Music has always been one of the most important parts of my life. This year, I started a music journal with my Rdio account. Whenever a song grabs me, pops into my head, or somehow crosses paths with me, I add it to a playlist for that month. As mixes, they’re all over the map and might sound jarring if listened to the whole way through, but each song reminds me of a moment from that month. Here are a few from February.
The White Stripes – “Seven Nation Army”: This is the unofficial rally song for Baltimore Ravens fans and was the official song of our Super Bowl Party.
Blur – “Parklife”: I went to brunch with Sophia for one of the last times before heading to Dev Bootcamp and one of the shops in Decatur played this song outside on the patio. I hadn’t heard it in years.
Baauer – “Harlem Shake”: This silly Internet meme was one of the first things my San Francisco roommates and I bonded over.
Here’s the whole thing, in case you’re interested.
Tomorrow, I’ll start my March playlist. I’m already grateful that I’ve started doing this.
Last night, we watched the first episode of Netflix’s new series House of Cards. I’d been eager to see how the series turned out because they’d filmed scenes all over my old Baltimore neighborhood of Mt. Vernon for most of last year. I like it so far, but it’s tough to get over the frequent familiar landmarks. I wonder if other Mt. Vernon folks have the same problem?
When they were filming, I got used to navigating around production trucks at locations like the Belvedere, the Engineer’s Club, or the old Monumental Life building. This was a frequent scene on my way to and from work:
I knew I’d recognize some of the exteriors, something The Wire got me used to, but it’s still neat to see my neighborhood in a series, though it can be distracting, especially for anyone watching with me when I say things like, “Hey, that’s the Lyric Opera House, though they changed the sign to read ‘The National Center for Performing Arts’. Is that CG? I think they did that with CG.” (Sorry, Sophia.)
In the shot below, Zoe Barns (played by Kate Mara) heads into her apartment, which is wedged between Dyonisus, where I spent many nights after grad school readings, and Nino’s Pizza, where I’d grab post-Dyonisus pizza. It’s less than a block from the University of Baltimore building were I had all my classes. So, you know, memories.
And that’s all just from the first episode! People from Los Angeles must be desensitized to this sort of thing by every movie, TV show, and car commercial ever made. But for this Baltimore boy, it’s still kind of a thrill.
That was an insane Super Bowl. My Ravens were on fire for the first half, but the Superdome power outage and subsequent delay of game killed some of their momentum. The 49ers struck back hard, but the Ravens played for their lives and edged them out for a dramatic victory. I did a lot of standing and cheering in the living room.
If the Ravens win on Sunday, San Francisco Public Library City Librarian Luis Herrera will have to recite Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” in the atrium of the SFPL Main Library wearing a Ravens jersey.
If the 49ers win, Pratt Library CEO Carla Hayden will have to recite George Sterling’s “The Cool, Grey City of Love” in the Central Library Main Hall wearing a 49ers jersey.
Whoever loses will also have to video their director reciting the poem and post on YouTube.
After the Ravens win, the celebratory videos flooded in and made me feel a little homesick for Baltimore. The streets of Fells Point, Federal Hill, and Hampden were flooded with cheering fans. I can only imagine how exciting that must have been.
In less than two weeks, I’ll be in San Francisco for Dev Bootcamp. I’ll have to pack my Ravens hoodie.
The Baltimore Ravens face the San Francisco 49ers tonight in the Super Bowl. We’re having a little Super Bowl party at the house here in Atlanta, and I’ll be representing the purple and black. Willow’s ready, too.
Four years ago today (January 17, 2009), President-elect Barack Obama visited Baltimore, the last destination on his whistle stop tour before arriving in DC for the Inauguration.
At the time, I lived a few blocks north of the War Memorial, across from City Hall, where he was scheduled to speak. On a whim, I took a walk downtown early that morning, mostly to check out what kind of a crowd had gathered. I’d already planned to go to DC for the Inauguration, and I figured I’d watch his stop in Baltimore from the comfort of my warm apartment.
But when I got there, a little before nine in the morning, I found myself getting in line.
Hours later, those of us at the front of the line were rewarded for waiting all day and were guided toward the section closest to the podium. I ended up right against the barricade, as close as anyone could get without a special invitation. I was closer to the President than the news cameras.
It was a grueling day with temperatures in the upper teens, but it was worth it to get close enough to see the President speak with my own eyes. I’m glad I brought my camera to capture the energy of the day.
