Driving the wife to work this morning, I am happy to say that Fenty is responding to the Snowpocalypse better than Barry did. Roads are open all the way to the White House and snow plows are everywhere. Now let’s see Obama bitch.
By Wayan
Yearly Archives: 2009
By Wayan
By Tom Bridge
2 Hour OPM Delay
‘Late Snow in DC / Two Rabbits’
courtesy of ‘little-wings’
Well, it’s not a total snow day out there, but there is a two-hour delay on the Federal Government, and most of the schools in the area are closed (except DC, who are on a two-hour delay as well). So, check the closing list, or check your email, to see if you can bundle up with some hot cocoa and television and make it a three-day weekend before going in.
By Wayan
Snowpocalypse Shutting Down IAD
‘going nowhere fast’
courtesy of ‘booleansplit’
If you think you’re flying out of Washington DC tomorrow morning, like I thought I was, you best call your airline right now. United has canceled everything before noon out of IAD, BWI, and DCA. Calling in a panic to my special frequent flyer line, I got one of the last empty IAD to SFO seats for all of Monday. For everyone else, welcome to the madness.
Word is that all the major airlines are canceling their flights before noon and rerouting other flights, telling folks it will be Wednesday before the snowstorm overflow passengers will all get to their respective destinations.
By Souper Girl: Defeating the Pizza Guy One Bowl at a Time
‘Day 1 of 365: Comfort and Spice’
courtesy of ‘marciadc’
A while back, we were delighted to discover Soupergirl, who makes soup from local ingredients for your comfort food enjoyment. Today we have a guest review from Friend of We Love DC and Funmonger Lisa King:
With the mercury firmly fixed in the teens, I was especially happy to seeSara Polon, aka SouperGirl, in my office today, dropping off the Sweet Potato Ginger soup and pita chips I’d ordered.
When I got home I duly poured about a third of the bright orange, incredibly thick and creamy soup into a saucepan, stirring it as it bubbled away. As it was heating I tried not to eat all the pita chips and read the ingredients again as I wondered if there’s really no cream in there. (She promises there’s not.) Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
Metro Readies for the Snowpocalypse
Brentwood Maintenance Yard
Originally uploaded by AlbinoFlea
Metro’s getting ready for what looks like it could be a fairly large snowpocalypse this evening. They’ve gotten their de-icing trains on the tracks, as well as 2,200 tons of salt and other ice-removal agents ready for use across the 100+ miles of track and parking lot. They’ll be starting the de-icing trains loose on the first runs of the morning tomorrow, and throughout the storm today. Bus routes are subject to plowing in the various jurisdictions that they cover, so that’ll be a game-time decision for most places depending on how bad the storm gets.
Of course, be sure to check in with OPM’s Status Page to see if you even need to go to work…
Geriatric Superstar
So here I am, sitting on my couch, watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy on TNT (there’s a great way to lose a weekend, by the way), when I see an ad for a production of Jesus Christ, Superstar coming to the Warner Theater March 17-22. Having been a fan of this particular show since I was a kid (and it’s a popular choice for musical companies during Lent), I stopped to take notice… and saw that Ted Neeley is playing Jesus.
Okay, what the hell. Ted Neeley is the best-known Superstar Jesus. He played Jesus in the movie in his 20s, played him on Broadway, played him in the touring production for the movie’s 20th anniversary in the 90s, but people: Ted Neeley is 65 years old. For the record, that’s nearly twice as old as Jesus of Nazareth ever lived to be. I caught a performance on that tour in the 90s- he was sounding a little rough then, and that was 15 years ago. And look, no disrespect to Neeley- the lead roles in Superstar are vocally challenging even to performers in their prime. There’s a lot of high-pitched shrieking to be done, and it’s a strain.
Is there really no one else who can believably play this role that we’ve got to trot out a guy who is nearly as old as my grandfather to play someone about my age? Are audiences really so unwilling to see other people playing Jesus?
