By brownpau
Nats Abe Lincoln mascot in Georgetown.
Originally uploaded by brownpau
Heads-up, Nats fans! Sixteenth president of the United States and 2008 Nationals Presidents Race Champion Abraham Lincoln is in Georgetown this very moment, and according to first-hand witnesses is giving out high-fives. You can see he’s gotten something of a big head from winning the Civil War.
By jasmine
‘Be Cool in your Blue Crusier’
courtesy of ‘Wayan Vota’
Crime is something that everyone in big cities deals with, but there are things you can do to avoid being a victim. One of my friends got her car broken into over the weekend, and the friendly policewoman who responded told her that there were three other break-ins within a couple of blocks of where she lives (Eastern Market) by people looking for one thing: GPSes. These devices are often used to protect your car or increase the value of its insurance, but in this case, the device cannot protect itself from intruders. In addition to this, always keep your car checked through just car checks. There are many different kinds of GPS for different applications as the guide on GeoSettr will tell you. They are certainly a valuable asset.
It’s easy to get lax after living in the city for a while without incident, but don’t forget to take all valuables out of your car– and wipe those suction marks off your windshield! Apparently, that’s one major tip-off that a GPS might be inside. If that strikes you as over the top, just remember: it’s a whole lot less of a hassle than getting your car broken into.
By Don
‘KitsWoodinville’
courtesy of ‘Seven_Null7’
Even after the closings and liquidations earlier in the year, Ritz Camera has been unsuccessful in working out their bankruptcy reorganization. Like a lot of companies this last year, Ritz has been unable to secure needed funding. Many news outlets reported their intention to petition the court for permission to have an auction for the company a week from today. I’ve checked the Delaware filings and they did indeed get permission to proceed with an auction. The auction will happen at the office of their bankruptcy lawyers in New York and the results will be presented to the bankruptcy court on the 23rd.
It seems unlikely they won’t work something out, but if they can’t arrange a sale they’ll endeavor to start liquidation by the 24th. It’s an aggressive schedule because Ritz would like to pull the plug and get out of their leases as quickly as possible. Some of their landlords were taking issue with the speed Ritz is trying to get this done, but since the court ruled to allow the auction it seems that they were overruled.
Unless one of the two supposed prospective buyers purchases all their assets, including the name, it looks like we’ll see the remaining DC-area Ritz stores either rebrand or shut their doors entirely.
By Don
Sunday’s WaPo had an article about online transit tools, including mention of an iPhone app for Metro times. I already had one but I thought I’d drop the $1 to see if the one they mention, iTrans DC Metro, was better. It was not.
If you’re of a mind to spend a buck on a tool for metro times – and I have found it worthwhile – grab iMetroMap DC instead. [Confusingly, it shows the above-pictured name once installed] While it currently lack one feature that iTrans DC Metro has – location awareness to tell you where the closest stop is – it has several others that are far more useful. In particular the ‘favorites’ option where you can have the stations you need information on most often.
There seem to be plenty of others out there – any of you have one you prefer over either the Post’s suggestion or mine?
By Ben H. Rome
‘Brendan Morrison’ courtesy of ‘RobertCiavarro’
Injury-bedeviled Brendan Morrison – once considered the NHL’s “iron man” – signed a one-year contract with the Caps on Friday, worth around $1.5 million.
Rumor has it he’ll be centering the second line, helping fill the space Fedorov left when the Russian headed off to the KHL.
Morrison’s played with three teams over the last year and a half and has been plagued with injuries since 2007. After knocking out 8 solid seasons with the Dallas Stars Vancouver Canucks – racking in 542 consecutive games from 2000-07 – he’s suffered from four heavy surgeries: wrist, hip, hernia and torn ACL. He spent less than half of the 07-08 season with the Canucks, then moved to the Anaheim Ducks and then on to the Dallas Stars last season, finishing with 16 goals and 15 assists in 81 games.
The Caps believe Morrison’s back to full health, as does the 34 year-old center, and the team continues to piece together another worthy contender for the upcoming season.
By Tom Bridge
‘PRE_2294’
courtesy of ‘MissChatter’
The Nationals fired Manager Manny Acta last night after a disappointing 5-0 loss to the Houston Astros. Acta will be replaced with bench coach Jim Riggleman after the All-Star Break that starts today. We’ll have a feature this afternoon discussing the Nats at the All-Star Break, and discussing all of the reasons for Acta’s termination.
