Still Life with Robin: On the one-week anniversary of NO KINGS DAY: A Look Back

by Peggy Robin

It's only been a week but I"m already feeling nostalgic about the friendly, peaceful crowd, their creative signs, and the spirit of hope, that persists, despite the overlay of dread that dampens the current political climate. 

While it may not be a long wait until the next chance to turn out for democracy, I'm taking the time this week to post a sampling of photos I took at the rally last Saturday. I chose the one in Bethesda, mainly because I'm a graduate of B-CC and regard it as one of my several hometowns.*, When I arrived, I found a very large and lively crowd, "singin' songs and a-carryin' signs"-- as the great Buffalo Springfield so tunefully put it. (More nostalgia but for a long-ago time.)

Due to the limits on the display of images in a single Listserv message, I've posted the maximum four in this column, and then links to another nine that can be found in the Listserv album: "Rally For..."

"Fight Truth Decay"

"No kings in America since 1776"

"A republic if you can keep it"

"What this rally needs is MORE COWBELL!"

More pix available in the "Rally For..." album, including these:

Only butterflies should be monarchs

"He has kept among us in times of peace standing armies..." -Quote from the Declaration of Independence

No kings except MLK jr, Billie Jean, and Elvis

Cleveland Parker in Bethesda with No Kings American flag

Make Orwell fiction again

No kings but long live the QUEENS (with little girl plugging her ears to shut out loud car honks of approval)

Statue of Liberty with head in her hands 

Three Drummers Drumming 

ACLU contingent

Here's a reminder that all Listserv photo albums are open for members to add their photos. The instructions are in Message #224008   

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* The others are: Atlanta, GA; New York, NY; and of course, Cleveland Park, DC.

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Still Life with Robin is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.

Arts, Crafts, Fitness, Food, Good Causes, Architectural Walks -- The Best of Cleveland Park Day Is Back On This Weekend!

 by Peggy Robin

Cleveland Parkers are resouceful people! Though we lost out on our planned Cleveland Park Day --supposed to take place on June 8 but cancelled due to bad weather...and there was no good date to reschedule that worked for everyone -- that isn't the end of the story!

Thanks to Dega Schembri of Foundation Fitness, there will still be a day to come out and mingle with your neighbors and see what many of our favorite shops and eateries have planned for us -- it's on for this Saturday, June 2:.

SAM'S PARK-N-SHOP DAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 21 - 11 A.M. - 2 P.M.

 

Featuring:

European Wax Center

Foundation Fitness Gym

Paragon Thai Restaurant

Stone Cold Creamery

 

JOIN US FOR A DAY OF:

• DISCOUNTS
• GIVEAWAYS
• RAFFLES
• MASSAGES
• CLASS DEMOS
• LINE DANCING
• MUSIC
• OPEN HOUSE

Support Foundation Fitness  Gym's Canned Food Drive for the Capital Area Food Bank and bring...

• Canned Tuna, Salmon or Chicken (in water)
• Canned Vegetables (low sodium, no salt)
• Canned Fruits (in 100% juice)
• Pastas and Pantry Staples

 

We are also still collecting used athletic shoes. Donate either and receive a coupon for a FREE PT Consult and a FREE Week of classes or One FREE workout.  

 

Foundation Fitness has been Cleveland Park's Neighborhood Gym AND locally owned since 1993! We are a full-service gym with recently updated cardio and weight equipment and renovated fully serviced locker rooms. Come visit our gym, check out our beautiful outdoor Zen Garden Deck or come to our Open House Saturday, June 21 from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.  

 

For more information email us at clevelandpark@foundfit.com [clevelandpark @ foundfit dot com] or visit our website www.foundfit.com

 

Dega Schembri, Co-Owner

(202) 537-0539

clevelandpark@foundfit.com

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But that's not all! The next day, Sunday, June 22, brings us the architectural walking tour that was originally going to be one of the Cleveland-Parkiest features of Cleveland Park Day -- a Walking Tour of the Architectural Gems of Connecticut Avenue. Now it's back with this announcement from the host, Cleveland Park Historical Society:

Due to Cleveland Park Day's weather cancellation, the Cleveland Park Historical Society is offering a rescheduled date of our walking tour featuring the Architectural Gems of Connecticut Avenue this Sunday, June 22nd. Our guide will be Steve Knight, President of the Art Deco Society of Washington. Steve will talk to us about the avenue’s graceful stretches of fine apartment buildings punctuated with active commercial centers. Join us as we get to know some of the architectural gems that make Connecticut Avenue—and Cleveland Park—so special. Highlights will include Sedgwick Gardens, the Broadmoor, some of the fine commercial buildings lining Connecticut Avenue, the Kennedy-Warren, and Woodley Park Towers.

