Spring arrived this Saturday afternoon. Late in the afternoon, Ollie and I headed to the National Arboretum looking for blossoms. As soon as we parked, we could tell we’d have plenty of beautiful trees to explore. In each direction, we saw colorful displays. The arboretum features many different varieties of Cherry trees. It was fun to see three different colors crowded together. ...
Today I discovered Blagden Alley, a hotspot for murals in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington DC. The March winds were blowing slowly, the sky was blue, and the sun was warm. A perfect day for exploring with a camera. First stop: the watermelon house. Then, entering the alley, I came upon this arresting sticker, placed on a water pipe. ...
I went to Philadelphia for a conference and wandered into an amazing flower show. The purpose of my Amtrak trip to Philly was to speak at an AI conference, AAAI. I led a panel on the topic of responsible AI in education. I left DC at 6:00 am and was in Philadelphia by 7:20 am, then walked across town, had breakfast at a classic diner and was on time for the 8:30 am workshop. ...
Jason Moran, the Artistic Director for Jazz at the Kennedy Center, led an adventuresome trio through 90 minutes of exploratory improvisations. Jazz is the music of freedom, and Moran steered true to purpose. At the center of the trio was a synthesizer virtuoso, going by “Blank For.ms,” who perched above a mess of colorful wires with lots of knobs to turn. To the left, Moran played the grand piano and to the right Marcus Gilmore played drums. They played without a score, creating “open” or “free” jazz that was entirely improvised. ...
An embassy row fills the mansions of 16th Street NW, and today the Spain was open to the public. High-concept design was featured as the main exhibit, but I found myself enjoying the mansion itself more than the exhibit. I spent some time in a central, indoor courtyard with a gurgling fountain. As I relaxed into the space, I found photographic possibilites. Lots of wonderful spanish detail just in this one room in the heart of Washington, DC. ...