Line Dance: Crazy Legs

I like this video of Crazy Legs, a pretty cool line dance that's usually done to the club mix version of Cotton Eye Joe by Swedish hip-hop country band Rednex.



I'm not sure where the video was taken, but the dancers are all competition caliber. Their moves are smooth but also executed crisply, and some of them add jumps and flourishes. This is an unusually vigorous way to do this line dance. It's worth watching it at the higher 480p resolution.

The song they're dancing to is hard to find. It's called Everybody Gonfi Gon (I'm not sure why, since the only lyrics in the song seem to be "Everybody do-si-do") by an Italian group called 2 Cowboys. At Cancun Cantina, it's usually danced as a Swamp Thang.

Here's a link to the step sheet.


Related:

• Line Dancing 101 (11/15/08)

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The US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD

In January I spent a few hours walking around the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Established in 1845 and steeped in history and tradition, the USNA is a beautiful campus even in the middle of winter thanks largely to a concerted effort to replace the early wooden structures with stately granite buildings in the early part of the 20th Century.

As one of the three primary Service Academies, the USNA has seen many famous graduates pass through its halls, and of course it is still the largest single institution providing officers for the US Navy and Marine Corps.

I would recommend that visitors get a quick overview of the campus at the Visitor Center, which has some exhibits and a short film, and then take one of the guided walking tours which depart from there. The tours cost $9.50 for adults and last roughly 75 minutes.

It's also worth spending at least an hour in the US Naval Academy Museum in Preble Hall, which has both extensive exhibits on the history the Navy and, on the second floor, scale models of warships from the Age of Sail.

Walking Tours
I'm not sure if each tour follows exactly the same route, but starting from the Visitor Center, we visited Lejeune Hall (the athletic facilities), Dahlgren Hall, the Midway Monument, Bancroft Hall (dormitories), and then the Chapel (with John Paul Jones' crypt underneath the Chapel). Preble Hall, where the USNA Museum resides, is about a block from the Chapel.

Here are a few pictures from the tour:

The statue of Navy's mascot, Bill the Goat, stands near the Gate 1 entrance with athletic pennants in the background.

Lejeune Hall houses athletic facilities including a swimming pool, wrestling area, and trophies such as Navy's two Heismans.

Dahlgren Hall was the first of the new upgraded buildings and is now used for special events.

Bancroft Hall is in the living areas and also has a ceremonial reception hall.

Bancroft Hall faces the famous statue of "Tecumseh," a bronze replica of the masthead of the 1817 USS Delaware.

The Chapel hosts religious services and choral performances.

Underneath the Chapel is the crypt of America's first great naval hero, John Paul Jones, who died in poverty in France.

USNA Museum

The US Naval Academy Museum was not part of the walking tour, but provided some greater depth on the history of the US Navy. Exhibits start with the Continental Navy era and John Paul Jones, and end with the nuclear navy and space exploration.

Upstairs are dozens of incredibly detailed ship models from the days of full-rigged sailing ships. Many of the models were made by French prisoners of war during 18th Century conflicts with Great Britain.

It's worth at least a quick look, both for the beauty and craftsmanship of the ship models and to gain a better understanding of how the ships were constructed and used in that era.

Getting There
The US Naval Academy is next to the historic section of downtown Annapolis, only a few blocks from the Maryland State House (the state capitol building) and the Annapolis City Dock. I entered through Gate 1, where adults have to show a picture ID.

Annapolis is about 30 miles from both Washington, DC and Baltimore. Take US 50 East from DC or I-97 South from Baltimore to Rowe Boulevard (Exit 24 of US 50). Take a left on College Avenue and then a right on King George Street. Gate 1 is at the intersection of King George Street and Randall Street.

Parking is somewhat limited, so I actually parked in the Annapolis City public garage on Gorman Street near the Capitol and then walked about 7 blocks to the USNA.

Once through Gate 1, you can follow the signs to the right to the Armel-Leftwich Visitor center to find maps, brochures, exhibits, and a gift shop. This is also where you can sign up for the guided walking tour.

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Rasika: Flavors of India in Washington DC

Rasika, a restaurant in Washington DC offering the "flavors of India", has such an exalted reputation that I was surprised to find that it largely met my expectations.