By Ben H. Rome
‘what to pick…’ courtesy of ‘philliefan99’
Once again, a great cross-section of photos from over the weekend in the area.
If you’d like to see your photo pop up on our Flashback, here’s how it works. Once you upload it to Flickr, drop it into our photo pool. (The photo has to have been taken between that Friday and Sunday evening.) That’s really all there is to it; myself or one of our other authors will select those photos we think best gives a look at weekend happenings in the area. If you’d like to make it a little easier for us, put “weekend flashback” in the photo’s tag list.
Thanks to all our photo contributors for making every flashback a difficult one to do. So many great shots every time! Here’s a look at this past weekend; enjoy before you get back to that daily grind. Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
‘Do You Slow for Speed Cameras?’
courtesy of ‘Wayan Vota’
Do you use one of the iPhone or GPS applications to watch out for speed cameras? If so, Chief Lanier thinks you’re cowardly for doing so. How dare you deprive the city of its hard-earned ticket revenues?
By Rebecca
‘july09 031’
courtesy of ‘your idea’
Which cast member of the Real World DC was just hired at Tony & Joe’s along the Georgetown waterfront? Can’t reveal our sources, but all signs point to lame reality service industry drama (with some horrible Matchbox 20 song played over it).
By Rebecca
While dining at Olives Friday, my waiter informed me that they’d be closing their doors for renovations after the evening’s service. Staff have been told that renovations, the restaurant’s first in 12 years, will last until at least the end of August, if not into early September. Hopefully these “renovations” are not a signal that the renowned dining establishment is not coming back, an unconfirmed DC restaurant community rumor, but rather that the restaurant is getting a much needed face lift.
‘it’s pretty cool living in DC…’
courtesy of ‘blakespot’
Hey, look at that. City Council is meeting in Vince Gray’s office to discuss the $60,000 contract Marion Barry gave to his girlfriend. According to WTOP’s Mark Segraves, the press demanded to be let into the meeting, but has been removed from the room, under threat of being physically removed by the guards. Some of the news outlets are calling their lawyers.
Trailer for Johnnie To’s Sparrow
The Smithsonian’s annual Made in Hong Kong Film Festival opens tonight, co-sponsored by the Freer Gallery of Art, the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade office. The films being shown this year range from light-hearted pickpocket capers to serious examinations of the effect of Hong Kong’s reversion to China on its people.
You can view the full schedule online, but I was pretty disappointed to see a total lack of movie trailers made available by the Smithsonian. I’ve done the YouTube legwork for you, because who are you kidding? You’re not getting any work done now anyway… Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
‘Hospitality Island’
courtesy of ‘Justin S. Campbell’
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit today rejected the ruling of a lower court that last summer’s police roadblocks in Trinidad were constitutional. The case has been returned to the lower court for further review, so we’ve not seen the last of it. You can read the court’s whole opinion (PDF) via the Pacer system. Councilman Phil Mendelsohn said in an email statement this afternoon, “It is unfortunate that the District’s Attorney General was so wrong to insist that the roadblocks were constitutional. However, today’s decision is no surprise given that the DC Court of Appeals came to the same conclusion regarding roadblocks – ironically, also in Trinidad – in 1991.”
The Court’s opinion today is largely based on an important case concerning police checkpoints decided by the Supreme Court in 2000: City of Indianapolis vs. Edmond. Here, I quote from the finding: “But the Court stressed that “[w]e have never approved a checkpoint program whose primary purpose was to detect evidence of ordinary criminal wrongdoing.” Edmond, 531 U.S. at 41. The Court then concluded that “[b]ecause the primary purpose of the Indianapolis checkpoint program is ultimately indistinguishable from the general interest in crime control, the
checkpoints violate the Fourth Amendment.” Id. at 48. It is this rule which governs the present case, and as the purpose of the NSZ checkpoint program is not immediately distinguishable from the general interest in crime control, appellants’ argument that the seizures were unconstitutional appears headed for ultimate victory.”
By Don
‘tunnel’
courtesy of ‘volcanojw’
A week ago I put up a piece talking about the nature of the sensors that are emerging as a possible cause of Metro’s fatal Jun 22 accident. One of the questions I asked was whether it was reasonable to expect WMATA to look for this problem – whether it was a known issue with the technology.