 

The Art Deco Society of Washington is dedicated to preserving, educating, and celebrating the art, architecture, and cultural achievements of the 1920s and 1930s. In addition to being a practicing architect, Steve Knight organizes and leads popular walking tours exploring Washington’s Art Deco heritage.

 

When: Sunday, June 22 at 12:00–1:00 p.m.

Where: Meet between 3801 and 3901 Connecticut Avenue (on the east side of Connecticut Avenue across the street from Sedgwick Gardens).

 

The walking tour is free, but space is limited! Register here.

 

Cleveland Park Historical Society

P.O. Box 4862, Washington DC 20008

Email CPHS

https://www.clevelandparkhistoricalsociety.org/ 

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That's the spirit, Cleveland Park!

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The Get Out! event of the week is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays.

Still Life with Robin: Bunnies and Turkeys and Bears, Oh My!

 by Peggy Robin

Ever since I opened up the PHOTOS section of the Cleveland Park Listserv, I've been looking for list members' photos to fill up the pages of the various albums I've created.

My first stab at turning the Listserv in a photo-palooza was with the Spring Flowers album: I posted quite a few there, and started a very lively discussion link about the real ID of The White Flower (see discussion thread accessible from Message #224861)

Today, the photo album that's waiting for your best pix is called Wildlife In & Around Cleveland Park (and other places). This time there's no need for any detective work as was the case with flowers: not so hard to tell a bunny from a bear or a turkey from a chicken. Well, you may have some trouble telling an alpaca from a llama -- but if you encounter a cute, soft-furred animal at the Kids Farm at the National Zoo, you can bet it's an alpaca. (Click on photo #8 below, cf. llama.)

Because of the Listserv's limits on the display of photos in a single message (that's four, if you want to know, and the max size of all photos combined must be under 500kb, JPG format ONLY), I have picked out just four photos to display below. But keep scrolling down, and you can click on the photo links to see another eight.

Bunny in the garden by Barbara on Upton

Franklin the Brookland Bear [photo from Twitter 6 9 2023]

Big Toms in Westchester County, NY by Jerry Garfinkel

Frolicking baby alpacas at the Kids Farm, Photo by Smithsonian National Zoo

That's not all, folks! 

1. Fox in the snow Photo by Sally H. NoVa 
2. Opossum on the roof Photo by Elizabeth Loeb
   
3. Snake on the trail in Rock Creek Park May 31, 2025. Photo by Peggy Robin
4. Chicken feathers, extreme closeup, Ever After Farm, May 31 2025 Photo by Peggy Robin
5. Stag Photo by Thomas H. Mann 
   
6. Alpacas at Feeding Time, Ever After Farm, Warrenton, VA. Photo by Karen Adler
7. Alpaca, closeup of a sweet face Photo by Karen Adler
8. Llama and pig at Hidden Valley Farm Camp, This photo and more by Hidden Valley Camp

(OK. so not all are of wildlife -- there are some domesticated animals in the mix. Didn't want to create yet another album for the tame or semi-tame!

Feel free to upload your own photos. Here are the upload instructions:

1. Go to the PHOTOS section of the CP Listserv. 
2. Click on the album you would like to add your photos to - for example: Wildlife In & Around Cleveland Park (and Elsewhere)
3. Look for the green +Add Photos button and click on it.
4. You will see an option to "Drag image here" or "browse," allowing you to choose how you would like to locate your photos on your computer and add them to the album. 
5. Pull up each photo you want to add to the album, and write a description in the "description" box. Helpful details for the description box include: your name, photo location, date taken, a caption, and any other info you want list members to have.
6. Click Add. 

Happy [photo] hunting!

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Still Life with Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.

Get Out! Celebrate Juneteenth at the Anacostia Community Museum....While You Still Can

 by Peggy Robin

There are many good options for those who want to celebrate the Juneteenth federal holiday in the regions -- and Washingtonian Magazine has a good roundup of them - available here:

https://www.washingtonian.com/2025/06/12/juneteenth-celebrations-around-the-dc-area/ 

Of the nine great events included in the article, the one I want to pitch to you is happening at perhaps the least known of the Smithsonian's many museums -- and it's a hidden gem. But an endangered one (more on that at the end of this column).

