Presidents’ Day at the FDR Memorial

When people think of Presidents’ Day, most think of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, two of America’s great leaders. But according to some tourists taking in our town’s grand memorials, the day has evolved into a celebration of all presidents, both old and new.

One of them being President Franklin Roosevelt, who served from 1933-1945. His legacy includes the “New Deal” which among other things helped to jump-start the economy and created Social Security.

At his memorial near the National Mall, Patricia Alexander, who says Roosevelt was her favorite, said she celebrates Presidents’ Day every year. “It’s an honor to be a president. They sacrifice so much for us. It’s the least we can do,” said the visitor from Washington State. “Roosevelt was in a wheel chair and no one even knew it,” she said.

But her husband Charles Alexander says, “It’s a shame that they combined both holidays together.” It’s not a celebration of their contributions; it’s more of a holiday, he said.

With three children in tow, Marico and Lee Hicks of Augusta Ga. wanted their children to see history up close. “I think it’s a wonderful day to honor the presidents and reflect on what they have and haven’t done,” Lee Hicks said.

Meanwhile her husband Marico, an Army man, who recently returned from a tour of duty in the Middle East says, “If I “were president I would push American men and women to protect this great nation of ours,” he said.

Earlier in the day, the Alexanders sat through a President’s Day parade in Alexandria Va. “I loved it. A lot of flag waving. It was very patriotic,” Patricia Alexander said adding, “If I were president I would bring everybody home from Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Photo by: Troy Donte' Prestwood
Caption: A statue of FDR looks out over visitors at the memorial in his honor.

I Still Shop at Safeway

I want to share my personal thoughts on the story I did titled, "News Program Crowns Local Grocer No. 1 in Health Inspection Violations."

This story continues to have a hold on me because it was both compelling and enlightening. Compelling enough to keep digging for more information on the store. Enlightening after uncovering patterns of health inspection violations I had no idea existed.

But like so many people who watched the “Dateline” story, I was shocked and disgusted at the violations the stores racked up. To top it off, I recognize the Capitol Hill store they took the hidden camera into immediately because I would often shop there. That footage showed wires dangling from the ceiling, dirty floors and a deli clerk serving hot food below the safe temperature threshold.

“That issue was resolved immediately,” said Gregory TenEyck, director of public affairs for Safeway eastern division. “The remodeling project is scheduled to be complete and a re-grand opening event planned for April 1,” he said.

But store shopper Autumn Craig, 40, says, “ I’m not surprise” about the violations. “I don’t frequent the salad bar. I don’t buy pre-made food,” she said.

I wish I could say the same, but I’m a busy guy and don’t always have time to cut up tomatoes and shred lettuce for a salad. I trust the food preparers to do their jobs with safety in mind. I mean after all, the store is called “Safeway.”

“I will say that the "Dateline" piece certainly prompted management at every level of the company to redouble efforts to be sure that food safety remains a top priority. There has been increased emphasis and awareness,” TenEyck said.

My hope is that the renovations at the store will address the issues that led to critical violations in the first place. Safety has to be paramount when food is involved. Otherwise Safeway and grocers like it will continue to be the target of news programs and folks like me.

File photo by: Troy Donte' Prestwood
Caption: This Safeway store at 14th and Kentucky Ave., in SE Washington was the target of a hidden camera investigation by the "Dateline" news program.

Black History in the National Parks

The preservation of 19 historic sites that tell the history of the African American struggle is a key component of the national park service’s mission, said its former director and current Howard University professor.

Throughout the national parks are homes of presidents and civil war battlefields “but yes my friends in your national parks, there are areas set aside by Congress to commemorate the history of African Americans,” said Robert Stanton at a Black history open lecture Wednesday at the Northwest campus.

Stanton worked for the park service for nearly 30 years before serving as its director from 1997 to 2001. Some of the historic sites that Stanton listed in his lecture include the homes of Frederick Douglass and Mary McLeod Bethune as well as several sites along the Underground Railroad.

Surrounded by books and standing before a large fireplace in the library, Stanton told the packed room that included students and former colleagues at the Park Service that young people have to be engaged and get involved with the national parks. We need “Parks in the Classroom, youth employment programs and the Youth Conservation Association so that one day young people can say, I’m a Frederick Douglass, I’m a Mary McLeod Bethune, I’m a Martin Luther King, Jr,” he said.

He took a moment during his lecture to remind the audience about the importance of voting. “We must be diligent and not allow any attempt to erode the most precious right given to us in this land. That is the right to vote,” he said.

But he said there has been some attempts to erode the preservation of black and other minority cultures in the national parks.

“It takes a commitment from current, prior and future presidents and individual heads of agencies” to help preserve America’s history, he said. It was my hope that those programs would continue. “I need not say more,” he said referring to lack of support by the current administration.

“It was incredible,” said National Park Service deputy superintendent Alex Romero, who oversees the National Capitol Parks East. “I’ve always admired his speeches, his passion and delivery” on historical issues in our national parks, he said.

The public history program sponsored the event in Founders library. Before the lecture, a reception was held in the Howard University Museum.

Photo by: Troy Donte' Prestwood Caption: Howard Prof. Robert Stanton lectures on "The African American Experience Preserved in Our National Parks System."

Cloud Dining Lounge Continues to Seek New Horizons

To step inside Cloud is to step into what the owners hope will be an oasis from the storm. The high-end dining lounge believes “going the extra mile” to entice customers will lead to a sunny future.

“Business is good but frustrating at times,” said manager John Andreas. “The hospitality industry has to deal with everyone’s request; and do it with a smile,” he said conceding if they don’t, patrons simply “will go somewhere else.”

Inside the Dupont Circle establishment, the walls are painted white with white curtains in the windows. There are several flat screen TV’s along with mirrors that help open up the somewhat closed in feel that’s hard to avoid. Otherwise, it’s your basic restaurant set-up—tables, chairs and a bar.

There is a VIP area called “Cloud 9.” There you will find lounge chairs and beds complete with white leather seating and faux fur. At night patrons inside and outside of Cloud are treated to a colorful light show that bounces off the white curtains in the windows and bathes the sidewalk with a vibrant glow. It’s the Aurora of Dupont.

Before becoming Cloud a year ago, it was Savino’s. The café, which opened in Sept. 2002, served Italian food and just as Cloud does today, offered a list of specialty martinis and cocktails. But “it wasn’t profiting the money necessary” to stay in business, Andreas said.

Therefore the décor and food menu underwent a makeover to attract a different clientele. Instead of Italian, an international menu of Tapas, small appetizer-like dishes, which has origins in Spain, is offered up to hungry patrons.

“It has been successful in other parts of D.C. like Adams Morgan, but Dupont Circle didn’t have a restaurant serving Tapas,” Andreas said while eating two of his menu items: Caesar salad and Keftedes, a type of Greek meatball for lunch. We think it “will work here in Dupont and continue to grow our clientele,” adding that for the past year, the new concept and rebranding has proven to be successful.

The lunch crowd usually consists of business people while dinner draws mostly locals and guests at nearby hotels. On Friday and Saturdays, the place is bustling with people who come to hear the deejay spin hip-hop and Top 40.

Andreas is looking forward to warmer weather in the months ahead to expand the business. “We will have our springtime patio open and hope to “enlighten the neighborhood and venue with our food menu and specialty cocktails.” Until then it’s “one day at a time,” he said.

Check out these reviews on Cloud Dining Lounge:

DCist
Washington Post

Photo by: Troy Donte' Prestwood
Caption: A passerby walks by the Cloud Dining Lounge in Dupont Circle.