Hamlet is like, so Emo...
True story.
I was on the Metro tonight on my way to see Henry IV (Part 1) at the Folger. I was reading a copy of Hamlet required for one of my classes when a teenage girl plops down in the seat next to me. She sees my book and asks "Oh, are you reading Romeo & Juliet?" First of all, I still have to remind myself to get over the shock of people actually talking to you on the train here, but that's another story. After I managed to collect myself, I answered, "No, I'm reading Hamlet."
"Oh, cool. So how is it?"
I wanted to reply "It's only one of the greatest plays of the English language." But instead I said. "It's pretty good. Ya know..."
"Cool. So I hear Hamlet's like totally Emo."
"What now?"
"Emo. Hamlet's totally Emo, I hear."
"Hmm. Now what does that mean exactly?"
"Ya know. Dark, depressed, acts kinda crazy."
"Oh. Well then, yes. That's right. Hamlet is totally Emo," I confirmed.
Then she wanted to know what had happened in the story so far. I really wanted to get back to my reading but was so taken with her interest I led her through some of the plot points: the ghost, Hamlet revenging his father's death, Gertrude marrying Claudius, the players, Hamlet killing Polonius, Ophelia going nuts over it, etc. "Wow," my new friend replied. "I should read it."
"Yeah," I said, "you should."
Labels: DC, Shakespeare
City Snapshot: The Gayborhood
My apartment in DC is only 3 and a half blocks from Dupont Circle, the big gay neighborhood down here. I'm even closer to Logan Circle which has begun eclipsing Dupont's gay reputation in recent years. The two neighborhoods are right next to each other and much like the West Village and Chelsea (or Chelsea and Hells Kitchen for that matter) once we came in and gentrified the neighborhood we priced ourselves out and had to move on to the next one.
Believe it or not, I did not choose the apartment based on the neighborhood (I didn't even know about Logan Circle at the time), I just got lucky. I have to say I really like living in a gay neighborhood again. There is a very nice sense of community here. It's a different feeling from the gay neighborhoods in New York which seem centered around gyms, bars and restaurants. Here there are still things like gay bookstores (Note Lambda Rising in the second photos) which have all but disappeared from New York. In addition to supplying specialized literature, Lambda Rising provides a brick and mortar meeting place for social and political activism. This being DC there are constant reminders of politics whether its the Human Rights Campaign gift shop or volunteers for the DNC or Greenpeace on every corner. Oh, and I never forget my earth-friendly reusable grocery bag down here. They give you the stink eye if they see you walking down the street with a plastic bag.
The photos above are a couple of boys in Dupont Circle, the stretch of Connecticut Avenue just north of the circle which includes Lambda Rising, and the fountain that graces the center of the circle. It's usually surrounded by people taking time to read a book, friends catching up or those just looking to get some sun.
Labels: City Snapshots, DC, Gay Culture
City Snapshot: The National Gallery of Art
One of my favorite museums in Washington is the National Gallery of Art. I spent the morning there taking advantage of one of my last days of freedom before school starts on Tuesday and my life is taken over by my rigorous class schedule. I even took a tour, a kind of introduction to the Gallery examining the trends in Western Art from medieval religious art to the 19th Century. Mostly stuff I already knew, but it's always fun to hear what the guides have to say. I treated myself to a hot dog and a mocha frappucino on the mall before heading home all the while wishing Scott were here to share the day. I miss him.
Labels: City Snapshots, DC, Personal
Victor Hugo Cut My Hair
Longtime readers know of
my affinity for barber shops. With all the preparation for my move I scarcely had time for a haircut before I left New York, so I found myself in need of a barber here in DC. I did a google search which yielded some results in the North West district. One was on my way down to the post office which I also had to visit, so I decided to check it out. It was in the downtown area and clearly the kind of shop frequented by white collar office workers on their lunch hours, with a large photo of January 20, 1989 on the wall commemorating the inauguration day of George I along side a magazine stand stocked with Car & Driver, Playboy and Hustler.
All three barbers were over 50, two were white and one was Latino. One white guy I never heard speak, but the other had what sounded like an Eastern European accent. The barber who worked on me was the Latino sporting a thick black pompadour, a Tony Orlando mustache and had the unlikely name of Victor Hugo. I noticed this from the stack of business cards he kept on his counter. Old Victor did a nice job including a shave with hot foam and a straight razor on my neck. When it was over I picked his business card and asked "Is this you? Victor Hugo?" He said yes to which I could not resist adding "I'm a big fan of your writing." He smiled a painful smile, nodded his head and rolled his eyes a bit and simply said "Thank you, sir." I immediately regretted my unoriginal quip adding "I'm sure you hear that all the time."
Anyway, I don't think I'll be back to that particular shop--the cut cost me $27! In New York I only pay $15. For $30 I can go to one of the salons off Dupont Circle and at least be with "my peeps" as they say. I guess I have some time to figure it out.
Labels: DC
I See (Important) Dead People
Well, it's day two in Washington for me. My first day on my own (Scott left yesterday to go back to New York). My new apartment gets bathed in the morning light as it faces east. I was up 7:30 to finish unpacking and to discover more of the Logan/Dupont Circle neighborhood that I am lucky enough to call home for the next year. On my way out the door this morning I experienced Washington DC high security first hand. I was stopped by a motorcade of dozens of policemen and a fleet of limousines, bringing traffic to a standstill in all directions and causing detours. I wondered what all the fuss was about. I noticed a limo with those little flags on either side of the hood coming down the street. I remember President Ford used to ride in one of those--does the president still use that kind of limo? More likely a gas-guzzling SUV with this president. But just in case it was the president I thought about nonchalantly scratching my nose with my middle finger as it passed then thought better of it--what with all the police about. I was afraid the title of my next post would read: Manhattan Chowder Arrested for Rude Gesture.
But wasn't the president at all. Following the long line of limos was a hurse. All this for a dead person. I couldn't remember hearing of anyone in the news dying important enough to warrant all this. So, I did a google search and the best I could come up with was this:
Funeral held for Bud Doggett, influential business leader. Influential indeed. But I never heard of him. Exactly two hours later I watched from my window the same motorcade traveling in the opposite direction. By time I started counting there were 50 motorcycle police. FIFTY. Sheesh. It made me wonder who was minding the city. Talk about the perfect time to rob a bank.
Labels: DC