I don't eat Indian food frequently, and most of what I've had in the past consists of curried, stewed meats and vegetables. What I liked about Rasika is that while the main entrees were in this style, they offered many complementary dishes with varying textures and flavors.

The chef is a culinary artist who starts from traditional Indian dishes, but then extends and builds upon that foundation in subtle and creative ways.

The Food
I found it difficult to decide what to order so I opted for the tasting menu, which was a 7-course meal with a bonus surprise from the chef. It wasn't cheap at about $50 but it was well worth it.


The first dish was one of my favorites, the Palak Chaat fried spinach. The spinach was delicately fried to a wispy crunchiness and offset with a spicy, sweet sauce and fresh diced onions.

Then came an unexpected off-menu surprise from the chef, a light crispy wafer made from noodles and topped with a sweet and sour sauce, cilantro, and some kind of chili. I'm not sure of everything that was in this concoction or its name, but it was delicious and gorgeously presented.


For what should have been the second course they brought out the Clams Caldine. The coconut, cilantro, and green chili broth was good, but not that unusual.


The main courses arrived next. The Chicken Makhani (broiled chicken with tomato and fenugreek) and Lamb Pista Korma (stewed with cashew nuts, pistachio, mace, and cardamom) were subtly different than the Indian food I'd had before. The sauce was smooth and slightly heavier in body, more like a bisque.


The artichoke hearts and mushrooms were a little more interesting, having a stronger flavor, as was the naan bread they brought out at this stage, which had just a hint of sourdough character.

But the true star of this part of the meal was the fried okra with mango powder. The okra was cooked to a perfect consistency, slightly firm and crispy without being dry, but the mango powder gave it this incredibly good tangy flavor.


Finally, the meal wrapped up with dessert, Apple Jalebi (beignet) and homemade cardamom ice cream. I loved the ice cream, which had a perfect blend of sweetness and asperity.



The Verdict
Rasika, rather than serving traditional Indian cuisine, is more inspired by it in the sense that I think it takes the ingredients from that region of the world and brings them together into a modern fusion.

The food is innovative and the most spectacular successes for me were the dishes that balanced diverse flavors and textures, such as the fried spinach or the okra with mango powder. This is Indian food with an artistic touch as prepared by Chef Vikram Sunderam.

Getting There
Rasika is in downtown DC near many of the attractions, including the US Capitol and the Smithsonian. The closest metro stop is Archives/Navy Memorial, and valet parking is supposedly available.

Rasika: Flavors of India
633 D Street, NW
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 637-1222

Hours:

Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Dinner: Mon-Thu 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm; Fri-Sat 5 am - 11 pm
Lounge and Bar: Mon-Thu 11:30am - 11 pm; Fri 11:30 am - Midnight; Sat 5 pm - Midnight


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117th US Navy CPO Birthday Celebration

As I emerged from the Archives/Navy Memorial Metro Station on Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown Washington DC on a bright, warm spring day I was greeted by the brassy sounds of a band playing patriotic airs.

I unexpectedly found myself in a sea of both khaki and black-and-white uniforms, and the music was coming from a US Navy band. I had to stop to find out what event had brought them there.


117th CPO Birthday
It turns out that April 1st was the 117th "birthday" of the Chief Petty Officer (CPO) rank in the US Navy, which was established in 1893. As is often the case, Wikipedia provided the clearest explanation of what this means. Citing The Chief Petty Officer's Guide by John Hagan and Jack Leahy, the site states that promotion to this grade is the most significant step in the enlisted ranks.


Once an enlisted sailor is promoted to CPO, he or she is henceforth referred to as "Chief" and entitled to wear a uniform that is indistinguishable from that of officers except for the insignia. More importantly, achieving this rank means that the Chief is considered to be part of the leadership team, with expectations of greatly increased responsibilities.

In other words, the Chiefs are the backbone of the Navy in the same sense that senior sergeants form the backbone of the other services.

I couldn't stay to see the ceremony, but I did take a number of pictures as well as this video of the band playing an excerpt from John Philip Sousa's The Stars and Stripes Forever:




Getting There
The Navy Memorial is situated on a prime parcel of real estate at 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, directly across from the National Archives, several blocks west of the US Capitol and just to the north of the National Mall.


There's a small Navy museum at the site, and the memorial represents the Great Lakes and the Seven Seas. The signature element is the statue of The Lone Sailor, an enlisted "bluejacket" sailor willing to serve the country far from home and family.


