By Karl Johnson
‘Still Texting’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’
Ug. How did I not know John Oliver, from The Daily Show, was doing stand-up at the DC Improv!?! I need to pay more attention. We apparently missed a pretty entertaining show too. But not because of his routine, which I’m sure was great. But because of the interactions and jokes that came at the expense of a frustrated guy in the audience who would not stop texting on his phone throughout the show.
By Don
‘Traditional Japanese Wedding’
courtesy of ‘gwaar’
The most recent DC Register includes proposed law changes regarding what other regions that DC is establishing domestic partnership reciprocity with and man, it’s a doozy of a list. If you’ve registered a non-marriage union in any of these 10 US states or 16 countries it’ll be recognized in the District.
The amusing thing is, if Congress manages to not meddle in the District’s self-rule then DC will stop registering new domestic partnerships themselves next year after same-sex marriage has been in place for a while.
If you’re interested in the full list I’ve pasted the text of the proposed law change after the jump. Worth a look just to see what other non-English-speaking countries call domestic partnerships. As usual, the Germans manage to do it all in one word: Lebenspartnerschaft.
By shannon
‘Google Maps Car’
courtesy of ‘Yzukerman’
I’m a big fan of Google Street View, and I love checking out parts of the city that I’ve never visited. DC has been on Street View for about a year now, but there are still some missing links that just aren’t accessible with Google’s camera car. Luckily, they’ve developed a Street View Trike that can now reach previously inaccessible places like pedestrian malls, universities, theme parks, and trails.
Where would you like to see the Street View Trike? Google is asking for your submissions through October 28th, and then the public will vote for the top locations. We’ve got a number of strong contenders in the area: the grounds of the White House, the National Mall, Arlington National Cemetery, the Zoo, etc. So speak up and tell Google what you’d like to see on Street View!
By Tom Bridge
‘Teddy’
courtesy of ‘brianmka’
The 2-3 Redskins face the 0-5 Kansas City Chiefs this weekend, making them unique in one way this season: Every team they’ve played thus far this season hasn’t had a win. They faced the 0-0 Giants, the 0-1 Rams, the 0-2 Lions, the 0-3 Bucs and the 0-4 Panthers. Sure, some teams like the Giants, were unlikely to have lost to the Skins. If you take out the Giants’ record, the Skins went 2-2 against teams with a current 2-17 record. Yikes.
So, with Zorn’s job on the line this weekend, will the Skins deliver?
By Tom Bridge
That’s the word from the US Circuit Court, which refused to hear the case en banc, with seven of the eight judges voting that the three judge panel ruled correctly that MPD’s attempt to cordon off Trinidad from all but the residents of the neighborhood was unconstitutional.
There’s just one avenue of appeal left: The Supreme Court, just up the street. AG Nickles might have a receptive audience there, given the makeup of the court, but I wouldn’t bet on the District just yet.
By Tom Bridge
‘Berry’
courtesy of ‘lorigoldberg’
It’s hard to know whether to leap with joy because my iPhone will now be more than just an iPod touch underground, or to wince, knowing this will double or triple the number of ringing phones in the Metro. But, as of today as part of a multi-year improvement plan, phones from Sprint, T-Mobile and AT&T will now work in 20 of the Metro Stations. The list is:
Orange/Blue: Ballston, Crystal City, Farragut West, Federal Triangle, Foggy Bottom-GWU, L’Enfant Plaza, McPherson Square, Metro Center, Pentagon, Pentagon City, Rosslyn, Smithsonian
Red: Bethesda, Dupont Circle, Farragut North, Friendship Heights, Gallery Pl-Chinatown, Judiciary Square, Metro Center, Union Station
Yellow/Green: Columbia Heights, L’Enfant Plaza
It looks like the Orange & Blue line riders will get the most benefit, followed by the Red line riders, with the Yellow and Green riders mostly getting the shaft for now. The rest of the stations will come online in the next three years. No formal word yet on what service is like in the tunnels, but folks are saying no joy under the Potomac, already, so I’d expect it’s station-or-nothing for the moment.
By Rebecca
‘Turandot Costume’
courtesy of ‘Roberat’
I don’t know about you guys but I’ve had an opera costume on my “must have” outfits list for a while, and this Saturday and Sunday (from 10am-5pm) I’ll finally have the opportunity to get one at the Washington National Opera’s Costume Sale. Ok, well maybe a 20 pound, girdled, Mikado kimono has not been on my mind, but if you’re looking for an awesome Halloween costume, this is your event.
