Monthly Archives: December 2009

We Love Weekends
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We Love Weekends: December 19-20

Photo courtesy of
‘Elf Fun’
courtesy of ‘Karon’

Hooray, weekend! For most of us it’s kind of a mad rush getting ready for the holidays. How about you?

Max: The weather is going to be perfect this weekend.  Perfect for staying indoors that is.  The highlight of my weekend will probably be the opening show at Irvine Contemporary for one of my favorite photographers, Kerry Skarbakka.  He uses his stuntman skills to stage some eye catching photos of himself defying death.  And winter is movie season for me, so I might go check out Invictus or maybe catch part of the Irish Film Festival.  In summary, “Brrrrrrrrrr.” Continue reading →

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Social Safeway to seek LEED certification

Photo courtesy of
‘green’
courtesy of ‘s2art’

DCmud reports that the currently under construction Georgetown Safeway (AKA the Social Safeway) will be seeking a LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

While this is truly great news, what’s not so great news for area residents is that the supposed nine month renovation that started in April will actually extend into May 2010.

The Daily Feed
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H1N1 Vaccine Available to All in DC

Photo courtesy of
‘who is calling me at this hour’
courtesy of ‘choofly’

DC has lifted the restrictions on who may receive the H1N1 (swine flu, bacon lung, hamthrax) vaccination, as has Maryland. (Virginia residents are still slightly restricted, but people younger than 50 can generally get it.)

H1N1 cases have been down slightly recently, but a resurgence is expected in January/February, so it’s a good time to get your shot. DC will be offering a free clinic at the Fort Davis Community Center in Southeast from 5-9PM today. If that doesn’t work for you, your doctor or pharmacist (yes, pharmacist, if your pharmacy offers immunization services) can vaccinate you, but you’ll be charged for the administration, so check with your insurance to see what your coverage situation is.

The Daily Feed
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DC CFO: We’re Gonna Be Short

Photo courtesy of
‘Heritage Village – Largo, Florida’
courtesy of ‘kthypryn’

DC CFO Natwar Gandhi says the District is going to be experiencing “declining revenue” that will result in shortfalls over the next three years. $17M in 2009 (yes, current year) and then up to $277M in Fiscal 2012, which suggests that we’re far from out of the woods in this recession and cutbacks or new taxes are going to be the order of the day going forward.

I fully expect this will be an issue in the Mayoral race next spring and summer, so get used to seeing discussions of empty pockets.

News, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Skins’ Cerrato Resigns

Photo courtesy of
‘FIRE VINNY!’
courtesy of ‘Tony DeFilippo’

I’m sure these two fans are very happy this morning as Vinnie Cerrato has resigned this morning according the ESPN 980. Cerrato was the Executive Vice President in charge of Football Operations and has been calling the plays for the Skins since they moved that responsibility from Jim Zorn several weeks ago shots in the front office for the team.

It’s not immediately clear who will replace Cerrato, but I’m hearing that there will be a press conference at Redskins Park this afternoon to discuss the situation. As soon as we know more, you will, too. Cerrato has been a controversial figure for the Skins this season, and his departure will likely be hailed by many as a long time coming, This season has been very disappointing for the Skins, and likely Vinny’s taking the blame for poor performance on the field. Good choice? That remains to be seen.

Interviews, People, The Features, We Love Drinks
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We Love Drinks: Jason Robey

Jason Robey, New Heights. Photo courtesy of Pfau Communications.

Jason Robey, New Heights. Photo courtesy of Pfau Communications.

We Love Drinks continues our series where we look behind the bar, profiling the many people – from mixologists to bartenders, sommeliers to publicans – who make your drinks experience happen.

Charred rosemary? Curried pumpkin seeds? Beet juice? Not to mention the bubbling pots behind the bar… what’s going on here?

