Monthly Archives: October 2008

Sports Fix
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Sports Fix: A Plethora

united.jpg
Crew VS DC United by tuxxme

DC United

This Week: 0-2
Current Record: 11-15-4
Current Place: Out of the Playoffs

It’s a game of inches, sometimes, and yesterday’s final & decisive match against the Columbus Crew came down to the ruler. Unfortunately for us, the two near misses for United, with both shots hitting the goal posts, lead United to elimination. The last week’s been something of a rollercoaster for the club, as it was looking fairly grim a week ago that they’d even have the chance to make the playoffs under their own steam. However, it all lead up to yesterday’s showdown with the Crew. The loss moves United out of the playoff picture entirely, for the first time since 2002. DC’s winningest franchise is done for the season. It’s not all bad, though, as the return of Santino Quaranta is nothing short of amazing. He’s almost a shoo-in for the Comeback Player of the Year, after his multi-year bout with addiction.

The Redskins

This Week: Victory.
Current Record: 6-2
Current Place: 2nd in the NFC East

Another victory for the Skins this weekend in Detroit, but it was probably the ugliest I’ve seen. At halftime, they were down to the Lions. The Lions! The Hapless Lions! I’ve got a feeling it takes a special level of emotional resilience to be a Skins fan. At one point, things were getting pretty tense on the sidelines, as Jim Zorn let Clinton Portis have it with both barrels on the sideline as the star running back swooped a towel over his head and ignored the head coach.

It was Santana Moss who got things going for the Skins in the second half, with a pair of TDs. His 50-yard TD reception, burning the Detroit secondary like so many rioters burning houses, got things off on to a good start in the second half. His second TD, an 80 yarder, on a punt return, took the last of the fight from the Lions. Jason Campbell looked solid again, over 300 yards and just five incompletes against Detroit’s last in the universe Defense. They’ll face the Steelers in an election-week grudge-match that will likely have die-hard Skins and Steelers fans rooting for the other guys. The Redskins are one of the best sports/politics indicators. If the Redskins win the week before the election, the incumbent party keeps the White House. If they lose, it goes to the challenger. So, Skins fans, will you be putting your fanaticism before party, or vice versa?

Read on for Capitals, Wizards & Nationals News
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The Daily Feed
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Does Giant Compare to Harris Teeter?

How cheeky is that Giant vs. HT comparison?

How cheeky is that Giant vs. HT comparison?

Walking through the Bling Bling Giant the other day, I noticed this cheeky little advert. Giant Foods is asking to be compared to Harris Teeter!

Now I can understand that the Bling Bling Giant has aspirations, it is swanky new and the center of the Columbia Heights renaissance, but a Harris Teeter? Not so much. Granted, I can find things easier in Giant, but the HT booze selection has my liver in love.

How about you – does Giant really measure up to the Teeter?

The Daily Feed
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Marine Corp. Marathon Winners!


Bronze Marines
Originally uploaded by brianmka

Congratulations to Andrew Dumm and Cate Fenster who finished first for the men and women’s 2008 Marine Corp. Marathon!

I went to check out the finish line in Arlington this morning around the 3 hour mark and cheered on the people who made it through right under 3 hours. One of my co-workers ran it at 3:09. AMAZING. Seriously! I’m totally inspired to at least attempt to run the 10k next year.

Did you know someone who ran? Did you run yourself? How was it?

The Daily Feed
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Cheap Ass Marriott Centerville

washington dc by wayan
Photo by Wayan

This weekend I am exiled to the Centerville Marriott for the wife’s work, and I would be a happy geek except for one small short detail.

This 4 Star hotel only offers 6 feet of Ethernet cable in its rooms. No Wifi, just a too short cable that I was the third person in line to complain about.

Marriott, do not be so cheap. If you cannot manage Wifi, at least give us 10 foot cords so we can hack from bed.

Alexandria, All Politics is Local, News, People, Talkin' Transit, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Joe McCain Calls 911 to Complain About Traffic

Strike one: Calling 911 to complain about I-95 traffic. Strike two: Cursing out the operator when he asks why you’re calling 911 to complain about traffic. Strike three: Voice mail greeting saying you’re working on a “very important family political project.” Joe The McCain, you’re out.

