Monthly Archives: August 2009

Music, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Nationals Host Best National Anthem Of All Time

glenndonnelian.png

Anyone who’s ever been to a Nats game with me knows that I have a thing for the National Anthem. I’ve been known to sing along, even audition to use my undergrad degree in Vocal Performance, and I’ve got pretty exacting standards for what it takes. Usually, I’m an anthem purist, but Glenn Donnellan from the National Symphony moved me with his Saturday performance. Donnellan, a violinist, constructed an electric violin out of a baseball bat and brought that out to Nats Park on Saturday and absolutely nailed the National Anthem. Usually I don’t go in for flourishes and extra ornaments, as they tend to be out of character for what is nominally a drinking song set to a poem about war. But Donnellan’s electric performance defies all rules about character and elevates it to something that even Sam the Eagle would find touching.

Bravo, Glenn, and Bravo to the Nationals for hosting him.

The Daily Feed
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Pool time extended!

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘audream’
So, uh, I owe you guys an apology. I totally jinxed us on the heat thing last week by saying how it hadn’t been super hot. MY BAD. But you know what? It’s okay, cause DC has decided to extend pool hours tonight! Happy fun times! Instead of that patio happy hour you had planned, why don’t you try and go for a little dip tonight?

The DC Department of Parks and Recreation announced that on Monday, August 10 – Wednesday, August 12, it will extend hours at 13 outdoor swimming pools from 11 am to 9 pm at DPR locations across the District. 8 spray parks, 8 indoor pools and 5 outdoor children pools will also be open. Click on through for the extended hours, locations and phone numbers list. Continue reading →

Entertainment, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Nine Lives of Marion Barry on HBO Tonight

Photo courtesy of
‘Marion Barry’
courtesy of ‘cliff1066’

Set your TiVos, everyone. The Nine Lives of Marion Barry premieres on HBO tonight at 9pm. The 80 minute documentary covers Barry’s career from his start as a civil rights activist in the 1960s through to current day, through the beginnings of Home Rule in DC, to his crushing conviction for crack possession and use, through his resurgence & re-election to the City Council. The documentary does not cover the latest chapter with his girlfriends who were given city money, but as with all good things in movies: there’s plenty of room for a sequel.

The Daily Feed
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Peanut-Free Day at Nats Park – Aug 23

Photo courtesy of
‘Peanuts’
courtesy of ‘SWP Moblog’

Tom and I have a friend with a severe nut allergy, who is also a baseball fan. To help him enjoy the national pastime with a reduced risk of anaphylactic shock (even peanut dust in the air could make his eyes swollen and watery), we used to chip in on a block of season tickets, and then we’d all go peanut-free, just to increase the distance between him and anything that might aggravate the allergy. It worked well, except for that one Opening Day when the Nats didn’t get it together to mail Opening Day tickets to the season ticket holders in time, we had to pick up our seats at Will-Call, and leave one behind for the friend who was going to show up late. The box office staff screwed up and gave our ticket to some other guy, who insisted on sitting in “his” (our) seat, RIGHT in the middle of our group. Even after demonstrating that the order number on his ticket matched the order number on our tickets and was in fact ours, he was implacable, and the usher we called over refused to help. So this interloper sat in the middle of a group formed up around a peanut allergy sufferer… and ate peanuts for the WHOLE GAME.

So you nut-allergenics might be interested to know that on August 23rd, the Nats will be operating a peanut-free party suite for fans with allergies- no food will be served other than what the guests themselves will bring, and the suite will be thoroughly cleaned beforehand to remove any stray peanut traces. Tickets are $30, and the game will be at 1:35, against the Brewers.

The Daily Feed
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Yet Another Metro Related Death

 Photo courtesy of
‘Metro Track Repair Vehicle’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

A metro employee was killed this weekend as he was conducting maintenance on the orange line.  The individual died on Sunday evening after he was struck by a piece of machinery that lays gravel along the tracks.  Metro halted service between West Falls and Vienna after the accident, but service resumed this morning. WMATA can’t seem to catch a break, this summer.

The Features, Weekend Flashback
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Weekend Flashback: 8/7 – 8/09/09

Photo courtesy of
‘sweet memories…………..’
courtesy of ‘LaTur’

Welcome back! Hope the weekend was good to you, despite the heat. For those of us unable to go on vacation, let’s sit back with our morning coffee and check out what was going on around town through the eyes of our local photographers. Be sure to click on the photos and visit their Flickr streams if you like what you see.

And for those of you on vacation this week…why are you even reading this? Go, enjoy yourselves while we sit here and glare jealously at you through our monitors…

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Cyclist Shot In Drive-By

Photo courtesy of
‘Sharing the Road’
courtesy of ‘M.V. Jantzen’

In WTF news, We Love DC just received word that last week a cyclist was shot twice in a drive-by shooting on Mass Ave. near the Embassies. He was shot with a semi-automatic pellet gun, hit once in the leg and once in the side. Five shots were fired at the cyclist.

