Mmmm, kiwi. Is anyone else craving kiwi? It’s been a pretty low-key weekend around here. On Saturday morning, I shot this self portrait on the way home from our family trip to the puppy park with Bowser. It was pretty excessively windy outside, so there was only one other puppy out there — a blue-hound named Una. She and Bowser had a good time chasing and fighting over a long stick.

On Saturday night, we ventured out to the Argonaut, where we happened to be seated next to our friends Megan and Brendan and another couple they were out with. So, we combined tables and spent much of the evening looking at and spinning the old globes that are part of the decor around the upstairs bar. There were many “close-your-eyes-and-point-and-see-where-you-will-travel-next” attempts as the globe was spinning around. I tried for Paris of course, but mostly ended up somewhere floating in the Indian Ocean. So yeah, that didn’t help decide where our next travel destination will be, but it’s still fun to look at old maps anyways.

Today was work and homework day. I’ve stopped just long enough to eat Valentine’s Day candy and just now look through all the Grammy fashion pics. I think Lady Gaga will be done “incubating” by the time I post this. I hope so, anyways, for her sake.

Hope you all had a nice weekend!

There have been several local news pieces lately about the prospect of two 40-foot electronic signs that are slated to go in at 7th and G St. in the heart of Chinatown. I’m certainly not the first to comment on this topic, but each time I read more about it, I just get more and more laughs. WTOP even asks, Is DC getting its own Times Square?” oh the horror ! Please, people. We’re talking about more signage in Chinatown, not Georgetown. It’s ridiculous for residents to complain about this… did they not have their eyes open when they moved in and signed their leases? We’re talking about the touristy entertainment district of The District. Anyone who was wanting less than LCD screens and neon lights galore should have opted to live in… well… ANY other neighborhood in DC. There is even a ridiculous Stop the Billboard campaign, which opens with these words: “…unless we stop them, these huge, moving-picture billboards will make cherished parts of our beautiful city look more like Times Square.” Chinatown is a “cherished” part of our city??? Did they forget what it was like there 15 years ago? The National Mall is cherished, Rock Creek Park is cherished, and there are 50 other areas I would call cherished before I would think of Chinatown… which, by the way, I think it could stand to be more like Times Square.

Last weekend when Ty and Val were visiting, we checked out the chocolate and coffee shop ACKC on 14th Street. We’d walked by there many a time, but never poked our heads in. As it turns out, it’s a cute little place owned by Rob Kingsbury (the chocolatier) and Eric Nelson (the artist). When you walk in, you are bombarded with bright colors from the artwork on the walls and tons of tiny little morsels to make you drool. The photo above is a closeup of one of the many custom tabletops painted by Eric, which are pretty much awesome.

quaker – blue, originally uploaded by m hoek.

   
Playing with photoshop has proven to be a good way to work off the post-turkey day tryptophan and Jim Beam induced hangover.

   
This painted billboard is on Florida Ave NW between 8th St and Georgia Ave. I think these old painted signs are beautiful. Unfortunately, they are likely going the way of the dodo as modern advertising relies heavily on printed signs that can be continuously update to match their newest ad campaign. These harshly weathered paintings contribute to our city’s visual history and carry a certain “gravitas” that even the best designed modern billboard can not replicate. Modern retailers and restauranteurs should embrace the art of hand-painted murals and invest in one for their business. It will show a commitment to the neighborhood and enhance the block’s appearance.