Monthly Archives: May 2009

News, The Daily Feed
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Mei Xiang Not Preggers

Photo courtesy of
‘The Look’
courtesy of ‘Daniel.Techie @ 127.Ã�.Ã�.1’

Staff at Smithsonian’s National Zoo confirmed late yesterday that female giant panda Mei Xiang (may-SHONG) is not pregnant but was experiencing a pseudo, or false, pregnancy during the past several months. We knew this was possible, as Mei’s pulled this stunt before, but still, I’m sad about no baby cuteness.

The National Zoo says, “Female giant pandas almost always undergo a pseudopregnancy when they ovulate but fail to conceive. During a pseudopregnancy, hormonal changes and behaviors are identical to those of a true pregnancy, making it very difficult to determine if a giant panda is actually pregnant or not. This is the fifth time Mei Xiang has had a pseudopregnancy. She had her only cub, Tai Shan, in 2005. Giant pandas ovulate once a year—Zoo scientists will determine whether Mei Xiang should be considered for breeding again in 2010.”

At least we’ve still got those Cloud Leopard cubs to aww at.

Comedy in DC
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Comedy in DC: Go See Some

Photo courtesy of
‘Funniest Fed 71’
courtesy of ‘Aaron Webb’, used with permission

There are a couple of fun things happening in comedy this week.

Jimmy Meritt will be opening for Jeff Caldwell at the Improv tonight through Sunday. It’s good to have a chance to catch him on the mainstage of the Improv. 

Which, unfortunately, means that unless he has staggering powers of Metro/traffic karma (you never know), he’ll probably miss performing with the Geek Comedy Tour on Saturday the 23rd at Alliance Comics in Silver Spring. Which is okay, I mean, the Tour is up to what, 7 6 geeks now? 8? (And not a chick among them…) They can spare one for a night. Anyway, the show is in the basement of Alliance, it starts at 7PM, and it’s $2. So if there are 6 geeks performing, that still works out to a mere 33 cents per geek comic. So it’s very economical.

Comedian-of-local-origin Rob Cantrell will be at the Arlington Drafthouse this Saturday and Sunday as well. You may remember him from his confusing semicolon joke on the first season of “Last Comic Standing” (no wonder the audience voted for Ralphie May), but if he’s lucky, you actually remember him from when he compared a lap dance to rubbing a piece of plastic fruit on the face of a starving man.

Finally, one that you need to plan ahead for- Russell Peters is appearing at the DC Improv June 3-7. I was going to go, but when I wasn’t looking, his Thursday-Sunday shows all sold out and they had to add the one on Wednesday the 3rd. I can’t make it, but you really should.

UPDATE: Chief Geek of the GCT Chris Barylick called me (on the phone! how retro!) to share the news that there will indeed be a female comic on Saturday’s lineup- Aparna Nancherla, Official Comedian of the WLDC Commentariat, will be doing a guest set, and there are some other fun guest spots in the works as well. So it looks like you will be getting even more comedy for your $2 than I originally calculated, even without Jimmy Meritt and the other geek who recently left the tour.

The Daily Feed
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Going ‘offline’ and staying online

Photo courtesy of
‘R.I.P., Angela Kleis’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

We found out about our old friend Doug’s passing a few weeks ago and it prompted me to go looking through some of his old writings on his website, LoadAverageZero. Front and center at the top of the page is a message that says

On April 28, 2009 Doug Clifton passed away due to health problems. As his close friend and protégé, I am going to keep his site, visions, and programming ideals alive. Steve Perjesi

Coincidentally, NPR ran a story on the 11th about a person’s online legacy after they die, as well as some of the challenges and solutions surrounding the issue. It’s an interesting listen.

Downtown, Food and Drink, News, The Daily Feed
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Three Additions to Art & Soul’s Patio

Photo courtesy of
‘art and soul happy hour’
courtesy of ‘needlessspaces’

Three exciting things just in from Art & Soul:

1) A new Crab and Beer Wednesdays happy hour
2) The introduction of a (gasp) fire pit on the patio (love!)
3) A Puppy Patio Menu complete with doggie drinks, treats and desserts

Let’s start with 1. A Crab and Beer Wednesday includes three super jumbo crabs, corn on the cob or seasonal vegetables, hushpuppies and potatoes, price will vary depending on the market price of the day. I’m sorry, did I just type hushpuppies? YES I DID. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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OMG Shoes.