The Daily Feed
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Broccoli is PEOPLE!


WTFBROCCOLI2
Originally uploaded by land_camera_land_camera

The girls over at Bread and Honey pointed out their creepy Cascadian Farm broccoli package has tiny little people peeking out. That is so ridiculously hilarious I had to share, and give a shout out to Summer and Alicia for spotting it and blogging about it.

WTFBROCCOLI by land_camera_land_camera

WTFBROCCOLI by land_camera_land_camera

P.S. – I realize this has nothing directly to do with loving DC, but it’s Friday, and we all need a laugh. People and/or broccoli is just what we need on a blustry cold Friday afternoon!

All Politics is Local, The Daily Feed
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How Crazy Is Politics?

knives.jpg
Miss Peacock In the Kitchen With a Knife by tzofia

Yesterday’s crazy story in the news was about Ashley Todd, who claimed to have been beaten and robbed at ATM, and when they saw the McCain/Palin sticker on her car, the thugs came back to carve a B in her cheek. Creepy. As. Fuck. While it happened up the road in Pittsburgh, it resonated

Yeah, it’s apparently all made up by Ms. Todd. She has now confessed to the police admitting that she cut herself and inflicted the wounds for political ends.

11 days til this craziness abates, right?

The Daily Feed
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[Updated] Traffic Lights Out in Arlington


In giro per Berlino #116
Originally uploaded by ][\/][

It’s dangerous in Clarendon right now, as a “circuit failure” has darkened many of the traffic lights on Wilson Blvd and many of the businesses on the north side of Wilson. Remember, a dark traffic light is a four way stop. Don’t just treat it as a lack of signal. We saw a few near-crashes as we walked from Washington & Wilson to Highland & Wilson. No word yet on an ETA for a fix.

[Update] The lights are back on north of Wilson Boulevard, and traffic signals are again working.

The Daily Feed
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Washingtonian Lookin’ For Pumpkin Pics!


Pumpkins
Originally uploaded by lorigoldberg

After all your hard work on that lovely Yes We Carve! pumpkin this year, don’t you want to show off?

Our favorite local magazine, The Washingtonian, is looking for the best-of-the-best of your wonderfully-carved creations for their pumpkin slideshow. Send your photos—one per e-mail, please—to eleaman (AT) washingtonian.com with the subject line “Pumpkin Slideshow.”

And don’t forget to add them to the We <3 DC pool on flickr, so we can see them too!

The Daily Feed
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See the Declaration of Independence Draft Before It’s Too Late.


60 declaration of independence
Originally uploaded by apium

We all know that a final, signed version of the Declaration of Independence is on display at the National Archives, but I was completely unaware until today that a draft of the Declaration is currently on display at the Library of Congress as part of their “Creating the United States” exhibit.

This draft, in Thomas Jefferson’s own hand, and with edits scratched out and penned in by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, is rotating out of the exhibit on October 29th for document preservation purposes. So go now! While you still can!

If you can’t make it and you’re one of the 33% of WLDC readers actually using Internet Explorer for Windows, there’s a cool Silverlight-powered interactive version of the draft online.

Entertainment, Night Life, The District, The Great Outdoors
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Tourism: Halloween in DC

Pumpkin Close Up
Pumpkin Close Up by RSchley

It’s the week before Halloween, and from the looks of the weather forecast, we might see a few creepy thunderstorms before the big day. So, get ready for some Haunted House action here in town as we come close to the big Trick or Treat day. Here are a few ideas for the next week or so to get your Halloweeen on.

Boo at the Zoo

October 23-26 at the National Zoo

Take your kids and trick or treat at the zoo! They’ll have special stations setup for pictures with the various exhibits, and 40 treat stations. Tickets are $15 for FONZ members and $25 otherwise. Saturday’s sold out, so get on tickets for tonight or Sunday or Monday before too much longer, or you might find yourself stuck outside.

