Monthly Archives: September 2009

We Love Weekends
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We Love Weekends: September 12-13

Photo courtesy of
‘Nation’s Triathlon’
courtesy of ‘noahdevereaux’

Shannon: It’s a big weekend for me.  I’m competing in the Nation’s Triathlon on Sunday, which will have me swimming in the Potomac River, biking in Rock Creek Park and out to Glen Echo, and running around Hains Point in my first Olympic-distance triathlon.  The Nation’s Tri has grown to be one of the largest triathlons in the country, with an expected 6,000 competitors this year.  So come on down to the Mall on Sunday morning and root for the home team (the DC Tri Club, easily identifiable in our jerseys).  Afterwards, I can’t imagine a better post-race treat than a margarita at Cantina Marina to celebrate the fact that I swam in the Potomac and lived to tell about it.

Max: After a long summer drought, the local art scene kicks into full gear this weekend.  New nightmarish paintings by local artist, Bradley Chriss will be on display Friday night at Flashpoint’s opening of Visions from the End of the World.  I’ll also be heading over to Civilian Arts Project to see their opening of Cara Ober: Love Letters and Nikki Painter: Debriscapes.  Saturday night you’ll find me checking out the new exhibit at Curator’s Office called Slow Food, featuring abstract paintings by L.A. based artist, Patrick Wilson.  Just down the street, Irvine Contemporary will be opening their New Realisms (PDF) show featuring five New York based artists who will be showing off their realist style of painting.  On Sunday I’ll be ready for some football, heading over to Buffalo Billiards to watch the Broncos beat the crap out of the Bengals. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed, WMATA
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Another Metro Employee Injured, Delays on Blue and Yellow Lines

Photo courtesy of
‘joy.’
courtesy of ‘nevermindtheend’

It’s just not been a good summer for Metro. Exactly a month ago, a Metro employee was killed while performing maintenance on the Orange line, and today, word comes that another Metro employee was struck by a train between Braddock Road and National Airport stations this morning.

If you’re travelling on the yellow or blue lines, prepare for major delays for the rest of the day: service has been suspended between Braddock Road and National Airport.  The blue and yellow lines are both split into two segments, with free shuttle bus service between King Street, Braddock Road, and National Airport stations.

Update: As of 12:43 PM, normal service has resumed on the yellow and blue lines.  No updates on the injured Metro employee except that he was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.

The Daily Feed
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Star Wars at Canal Park Tonight!

Photo courtesy of
‘Waiting for the Movie to Start’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

Many thanks to DC Intraspective for pointing out that the Capitol Riverfront BID is sponsoring movie nights in the Fall at Canal Park near the Navy Yard Metro. This week’s flick is Star Wars, which will air in its classic glory tonight at 7:30. Now, I’m not sure if they’re showing the re-issue or the original, but I do know that I’ll only go if Han shoots first.

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Bright Ideas for Lower Bills

Photo courtesy of
‘Light Bulbs’
courtesy of ‘Marionaire’

If you want to lower your electric bill, try some simple changes to make your place more energy efficient. This really does work; the changes I made dropped my usage by 18%.

On Saturday from 10 to 2, you can find out how at a Green Your Home Expo on UDC’s outdoor plaza. There, you can learn about various ways to save energy in your own home. They’ll also have live jazz, bicycle eco-tours and farmers market goodies.

And since buildings account for nearly 40% of all carbon dioxide emissions in the US, while you’re lowering your own bill, you’ll also be doing good for the planet.

The Daily Feed, WMATA
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Metro to Pull In $25m for Ballston Property

Photo courtesy of
‘The 10B’
courtesy of ‘Aaron Webb’

The Metro board is expected to approve the sale of the Ballston bus garage property for $25 million at their 9/24 meeting. At just over 4 acres, it will become part of the property that will be home to the new DARPA building. Check out the past WLDC article about the building here. Talk about a way to make some quick cash! Does this mean no fare increases for a few years? Hah. Right.

Continue reading →

History, The Daily Feed, The District, The Hill, The Mall
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Tourist Season Projected to Last for Next 25 Years

Photo courtesy of
‘see no evil’
courtesy of ‘spiggycat’

Just when we thought tourist season was winding down, this week Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons, is releasing his latest book The Lost Symbol, a fictional novel about Masonic symbolism in Washington, DC.

While Freemasonry is a fascinating part of DC’s history, Brown’s typical mention of imagined artifacts is expected to majorly increase traffic at the local historical sites that he describes in the book. Their names have not yet been released, but a few, like the Masonic Temple in Alexandria, can obviously see it coming. I wonder if he used the mini map of the city at Freedom Plaza? Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Pay Me Rent, Peons!

395 ownage

Yesterday was the launch date of a new online game, Monopoly City Streets. It’s the classic Monopoly game played over Google Maps and is pretty cool in concept – buy any street in the world, build property, collect rent daily and plant hazards on other players’ properties to become a virtual Donald Trump.

