By Don
Jessica Frances Dukes as Edna and Jenna Sokolowski,shot by Stan Barouh
I pondered letting this one pass without comment; one of the virtues of writing for a blog rather than a Paper of Record is that I’m not obligated to weigh in. In the end, though, I decided I’d weigh in, however briefly. In no small part because I’m so struck by the difference in reaction between Missy Frederick over at DCist and Peter Marks of the Washington Post. Continue reading
By AcaciaO
‘102/365 Peep Starry Night’
courtesy of ‘Mykl Roventine’
The much-anticipated winner and finalists for the Washington Post’s 3rd Annual Peeps Diorama Contest were announced yesterday, Easter Sunday. This year’s winner was a re-imagining of Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks” (you know, that ubiquitous 1940s moody diner painting) entitled “NightPeeps.” The artist is Melissa Harvey, 44, of Arlington, whose day job is as a graphic designer for WETA.
Of the other brilliant finalists my favorites are the M.C. Escher tribute, the Dexter shoutout and the Georgetown Cupcake lovefest. Which do you like best? It’s must be incredibly hard to judge these though, considering the amount of time and sheer cleverness of some of the dioramas. Maybe next year WaPo should host a science fair-esque show with the displays. They can call it PeepShow. (Cue: knee-slapping laughter. Anyone?)
By Katie
‘White House Easter Egg Roll’
courtesy of ‘dbking’
The White House is livestreaming everything from the Easter Egg Roll… including the chef’s cooking lessons from Top Chef Spike Mendelsohn, Art Smith of Art and Soul and Jose Andres of Zaytinya, et al. You can also catch other adorable things like DC United soccer players reading to kids (swoon) and Ziggy Marley on the music stage.
If you’ve got a specific star or act you’re following, you can check out the PDF schedule to see when you can catch the stream from your desk. It’ll be like you were really there. Except not. Hello, Web 2.0 at the White House, we missed you…
By Ben H. Rome
‘The Cruel Bird of Spring that No One Knows’ courtesy of ‘andertho’
Welcome back to the work week; hope you didn’t stuff yourselves too full of chocolaty, sugary goodness over the holiday (or non-holiday, if you’re inclined).
The Cherry Blossom Festival is now in the past, having closed out with a ‘bang’ (that’d be the usual festival-ending fireworks); maybe now we’ll get a little peace before our ‘second wave’ of tourists hit in mid-May. Time to get out and about to enjoy our mid-Atlantic springtime – provided we can get out of these chilly mornings!
A quick look at the weekend as captured by you. Continue reading
By jasmine
White House photo by Pete Souza
I’m actually really pleased at the way the White House has handled the arrival of the new pup–the post on their blog was understated (“In case anybody was wondering…”) but they must have known that Puppywatch 2009 had been going on since Nov. 2 and people are understandably excited. There was even a minor controversy when a blog leaked a photo before the Washington Post’s exclusive article hit. Hilarious.
So, now that we’ve got an official dog in the White House, can we go back to talking about fixing the economy or even how awesome the rescue of the sea captain from the evil clutches of the pirates was?
By Katie
‘Pad Thai with Shrimp’
courtesy of ‘mastermaq’
Today kicks off Thai Restaurant Week, folks. DC area Thai places are rallying with special menus, discounts and performances to celebrate Songkran, or Thai New Year, from April 13-19.
The DC restaurants participating are: Asia Nine; Bangkok Bistro; Bangkok Joes; Mai Thai; Tara Thai; Thaiphoon; and Thai Tanic. The Thai Embassy site has a full list of participating restaurants including plenty of places in the surrounding VA and MD ‘burbs too. The site also has a handy 10% off coupon that you should print out and take with you.
I’m a huge fan of Bangkok Joe’s at Georgetown’s waterfront. It is always affordable and delicious. I’ve heard good things about Thaiphoon, but the rest of them are a mystery to me – I’m hoping someone will add some handy advice in the comments about the best place to go (hint hint!). Try something other than the obligatory pad thai…
By Tom Bridge
‘Slapshot Flies the Flag’
courtesy of ‘clydeorama’
Capitals
Record: 50-24-8
Last Two Weeks: 5-2
Place: Won the Southeast, Finished 2nd in the Eastern Conference
The Playoffs have returned to the Verizon Center’s Ice, and the Caps will be hosting the NY Rangers for the first round of the Stanley Cup. Thanks to the Caps’ 2nd place finish, they’ll have home-ice advantage down to the Conference finals, and perhaps then, depending on if first-seed Boston is still playing. Tickets go on sale shortly after the schedule’s set, with games probably starting as early as Saturday this week.
