By Wayan
Last night, to my horror, I could not find the keys to my bicycle lock. Now this was not the end of the world as it was securely locked to a bike rack and I took the bus home but I was still nervous.
How many stripped bike frames do you see around the city, still locked to racks and signs?Luckily, this morning revealed a sight I know every cyclist can love: a safe and complete bicycle awaiting my feet.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
Compared to last year’s home opener, this year’s was a right out dud. From the introductions of the starting lineups, to the last pitch, I felt thoroughly underwhelmed by this year’s opening. The Nats got drubbed 7-1 by the Mets, on a 7 inning, 3 hit, 1 run outing by Bannister. The only Nats run came on a serious yard shot by Alfonso Soriano.
Just a few notes from my thoughts on the game:
Tomorrow, promises to be good, though, as Pedro Martinez comes to RFK to answer for his sins at Shea last week. Will Tony Armas plunk Martinez when he comes up in the 3rd? Well, we’ll just have to see. Game starts at 7:05, and tickets are still available.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
The Nats are playing their 2006 home opener today against the Mets. Tickets are still available, and I’d wholeheartedly recommend blowing off work today and going out to the ballpark. It’s a perfect spring day, and I fully recommend being outside in it. Get on down to RFK, and take one of those swank Express Trains that Metro is running today.
Pitching matchup isn’t much to look at, Bannister vs Ortiz, but with the way the Nats have been playing (and hitting!), today’s game will definitely be worth seeing. Of course, the Mets are our new gang rivals after the craziness in New York last week, and Pedro’s on the mound tomorrow, leaving me to wonder if the Nats are sharpening their spikes for the rematch.
Vice President Dick Cheney will be tossing out the first pitch, after which he will shoot the umpire with quail shot. Be prepared for a bit of a line at the park as the Secret Service will be there making sure that no one else brings a shotgun into RFK.
See you at the game!
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Don
Since Mike commented on his belief that K street is the food anti-mecca I thought I’d mention that Galileo Grill is open today, April 11th, from 11:45 to 1PM. They’ve added two items to the grill – an onion, pancetta and cheese “Quiche” and a grilled Caeser salad with parmesan.
Why they feel it’s a “Quiche” and not a quiche I have no idea.
Galileo
1110 Twenty-First Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
With the protest ebbing, and rush hour flowing, you can imagine what sort of nightmare Metro was tonight. I arrived at Metro Center along with a throng of post-protest travelers, as well as post-work-day commuters. Metro Center was a complete charlie foxtrot. There was no room for exiting commuters to get through the crowd, and half the faregates for the ingress stopped working due to “system overload” according to the Metro official that was giving directions. Either way, it took nearly 30 minutes to get from the top of the escalators at 12th and F to the Metro platform itself.
The trains were yet another matter, as they’d fill instantly at Metro Center and be unable to pick up commuters at Farragut West or Foggy Bottom or McPherson Square. Worse still, changing trains at Rosslyn was a near impossibility for those who tried to do so. I finally escaped the incredibly crowded metro car at Courthouse, and I was thankful as the commuters were none too pleased with the matter.
Say, whose bright idea was it to end the protest in the middle of Rush Hour?
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Wayan
Now these guys are the reason we’re here today. All of them are hardworking Americans – North Americans – who are looking to make a better life for themselves. Out representing Fredericksburg, they drove down today, skipping out on work for more than themselves.
They drove down with their families, the love ones they are working hard to raise right. And while they are legal immigrants, they didn’t start out that way. They worked heard for not only money but also legality. And they’ll be back at work tomorrow, making this country great.
They’ll be working hard, in Spanish, which for some feels threatening. Some may say “here we speak English!” or be tempted to discriminate based on accent. I laugh at this, and point at myself as a great example.
While my father swam the Rio Grande, by the time of his death, he was more comfortable in English than Spanish. And his son? I am the Gringo Cousin, more fluent in Russian than Spanish.
Welcome to America!
.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Wayan
Now this guy has the most thankless job today.
Trying to control the car and people interaction at 14th and Constitution, he is pleasing no one. Cars hate him and pedestrians ignore him. Then there is that annoying guy putting a phone camera in his face.
Thank you whomever you are for enduring all of that with a smile.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Wayan
No DC protest is complete without a drum line and this one is no exception.
This line is a small one though and telling of the overall organization and message.
Absent were the usual anarchist and random hangers on. This is about immigration rights and for a big protest, very on message. Other protesters could learn from these new commers.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Wayan
Lets say you saw my earlier post on the 14th Street parking lot and thought 7th Street an option. Think again.
The Mall is a parking lot from the Monument to the Air and Space. Good luck on that commute.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
With today’s rally bringing the issue of immigration to the forefront, and 180,000 people expected as part of the march down 16th St. past the White House to the Mall, it brings the question to the forefront of the DC area: How do we treat immigrants as a community? Should there be an amnesty? Should there be a wall? What’s too far, when it comes to legalization or amnesty?
What’s your take on all this? Please tell us in the comments.