You might think you were in some mad scientist’s laboratory, except that the guy torching a “lollipop” of tightly wound orange peel is actually extremely laid-back. This is Jason Robey, mixologist at New Heights, a native of southern Maryland back in DC by way of New York and North Carolina. His return is thanks to the recession, and that may be the best thing the economic downturn has done for our city. His drinks have just the proper blend of alcohol and aesthetics, with only as much flash as is absolutely necessary.

Jason strikes me as a perfectionist, but without any uptight vibe. His bar preparation set-up takes two hours. His infusions take anywhere from one to two weeks. There’s an evident amount of care and dedication that goes into the background work before your glass even hits the bar. Not afraid to experiment, Jason still manages to maintain a very practical style in what is after all a warm and inviting bar.

And like the best bartenders, he has a self-deprecating wit. I’m beginning to think that’s part of the job description. He was planning a cocktail riff on the classic Maryland crab boil the night I visited. It took a minute to realize he wasn’t actually joking. If anyone could pull that one off, it would be Jason.

“You know how I think of all these drinks?” he asks.

I shake my head.

“In the shower.”
Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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NCBF Shows Off Official Festival Artwork

2010 Official Art

The National Cherry Blossom Festival has announced that the 2010 Festival Artwork has been selected. The piece (seen above) was created by Junko Yamada of Jackson Heights, NY.

The artwork will be seen on official merchandise when the National Cherry Blossom Festival arrives on March 27 and concludes on April 11. Grandstand ticket seating for the parade is already on sale for those who can’t wait. Also of note is a new collectible holiday ornament, hand-painted by artist Otella Brantmier.

Just a little touch of spring for those of you already chilled by winter.

Night Life, The Features, The Mall
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National Sculpture Garden: Skate At Your Own Risk

DSC00715

I thought ice skating on the National Mall was supposed to be fun. Funny is more like it. Real funny. Why? Because everything that could’ve gone wrong did.

My friend had entrusted me with the plan making for the evening. It was Saturday night. During the winter. “What could be better than ice skating in the National Sculpture Garden?” I thought. I quickly learned — anything else is apparently BETTER — but I wouldn’t have traded the night for anything else.

Continue reading →

Adams Morgan, Alexandria, Arlington, Downtown, Dupont Circle, Essential DC, Foggy Bottom, Life in the Capital, Penn Quarter, Petworth, The Daily Feed, The Hill, The Mall
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Giving Map

Photo courtesy of
‘Salvation Army Christmas Give Away’
courtesy of ‘docentjoyce’

Continuing with our “Good Samaritan” theme, I now provide you with a means by which you may become said Samaritan.  Behold: the WaPo giving map.  This handy application maps out charities in the DC area and sorts them by type.  The list includes everything from homeless shelters, to non-profits for the arts, to religious charities.  So, in the spirit of the season, take a look at the map and find a place in your area that you’re willing to give time or money to.  Make someone’s holiday better.

The Daily Feed
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People are often good

Photo courtesy of
‘Super Heroes are nearby!’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

There’s not much to this story. I share it just as a reminder that every day there are people in need and every day there are people who step forward to help, even if it puts them at risk.

A 27-year-old woman is okay after several Good Samaritans rescued her from a burning car after an accident on the Beltway.

…

After the crash, the woman was dazed and unable to get out of the Jeep because her foot was stuck underneath one of the pedals and the doors were jammed shut.

Once the Jeep came to a stop, the back of the car erupted into flames.

Brady says several Good Samaritans saw the car catch on fire and ran to rescue the woman. One rescuer tried to knock the fire out with an extinguisher as others jumped onto the hood and tore the cloth top off the Jeep.

The Daily Feed
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WTF Am I Supposed To Do With This?!


WTF am I supposed to do with this?!
Originally uploaded by tbridge

I came home the other day and there it was. The annual bag with our new yellow pages. The one that we always just take out to the curve…eventually. Sometimes it sits there for a few weeks, get’s soaked or frozen, or both, because really, in the age of Google, what the hell is the point of the Yellow Pages? To take up space?

