The Torpedo Factory

A vibrant art scene is an integral component to any city aspiring to attract the creative movement into their neighborhoods. I have never heard of the Torpedo Factory Art Center before stumbling upon this former torpedo factory located on the the waterfront of Old Town Alexandria. The factory also served as a storage facility for the Federal Government after World War II. This is where the archives of the Nuremberg War Crimes Trials and the dinosaur bones from the Smithsonian were stored after the war. 

The City of Alexandria bought the building in 1969 but didn't occupy it until 1974 when Marian Van Landingham, the founder and and first director of the factory, proposed the conversion of the factory into a gallery of workshops for artists in 1974. It was this grassroots efforts by local artists, city officials and patron of the arts that has resulted into one of the most fascinating art centers I've ever seen in the US. The Torpedo Factory houses eighty-two artist studios, six galleries, The Art League School and Gallery and the Alexandria Archaeology Museum. 

Like a lot of cities around the world, Grand Rapids could benefit from the establishment of a similar facility. The city should ride the success of ArtPrize and push for a multi-use, year round, creative facility to house as many artists and art programs in the metro downtown area. 

Main arcade

James Steele photography

I was struck by the vibrant colors of this Chinatown photograph by James Steele.

Three floors of artist studios

A display of handbags from one of the studios

A collage of Charles Hamilton Houston, an American lawyer credited for killing the Jim Crow laws in America

Abstract artist, Susan Finsen's studio

Hand sinks in the public space

Exterior of the Torpedo Factory

Animal-mache on the second floor

I got a kick out of this wall painting by the entrance

The Forgotten Heroes of World War II

During the Japanese-American war in the Philippines from December 7, 1941 to September 2, 1945, over one million Filipino lives were lost. In the one month Battle of Manila from February3 to March 3, 1945, perhaps the most devastating battle of World War II, 100,000 Filipino civilians lost their lives to the brutal savagery of the Imperial Japanese Army and the all out bombardment of Manila by the US Armed Forces. Gone were the vast number of university buildings, churches, monasteries, government and other public buildings dating back to the three hundred years of Spanish occupation. In one month, the "Pearl of the Orient," was obliterated to rubbles. The US rebuilding of Manila after the war hardly came as the rebuilding of Japan took precedent due to threats of communism from neighboring China. Japan got its cultural infrastructure back. The Philippines lost her cultural soul forever.

During the course of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, 250,000 Filipino soldiers volunteered to fight side by side with their American counterparts in the great battles of Corregidor, Leyte Gulf, Manila and the infamous Bataan Death March. As a commonwealth of the US during the war, these Filipino soldiers were promised benefits entitled to all veterans for their service and valor. However, President Harry Truman signed into law the Rescission Act of 1946, reneging on that promise, leaving those who served with nothing.

After years of countless efforts to reinstate the benefits owed these Filipino veterans during the Bush and Clinton years, President Obama finally signed the $198 million veterans package in February 23, 2009, finally granting restitution to the remaining 15,000 veterans of war. Veterans who are US citizens received $15,000 each, while non-US citizens received $9,000 each. A very small sum considering the original 250,000 veterans who served, not including benefits such as education and medical.  It is not much, but Filipinos are thankful. 

While admiring the beauty of the National World War II Memorial in the National Mall last week, I discovered a 17-ft. granite memorial pillar dedicated to the Philippines, alongside the 48 US states (1945), District of Columbia, territory of Alaska and the commonwealths of Guam, American Samoa, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. In addition, I was pleased to see Philippine battle sites recognized in the memorial (pictured below). I paused, took pictures of each acknowledgment, and cherished my moment of discovery and pride. 

Finally, those Filipino veterans have their rightful place in history. Maraming salamat, po.

Scenes From The Mall

The Washington Monument

Lincoln from a different perspective

Student cadet at the World War II Memorial

Gettysburg Address

I love how this photograph of the reflecting pool turned out

An American flag left behind

Teenagers honoring those who served

Lincoln's eagle

Two boys resting

Lincoln Memorial

The classic tourist photo

Fighting for our freedom (Korean War Veterans Memorial)

The Greatest Speech

Honor those who served

I couldn't think of a more appropriate photograph to honor those who served the country

Three soldiers (Vietnam Veterans Memorial)

Reflecting Pool

Let's never forget...

The Landini Brothers - Old Town Alexandria

Discovering a fabulous restaurant is one of the pure joys of traveling on business. Add a colleague who enjoys the discovery as much as I do makes for a great adventure. After situating ourselves in our rooms at the enormous Gaylord National Hotel in Maryland, my friend Michael De Meyer and I hopped in a cab and took the ten minute cab ride across the channel to Old Town Alexandria. The concierge at Gaylord recommended the Landini Brothers restaurant on King Street. 

