Yearly Archives: 2009

24 in DC
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24 in DC: Episode Seven (4:00 to 5:00)

Photo courtesy of tbridge
Jack and the Capitol 2
courtesy of tbridge

Hey there everyone. Tom and Tiff are currently being held captive in a basement of a Los Angeles bodega Dupont-area shop  so I’m going to be judging tonight’s battering of our beloved down. Jack don’t want to hurt you, DC, but you just make Jack so ANGRY….

Top of the hour means recap time to catch you up to date. I think this is the one where Jack faces a moral quandary and does what he has to in order to protect America. At the end of the last episode some extended gunplay had led to tragedy: over a dozen cases of Negra Modelo and Modelo Especial were broken and the beer sprayed everywhere.

Oh, and the First Dude got shot too.

Let’s go!

4:00 and they’re coming into the not-Dupont shop. Agent Freckles has barked at high volume that the first dude was shot but don’t spread it around. Look at the upside, at least he’s not a journalist with a headwound.

Then again, there’s no such thing as a West Arlington Hospital, so how bad can the care be?

4:05 and the quickest clearance process ever is taking place in the Oval Office. Where’s your SF86, Buchanan? Continue reading →

Food and Drink, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Free Z Burgers Today

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flickr user: midstreammom

Get them while they’re hot! The Z Burger chain in Glover Park (not sure if this applies to all DC Z Burgers) is giving out free burgers tonight. These burgers seem less greasy than Five Guys and more like the homemade from your backyard barbecue type. Choose from a long list of toppings. I learned about the GP giveaway from this month’s Glover Park Gazette, which is always a fun neighborhood read.

Sports Fix, The Features
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Sports Fix: Capital Delight

Photo courtesy of
‘090127 Alex Ovechkin’ courtesy of ‘Dan4th’

Ben here, filling in for Tom as he wings his way back across the Atlantic. He’ll have more National angst in a couple weeks, I’m sure.

Capitals
Record: 36-16-5 (77 points)
Position in Division / Conference: First / Tied for second

Two words to describe the current sports darlings in town: On fire.

And at just the right time. The Caps enter this week, just about 2/3rds through the season, at a red-hot pace and fighting with perennial standings goliath New Jersey on a near-nightly basis for the second spot in the Conference. The Caps are 9-2-2 in their last 13, though their road record needs some work, evening out at 14-12-4.

Ovie, to no one’s surprise, has scored 27 goals in his last 29, including a hat trick last night against a surprising Florida team. Alex Semin knocked in another point last night as well, notching himself as the teams’ fourth 50-point scorer this year. Mike Green had a NHL record eight game point streak for defensemen come to an end, however, but his success is typical of a well-oiled hockey team just hitting the right stride for the upcoming playoffs.

With the NHL trade deadline nearing, it’ll be interesting to see how McPhee sees the team and if any moves might be made. Barring a total failure by Theodore – who’s been showing consistent signs of his early Vezina career – the team look solid enough to go far come April and May.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Mama Ayesha’s Presidential Mural


Mama Ayesha’s Presidential Mural
Originally uploaded by carlweaver

I was walking with my lovely wife to get some Ethiopian food in Adams Morgan yesterday when I saw this mural on the side of Mama Ayesha’s restaurant at 1967 Calvert Street, NW. There’s Mama Ayesha posing in front of the White House with all the presidents from Ike to Obama. And notice the motif of Ike being in front of an autumn scene, symbolizing death, and Obama near a sunrise, possibly symbolizing the dawning of the age of Aquarius. It gives me hope, I guess, or maybe some other single-syllable word relating to my wishes for the future.

Mostly what this mural does for me is make me wonder why Rich Little stood in for George H.W. Bush. Also, why is Johnson holding a book like that? To hide his presidential woody, perhaps? Go check it out and if someone asks why you are staring at it so long, just say that you are trying to figure out why LBJ is smiling like that.

Food and Drink, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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RW Extender

Photo courtesy of
‘a vegan is crying…………….’
courtesy of ‘LaTur’

Last night kicked off one of my favorite weeks of the year, restaurant week. Places are slammed with people looking for cheap eats, and plenty of places extend their RW picks beyond just this week. WaPo’s GOG has the full list, but I’ve narrowed down my picks for you so you can make the best of the extenders.

