Encounters: Tom B., Andrea L., Heather L. & one more

So I'm walking towards the Tidal Basin with Sam, because it's real close to my place.

We decide not to actually walk around it, though, and after passing by the Jefferson Memorial, we instead walk along the river towards the Hains Point area of West Potomac Park.

Before we turn away from the basin, I spy a familiar redhead walking towards me. Andrea and I went to school together at Montgomery College, and were both involved in the dance program.

When I actually came back after I graduated from UMD as a Dance Major I went back to MC to work on a show and to choreograph a dance, which I was lucky enough to have Andrea in. She was a beautiful mover who I really looked up to as far as dancing ability, aesthetics, and technique.

Anyway, she was out with her bf, sister, and her sister's bf/husband (? I can't remember). It was cool seeing her.

Sam and I start making our way towards the tip of Hains Point when I see someone on a bike. They yell "Hi JR", and while I said hi back, I didn't catch enough of a glimpse to put a name to the face...

That's actually one of the things that really frustrates me...I'm awful with names. I believe it's someone I've done a production with...that's usually a safe bet.

We continue to walk, and a couple of joggers approach. This time I make the connection first and say "Hi Tom" as he and a friend jog by. He says hi back. Tom is another acquaintance/friend I met during my brief stint singing with GMCW. DC's men's chorus is actually one of the largest (if not THE largest) glbta choruses in the country. At any given time, there are about a couple of hundred active singers, and it makes for getting to know everyone...well, a challenge. Tom was one of the other chorus members I got to know and become acquainted with.

So we make it to the tip of the point and start to head back. The weather's beautiful and there are so many people out, especially families with little kids.

One mother starts walking with her daughter in her stroller and I look at her because, well, it's a familiar face. It's Heather, and we most recently worked on the last show I was on stage for, Seussical, the Musical at KAT 2nd Stage. This was back in August/September. Heather and I actually also performed together, geez, several years ago now, in a Washington Savoyards production of The Merry Widow.

Seussical did so well, they're actually in the process of remounting it for May. Unfortunately I'm unable to rejoin the cast for this iteration of the show.

Anyway, those were my encounters this morning. It's nice to see how the weather just brings everyone (me included) out of the woodworks.

Events: Everybody Love Music presents Mark Farina

I hadn't heard House music like this in a LONG time!!

Not just that, a lot of the party kids I grew up on the dance floor with over the past decade, I haven't seen gathered at the same venue in a cypher (with regards to dancing/breaking) since Buzzlife was through a weekly party at Nation.

Everybody Loves Music threw a kick-ass party at Layla Lounge with Mark Farina headlining.

The security and bar staff were also very cordial, and even looked like they were enjoying themselves at times :-)

Also, like icing on the cake, one of my favorite Baltimore DJ's, Lovegrove, was on the turntables before Mark Farina came on.

He's contributed to some of the best sets I've ever heard at Starscape, an annual...festival.

Encounters: Steve P.

We're sitting having dinner at Straits of Malaya, and Steve walks by.

Didn't get to chat long enough to see what he'd been up to, and it'd really been a while since we've actually hung out.

I'd even forgotten how long he'd been back in the states after being abroad for some years.

But he was one of my first friends of choice, in high school.

Don't get me wrong, it's not to say that I didn't choose who my friends were, but half the reason we were friends was because we went to the same school. That says nothing and doesn't affect the value of the friendship though.

It's just Steve was really one of the first people my age that I hung out with outside of school. Socially, I was a bit of a late bloomer, and honestly I'm still figuring things out. But I'll always be grateful for having Steve as a friend at that point in my life.

Establishments: Straits of Malaysia

Had dinner at Straits of Malaya with Sam. It was delicious!!

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Not being a foodie, though, I'll see if Sam might be interested in sharing his thoughts :-)

Encounters: Dean B. and Joey S.

Parking around Dupont Circle/Adams Morgan just isn't easy normally (much less on a Friday night), but I lucked out and had barely driven around the block more than a couple of times before finding parking on 17th St.

It's a couple of blocks from Sam's place and as I'm walking north on 17th and see a gaggle of guys walking east on, what was it...must've been R St.

The first I see is Dean, who I met singing with GMCW a couple of years ago. I asked him what he was up to, if he was still singing/dancing with 'em, and he'll be in the upcoming GMCW Pride concert in June, DIVAS.

As the rest of the group catches up, I see another performer friend (one I have yet to have the pleasure of sharing the stage with). This one isn't part of the theatre scene which previous encounters have belonged to. Joey Salinas is actually a singer/dancer primarily. As busy as I get, I run into and catch up with Joey and he makes me feel like I'm not trying hard enough, sometimes. I do say that mostly tongue in cheek, but it's admirable to see what he's done and exciting to see where he's going :-)

Encounters: Ben G. and Jennie L.

This semester, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays I take 2 1/2 hours of dance classes between 10am & 2pm, at AU.

I exit the dance studio at the Katzen Arts Center and who do I run into? First I run into Jennie L. who I actually last saw in a production of Rent, by Kensington Arts Theatre, sometime last month. However the first time I met (and actually got to perform with her as well!!) was in a production of Footloose at Montgomery College, back in...2004?

Geez...how time flies...

Anyway, apparently she was coming to speak to a musical theatre class about auditioning.

I walked with her to the class room (which was in the Katzen's black box), and get ready to wish her farewell, when I see another stage professional/performing friend, Ben G., also brought into class for the same purpose. I got to share the stage with him when we were both part of the "studio audience" for Studio Theatre's production of Jerry Springer: the Opera, summer of '08.

That was intense, as you could probably imagine. Ben also shares a connection to AU as he is an alumnus of its Theatre/Musical Theatre program. Unfortunately, I haven't seen him in anything lately.

Just one of the frustrating things about working in the arts. You have very limited time and resources to support your fellow artists...

Establishments: The Java Shack

I'm walking around with a friend of mine, around Arlington, and we end up getting coffee at the Java Shack, which I'd never patronized before.

Even before we walked in, it seemed like a pretty chill space, with people sitting outside in the gorgeous weather, some in good company, others on their laptops.

And the baristas were pretty chill and engaged in pseudo-witty banter while my friend and I were trying to make up our minds.

Coffee outside, just the energy of the place was neat. This was reinforced by their business partners, Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade, the Specialty Coffee Association, the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, USDA Organic, and the Lexington Coffee Roasters.

Even though it's been around for over a decade, it seems like this level of engagement and partnership is still something that seems to be catching on, rather than an essential part of best practices, for endeavors, whether they be businesses, non-profits, or whatever.

Anyway, although it was my first time, it will definitely not be my last. Anybody have any experiences at the Java Shack they'd like to share.