By Tom Bridge
Jim Bowden Resigns
Jim Bowden @ NatsFest
Originally uploaded by Scott Ableman
One other crucial bit of news here, despite the impending snowpocalypse: Jim Bowden resigned this morning, saying that the media’s “false allegations” of corruption made it impossible for Bowden to represent the Nationals in an effective way. I suppose he should get the benefit of the doubt, but I can only remember Bowden as a monumental failure, and resigning in disgrace is about as good as it gets.
From the Nationals’ press release comes this important statistic: “Bowden was with the Nationals from 2004-2009. The team never finished over .500 during his tenure, their best season was in 2005, when they went 81-81.”
Good bye Bowden. Please don’t ever, ever come back.
By Tom Bridge
Snowstorm Inbound
Twins
Originally uploaded by M.V. Jantzen
Imagine my dismay this morning to awake on the 1st of March and find a fresh layer of snow on the ground. I was just starting to hope for some crocuses and daffodils, and now I fear for the little blooms. The Capital Weather Gang has an summary of the current weather system and predictions for the DC area, which mostly include us getting socked in the teeth with anywhere from 4 to 10 inches of the white stuff.
It’s been a snow-free winter here in the District, and it’d be nice to get one big storm before it’s all out, but I was really hoping we were done with all this crap!
By Carl Weaver
Washington Humane Society Adoption Mobile
I can haz adpoted plz?
Originally uploaded by carlweaver
As long-time readers may remember, my Lovely Wife and I lost our kitty last year, not long after losing the first one. We are talking about getting new kitties but we (meaning I) are not ready yet.
We were in Takoma Park today wandering around and came across the Washington Humane Society Adoption Mobile. This is a pet-fitted RV that goes from place to place to advertise their services, stocked full of cats and dogs waiting to be taken home and loved. It was good for me to see the animals, when, following Lovely Wife, who has a ticking biological clock for new cats, I found myself in the RV adoring all of them.
I’m still not ready but I think we are also not grieving as much as we were. Maybe we are getting closer to bringing a new furry member of the family home. Have you ever adopted out of the Adoption Mobile? Anyone have experience with the Society?
By Donna C.
Go to Jail for Mother Earth
‘the very scary but not secret service’
courtesy of ‘spiggycat’
How deep is your love for Mother Earth? Say you’d spend some time in the slammer to save her? Well, here’s your chance!
On Monday, you can join a couple thousand of your closest friends in a march to the coal-fired power plant on Capitol Hill (source of some hot air in Congress). There the gang will peacefully surround the gates–and risk arrest–to call for action on global warming. The action starts at 12:30 p.m. at Spirit of Justice Park.
Capitol Climate Action is being billed as the largest mass civil disobedience for the climate in U.S. history. So far, 100 organizations have endorsed it, as well as folks from Daryl Hannah to Paul Hawken to Will.I.Am. So get ready for that orange jumpsuit.
By Don
Get a teabag, morans!
Get a Brain, Morans
courtesy of Eexlebots
The flickr page for this version of the infamous ‘morans’ picture has a comment from someone claiming that it was a joke sign at a hoax protest. The Washington Independent has a picture set from a recent protest at the White House that wasn’t a hoax, though it’s unclear whether the people in that sign were unaware of the colloquial meaning of ‘tea bag’ or not. I’m assuming they are, but either way it’s damned funny. More funny protest signs!
By Tom Bridge
Steele & Colbert to Rap About Conservatism
Former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele at GOP Press Conference
Originally uploaded by NewsHour
From Politico.com comes the best comedy news in some time: GOP Chairman Michael Steele has accepted the challenge of TV Show Personality Stephen Colbert to have a rap-off about conservative issues.
I, personally, cannot wait to see this.
Blogging from the Metro coming soon!
‘You Don’t Say….’
courtesy of ‘chip py the photo guy’
There’s been talk of this for a while, but WMATA announced a little more of a timeline today: Twenty of the busiest stations will have cell phone service by the end of this year, and the entire system will have it by 2012.
While I certainly have no interest in listning to a train full of people shout to be heard over the tunnel noise, I look forward to actually being able to text and use Twitter from the train- many has been the time when the people I’ve been on my way to meet have tried to reach me, only to be thwarted by the Metro Cone of Silence.