The Caps finished the year against the Rangers at 3-1, losing the one game in a Shoot-out. The Rangers are 3-3 in their last two weeks of the season, with losses to Carolina and Boston.
Wizards
Record: 19-61
Last Two Weeks: 2-5
Place: Last. Still. Always.
Two games remain for the Wizards. Two chances to get a win and beat out the 2000-2001 season’s awful record of 19-63. But, they’re facing #2 Boston, followed by Toronto. It’s a bit tough to see the guys going 21-61, but perhaps 20-62? Either way, an atrocious season for the Wizards, largely due to the absence of Agent 0, or perhaps a coaching deficit. Any way you look at this season, it’s fractally bad. Here’s hoping with a decent draft pick, and some off-season practice, they might be a halfway decent team come the Fall. That’s about all you can hope for, I’m afraid.
Truth Truck
Originally uploaded by woofiegrrl
I’ve seen it a few times before, but today was the first time I saw the (rather arrogantly named) “Truth Truck” during the new presidential administration. To be honest, I’m surprised it took so long.
This photo doesn’t depict the specific messages I saw on the truck, but I wasn’t able to grab my own photo. Apparently, the truck’s message panels are designed to be interchangeable- they appear to be made of plywood and hand-painted. You can see it in its Terri Schiavo phase, but in order to fully appreciate the ingenuity of this modular design, you simply must view the Truth Truck’s photo album, featuring it all decked out for all kinds of issues- abortion, terrorism, homosexuality, public education, etc. The Truth Truck seems to go where the action is, and when I saw it today it was covered in messages blaming gay people for God’s judgment on America in the form of 9/11, so I’m guessing it has something to do with the DC Council vote from earlier this week. Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
Presidential first pitches
Originally uploaded by afagen
The Washington Times is reporting that the President will not throw out the first pitch on Monday at the Nationals’ Home Opener, breaking a decades-old tradition. I was really hoping that the President would be there on Monday, but it looks like he’s got better things to do.
Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you can still buy four seats together for Opening Day? And those seats are just past third base? And that the President appearing before a crowd of five or six hundred people sends the wrong message?
C’mon, Mr. President, I won’t be the only one there, you can still come on out, I hear you’ve got a helluva curveball.
By Katie
‘Fried Pickle Chips’
courtesy of ‘SauceSupreme’
IT’S FRIDAY! Aaaaaaayyy! And you know what Friday says to me? It says HAPPY HOUR! This week has had some gorgeous weather in it and I think I’ve got a full-out case of some serious spring fever. It’s time we get out there, DC, put on your game face and start practicing for summertime. I’ve planned and been invited to more happy hours in the past couple of weeks than I had been all winter long!
One of the first things I consider at my happy hours is the availability of food. Cheap food, preferably, but also delicious food. And food that goes with beer. You know what food goes best with beer? Fried food!! So click on through for a sampling of my favorite fried happy hour food and where to find it. Continue reading
By shannon
‘at least we’re not outside anymore!’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’
Did the Metro seem particularly crowded to you yesterday? Today, word comes from Metro that yesterday was the sixth-highest weekday ridership day in the system’s history. The combination of tourists that are still here for the cherry blossoms, spectators of the Frozen Four tournament, and regular old commuters like us led to this particularly high ridership day. And this is coming just a few days after record-high weekend ridership related to cherry blossoms and various sporting events.
But there’s good news! As Ben reported earlier, beginning next week WMATA is adding more rail cars during rush hour to accommodate the additional passengers on the red and green lines. So, take heart– next week’s commute will be better, and with the Cherry Blossom Festival ending on Sunday, those cherry-blossom-loving tourists will be out of town in no time.
By Katie
Pandamania! by flickr user needlessspaces
The National Zoo was the second major DC tourism spot that I hit after I moved here. The first was the Washington Monument. Our Zoo is great – it’s my second favorite zoo I’ve ever been to (second only to the zoo in Omaha, Nebraska. No I’m not joking, that zoo is phenomenal.) so when my parents came into town to visit, we decided to make the journey.
It sort of feels wrong, you know? Just walking right in without paying. Put aside the guilt and it’s actually a fabulous feeling. It allows people to come back and back again, and it seems like there are people who truly take advantage. As we were walking in a runner in full workout garb jogged past – what a great run! Aside from dodging all the bumbling people and strollers, you’d have incredibly entertaining scenery and quite a steep hill workout. Envious.
