or: a photo essay by Pat Jarrett that I like to call: “Resolution: Be a Tourist in Your Own City”.
http://patjarrett.blogspot.com/
I’m relatively new to this town, moved here in October and starting working for BYT four days into my stay here. Needless to say I got to know the nightlife scene rather well rather quickly (I even have a drink named after me at the RNR, ask Fritz for the Pat Jarrett).
However, in this flurry of hip nightlife bar hopping and fantastic concert covering I really overlooked the obvious. I made it my mission to see the big things by year’s end-and I finally completed my tourist trek last weekend. Here’s to being a tourist in your home town!
What we have here
Union Station (Not just for overpriced pizza, used to be barracks for Union troops)
National Arboretum (Bonsai trees aged 400 years, yes please)
Natural History Museum (overheard in a southern accent while there “Whats at the Natural History Museum” “Ya know, George Washington’s old wooden teeth and stuff,”)
The Mall (dude seriously gave me the stink-eye)
Freer gallery (mmm, Japanese calligraphy)
Smithsonian (Space Sausage)
The Washington Monument (or, America’s big white wang)
And the Capitol Building reflected under a duck (I wonder if those birds sleep at all?)
Typical awesome Patness!!!!!!
January 3, 2008 at 11:03 amits really sort of heartbreakingly beautiful.
January 3, 2008 at 11:04 amYou know what would be awesome? A bunch of BYT photographers going into The House on Georgia Avenue and partying it up and taking photos of the strippers. That would be edgy.
I like the fish and the birds.
January 3, 2008 at 11:08 amThanks all, I think Svetlana’s title better. So who else loves being a tourist?? Wooo!
January 3, 2008 at 11:48 amthe title is a reference to this:
(one of my all time favorite sites by some of my all time favorite people i never met)
http://www.learningtoloveyoumore.com/
January 3, 2008 at 11:50 amI love the fog shot.
January 3, 2008 at 12:04 pmthe best part is doing it in a fanny pack and hawaiian shirt.
January 3, 2008 at 12:44 pmi like pat.
please tell me where all of those columns are with the corinthian cap’s (third to last pic). i have seen them and can’t remember where that is. help a brother out…
January 3, 2008 at 4:23 pmthanks eduardo, thats the natty Arboretum-original capitol pillars
January 3, 2008 at 5:48 pmthank you. i knew i had been there before.
by the way, i just spend the last hour plus (plus) looking at your photography from the link above to several other links and i have to say i enjoy your stuff thoroughly. please keep doing what you do since i am sure others enjoy it and you make me feel like being nice eddie. usually i am a dick.
January 3, 2008 at 7:29 pmThanks for not being a dick (?)
If my photos can bring out the Nice Eddie in everybody I’ve done my job :).
It is at this point that I can shamelessly promote myself and tell everyone that I am currently unemployed and seeking work. So any editors or art directors who might need some help please don’t hesitate to drop me a line at pjarrettphoto@gmail.com
Nice essay Pat. Some seriously good stuff here.
January 4, 2008 at 12:29 pmi love these photos! might any of them be for sale, particularly the bird one??
January 4, 2008 at 12:34 pmIndeed-contact me off the list for info on buying prints or digital files.
Cheers
I want to see the pictures of the Strippers at The House. Also somebody do an ethnography of the bum village on New York Ave. And DC prostitutes: Rhode Island Ave. vs. K Street vs. that one girl I know from William and Mary who does jobs for blow.
January 5, 2008 at 12:25 amthese photos loook verrrrrrryyyyyyy similar to ones my brother took in dc over the summer! you can see him at his flickr here:
http://flickr.com/photos/happyraindrops/815242927/
these photos are great!
January 3, 2008 at 10:49 am