By Brittany
Don't Be Glib
By Ben H. Rome
A School Bus and Capitol Hill
Originally uploaded by Smiley Man with a Hat
Just a friendly reminder to everyone as we head into the final days of summer: school’s back in session, and that means school buses are out in force once again.
If you see the yellow flashing lights, slow down and prepare to stop at least 20 feet from the bus so kids can safely exit and cross the street. You MUST stop even if coming from the opposite direction unless the road you are on has a median – this rule is common to Maryland, the District, and Virginia. Drive safe, everyone.
By Max
this jersey says it all by dharmabumx
As August comes to a close, we should all be thankful for the amazing weather we’ve had this summer in DC. Sure, there were a few weeks with temperatures in the high 90’s and Vietnam-like humidity, but for the most part we’ve had many reasonable days in the 80’s – perfect weather for baseball and beer. Well, pretty much perfect weather for anything and beer, but when I look at this photo I want to Metro over to the Nationals stadium, buy a ticket, gorge myself with a halfsmoke from Ben’s, and wash it down with a really expensive cup of beer, all the while knowing that our team is destined to find a way to lose.
With only a month left of baseball for the Nats, why not go drink some beer in our new stadium? Might as well get as much out of your tax dollars as you can. They host the Dodgers tonight through Thursday followed by a series against the Braves through the weekend. Be sure to memorize the lyrics to Sweet Caroline for an extra good time.
By Ben H. Rome
Old Town Gazebo, courtesy of wharman
Ever done a nighttime walk through Old Town over in Alexandria?
If you’ve ever been over across the Potomac for dinner some weekend evening, you’re aware of the “period people” who meander along King Street, sharing the city’s history with passersby and giving the place a quaint atmosphere. (At least, a much better one than that of creepy Williamsburg.)
One of the key places along the King Street corridor is Gadsby’s Tavern, the center of social and political life in Alexandria during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Continue reading
By brownpau
This gets old really fast, but all three escalators at Foggy Bottom Metro Station are out once again, with only one available to act as both up and down stairs for a rush hour crowd this afternoon. GW Hatchet has details, and as usual, I was on hand to get video:
By Don
Page A02: An article about some researchers contending that there’s an evolutionary imperative that might explain why we as humans are more interested in gossipy fluff articles than writeups of more import and substance.
Page A01: An article about the closing ceremonies of the Olympics in China. They’re referred to as “tightly scripted” but no mention is made of the faux fireworks brouhaha from the opening ceremonies. There’s some talk about people’s objections to China’s human rights issues, but they’re behind the fold on the print edition and on page two of the web version. The article is headlined “A Victory for China,” and the print edition directs you to 3 other positive articles elsewhere in the paper but not:
Page A11: An article about China being pressured into releasing 8 jailed Americans arrested in China for protesting, as well as three Chinese citizens sentenced to a year in prison for protesting and another arrested for repeatedly applying for a protest permit.
I guess the folks deciding how to prioritize stories read that page 2 article.
freedom, courtesy of ladyinpink
By brownpau
If you’re in the area of Union Station you might want to drop by the Thai Festival that’s been running there through the weekend, celebrating 75 years of U.S.-Thai relations. They’ve got music, crafts, history, orchids, a kick boxing ring, and of course tons of Thai food. Admission is free, with booths and displays sprinkled around the station, and food all over the place. (Food is not free, but it’s good and spicy.) Hurry if you’re interested; this is the last day so you only have this afternoon to get there.
By brownpau
It’s 3AM and I should be safe and asleep. But there’s a phone beside me and it’s beeping. Something’s happening in the world.
Good morning, DC! The Obama campaign seems to have been waiting for DC bars to close before sending out the much awaited text message. Or maybe they originally planned to send the SMS later in the morning, but had to scramble to get it to supporters before they wake up to the leaked info on the news. Anyway, Delaware Senator Joe Biden is officially Barack Obama’s running mate for the vice-presidential nomination.
Millennium Stage Detail uploaded by mjlaflaca
Cellist Amy Leung and pianist Naoko Takao gave a recital this 18 August, but they also gave us an object lesson in the challenges of presenting music in the wrong setting, here a venue which robs the music of precisely the features that make it worthy of performance– once again, the Millennium Stage distracts from and undermines the artistry it seeks to present. The repertoire demonstrated what is best about chamber music: the intimacy of collaboration between performers, the proximity (literal and emotional) to the audience. Ms. Leung and Ms. Takao strove hard to achieve these goals and sometime succeeded, despite a venue with all the intimacy and elegance of an aircraft hangar.
Ms. Leung, currently hailing from Utah is a former DCer, having been a Guarneri Fellow at the University of Maryland, and in residence at GWU with the (sadly) now dissolved Coolidge Quartet. Takao is similarly a UMD-CP alum, and teaches at the Levine School, in addition to her geographically diverse career as a soloist and collaborative artist. They have several performances in town this week (here and here), and one hopes to see and hear more of them locally and soon. Monday’s program featured Beethoven’s Sonata for Piano and ‘cello, Op. 102, No. 1, Elegy for cello and piano of Maryland composer Masatoshi Mitsumoto, and Mendelssohn’s Sonata for Cello and Piano #2, Op. 58.