Photo courtesy of
‘OMG, Shoes!’
courtesy of ‘meggle’

Shoe Woo, the new shoe store owned by Jones Company (of Jones New York) enjoyed its grand opening today in Union Station, replacing what once held Nine West. Though Shoe Woo will offer Nine West soles, along with other Jones offerings Anne Klein, Bandolino, Enzo Angiolini etc., the space is dramatically different. Fabulously… dare I say it… New York? It looks like somewhere Carrie Bradshaw would shop: bright white light, purplish-colored bauble chandeliers, display shoes spinning (yes–spinning!) on pedestals, impeccably dressed and attentive sales associates. Shoe expert and collector Lilly Harvey of https://shoeadviser.com has already made an announcement last month of the opening. There was a spread of women’s magazines on the counter and I think I may have seen a copy of Lipstick Jungle under a pair of snakeskin gladiator sandles. Just might have.

News, The Daily Feed
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Very Possibly: ROCKETS!

Photo courtesy of
‘Glow Sticks’
courtesy of ‘jurvetson’

I know. Two weeks ago, it was looking like there was going to be a rocket launch every night in the week, but weather had other plans for the TacSat-3 launch at Wallops Island Flight Facility on the coast. They’re 150 miles from here, or so, out near Ocean City, but on a clear beautiful day like today, from any high place, you should be see the contrail of the bright Minotaur rocket going up into space with a couple of satellites.

With nary a cloud in the sky, only mechanical difficulties could delay the launch. Here’s hoping the mechanics are all set. Launch is scheduled for 7:35pm, and from DC, look to the East-Southeast.

Essential DC, Life in the Capital, Mythbusting DC, The District, The Features
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DC Mythbusting: The Height Limit!

Photo courtesy of

‘Cairo Apartment Building’

courtesy of ‘NCinDC’

As an urban planner in DC, I cringe every time I hear a myth about the city (OMG, if I hear the “Pierre L’Enfant hated John Jay” reason for there being no J Streetone more time I’m going to scream).  One of the most widespread myths I hear from out-of-towners and Washingtonians alike is that the height limit in DC states that no building can be taller than the dome of the Capitol, and that the limit was enacted to preserve views of the Capitol and Washington Monument.  This is just plain wrong, and I’m here to tell you why.

Back in 1894, the Cairo apartment building was built on Q Street NW in Dupont Circle.  At 14 stories tall, it was the tallest building in the city at that time, and some residents had concerns about it.  Would it overwhelm the lower-density neighborhood?  Was it structurally sound?  Would existing fire-fighting equipment be able to reach top floors?  Those last two questions were primarily the reason that Congress stepped in in 1899 to establish the Height of Buildings Act.  Technology at the time was advancing quickly, but questions remained about the safety of such a tall building.  Height limits at the time were fairly common in American cities, including Boston and Chicago.

The 1899 Height of Buildings Act established that no building could be taller than the Capitol (289 feet), but if that’s the case, why don’t we have a city full of 28-story buildings?  Well, in 1910 the  act was amended to restrict building heights even further: no building could be more than twenty feet taller than the width of the street that it faces.  So, a building on a street with an 80-foot right-of-way could only be 100 feet, or 10 stories.  This preserved the “light and airy” character of Washington that Thomas Jefferson envisioned.  This 1910 law is still in effect today, and it essentially means that no building can be taller than about 13 stories (with the exception of Pennsylvania Avenue, which is zoned in some places to allow buildings of up to 160 feet). Continue reading →

Essential DC, Foggy Bottom, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Our Time Is Now, Georgetown

Photo courtesy of
‘Georgetown Waterfront’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’

In Monday’s print edition of the Express, there was an article called “Reclaim Your Territory” by Fiona Zublin. (If the Express web site wasn’t so darn hard to use, I’d be able to find it and link to you, but I quit after 5 minutes of searching. But that is a whole ‘nother Daily Feed.) The article gleefully stated that since this past weekend was the end of the Georgetown school year, and the summer interns haven’t descended upon DC quite yet, those of you usually skittish of M Street and Wisconsin should head there now to take part in the momentary peace.

I’ll second this suggestion to head to G-town, but up the ante on recommendations. Zublin said to head over to Third Edition and Paulo’s, but I’m going to go farther out on a limb, since I don’t think of Paulo’s as generally mobbed by the GU crowd. I have to admit, some of my most fun nights of going all-out have been at Mr. Smiths, and if I can do that without getting hit on by a 20-year old psych major? Yes, please.

I’m also partial to the Georgetown waterfront, you all know how I feel about things on the water, though after a weird night at the beginning of last summer with a slightly euro-trashy main-chain-wearing crowd, I haven’t returned since. I’d happily give it a go during this down time. So what about you? Any Georgetown bars or places you’d like to hit up while we’ve got a respite from the ususal smattering of denim mini skirts and Miller Lite drinking frat boys?

