Monthly Archives: November 2009

Penn Quarter, The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: Full Circle

FULL_CIRCLE_-_M_Russotto,_S_Marshall,_D_Escobar,_J_Dukes,_credit_S_Barouh_8363

Michael Russotto, Sarah Marshall, Daniel Escobar, Jessica Frances Dukes in Woolly Mammoth's "Full Circle." Photo credit: Stan Barouh

Twenty years ago this week, the Berlin Wall fell. It seemed proof positive that an overwhelming force of people could make a change for good, a stand against government oppression, by sheer numbers and tenacity, forever dispelling the myth of public apathy. Still true?

Woolly Mammoth’s production of Charles L. Mee’s rather chaotic “Full Circle” pushes and pulls the audience, moving around multiple physical settings in an attempt to put you in that head space of the crowd at the falling of the Berlin Wall. Are we meant to be spectators or participants? Maybe both.

The play is a riff on the original Chinese myth of the chalk circle, which in turn inspired Bertolt Brecht’s “Caucausian Chalk Circle.” There are certainly Brechtian moments in this production. Brecht’s own Berliner Ensemble features in the play, with its later director Heiner Muller even a character. He’s performed by Woolly’s Artistic Director Howard Shalwitz. How’s that for full circle? It’s a classic piece of Brechtian detachment.

Do you need to know any of this deeper theatrical knowledge to enjoy the play? I’m not sure, because as I have that knowledge, it completely informed my experience. I have a feeling just as a participant in a crowd experiences different aspects, so will audience members here. Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Artist  – they’re all here. Every character is an archetype – we’ve even got Warren Buffet making a deus ex machina appearance!

Continue reading →

Essential DC, Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed, The Great Outdoors
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Happy Birthday USMC, Ooh Rah!

Photo courtesy of
‘Iwo Jima at night’
courtesy of ‘brianmka’

Today commemorates the 234th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corp.  On November 10, 1775, a Committee of the Continental Congress met at the Tun Tavern in Philadelphia and authorized two battalions of Marines to fight against the British in the war for independence.

A very happy birthday and a special thank you to all who have and continue to serve in the USMC.  Ooh Rah!

News, The Daily Feed
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Goodbye Sniper.

Photo courtesy of
‘End of the line’
courtesy of ‘quinn.anya’

Governor Tim Kaine this morning announced that there will be no clemency for John Allen Muhammad, and that his execution will proceed at 9pm Eastern Time tonight. As someone who lived just a few miles from the Home Depot on Route 7 where Muhammad shot Linda Franklin, and remembers the chaos and confusion around the random attacks in 2003, I have to say: Good riddance to bad rubbish.

I’m not a huge fan of society putting people to death, but in this clear-cut case? No objections here.

Mythbusting DC, The Features, WMATA
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DC Mythbusting: Metro’s Most Crowded

Photo courtesy of
‘good morning.’
courtesy of ‘volcanojw’

DC has a great Metro system: it’s (generally) reliable, clean, fast, and connects many major destinations in the city.  But we love to complain about our commutes– being crammed like sardines on the train, being stuck in Metro stations so full that you can’t even get down the escalator to the platform, and having buses pass right by your stop because they’re already packed to the brim with riders.  Experiences like these make many people think that they’ve got it worse than anyone else in the area– that they’re stuck riding the busiest line, getting off at the busiest station, or riding the busiest bus.  But there’s a lot of misinformation out there about Metro’s most crowded lines, stations, and buses, so I’m going to set things straight this week.

Most Crowded Metro Line: I can’t tell you how many times I’ve overheard Orange line riders complain that they’re stuck riding the busiest line.  Most of these Metro riders are on the train between Ballston and L’Enfant Plaza, which definitely is the busiest section of the Orange line, with people packed into Metro trains that are sometimes too full to even board.  But does the Orange line really have it the worst? Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Now available for the math impaired on crutches

Photo courtesy of
‘0925092106.jpg’
courtesy of ‘steevithak’

Well, I told you about it last month and now that the review period has ended the rules have gone into effect. The District’s games board has put into effect their rules governing ADA compliance for places who want to sell lottery tickets. If you’re unable to roll into a place and throw a buck down the electronic toilet you can file an agency ADA complaint form and they’ll follow up with the merchant.

I’m thinking this might be a good way to go after people peddling crack on the street corners. If they can’t demonstrate knowledge of how to sign “$40 for a dime bag” then drag em off for an ADA violation!