The shooter was in a car, passing the cyclist going the opposite direction on Mass Ave. The blast took place at the intersection of Mass Ave and California around 2 a.m. He was understandably shaken, but didn’t need to go to the hospital. This isn’t the first time riders have been harassed violently. Please, ya’ll, for the love of DC – SHARE THE ROAD.

The Daily Feed
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Roddick Del Potro to Meet in Final


Andy Roddick by Max Cook

Contributed by Veronica Jackson

Saturday was semifinals day at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic.  When it’s the semi’s, the crowd understands the importance of these matches.  Even the normal chatter outside the “sky boxes” was low to non existent.  I was sitting next to my new tennis mentor, Gerald Weston.  I met Gerald on my first day covering the tournament.  He’s one of those guys where tennis exudes from his being.  You know he’s a player the minute you see him – he has that tennis swagger.  Gerald has been involved in Legg Mason since the mid 70’s when the tournament was on clay courts.  He is now very much involved with the Washington Tennis and Education Foundation which is a great mentoring program for at risk youths.  The program uses tennis to instill discipline and as a guide to prepare their kids for life.

Continue reading →

Interviews, People, Special Events, The Features
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Scribblings: Matthew Alexander

Photo courtesy of
‘Polygraph Integrator’
courtesy of ‘pauldwaite’

Interrogation is the ultimate battle of wills; the most expert interrogators have an arsenal of tactics ready to go. Gauging their “target,” they must quickly assess which psychological strategies will work to gain the most reliable results. Matthew Alexander, who spent 14 years in the US Air Force and Air Force Reserves, is part of a small group of military interrogators who were sent to Iraq in 2006, trained to get information without using harsh methods. He sat face-to-face with hardened members of Al Qaeda and convinced them to talk. Alexander, author of How to Break a Terrorist: The U.S. Interrogators Who Used Brains, Not Brutality, to Take Down the Deadliest Man in Iraq, will describe the true story of the critical interrogation he conducted that led to the targeted killing of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq. Alexander will share his riveting experiences and reveal what it takes to be an effective interrogator in a special event hosted by the International Spy Museum on Monday, August 10 at 6:30 p.m.

Continue reading →

Sports Fix
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Friday’s Action at The Legg Mason


Fernando Gonzalez by Max Cook

Contributed by Veronica Jackson

While walking from the grassy parking lot, where they line up cars very tightly in neat rows at the Legg Mason Tennis Tournament on Friday, I met a fine young gentleman parked next to me who said, “I have no idea about this sport.” He was attending the daytime matches because a work colleague had given him tickets and the day was “too beautiful to pass up.” I gave him my brief rundown of why I love this game. It’s such a mental sport. One can be incredibly physically fit and have great technique, but if you don’t believe in your abilities and that you can beat your opponent, one can lose matches. I also assured him that it was an easy game to follow and he would enjoy himself. Besides, sitting anywhere in the Stadium at 1 PM on a sunny afternoon is a beautiful way to get a tan. We continued to walk towards the entrance. He went to Will Call as I bade him good luck and I continued through the entrance gates.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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DENIED!

Photo courtesy of
‘Law Books’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

WaPo’s reporting that a federal appellate court rejected convicted 2002 Beltway sniper John Allen Muhammad’s appeal today. The 4th Circuit Court affirmed a district court’s denial of his efforts to overturn his conviction and death sentence; the sniper’s lawyers argued he should not have been allowed to represent himself for two days at the trial’s start.

It’s the latest in a series of rejected appeals in Muhammad’s case. The only real remaining options he has left to avoid execution is to ask for the full 4th Circuit to hear the case, seek intervention by the US Supreme Court or a stay of execution by Virginia Governor Tim Kaine.

Entertainment, Night Life, Special Events, The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: Mohamed El Hosseny

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Mohamed El Hosseny, courtesy of Saffron Dance

Sometimes I pinch myself, being so lucky to live here. There are many incredible opportunities available to us, it’s a bit overwhelming! You can learn about different cultures every week, sampling a bit of the world.

As I’m currently studying bellydance at Saffron Dance, I’m learning more about Middle Eastern culture, dance and music. One area I’m not familiar with at all is the tradition of male dancers. Luckily, Saffron is hosting Master Egyptian Dancer and Choreographer Mohamed El Hosseny next weekend, his first time in the US. An expert in the folkloric dances of the Suez – known as Simsimiyya – El Hosseny has been the male soloist for the Egyptian Reda Troupe and is renown for his interpretations of folk dances. I’m really intrigued to see him at their Summer Gala performance on Sunday August 16 at Marrakesh. He’ll join Saffron’s student dance companies and faculty in a night that is bound to be exhilarating. Tickets are $45 (which includes the usual four-course Moroccan feast).

