Great Minds Blog Alike

Finally, someone as obsessed with trainspotting as we are! In our constant search for all things metro, we came across the very visual and like-minded blog DC Metro People. The blog creator and fellow transit enthusiast Ryan Reed has amassed hundreds of self-captured snapshots of metro riders with nothing but his iPhone at the ready. His growing photo collection and the video montage below take a poetic approach to portraying the metro experience as well as the captivating strangers we all encounter on-board.

According to his Q&A with TBD’s “On Foot” blog, Reed’s inspiration for the site was sparked by his own transit encounters and, like us, he sees the space as fertile ground for discussion. Cheers to his effort and others, like Red Line DC, that look to re-engage city-dwellers with their everyday space. We love finding kindred creative spirit …

The Graffiti-Fueled Field Trip

It was a typical Sunday with extraordinary ambition. A small group of strangers convened at Metro Center this past weekend with only their curiosity in common. After a quick exchange of names and pleasantries, they boarded a train toward Glenmont and gave little thought to the destination. This was an afternoon commute that was all about the journey; an art-filled event steeped in the metro experience. And of course, Red Line D.C. was along for the ride.

The event, hosted by Knowledge Commons DC, was a part of the metro poetry series, Slam the Rails. In last weekend’s session, Joseph Ross shared poetry inspired by the work of graffiti writer Cool Disco Dan. As the the last car of the train ascended out of the tunnel and above ground, Ross began his reading. Attendees (and unsuspecting riders) took in the names and sights of  the red line–some even for the first time! After a couple of unexpected stops along the way, the ride ended at Takoma station, where participants were invited to reflect on the ride and its surrounding graffiti.

Check out the flicks from our graffiti-fueled field trip!

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Listen Up!

In honor of the new spring forward, here’s another remix via Red Line D.C. This time, we left the film techniques behind to record our first-ever podcast with red line writer (and willing guinea pig) Nepal. As a featured participant in the video See Something, Say Something, Nepal was invited to share his feedback and feelings regarding part one of the documentary with its director and producer Saaret Yoseph. In an informal conversation between filmmaker and subject, the two talk about filmmaking ethics, the outdated “outlaw experience” and the red line ‘s future with D.C. Check out the chatter below …

* Podcast music composed by Timothy Morrison.