Entertainment, The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: “Legacy of Light”

legacy-of-light_298

Stephen Schnetzer as Voltaire and Lise Bruneau as Émilie du Châtelet in "Legacy of Light" (courtesy Arena Stage)

It makes perfect sense that a theater company whose current renovations will include a new space to be christened “the Cradle” would commission a play about motherhood in all its forms. Karen Zacarias’s “Legacy of Light,” at Arena Stage in Crystal City now through June 14, is a wide embrace of these themes – the purely physical act, the creative endeavor, even the scientific genesis. Maybe too wide an embrace. Its first act had me a bit impatient. But if you can get through the beginning exposition and make it to the second act, you’re rewarded with some truly funny and poignant moments that bring these themes to life.

The production weaves together two sets of couples – in the past, scientist Emilie de Chatelet works furiously on her thesis while balancing a young lover, a longtime companion (who just happens to be Voltaire), a military husband, and a fiesty daughter who shows more interest in fashion than learning. In the present, scientist Olivia struggles to come to terms with balancing the impending birth of her child by a surrogate mother while investigating the more exciting birth of a star in a distant galaxy.

You could say these two have a lot on their plates.

The first act plays with mutable gender roles – both the young male lover in the past and the modern husband register as rather feminine (not to mention, a tad annoying), while the women read masculine at least in terms of their assertiveness and consuming drive. It’s a conceit that gets turned on its head in the second act, when timelines intersect and traditional roles become harder to ignore.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

How Cool Is My Bike?

motorcycle jump by Francesco Rachello

As a proud new bike owner (well Vespa owner to be exact), there’s one question that has been bugging the heck out of me.  How cool do I look on my bike when I go zooming up the street?  I mean it’s hard to tell what others are seeing as I haul major ass, pop wheelies, and do burnouts at stop lights.  Thankfully I ran into Larry on craigslist* who can help me out!

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

CSA season – the beginning

Photo courtesy of
‘CSA Box #2’
courtesy of ‘erinmahollitz’

CSA season is here! Many of you are already getting your weekly boxes of fresh veg and other farm favorites from your Community Supported Agriculture farm. (Tom and I have to wait another couple of weeks before our CSA starts.)

The biggest question people have when they participate in a CSA for the first time is, “What do I do with ____?” For me, getting stuff I’ve never had before and don’t know how to cook is part of the fun, but for some people, it can be kind of off-putting. Never fear, We Love DC is here to help! What did you get in your CSA box that you don’t know what to do with?  What was in your box that you couldn’t even identify?

Leave your questions in the comments (or email them to me at tiffany -at- we love dc dot com) and we’ll figure out how to get the maximum deliciousness out of your farm box.

(post updated with a link to the CSA finder)

Featured Photo
By

Featured Photo

how does your garden grow? by Pappa91

With all of the dreary rain we’ve been having lately, it’s easy to become a little mopey.  If you’re feeling more than a little mopey, say very depressed, take my advice and never move to Seattle.  Instead just stare at this beautifully lit photo by Flickrite Pappa91 which is just oozing and dripping cheery colors from across the spectrum, all the way from the crisp orange and yellow petals in the foreground to the buttery blue bokeh in the background.  Mmmmm…buttery blue bokeeeeh.

It’s easy to spend a lot of your time focusing (no pun intended!) on the subject of your nature photos, but don’t lose sight (again, no pun!) of the background. One way to make things really ‘pop’ is to pay attention to what’s in the bokeh.  For example when I took this shot, I framed the apple so that a patch of black-eyed susans were in the background because yellow and green compliment each other quite nicely.

So remember, rain may be bad for your mood but it’s good for trees and flowers, don’t move to Seattle if you’re already depressed, and don’t be afraid to experiment with the areas of your photo that will inevitably become a beautiful blur.

News, The Daily Feed, The District, WTF?!
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Disney in Maryland?

Photo courtesy of
‘Cinderella Castle4’
courtesy of ‘Definitely Disney’

A 15-acre parcel near National Harbor will be the site of Disney’s next resort hotel. The hotel will sit on Oxon Hill Road not far from the site of the Gaylord resort. The $11-million dollar parcel seems an odd choice in this economy, but would house a 500-room luxury hotel amongst a cluster of other large hotels at National Harbor. While designs and construction timetables won’t be available for some time to come, it’s clear that National Harbor will be rivaling the downtown Convention Center for business in the years to come. This would, though, bring a number of new jobs to Prince George’s County, both as part of the length construction phase, and then to the hospitality sector.

But, will it look like a hotel? Or maybe look like Cinderella’s Castle? I’m hoping for the latter, as it would counterbalance the oddly-amusement-park-esque Mormon Temple on the northern side of the Beltway…

24 in DC, The Features
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24 in DC: Episode 21 (6:00 to 8:00)

Photo courtesy of
‘Momentos de tensão na Wenetus [1]’
courtesy of ‘Rodrigo Muniz’

It’s the last midnight, folks. In two more hours, Jack Bauer will have saved the world, cured Mad Cow, and destroyed more DC geography than the Canadians did when they burned down the White House. We’re here for snark, alcohol and a bit of group therapy. Join in!