If you’re a student of dance, then it’s not just the performance that will inspire you – El Hosseny is also giving three master class workshops (beginner through advanced, so no worries if you’re just starting out like me). Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Gay Games selection committee visiting DC today

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image courtesy the Gay Games & Betty Lark Ross
Cheer team for the 7th Gay Games

The Washington Blade reports that the site selection committee for the Gay Games are being shown around the city today as part of the area’s pitch to host the 2014 Gay Games. The two other cities bidding are Cleveland and Boston and they’ve already been visited by the committee.

Supporters are being encouraged to show up for a rally Monday night at Stead Park. Mayor Fenty, other members of the council, and some of the Nats are expected to attend. Performers will begin at 6:30 and after the sun has set and the rally is ended they’ll be screening the movie Hairspray- the more current musical, natch.

The selection will be announced in late September.

Food and Drink, The Features
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Cold Foods for Hot Days

Photo courtesy of
‘Your Popsicle’s Melting’
courtesy of ‘Auntie K’

So we’ve all been saying it in hushed voices while knocking on wood – this Summer has not been NEARLY as bad, hot, or disgusting as last. When is the REAL DC summer going to get here? It’s been moderately pleasant outside, as opposed to the more oppressive heat we dealt with last year. That said, although we may not be face-of-the-sun hot this summer, we’re still somewhere around the Sahara from time to time. And what is better on a hot day than cold food? On your hottest days you’re not craving a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup and a nice meatloaf – oh no, you’re craving a Popsicle.

So, as we head into the hottest month of the year in DC, I’ve rounded up some good, cold food choices for you to nosh on while you stay cool. I include a bunch of local area restaurant’s offering and a do-it-yourself recipe from David Varley at BOURBON STEAK. Keep reading. Continue reading →

Crime & Punishment, The Daily Feed
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DC Residents Sue for Carry Privileges

Photo courtesy of
‘Taurus 85T Revolver vs. Kel-Tec P3AT Pistol’
courtesy of ‘bk1bennett’

“An Armed Society is a Polite Society.” — Robert Heinlein

While it’s hard to say if Heinlein’s right, it certainly is interesting to think about. Yesterday, three DC residents and Marylander sued for the right to carry firearms in the District, outside of their home. Alan Gura, lawyer for Dick Heller in District of Columbia v. Heller, is representing these four plaintiffs.

It’s not clear that they’ll be successful, but I support the legal process of petitioning.

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Julia Child Spy Dinner

Photo courtesy of
‘Spy’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’

It’s easy to think of Julia Child as being the proto-Martha Stewart. Her influence on mid-day programing for stay at home moms is pronounced, but to consider this the totality of her life is a mistake. Before she was a celebrity chef, Julia Child was a spy. Well, not a spy, per se, but she did work with the OSS (the WWII version of the CIA) in Ceylon and in China. To honor this portion of her life, and to promote the upcoming film Julie & Julia, the International Spy Museum and Chef Bryan Moscatello are throwing a dinner at Zola. The dinner will feature food made famous by Ms. Child as well as stories of her time in the OSS. The event will be held on August 20th. For tickets, call 202-654-0964.

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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1 in 4 Virginians Believe Obama is Foreign Born

Photo courtesy of
‘St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Washington, D.C.’
courtesy of ‘benuski’

As if there aren’t enough reasons to make fun of Virginia, here’s a big one: one in four Virginians believe that President Obama isn’t a native-born American citizen. Another one in four “isn’t sure” he’s a native-born American citizen. I’m going to phrase this slightly differently: Half of Virginia isn’t sure Barack Obama can be President. That’s of a state that 53% of voters voted for Obama, and while voting-turnout doesn’t always mirror poll turnout… crikey, there must be some confused people out there, that voted for him, but don’t think he’s eligible. Words defy.

Pictured above is St. E’s, where most of these people belong, were it still in operation.

Monumental, The Features
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Monumental: Albert Einstein

Photo courtesy of
‘Albert Einstein Memorial Statue’
courtesy of ‘bbmcder94’

Tucked across the street near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall and completely overshadowed by the nearby Lincoln Memorial sits a memorial to Albert Einstein. Located on the grounds of the National Academy of Sciences on Constitution Avenue, the bronze statue lounges in a small grove of elm and holly trees on a circular-stepped dais.

The statue honoring the physicist was unveiled in 1979 on the centennial of Einstein’s birth. The figure weighs four tons, sits twelve feet high and holds a paper with three of the scientist’s most important mathematical equations: the photoelectric effect, the theory of relativity and the equivalence of energy and matter. Three of his more famous quotations are engraved on the bench where the statue is seated. Continue reading →