Monthly Archives: April 2009

The Daily Feed
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Crystal City 5K Fridays

Photo courtesy of
‘Dedication’
courtesy of ‘N.S.’

You know what time it is. It’s Operation Hot Summer Bod time. Or maybe its just, get fit/get in shape/do something outside time. Your goal matters not, Crystal City’s Green Scene is here to enable you with its 5K Fridays. 

For five consecutive weeks beginning tomorrow, run a race each Friday eve at 6:30 p.m. You can sign up for each at a price of $15 a pop or do the whole she-bang for $50. Race starts at 2121 Crystal Drive in Crystal City. ALSO there are post-race parties at the Tortoise & Hare Bar and Grill, and you get a free pasta dish at Noodles & Company (CC likes its ampersands…). GOOD DEAL.

Downtown, The Features, Thrifty District
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Thrifty District: Shoe Repair

"shoe repair in metro" by sacasterisk, on Flickr

“Thank you for keeping me in business.“

They say one of the leading indicators of hard times economically is the rise of people getting their shoes repaired. It’s a pity, really, that in flush times people don’t appreciate as much the wonderful profession that used to be known by the old-fashioned term “cobbler.” Even after being sexed up when Daniel Day-Lewis went off to Italy to learn the craft, it still doesn’t get much attention or respect.

Well, besides learning how to fix your own hems, sew your own buttons on, and darn your socks (ok, even I draw the line at the last one) the best thing you can do is find a cobbler you like and bring in your shoes regularly for a shine and a spruce-up. I had three shoes that needed some help in varying degrees of complexity – here are two happy results, and one sad one.

I went to my local go-to guy downtown, the reliable 12th & G Cleaners & Shoe Repair. With a full shoe repair facility in the back, he was able to fix the first two with relative ease. 

Pair 1: ‘Dollhouse’ Three-Strap Mary Janes. Oh so demure, with a touch of dom around the ankle. They needed some touch-up where the leather was running raw at the toes, new heel taps, and a good polish. A relatively easy job nicely done. $18.

Continue reading →
Fun & Games, The Daily Feed
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A Vacation… To Where???

Photo courtesy of
‘crane-bird-in-the-creek’
courtesy of ‘forestgladesiwander’

Squee! I love vacations. LOVE. In fact, I should totally be on one right now, but alas, I am not. But you know what is better than just a plain vacation? A FREE one!

Virginia Tourism Corporation at Mount Vernon is offering 20 lucky winners + a guest a free vacation. The catch? You have no idea where you’re going! Once the winners are drawn, they will get ready, get packed, and get whisked off for an overnight vacation to one of four “secret” destinations. The winners and their guests must show up – suitcase in hand – at Mount Vernon on April 28, where the Virginia Tourism Corporation will launch the state’s newest travel deals program.

Then the “40 Off” will jump on buses destined for fun and adventure with a bit of mystery. Each winner will find out where they are going only when they arrive at Mount Vernon. The prize destinations are four areas in Virginia, each providing the hotel stay, an experience that can only be found in Virginia, one pampering experience and meals.  I’m digging all this love from the Virginia Tourism peeps. if you plan to take some time off to plan your vacations, click on the next link with some of the best McCall Idaho vacations tips and locations.

I kind of adore the Metro Center ads (better than Fallout, for sure!) and although I don’t appreciate my Express being hijacked this morning, at least it’s not ads with gross toe fungus or fat rolls. And a free vacay to boot? Alrighty.

The Daily Feed
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Take On Teaching?

Photo courtesy of
‘A classroom’
courtesy of ‘Ryan Stanton’

So the times are bad. You’re on furlough, you have to pay for all your health insurance, and you know at least three people who have been laid off. I’ve been there (the laid off part, too, thank God that’s over!) and I know what it is like to be faced with the question of – well, what are my options?

Going back to school is on the rise, higher ed enrollment skyrockets in economic downturns.  But I’ve got an ex-coworker who is looking at going back to school in a different way – as a teacher. I considered this option myself when I got laid off from my job in 2008 – DC Public Schools runs a teaching fellows program that I thought about doing.  I wound up going another route, more for other reasons than I was scared off by DCPS itself, but that thought DID cross my mind.

My ex-coworker is mulling the DCPS teaching fellows too, but is understandably apprehensive. Given DCPS’s track record for keeping teachers and staff support, it’s scary to take the jump. Then again, if you don’t try, you’ll never know. No matter what you think of her, Rhee is on the warpath to closing the achievement gap. The public schools SO need people who want to teach, who are passionate to teach, and who are ready to take on the challenge of even the most unmotivated student. Plus, my ex-coworker admits the salary is more than she makes now.

So what do you think? If you were faced with a chosen (or forced) career change in these economic times, would you be a DCPS teaching fellow?

Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed, WMATA
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RIP N22: New Circulator Woes

Photo courtesy of
‘Bus Signs’
courtesy of ‘FredoAlvarez’

The new Circulator routes, which promise easier and faster transport between Columbia Heights-K St./Woodley Park-McPherson Square, launched this week. The Columbia Heights route has been long-anticipated and the switch seemed to hold promise. The change also, however, replaced the 98 and N22 bus routes, leaving us wondering, really, why?

The N22 route Circulator is essentially the same route, except it eliminates many of the stops of the N22, including several between the Capitol Building and Union Station. My friend and co-worker takes this bus and has been 15 minutes late everyday since the Circulator began. Not only is the commute from Barracks Row to Union Station longer, the stops now promise a longer walk on both ends AND while the Circulator professes to stop every 10 minutes, the wait has been closer to 25 minutes, every day. 

It’s still early – they could definitely still be working out the kinks. Has anyone else’s commute been disrupted by the switch? Better or worse?

Sports Fix, The Features
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Sports Fix: Four Sport Edition

Photo courtesy of
‘00001201’
courtesy of ‘Keith Allison’

Wizards
Record: 17-59
Last Two Weeks: 1-8
Place: Last. Still and Always.

It’s nice to see that Gilbert Arenas is back off the bench and in uniform again, but I’ve got to ask: shouldn’t we let him wait so we can guarantee a #1 draft pick? I mean, it was great to see him on the court on Saturday, putting up 15 points and 10 assists at the Phone Booth, but shouldn’t we be conserving at this point? I don’t mean throw in the towel and throw the games, but c’mon. Let Agent 0 play in the summer leagues, don’t risk our draft pick, okay?

Just six games left for the Wizards, and I think it’s safe to say we’ve seen just about the worst performance in years. If they take 3 of the last 6 games, they’ll tie for the worst record in the 36 years they’re been here in DC. I’d put good money that they don’t win more than 2. Sad.

Capitals
Record: 47-23-7
Last Two Weeks: 4-2-1
Place: 2nd in the East, 1st in the Southeast

The Caps have clinched their playoff spot, and with just 5 games left in the season, it’s all about jockeying for opponents in the first round. As it stands, the Caps would face the Rangers in the first round of the playoffs, a team they’re 3-1 against this season, outscoring them 14-11. In the unlikely event they finish in third, they’d be facing Carolina, who they’re more evenly matched with.

Can Ovi lead the Caps to the Stanley Cup? We’ll see.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Cherry Blossom…Om….

Photo courtesy of
‘IMG_9792’
courtesy of ‘Sharr Paul’

Ah, yoga under the cherry blossoms. What a great way to celebrate spring! On Saturday at 10:30 a.m., you can join a free class at the Jefferson Memorial with Sarah Lynn of Arlington’s JOURNEYoga. What’s more, for every person who comes, lululemon athletica will give $1 to Imagine1day, which supports children’s education in Ethiopia.

Bring your own mat. Then do “pigeon” with the pigeons while breathing in fresh, petal-scented air.

Crime & Punishment, Downtown, Food and Drink, Night Life, Penn Quarter, The Daily Feed
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701 Owner Responds to Credit Card Thefts

Photo courtesy of
‘credit card’
courtesy of ‘Ebu Cehil’

Ashok Bajaj, owner of 701 Restaurant, is responding to the stories about credit card thefts at several area restaurants, including 701. Mr. Bajaj explains, via an email sent to patrons this evening, that he goes to great lengths to hire good staff, but that despite that, these thefts still occured:

I would like to personally assure you of my commitment and my staff’s commitment to protect our guests. Please know that my approach to business is one of creating the highest level of service, value and standards. We strive to hire employees who abide by the superior standards of professionalism and integrity established by our restaurant group. We also perform due diligence on all candidates including reference checks before hiring them. Unfortunately, despite our high standards and due diligence in hiring restaurant personnel, the screening process is not fail proof.

While there’s no promise of further diligence, or that they’re cooperating with the Police as part of an on-going investigation, that’s probably more for PR reasons, than anything else. So, watch your credit cards, folks, when you’re dining out. As if we all didn’t have enough to worry about.

Downtown, The Daily Feed, The District
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Meters Up! (No Joke)

Photo courtesy of
‘Renovated Museum of American History in DC’
courtesy of ‘EvinDC’

Reminder to everyone that DC parking meter rates are increasing this month, starting today. If the meter was a $1/hr, it’s going to $2/hr. All other meters are going up .25, so .50/hr meters are going to .75/hr and so on.

DDOT said they are in the process of updated all the 15,453 meters in the District to reflect the rate increases, and are expected to be updated by April 30.

The Daily Feed
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Not a Murky mystery

Photo courtesy of
‘Vaseline Everybody’s friend’
courtesy of ‘Sarah G…’

The question that keeps coming up about the Murky closure and Nick Cho’s new shop in D.C. seems to be “why won’t the new place be named Murky?”