It's the Juneteenth celebration at the Anacostia Community Museum. Here's what's happening for the holiday:

When     Thursday, June 19, 2025, 10 AM – 5 PM

Venue    Anacostia Community Museum, 1901 Fort Place SE

Cost        Free

Get Tickets/Register  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/juneteenth-celebration-power-in-the-past-strength-in-the-future-tickets-1351589002089?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join us as we honor Juneteenth with a day full of culture, community, and celebration! From engaging workshops to powerful performances, this event is a tribute to resilience, creativity, and heritage.

🌿 Morning Yoga & Urban Gardening (10 AM - 12 PM)  Start the day with a Morning Yoga by Grounded, followed by an Urban Gardening Workshop that explores the deep-rooted agricultural traditions of African American culture. Participants will:

✅ Discover the historical significance of canning and root cellars

✅ Learn how to plant now for a fall and winter harvest

✅ Get expert tips on container gardening and winter storage

✅ Explore multi-planting techniques for a bountiful harvest

✅ Take home a Root Vegetable Grow Bag and witness a fresh pickle-making demo

Both morning workshops will have limited giveaways! First come, first serve.

🎶 Main Stage Performances (Starting at 12 PM)

The stage comes alive at 12pm, Hosted by BeMo Brown and vibes all day by Miss HER. The incredible lineup of artists and performers:

🎧 DJ Set – Miss HER

🎤 Spoken Word by Teen Poet Lemonade Dream

🎶 Pinky tha Rapper – High-energy lyrical storytelling

🎸 Joi Carter & Band – Soulful melodies and live music

🔥 Black Alley Band (Headliner) – A dynamic fusion of funk, rock, and go-go

🎨 Community Art & Cultural Activities

🖌️ Interactive Mural – Curated by local artist Brian Bailey

💃🏾 Double Dutch – A classic community favorite

🍽️ Local Food Trucks – Enjoy delicious bites throughout the day

Come together with family, friends, and neighbors to celebrate freedom, culture, and community. This is a FREE event open to all!

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Sadly, 2025 may be the last year under the present administration that the Anacostia Community Museum can remain open. It is under threat being defunded. Here's an article that explains the threat: 

What Could Trump’s Proposed Smithsonian Cuts Mean for Two DC Museums? The White House's budget would pull all government funding from the Anacostia Community Museum and the planned National Museum of the American Latino.

Written by Kate Corliss 

Published on June 2, 2025

https://www.washingtonian.com/2025/06/02/trump-smithsonian-cuts-anacostia-latino-museum/

Go while you still can and show your support for this small jewel in the Smithsonian's crown!

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The "Get Out" event of the week is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays.

Still Life with Robin: "Trivia" and Truth from Ken Jennings

 by Peggy Robin

Today, I take a break from my usual Saturday ramblings about quirky little local things -- what you might dismiss as trivia -- to give over this space to the most celebrated master of trivia, Jeopardy host and G.O.A.T.  Ken Jennings. What follows ia a link + partial reprint of his op-ed column in the New York Times, posted online Thursday, June 5, 2025, in which Ken talks about the Meaning of Trivia, the Nature of Truth, and This Political Moment in America.

And all this time we thought he was just a nerdy-smart quiz kid!

It starts like this:

NY Times Opinion: Guest Essay

Ken Jennings: Trivia and ‘Jeopardy!’ Could Save Our Republic

June 5, 2025

By Ken Jennings

When I first stepped behind the host lectern on the quiz show “Jeopardy!,” I was intimidated for two reasons. Most obviously, I had the hopeless task of filling the very large shoes of Alex Trebek, the legendary broadcaster and pitch-perfect host who’d been synonymous with the show since 1984.

But I was also keenly aware that the show was one of TV’s great institutions, almost a public trust. Since I was 10 years old, I’d watched Alex Trebek carve out a safe space for people to know things, where viewers get a steady diet of 61 accurate (and hopefully even interesting) facts every game. And I wondered: Even if “Jeopardy!” could survive the loss in 2020 of its peerless host, could it survive the conspiracy theories and fake news of our post-fact era?

Facts may seem faintly old-timey in the 21st century, remnants of the rote learning style that went out of fashion in classrooms (and that the internet search made obsolete) decades ago. But societies are built on facts, as we can see more clearly when institutions built on knowledge teeter. Inaccurate facts make for less informed decisions. Less informed decisions make for bad policy. Garbage in, garbage out.