Prices for full costumes range from $10-$200 with accessories priced at $2 or more. The sale is taking place at the WNO Studio in Takoma Park (6925 Willow St, N.W., Washington, D.C.)
By Katie
‘pigs in a row’
courtesy of ‘specialkrb’
Books have been written about it. Love songs. Poems. It’s salty. It’s crispy. It’s fatty. It’s bacon.
And Restaurant 3 knows about the beauty of the food, and the Clarendon neighborhood restaurant is celebrating the “Week of Bacon” from October 21-27, 2009. Each day for the duration of the week of bacon, the restaurant will offer a daily Bacon Happy Hour, where bar guests can feast on bacon bites such as bacon on a stick & bacon-wrapped shrimp and wash it all down with $3 craft beer draft specials. Not only can you stop by for bacon and beer, but Restaurant 3 is offering a Bacon Tasting Menu priced at $30 per person. I was lucky enough to preview a few of the Bacon Week specials, and let me tell you. It’s impressive. Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
‘Jack and Adrian’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’
DC Wire had the news late yesterday: Jack Evans may be running for the Council Chair. With the Mayor’s Race in all manner of confusion in front of next fall’s primary, there’s a lot of ifs, ands and buts in the situation, but Evans has said he’d run for Council Chair if current Chairman Vincent Gray runs for mayor. Will Gray challenge Fenty? He hasn’t been committal, and there’s still a lot of questions as to who may challenge Mayor Fenty, with names like Kwame Brown and Michael Brown on the lips of many. I think we’re in for an exciting primary, once the players are in the open.
By Katie
‘The art of dining well is no slight art…………..’
courtesy of ‘LaTur’
Sietsema’s 2009 Fall Dining Guide is out today online (will hit print on Sunday) and it’s looking pretty good. Tom and I don’t always agree, but his current picks are pretty much in line with mine. CityZen, Inn at Little Washington, Komi, Rasika and Restaurant Eve’s Tasting Room all received four stars (highest). Not a bit shocking.
“With some 4,000 meals under my belt, the 10th Annual Dining Guide is my attempt to share a short list of favorites I might recommend to a friend,” said Tom Sietsema. “I’m happy to share my personal favorites, and I hope readers will be inspired to try new places.”
Some of my personal favorites landed 2.5 and 3 stars (Ray’s the Steaks, Zaytinya, Westend Bistro, Obelisk, Central and Eventide), and I’m eager to check out some of the 2 star places listed that I’ve never been to.
By Tom Bridge
Two years ago, Amazon announced same day service in DC provided you got your order in by 9:15am for various departments. So, today, when Amazon announced a brand new service: same day delivery, I was a little confused. Wait a sec, haven’t we had this for two years already?! I’m not sure. Did I just make that up in my head, or?
By Karl Johnson
‘The Cell’
courtesy of ‘andertho’
The man that wrought terror on the DC metro area, and cowardly took the lives of 10 innocent people, is seeking life over death. The Washington Times reports that an attorney for John Allen Muhammad will be filing a request for clemency with VA Governor Tim Kaine – the only guy that can prevent Muhammad from being put to death on November 10th. Chances of clemency being granted are incredibly slim, however.
By Jenn Larsen
"Jason Tesauro sabers champagne" by Jenn Larsen, on Flickr
Maybe it’s easier to define feminine elegance than masculine, but one thing I know for sure – a man can be elegant without losing his swagger. In fact, both complement the other. It’s no coincidence that the men who best epitomize this quality are usually from another era – Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, Duke Ellington, Steve McQueen.
Sound appealing? Enter Jason Tesauro, author of The MODERN GENTLEMAN: A Guide to Essential Manners, Savvy & Vice. Earlier this week I had the privilege of attending a complimentary preview of his upcoming series at Morrison House in Old Town. These four courses are designed to give modern gents a roadmap for mixing confidence with class. Or as Jason put it, to give you “a code of ethics even in the dicier areas of vice.”
Want to learn how to saber a bottle of champagne? How to navigate the world of artisan cocktails, stocking your home bar with confidence? How about choosing hand-rolled cigars, carving a bird, learning about custom tailoring, all while wooing the ladies? Covered, in true raconteur style. Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
‘Smithsonian park bench’
courtesy of ‘Slippy Slappy’
Unless you’re living under a rock, you’ve seen a promo for 2012 by now. It’s disaster porn of the highest order. But, you might’ve missed that there’s a transmedia project associated with the game, including twitter accounts and a YouTube channel. If you’ve got some time this afternoon, bolt on over to the comic book store by 3pm at 50 Mass Ave NE and pass them the codeword “2012”, you’ll find yourself with a package of some import to the game.
