A La Carte
'A Chance Encounter' Debuts at Oak Hill Cemetery
October 8, 2017
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
George Hill introduces Joe Krakora
Retired National Gallery of Art executive-turned-filmmaker, Joseph J. Krakora premiered A Chance Encounter, the first of 20 short films about the history of Georgetown's Oak Hill Cemetery on Sunday, October 8, 2017.
Not yet released and, in fact, voice-over by the great-great-grandson of Jefferson Davis is still in progress. But for the the VIPs invited to preview the 18-minute film, it was a moving introduction to a few of the 20,000 souls buried on a hill overlooking Rock Creek Park.
"The names here tell the story of the history of the city and of the nation," explained Krakora, as he outlined plans for "The Oak Hill Story Project," to turn it into a TV series and a documentary book.
In A Chance Encounter, an imaginary conversation between Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis walking through the cemetery centers on slavery and saving the Union while they each mourn the death of their young sons Willie and Samuel. Many Civil War soldiers and their families are buried at Oak Hill.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Watching "A Chance Encounter"
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Oak Hill Cemetery Superintendent David Jackson
Superintendent David Jackson thanked his predecessor Ella Pozell and other Oak Hill Cemetery staff for their service, singling out members of the grounds crew who have been there more than 25 years.
While space is becoming scarce for new burials, President George Hill assured the audience that transitioning to a muesum was decades away.
In the meantime, there was plenty of work for the Oak Hill Cemetery Historic Preservation Foundation including repairing the tall iron fence along R Street and ongoing monument restoration work.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Pies from Copperthite Bakery
Following the program, guests enjoyed pie from Connecticut Copperthite, a company that began baking in 1886 Georgetown.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Oak Hill Cemetery VP David de Vicq chats with Sally Quinn
For more information, visit Oak Hill Cemetery.
Click here to share your thoughts.
What I Learned In The Galápagos: Part II
September 14, 2017If you missed Part I, here it is.
11. You might get a free weekend in Quito if you try to get home during a hurricane.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
View from Hilton Hotel Colon Quito
12. AKA most underpublicized tourist attraction, TelefériQo (aerial gondola lift) on Pinchincha Volcano to Cruz Loma lookout, one of the world’s highest at 12,943 feet.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
TelefériQo (aerial gondola lift) on Pinchincha Volcano
13. If you're scared of heights, share your gondola with kids.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
On the gondola lift
14. Panama hats are made in Ecuador.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Ciudad Mitad del Mundo
15. At the middle of the world (Ciudad Mitad del Mundo) you can balance an egg but not walk a straight line. Water flows both counter-clockwise and clockwise (straight) down a drain due to Coriolis effect.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Staying connected at a Quito market
16. iPhones are popular here too.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Old Town in Quito September 12, 2017
17. You say you want a revolution? Public protest erupted in Old Town Quito on September 12, 2017 over former Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa’s government amendments.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Entrance ceiling of La Compañía
18. Sometimes way too much gold works. The spectacularly ornate Jesuit church, nicknamed La Compañía, is one of the most significant works of Spanish Baroque architecture in South America. There's gold leaf and gilded plaster everywhere (no photos allowed inside).
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Domes of La Compañía
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Orcas up close
19. Not even the crew is jaded. When orcas dance around the ship at dinnertime, get up close.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Zodiac ride with guide to view birds
20. Everyone connected with Lindblad Expeditions and National Geographic is passionate about preserving, reveling in, and telling the world about the unique and breathtaking life in the Galapagos.
Click here to share your thoughts.
What I Learned In The Galápagos: Part I
September 13, 20171. Expect to be sprayed with disinfectant before you land. Airport security screening is for plants and animals, not weapons. In 1971 the National Park Service successfully eradicated goats from Rábida. This introduced species upset the natural environment and led to the extinction of several native creatures including geckos, land iguanas, and rice rats.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Fernandina Island Volcano erupting 12:30 pm on September 4, 2017
2. Best time to visit is when a volcano erupts, preferably after you've hiked around the island. And if you go with Lindlad Expeditions, you know they'll circle back the next evening to check on the volcano.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Lava from erupting volcano on Fernandina Island September 5, 2017
3. The darker the feet on a male blue-footed booby, the more attractive they are to the females. Lighter colored feet mean they've had too much sex already.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Blue-footed boobies
4. The spectacular red sand and rock on Rábida is the result of oxidation the moment the island was formed. Unpopulated except for flamingos, and sea lions, it’s the only Galápagos site where Darwin’s nine finches are found.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Rabid Island sea lions
5. Zodiac boats hold 12 adult humans plus all their luggage, and dry landings are a lot like wet landings. GORE-TEX hiking boots get wet either way.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Rábida Island
6. If you skip the two-hour morning mountain hike and kayaking, you can sunbathe on the deck of National Geographic Endeavor II and have the entire ship to yourself.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
On deck of Lindblad/National Geographic Endeavor II
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
7. Frigatebirds put on quite a show to get laid, iguanas loll around in monochrome, and cormorants don't mind that they can't fly. They're all living in paradise.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Frigatebird looking for love
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Galapagos iguanas
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Flightless cormorant
8. Darwin’s giant tortoises are treated better than local islanders. Lonesome George, sent to the world’s finest taxidermist, has a climate controlled designer shrine.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Lonesome George
9. The archipelago looks a lot like the Amalfi Coast but without tourists or great outdoor dining … unless you're a bird.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Galápagos Islands
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
Galapagos pelican
10. Don’t expect results from Darwin Research Station and Tortoise Breeding Center on Santa Cruz Island this century. Giant tortoises don't start mating till they're a hundred.
(Photo by: Judith Beermann)
2017 Santa Cruz tortoise hatchlings
Click here to share your thoughts.