I’ve always hated the fact that “trivia,” really our only word in English for general-knowledge facts and games, is the same word we use to mean “things of no importance.” So unfair! Etymologically, the word is linked to the trivium of medieval universities, the three fundamental courses of grammar, rhetoric and logic. And much of today’s so-called trivia still deals with subjects that are fundamentally academic. [Continue reading the full opinion piece at this link]

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Still Life with Robin is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.

Get Out! It's CLEVELAND PARK DAY ON SUNDAY, JUNE 8 from 12-5 PM

 by Peggy Robin

Cleveland Park Day returns Sunday June 8th, 2025 to bring some joy and connection with the Cleveland Park community this summer. With many of the fun traditions you remember from last year, including live music from some great bands.

Here's the music schedule:

SmithJackson Band 

• Noon - 5pm
• 3321 Conn Ave NW 
• https://smithjacksonband.bandcamp.com

Tennessee Frisky 

• 2:30-5pm
• 3424 Conn Ave NW
• https://tennesseefrisky.com/

School of Rock House Band

• 3:30-4:30pm
• Main Stage - Sam's Park & Shop
• https://www.schoolofrock.com/locations/washingtondcclevelandpark
  

And a surprise guest, Dominique Hall (Miss America DC) will be performing her violin solo around 1:30/2pm in the music tent outside of CVS/3321 Bistro. 

We'll also have performances from local groups, a curry cook-off of local restaurants, and of course, the pet fashion show!

Let’s come together during these uncertain times and celebrate what makes our community unique. 💛

Cassandra Hetherington

Cleveland Park  Main Street Director

https://districtbridges.org/main-street/cleveland-park/

202-929-8124 | cassandra@districtbridges.org  |  districtbridges.org  

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This weekend, June 7 & 8, is the most event-packed of all the weeks in DC's month-long celebration of World Pride 2025. Too many events to list here! Fortunately, there's a comprehensive website with all the information you need in one place: https://worldpridedc.org/  Click on the Events tab for attendance info and tips on getting the most out of each event. The main event, the Pride Parade, is on Saturday, June 7, starting at 2pm at 14th & T and ends at 9th and Pennsylvania Ave.

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The "Get Out!" event of the week is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays.

Still Life with Robin: What's Sauce for the Greek Is Sauce for the Brit

 by Peggy Robin

 

If you watched the new Gordon Ramsay show Secret Service (first aired May 22, 2025 on Fox), you'll know that the celebrity chef-British restaurateur-kitchen tyrant-cum-food-critic TV star recently hosted an episode in which he took on The Parthenon, a beloved neighborhood fixture of Greek cuisine in Chevy Chase, found it seriously wanting (synonym: disgusting) -- and ordered a complete makeover.

The Ramsay-approved version is now open for business, and at least one list member has dined there ... and was not terribly impressed (see Message  #225698).

 

Washingtontonian Magazine has now done its own version of a "secret service" undercover look ....turning the tables to check up on three Gordon Ramsay owned-and-operated restaurants in DC.

 

Here's the executive summary:

 

Hell's Kitchen: DC Dept of Health inspection in April 2025 uncovered 11 violations

Street Pizza: DC Dept of Health inspection in February 2025 found 2 violations, including improper food storage

Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips: DC Dept of Health inspection in September 2024 found 1 violation, improperly stored wiping cloths

 

Note: All violations were corrected within the allotted time.

 

But don't go by my little scorecard; read the whole article.

 

Want to check things out for yourself IRL?

Make reservations here:

The Parthenon: https://parthenondc.com/page/reservations

Hell's Kitchen: https://www.opentable.com/r/gordon-ramsay-hells-kitchen-washington-dc-washington 

Street Pizza: https://www.opentable.com/r/gordon-ramsay-street-pizza-washington-dc-washington

Fish & Chips: "Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips is a fast-casual restaurant, so we don't accept bookings or reservations."

 

Not grossed out by the thought of rats in restaurants? Stay home, dine in, and watch Ratatouille!

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Still Life with Robin in posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.

Get Out! Stand Up for fREADom to Read - May 31 at 5pm at MLK Library

by Peggy Robin 

FREADOM Town Hall Rally

Saturday, May 31
5:00pm - 7:00pm

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - Central Library

901 G St, NW - in the Auditorium 

Authors, Educators, Parents, and Artists including Kwame Alexander, Ibram X. Kendi, Jason Reynolds, will gather to stand-up for creative expression, access to all books, and the freedom to learn.