I wish there was a way to opt-out of these damned things with any expectation it might work…

Alexandria, Dupont Circle, Food and Drink, We Love Food
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We Love Food: The Burger Joint


‘DSCF3611.jpg’ courtesy of ‘joelogon’

The Burger Joint (BGR) is the latest in a line of local hamburger shops trying to muscle in on DC-area institution Five Guys by offering a gourmet twist on this American staple. I went to their new Old Town Alexandria location to put these burger peddlers’ wares to the test.

There is no better food than a hamburger. A good steak comes close but really hamburgers take the title with their myriad of configurations. Easily a sit-down meal or a perfect eat-on-the-go, with a few toppings tweaks the hamburger offers all things to all comers (except maybe vegetarians). I have long been a fan of DC hamburger establishments and have been putting new offerings to the test for many years. I guess it all began back when I was accepted to George Washington University back in 1993. While quite happy to have got in, I was secretly celebrating the fact that I would soon be living less than a block from burger heaven, Lindy’s the Bone. Back in those days DC was a tale of two burger shops; Lindy’s Bon Appetit and Five Guys pretty much had you covered. For specialty burger creations it was Lindy’s and for the purist burger experience there was none better than (the now overly-franchised) Five Guys.

In the time I have lived here there have been many new burger contenders. Most notably Hamburger Mary’s (now defunct), ZBurger (not bad), Elevation Burger (yuck), and Ray’s Hell Burger (omfg!). Of those four, really only Hamburger Mary’s and Ray’s Hell Burger stand out and for good reason; Hamburger Mary’s offered truly excellent specialty burgers in a fun and funky sit-down dinner environment; while Ray’s continues to serve-up over-the-top, gourmet burgers in a real, walk-up-order, ‘burger joint’ setting.

The Burger Joint now enters into a field beginning to feel a tad cluttered. After all, Five Guys has expanded all over the city like a fungus, Lindy’s is still quietly rocking the Red Lion basement, and Ray’s is all the rage after the Obama/William’s visit. So how does a new burger shop stand-out amongst such stiff and varied competition? By offering the best pure burger in town, that’s how.
Continue reading →

Food and Drink, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Winter 2010 Restaurant Week Best Bets

Photo courtesy of
‘Ping Pong Dim Sum Reflection’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

I say it every go-round, but some of you are new to the city or new to restaurant week (Jan 11-17th), so I’ll briefly repeat myself (click here for my full thoughts) – you want to book a restaurant week place that is going to be a great deal that you can’t get at any other time. That, to me, is the key to success for RW. There are a LOT of great places on that list that have prix-fixe menus all throughout the year that are $35 or less. I’ve rounded them up for you, so here are places to avoid.

A lot of really great places, like PS 7’s and Oya, tend to extend the deal for a few weeks, or months after. I’d recommend taking them up on that extension and not bending over backwards to get a table during RW proper.

That said, here is my short list of my best bets:

Lunch: 2941, Bourbon Steak, Volt, Westend Bistro

Dinner: Bibiana, Adour, Me Jana, Poste, Volt, Zentan, Willow, 1789

The Daily Feed
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And the meddling/pontificating begins

Art_chaffetz_congress

We seem to have a “winner” for the competition to see which congressperson would first promise to subvert DC home rule on marriage equality: Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah.

Here’s my favorite part: “If it were put up for a vote, traditional marriage would win,” he said. “It would win with a congressional vote, and it would win with the residents of Washington, D.C.

Setting aside the question about whether civil rights should be up for a popular vote, I do wonder if anyone explained to Rep Chaffetz that the DC council was elected by the residents of DC… and he was not?

Entertainment, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Free Irish Film Fest Tickets!

Gabriel Byrne in "Stories from Home." Photo courtesy Capital Irish Film Festival.

Gabriel Byrne in "Stories from Home." Photo courtesy Capital Irish Film Festival.

The good folks at Solas Nua are giving our readers a chance at free tickets to the Capital Irish Film Festival’s closing night screening! The first 20 readers who order tickets using the code “welovedc” will be comped the regular admission fee (limit 2 tickets per person).

