A Petworth Lullaby
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A Petworth 4th (MP3 format, 2.1 MB)
A Petworth 4th (MP3 format, 2.1 MB)
Last week, intrepid correspondent Dave McKenna recorded the sounds of the 4th of July outside his Petworth home into his voice mail. And finally, a week later, we've figured out how to get this off of our voice mail and on to you who might live in more tranquil environs.
This was recorded at around 10 p.m., and Dave reports that this was pretty much the scene from 6 p.m. until around 2 a.m.
7:35 am
I suppose y'all think this is a bad thing.
Not one for the large crowds of the Mall.
I found this exuberant, spontaneous celebration to be the proper expression of the holiday. Sitting on the hill at 14th and Upshur and watching the show around me -- actually made me giddy. It certainly beats the hell out of the schmalz and crowds of the "official" fireworks on the mall.
Does that make me a libertarian? God I hope not. I hope it just makes me someone who loves free expression.
9:55 am
It is important to note that these arn't the fireworks on the mall. I live in Park View (just south of petworth) and recorded on my digital video camera at least 5 different fireworks shows happening on or around MY BLOCK. It has been like this every 4th since I moved here 5 years ago. And I would like to note that it is rather frightening. It sounds like an air raid. Not to mention the potential danger of letting off fireworks in a residential area with many kids, trees and homes...
11:36 am
Free expression is one thing, but Petworth and east of CH is an area where people have to stop after hearing a loud pop and ask, "was that a fire cracker or a gun shot?"
11:37 am
These also occur sometimes weeks before and after July 4 at all hours of the night. I hate July for this reason. Imagine being woken at 2:45am by loud pops. Try to function the next day at work.
12:52 pm
I live in petworth and actually enjoy the "free expression" fire works. There is no need to go to the mall because they start at 9:00 and go till 2:00 am. Now on a weekday its a little much but I still like the VERY big fireworks display to the left and the right. I've lived there 7 years and its gotten bigger and bigger each year!
3:39 pm
This was my 2nd petworth fireworks celebration and it's just phenomenal. Generally speaking, the fireworks are handled with care. There's enthusiasm...and, there's just a giant show for 360 degrees around the circle (Sherman Circle, in my case). It actually makes the few preceding weeks of firecracker noise tolerable and worth it. I say...just sit back and enjoy! But don't tell too many people...it's just the right size now.