Continue reading
By Don
The statute memorializing America’s first drill sergeant sits in the northwest corner of President’s Park, as the area immediately north of the White House is commonly know. [fixed, thanks Kate!] Lafayette Park, as the north end of President’s Park above the White House is commonly known. Of course, most of us know it most commonly as the place the whackos highly dedicated stand outside in punishing weather to make their statements about our government’s choices. That’s assuming, of course, that we think of it at all as we use it as a byway between 17th and 15th street on our way somewhere else.
Ol’ Freddie sits far away from where the protesters and tourists would get a chance to see him, and that’s a shame on many levels. First and foremost, the North end of President’s Park is shady and green in the summer, a welcome change from the stark and open concrete expanse in front of the White House where the tourists pose. I took my shots there on a day when I walked down from Dupont along Connecticut Avenue and on to the Smithsonian, and my pass through the park was a nice shady respite from the hot July day.
This shot faces south towards the White House, just off to the side of the monument.
Beyond that aesthetic aspect, however, is the fact that von Steuben was arguably pivotal in America’s success in staying independent after declaring itself to be a sovereign nation. Continue reading
By brownpau
A Metrobus crashed into an Alexandria apartment last night. No one was injured as the resident wasn’t home and the driver had just offloaded his passengers due to a door problem — just before the bus started rolling away — but both apartment and bus appear to have been totalled. WJLA has more, and here’s some video of the scene from Associated Press:
By Brittany
photo: Adam Tuss/WTOP Photo
As shorter people across the metro area (myself included) know, the bars that run along the top of the middle of Metro cars can be quite high, leaving some to crowd around the vertical poles for security. On a full train, this was always challenging, but the problem was exacerbated when WMATA redesigned cars to have even fewer of these poles.
WTOP now reports that WMATA is looking into the issue and will begin adding nylon loops to the ceiling bars in the style seen on many other urban transit systems.
Continue reading
By brownpau
Spotted this strike in Georgetown this morning and got some video:
As you can see, the infamous giant inflatable strike rat is with them. Any idea what all this is about?
By Brittany
“Local Color” courtesy of RSchley
Thursday, August 21: The Silver Spring Marimekko store hosts some neat events. Tonight a Goodwill at Marimekko – Vintage Trunk Show. From 5pm to close the DC Goodwill Fashionista and co. will be selling carefully-selected vintage and retro pieces for your fall wardrobe.
Friday, August 22: Sean dropped us an email as one of the djs of Fatback and reminded us that their party is moving from it’s old home at Dahlak to The Red Lounge on 14th St for the first time this month. I am told this new place is air conditioned. My dj boyfriend digs this newish party above most in the city, but that is at least 50% for the name and the great tee shirts
By Ben H. Rome
IMG_4238, courtesy of Cavalier92
Located only two hours from downtown DC, Gettysburg is probably the most well-known Civil War battlefield in the nation. Originally begun as a memorial in 1864, the battlefield was established as a National Military Park in 1895 and transferred to the Department of the Interior’s National Park Service in 1933.
The quite Pennsylvania countryside around Gettysburg became the turning point of the Civil War during three days in July 1863. When the smoke settled and the clash of arms subsided, over 20,000 soldiers were injured and close to 50,000 were casualties of the brutal fighting. In the end, Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia was a broken force; the South would never recover from the defeat. Continue reading
By Brittany
A city never content to open just one establishment serving nicer versions of a trendy food (see: burgers, frozen yogurt, wine bars, et al), the district is about to get a another adorable cupcakery – Dupont Circle’s long-awaited Hello, Cupcake – to directly compete with the formidable Georgetown Cupcake.
Thanks to a tip from The Washington Post, I was alerted that Hello, Cupcake will be opening on Monday, August 25.
Continue reading
By brownpau
Got this heads-up from Commander David Kamperin on the MPD-1D Mailing List about officers shooting a pitbull in SE after they saw it attacking a six-year old girl: Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
5 Guys breakfast
Originally uploaded by tbridge
Sure, Jon’s talked a lot about why Dulles can be lame, but there’s stuff to like, too. We headed out early this morning to catch our flight to New York on the way to Seattle, and though we couldn’t find the infamous Diamond Lanes, we did make it through TSA without much hassle.
From there, it was off to the far end of the B terminal where JetBlue makes its home. On our way to the gate, we were lured by the wonderful smells coming from the Five Guys there. Turns out, they serve a mean breakfast. Instead of hamburgers, though, it’s egg sandwiches that they’ve mastered. Its not some pre-frozen egg patty, either. It’s a full on fried egg with cheese, and if you ask for it, bacon, plus any of their regular toppings. It’s right between Gates B70 and B76. Worth the walk, if you have to.
Jeff Maurer
I’ve caught Jeff Maurer at the Hotel Topaz Thursday comedy nights a few times, and one of the things that always struck me is the control in his delivery- most comedians act like they’re telling jokes, which is fine, because hey, you’re at a comedy club. Jeff sounds like he’s telling a story to his friends at the bar, which just adds to the comedic value, I think. See for yourself; I particularly recommend the “Appetizer” clip. You can catch Jeff this week opening for Mike Birbiglia at the DC Improv.
By Tom Bridge
Nothing like coming home to a Police warning. When I called my condo association, they said that the car bandits are running rampant in South Arlington, and that they were targeting cars with GPSes or iPod hookups. So, beware South Arlington.
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