While Comrade Billington pooh-poohs those of us who like to go roundy-round at Hains Point at noon, we all know he’s just jealous he can’t get away to join us at lunch. 

But, change is in the air at the point – our old friend, “The Awakening,” is going to be dug up and moved:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/21/AR2007042101477.html?hpid=artslot.  Apparently, the old guy isn’t owned by the Park Service, but rather by some private entity who’s selling him to a developer trying to create some sense of place in his otherwise sterile suburban development.

The plan has met with some controversy, and I can’t say I disagree with the notion that because of the obvious controversy, “no wonder the purchase was kept secret.” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/24/AR2007042402027.html)  Raw Fisher, on the Post website has loads of information (including background on the artist, Seward Johnson -  http://www.sewardjohnson.com/site/index.html), and his column culminates in the suggestion that the developer is “stealing” a treasure:

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/2007/04/the_hand_at_haines_point_steal.html

Still, it seems like all of this is a done deal.  I just hope it doesn’t screw up the noon Hains Point rides.  It also leads to an obvious question.  What’s going to fill the commemorative void at the point? 

A bicycle sculpture?

Some kind of pop culture reference?

A political statement?

Maybe something for the kids?

So what will we look up at as we go roundy-round?  What entity will exist at the point which will cause us to warn our fellow cyclists of clueless tourists trying to make it across the street?  One suggestion is the Titanic Memorial, a distraught woman who current looks out at the Washington Channel amidst the urban renewal mistake that is the SW waterfront.  A contest of sorts is described here:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/25/AR2007042502789.html

-- posted by Chris