Earlier this week it was revealed that San Francisco’s BART system uses the same sensor technology and that they have been running a supplementary system since their opening in 1972, precisely to deal with this “flickering” issue.
There’s some additional discussion of this matter in WaPo’s reporting on a meeting Catoe had yesterday with a committee of board members but it’s pretty unsatisfying. I’ve linked to page 2 of the story since that’s where the real fun is.
Metro does not have the same kind of tool, but it does have “diagnostic tools,” said Metro rail chief Dave Kubicek.
Asked whether Metro could have prevented the crash if it had something similar to BART’s system, Metro officials said they did not know.
“I want to commend you,” Graham told Kubicek. “You should be a lawyer.”
By Katie
As promised on Tuesday, I have used Random.org to generate a winner for the Old Bay gift basket! (And have the screen shot to prove it!) Congratulations to Farr, commenter 2, who answered this when asked where the best crabs in the DC area are:
“I went to Jimmy Cantler’s in Annapolis last weekend. They were delicious and with my parents in town for the Fourth and footing the bill, very affordable.”
Farr wins the “Basket of the Bay” gift bag, which includes Old Bay Seasoning, Old Bay Seafood Steamer bag, a beach towel, beach bag, keychain with bottle opener, temporary Old Bay tattoo, and some great new Old Bay-inspired recipes for her to try out! Thanks to everyone who entered, may you be blessed with tasty crabs forever. (THE SEA KIND, people, crabs from the sea.)
By jasmine
‘Tube nails’
courtesy of ‘Phil Hawksworth’
Getting your nails done doesn’t seem like that big of an expense– what’s $20 here or there? But pampering like that is easy to cut out of your budget while still keeping your fingernails pretty and maintained at home.
Thrifty: First, you need some good supplies. At the minimum, you need nail clippers (I prefer Revlon, but you can get whatever you want), a good file, nail polish remover, cotton balls, and polish. Continue reading
By Don
‘Washington Hilton on Connecticut Avenue’
courtesy of ‘Maryland Route 5’
We just got a fun submission from a PR firm pimping the renaming contest for the Washington Hilton’s new restaurant and bar. According to the website
The restaurant and bar’s new name should reflect an authentic Washington experience, our menu of fresh, locally inspired meals, hand mixed cocktails and our contagiously hospitable atmosphere that welcomes guests – including heads of state – back time and again.
I’m not sure what makes for an authentic Washington experience but you can place your vote at the website above.
I’m also not sure exactly what you’re voting on there. There’s 4 items to choose from as well as a box to suggest your own. Are those four names that are already in the running? Am I supposed to pick one as well as suggest my own? Whatever. Make your suggestions. Rebecca beat you to “One Night in Paris” already but I’m going with “Firecrotch Cafe.”
By Max
Lowland Gorilla by Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Nope, it’s actually a baby Lowland Gorilla. The National Zoo’s newest addition to the Great Ape House, Kibibi, turned 6 months old today. Awwwww. She sure is a cute little primate isn’t she? Apparently she behaves much like human babies do, crawling around her environment, putting everything she finds in her mouth. According to the photo’s description:
“Kibibi’s favorite thing is exploring new flavors. In one week, she used her new teeth to try celery, ape chow, papaya, and chard, as well as less-palatable morsels like hay and bamboo.”
Ape chow, huh? How do you like them bananas?
By Katie
Happy Friday, DC! I’m so ready for the weekend, aren’t you? So food news, let’s do it: 2 times the Top Chef news, and a Belgian Independence Day celebration and more round out all the news fit to eat in the District. Continue reading
By Carl Weaver
‘Blood Drive’
Courtesy of Jerry
You are going out to the Reston Festival anyway, right, and while there you will see the good folks at Nice Mirror, and do the good deed of entering yourself in the bone marrow donor system. On the way out there, please stop on Route 50 in Fairfax at the Kena Shriners to give a pint of blood. We have a blood drive there about once per quarter, it seems, all run by the Red Cross, so stop on by and give the gift of life.
If you have never given blood before, you should know that you don’t leave simply having saved a life. In this case, you leave with a great breakfast, prepared by my friend Chef Don. Free food and hero status – can you think of a better combination? The blood drive will be operating from 9-12 on Saturday.
Learn more about the Shriners and tell them Carl sent you. They are great folks and Chef Don will treat you right.
By 