The Daily Feed
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Record the history of H St. NE

Photo courtesy of
‘500 Block of H Street NW’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

H Street Main Street is seeking residents to help develop a timeline of the history, people, and culture surrounding H Street NE. If you’re reading a blog called We Love DC, you possibly already know that H Street NE was a bustling shopping district before the 1968 riots, and now that the area is undergoing a renaissance, HSMS is trying to capture the stories of people who lived in the area in the intervening years. They need all kinds of volunteers- writers, researchers, photographers, etc. You can get involved by emailing T. Isler at harvestpoluck at g mail dot com.

Special Events, The Daily Feed, Tourism
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National Geographic Museum: Terra Cotta Warriors

Photo courtesy of
‘Terracotta-29’
courtesy of ‘akiwitz’

You’ve probably heard of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi’s terra cotta warriors, the thousands of life-sized statues buried with him in his tomb, intended to escort the Emperor to the afterlife. Discovered in 1974, they were one of the biggest archeological finds of the 20th century.

They’re making their last US appearance right here in DC, at the National Geographic Museum. Admission is $12, and the exhibition runs November 19th through March 31. The exhibit will showcase 15 terra cotta figures from Emperor  Shihuangdi’s tomb, including nine terra cotta warriors, two musicians, a strongman, a court official, a stable attendant and a horse. Also on display will be weapons, stone armor jade ornaments, roof tiles and decorative bricks, a bronze crane and swan, and a gold coins pièce collection. According to a rare coin dealer, this gold coin collection is highly valuable and costs millions of dollars.

We’re getting a full preview of the exhibit on the 18th, so look for our review shortly thereafter. In the meantime, here’s two ‘sneak preview’ photos provided to us by National Geographic… Continue reading →

Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, The Features
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First Look: Masa 14

Masa Interior

Unless you live under a foodie rock, you’ve noticed that 14th street has exploded lately. Eatonville, Policy (though Jenn says don’t go there), Birch and Barley, and, of course, Masa 14. Masa 14 is the new small plate concept by Kaz Okochi (Kaz Sushi Bistro) and Richard Sandoval (Zengo). The kitchen is led by Chef de Cuisine Antonio Burrell, who used to be at CommonWealth Gastropub.

Masa 14 has a large, industrial feel. Sleek and trendy, noisy, and totally packed. Fritz Hahn was right when he said it is the new thirty-something destination on 14th street. The crowd wasn’t the typical young quasi-hipster crowd I’ve grown accustom to at places like Eatonville or Saint Ex. But don’t for a second think this isn’t a stylish crowd – red lipstick, cuff links and afros all made statements there Friday night when Jenn and I stopped by to check it out. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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No text consumption while driving, period

Photo courtesy of
‘zombie texting’
courtesy of ‘mattwi1s0n’

The council’s omnibus bill which I mentioned yesterday had a bit that’s likely to impact all of you drivers: a complete and total ban on texting while driving in the District. The law as it’s written defines texting to include any time you “compose, send, receive, or read a written message or image” and it includes texts, instant messages and electronic mail.

Who needs speed cameras? Fining lobbyists with their blackberries could solve all our financial woes $100 at a time.

Unlike violating the hands-free rules there’s no first offender clause here.  So if your friends text you directions to their house you’d better write them down on a piece of paper and read THAT while driving.

I’m not sure why we haven’t seen any press on this. As an emergency act it’s been in effect since Oct 21 when the major signed it, so in theory it’s already operational and the cops can cite you for texting while driving till it expires in late January.

Essential DC, Food and Drink, News, The Daily Feed
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Ray’s the Steaks at East River Asks for Liquor License

Photo courtesy of
‘Ray’s Hell Burger’
courtesy of ‘roboppy’

DC Public records show that restaurateur Michael Landrum has officially applied for an Alcohol License for Ray’s the Steaks at East River. The license says Ray’s the Steaks at East River will be, “New high quality and full-service community and family oriented restaurant serving grilled steaks and traditional entrees. Occupancy Load is 85 and Sidewalk Café with 40 seats.” An indicative move on the part of Landrum who has been attempting to open the restaurant for a while now, and has had to push back opening East River since the original prediction of April 2008.

Located in East River, many believe East River to be a bold move on Landrum’s part, especially since Ward 7 is severely lacking in sit-down options. The only option now for sit-down in Ward 7 is a Denny’s. The location is cited as right off of Benning Road at Dix Street, at what looks to be easy walking distance from the Minnesota Avenue Metro Station.

Landrum has been quoted in the past as saying, “The more I looked into the neighborhood, the more I talked to people, the more excited I have gotten about the great prospect and hope there.” We Love DC author Shannon has reported on East River in the past as being the next big redevelopment location in DC, and a Ray’s the Steaks is a great way to start.

News, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Marion Barry Gets His Own Reality Show

Photo courtesy of
‘Harrison, NY Train Wreck’
courtesy of ‘George Eastman House’

If there’s one trend in entertainment in the last decade that I have come to absolutely, positively, with no exception loathe, hate, despise and deplore, it’s the rise of reality television. The “unscripted” nature of these programs, along with a willing supply of fame-whores looking for an easy break, makes it cheap to produce them en masse with little or no preparation. One need only look at this list of the 15 worst Reality TV shows ever made to recognize the scourge that they are.

Now, DC has played host to a few of the Reality shows, with this summer’s Real World taking place up in Dupont, and Bravo’s Real Housewives of DC filming now (seriously, this is the show concept that has me thinking that fiery demise is far too good for the people who come up with the premise for these shows.), so why shouldn’t it surprise me that Marion Barry is filming a pilot for his own reality show? DCist confirmed it with his Chief of Staff. If you really felt the need to watch this kind of train wreck, could you let us know? I really want to figure out who likes these things.

The Daily Feed
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Run from the gun

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘erin m’

Not just if they’re pointed at you – if you know you’re in the car with one.  Among the painfully long list of items in the council’s Oct 21 omnibus bill was this: “It is unlawful for a person to be voluntarily in a motor vehicle if that person knows that a firearm is in the vehicle, unless the firearm is being lawfully carried or lawfully transported.”

So if your buddy lets you know that s/he’s engaging in a little bit of civil disobedience by driving around with his pistol in the trunk you may want to reconsider carpooling. The maximum penalty if you’re convicted is five years in jail and/or a $5,000 fine. If you’ve been convicted of trafficking in firearms in the District in the past you can double that.

Another fun one in this omnibus bill is criminalizing unlawful entry of a motor vehicle. 90 days and/or $500 fine for entering the motor vehicle that you don’t have permission to get into, and entering means “to insert any part of one’s body into any part of the motor vehicle, including the passenger compartment, the trunk or cargo area, or the engine compartment.” So if someone leaves their Ferrari unlocked I’d advise you not to sit in it and make VROOM VROOM noises.

Though that would still be cheaper than renting one for a day. Hmm.

Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Trip Your Taste Buds

Photo courtesy of
‘Day 783 / 365 – The curse of red wine’
courtesy of ‘JasonRogersFotographie’

EFN Lounge (formerly Be Bar) is hosting DC’s first taste tripping party. $12 will get you in the door, and guests will twist their tongue on a West African berry called synsepalum dulcificum, or “trippy fruit.” Trippy fruit temporarily re-wires taste receptors on the tongue, transforming acidic and sour food into sweet and enjoyable treats.

They say, “After commencing the trip, guests will be ushered into the Tripeteria, a cafeteria with an all-you-can-trip buffet full of all the sour nasties usually consumed in moderation. In this conceptual, experimental flavor laboratory, lemon wedges become lollipops, hot sauce becomes donut glaze, goat cheese becomes cheesecake, bottom-shelf tequila becomes Patron, and a Guinness Beer becomes a chocolate milkshake.

The menu was designed by a team of experienced flavor trippers and evolves for each party. Selections include sour candy, cheese from Dean & Deluca, pickles, soy sauce, raddishes, sour fruits, sugarless cupcakes, and much more. Ticket holders can suggest menu items on a form at the online checkout. EFN will also hold taste-testing of shots and cocktails designed for flavor tripping enthusiasts.”

I got a little weirded out by this and turned to my BFF Google for answers. These things DO exist, and ARE legal, and are having a come-back. So now… I’m oddly intrigued. For more info, or reservations if you’re bold, visit the EFN Web site.

The Daily Feed
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Cafritz Awards Celebrate Excellence in DC Govt Employees

Photo courtesy of
‘226’
courtesy of ‘elgin.jessica’

With all the grousing we do about the circus that is City Council and the general inefficiencies of DC government, it’s nice to take a minute to think about who is really doing great work while the Harriette Walters and Marion Barrys of the world grab all the headlines. The Cafritz Awards for Excellence in DC Government are now accepting nominations, and past winners have run the gamut from police officers to social workers, from recreation workers to District CTO office employees. Each winner receives $7,500 cash and is celebrated at a gala event next summer.

Have you had a great experience with a staff member of DC Government? The nomination deadline is December 11, 2009, so get nominating.

The Features, We Love Music
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Album Review: The Sun & Earth

Photo courtesy of
‘PB080006’
courtesy of ‘dcjasmine’

Middle Distance Runner, hailing from our very own District of Columbia, released their first[edit: second] full-length album a few weeks ago, so I decided to check it out. MDR has been touring like mad for quite some time, so by the time I listened to The Sun & Earth, I had already heard many of the songs before.