A wild goose-chase, perhaps? Perhaps. But a fun diversion that makes you feel a bit like a spook, definitely. I remember a campaign in DC in 2003 that had me running all over DC with a group of people answering payphones as a part of a puzzle, and another that involved playing poker in Congressional Cemetery, so it’s nice to see another fun game stopping in DC along the way. If you’re looking for more in this vein, check out Unfiction, the largest online community devoted to these kinds of experiences.
By Katie
‘April 036’
courtesy of ‘krisandapril’
Cornel West is at Union Station in the bookstore signing his latest book. I got a little teenybopper and squee-ish on him, cause I wrote my senior exit paper on his influence on Lupe Fiasco‘s Food and Liquor. So if you’re in the area, and love you some Mr. West, well then, you’re in luck. He’ll also be appearing at Busboys & Poets tonight.
By Don
‘Mary McLeod Bethune’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’
The section edition of A Child’s Right to Counsel: A National Report Card on Legal Representation for Abused and Neglected Children[pdf] has been released by First Star and the CAI and Maryland ranks higher than D.C. or Virginia. The report is primarily concerned with what kind of representation kids get when they interact with the child welfare system. The introduction numbers are sobering.
Over 300,000 American children entered foster care in the last fully reported year of 2006. Of the 289,000 children who exited from the system that year, only about half were reunified with their parents. The parents of 79,000 children were found to be unfit by clear and convincing evidence and had their parental rights terminated. Only 51,000 children were adopted. The remainder of these children stay in the foster care system, now numbering over 500,000 nationwide—most living in state-provided care or with relatives.
‘Fortune….’
courtesy of ‘christaki’
A University of Maryland student was arrested this week for an incident in which he drunkenly entered the dorm rooms of several sleeping female students on the GWU campus (the student has admitted to this much), and specifically in one case the female dorm occupant is alleging that he attempted to sexually assault her.
MPD says that they have noted the similarities between this incident and the Georgetown Cuddler Rapist incidents, but do not yet have any evidence that the two are related.
‘(270/365)’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’
Ben: This weekend looks to be on the chilly side but that won’t stop our usual Friday hockey viewing. Saturday we’re entertaining a friend from New York who just recently became a U.S. citizen, so we’ll be visiting the National Archives and checking out the nation’s founding documents with her, followed by an early dinner at Matchbox and finishing off with a visit to the Verizon Center, where the Caps take on the Nashville Predators. Sunday looks to be a day of recovery but may involve a trip out to Foxfire Grill, our new foodie addiction in Springfield.
Shannon: We’re right in the thick of fall, and I’m gearing up for Halloween this weekend! Friday night I’d like to check out a lantern-lit ghost tour at the National Building Museum, and Saturday I hope to finally head out to Poolesville for Markoff’s Haunted Forest, which I’ve been wanting to check out for ages. Saturday is also Bike DC Day, so in between these two spooky, scary nights I’ll be biking around the city on car-free streets. And on Sunday, I’m going to head to the pool, because I just signed up for next year’s Alcatraz Swim and I need to train to outswim any sharks. How’s that for scary? Continue reading
By Cathy
‘IMG_3820.jpg’
courtesy of ‘www.VoteJoeC.com’
If you’ve been to the new (Sexy) Safeway, Busboys & Poets or the neighborhood Ace Hardware at the CityVista complex at 5th and K, you likely haven’t been disappointed. You probably have gone back more than once. It’s an oasis of useful and appreciated stores just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Chinatown.
Well, starting tomorrow there will be a new reason for you to return to paradise island: Taylor Gourmet, a deli and market specializing in gourmet hoagies, opens its second location in the NW complex.
Feeling that DC was missing out on a place for a great hoagie, Philadelphia transplants Casey Patten and David Mazza opened their first Taylor Gourmet in the H Street NE corridor in 2007 amid great reviews. Their second location has been causing excitement since the day they told the world they were opening a second location. Continue reading
By Rebecca
photo courtesy of NPS.gov
This Saturday from 6:30-9pm, the National Park service will host the 13th Annual Life & Death on the C&O Canal at the Great Falls Tavern Visitors Center in Great Falls, MD.
Volunteers and park rangers will take visitors on a one-hour journey back in time, and recreate the trials and tribulations experienced by the men and women who built, lived and staffed the canal during its 96 year long history. Every interpretation is based on documented facts or legends, and interpreters will present various 15 minutes programs throughout the evening.
Reservations are recommended and the program is not for young children. Ticket prices are $6 for adults, and $4 for seniors and children (4-14). Call 301-767-3714 for information and reservations.
By