By AcaciaO
Clearly the feral squirrels around Union Station have been getting a little bit too much access to the humans who frequent their parks, as we learned quickly when an unabashed squirrel refused to go away until he was given half a cookie. You know what they say, if you give a squirrel an Au Bon Pain cookie…
By shannon
The Washington Monument is not on axis!
I admit it, I’m definitely a perfectionist. I’m a big fan of symmetry and straight lines and order. I think that’s one of the reasons I like DC so much– L’Enfant’s plan is so orderly, with the important sites marked by radiating avenues, and the clear axis of power coming straight down the Mall. But something has always bothered me– the center of the White House doesn’t look like it lines up with the Washington Monument. Why, in a city so based on order and symmetry and strong axes, does the Washington Monument not line up?!
Because the ground right at the intersection of the center of the White House and the center of the Capitol was not strong enough to support such a giant structure. Originally, L’Enfant had proposed a small equestrian statue of George Washingon at the intersection of the east-west axis of the Capitol and the north-south axis of the White House. But plans changed, and the Washington Monument went there instead. The Monument was larger and heavier than anything that L’Enfant had envisioned, so it had to be shifted off axis to avoid less solid, marshy ground. The Monument now rests “about 300 feet southeast of the crossing point of L’Enfant’s two primary vistas” (from Grand Avenues, page 271). Mystery solved!
So has anyone besides me noticed and been bothered by this? Or am I the only one who will be sleeping easier tonight knowing that there’s a reason behind the off-axis placement of the Monument?
* Ok, so I realize this isn’t a myth exactly. But it’s something that’s always bothered me about DC that I couldn’t figure out. If you have a DC myth in mind that you’d like me to bust/confirm, please e-mail me at shannon (at) welovedc.com. Thanks!
By Don
‘Arlington Cemetery’
courtesy of ‘brianmka’
Salon has an interesting piece up about how Arlington National Cemetery handles mementos left by graves. The article seems to come down on the side of believing that there’s some obligation on the part of management to collect and store what mourners leave, but I’m not sure I concur. They reference the project that collects and archives items left at the Vietnam memorial but they don’t point out that the collection isn’t really viewable by the public in any way. Perhaps that doesn’t matter, though I wonder at the value of saving and cataloging these things versus simply disposing of them with respect.
On the other hand, if they did not we wouldn’t have stories like this.
I must have looked confused or incredulous. The value of saving a single cigarette was clearly lost on me.
“Look closely,” Felton said quietly.
I peered in at the cigarette. Someone had taken a pen and written on it in tiny letters, “It ain’t wet. It ain’t broke.”
Felton waited. He could see this didn’t help me much. He smiled. Then he explained the sensation of patrolling the jungles of Vietnam, completely soaking wet, for weeks on end. You felt like you would never, ever be dry again. “A dry cigarette was worth a million dollars,” he explained.
I don’t envy the people who have to make policy decisions about things like this.
By Tom Bridge
‘Watergate and Moon’
courtesy of ‘M.V. Jantzen’
The City Paper has the final word on the Watergate: Sold this morning for $25 million to PB Capital, who are creditors to the current owners of the property. There was just the one bid, despite some commotion and some phone calls. Who knows what PB Capital will do with the closed hotel. Perhaps turn it into a corruption-based theme park, with a hall of horrors featuring Richard Nixon and Duke Cunningham?
By Kirk
‘day295 :: year two’
courtesy of ‘erin*carly’
Two major players in DC’s political journalism are now one major player. Yesterday, Roll Call Group announced its purches of Congressional Quarterly Inc. for an unnamed price. The companies will combine under the name of CQ-Roll Call group and control a significant share of political coverage on the Hill. There’s no word yet on how the buy-out will effect either companies’ publications, although the official closing date is still several monthes away. Major changes may be in the works, but only time will tell.