Murky Coffee is a registred trademark, and given the tax difficulties that Nick has had with D.C. and lately with Virginia, it’s possible – or perhaps likely – that Nick won’t have the rights to use that name anymore if things go badly for Murky Coffee, LLC. That’s the legal entity that the USPTO lists as the trademark owner.

Pay your taxes, kids. (Unless you’re angling for a cabinet position, of course)

Entertainment, Music, The Features
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April Concert Preview

Photo courtesy of
‘Exit Clov’
courtesy of ‘flickr-rickr’

This month, people seem to have planned ahead and half the really exciting concerts are sold out! Well, I’ll try to nip that in the bud from now on and post some future shows to watch out for at the bottom. Also seems like there are a lot of dance parties this month, which might be just the thing to get everyone going and ready for summer. But now, onto the music! Continue reading →

Arlington, Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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A Hard Day: The End of Murky

Murky Coffee Regulars

This morning’s letter on the Murky Coffee website is no April Fools’ Joke. Replacing Murky in the space they’ll leave behind in Clarendon will become a venture of the group that owns Liberty Tavern, with a new space, and a new concept. While details are still sketchy, from what I understand, the upstairs at the new coffee location will be a co-working space, something like Beehive Baltimore or Indy Hall in Philadelphia.

The staff of Murky, owner Nick Cho included, are coming back into the District starting in early to mid May at a new shop called Wrecking Ball Coffee, which will be over at 5th and H Sts NW in Chinatown. The changes will be taking place here in the next month, leaving me without a third place to work from, which has me very disappointed. Murky has been, since I left my desk job, my home and community since 2006. The picture above shows half my Murky family, the other roving consultants and self-employed folks who have been my “co-workers,” and I count many among my finest friends. This site was actually designed and coded in the upstairs section of Murky before the county shuttered that part of the shop.

Murky’s run wasn’t free from controversy, from the problem with DC sales taxes that shuttered the Capitol Hill location, to Dickpunchgate, but it was home to me. And so, I’ll miss my third place, and hope that the folks who run Liberty Tavern will know they have a group of regulars who’re looking for a home, and open to what they’ve got to offer.

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Maybe By Best They Mean Mediocre

Photo courtesy of
‘Cupcake Fail’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

14th and You has a very excellent rant on the City Paper’s Best-Of winners that I won’t even try and repeat. It is truly brillz, you should read.

But I have a few more to add to Mr. 14th and You’s questions –  Starbucks is really the second best coffee in the DC area, second only to Tryst? REALLY? ARE WE SURE? Hell Burger came in third in the best burgers? I’m sorry, have you tried them, people? They have BEST written all over them. Founding Farmers ranked as the best new restaurant? Have you met Co Co Sala, or actually, if chocolate is not your thing, have you ever even eaten at Founding Farmers? The reviews are horrible.

Maybe I’m self-righteous with all my foodie blogger clout and whatnot but the City Paper results make me roll my eyes. What about you? Any outright lies on the City Paper’s Best Of that you caught?

24 in DC, Interviews, People, The Features
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He Loves DC: Jack Bauer

Photo courtesy of tbridge
Jack and the Capitol 2, courtesy of tbridge

Got this in the email inbox late last night. Thought I should share it with everyone – seems Jack Bauer reads WLDC! Leave him your comments; he said he’ll be watching… -BHR

After innumerable years as a government employee trotting the globe, I’m finally back in the center of it all, beautiful Washington, DC. And I love it here.

There are lots of reasons why; I thought, since everyone’s been ragging on me this week, why not ‘fess up and tell you? Continue reading →

Food and Drink, Fun & Games, The Daily Feed
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Final Four Parties!

Photo courtesy of
‘Final Four cup’
courtesy of ‘camflan’

I know everyone is gearing up to watch the Tar Heels PWN the Final Four this weekend, but where oh where are you going to watch this domination?

Luckily, I love you, WLDC reader, (almost as much as I love my Heels)  and I’ve prepared a list of places in the area holding Final Four viewing parties. (Which work even if you’re not a Carolina fan!)  Continue reading →

Talkin' Transit, The Features
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Talkin’ Transit: Metro Says “You Drive It”

Photo courtesy of
‘Concourse Teddy’, courtesy of ‘philliefan99’ Teddy driving your train? Maybe!

Word out of the WMATA office? Put your skills where you mouth is.

Starting April 31, regular commuters can become a Metro operator for a day. Selected daily from unregistered SmarTrip card users, a random rider will be selected and invited to drive their Metrobus or conduct their Metro train! After a quick training course, the winners will be ushered into the driver’s seat for a commuting experience they won’t forget!

Ever dreamed of piloting the Yellow Line train across the Potomac, pulling into L’Enfant with a full load of sleepy, cranky morning passengers? Or helming a prestigious Red Line train during rush hour, making sure commuters board the train respectfully and without pushing and shoving? What about steering a big Metrobus down Pennsylvania Avenue, stopping at every red light and heading up a five-bus convoy as you pack in the riders?

Now’s your chance. Continue reading →