Gabriel Byrne: Stories from Home is a “revealing and evocative” documentary detailing Byrne’s public and private life, showing this Sunday, December 20 at the E Street Cinema at 6pm. Byrne is probably best known for his current role on HBO’s In Treatment, but my personal favorite will always be The Usual Suspects…

News, The Daily Feed
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No Innocent Until Proven Guilty at MPD

Photo courtesy of
‘Cathy “Bags” Lanier’
courtesy of ‘Women_in_Uniform’

The words from Chief Lanier yesterday were harsh and left no room for doubt:

“Officer Jones and his actions are a disgrace to the uniform proudly worn by the men and women of the Metropolitan Police Department who put their lives on the line every day. This crime is a betrayal of the community’s trust and is an insult to the fine men and women of this Department.”

Someone should remind Chief Lanier that here in the United States, you’re innocent until proven guilty at trial, and that this kind of rhetoric is useful only after they’ve found the guy guilty. Now, the evidence is apparently fairly conclusive, according to news reports, but give that sort of disgrace talk a break until after the trial.

Then again, Chief’s always been tough on crime, and somewhat more lenient about the law, so take that with a grain of salt.

The Daily Feed, The District
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Restaurant Week Announced

Photo courtesy of
‘Dining is………….’
courtesy of ‘LaTur’

Winter Restaurant Week will be Jan. 11-17 this year, with $20.10 (lunch) and $35.10 (dinner). Go forth and reserve!

I’ll be back soon with recommendations – but if you’re competitive and looking for some best bets/favorites from food writers in the area (including yours truly!) check out BrightestYoungThing’s The Best and Worst Things We Put In Our Mouth round up.

Comedy in DC
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Comedy in DC: The Last of the Christmas Cookies

Photo courtesy of
‘Jason Saenz Stand-up 4’
courtesy of ‘Aaron Webb’

Much like the last Christmas cookies rattling around in the tin your grandma sent you, the last comedy shows of the year are kind of an odd, mismatched bunch. And yet still delicious.

I usually leave theater to Jenn and Don to talk about, but comedian Judy Gold will be at Theater J starting tonight for her one-woman musical show Mommy Queerest. The show runs through January 3rd, and is a memoir of Gold’s life as a Jewish, lesbian mother. Gold is a damn funny standup comic, so I expect her show to be pretty entertaining as well.

Don’t forget that Matt Kazam will be at the DC Improv on December 26th and 27th. We’ll be heading back from our holiday specifically to get back in time to catch this show- Kazam does most of his headlining in other cities, so it’ll be nice to see him on home turf. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Unintentional Copy Hilarity

Photo courtesy of
blimp photo courtesy of ‘afagen’

Okay, kids! It’s time to play my favorite game! “Who screwed it up? The speaker, the reporter, or the spellchecker?”

Out of the Post’s (no doubt rushed to the web as breaking) coverage of the gay marriage vote by DC Council today comes the following:

“We are going to exercise our constitutional rights,” [Rev. Anthony] Evans said. “This is not a win today. This is an insignificant blimp that cannot become law until the process ends, and we are going to stop it in every way we can.”

So was it a typo that wasn’t caught by the spellchecker or the copy editor? Did the speaker mangle his words in his zeal, leaving the reporter and editor no choice but to report it as spoken? Anybody have a recording?

The Daily Feed
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DC Marriage equality has steps left to go

Photo courtesy of
‘Gavel’
courtesy of ‘David Michael Morris’

DC’s local government is getting a lot of attention today because of the marriage equality vote. #DC4M is a trending topic on twitter and a lot of people are making statements like this one: “DC legalizes gay marriage.”

There’s reason for gay marriage supporters to celebrate, but this is not yet a done deal.

Locals know this, but those of you coming to us from a distance probably don’t: if you’re a resident of one of the fifty states, you share your congressional representation with DC. The difference is that you get to vote them in and out of office, where DC residents just have to live with their meddling.

Continue reading →