Monthly Archives: April 2009

The Daily Feed
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DCKickball: Resistance is Futile

Photo courtesy of
‘D.C. Kickball’
courtesy of ‘starbuck77’

I have a confession to make: I am now a member of a DCKickball team. Further disclosure: It’s actually really fun. Even so, reservations remain when it comes to participating in this particular DC ritual, stereotyped as a perennial  pastime for shameless district yuppies/drunkards/bros. I imagined the league would be a fratastic bro-fest and signed up steeled with my shield of pseudo-hipster irony. (So it goes.)

DCKickball’s Constitution Division Scrimmages marked our team’s first foray into the sport since the playground days. Back in those days, I used to jack the ball up against the convent walls across from my elementary school, so as usual when it comes to sporty things, I was feeling over-confident.  Turns out that playing kickball now takes some practice. Also, the regulation ball is roughly the size of a large beach ball and extremely difficult to field/catch. Continue reading →

Food and Drink, Foodie Roundup, Special Events
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Foodie Round-Up: Easter Brunch Edition

Photo courtesy of
‘IMG_2068.jpg’
courtesy of ‘thebittenword.com’

I’m not sure if anyone has noticed but I’m fast becoming a brunch aficionado. Brunch is so trendy, so spring, so social – in short:  brunch is so now. (Wow, I just sounded very fashion-magazine-y. Forgive me!)  My new-found obsession with all things brunch is simultaneously wonderful and horrifying. Wonderful because nothing says joy quite like reading “brioche stuffed french toast with chocolate drizzle and bacon” on a menu. And horrifying because brunch is preventing me from fully enacting Operation Hot Summer Bod 2009.  But so it goes – the rough life of a food blogger. So hard to be me, you should probs pull out the mini-violin now.

Anyways, where was I? Oh yes, brunch.  No holiday quite screams brunch like Easter. Easter, my friends,  is perfect for brunch. You think Easter (in the nonreligious sense, really) and you think eggs, chocolate, bright colors and summer whites. All these things translate gracefully into brunch. In my world, this is a math equation that winds up with Easter = amazing!  So as my gift to you this holiday, I’ll do what I do best – a foodie round-up, Easter-brunch style. So… all the brunch that is fit to eat in the District on Easter Sunday. Continue reading →

Music, The Daily Feed
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Best Bet for Music Tonight

Photo courtesy of
‘Setting up at Rock and Roll Hotel’
courtesy of ‘dcjasmine’

If you’re itching for a concert tonight, head over to the Rock & Roll Hotel for three bands, plus local DJs Garutachi, all for only $10. I would probably skip opener Seas, whose super mellow sound doesn’t seem to match the rest of the lineup, but make it there by 9:30 pm to catch Lissy Tullie and then indie rockers U.S. Royalty.

The Daily Feed, The District
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Time for a Tune-up

Photo courtesy of
‘My Suede By Giant Shimano Coasting Bike lookin mighty fine.’
courtesy of ‘needlessspaces’

This past weekend, I rode my bike for the first time since winter — down to the Washington Monument for my first-ever experience with DC Kickball (more on that later). It was glorious. Well, the trip down was glorious, the ride back — not so amazing, because it is clear that my bike, a Ross road bike from god-knows-how-long-ago, needs a tune-up, stat.

Living on the hill, my nearest and best resource for all things bike-related seems to be Capitol Hill Bikes, on 8th St. SE across from the Marine Barracks. Cap Hill Bikes has a beautiful showroom and store with all the gadgets and legit bike additions that are too professional for my joy-riding biking needs, as well as an adjacent servicing outfit with replacement parts and all that jazz. Their website also boasts some sweet mapping tools for riding around town. 

It’s so great to see commuters back on their bikes and saving energy (while expending a little of their own). What great bike resources do you utilize in and around DC? Do you bike to work? Favorite places to bike?

DC Victory Gardens
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DC Victory Gardens: Assembling Your Implements of Home Preservation

Photo courtesy of
‘Filling jars’
courtesy of ‘FamilyNature’

So, you’ve got your garden under way. Or maybe you’re anxiously awaiting the beginning of your CSA. You’ve  armed yourself with a good cookbook or two so you’ll have some basic recipes for that eggplant you inevitably end up with. You wander through your nearest farmer’s market every week, wistfully looking for the first hothouse tomatoes of the season.  And then there’s the inevitable result: the moment the Westmoreland Berry Farm strawberries look any good, you buy 8 quarts, get them home, and realize that even if you could fit them all in there, they only keep in the fridge for 3 days, and that there’s no way you can possibly eat that many in that time.  Not that this has ever happened to me. I’ve certainly never walked out of a farmer’s market wondering how I managed to buy $90 of fruit and had to hold a sangria party to consume it all… *ahem*

When you can’t foist any more zucchini on your neighbors and coworkers, when you’re tired of pesto, and when you’re embarrassed at the number of peaches you allowed to go bad in your dining room while you were looking for the right cobbler recipe, you realize: You’ve got to find a way to preserve this stuff. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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You Won’t Get Sympathy About Your Long Commute Here

Photo courtesy of
’12th Street Corridor’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’

We all love to complain about our commutes here in DC, but what if traffic congestion isn’t such a bad thing? The Smart Growth Speaker Series continues on Tuesday the 14th with a lunchtime presentation at the National Building Museum on how transportation projects can be successful even if they don’t tackle congestion.  Ellen Greenberg, former Research Director for the Congress for New Urbanism, will discuss various ways to measure success in transportation that don’t necessarily make cars move faster.  It’s often difficult to get support for transportation projects if they can’t promise fewer traffic delays, but a lot of things that make good urban places (like narrow streets and pedestrian crosswalks and bike lanes) don’t really improve congestion.  The event is free and open to the public.

