By Tom Bridge
‘Google Business Card’
courtesy of ‘TwisterMc’
…and then as one, were silenced.
It seems Google is down in spots up and down the Eastern Seaboard, with our agents in the West reporting no difficulty, while DC suffers without Gmail, Google Talk, and even Google Searches. People, I am going into withdrawal here, I’m actually having to figure stuff out on my own. This is just simply unacceptable!
Are you jonesin’ for a fix? Or are you being productive today without the distractions of yore?
Thomas Trueman Gaff Monument
Originally uploaded by kimberlyfaye
There seems to be some sort of regional Google outage happening right now- anecdotal evidence from Twitter and Facebook indicates that it’s mostly Greater DC users who can’t use teh googlez and mostly non-DC people who can. (Though we do have some locals reporting that they’re having no problems.)
So now is a time for web nerds like me, cut off from our Gmail, our Google Analytics, our Google Reader, our Google Calendar, to ponder just how it’s possible that ONE company could get its hooks this deep into our daily activities.
(And if you’re having trouble loading We Love DC, it’s because the Google Analytics javascript isn’t loading. Sorry.)
By Katie
‘Christian Siriano in person’
courtesy of ‘sue blue’
It is physically hurting me that I will be missing seeing Christian Siriano in Bethesda on Friday, I almost cried when I had to turn down my invitation to his fashion show at Redwood.
The Project Runway star is coming to town as part of The Front Row, a three-day, five-block fashion event including runway previews, in-store style and beauty events, designer appearances, trunk shows and more at the fabulously fashionable retailers and restaurants at Bethesda Row.
But even if I won’t be there, you can go and make me jealous. For a full list of events happening this weekend at The Front Row, click on through to the event listing (PDF).
By Carl Weaver
(4/365) :: Golf Thursdays by chispita_666
I just got an email about a golf tournament to support the Kena Shrine Transportation Fund, which provides free transportation for kids to get to the Shriner’s Hospital in Philadelphia. The wife/husband doesn’t like you playing golf? Just say it’s for the kids. How can they say no to the kids?
Read on:
The 15th Annual Kena Shrine Club Golf Tournament will be conducted next Tuesday, May 19th at Penderbrook Golf Course in Fairfax. This annual fund raiser golf outing will be a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m., with a four man/ woman format playing Captain’s Choice/Best Ball. Plan to arrive not later than 8:00 a.m., pay fee in snack bar, get cart assignments and hole numbers.
After a continental breakfast in the club house and 18 holes of golf, we will enjoy a buffet lunch, award single and group prizes and a 50/50. The outing is all inclusive for a $50.00 fee per golfer. If you wish to play in the tournament at Penderbrook, let me know as soon as possible.
And, no, you don’t have to be a Mason or Shriner to play, although I am sure lots of folks will be happy to answer your questions about these organizations.
UH WTF
Originally uploaded by tiffany bridge
As seen on my commute this morning. Giving voice to the existential dilemma of rush hour commuters everywhere, Virginia license plate reads: “UH WTF.”
By Don
When the Murky Coffee Kerfuffle erupted last year one of the funniest comments I saw was over on Metafilter and wasn’t so much about the conflict as it was terminology. The writer took issue with the term “ghetto latte,” where a customer buys a cheaper espresso-only drink and dumps in the no-charge milk at the condiment bar. “‘Latte arbitrage’ is a much better description, since if their pricing was consistent this type of operation would not be profitable.” You’ve got to be a little bit of a finance geek to be amused by this use of the word arbitrage, but I’ve spent enough time listening to Marketplace to be tickled by the statement.
The salad bar at your local grocery is another place where you can practice some consumer arbitrage, though there’s also advantage to be had in not buying things that spoil before you use them all. There’s also some things there that are pure and simple sucker items which you shouldn’t be buying in any quantity if you own a can opener. Continue reading
By Ben H. Rome
‘Iceburgh’, courtesy of ‘*36*’
All teasing aside, I thank the Washington Capitals for a tremendous season and an Eastern Conference Semis series for the ages. Don’t despair, Caps fans. The team’s solid; they’ll be back next year and for many more thereafter. There’s a Cup in their future – just not right now.
So yeah. Don’t you all hate it when I’m right?
By Rebecca
‘socks =P’
courtesy of ‘unknown flickr user’
Earlier this week we sent good joo-joo-bees to the Caps for their game six match against Pittsburgh, and while I’m not going to take credit for the win, I am going to continue sending DC good karma by offering up some Penguin-relative meal options for tonight’s game.
