Post-Trump grab, the place is tanking.
‘Following Trump Takeover, Kennedy Center Subscription Sales Drop 36%’
The arts institution has seen a $1.6 million year-over-year decline in subscription revenue, with theater subscriptions down more than 80% since Donald Trump’s takeover.
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My nephew, a spectacular singer (runs in the family), is in the Washington National Opera chorus, and will be part of their upcoming Aida. La Kid and I will be in the audience, but we wonder how many will be with us in the opera house. Will the troupe outnumber us?
Strange how everything turn turn turns. When I was a kid Bethesdans had to drive ten miles at night down the GW Parkway to see first-rate classical stuff at the Kennedy Center; since then, thanks in part to my uncle (my nephew’s grandfather), Les UDs have had a significant concert hall, Strathmore, a fifteen minute walk away.
Because of what Trump just did to the Kennedy Center, the significance of the Music Center at Strathmore has suddenly taken an enormous leap — several performers/productions that would have been in the city are now in the suburbs.
The suburbs that ain’t very suburban anymore. Seen downtown Bethesda lately?
Theme of this year’s Garrett Park July 4 parade is The Novel, and UD is going as Ulysses. I’ll be tossing lollipops that say READ ULYSSES to the throngs.
… they’re misspelling my uncle’s last name. It’s Mario Loiederman.
And how proud he’d be to know his namesake school has achieved all-American status!
A long, unsparing consideration of old age care in America makes me think of my conversation yesterday with a 92-year old friend. We met near the Foggy Bottom metro and walked together through Washington Circle to a lunch date with a third friend. I asked my buddy what she’d been up to.
“Going through a lot of stuff and throwing most of it out,” she answered. “I don’t want to leave my daughter with too much to handle when I’m gone.”
My friend is sharp-witted and physically robust; she lives alone in an elegant apartment in the chic part of Alexandria, Virginia. “Is your health okay?” I asked. “Is anything wrong?”
“Not a thing. But I’m looking into Zurich.”
“Why?”
“My biggest fear is becoming dependent. I just can’t handle that prospect at all. I’d rather avoid it.”
“But I mean there’s independent living, etc. There are all sorts of steps between living fully on your own and being really dependent.”
“Not really. All my friends who made any sort of move in that direction went downhill very fast and I desperately don’t want that.”
We went on to discuss the bureaucratic details of the Swiss way of death versus the apparently more burdensome administrative niceties of what Washington DC offers. And then, both of us smiling in the city sunlight, we met our friend at a hotel cafe and enjoyed lunch together.
…to take three of our old family portraits to the Museum of Noble Tradition in Poland, where there will apparently be a Soltan room.
Not a labyrinth, but a walking circle, around vinca and a crape myrtle. Set among trees in the surrounding woods are chairs, tables, potted plants, wind chimes, small sculptures, and other objects. Xavier and his crew bring various forms of lighting soon. Still to come: Water feature. Fire pit. Etc.
Epic hosta on its way up in UD‘s garden. Its circular formation makes it look like a miniature, green, Stonehenge.
Here’s what it looked like four days ago.
Today it’s at least an inch higher all around and unfurling has begun.
In a quiet corner beside the lower deck, a hosta puts out circular shoots.
… El Patio, an Argentine place we like, claiming that it’s soon going to be National Empanada Day, and they had a celebratory special on them tonight.
First we toasted to the memory of my Argentine Uncle Mario; then we chowed down.