The Daily Feed, The District
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Spa Week In DC

Photo courtesy of


‘find your inner self’
courtesy of ‘dMap Travel Guide’

Do you need a massage? Of course you do! A mani-pedi? Quite possibly, yes! An antioxidant facial? Duh. Can you afford these luxuries? PSH, NO! Except, wait, cause yes you can! DC Spa Week is fast approaching, from April 13-19th, spas all across the DC metro area are offering $50 special spa treatments. Hot spa treatments open up the skin’s pores, help the body to ward off toxins, and also encourage the body to burn calories. Additionally, deep tissue massages can help the body to break down fatty deposits through the pressure and friction exerted on the skin.

The Med Spa list includes such upscale locations like the Red Door Spa by Elizabeth Arden, and The Pearl at the Ritz Carleton alongside individually operated spas in the area, you would be mesmerized by how easy it is to set an appointment online thanks to their incredibly easy to use website, you could read more to see how they manage to do it.

Massages are the most popular treatment, but you can snag a hair cleanse and gloss, body scrubs, green tea facials and some places are even offering highlights and haircuts for $50. It’s like the Restaurant Week of relaxation. Treatments that may be provided include body massage, hair, foot massage, facials, waxing, microdermabrasion, body treatments, manicures, pedicures, aromatherapy, moxibustion, ear candling, and gua sha (scraping). To book an appointment or buy spa products, visit the emeraldspa website.

It goes without saying that visiting a spa is a fantastic way to relax and de-stress. A visit to the spa offers a great opportunity to separate yourself from life’s everyday stressors and have some precious ‘me time’. Allowing yourself this time to wind down and relax has so many additional benefits, such as a clear mind and increased productivity once you leave your treatment!

Sign up to view all the deals, and snag one at a spa near you.

The Daily Feed
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DC Council Votes to Recognize Other States’ Gay Marriages

Photo courtesy of
‘DSCN6296’
courtesy of ‘Alan Light’

In the wake of first Iowa and then Vermont legalizing gay marriage in the last week, the DC Council just voted, unanimously, to recognize gay marriages from other states. Gay couples married in other states were previously automatically recognized as domestic partners under DC law, but today’s vote specifically recognizes gay couples married in states where it is legal as married couples.

Hot damn, DC Council. Yes, this is going to piss off the very same Congress that doesn’t want to let DC make its own gun laws. And yes, it’ll only get worse for Home Rule if DC tries to legalize gay marriage itself. But as Council member Harry Thomas, Jr. (D-Ward 5) says, “We as a council need to stand in the right place and take the gray area out.”

Entertainment, Essential DC, Fun & Games, Life in the Capital, Music, Special Events, The District, We Love Arts, WMATA
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We Love Arts: Cherry Blast

I think we can all agree that one of the reasons “we love DC” is the arrival of spring each year when our city is transformed from a bleak, gray land of zombies into a cheery land of fresh-faced partiers.  The harsh winter weather is behind us, the cherry blossoms are beginning to bloom, girls swap their jeans for skirts, and it’s time to start planning how you’ll enjoy every waking minute before the sweltering heat invades our city.

What better way to celebrate the disappearance of winter than checking out the National Cherry Blossom Festival?  While it officially started on March 28th, it runs until April 12th and is packed full of fun things to do, ranging from blossom tours to photo safaris to wicked awesome Japanese-themed art fashion anime parties.  Say what?  That’s right, on Friday the Pink Line Project kicks into gear again to throw a party that is sure to be the highlight of this year’s festival.  Enter stage left: Cherry Blast.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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There’s Something in the Water

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC_0007’
courtesy of ‘captpaddy@sbcglobal.net’
If you think your water smells like a swimming pool this week, you’re right. The District and portions of Northern Virginia are putting chlorine in the water to keep biofilm–which sounds like scary gunk–from collecting on the pipes and impairing water quality. As part of this annual flush, you may also see water pouring from fire hydrants.

The water is still safe to drink, but may look, taste, or smell different. This process lasts until May 4 in DC, Arlington, and Falls Church City, and until the end of June in Alexandria, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William.

The Daily Feed
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Where’s the News?

It’s entirely possible that I’m out of the loop here, but I’ve never seen a front page of a newspaper that consists entirely of an advertisement.  The other day I picked up an Express for the first time in ages and thought, “What am I looking at?  Where are all of the eye catching headlines that they normally sport on the front page?”  Instead I was looking at a full page ad about surfing in Sandbridge, VA: “Live Passionately.  Virginia is for Lovers.”  Oh so that’s what it’s for.