As you enter the zoo you’re faced with starting your zoo tour by heading down towards the pandas on the the Asia walk, or going down the entire hill and doing everything on the way back up. I don’t have an opinion either way. But I do recommend that you print out a map before you go – available on the zoo web site, you can save yourself money by printing it out on your own. Otherwise they charge for a take-with-you map. Fair, I think, since entry is free. So off you go to meet and greet all the animals. Continue reading
By jasmine
‘DSC_0102’
courtesy of ‘tsuacctnt’
A winning lottery ticket worth $144 million was sold at a southeast DC grocery store recently. The winner has yet to come forward, but besides the millions coming to that lucky person, the Giant Food that sold the ticket will get $100,000.
By Donna C.
‘Sartell’
courtesy of ‘dno1967’
Even with all the alarming news about global warming, coal lives on. Did you know there are plans to build yet another coal-fired plant in Virginia’s Tidewater area, only about 150 miles from DC?
If you’re tired of just talking about climate change, now you can talk to help stop it.
A phone bank sponsored by Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light will take place in Clarendon on Tuesday, April 14, from 5:30 – 8 p.m. Join it and call members of the electric co-ops who are proposing the coal-burning plant. You can discuss the proposal and cleaner alternatives, and empower them to take action. For your efforts, you’ll get treats and snacks–and a coal-free stocking on Santa’s next trip.
By AcaciaO
‘corcoran gallery of art 7.19.08 – 3496’
courtesy of ‘laura padgett’
The Corcoran Gallery of Art announced yesterday that it would be laying off about 5.6% of its staff and instituting a hiring freeze in attempts to make up a $4 million deficit this year. 18 employees, both entry-level and higher-ups were effected by the layoffs.
While this is another wave of bad news in the realms of both employment and the arts, the uptick is that the museum will offer free admission on Saturdays this summer in order to boost attendance.
By Katie
Zaytinya’s Roast Lamb To-Go for Greek Easter
As everyone is gearing up for big Easter meals, the foodie world has been a bit slow with forthcoming news. But there’s still some good stuff to report on, including one piece of news that makes me green with envy, so click on through for all the news fit to eat in the District this week… Continue reading
By AcaciaO
‘Petting Ponies’
courtesy of ‘tiffanywashko’
This coming monday, Easter Monday, the National Zoo will host its annual event, Celebrating the African American Family from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The day’s many festivities include an appearance by the Easter Bunny, an Easter Egg Hunt and Roll, arts and crafts and various animal shows. I’m particularly interested in the “Meet a Naked Mole Rat” demonstration, I don’t know about you. There will also be food, delicious food.
The event is free and the show will go on rain or shine (although the weather looks decent; 56* and sunny). Maybe you’ll catch a glipse of the most adorable additions to the zoo, or Harrison Ford. So much zoo love this week! Continue reading
By Ben H. Rome
‘Bokeh Study’
courtesy of ‘Pianoman75’
Tired of jammed cars on the Red and Green lines? Well, Metro’s news that slipped out yesterday may relieve that somewhat. Beginning next week, Metro’s adding additional cars to Red and Green line trains during the always-fun weekday rush hour.
Metro has indicated that roughly twenty cars are being added to the entire fleet. This will boost half of the Red and Green rush hour runs to the maximum eight-car trains (the maximum length Metro can run due to station size), with the rest of the additional cars used to fill in gaps due to malfunctions or other problems.
The additional cars will boost Metro to 850 cars in service during weekday rush, the first in the service’s history. Will it help with the crush? It’s a matter of perspective, so you readers keep us informed, okay?
By shannon
‘snowy, icy, icky’
courtesy of ‘wageslaves’
Welcome to the first installment of a new feature on We Love DC! Every two weeks, we’ll introduce you to a different neighborhood in the city. This week: Brookland! Located in Northeast, Brookland is full of small-town charm with the amenities of being in the middle of a big city. It’s walkable, full of history, and rich in community character.
History: The neighborhood gets its name from the 1840 Brooks Mansion, home of Colonel Jehiel Brooks (a veteran of the War of 1812). In the 1870s, the B&O Railroad opened Brooks Station adjacent to the Brooks Estate, which provided commuter rail service to Downtown DC and Silver Spring. In 1888, the city’s first electric streetcar line opened, and the area grew quickly. Brookland developed as a streetcar suburb, and in 1889 the Catholic University of America opened on a 70-acre tract of land near the station. In the mid twentieth century, religious groups were encouraged to buy property in the area to support the university, and thus the area became known as “Little Rome” with a high concentration of Catholic institutions. Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
Boy, oh boy! National Zoo determines sex of cubs
Originally uploaded by Smithsonian’s National Zoo
The clouded leopard cubs are both boys, it turns out, as the National Zoo showed them off after their vet visits this morning. They’re over a pound each now, and have opened their holy-crap-that’s-cute little blue eyes.
Not that the National Zoo would let me, but I would totally take these guys home with me.
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