Ghost Tour of Lafayette Park

October 27-31 in Lafayette Park

Who’d have thought that the middle of DC was haunted, especially just a block from the White House! There’s a great tour of Lafayette Park’s ghost stories being lead on weeknights through square. Who knew that Lafayette Park was such a neat place? Tickets are $10. Tonight’s tour is sold out, but there’s space left on each of the weekdays next week, including Halloween.

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Petworth, The Daily Feed
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Bye Bye Abandononed Taxi

It got left, got the boot, and is gone!

It got left, got the boot, and is gone!

When I moved into my house over a year ago, I noticed a taxicab that seemed unused on Upshur Street, just down from the Petworth Eyesore. Since then I paid it no mind, busy with nesting and all.

Then recently, I noticed the cab again, mainly because it was now obviously abandoned, what with a wad of parking tickets on the window and windows caked in dust. Just last week, there was yet another change – the taxi got the boot.

Now, finally, the taxicab is gone. The boot being the last step before the tow-away. And yet again, I enjoy the mysterious, often invisible, but sweet Washington DC city services.

Food and Drink, Getaways, The Great Outdoors, Travel
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Getaways: Wineries and a Pumpkin Patch down 66

Linden Vineyard Grounds

Weeks ago I was perusing my favorite local DC food blog, metrocurean, and got inspired by the Hurricane Wine Tasting post that blogger Amanda wrote about her recent winery trip. Having been to Barboursville recently, and loved it, I was antsy to take a trip out 66 to the wineries closer by, and Amanda provided me and my group of friends with the perfect trip planner. So the six of us set out on an afternoon trip.

Our first stop was Linden Vineyards. We piled in the cars and set out with our trusty GPS to guide us. We had heard this winery was one of the best in the state, and knew it was pretty prestigious and they were serious about their wine. So we were slightly surprised when we turned onto a 3-mile dirt road, but figured, well, if they say it’s this good, I guess you gotta work for it… And so we drove, and we drove, and Matt’s car got all kinds of dirty, but finally we arrive at Linden and it’s just gorgeous. See above. The porch faces the mountain (well, hill, if you’re going to get technical I suppose), people were having picnics on the lawn, the sky was blue.

So we went inside. It’s not too terribly inviting inside, just one single counter, no tables. We had a group of six, and the sign clearly said no groups larger than six. And they mean it. Amanda’s post had warned that the porch was reserved for “members” (ie: people who have bought a case of Linden wine during the calendar year). I didn’t think it would be quite so strict. Continue reading →

Petworth, The Daily Feed
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Petworth Dog Walk Halloween

Photo courtesy of matthamm
Yoda Dog Costume, courtesy of matthamm

Those of us on the Petworth Dogs listserv would like to invite all our neighbours to the:

Petworth Dog Walk Halloween (flier)
a costume celebration of dogs and owners
Wednesday, October 29, 7pm @ Domku

Contestants – meet at the Clark School @ 6:30pm (7th and Alison) to wear out your favorite pooch, before suiting them up in a great costume. From there, we’ll walk our bedazzled best friends down to Upshur Street where they’ll be judged on:

  • Best Doggie Costume – the classic, dress ’em up!
  • Best Twins – celebrating how dogs and owners can look alike
  • Best Trick – Costume or not, show your dog’s skills

The Domku patio will be the reviewing stand and the post-parade party spot.

Feel free to print out copies of our flier and take them with you when you’re out walking through the city. When you see a dog + owner, hand them a flier and encourage them to come out as a participant or observer.

A special thanks to our sponsors: Domku, Brighter Days, Little Rascals, and Yoga House Studio, and the Petworth Dogs listserv for making this happen.

Life in the Capital, Petworth, The District
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We Love: DC’s Public Charter Schools

What would an all Public Charter School system look like?

What would an all Public Charter School system look like?

While I’ve heard the moaning about the DC Public School System since my first days in DC, I never really cared about it. I was a swinging single and my whole goal was to keep away from anything kid-related, though many would say I acted child-like.

But now that I’m soon to be a parent, I am thinking more about my child’s future education, and as a District resident, the schooling options. Looking around, I see a lot of promises broken and lives wasted in the DC Public School system, yet hope with Public Charter Schools.

So I propose a radical change: Let’s ditch the failing public schools for a fully Public Charter School System.