By Rebecca
‘The damage done’
courtesy of ‘
Three and a half years after a three alarm fire destroyed the Georgetown library’s roof and much of the second floor, the historic branch of the DC Public Library will reopen in the Fall of 2010. The blaze occurred on April 30, 2007 just three hours after another DC landmark, Eastern Market, burned to the ground. The library’s Peabody room, located on the second floor, housed numerous documents and artifacts detailing the history of the Georgetown neighborhood; luckily 80% of these invaluable items were saved from the fire and quickly whisked off to the Library of Congress and various other institutions for restoration and protection. Continue reading
By Donna C.
‘Blackberries on the Towpath’
courtesy of ‘Girl Interrupted Eating’
It’s not often that we authors call the same story at once. But the Suggest a Story form that came in for this weekend’s Blackberry Bonanza and Wellness Fest at Great Country Farms of Bluemont, Va., created quite a stir.
And why not? They’ll have no less than pick-your-own organic blackberries (“Berries are one of the top foods to go organic because they tend to retain high quantities of chemicals applied to them,” said owner Kate Zurschmeide), blackberry wine, blackberry ice cream and slushies, freshly baked peach berry pies, BBQ and salads and burgers. Plus yoga demonstrations, handmade berry bowls and make-your-own tie-dye souvenir shirts.
There will be a “fear factor” style bug trapping contest so that we can beat the beetles to the berries in true organic style. And a 2,800 square foot jumping pillow, rope swings and a Tractor Tire Mountain for which no upper age limit is specified. I’m just saying.
The festival costs $10, runs 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on July 25 and 26, and sounds (all together now) berry, berry cool!
By Don
Molly, the vizla who was notoriously dognapped, was returned to her humans late Monday night by police. They were provided few details because of the ongoing investigation but they seem to believe the person who had her was suffering from some mental issues. Hopefully any case built against her will result in some treatment and prevent this from happening to others.
Like most happy homecomings, this one will have a party to celebrate. Art S says:
A thank you party will be thrown to show appreciation for everyone that offered their support, possibly on the weekend of August 22nd, location TBA. Please email findmollydog@gmail.com if you are interested in coming.
Welcome home, Molly.
By Max
DC Synchromasters by Max Cook
One of DC’s hottest scenes this summer has been the Capitol Skyline Hotel pool. Like spring break on steroids, you’ll find all of the cool kids drinking, smoking, drinking and splashing around in the warm summer sun. A DJ spins tunes, inflatable pool toys fly through the air, and six packs flex in hopes of a post pool hookup. This is where real people hang out. Real cool people. This is the real world, or at least the real DC.
Despite not having a six pack, when I heard that the Washington Project for the Arts was holding a synchronized swimming contest at the pool in addition to experimental video projections by Connor Contemporary Art, I knew it was something I couldn’t pass up. The contest, SynchroSwim, featured five teams competing in an unorthodox display of aquatic acrobatics. Prizes were awarded for best performance, best visual spectacle, and crowd favorite.
By Tom Bridge
Fun window
Originally uploaded by tbridge
I was walking on E street yesterday, and I noticed that my most favorite store was now a hollowed-out shell. No longer can you get Marital Aids, Martial Arts Equipment and Stun Guns in the same place. Sigh, whatever shall we do?!
By Don
‘Crecent Lightning’
courtesy of ‘Cazimiro’
It looks cool but it’s less pleasant to get hit by it. According to Pepco lightning strikes kill 400 people in the US every year – most of them in June, July, and August. So they’ve offered up this selection of tips for how to stay safer in a storm.
They don’t offer any tips for keeping your stuff safe, so let me drop some knowledge on you here: there is no consumer protection gadget out there that will protect your computer/DVD/tv/whatever safe against a close lightning strike. So-called “surge protectors” are typically one-use components (an MOV, to be precise) that may marginally protect against dirty power – but probably not. Lightning travels through the air so I assure you: it will have no problem jumping a nanometer distance or even across a power switch on a strip if the strike was close enough.
