DC Nov. 2012: Newseum, Pandas, Memorials

Back in November I took a trip to Washington, DC. I spent a couple of days touring around, trying to hit a couple of spots I hadn't seen before (or not in a long time). As it turned out, I also saw some NBA action between the Washington Wizards and Portland Trail Blazers, with the 0-12 Wizards inspired by my presence to actually win a game. Here are a few photos. The entire set is here. (Sorry, I'm not putting up the slideshow here tonight.)

Among the interesting items at the Newseum was this copy of the Philadelphia Inquirer from shortly after Abraham Lincoln's assassination. The Inquirer hasn't really changed much since 1865.

Historic Philly Graves 'N Stuff

This is another catching-up post. One afternoon in March I went on an unusual tour of parts of historic Philadelphia. It's a newer offering from Grim Philly Twilight Tours -- their tours specialize in mixing the traditional history with more macabre things such as places said to be haunted. This particular tour focused on cemeteries and stories of local serial killers. To be honest I was more interested in the history than the serial killers. I did take pictures, though. (Not all of them are at gravesites.)

I'm not even trying to post a slideshow to this blog any more. I'm just assuming it will not work, whether it's due to Google screwing up Blogger or the particular photo storage site's incompetence or my own stupidity. Whatever the reason it still royally pisses me off. So here's the link to all of the pictures.

Today's Horror Show Started Here

This is on Locust Street between 8th and 9th. The building, according to Wikipedia, was eventually abandoned, the same way the GOP abandoned the principles of Lincoln and instead began sucking at the teat of the Religious Right. The building was turned into condos in order to keep it from being torn down.

Philly Before I Was Born

What a cool piece of old film, produced by local station WPTZ, which was (as I learned via Wikipedia) the precursor to KYW-TV here. Shots of Philadelphia (downtown, Connie Mack Stadium and more) and surrounding areas from the mid-1950s. Is there any chance you'll hear the phrase "our equally industrious, equally prosperous neighbor Camden, New Jersey" again?



Found this through Twitter. The link to it was retweeted into my timeline by the photographer behind the excellent Picture Philly site -- a photo a day of Philadelphia.