Landini Brothers, in some ways, is an Italian restaurant you can expect to see in any major food city. Cozy atmosphere with dark woods, exposed stone walls, white tablecloths, waiters in vests, the aroma of garlic and Frank Sinatra belting It might as well be Spring. I expected to see brothers Franco and Noe in their dark suits and strong Italian-American accents greeting each guests as they enter the cave-like establishment. But to my disappointment, neither was present on this beautiful evening in Alexandria.

Michael and I jumped on the opportunity to sit outside on the front porch - a definite treat for Michiganders in March. As expected, throngs of tourists and St. Patty's revelers filled the sidewalks of King Street, Old Town's main outpost for shops, restaurants and people watching.

We noshed on the risotto with truffles to start our Tuscan evening. While I would normally order an Italian red wine, our server highly suggested the Trefethen cabernet sauvignon - a cab my wife and I used to enjoy during our stint in Peter Island Resort in the British Virgin Islands. Just as I remembered, the wine is a softer cab with just the right balance of oak, plums and black cherry. It was a perfect match for the cozze alla marinara and my perfectly cooked bistecca di manzo alla aglio. 

A nice cab, good Tuscan food, al fresco dining, seventy degrees and Sinatra...it couldn't have been more perfect.

Risotto with Cream and Truffles

Salad with Vegetables and Italian Vinaigrette

Mussels cooked in Marinara

NY Strip Steak with Garlic Butter

Fettucine with Truffles

2006 Trefethen Cab

Historic Tour of Old Town Alexandria

The City Hall on King St. was designed to look like the previous City Hall which burned down in 1871

Sometimes it is good to have a purpose when visiting a town, especially a historic town like Old Town Alexandria. It is so easy to get sucked into all the retail stores and restaurants that you forget that the city itself has a rich history. So on this day, I brought a copy of the Old Town historic walking tour guide inside the Alexandria Visitors Guide (source of my captions*) and took in the soul of the city through the eyes of my camera. I definitely left with a better admiration for the history of this beautiful downtown area in Virginia.

Ramsay House Visitor Center at 221 King St. is the replica of the home by one of the city's founding fathers, Scottish Merchant William Ramsay. 

Gadsby's Tavern was once an important social and political center in the United States. Englishman John Gadsby operated the tavern from 1796 to 1808, holding dance assemblies, theatrical and musical performances, and meetings. George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and MArquis de LAfayette are among the prominent patrons who drank and slept here. Pictured above is the dining room with the original fireplace.

Server at the Gadsby's Tavern

The Athenaeum was built in 1851 as the Bank of the Old Dominion, and it served many prominent people, including Robert E. Lee. It is now home to the Virginia Fine Arts Association, which presents exhibits of paintings and fine arts.

The Carlyle House was once the home of wealthy Scottish merchant and city founder, John Carlyle, the impressive mansion features the finest of early georgian architecture in the city. Carlyle served as his own architect, building the house in three years and finishing in 1754. Today, the home is a museum offering visitors a glimpse at the life of Alexandria's wealthiest families.

The Captain's Row is one of the oldest blocks in Alexandria. It's a scenic street with a cobblestone road and historic row houses framed by trees. Many of the houses on this street were built by sea captains at a time when Alexandria was a major point of entry for ships from overseas.

American flags are proudly flown all over Old Alexandria including this one on Prince St. in Captain's Row.

508 Cameron St. is a recreation of a townhouse once owned by George Washington. The original home was built in 1796 to provide convenient quarters for the President when business or weather prevented his return to Mt. Vernon.

The Yeaton-Fairfax House is an interesting building ofGeorgian and Federal architecture. It was built around 1803 by William Yeaton, a merchant ship owner from New Hampshire who came to Alexandria to establish himself as a builder and architect. He is credited for designing the Washington family tomb in Mt. Vernon.

Christ Church, circa 1773. It is said that George Washington played a part in the building of the church and an original pew holder. Robert e. Lee was another member of the congregation.

One of several late 18th and 19th century tombstones on the grounds of Christ Church

The Lyceum was originally built as a venue for lectures, scientific experiments and reading, the building has served a series of purposes in its long history, from Civil War hospital to the nation's first Bicentennial Center. Today, it is home to the Alexandria's History Museum.

A statue to commemorate the soldiers who lost their lives in the Civil War

On the courtyard of City Hall is Market Square; the country's oldest farmers market. Above, a tour guide takes visitors on a tour of the Market Square.

The Old Town theater is the first permanent theater in Alexandria. It was built in 1914

Friendship Firehouse Museum, the home of the first volunteer fire company in Alexandria. The firehouse was built in 1855, remodeled in 1871, and renovated in 1922. Inside, you can see historic fire-fighting technology and a meeting room furnished exactly the way it was in during the late 19th century.