Website: http://www.trystdc.com/
Drink: Chai
You will not believe what I just did. I thought it would be cool to call the blog “Coffee with Kofi” because NBC will want to go ahead and start the pilot shows of my soon-to-be talk show, but also I thought it’d be fun to go to different coffee shops and recommend fun locations. I love coffee and coffee shop environs and so thus the concept. Mind you, Tryst is completely decked out with mod art, eclectic furniture, MAC users 2-1, emo music, and customers who are obviously students with textbooks and newspapers abound. I took out my camera and snapped a shot of the place—with the flash! The beacon of light from my camera made time stand still. Heads, scarves, necks, and ponytails flipped to my direction with angst. I deserved it. Nonetheless, I do recommend the shop with its productive aura and full table service. I’m drinking a Chai served in a two-handed cup and enjoying the atmosphere, but mostly I’m excited to tell you about my first week here in DC.
Although the flash ruined my inconspicuous photography skills, I still managed to snap one without the sun’s help.
Getting from the Reagan Airport to my apartment in Rockville was an interesting experience. I always manage to do simple things the hard way. See aforementioned photography skills. I’m sure someone sent a video of me hauling my two oversized luggage, clarinet, backpack, side satchel, and rolling duffel bag on the Metro to “America’s Funniest Home Video.” I demand royalties. Hopefully the media won’t find it nor splash it on the screen when “Coffee with Kofi” hits the charts. I made it to the apartment and the word “shuttle” was the last thing I wanted to hear. Ha. I met another TWC intern who said we were lucky to be in Rockville as this was the first place he requested after interning the year before. I saw the apartment and felt he was confirmed. Love it! I’m actually housed with another person from northeast AR as well. Those housing people must be on to something.
My backyard; Leachville, AR
Dupont Circle Area; A fun, hip neighborhood near where I’m taking courses at Johns Hopkins and Massachusetts Ave
I can’t deny that gut feeling of my own room and space. Home is always a special place. Home for me is literally an open plain where neighbors are more than a walking distance apart. As a student in Memphis, TN the transition to “the city” didn’t render culture shock, but DC is unique in many ways. There are a plethora of arts events that you could actually spend hours deciding on what NOT to do because if you’re like me, you want to do and see everything. I admit to suffer from chronic interests and I know with schoolwork from Johns Hopkins and the internship that I’ll be plenty busy. Each weekend I plan to explore as much as possible. My first weekend here I saw the National Symphony perform at the Kennedy Center.
Outside the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
A view from the Balcony of the Concert Hall as symphony members warm up.
I’m a Communications intern at the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) (http://www.nea.gov/) housed in the Historic Old Post Office Building. This building is also home to the National Endowment for Humanities. I was thrilled to be offered a position here because I feel like I am a product of non-profit arts agencies that NEA funds regularly. In high school, I was involved with community art outreach programs, theatre and as a Clarinet Performance major in Memphis, TN I really see that I am supported by arts organizations through the NEA. For example, just recently the Interlochen Academy and Center for the Arts, where I was a camper in 2003, received recognition in arts excellence from the National Endowment.
Soon I will be involved in learning about the grant writing process, and more specifically I’ll be directly involved in preparing materials for grant writing workshops to help individuals and organizations to win competitive grants. This would be great for me as I actually am a director of a mini organization that performs benefit concerts for non-profit agencies. Most recently we performed a concert for the Court Appointed Special Advocates and the Jonesboro Literacy League.
We convert admission fees into supplying needs.
Soon I will be involved in learning about the grant writing process, and more specifically I’ll be directly involved in preparing materials for grant writing workshops to help individuals and organizations to win competitive grants. This would be great for me as I actually am a director of a mini organization that performs benefit concerts for non-profit agencies. Most recently we performed a concert for the Court Appointed Special Advocates and the Jonesboro Literacy League.
We convert admission fees into supplying needs.
Outside the Historic Old Post Office Building at the Federal Triangle
Later I’ve got to tell you about why I decided to do this internship the semester I would graduate! Stay tuned.
...my cup is empty.
