Motions In The City

I found a perfect mix of urban delight, comfort food and history in Philadelphia this weekend. I ventured 2 hours northeast on Saturday to the city of brotherly love, and was pleasantly surprised by what I found. Driving into the city during a sports game was probably the wrong move, as all the stadiums are side-by-side for the most part. However, the skyline from 95 was a beautiful and refreshing site after dealing with the lack of one in DC. Philly was cleaner than I expected, very urban as expected, and more historic than I ever realized. Our tour-guide was excited about the city that he grew up in and showed us the Rocky Balboa steps, Love park sculpture and alot of America's firsts (post office, train station etc.). Honestly I will need to venture back soon, as our 24 hour visit to Philly was interrupted by a downpour of rain and hail. Because of the weather, I was unable to have the must-try Philly Cheesesteak, take a pic by the Liberty Bell, view more of the beautiful mural...

This morning was my first official day of driving in DC. I rented a car before today, and ventured quickly into the city, but it was on a Sunday...and as you know that doesnt count. This rush hour a.m. (in a car I borrowed from my aunt), I eased my way out of the safe terrain of downtown Silver Spring, Maryland and into the mean streets of the District of Columbia. And guess what? I SURVIVED!! It felt nostalgic, being behind the wheel. The streets were busy this morning, but less so that I imagined it would be. I was able to shout profanities to drivers who cut me off, or wouldnt take the light before it changed, and who wouldnt inch their way into the intersection in order to make a left turn. Ahh...who would have thought that these would be things to miss about driving? With the radio on, and morning talk shows annoying me to no end, I was still in an altered state of bliss. Could being behind the wheel be a form of therapy? It's alone time with music and motion. Two of my favo...

DC became my new city on June 11, 2008. At first I was confined to suburbia in PG county Maryland, and then, finally, as if with a great exhale, I was able to actually see what DC has to offer. It's only been a good 5 day immersion into city life here, but I can tell you what I have observed thus far. Watch your hood ....The city of DC is in quadrants. It is also in wards. Lastly, it is by named neighborhood areas. I have yet to understand the ward system. It seems a little out-dated, and hard for me to really remember. I prefer to deal with quadrants and hoods. The city is shaped like a diamond, and so I get the whole NE, NW, SE, SW references. I'm starting to recognize the areas by names such as Adams Morgan, Logan Circle, Capitol Hill, Howard/Shaw, Anacostia and Brookland. However, you can no longer easily identify the "old-perception" of these DC neighborhoods, because gentrification (I think fueled by the rising gas prices forcing the need to be closer to DC city...

I've blogged on myspace for a few years now, and thought I would spread my wings and step out of the comfort zone and into the "real world." So I'm naming my blog "motions in the city" because as you will realize, "the city" can mean any of the majors depending on what time you ask me. I am always motioning in a city, throughout a city, around a city, away from a city and to a city...so there you go. I'm guessing there will be less personal blogs, and more general (and dare I say) completely random views, thoughts, rants and raves. It will be a fun "motion" with a dash of "e-motion" for the feminine touch. I can't wait to see where this journey will lead. That being said...buckle your seatbelts...as we start this Motion in the City!