First, I’d hit up Farrah Olivia, it’s a good deal. Jaleo is supposed to be delicious, and I will be finding out next week myself, when I head to Crystal City for the Crystal Couture event. Oya has upped the anty and is offering the $35.09 prix fixe menu through August (aka next RW) so don’t rush over any time soon, but mark it down to go for some special trendy night out on the town, cause Oya is delish.

PS7’s is one of my all-time favorite places in DC, so grab your spot now and you won’t be disappointed. Urbana and Willow are great, both fresh and tasty, though I’d do Urbana only for dinner because you can get it for much cheaper with the Urban Lunchbox deal at lunch. If you like Indian, which I don’t care for, Raskia is the place to be.

Ahh, affordable tasty eats are my favorite.

Weekend Flashback
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Weekend Flashback: 2/13 – 2/15/09

Photo courtesy of imageining
My Valentine, courtesy of imageining

And a Happy Belated Valentine’s Day to you all. Hope your weekend was full of everything you wanted it to be.

So what did you all do this past “weekend o’ love”? Well, after the jump, find out what some of your fellow residents and visitors were snapping photos of around the area. And please, if you see something that you like, click over to their Flickr stream and let them know. Our resident photogs are awesome and we should show our appreciation for sharing their work with us. Continue reading →

We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: Disney on Ice

Disney on Ice

Okay, I get it, I know, Disney on Ice: Disneyland Adventure isn’t something you’d ususally find on WLDC, nor would it be something that I would typically write about as an author, but when you’re offered comp tickets, I mean – hey? Who would turn down some good old quality time reliving your childhood? Plus, it’s an excellent escape from all the “grown up” thinking I’ve been doing recently, what with a new job, taxes, and a stinky economy. So one night in the “happiest place on earth”? Well, fine, I’ll give it a shot. Also, truth be told, I’m totally the kid who wrote papers for school on the Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan drama. I followed Michelle Kwan‘s life story. I know who Scott Hamilton is, and envied his 80’s sequined flared get-ups for the Olympics. Kristi Yamaguchi? Yes, please.

So off we went for a night of saccharine plotline and figure skating… Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Cool views

Photosynth

The Washington Post has drank the Microsoft kool-aid and is hosting several photosynth projects on their website. It’s neat technology, though you’ll need to install something on your local computer to support it. Is it worth it? Well, WaPo describes it thus: “With a 360 degree view and the ability to zoom in close enough to see the smallest details of Lincoln’s eye, users can explore the memorial more closely than they ever could in person.”

Available ‘synths:’

The Lincoln Memorial
The National Museum of the American Indian
The Air and Space Museum

The District, The Features, WTF?!
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Baby, It’s Cold Outside. And In.

Photo courtesy of


‘6th St Row in Snow’
courtesy of ‘daveinshaw’

Last week’s Thrifty District story was eerily familiar to me. My good friend Rebecca, over at Inspiration DC, has gone through almost the exact same Pepco disaster that Tiff featured in her post. She’s got a 700-square foot apartment, top floor of a building in eastern market, with two small bedrooms, one bathroom and a kitchen you can barely fit into. And she comes home to a $500 electricity bill.

With Pepco recently foraying into social media (welcome, welcome!) we thought we’d put the system to the test. We tweeted Rebecca’s story and Andre Francis, the Twitter dude (aka the Social Media Lead)  over at Pepco, got on the case.  Read on to hear the story from Rebecca’s point of view, and to hear what @PepcoConnect has done to resolve her case. Maybe you’ll learn some tips on how to deal with your own massivly large Pepco bill…


“When we got our first heating bill from Pepco at our new apartment I thought for sure it was an obvious mistake and would be cleared up quickly.  No one in their right mind would pay $491.70 for a month of electricity and heat in a small 700 sq feet apartment.  Now it has been a month, several angry phone calls later and we apparently owe them almost $900 for two months of heating and electricity.

Make sure that you heating and air conditioning are working correctly, with the help of air conditioning repair Escondido you can do it, this will save you a lot of money every year.

Continue reading →
Interviews, The Daily Feed
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We Need Interviews!