For 100% protection in an ugly storm, unplug.
[edit: accidentally left in ‘kill’ from a previous edit – Pepco claims approximately 60 fatalities out of those 400 who are struck]
By Ben H. Rome
‘Packaging their Tomica’
courtesy of ’emrank’
Wondering when the summertime DC ‘sales-tax free’ week is?
Don’t bother. The District repealed legislation today back in May that allowed for the tax-break week, usually in time for back-to-school shopping. A victim of the economy, the city will save nearly $650,000 in revenue.
No word on if it will return.
(Corrected, since I only briefly read the press release today – more of a reminder – and forgot this was repealed back before summertime.)
By Katie
‘Muffin & Latte with toffee filbert’
courtesy of ‘Lucy @_@’
A friend gave me a heads up that tomorrow is Free Pastry Day at Starbucks coffee from opening to 10:30 a.m. with the purchase of any beverage. So, those long lines? Even longer. But there’s free stuff at the end! And I love me some reduced-fat cinnamon coffee cake. Omnomncoffecake+chaitealatte!
By Don
Over the weekend I caught three shows; One was Riding the Bull, which Jenn already reviewed. The other two were Freakshow and Bare Breasted Women Swordfighting. I enjoyed both overall, but both had some issues.
Freakshow’s problems were 100% venue-related. If you haven’t partaken of a Fringe show or just haven’t been over to Fort Fringe, the Fringe powers that be have set up a large tent in the outdoor area next to the former AV Restaurant. It’s a colorful and fun space and a neat idea.
Except.
The tent also houses the bar; in fact you pass through it to enter the performance space. Like most bars, keeping the noise level consistently down below a dull roar requires divine intervention. Fringe’s direct line to the almighty is just as flawed as anyone’s, and consequently the noise spills through at random points. At several points I found myself leaning forward and straining to hear. Freakshow’s last performance is this Thursday at 6:30pm, meaning most of the 80 minute performance will overlap with the last hour of Fringe’s happy hour.
Unfortunate, because the show is worth your time. Andrew Mitakides has an intense stare that makes you instantly believe he could be the barker and head for a traveling freakshow around the turn of the century and Allyson Harkey wonderfully inhabits the armless and legless Amalia, only out of our sight briefly during the entire show. Personally I’d have had to itch my nose long before the hour and a half had passed by. Everyone else is similarly good, though poor Edward Daniels doesn’t get much to do as the feeble-minded “Pinhead” character. If the end falls down at all it’s in trying a little too hard to create some sense of closure. We come in with a situation already set, albiet in transition – I wish the playright had trusted us to walk out with the same sense of continuinty.
Bare Breasted Women Swordfighting, on the other hand, had a fine venue but I had some serious problems with the content.
By Donna C.
‘Double Red Ripe Tomatoes’
courtesy of ‘Wayan Vota’
Many of us have been there — gardens gone wild, and produce galore. There’s a reason someone invented zucchini bread.
If your garden groweth over, give your extras to hungry families through the Arlington Food Assistance Center. Or plant an extra row for them from the start through the cleverly named Plot Against Hunger.
By Tom Bridge
‘DC United vs Rapids’
courtesy of ‘veni markovski’
D.C. United
Record: 6-3-9
Last Two Weeks: 2-0-0
Place: 2nd in the East
Just two games for United these past two weeks, an MLS win against the Colorado Rapids and an Open Cup win against the Harrisburg City Islanders. Sure, Brian Namoff put one in his own net against the Rapids, but overall, it’s looking better and better for United. They’re headed to the Open Cup quarterfinals this Tuesday night against the Rochester Rhino at the SoccerPlex, then it’s out west against the Quakes in San Jose, then a CONCACAF Champions League game against the C.D L.A. Firpo. Three leagues, four games, two weeks. Here’s hoping that Namoff can keep up his scoring streak, and not just on his own goal…
Kastles
Record: 5-6
Last Two Weeks: 5-4
Place: 2nd in the East by a half match
There are just three matches left in the swift 2009 World TeamTennis league: one on the road versus the undefeated Springfield Lasers, and a pair at home against the Lasers and the New York Buzz. On the line? A playoff spot and a winning record for the season. While the Kastles are in 2nd place in the East, it’s a precarious position just a half match ahead of the Boston Lobsters, and a game and a half in front of the Freedoms and Buzz. It’s going to take some “Refuse to Lose,” to make sure they make it to the Playoffs.
