another sidewalk SUV

Like mushrooms after the rain, mopeds are multiplying in DC’s beautiful spring. Multiplying in the street and outside my McPherson Square building.

While I wondered about scooters on sidewalks before, now it’s getting a little crowed with three mopeds and two bicycles sharing the same bike rack every day.

Might there be a way to share this little space, like the moped renting a car’s parking space? After all, like Segways, the sidewalk SUV, scoters scooters are vehicles – they have engines and should be on the street.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Tonight’s the final night of the three-part WPA\C series at the Corcoran. Previous sessions were “Antithesis” and “After-Effects.” Tonight’s theme is “Duped!” and will presumably include a variety of video, audio and performance art. As before, their description of what to expect is lofty and hard on my little geek brain.

Complementing the previous evenings of the series, this nights’ selection includes works that explore themes of politics, identity, and social relationships, while pursuing conceptual undertones that attend to needs under-represented by dominant mass-media that operates using similar technologies.

Corcoran Gallery of Art, Armand Hammer Auditorium
500 17th Street, NW
Washington, DC
7:00 – 9:00 pm
[edited: this post was originally run on the 17th, I have no idea why I thought it was that Wednesday and not tonight. Thanks to teflon prosk for pointing out my error]

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

random embassy art

Walking down I Street NW, take a pause around 20th Street.

There you will find this advertisement for an art show at the Embassy of Uruguay.

Go inside, go upstairs and see the room of paintings by modern Uruguayan artists.

While you are standing there alone admiring $4,800 painting of bathtubs by Santiago Garcia, try to resist the urge to steal the art.

Even though it would be foolishly easy to do, if caught, you would do your time in a far away Uruguayan jail.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

According to Consumerist, maybe you ought to avoid the Au Boin Pain at M & 19th:

1 medium cup (only 2/3 filled) of lukewarm chicken noodle soup. The bits of chicken were actually cold (icy, even — do you guys freeze it?) … 1 Southwest Tuna Wrap, overflowing — literally — with chili-dijon spread. Thinking about it makes me want to gag. The “lahvash wrap” tasted like cardboard and was beyond stale. The whole sandwich fell apart on my plate, leaving just a disgusting mess…

I’ve had some weird stuff at chain-eateries in DC, but never anything this bad. Do you have a downtown lunch disaster story? Let us know in the comments.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

As the world watches Rep. Jefferson try to justify the $90,000 in his freezer, I have to stop and laugh. First, at Rep. Jefferson for trying to deny the story in public, despite FBI video, wiretap results, and all manner of other evidence. Second, at Congress for keeping people like Jefferson, Ney, and Duke Cunnigham amongst their membership without firmly kicking their sorry asses back to their home states in handcuffs. Third, at the American people and the voters who elected these sad-sacks to come to our town and commit their crimes here.

As it seems a good percentage of the House is on the take, and the Senate can’t get off their asses to do anything about the wiretapping scandals that are rocking this country, and while the House Communications Committee can’t seem to tell why Network Neutrality is a must for the internet, all I can do is laugh.

With Congressional Approval Ratings at 27%, once has to ask, are we going to get a whole new crop of grafters?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Brickskellar. RFD. Saint-Ex. These are all great places in DC to get a beer. There are many more, like Cap City, Gordon Biersch, pretty much all of Georgetown, but you’ll find them all missing from the 2006 Top 50 places to get a beer. If you were curious, that list is topped by such august establishments as “D’s Six Pax & Dogz” (Swissvale, PA) and “Dilly Deli Wines and Gourmet” (Mariemont, OH).

Baltimore is blessed with two of the top 50 locations, with Brewer’s Art at 44 and Max’s on Broadway at 48.

But how did so many deserving locations in DC and the surrounds get so badly abused?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Oh my god! I can’t resist sharing this with you in its total screen hogging glory. Look at this weekend’s weather prediction from Accuweather.com. That would be a three-day weekend prediction.

Is this not the most beautiful image you’ve seen so far this week?