The company apparently wasn’t prepared yesterday for the overwhelming demand; after nearly 36 hours of (in)frequent attempts, I managed to finally log in and register. Unfortunately, most of DC has already been purchased by several lucky players but I did manage to snag a key property – the Potomac crossing of I-395. I had just enough Monopoly money to plant a building as well.

No word on if I can modify the tower with gun emplacements and rocket launchers, however.

Music, Night Life, The Features
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We Love Music: Dance Parties

Photo courtesy of
‘_’
courtesy of ‘Sexy Fitsum’

It’s kind of hard for me to describe the dance party scene in DC, because I have kind of a stream-of-consciousness reaction that involves the words “awesome” “super fun” and “pure joy.” Perhaps the best way to start is to tell you what it’s not: it’s not the club scene. Sure, both involve dancing, but everything from the kind of dancing to the music being played is completely different. There’s no velvet rope with a bouncer letting in the right amount of girls and guys, there’s no Top 40 playlist, and there isn’t even any bumping and grinding (unless you really want to). Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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More Ghost Bikes Appear in Dupont

In what appears to be an overreaction to the removal of the Alice Swanson Ghost Bike Memorial at 20th and R Streets NW, sixteen twenty-two new ghost bikes have been placed around the intersection this morning.  We haven’t seen a formal statement from the Washington Area Bicyclist Associate so it’s hard to say who’s responsible for this demonstration.  There are many different types and sizes of bikes scattered around, but none of them are locked down except for the bike that is located where the original memorial was.  We’d love to hear from you if you know who’s responsible and what their message may be, but it’s safe to say that these bikes won’t be around for long.  More awesome camera phone photos after the jump.

Update: According to this “quickly done” blog, the project is the work of “DC native, cyclist, and anarchist Legba Carrefour”.  The site claims that if the bike is removed by the city again, “We’ll put it back again.  And Again.  And again.”

Continue reading →

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed, The District
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Grabbing tomatoes on the way to the Metro is awesome.

Photo courtesy of
‘Heirlooms’
courtesy of ‘lorigoldberg’

FreshFarm Markets has applied for a permit to close Vermont Ave. between Lafayette and McPherson Squares on Thursdays from 1-8pm for a Farmer’s market. Personally, I think a weekday market more accessible than Dupont Circle is a fantastic idea, especially since it would be situated right in front of a Metro on a block that hardly anyone drives on, but you know, blah blah blah, traffic, the White House may or may not be involved, and in a political climate where people freak out because the President of the United States tells children they should study hard and stay in school, heaven forfend anyone named Obama should endorse eating more fresh fruits and vegetables.

Anyway, I think it’s a great idea. How about you? Is this your route home every day?

The Daily Feed
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Happy Birthday, DCist


homemade cupcakes by staceyviera

We here at We Love DC would like to say happy birthday to our interweb neighbors at DCist who turned five today.  That’s like fifty years old in Internet years!  I’d like to personally thank them for their Photo of the Day feature that helped energize my interest in photography, and no doubt countless other photographers.  Between their Unbuckled concerts, their annual DCist Exposed photography show, and their great local news coverage, well, they go above and beyond the call of duty.  Happy Birthday, DCist.  We’ll understand if your Morning Roundup hits sometime around noon tomorrow.

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Ovechkin in 2014

Photo courtesy of
‘Alexander Ovechkin’
courtesy of ‘Keith Allison’

The 2010 Olympics in Vancouver aren’t even here and already we may have a battle coming for the 2014 games in Sochi, Russia. But it’s shaping up to be not country vs. country, but Ovechkin vs. NHL.

Ovie told ESPN.com during an interview today that he will risk suspension and play for his country regardless of whether the NHL is formally involved or not.

“Nobody can say to me you can’t play for your country in the Olympic Games,” Ovechkin said.

The NHL has no commitment to take part in the Olympic games after next year’s celebration, which has some players questioning what to do. “I’ll go play in the Olympic Games for my country. If somebody says to me you can’t play, see ya.”

Even if it meant suspension by the Caps? Continue reading →

Downtown, Dupont Circle, Penn Quarter, The Features
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The City’s Best Places to Hang Out

Photo courtesy of
‘Hanging Out’
courtesy of ‘Karon’

There’s something about the steps to the National Portrait Gallery that attracts people to take a seat. Is it a great meeting spot between the metro and a Chinatown/Gallery Place attraction? Or is it a shaded place in the afternoons and evenings for you to relax and people-watch?