By Max
DC Tennis by Max Cook
The Washington Kastles, now 5-6, head into the end of their season this week. Currently in second place in the Eastern Conference, they have their work cut out for them to maintain their position. They’ve got three tough matches coming up, two of which are against the undefeated Springfield Lasers. To help their playoff chances the Kastles have signed Nadia Petrova, currently ranked #10 in the world. It remains to be seen who she will replace or if she will have doubles chemistry with either Rennae Stubbs or Olga Puchkova.
Securing wins in two of the final three matches will earn them a spot in the Eastern Conference Final against the 9-3 Sportimes who they played last week. Should they lose two matches they will need the help from the Boston Lobsters and the Philadelphia Freedoms. If the Kastles advance to the finals it will be played here in DC, a rematch you surely won’t want to miss.
While Washington clearly has the best fans in World TeamTennis, seats are still available for this week’s matches so buy your tickets now.
By Don
‘Taxi back after landing’
courtesy of ‘jitze’
WTOP reports here that the pilot of an ultralight was unharmed – and presumably nobody else was either – after he set his vehicle down on a road median in Maryland. Unfortunately the article fudges a few terms and exhibits the ususal problems the media has when reporting on general aviation.
It’s an accurate statement, but WTOP tosses in that this is an “experimental plane” which makes it sound like something the pilot cobbled together out of junkyard parts. What the FAA calls planes in the “experimental” category is just a grouping most of us would think of as small planes flown by hobbyist pilots. There’s some restrictions on flying passengers and other commercial actions but in general there’s no reason to single these out to sound like they’re iffy in any way.
The use of the term “crash” is also problematic, since most of us would think of a crash as a fairly uncontrolled landing. The pilot here might simply have had to engage in a forced landing outside of a proper landing zone – which would require involving the FAA – but was able to do so in a controlled manner.
If the media is going to report on these things I wish they’d make up their mind whether they’re going to go balls-to-the-wall on the technical terms or simply report things in plain english. This term mixing seems to only happen when they are salacious official words.
By Kirk
‘Screen on the Green’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’
In case you didn’t already have this marked down on your calendar, Screen on the Green makes its triumphant return tonight with a showing of “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” The screen will be set up on the Mall between 4th and 7th streets (you can’t miss it) and the showing will start at sunset. There is a 30% chance of rain, so pray that it holds off till after the movie.
By Tom Bridge
Neil Armstrong
Originally uploaded by Samer Farha
That’s Neil Armstrong there, pointing skyward, standing with fellow astronauts Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin. The three of them represent the crowning achievement of NASA’s space flight program: a successful trip to lunar orbit, and from there, the lunar surface. Forty years ago today, two men decamped from that lander, and they walked the surface of another world. They left behind a flag and a plaque that said “we came in peace for all mankind.”
I might be a bit of a nerd for saying this, and it’s just fine if you mock me, but this is the kind of stuff that gets me all misty. Today, if you see them around town (they’ll be at the White House today), ask them about the view from the moon to the Earth. You’ve seen the pictures, but they saw it live, through their own faceplates.
Their command module sits in the Air and Space Museum on the Mall, to remind us what we could do just 66 years after inventing human flight: land on another world. Take a look at Samer Farha’s set from yesterday’s event at NASM, and wonder: Will we go further than that day 40 years ago?
I do hope so.