See all those days of sunshine and warmth – the beauty and purity that is a DC spring? Oh, I am beside myself in joy! This weekend, there will be no need to be searching for the sun.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

As much as DC has been home to sweeping dramas of grand scale and grander intentions, this city often inflicts a heavy toll on the people who come here bright-eyed and idealistic. They come to DC to work for the government, to aid their fellow citizens, and before long their hopes and dreams are crushed beneath the boot of the bureaucracy, sucking the life out of them slowly. It’s not the province of just our government to disillusion, though, so can government contracting, working near K Street, or even just staring over and over and over again at the Capitol.

In years like these, when the NSA is actively tapping major phone trunks and data trunks, when we’ve had so many turning points in Iraq, we’re three times around the block now, and when all is looking deep and depressing, surely there must be a remedy to help us cope?

Drinking on U Street? The Jefferson Memorial? Iwo Jima? The fountain by World Bank? The Capitol? Leaving town for a week or six?

What makes you feel better when all you see in DC is hazy and jaded?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Over the weekend, I was driving around town in the gorgeous weather, listening to Washington Post Radio, hoping to get a glimpse at the Nationals game. Instead, I heard former Post columnist Bob Levey and one of the Post’s media “specialists” talking about the video that was released this past week of the plane crashing into the Pentagon on 9/11.

That didn’t faze me, but what came next was absolutely galling. In not a few short leaps, Levey moved from talking about people who don’t believe an airplane crashed into the Pentagon, to talking about webloggers are encouraging these sorts of theories online. What’s more insulting, that Levey talked about bloggers as simply conspiracy theorists, or the fact that he’s lumping all bloggers together?

I guess what I have to ask next is: Is the Post biased against bloggers? Is this some sort of mainstream media pushback against a group of writers who are stealing their Style, Sports and Business sections from them and giving them away for free to a younger demographic who no longer needs a paper copy?

Why is there such resentment for bloggers at Washington Post Radio?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

There’s something about mussels. People tend to either love them passionately or hate them fervently. As a former New Englander, I belong to the first group. But I understand the second group’s aversion – it’s simply too easy to get bad mussels, horridly overcooked, stringy, tough little bastards. But well-prepared mussels are a revelation, and that’s just what I got (somewhat to my surprise) at Le Pigalle.

What better way to celebrate my imminent departure for the City of Light, a friend and I thought, than to have some French nosh? We decided to check out Le Pigalle, encouraged by the GOG’s review of this new venture by the former Bistrot du Coin chef. Snagging a table outside, we settled in for some prime 17th Street people-watching over glasses of red wine (no wine list yet, but a few selections of perfectly acceptable house glasses). At first we really weren’t sure what we wanted, but our pleasant waiter Laurent let us relax and waited for our choices without pressure. Ah, the French way…

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs Continue reading →

photo courtesy of michgm

Thanks to DC Foodies for the reminder – Jaleo is having a mushroom special at each of their locations this week. The Wine&Mushroom special dinners will happen Monday, Tuesday and Thursday of this week at their DC, Bethesda and Crystal City locations, respectively. The combination of a lot of work to do and darling girlfriend’s mental illness that makes her dislike mycology are going to keep me away, but you should all go and tell me how wonderful it was.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Checking out the Marine Corps Marathon website just now, I noticed that you can still register for the October 29th race. What a surprise!

In 2005, the 30,000 MCM slots were filled in just 62 hours and 19 minutes. And this year? We’re totally slacking! Five days after the registration started, there are still over 1,000 slots open.

What is it Washington, DC? Are you scared of the MCM size – it is the 5th largest US Marathon and 8th in the world. Or maybe the lack of cash – it is largest marathon in the world that doesn’t offer prize money. Ah, I know – you’ve learned you bleeding nipple lessons and realized that triathlons are better.

Here’s a heads-up then: Coming this fall, the Nation’s Triathlon in Washington DC!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

dc needs urinal video!

This is the bathroom experience at Hotel Lenox in Boston: TV at the urinals.

While I would enjoy the Fashion Channel over sports, it beats staring at the wall.