Li’l Taylor is giving a statement to the DoJ about Jonas’ murder. Just a formality, she is assured.

President Woman President lays down the exposition about why finding that last canister isn’t the end of the danger, after all. Oh hey, they’re in dire need of sleep, just like every season of 24. Continue reading →

Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, Penn Quarter, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Taste of Eleven

Photo courtesy of
‘Caps Game Pretzel and Coke’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

Work in Chinatown/Penn Quarter or even just somewhere Metro accessible? Good for you, cause there is deliciousness to be had on Wednesday, May 20th, when Wizards Care host the Taste of Eleven luncheon. This year’s Taste of Eleven will feature over 30 restaurants each featuring a signature lunch item. Each ticket to the luncheon will allow for up to six lunch items per person. Attendees can enter through the main entrance on F Street NW at Verizon Center and then walk the entire concourse to select their food items.

The list of eat places with items is huge, so here is my short list, keeping in mind both deliciousness and price so your $11 goes that much farther. I’d stop by Brasserie Beck, Cafe Atlantico, Indebleu, La Tasca, Oyamel, Rosa Mexicano, The Source, and Zola.

Thanks to twitter foodie @arasmus for the tip!

The Daily Feed
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Screen on the Green bailout in the works?

Photo courtesy of
‘Kennedy Center 2’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

The Kennedy Center is working on a plan to run a variation on “Screen on the Green” according to a source at the  National Journal’s Hotline. They reported today in their Wake Up Call! section (behind the paywall) that Kennedy Center officials are looking for a big sponsor to sign on before they’ll commit and there’s discussions already in progress with several possibles. The location is apparently not graven in stone, but it might be on the terrace overlooking the Potomac, which would be lovely.

[edited slightly to clarify attribution]

The Daily Feed, WMATA
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New Metro Station?

Photo courtesy of
‘DSCN3749.JPG’
courtesy of ‘::FiZ::’

WTOP’s Adam Tuss is reporting that MoCo councilman Roger Berliner (District 1) is proposing an in-fill Metro station on the Red Line, preferably between Grosvenor and White Flint. His reasoning? The upcoming renovations and new construction in White Flint that is expected to transform the area into “a new urbanism model.”

Berliner believes the growth of the area, as well as the BRAC expansion at Bethesda Naval Medical Center, warrants a long-term investment look at putting in a new Red Line station.

Metro leaders are skeptical of the plan. What do you think? Is this a councilman’s pipe dream or a legitimate future expansion of our most heavily-traveled line?

The Daily Feed
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H Street Country Club Set A Date?


H Street Country Club
Originally uploaded by jenconsalvo

I am almost hesitant to share this information broadly, cause I know this place will be packed to the hilt just as soon as it opens and I’m trying to make it my go-to spot, but the GOG leaked the opening date of the H Street Country club as MAY 27, and ya’ll, I am stoked. That was also a run-on sentence, but in my excitement, I don’t even care.

The recently-updated and now-more-swanky-and-complete H Street Country Club Web site says, “Think eclectic, urban and industrial – it’s casually sophisticated, irreverent and the only of its kind. Enjoy our beers, margaritas, sangria and authentic Mexican cuisine along with a game of skeeball or minigolf on our DC-centric nine-hole course.” I’ve already waxed poetic about my love of the margarita, and I’m not sure if you know this or not, but I kick some ass at skeeball.

H Street’s twitter feed has yet to confirm the opening date (and they swore to me that twitter would be updated “the minute we make an announcement.”) but I’ve already got my calendar marked, and my (not-so-ironic) madras shorts on.

News, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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South Moon Under, National Harbor Style

Photo courtesy of
‘Gaylord at Night’
courtesy of ‘rgb48’

I just returned from a ridiculously lovely weekend in Rehoboth, and brought with me some inconvenient sunburns (Behind the knees? So comfortable.) and also some new adorable clothing from the outlets and the totally chic store South Moon Under. I arrived home last night already missing the beach and checked my email, only to find out that South Moon Under followed me home, and is opening a new store at National Harbor.

Joining the ranks of the Bethesda and Clarendon stores, the new SMU at National Harbor is right up your alley if you’re already enjoying an afternoon at National Harbor, which I would highly recommend. Join them for a grand opening party this Wednesday May 20 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. and Receive 20% off your entire purchase, and be entered into the drawing to win the Ultimate Girls Night Out gift package which includes limo service, a salon makeover and a $300 South Moon Under gift card.