Were you there for the protest today? Tell us your thoughts or post your pictures.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Wayan
If you are dreaming of a quick drive home to NOVA today I am here to shake you awake.
The march is massive and slow and it will own 14th Street for at least another hour. Do yourself a favor and come by before heading home.
We are all immigrants in America.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Wayan
An overwhelming and constant USA! USA! USA!
This is not the chant of those who dislike America or want to change America. This is the chant for inclusion, for assimilation, for respect.
This is what all our forefathers said.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Jenn Larsen
I’m stranded at work and unable to partake in any of this afternoon’s march. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have a bird’s eye view of some of what’s going on…
People have been pouring out of Metro Center at 12th & G since around 2pm with no signs of abetting. American flags, families, young and old. We have a great vantage point from our office window but alas no camera to share pics with you. I did sneak out at one point for my afternoon caffeine from Firehook and at the metro exit there were several volunteers with signs pointing people in the direction of the Mall.
I’m really amazed – it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a call for protesters responded to with so much volume. Usually you hear about these things and it’s a wash – not so today, obviously. It’s interesting to hear the “office buzz” today as well – there’s a lot of superficial “knowledge” being spouted but no real concern over the issue. Which I suppose shouldn’t surprise me, but it does. Everyone here in some way is affected by the issue but they seem blind to discussing it intelligently. They’d rather fret about how they’re getting home…
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
I stood at the corner of 16th and Eye streets, looking to the North, waiting for the crowd to move down. First there was no sign of them, then the came forward slowly, marching toward me taking up the entire width of 16th Street. One by one the cross streets fell to the Police as they blocked traffic ahead of the march. The cute reporter took her position atop the stepstool and the Klieg lights again turned on. The camera crews with booms positioned themselves in the middle of the street, hoping to catch all manner of sounds from the crowd as they came by.
A man with a bullhorn and microphone set stood in front of the AFL-CIO and lead the green-shirted supporters in chants in Spanish and English before the crowd arrived. Slowly they overtook K street, with a massive banner 20 people wide, lead by a vanguard of men carrying American, El Salvadoran and Honduran flags. The news crews cleared the street in front of them to keep their picture pristine and photographers from everywhere snapped pictures of the sign and the crowd.
Little American Flags were all over the protest, dotting it like letters on a page, chants of ¡Si Se Puede! and USA USA! were common throughout the crowd, and signs read in Spanish and English “No person is illegal” and “We are immigrants, not criminals!” were common throughout the crowd.
The group stretched for five blocks and while it was mostly a Hispanic march, there were africans and whites and asians in the march as well. International ANSWER provided some of the signs, and there were also folks in the t-shirts bearing the International Workers’ of the World logos, and a group of anarcho-socialists who were arguing not just for the erasure of borders but laws as well.
Sadly, the card reader for my camera is sitting on my desk, so pictures will wait for tonight. Sitting in Pershing Park, thanking powers that be for Open Park, people are still headed for the Mall, but the traffic has mostly died down to normal rush hour levels and the world has not yet come to a fiery end as the day’s protests have been peaceful so far. Look for my pictures from the event later this evening, or enjoy Wayan’s as he’s posting direct from the scene.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Wayan
There was much hand wringing pre-protest about flag symbolism. Mexican flags were seen as too decisive and not inclusive of the overall immigrant population.
Today American flags are out in force. My unscientific count: 90% red, white, and blue.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Wayan
The march is now a rally, the protesters have cleared downtown and are congregating on the Mall.
Do not think thats the end. This rally is only getting started and it matters to us all, place of birth regardless.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Wayan
This is the scene at 15 and I. Even the ice cream man is in the march.
Are you?
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
They sat down next to me and asked me where a good place to eat was. I sent them toward Georgia Brown’s as their midwestern accent betrayed their Indiana Home. Before they left, though, I asked them if they knew about the protest. Both older women with greying blonde hair, they nodded and said “it’s about immigration, right?” I nodded. They asked me, “will they be allowed in Lafayette Park?”
I shook my head and they seemed relieved.
It was clear they were headed to see the White House with no desire to be overrun by a mass protest. Such is the tourist’s view today.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
Boarding the train at Courthouse, I noticed that WMATA has decreased the gap between trains from 14 to 8-10 minutes, and the platform was full for a Monday afternoon around 2pm. When the six car Orange Line train pulled into the station, I was floored. It looked like a rush hour train, not a middle of the afternoon train. I squeezed my way into the car with men and women and children wearing shirts that had slogans in English and Spanish painted on them, hand-written signs bearing the inscription on the Statue of Liberty and other quotes from founding American fathers.
Cubs hats. American Flags. Sam Adams Light hats. US Polo Association Hats. Nike hats and shirts. Levi jeans. These were the common elements of American market culture between us. Between me, and the Hispanic crowd in the train. We all shop here, we all support this economy.
And shortly they’ll be marching down 16th St toward the White House, en masse.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
For those who are new to Metroblogging DC, we do maintain a Flickr group that’s open to the public for posting
Got some great photos from the DC area? We want to see them! Put them into the pool and share with friends and strangers!
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