By jasmine
March Concert Preview
‘Estelle :: Paramount Theater :: 01.08.09’
courtesy of ‘Julio Enriquez’
Man, March really snuck up on me! There I was, just getting settled into a dreary February, and then all of the sudden here comes the promise of warmer, springtime weather and sweet, sweet music to accompany it.
Head out to Wolf Trap for The Bird and the Bee (w/ Obi Best) on Wednesday, March 4 ($20) for digital-sounding jams with airy vocals on top. They were recently on Ellen performing “Love Letter to Japan,” which is one of my faves. Continue reading
By Don
Read the Love
‘We Love Unicorns and Rainbows’
courtesy of ‘tiffany bridge’
Today’s Washington Post contained the four essays entered into their “What it means to be a Washingtonian” contest which John Kelly identified as his favorites. Kristin Stadum isn’t the winner but her essay is my favorite, and is similar to how I feel about living here.
What’s amazing to me is that the article introducing them on the front page – which I cannot find a version of online – said they received “more than two dozen” submission.
Only 24? Seriously? That’s how many people felt moved to write about our beloved city? I’m a little shocked, but maybe it’s just reflective of the level of vitrol the average John Kelly reader has. The content of today’s chat was surprisingly snippy, I thought, but perhaps I’m just accustomed to the goof quotient in Weingarten’s chats.
Travelers Play “Hide the Sausage” at Dulles
‘Sausages, we don’t need your stinkin’ sausages’
courtesy of ‘theopie’
No, literally. WTOP reports on the weird stuff people have tried to smuggle into the US this week, including pornography (helloooo, we have the Internet here too, you know), cigarrettes, currency, and a staggering variety of meat products. Pork seems to be the most popular, including the sausages a woman tried to hide in a shrink-wrapped puzzle box.
It’s a slow news day, my inner 12-year-old approves of anything that gives me legitimate reason to use the phrase “shrink-wrapped sausage.”
By Katie
Crystal Couture In Review
The Gossip on 23rd Runway Show at Crystal City Couture
On Wednesday, I headed over to Crystal City for dinner with friends and then a stop at the Crystal Couture Work Wear Wednesday event. Housed inside loft-like industrial space, the large room was set up with vendors selling work wear outfits, a runway, a cash bar, and complimentary mini-cupcakes from Red Velvet Cupcakery. Techno music echoed through the space, and the Sex and The City Movie played in the background. It was girlie to the hilt. After reading Don’s review of Tattoo Tuesday, I was expecting tons of photographers, but mostly there were twenty-somethings stopping by after work to shop the wares.
Although Crystal Couture isn’t quite over yet (there are still events happening through the weekend) I was able to chat with Angela Fox, the President/CEO of the Crystal City Business Improvement District, all about what she loved, what went wrong, and what the event meant for Crystal City. Continue reading
By jasmine
Tourism: Torpedo Factory
‘Torpedo Factory Artist’s Faces’
courtesy of ‘nicmcc’
Generally, I am delighted by repurposed old buildings, especially when their new use is wildly unrelated to what the builders had in mind (see: The Surratt House, now a Wok and Roll; The Pension Building, now the National Building Museum, etc). My all-time favorite of these is probably The Torpedo Factory Art Center in Old Town Alexandria.
The Torpedo Factory is full of surprises. They first get you with the name: who would expect a building full of artists’ studios and an Archaeology Museum from a factory? Yet this former factory is packed to the brim with creativity and fun things to explore. Continue reading
By Ben H. Rome
Shameless Plugging
Cards
Originally uploaded by tbridge
We’re on the nomination list over at the Washington City Paper for the area’s best blog. If you love our content, our design and/or our authors, head over and vote for us! We’d totally love you for it. Honest!
By Tom Bridge
DC Voting Rights Act Passes the Senate!
This just in, S.160, the DC Voting Rights Act, has passed the Senate 61-37! It’s onward to the House, at this point.
There were a couple of amendments attached today, including:
The Ensign Amendment, which relates to Gun Control
The DeMint Amendment, which relates to the FCC and the Fairness Doctrine
The Durbin Amendment, which also pertains to the FCC, but to Media Ownership Diversity.
Get the full text of the amendments and the bill via Thomas at the Library of Congress