As the weather cools (and the DC humidity simmers down), what other places in DC might you congregate where there’s really nothing to see? Here are a few of the best random places in the city to hang out. Continue reading →

Music, The Daily Feed
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Six Flags Chillin

Photo courtesy of
‘there they go’
courtesy of ‘LisaRoxy’

Local rapper Wale (say it: wah-lay) is bringing some DC flavor to Six Flags America‘s “Buzz Bands Bash” on September 20. He seems to be really doing his best to play for some big audiences (he was at Virgin Freefest a couple of weekends ago), and if you haven’t heard “Chillin” you probably should. The video, which includes LOTS of DC shots you will recognize, is after the jump. Continue reading →

Food and Drink, The Features, We Love Food
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We Love Food: Plume

Table Decor at Plume

A few weeks back I was in the midst of plotting our 14th wedding anniversary. Usually we take a trip, but this year due to economy and employment, we decided to “stay in” town and dine. But where?

I was reminded by a passing acquaintance that the Jefferson was re-opening during that time, including Plume, the hotel’s restaurant offering. So I quickly set up a reservation for dinner and prepared for another fine dining experience in DC. Especially after Jenn and Catherine had enjoyed their first look at the place.

What we had that night was not just a dining experience, it was dining heaven.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Don’t Mess With Number 8. For Real.

Photo courtesy of
‘Baltimore – Cal Ripken’s Statue’
courtesy of ‘mathplourde’

For all of you baseball fans in the DC area that existed between the years of 1972 and 2005, please join me in hating on the following four people: Gary Parker, 19, of Baltimore; Matthew Rayner, 19, of Chase; Patrick Reynolds, 18, of Middle River; and Jason Stonebuner, 19, of Essex. These four young souls dared to mess with #8.

Early this morning these kids stole the four foot aluminum number 8 from Camden Yards, a statue remembering the all-around awesomeness that was (is) Cal Ripken, a true DC/Baltimore area sports hero, and stashed it in the back of their truck to try and get away with it. Luckily this ridiculous theft was caught on a security camera. Police found the suspect’s truck, including the giant #8, about two hours after it was stolen. The disrespect is appalling!

Ok, so the Orioles are one of the worst teams in baseball and have been under .500 for a good 12 years or so now. But remember the good ol’ days. The days of the Ripken brothers, the days when #8 reigned supreme. Bad kids. Just be glad I didn’t catch you first. (Because I would have no idea what to do with you? Maybe I would yell at you. Get skurred.)

Fun & Games, Special Events, The Daily Feed, The District, The Great Outdoors
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Sprint Four The Cure

Photo courtesy of
‘Running Against the Grain’
courtesy of ‘john w’

Interested in getting a little exercise this weekend, AND raising money for a good cause?  Then sign up ASAP (by Thursday, September 10) for the Sprint Four the Cure to benefit the Washington Hospital Center.

The 5k run starts near the Four Seasons Hotel and takes you along the scenic C&O Canal.  Your $25 registration not only goes to a fantastic DC-based cause, but also gets you a t-shirt, raffle ticket and Four Seasons breakfast. YUM!

Additionally, Georgetown Cupcake will be providing post-race sweets and a number of local Georgetown establishments have donated raffle prizes including: the Four Seasons Spa, Clyde’s, Peacock Cafe and  more. Grand Prize is two American Airlines tickets, two night stay at the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale with Daily Breakfast and two 50 minute Spa Treatments.

So be sure to register by tomorrow either via Active.com or by calling  202.944.9163.

Downtown, Entertainment, Food and Drink, Fun & Games, The Daily Feed
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Party Like It’s 09.09.09, Oh Wait It is 09.09.09!

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC05164.JPG’
courtesy of ‘The_WB’
Celebrate Niner-Niner-Niner Day with copious amounts of  Magic Hat #9 at RocketBar at 714 7th St NW in Chinatown starting at 7pm today.  Free Magic Hat t-shirts go to the first 99 people, there will be 3-for-$9 specials on all #9s and awesome giveaways like free rounds of beer to parties of 9, a custom cruiser bike and iPod shuffles.  Pretty solid marketing promotion for a tasty beer if you ask me. Hooray beer!

Talkin' Transit, The Daily Feed, The District, WTF?!
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More Police at Union Station Today

Photo courtesy of
‘Flags at Union Station in Washington, DC’
courtesy of ‘dc-hulls’

If you’re headed past Union Station today, or through it for travel purposes, don’t get too freaked out by the extra police presence. Though, frankly, in this town? There’d have to be a whole awful lot of additional police for me to notice. So, it’s possible it won’t even hit a noticeable threshold of additional policing, but be aware, there is that possibility. It’s all part of a counter-terrorism exercise headed up by Amtrak police.

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Here Comes the Sun

Photo courtesy of
‘Solar eclipse 22 July 2009’
courtesy of ‘hughrocks’

On a rainy day, what better to think about than the sun?

So today’s topic is solar power. What will it take to make it a reality? Addressing the costs is a start.

On Thursday, Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. at the Swiss embassy, you can hear Swiss and American solar power experts speak on Making Solar Energy Competitive, and share how new technologies and manufacturing methods can trigger rapid growth of solar.

After the talk, you’ll be invited to a reception at the Ambassador’s residence, a “green” building that has won awards for its environmental design. Bring on the sun!