HEY. C’MON. COME OUT. WHEREVER YOU ARE. WE NEED TO HAVE THIS MEETING… Authors, Educators, Parents, and Artists including Kwame Alexander, Ibram X. Kendi, Amanda Jones, Meg Medina, Jason Reynolds, and more will gather at a Town Hall Rally to stand up for creative expression, access to all books, and the freedom to learn. 

There has never been a more important time to peacefully organize, mobilize, and continue to fight against actions and policies that will have a real and lasting harm on students, libraries, schools, and our democracy. As Robert Frost wrote, Freedom lies in being bold. Let us be bold and lift our voices…Together. 

This event is part of the Zinn Education Project's Teach Truth Day of Action  and will also be streamed live on DC Public Library's YouTube Channel.

More information: https://dclibrary.libnet.info/event/13750113  

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The "Get Out!" event of the week is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Thursdays.

Still Life with Robin: Look to the Heavens

 by Peggy Robin

Whatever is going wrong in your life, in the city, in the country, or in the world, we will always have the beauty and the wonder of the night sky to behold.

If you were up in the wee hours of the morning, you may have witnessed a lovely astonomical event, Moon Meets the Morning Star." 

May 24 – Moon Meets the 'Morning Star'

On this special morning, the crescent Moon will align beautifully with Venus, often called the Morning Star. This celestial pairing will be visible just before sunrise—don't miss the chance to witness this tranquil and rare sight in the early dawn sky.

A perfect moment for early risers, skywatchers, and nature lovers

From: The beauty of the earthtsdSepronog 9Mg0t81i 715:3t074m41425 4MPaayu61i2gm5ag830tl3   · 

Missed it? Then mark your calendars for the Full Strawberry Moon on June 11.

Strawberry Moon 2025: When and How to See June's Sweetest Full Moon

Get ready for a celestial treat as the Full Strawberry Moon lights up the night sky on June 11, 2025. Learn why it's called the Strawberry Moon, the best viewing times, and what makes this lunar event so special. Mark your calendars—on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, the Full Strawberry Moon will reach peak illumination..

From: https://www.cozumgazetesi.com/strawberry-moon-2025-when-and-how-to-see-june-s-sweetest-full-moon/520/

June 21 is the summer solstice, the longest day of the year (in hours of sunlight). For a good primer on the summer solstice, go to: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-june-solstice/

August 12 gives you TWO good reasons to skywatch:

1. It's the time to lie out in a meadow and make wishes on the falling stars in the Perseid Meteor Shower. "The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most prolific meteor showers of the year. The shower is active from mid-July until late August and will peak on the night of Aug. 12, before dawn on Aug. 13, 2025.  Viewers should start observing around 11 p.m. local time when the rates of shooting stars increase and can watch the sky until dawn. Unfortunately, the peak occurs just three days after a full moon, so moonlight may wash out fainter meteors.: Source: https://www.space.com/32868-perseid-meteor-shower-guide.html

2. You can see Jupiter and Venus together, without a telescope:  "...[T]he pair will...share the same right ascension – called a conjunction.They will be a little too widely separated to fit comfortably within the field of view of a telescope, but will be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars." Source: https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20250812_15_100

September 7: Total Lunar Eclipse of the Full Corn Moon 

On the night of Sept. 7-8, 2025, a total lunar eclipse will be visible from Earth. Asia and western Australia will be in the prime positions, offering views of the entire total lunar eclipse. Glimpses of some phases will also be possible from Europe, Africa, eastern Australia and New Zealand.

This event will not be observable from the Americas.

Lunar eclipses happen when Earth is between the sun and a full moon. During the event, the moon moves through Earth's umbra, the dark center of its shadow.

Source: https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/total-lunar-eclipse-september-7-2025/ where-to-see-the-blood-moon-lunar-eclipse

Can't jump on a plane to Perth in September to get the best view of the full lunar eclipse? You don't have to miss it -- you can watch it live-streaming on the Time & Date YouTube channel.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1070638404932231

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Still Life with Robin is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.

Get Out! And Get 300+ Views of DC at the Exposed DC Photography Collection at the MLK Library, Sat, 5/24, 10:am-5:30pm

by Peggy Robin

Photos in the Exposed DC Photography Collection taken by Ben Crosbie, Marcos Huerta, 

Carol Jean Stalun, Joseph Gruber, and Richard Barnhill

Join us for an all-day celebration on the day we launch the Exposed DC Photography Collection at the DC Public Library! This celebration of local photography will showcase more than 300 stunning images throughout the day on the MLK Library 5th floor and its incredible rooftop garden.