The thing is, I’ve gone to a lot of shows. And heard a lot of songs. But I have to say, these songs stick out in my mind because they are just so darn catchy. And what better test of an album than listening to it in your car and being unable to stop yourself from reaching over and cranking the CRAP out of that volume knob? I almost sprained my wrist, I tell you. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Sale: Big Deals on Duds for Active Gals

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

It takes a lot to get me excited about a sale on clothes, and it’s happening this week. Mail-order seller Title Nine is bringing a blowout sale to Friendship Heights from Thursday through Sunday.

They have fun fitness and casual clothing; a little summer skirt I bought from them is my favorite and has been worth every penny. Some of their clothes have eco-friendly materials, and I like that they use everyday women to model for their catalog.

I’m happy because there’s a limit to what I’ll spend for workout wear, and this promises savings of up to 60%. While I don’t have any ties to the company, I am hoping to have a new pair of their winter running pants soon.

The Daily Feed
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Well, they didn’t know what teabagging meant either

Che Gorilla - Threadless T-shirts, Nude No More

not the actual Che image

The Reliable Source reports kind of a duh moment between a GOP consultant and the proprietor of Busboys & Poets over the B&P display of some images of famous communists. It’s pretty unsurprising stuff on both sides, with the exception of this one bit: “Blakeman, who says he didn’t know the restaurant’s leanings, e-mailed Shallal to express disgust over the poster of communist revolutionaries”

How is it possible to walk into a B&P and not be slapped in the face by their leanings? The last time I walked by the Shirlington location – the site of this tempest in a socialist teapot – the windows were festooned with flyers that made you wonder if it was okay to come in without a hemp shirt.

I think Blakeman is focusing on the wrong aspect. Personally I love the irony of buying overpriced coffee in a place that lionizes communist figures. Irony is tastier than nutrasweet.

Sports Fix
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Sports Fix: No Ovechkin Yet Edition

Photo courtesy of
‘Randle El’
courtesy of ‘headsoak’

Redskins
Record: 2-6
Last Two Weeks: 0-1
Place: Last in the NFC East

I think by now it’s pretty safe to say it wasn’t Jim Zorn’s playcalling that was the problem with the Redskins Offense. What is the problem? This week against the Falcons, the Skins controlled the ball longer, had more total yards, gave up just one turnover and yet came up two touchdowns short. Sure, the one Redskins’ turnover was a touchdown, and the Skins did amass 10 penalties for 89 yards, which looks to be the difference in this bout. The Skins were definitely missing Chris Cooley, who suffered a leg fracture in the game against Philly two weeks ago. Todd Yoder and Fred Davis filled in for Cooley this week, but neither were the same caliber player against the Falcons. Davis’ bauble resulted in the interception that put the Skins at such a disadvantage, but Yoder came up with a TD in the corner of the end zone, so you win some and lose some. Cooley’s not likely to be back this season, though the surgery to repair the break in his ankle was successful.

Next week, the Broncos show up at FedEx field, with their 6-1 record (plus whatever happens tonight against the Steelers) and an offense that is, by comparison, fairly potent. The Skins defense may have failed them this week, but I suspect next week, they’re the best chance to keep the game close. After that, it’s week-of-weeks: the Cowboys in Dallas. Somehow, I’m not as optimistic about the pre-Thanksgiving battle as I was last year.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Call of Duty: Maybe in DC releases in about 12 hours

ScreenShot151

The wikipedia entry for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 takes a cynical stance. It points out that “A trailer released on the official Infinity Ward YouTube page teased fighting at the United States Capital in Washington, D.C., although it is unknown if the game will feature fighting in that setting.” I choose to remain optimistic and look forward to seeing how the most recent game to be set in our fair city depicts our layout. We know that there’s at least some liberties taken – as commenter Mr T in DC pointed out when I first mentioned the game’s setting, they show a damaged Washington Monument with rebar or girders showing through. The monument is actually solid masonry.

If you just can’t wait and are unsullied by this disease I call “employment,” you can get a jump on the rest of us by picking up the game at some local stores tonight at 12:01. Walmart has indicated they will be open to sell it and Best Buy has a webpage listing which stores will be open for the midnight sale. Amusingly-but-not-actually-ironically neither of the DC-located stores in Tenley or Columbia Heights will be participating. Also amusing, they seem unclear on what timezone we’re in – the above screencap was off the BB site at 12:43p, making it the latest midnight I’ve ever seen