As in most places downtown, Metro is a great option for getting there and the escalators at the Archives/Navy Memorial stop come up literally next to the memorial.





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Red High Heels Line Dance

The version of the Red High Heels line dance as done at Cancun Cantina in Hanover, MD is a little different than the one choreographed by Moses Bourassa and Barbara Frechette, which is what you find if you do a search on the Internet.

I think what's danced at The Cantina is a simplified adaptation of this "official" version, because the way the kick-ball-changes at the beginning of the dance travel to the right is unusual and distinctive. It may have come to The Cantina by way of The Dusty Armadillo in Rootstown, OH.

Since it's impossible to find step sheets or videos for this variation on the dance, here's a short clip to give a flavor for how it's performed, annotated with a step sheet:





Red High Heels
Beginner Line Dance: 20-count, 4 Wall
Choreographer: Unknown
Song: Lookin' for a Good Time by Lady Antebellum (122 bpm)
Red High Heels by Kellie Pickler (118 bpm)
Kerosene by Miranda Lambert (128 bpm)

1&2 Kick-ball-change, traveling to the right
3&4 Kick-ball-change, traveling to the right
5&6 Turn 90 degrees left
7&8 Step-behind-step
9&10 Turn Right 360 degrees
11&12 Left shuffle
13&14 Right foot forward, hold count
15&16 Turn Right 180 degrees
17&18 Left shuffle
19&20 Walk right-left

Related Posts:

• Line Dancing 101 (11/15/08)

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Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC

I went to the 2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC last week to see the cherry trees at peak bloom. Though there are various events and performances during this two-week span, I just walked around taking pictures, though I did participate in some of the free, engaging park ranger tours at the Jefferson and FDR Memorials.

The 3000 cherry trees were originally donated from Japan in 1912 as a gesture of friendship to the United States and quickly became a favorite of Washingtonians in the spring, when they burst into delicate pink and white blossoms. (Actually the first attempted shipment in 1910 had to be burned when it was discovered upon arrival that the trees were infested.)

Some trees are lost each year and replaced, but a few of the originals still stand after 90 years, more than double the usual lifespan for these trees.

Most of the trees are of the Yoshino variety, but there is a small section with a few other types of cherry trees (Usuzumi, Fugenzo, Japanese Weeping, and Akebono).

The Tidal Basin
The cherry trees are planted around the Tidal Basin, an artificial body of water surrounded by reclaimed land formed by dredging the Potomac River in the 1880's. After some debate this land was used to create memorials extending the National Mall, with the most famous being the temple-like Jefferson Memorial.


Interestingly, this site was originally planned as a memorial for President Theodore Roosevelt, but his cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt changed it into an homage to Thomas Jefferson, one of his heroes, and personally oversaw the design and construction between 1938 and 1943. And ironically, FDR's memorial now sits a short distance away.

I didn't know that the Tidal Basin is so named because at high tide, it fills up via an inlet on the Potomac River side, then drains via a lower outlet opening on the other side that flushes out the Washington Channel, reducing the need for dredging.

Photographers Galore
Photographers were everywhere, taking either pictures of the trees or portraits under them. Everyone was trying to get dramatic shots with the Washington Monument or Jefferson Memorial in the background.


I took hundreds of pictures, but most of them fail to convey the beauty of Washington on a perfect spring day with temperatures in the 70's and all of the cherry trees in full bloom. Then as I walked back I took some pictures of the Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial, World War II Memorial, and Washington Monument.




Getting There
I took the Washington Metro to the Smithsonian stop, which is about a mile away from the Jefferson Memorial, roughly a 20 minute walk. There aren't any closer stations because except for the Jefferson Memorial (where they drove huge pilings into the ground prior to construction), the land around the Tidal Basin is too unstable for tunneling.

The area is bounded by Independence Avenue and 14th Street/I-395 just prior to the bridge across the Potomac. There's limited parking around the Tidal basin, but it's a congested area and Metro is a better option.


During the festival, special cherry blossom tours are given by the Park Service in addition to the regular tours of the memorials. Meeting places are in a visitors' tent behind the Jefferson Memorial, and on the back side of the FDR Memorial.

I won't have time to go back down this weekend, but the Festival will conclude with a parade on Saturday, April 10 and the last performances will be given on Sunday, April 11.






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