Here we have one of the highest-cost, lowest performing public education systems in the United States, and our city government is expending untold millions of dollars and political capital to fix. The problems are myriad, and all of them, from lack of parental involvement to aimless youth, to an entrenched & bloated bureaucracy, seemingly intractable.

Faced with this boondoggle, parents are desperate for options and have already created a parallel system to educate their children. Over 40% of parents send their children to Public Charter Schools, and I would argue that they are the 40% that care about their child’s education. In addition, Public Charter Schools are doing a better job of educating at less cost. And almost all require greater parental involvement, student motivation, and teacher engagement than public schools.

I know that when my child gets to be school age, they’ll be headed off to a cool bilingual charter elementary school – we now have several schools to choose from in Petworth, some more convenient than others.

So why not take all taxpayer & Gates Foundation money that’s currently going down the public school rathole, and put it towards an all-charter school system? We could save the the DC government a few billion a year and give a better education to the city’s children.

Or look at it another way: could a fully Public Charter School system really be worse than what we have now?

The Daily Feed
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It’s High Heel Race Time Again!


Mmmmmmmwah!
Originally uploaded by maxedaperture

When I was writing my post about apple picking, I totally forgot to list the infamous High Heel Race among my favorite things about fall. I ADORE the high heel race, the people watching is phenomenal and the crowd just buzzes with happy energy. It’s pretty much the only event where I’ll happily sit freezing my butt off for 4 hours just to be there.

If you don’t know what the High Heel Race is, you obviously have not lived here for very long. Here’s the long and the short: drag queens, in heels, running (or prancing, depends on the queen) down the street. BEST. THING. EVER. The race takes place in Dupont on 17th Street between Church and R.

This year’s High Heel Race will take place on Tuesday, October 28th. The race begins at 9 p.m. but you better get there early if you want a chance of a) a seat on the sidewalk at one of the restaurants, or b) a fighting chance for a place on the curb. I have my “get front row placement for the High Heel Race” strategy all laid out already. It involves take-out and leaving work right when the closing bell rings. I would share the rest of it, but then it wouldn’t be a very good strategy, now would it?

What is your favorite pre-race tradition? Who is your favorite queen? Do tell!

Food and Drink, Night Life, We Love Drinks
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We Love Drinks: Commissary

Very Berry Smoothie, Commissary

I had high hopes for Commissary, the new bar/coffeehouse/restaurant hybrid near Logan Circle. Positioned at the perfect midway point between my house and the Y, I had visions of stopping in beforehand for a cappuccino, or afterwards to unwind with a tall pint of pureed berries. And indeed, the smoothies at Commissary are delicious, especially the Very Berry – a purple garden in a glass. But as far as being able to call it my new third place, well, not so much.

Part of the EatWell empire responsible for Logan Tavern, Grillfish, and The Heights, Commissary replaces Merkado Kitchen – but apart from a paint job and the addition of a floating lounge in the center, retains the open design and high industrial ceilings of the former. The concept appears to be aiming along the lines of the popular Busboys and Poets. But there’s something lacking here. I can’t quite figure out why it leaves me cold, but after three visits, I’m not anxious to return.

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Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed
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Worried About Your Job?

Photo courtesy of le_Haricot
Queue for job, courtesy of le Haricot

The economy is a mess. Our 401(k)’s are toast. And we’re all stressed. Now the WaPo has quantified our job-loss fears:

In September, there were more mass layoffs — instances in which employers slashed 50 or more jobs at one time — than in any month since September 2001, the Labor Department said yesterday. And nearly half a million Americans have filed new claims for unemployment benefits in each of the past four weeks, the highest rate of such claims since just after the terrorist attacks seven years ago. Anecdotal reports suggest that the hemorrhaging in the job market has only begun. 

I know all the banking headlines and Dow drops have me scared to open the morning paper. Yet until recently I felt immune.

This is Washington, where the Federal Government is a steady employer, where the Pentagon still spends billions every day, and where power is shifting with the resurgence of Federal financial oversight. On a personal level, knock on wood, my company is okay. We have most of our funding secured through 2009, though after that…

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