Zydeco Museum Dance Party

Chenier ...

If you have ever visited the National Museum of the American Indian you probably would have some difficulty imagining it as a Zydeco dance hall. But with the backing of his 4-member Red Hot Louisiana Band, accomplished 2nd generation accordionist C. J. Chenier did just that today, delivering an uptempo 75-minute show that had the crowd two-stepping both on the impromptu dance floor and in the aisles.

Chenier, whose father Clifton was one of the grand old men of Zydeco, offered little commentary, instead opting to let one song flow directly into the next.

However, in his longest stage speech of the night he intoned at one point, "This next song ... they call it old school, but I call it real school. This is one I learned from my Daddy. Now don't tell me we're going too fast. There ain't no such thing as too fast. Here we go ... Everybody do the Louisiana two-step".

For anyone not familiar with Zydeco, it is dance music that evolved in southwest Louisiana by Black Creoles, a group of people of mixed African, Afro-Caribbean, Native American and European descent. The sound is a blend of Cajun music, blues, and rhythm and blues. The music is dominated by button or piano accordion and a form of washboard played with spoons. The few slow songs in a Zydeco set are usually waltzes.

... and The Red Hot Louisiana Band

The Chenier show was the last in the free special Indian Summer Showcase Concert series held at the museum. As you might expect all the performers incorporated some type of Native American songs and sounds in their music.

Tales, Tidbits, and Tips

This was the 2nd Indian Summer concert we attended. To read about Rita Coolidge's performance last month click here.

Touring DC: In the Steps of Lincoln

July annually means the start of the summer tourist season in DC. This year, 4 historic anniversaries are being celebrated in the nation's capital: the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream speech, and the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. To commemorate the 4 events, The Prices Do DC has designed a full-day tour featuring monuments and museum exhibitions selected to help you know more about the people and events of the times. Today's tour:  DC, Abraham Lincoln, and the Emancipation Proclamation. 

Morning

Ford's Theater
Visit the theater where President Abraham Lincoln was shot and the Peterson house across the street where he died. To learn more, click here. Free. (Metro - Metro Station - Blue and Orange Lines, Gallery Place/Chinatown - Red, Green, Yellow Lines)

Lincoln Summer Cottage
The Lincoln family 1st spent time here in 1862. To learn more, click here. Free. (Metro - Georgia Avenue/Petworth - Green and Yellow Lines)

Afternoon

Smithsonian National Museum of American History
There are several Lincoln-related exhibitions you will want to check out here including Changing America: The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863, and the March on Washington, 1963; The American Presidency: A Glorious Burden; The First Ladies; and The Price of Freedom: Americans at War. To learn more, click here. Free. (Metro - Smithsonian - Blue Line)

The National Portrait Gallery
Here is the exhibition Bound for Freedom's Light: African Americans and the Civil War. The building also served as a barracks and hospital for Union soldiers during the Civil War and as the site of President Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Ball in 1865. To learn more, click here. Free. (Metro - Gallery Place/Chinatown - Yellow and Green Lines)

Evening

The Lincoln Memorial

Clearly one of the nation's most cherished treasures. We think it is best seen at dusk as night is just setting in. To learn more, click here. Free. (Metro - Foggy Bottom - Blue and Orange Lines or for a scenic walk, Arlington National Cemetery)

Related Dining Experiences for Lunch or Dinner

• The Willard Hotel (Lincoln stayed here before his 1st inauguration)
• Wok and Roll (No Lincoln didn't eat Oriental, but this Chinatown restaurant is housed in the former home of Lincoln assassination plotter Mary Surratt. John Wilkes Booth was a frequent visitor.

Tales, Tidbits, and  Tips

Here are some suggestions to help you get the most from this, or any, DC visit.

• Consider staying in Crystal City, which is just across the Potomac, or a hotel/motel in Maryland near a Metro line. It is usually less expensive than staying in similar lodging in DC.
• Leave your car at home or at your hotel/motel. We have lived in the DC-area for 2 years and have never driven in the district. Between the Metro, buses, and taxi cabs it is safe and easy to get around the city. DC is also extremely walkable.
• You will have to be inspected and screened at most all museums and attractions. To save time, carry only what you absolutely need with you. 
• In the summer, DC is hot and humid. Dress accordingly.
• It doesn't hurt to download some DC apps on your smartphone. Our 5 top recommendations are DC Rider, Go Out from The Washington Post, Smithsonian, National Mall, and Yelp.
• For more valuable suggestions and tips,check out our The Prices Do DC blog and website.