Are times really that tough out there?  If so, does this sort of scheme generate enough ad revenue to keep the WaPo from axing the Express?  If most readers are like me, they’ll quickly turn to the real front page, never visit Virginia.org, and never develop a passionate love for surfing in Virginia.

Essential DC, The Daily Feed
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Extended Hours at Smithsonian

DSC_2616

Increasing revenue is the name of the game these days; even our free museums aren’t immune.

According to WaPo, the Smithsonian will be extending its hours into the evening during the summer. Tourists and residents alike can enjoy an extra two hours a day (until 7:30 p.m.) at the Natural Museum of American History, the National Museum of Natural History and the ever-popular National Air and Space Museum until Labor Day.

The Smithsonian has been challenged with cuts due to declining endowment revenue and is hoping the extra few hours will result in increased retail and donation streams.

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Preview: Greek Easter Festival @ Zaytinya

grape vodka cocktail at zaytinya

Easter Grape Cocktail at Zaytinya by flickr user Needlessspaces

Yesterday, before watching my Tar Heels snag our fifth Championship title (squee!),  I headed over to Zaytinya for a media preview of the Easter Menu.

While I’m still basking in the glow of my University of National Champions win, the Easter food and drink at Zaytinya certainly added to the wonderfulness of yesterday. So let me see if I can focus on food for a moment and tell you all about the Easter Festival headed our way… Continue reading →

Night Life, The Daily Feed, The District, WTF?!
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Kal Penn Coming to DC

Photo courtesy of
‘Kal Penn speaking at Inaugural Opening Ceremony’
courtesy of ‘JaneJGA’

Before catching 24 last night, we caught the last appearance of Kal Penn (famous for Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle) on House. As it turns out, Penn is coming to DC to work for the White House. He’ll be the associate director in the White House office of public liaison, with an office in the OEOB. Welcome to DC, Kal, we hope you love it here as much as we do.

Featured Photo
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Featured Photo

Meet Madame Lardofly by LaTur

Every year around this time, camera shutters from around the world open and close, capturing thousands and thousands of photos of our beloved cherry blossoms.  You see shots of the blossoms singled out against the brilliant blue sky, shots that show dense clusters of pink, blossomy goodness, shots of the hords of tourists that make their annual pilgrimage to the Tidal Basin, and even shots of clowns scaring the tourists away.  But how often do you see a pig with a mohawk, dressed in a pink cherry blossom dress and wearing pink tinted goggles?  For me the answer is simply, “Never.”

Fellow Flickrite, LaTur captured this unique photo of Madame Lardofly over the weekend, winning my pick as best National Cherry Blossom Festival photo.  I’ve lived in DC for about five years now, and while many area photographers never seem to get tired of taking cherry blossom photos, it has lost its luster with me.  That’s why it takes an unusual shot like this one to get my attention, even if I do end up feeling sorry for the pig.  I guess life could be worse.  After all, she could be sitting next to some eggs and home fries at the Florida Avenue Grill.

24 in DC, The Features
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24 in DC: Episode 15 (12:00 to 1:00a)

jack

Recap: So, who thinks Jack is good and who thinks he’s bad this hour?

12:00

Moss and Alameida whisper sweet nothings to each other while harassing Freckles for satellite imagery. Janis thinks “the subnet is crashing,” which are likely words strung together by people who’ve heard about networks on shows like this one. Surprise! They’re surrounded! Did you really need a satellite to tell you that? Continue reading →

Life in the Capital, News, Technology, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Maryland Students, Legislators Still Tussling over Film

Photo courtesy of
‘White Booby on Letterbox plateau’
courtesy of ‘drewavery’

I figured after the Maryland Legislature threatened not to fund U-MD for next year, the screening of Pirates 2 was all over but the crying (and the mopping, and the disinfecting), but that appears to not be the case. Apparently a group of students is intending to hold a screening anyway, and hold a free speech discussion before the movie. Of course, that means the legislators who threatened to withhold funding are doing so again.

I’ll give you one guess which party they belong to.

The Daily Feed
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Here Comes Gehry

Photo courtesy of
‘gerhy’s nightmares are better than mines’
courtesy of ‘[charlie cravero]’

While the post on DCMetroCentric may be dated April first, the award is real. Frank Gehry has been selected to design the Eisenhower Memorial in Eisenhower Square (in front of the Dept. of Education). Gehry’s last attempt at a DC structure was the extension to the Corcoran Gallery and School, which was very similar in feeling and shape to some of his more famous recent works, including the Guggenheim Bilbao and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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More Tourists, Not Much More Money

IMG_2148.JPG

Tourist season is here: you can feel it on the sidewalk, on the Mall, around the Tidal Basin, and especially on the left sides of downtown Metro escalators. Washington Post reports that DC tourism is up, but that hasn’t necessarily translated to increased revenue for local retail and hospitality businesses. DC, after all, is Freebie Tourism Central: free monuments, museums, parks, even the zoo. Proximity day-trippers account for a large part of the influx of travelers: people driving in from nearby, not staying at hotels overnight, or opting to crash in local relatives’ guest rooms.
Continue reading →