Art Museum and Blues

We got on the Metro at McPherson Square, got off at Federal Triangle and hot-footed it several block over to the Gallery, but we still did not arrive at the Gallery until almost 3:30.  That meant we only had an hour and a half to do a minimum 2-hour tour. Kris kept a cool head. She kept us focused on the tour and we did manage to see all of the museum highlights this day.  However, it was very rushed.

Lesson Learned:  If you need to get somewhere in DC in a hurry, HAIL A CAB!  And you can’t take time for photo ops!

After the museum, we made our way back to the Coach House via the Metro and the little market at the corner of 4^th and E Streets in our Capitol Hill neighborhood.  We relaxed a bit with a glass of wine and were able to freshen up before heading out to hear The Duke Ellington Orchestra at Blues Alley in Georgetown.   The plan was to take the Metro up to Dupont Circle and catch the Georgetown Metro Connection bus to Blues Alley.  We got on the Metro at the Capitol South Station and took that up to Metro Center where we had to switch to a red line train for Dupont Circle.  Our first time to switch lines!  Well, we made it to Dupont Circle, went round and round, but could not find the stop for the Georgetown Metro Connection.  We had a reservation for the 8:00 PM show.  Time was running out.

Lesson Implemented:  KRIS HAILED A CAB! It was a wild ride through the streets of Georgetown and we were literally let off at the entrance to an alley, but we made it to the show on time!

Once inside Blues Alley, they checked our name off the list and we were seated at a table right down in front of the orchestra.  Barbara’s chair literally backed up to the music stand of the leader.  Talk about up close and personal!  How did we manage this?  We very quickly placed our order for the Sarah Vaughn Filet Mignons (the 3 of us split 2 orders) and a nice bottle of red wine (something French, I think!).  After that we were able to relax and enjoy the show. What a performance! The music of the Duke Ellington Orchestra  truly transported us. I think I commented, “Dorothy can’t get much further away from Kansas than this!”  They even played “The A Train”, one of my favs. We would have purchased a CD, but they didn’t have one.  Some of the orchestra members were really surprised when we asked about it.

After the show, we decided to take the bus back up to Capitol Hill.  Shortly after boarding the bus, we had a little more excitement for the evening.  A gentleman of questionable character attempted to board the bus.  Apparently he was short on fare money and carrying an ice pick.  The driver was determined to not let him board the bus.  There was obviously some history between them.  A confrontation occurred in the aisle right beside us. At one point, the driver removed his uniform coat and stated that he would spend the night in jail rather than let this guy on the bus.  The guy apparently backed down, but not until the driver had followed him off the bus.  I guess they never actually came to blows on the street.  Somehow, the driver got back on the bus and we carried on---with three very wide-eyed women from Oregon in the front two seats.

We got off the bus at 4^th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue SE and made our way back to the Coach House after our second very full day in DC.  Pennsylvania Avenue was hopping with a bit of night-life, but we felt safe walking back to our lodging.  It was a high of 85º and low of 51º and no rain.  A hot day.