By Katie
‘Maryland Game’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’
BE STILL MY BEATING HEART, while I introduce to you the best thing I’ve seen in a long while: The DC Beer Map. I just spotted this glorious thing on Young & Hungry and could not contain myself.
Let’s review: It is a map. Of beer. With color coding, and ratings. Ah! It is beer-loving type-A heaven.
The incredibly useful map notes area brewery’s, bars, beer stores, and even homebrew stores all marked on a google map of our fine city. Click on a marker, and the map will tell you what it is, the address, the phone number, show you a picture, and let you read reviews. Oh mai gawd, I just can’t handle the happiness this is causing me. It also works in reverse, click the name of the bar you want to know more about, and the map will zoom to show you the location and profile. It’s like Yelp, but drunk. And I’m in love.
By Tom Bridge
Lebowskifest 2009 will be September 28th & 29th, so mark your calendars, Little Lebowski Urban Achievers. Tickets go on sale on Friday for the DC version of the festival, which will be a movie party on the 28th at 9:30 club, followed by a bowling excursion at Strike Bethesda on the 29th. I think I could probably rock the Walter look, but I think the brush cut wouldn’t look good on me. Who would you go as?
By Don
image courtesy of The Washington Post
The second ever Post Hunt will happen this Sunday, rain or shine, and Hunt creators and planners Dave Barry, Tom Schroder and Gene Weingarten had an online chat earlier today to discuss it. The Hunt is obviously an involved and complicated event, and one questioner wondered about how extensive preparations are.
Arlington, VA: Just how long have you been planning this event?
Dave Barry: We have a meeting planned for Friday.
If you’re planning on participating – any why wouldn’t you? – you could do worse than to look at my old cow orker’s site, TropicHunt.com, and read up about some previous Tropic Hunts. He’ll be in town and we, along with a few others, will be participating.
See you there.
By Tom Bridge
‘Third Church of Christ, Scientist – Signs – 4-16-09’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’
The word is out, and Marc Fisher has it: the Brutalist landmark Third Church of Christ Scientist will be torn down, despite the efforts of historic preservationists.
While I’ve always felt that the building looked more like a headquarters for James Bond villains QUANTUM, I can understand wanting to preserve the aesthetically-minimalist building there at the church. While I really don’t care for the Brutalist style (especially the terrible example at FBI HQ on 9th Street, which is an abomination of a building) I always loved how they handled the traditional carillon feature of the space.
The Congregation is going to be rebuilding the location, but hasn’t released any plan documents for the new space. The old building will not be permitted to be removed until such time as they can show what they’ll be doing in its stead, but for the moment, the rights remain with the congregation instead of with the historic preservationists. That’s a good thing, I think.
By Ben H. Rome
‘Three-Wheeled Taxi’ courtesy of ‘M.V. Jantzen’
A couple of updates to tie up on the transit scene – and then I need your help!
Pedicabs on the Mall: You all remember our report on the harassment of the pedicabs by the Park Police? Well, I’m happy to report that since then, there’s been no further incidents, according to Ben Morris of National Pedicabs. So go and enjoy the ride around the Mall! I’ve also gotten word that a new pedicab company is starting business this weekend as well, so please support this great eco-friendly way to enjoy the Mall. (The grass could use the break, frankly…)
DC, Metro and money: WTOP reported this morning that the District has racked up a tab of a whopping $1.2 million in unpaid expenses to Metro, all centered around the Southeastern bus garage located a block from Nationals stadium. The District had said it would cover the cost to move all the Metrobuses out of that garage and operate them from other facilities. (This is known as “deadheading costs.”) The city’s cost is $400,000 a month, and the deal stretches back to the fall of 2007. Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
‘Wrap-Up’
courtesy of ‘M.V. Jantzen’
The DC Vouchers program is fighting for its life this morning in front of the Senate. Apparently, none of the opponents of the program showed up for today’s hearing, which means the committee is largely taking testimony from those DC residents who’ve significantly benefitted from the program’s efforts. Mary Katherine Ham is livetweeting the highlights of the hearing which make for a pretty compelling case for keeping the program alive for those who’ve been part of the program in the meantime.
The best of the arguments so far is: It takes time to make the public schools better, why should those who’ve been part of this program so far have to suffer through the DC School’s worst hours? Especially when education is so important, this seems like a no-brainer.