Any chance that DC is this cool? I’ve only seen urinal TV in trendy Miami clubs before this Back Bay wiz.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

A runner-up for the Pulitzer Prize for commentary this year, Chris Rose, is stopping in DC on his way to pick up his accolade in New York this weekend. You can catch him at Buffalo Billiards on the south side of Dupont Circle, from 3 PM to 8 PM, where he will be signing copies of “1 Dead in Attic,” a collection of essays from the New Orleans Times-Picayune about Katrina and the post-hurricane chaos. Rose grew up in Chevy Chase and started his career at the Washington Post. A portion of the proceeds from each book is donated to the Tipitina’s Foundation, the New Orleans Musicians Clinic and ArtDocs. Have a beer, play pool, read some moving prose.

Many thanks to Alicia Ault for the tip-off and copy here.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Keepsake Marriage Certificate

Originally uploaded by tjbax.

It’s not that I want to bombard you guys with wedding stuff, but this surprised me and I had to share.

Tom and I went down to the Arlington County Courthouse this week to get our marriage license, and then headed out to open a joint bank account. I took the whole morning off work, expecting a bunch of bureaucracy at the County Clerk’s office. We checked the website and ensured all our ducks were in a row- we filled out the application, we had cash, we had IDs.

The whole process took 15 minutes, including the time it took to walk from my car, get through the metal detector, and get upstairs.

Contrast, on the other hand, to the hour-long interrogation and ordeal at the bank while trying to open a joint bank account. Two forms of ID each, multiple repetitions of our social security numbers, employers, work telephone numbers, signatures, blah blah blah.

So remember kids, in Arlington County, the paperwork for a lifetime commitment takes 15 minutes, but the paperwork to let someone hold your money for you takes 4 times as long.

And by the way, shown here is the “keepsake” certificate that is presented to the bride and groom the day of the wedding (as opposed to the official marriage register that’s sent back to the county). It’s ugly as sin. And that line at the bottom? “THIS IS NOT A CERTIFIED CERTIFICATE.” How romantical.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Wha?

Originally uploaded by tbridge.

I was wandering through an office building today and I ran across this door. I’ve seen some funny associations in this town, but this one takes the cake. Drinking Water Administrators. And they get a downtown office? For what, exactly?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

photo courtesy of Washington D.C. Dragon Boat Festival 2006

Well, dragon boats anyway. Saturday and Sunday there will be some entertaining-looking boats racing up and down the Potomac while various activities happen on land. Get over to the Thompson’s Boat Center in Georgetown on 10am Saturday for the kickoff, watch some races from 11am through 5pm and watch Yo-yo, Kung Fu and dance exhibitions between 1pm and 3pm while you wait for the awards to be given out around 5pm. Sunday’s schedule is similar with the races themselves being 500m rather than 250m. Check the schedule for details.

Saturday and Sunday May 20th & 21st.
Thompson Boathouse, Rock Creek National Park
2900 Virginia Avenue, Washington DC

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

where is the wifi at dca?

This is the lengthy wifi pic list in the US Airways terminal at National Airport.

While you might be impressed at first, take a closer look. All those connections are really other computers looking for wifi like I. Wifi we can not find.

Love ya DCA but you need to get your wireless act together.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

It a sunny Thursday. It’s lunch time. It’s downtown. Your friends are ready. You are ready. You even have your own mallet. There is only one course of action: Croquet in Lafayette Square!

As this intrepid trio did today, you too can do tomorrow. Bring your own balls, hoops, and stakes, and be ready to toss a mallet if a squirrel gets uppity or in your way.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

David Maraniss, who wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning When Pride Still Mattered, is coming to DC to talk about his new book on Roberto Clemente. He will be at Olsson’s next Wednesday to read from Clemente: The Passion and Grace of Baseball’s Last Hero, and discuss the life and works of the last great baseball player. In these days, when we have Alfonso Soriano whining when he’s asked to play Left Field, in exchange for several million dollars, and Barry Bonds taking performance enhancers, abusing the press, eating babies and shooting fans, it’s nice to remember that once upon a time, some players cared about the town they played in, the world they lived in, and what it was like to see another human suffer.

This ought to be mandatory for all the ballplayers in town to go see.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs