Pony Fever or Stalking Misty

I don't know how many times I've read Misty of Chincoteague, and every other book Marguerite Henry wrote, but this year I finally made it to Pony Penning Day. (It's been such a long wait that "Misty" and a somewhat ancient version of the book I read are in a museum.)

Wild ponies have roamed Assateague since time out of mind, and the island is now protected by various park services, but the herd has raised money for the neighboring populated island of Chincoteague's fire department ever since 1924.

Every July the ponies are rounded up by "saltwater cowboys" and moved to Chincoteague via a quick swim across the narrowest channel separating the islands. After a rest, the ponies "parade" down Main Street to a holding pen by the carnival grounds. It's a pony Mardi Gras.

The next day, after an afternoon of intense pony gazing, select foals are sold at auction to fund the fire department, but also to keep the herd vetted and healthy, and at a manageable size.

_._

Back here on the mainland, catch a double header at Slash Run this weekend with former Slickee Boy and forever guitar slinger, Marshall Keith who will be rounding up fans when he opens for the Ubangis on Saturday,

and the Split Seconds, Drunk Mums, and BBQT take over the stage with gusto on Sunday. 

Please check the DC Rocks calendar for an incomplete list of many more alternatives of things to do if you are not dreaming of ponies at  the beach this weekend.

Over the Moon

I almost missed the lunar landing that Saturday afternoon in July 1969 because I was too busy playing outside. My mother had to yell at me to come in.  I didn't understand why everyone was making such a big fuss watching grainy footage of spacemen on TV. I knew that Bugs Bunny had already been to the moon and back, and what about "My Favorite Martian?" My mother informed me that "this was history." 

OK. I get it now. And I think it's pretty groovy that Apollo 11 will be recreated via a space age projection on the Washington Monument tonight and every evening through Saturday. 

For another cool scene on what promises to be miserably muggy evenings, I suggest Fort Reno at the top of DC tonight or DOGO at Lubber Run on Friday. (Man, if these bands can get out there and make music in this weather, the least we can do is rally up a bit of energy to watch them.)

Inside with AC, we have The Thrillbillys back at JV's with a newly bionic Johnny Castle. (Congratulations, JC), plus Wailin' Storms, Bound and Tone are making things happen at The Pie Shop- an excellent place to see bands by the by. Both shows are tonight.

The Skip Castro Band (now there's a rocket ship blast from the past) rock Jammin Java on Friday, and the Rock-A-Sonics tear up the New Deal Cafe on Saturday.

When the Rain Comes

Weird is the best way to describe a day that lost its light as the morning went on, almost as if the sun was setting just a few hours after rising. I felt compelled to turn on a lamp as the gloom descended.  Then the rain began.  At first I was relieved by the cool air coming through my window, but a short time later,  I heard sirens. This was the eerie scene down on Canal Road- not too far from my house.

Meanwhile my basement took on water which was not nearly as dramatic as other footage around town, but as quickly as the storm came, it moved on.  Fort Reno's first concert happened that same evening. People rallied here at the top of DC although tarps were de rigueur beneath the picnic blankets.

While I bailed out the basement, I celebrated the return of El Sol with a little K.C. and the Sunshine band. This cheerful little time capsule is also good for whatever angst is eating away at your soul.

The weather may or may not hold for all of the free outdoor shows this weekend, but there is much to choose from with another Fort Reno concert on Thursday,  featuring The Norms, The Osyx and Dirt Eater.  The Nighthawks rock Wheaton Veteran's Park on Friday, and King Soul will shake things loose at Lubber Run on Saturday. And don't forget the Capital Fringe Fest is going on for the next two weeks.

Rain checks indoors include The Rhodes Troubadours Troubadours at the Takoma VFW on Thursday and the Newmeyer Flyer Soul Tribute extravaganza at City Winery on Friday.

Fortitude for the Fourth

For me, the Fourth of July in Washington has been steadily losing its feeling of independence ever since Secretary of the Interior James Watt wanted to ban rock bands like the Beach Boys from attracting the "wrong element" to the mall in 1983. Yes. The Beach Boys. Watt thought that Wayne Newton, aka "Mr Las Vegas," would be a more wholesome choice.  Plus Wayne was a big supporter of Ronald Reagan, the Commander in Chief at the time. 

Gawd. 

I didn't think it was so bad when the Park Service banned couches as elaborate picnic gear.  Those often rain soaked sofas were usually rudely abandoned by the end of the night, leaving park rangers to haul them away, but next came the big crack down post  9-11. 

Before this we had finely tuned our fireworks routine to a precision drill.  We would depart at 8:45 pm with a carload of kids, zip up and then back down the midget sized E Street expressway so that our vehicle pointed north when we parked on the shoulder.  We then ran down deserted streets to the mall where we would throw down a blanket and gaze skyward. As soon as the last rocket fired off, we reversed gears and sprinted back to the car.  Most nights we could be home in time to see the fireworks again- on the 10:00 news. 

Sigh.

This year the Fourth has been flat out pre-empted by politics, VIP sections and tanks. I don't recall anyone asking if we, the people, wanted armored vehicles in the mix. Between snow fencing, bag checks and bicycle restrictions,  liberty feels like it is in lock down here. Even the river has no anchor zones. Here's a helpful guide from the Washington Post for what you can and can't do downtown. 

Uptown- things are different.  

The Palisades parade is an all-inclusive low security event. Anyone can participate and more often than not, risk heat stroke in the name of pageantry. 

After the parade, free hotdogs and watermelon are doled out by volunteers in Palisades park. Free. No VIP.

Meanwhile music abounds this July. Here's a partial listing of concerts to catch:

JULY

3

Rare Essence/ EU @ Hamilton

4

Drunk History @ Slash Run

5

7 Door Sedan/ Color School @ Villain and Saint

Jumpin Jupiter @ Pie Shop (free)

6

Justin Jones @ Hamilton

Last Train Home @ Union Stage

8

Fort Reno Concert 

11

Rhodes Tavern Troubadours @ Takoma VFW

Fort Reno

12

Nighthawks @ Wheaton Veteran's Park

Southern Soul Tribute @ City Winery

13 

King Soul @ Lubber Run

15 

Fort Reno

18

Fort Reno

Wailin Storms/ Tone/Bound @ Pie Shop

Thrillbillys @ JV

19

DOGO @ Lubber Run

The Duskwhales @ Sauf Haus Bier Hall

Skip Castro @ Jammin Java

20

Goin Goin Gone @ Takoma VFW

Rock-A- Sonics @ New Deal

25

Thrillbillys @ Takoma VFW

26

Teen Mortgage/ Capital Offender / more...@ Pie Shop

Watkins Glen Reunion @ Jammin Java

27

Ubangis and Marshall Keith @ Slash Run

Ray Apollo Allen / Goin Goin Gone @ JVs

28

Drunk Mums/ BBQT/ Split Seconds @ Slash Run

Jumping Jupiter @ JV (4 pm)