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)