Random TV Interview
Originally uploaded by Mr. T in DC

I love doing interviews for all you WLDC readers. So I’m putting out the call – I’d like to line up some interviews for everyone’s reading pleasure, because you know we all like to be nebby in other people’s lives…

So if you or someone you know fits the following, contact me at cherokeeace [at] juno [dot] com:

  • Newly relocated to the DC Metro area
  • Small business owner with a unique area business
  • Major / minor celebrity (hey, I can dream) who loves the area or has fond memories of a visit
  • Tourist or recent visitor to the area
  • Long-time resident with an interesting story to share

I won’t guarantee that everyone who contacts me will see their ‘story’ up here, but I will guarantee those that do will be interesting and fun.

Getaways, Tourism, Travel
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Getaways: Artists Inn Residence

Lionshead Faucet, Artists Inn Residence

"Lionshead Faucet, Artists Inn Residence" by Jenn Larsen, on Flickr

Sigh. Stupid economic apocalypse. I really wanted to get away for my birthday this year. Rough times on all fronts. Originally I had some fantasy about skipping town to Barcelona or Marseilles. But, no such luck. So, I settled for a staycation and escaped for the night to exotic Dupont Circle. The bed and breakfast that I discovered, however, turned out to be the best birthday idea I’d had in ages.

The Artists Inn Residence, run by the incredibly kind Terry Gerace, is an amazing B&B at 18th and R Streets NW. If you have any out-of-town guests to house or are looking for a romantic or peaceful escape, this is the place. Beautifully renovated, it’s filled with light and gives the impression of a gracious Parisian mansion with a modern twist. Six suites are lovingly decorated like perfect jewelboxes – each with a different theme that is never heavy-handed. The rooms are also completely outfitted with the technophile essentials like high-speed wireless internet, crazily hidden HDTVs, heated floors, mood lighting… I easily spent half-an-hour just fiddling with the gadgets like the TV hidden in the mirror over the massive stone fireplace.

I stayed in the Da Vinci suite, with its bed constructed out of massive carved doors making me feel like I was nestled in a Tuscan farmhouse. Upon arrival I was even sweetly greeted by a little chocolate cake. Now that’s a class act. Continue reading →

Adventures, Downtown, Entertainment, Fun & Games, Night Life, The District, The Features
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Review: Spy at Night

Photo courtesy of Ghost_Bear
Spy, courtesy of Ghost_Bear

If you’re interested in changing up your happy hour plans, then heading over to the International Spy Museum’s “Spy At Night” is for you.

Every Friday and Saturday from 6pm-10pm, the museum stays open to offer guests (read: spies in training) a late night glimpse into the lives of spy operatives.  According to the Executive Director of the International Spy Museum, Peter Earnest, Operation Spy combines real-life details and mission deliverables from past spy operations, and he should know: he’s former CIA.  I can’t give too much away–it’s confidential, and would ruin the mystery behind the experience–but what I can tell you is that Operation Spy is completely different from the museum. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Eventide opens tonight. Yes, really.

Eventide Restaurant

Molly from the Post has pointed out to us this post on the Going Out Gurus blog about tonight’s grand opening of Eventide in Clarendon. It’s been a long time coming – a quick googling till turn up old articles claiming a Summer 2008 opening – and the ownership glibly quips about it to the GOG.  “Nats Park took 22 months to build,” says Dave Pressley with a smile. “I think we’re at 27.”

You might take into consideration the success of those who you choose compare yourself to in the future, Dave.

It sounds like nice digs. Bar level on the bottom floor, restaurant on the second level. The roof’s not open yet but when it does you can enjoy it without environmental guilt: it was designed by local firm Capitol Greenroofs and you can see some pictures and information about Evertide’s roof on their website[pdf].

3165 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA 22201

The Daily Feed
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More dubious fame

God hates shrimp and kittens

While looking for something else (don’t ask) I hit upon the wikipedia page for the internet phenomenon that is a picture of a kitten fleeing domo-kun and the caption “every time you masturbate, god kills a kitten.” I was about to click away when I noticed this:

The phrase originally appeared as the headline “Fact: Every Time You Masturbate, God Kills a Kitten. How Many More Have to Die?” with a kitten photo on the cover of The Gonzo, a satirical publication produced by students at Georgetown University, in 1996

Who knew? Sadly it seems that the online archives of The Gonzo are no longer active. Does anyone know of a live source?