By Don
IMG_0595, courtesy of Arlington Public Library
The Arlington Library has apparently put the most overdue book ever up for display in the lobby of Central Library and have some pictures in a Flickr photoset. I’m not sure this is the right message to send – the story says that the book was returned after thirty years along with a $25 check. You can see from the inner pocket that the book originally cost the library system $6.50.
$6.50 for thirty years at 11% interest, compounded monthly, is $173.60. The Arlington Library system is celebrating a deadbeat! Where’s the remaining $148.60, Sarah McKee?
By Katie
‘Screen on the Green’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’
I’m sure you’ve heard by now that HBO has canceled their sponsorship of the famous Screen on the Green summer movie program on the national mall. This is making DC’ers everywhere sad. Which, if you’re an area company, totally leaves room for you to step in and be the hero.
This is the perfect PR opportunity to win the hearts and minds of DC for those companies currently on the “Dead To Me” list. That’s right Pepco, with your always-expensive power bills, you could warm not only our homes, but our hearts. Your newfound love of twitter doesn’t absolve you, I want my movies! All that money you made off of us this winter? Give some back, okay? Comcast, I don’t think anything will ever make me love you after our wireless internet “incident”, but I might be more friendly if you saved Screen on the Green. Lerner family, you owe us big time. After withholding rent on the stadium from the city, building the team HQ building RIGHT in the Capitol sight-line, and trying to get DC to pay for the team uniforms, I think you’re due for a little good PR.
I don’t know about you, but I’d begrudgingly do the Comcast/Pepco/Lerner family dance if it meant I could watch my movies on the mall again. What company do you think should step up to win back our hearts?
By Tom Bridge
‘Queso’
courtesy of ‘newsongNY’
Feds at Dulles Airport yesterday arrested a guy for smuggling cocaine hidden inside moist cheese dip. Now, it was only a few ounces inside the cheese, but after the Borders & Customs crowd found his little stash, they also found a brick of over a kilogram taped to his person. Looks like you’re going to have to work harder than that, mister smuggler guy.
By Katie
WeLoveDC authors Donna (greenie) and Katie (foodie) have paired up to bring you a double-hitting feature about local area restaurants that take on the challenge of being green. Donna will explain the logic behind the environmentally friendly trends and Katie will tell you if the food tastes any good. It’s a rough life, but someone has to do it, right?
It is oh-so-trendy, but not just that, it’s plain good for you and the earth. Farm-to-Table dinners have hit DC hard, so when WLDC author Donna and I were invited to sample Chef Terri Cutrino’s Farmer’s Market Dinners at Cafe Atlantico, we jumped at the chance.
Katie: From a foodie standpoint, these dinners are interesting to me, not just because I’ve finally gotten around to reading The Omnivore’s Dilemma (I’m late, I know), but also because this particular type of dinner and dining can show you what exactly a chef is made of.
Because the ingredients are not picked until Thursday, and the dinner is put together on Friday, it’s a stretch. Sort of Top Chef meets real life, if you will. And the results, I must say are the same, given the short amount of time a Chef has to work on a dish, with specific ingredients, you’re bound to have it be hit or miss – just like Top Chef, you’ll be presented with dishes that shine, and dishes that flop. On our particular night we experienced both. Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
Major congratulations to Marc Benton and his wife Sherri for launching Photoblogging DC this morning. They’re going to be highlighting the work of the DC area’s best photographers online. Their WordPress theme is just gorgeous, and needs to be seen. Head on over to their Contributors Page to see who else is snapping shots for them, as well instructions on how to contribute.
‘Screen on the Green Anticipation’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’
Okay, you’re asking yourself. With no more Screen on the Green, what on earth am I supposed to do for free outdoor movies NOW?
Well, Ben S. already told us about HacDC’s Nerd Movie Nights, which will help me out a lot personally in my post-Star Trek hangover. And we’re already hearing Twitter rumblings about “some geeks, a screen, some speakers, and some public domain movies,” so we’ll be sure to let you know if any of that comes to fruition.
The Going-Out Gurus have a good roundup of outdoor movie festivals that have announced their schedules.
And finally, the About.com guide for DC, Rachel Cooper, has a list of outdoor movie festivals that happen annually, but it looks like most of the farther suburban ones haven’t announced their lineups yet.
And finally, if you’re lucky enough to have a backyard, you can always show your own outdoor movies with a projector and a bedsheet. Just be sure to invite your neighbors so they don’t get cranky when Michael Corleone’s enemies are getting whacked at 11PM.
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