Saturday, May 24, 2025 from 10am - 5:30pm

Reception from 5:30pm - 9pm

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library 5th floor & Rooftop Garden 

901 G St NW, Washington, D.C. 20001

https://www.dclibrary.org/plan-visit/martin-luther-king-jr-memorial-library

Schedule of Activities 

10am – Celebration begins. Join us on the 5th floor for ongoing and special activities through the day. 

All day – Projections and displays of the Exposed DC Photography Collection, including:

An ongoing site-specific projection installation by D.C. multimedia artist Robin Bell, with special live remix performances at 2 p.m., 6 p.m., and 7 p.m. transforming archival images into a dynamic visual experience.

All day – Make your own Artist File. Photographers and other artists are invited to bring items to create an Artist File at the DC Public Library. This is a way to preserve your history and help future researchers learn about our region’s art scene. You can donate exhibition postcards, artist CVs, brochures and catalogs, correspondence, and other ephemera.

11 a.m. – Workshop – Care of Digital Files. Join The People’s Archive staff for an overview of how to care for your digital files. Learn simple strategies for organizing, storing, and extending the life of your digital files. Meet on the 5th floor. (1 hour)

1 p.m. – Guided tour of Memory Lab. Join The People’s Archive staff for a tour of the Memory Lab at The Labs. Learn about resources available for personal archiving of documents, home movies, and photographs. Meet on the 5th floor. (30 minutes)

2 p.m. – Robin Bell – Live Remix. Watch a dynamic presentation of the Exposed DC Photography Collection and other cultural images. (30 minutes)

3 p.m. – Guided tour of People’s Archive. Join The People’s Archive staff for a special tour of The People’s Archive. View treasures from the collection and learn more about services and resources available in the DC Public Library’s local history department. Meet on the 5th floor. (45 minutes)

5:30 – 9 p.m. – Evening Reception. Join us on the 5th floor and the rooftop garden to celebrate two decades of photography featured in the Exposed DC Photography Collection.

Free but registration required (donation suggested), as capacity of the space is limited. 

• 6 p.m. Robin Bell performs a live remix of Exposed DC images (30 minutes)
• 7 p.m. Champagne toast (15 minutes)
• 7:15 p.m. Robin Bell performs his final live remix of the evening.
• Music by DJ Sequoia and v:shal
• Registered attendees receive one drink ticket with more available for donation on site. Non-alcoholic beverages and limited snacks included. 

The collection is also available at https://digdc.dclibrary.org 

More information: https://exposeddc.com/2025/05/23/the-exposed-dc-photography-collection-is-live/

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The "Get Out!" event of the week is published on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local usually on Thursdays, but this week, it was delayed until Friday 

Still Life with Robin: One more for the Murphy's Law & Corollaries Compendium

 by Peggy Robin

A few days ago -- on the coldest day in May* -- I had my spring A/C checkup (twice yearly, part of my annual HVAC service contract). I had to drop the thermostat down to 64°F to get the AC to kick on. Fortunately, the system checked out OK and so the tech guy only had to run it for 20 minutes or so.

The exact opposite thing happened last fall. The AC tech guy came out on the hottest day in October and had to turn on the heat. 

It seems to me this has been the situation, fall and spring, for at least the last five years. I'm prepared to declare there's a Murphy's Law Corollary at work here: "The day you schedule your fall heating check will turn out to be the hottest day of the month while the day you schedule your spring AC check will turn out to be the coldest day of the month." 

Call it Robin's Law of Inverse HVAC System Checks

Not quite as memorable and concise as the many other observations in the Murphy's Law canon, but still admissible on the merits, I'd say.

Now for trivia buffs who may be interested, here's the history of the original Murphy's Law (Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong):

https://www.military.com/history/real-life-murphy-and-how-murphys-law-came-be.html

Interested in the corollaries and variations? You may spend more time perusing these lists than the number of chuckles elicited (another possible Murphy's Law corollary?), but be my guest:

https://heartontheleft.wordpress.com/2008/10/01/murphys-law-and-its-various-variations/

http://bluebox.ippt.pan.pl/~vkoval/vk_files/funny/Murphy.pdf 

https://www.cs.cmu.edu/~fgandon/miscellaneous/murphy/

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* That would be Friday, May 9, when it was 51°F in the wee hours of the morning and 61°F when the AC tech showed up around 10am

https://www.extremeweatherwatch.com/cities/washington-dc/year-2025  

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Still Life with Robin is posted on the Cleveland Park Listserv and on All Life Is Local on Saturdays.