Food and Drink, Night Life, We Love Drinks
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We Love Drinks: Vinoteca

Malbec at Vinoteca

"Malbec at Vinoteca" by Jenn Larsen, on Flickr

So, here’s my question: the wine bar proliferation over the past few years – fad or fabulous? I mean, with all these places popping up everywhere, are people actually learning about wine? Becoming educated oenophiles? Or still just stabbing nervous fingers in an overwhelming list and hoping like mad they pronounce “viognier” correctly?

Seriously, dear reader, hasn’t it come down to one thing and one thing alone – the size of the charcuterie plate? Isn’t it all about the meat and cheese?

Well, maybe not. In a city like DC there really are a lot of wine connoisseurs who would be far more qualified to talk about this trend than me. I’m just lucky to have two neighborhood wine bars – Cork and Vinoteca – where I can hang out and slowly pick up some idea of what I like. Of those two, I think Vinoteca has evolved the most. It didn’t spring out of the gate fully formed as a Frommer’s pick. There were some hiccups along the way since its opening in fall of 2007. But after several recent sojourns with good service giving spot-on wine recommendations, not to mention one of the best charcuterie plates in the city, I’ve really warmed up to Vinoteca as a favorite drinks spot.

And maybe not just for the sinful duck prosciutto… or the fact that they have tasty venison, lamb, and bison sliders… though that certainly helps! 

Continue reading →

News, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Nats Sign Adam Dunn

Photo courtesy of
‘Ken Griffey and Adam Dunn’
courtesy of ‘SD Dirk’

The Nats have finally given us all here in DC something to cheer about, with the signing of Adam Dunn this afternoon to a 2-year deal for an unspecified amount of money. Dunn, traditionally an outfielder, will probably play some at first during Spring Training, or possibly as part of a platoon in the outfield. Dunn brings a nice powerful bat to the Nats, who’ve traditionally lacked for anything resembling a power hitter. With 206 homers in the last five seasons, Dunn represents a major power punch to the Nats Lineup.

Look for a bit more detail in Monday’s Sports Fix column on Dunn’s arrival in DC, plus the reporting of Pitchers and Catchers on Saturday (3 days til Spring Training! Woohoo!)

The Daily Feed
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Let Me Call You Sweetheart

Photo courtesy of
‘Eureka!’
courtesy of ‘kevinphaines’

Via today’s Daily Candy DC comes the thing I would totally give Tom for Valentine’s Day if only we were going to be in town this weekend. You can hire a barbershop quartet from the Alexandria Harmonizers to serenade your Valentine for a very reasonable rate. The quartet, serenades your beloved with a song, and then presents him or her with a card and a gift. Be sure to book them right away. I imagine that the schedules are filling up rapidly. Because seriously! Barbershop quartet! How awesome is that?

Entertainment, Music, Night Life, The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Music: Musical Moments– Kurtágs Play Kurtág at the Library of Congress

Photo courtesy of
‘2007.10.19-111c.am’ courtesy of ‘RShinozaki’

Saturday, February 7, 2009
Library of Congress, Coolidge Auditorium
György and Márta Kurtág & the Keller Quartet

After the Library of Congress’ recent parade of the rather bland contemporary American music, the premiere of a new work by Kurtág performed by the composer and his wife and long-time duet partner Márta was like a breath of fresh air.  Exquisite comes to mind, as does vital.  It was an honor to share in this celebration of a national treasure of another nation.

The programs describes György Kurtág as one of the world’s foremost composers, which is certainly true in certain circles.  He has served as Professor of Piano and Chamber Music at the Ferenc Liszt Academy of Music, Budapest,  as composer-in-residence at the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and the Vienna Konzerthausgesellschaft, and has a list of awards, honors and recordings too lengthy to even describe here.  In America, Kurtág’s name is better known than his music still, I think, and the music is better known through recordings than through live performances.  The experience of performances of works almost always exceeds the experience of hearing recordings of those works, but in Kurtág’s case, the contrast is particularly striking.

Much work has been done in the press and printed program to connect this concert to a Library of Congress concert of Kurtág’s countryman Béla Bartók.  Bartók’s storied performance with violinist Joseph Szigeti, performed the at the Library of Congress in 1940 marked the premiere of Bartók Sonata No. 2 for violin and piano.  (In a spirit of full disclosure, I should mention that the recording of that recital was a staple of my undergraduate listening regime.)  Continue reading →