we can all find moments of wonder every single day.
This just in: Merry Christmas from Washington, D.C.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas from the nation’s capital! Everything is calm and bright (and warm!) here, and I couldn’t be happier about this relaxed holiday season. I hope yours is equally wonderful!
This just in: A peek inside the new Washington Post building
The Washington Post recently moved to a new office building and I got to take a tour of it yesterday. Its sparkle is fitting for such a storied media organization. Standing in the middle of the newsroom, I felt the very real sense that important work that shapes the world is happening there. It’s invigorating and inspiring. The Post put together a wonderful behind-the-scenes tour of the space that’s hosted by Martin Baron and Frederick Ryan. Have a look at the video below:
This just in: Take some time to take in the holidays
I walked through Dupont with a friend of mine. We were deep in conversation about work when something shiny caught my eye. One of the hotels we walked by was completely decked out in holiday decorations: giant and full wreaths, countless strings of lights, and ornaments galore. With the temperatures in the 60s and the constant bustle of life, it’s easy to forget it’s the holidays. So I decided right then and there to make sure that every day I take in a little Christmas. And once I did, I saw it everywhere – small and lovely store fronts, decorated lampposts, and even on the faces of people making a point to get together and spread the cheer. I hope we all find these same moments every day, all year long. Happy holidays!
Christa Avampato 