By Tom Bridge
‘Hazardous Materials by Threaded Thoughts’
courtesy of ‘ThreadedThoughts’
Metro announced this evening that they’re going to rewrite their safety guide to include prohibitions against texting and use of cellphones. The last update to the guide was in 1989. That’s right, 20 years since Metro last updated their bus safety manual. Anti-lock brakes may not have even been on buses yet when the manual was last updated…
By Kirk
‘00205691’
courtesy of ‘Keith Allison’
The harried Redskins may have something new to contend with, on top of sucking at football. Several American Indian activists are attempting to take their long running dispute over the Redskins’ logo to the Supreme Court. The activists claim that Washington’s trademark is racially offensive and should be changed. This case has been batted around the lower courts for some time, and rulings have gone back and forth through the appeals process. Whether or not the case will actually be heard has yet to be seen. The Supreme Court hears very few cases, despite that thousands are submitted each year. For the time being, it seems that the Redskins are safe.
By Donna C.
‘ken’s night out’
courtesy of ‘uberculture’
Okay, so I’ve never passed a blitzed Ken on my morning run, but I sure have seen plenty of tossed beer cans, water bottles and Doritos bags. Not to mention the package of chocolate GU glop I picked up the other day that wasn’t empty after all….
The good news is there’s a simple solution — the folks who use the trails can help keep them clean! Hence the DC Trash Runners. This new group will meet for the first time on Sunday at 10 a.m. at Woodley Park Metro and go for a short run or walk, picking up trash along the way in Rock Creek Park.
Yours truly is helping to kick it off, so of course I think it will be fun. Come join us!
By Karl Johnson
Photo courtesy of Karl Johnson
DC residents: You have no vote in the House of Representatives. You have no vote in the Senate. You have no official say on how the health care insurance system will be reformed. You are second class citizens, according to Congress, because you live in the home of the federal government. But fortunately your Congresswoman, Eleanor Holmes Norton, doesn’t let that lack of a vote stop her from reaching out to constituents or trying to influence her fellow members on these incredibly important decisions. Last night Norton held a “Fact Check” town hall meeting in the auditorium of the Department of Commerce on 14th and Constitution NW. With between 200-250 people in attendance, about half of the capacity of the venue, the event was focused on answering constituent questions with a panel of medical and insurance experts and did not include long speeches.
Before turning it over for constituent stories and questions, Norton opened up the evening with a 15 minute statement about how the event would be run, which included her saying that DC residents are “The most civil people in the United States.” I initially thought this was simply wishful thinking, but after the next two hours went by without a single person yelling, screaming or insulting anyone, I’ll have to agree with the Congresswoman on this one. At least from the perspective of a town hall meeting on the lightning rod issue that is health care reform; especially after covering the Rep. Moran (D-VA) town hall event a few weeks ago. Now the event was held in a federal building with very tight security and more armed police and federal agents than you could count surrounding the area, only those living in the District were able to attend, and signs were not permitted at all past the door, but it still was a very positive representation of political civility by attendees and should make all DC residents proud.
By Rebecca
‘Driving, Not Reading!!! :)’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’
The Georgetown Monitor reported yesterday that the DDOT is seriously considering a significant cut to the Circulator’s Georgetown service based on budgetary concerns and ridership totals. Despite Ward 2 DC Councilman Jack Evans’ protests, City Administrator Neil Albert has apparently already signed off on the plan.
The only hope for keeping the service is for DC residents and businesses to appeal to Mayor Fenty directly. If you’re interested in joining the petition to prevent further Circulator service cuts to this area, GM has a sample letter you can sign.
***For clarification, the DDOT’s proposal would eliminate the Wisconsin Avenue portion of the Georgetown-Union Station Circulator’s route, specifically from M Street to Whitehaven Street.
By Katie
‘Indigo Landing Sunset’
courtesy of ‘needlessspaces’
Summer Restaurant Week came and went this year without much fanfare. Some of my friends said they hadn’t even heard about it. I’m usually uber-competitive about it, but this year I barely blinked. I don’t know what it was. Maybe it was the extra five dollars tacked on to the normal price, but mostly, I feel like it was the fact that in the middle of this recession you can get better deals all year round for the same or less than the $35 price tag that comes with Restaurant Week. To prove my point, I checked out a selection of Restaurant Week favorites, and came up with a hefty list of regular all-the-time prixe fixe menus at some of the area’s best eateries. You can eat at some of a DC’s foodies favorites if you’re willing to do a little leg work, or eat a bit on the early side.
Most of my favorite places in Chinatown and Penn Quarter, especially, do pre-theater menus. You usually have to arrive before 7 p.m., but that’s perfect for an after-work dinner date. Or, alternately, head to some of these places for lunch, where you can grab otherwise super pricey food for cheap. The other option is to saunter up to the bar at some of the city’s best, where you snag some of the same dining room meals for less.
When compiling this post, I wanted to stick with full meals here (for happy hours, refer to my fried happy hour food and healthy happy hour food posts) and so I only feature full meals offered at the bar for less than $35. So, foodie, there are ways to eat your way through the city for less all year long, you just have to be smart about it! Continue reading
By jasmine
‘All Souls Church Columns’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’
Tonight at the National Building Museum, three prominent DC architects share their views on our great city’s buildings. Colden Florance, FAIA, Amy Weinstein, FAIA, and David Jameson, FAIA, have different opinions about DC’s buildings and will share them at DC Architecture: Three Views, a free program that’s part of the museum’s lecture series DC Builds. You need to register, though, so click that link for a chance to ask those architects what exactly they think about that massive HUD building or whether giant columns are in this season.
By Cathy
‘Therapy Bear’
courtesy of ‘Tyrannous’
I mean it’s Italian food. How hard is that to screw up? And it’s in Del Ray, which is known for its great, local eats.
After seeing Sapore D’Italia, the new Italian restaurant in Del Ray, absolutely packed on several occasions, AND after reading reviews which claim that this restaurant is amazing, I had to go and check it out for myself. Recommending dinner with friends to this romantic new hot spot, we all left feeling sorely misled and disappointed.
My tortellini was soggy and water-logged. The lasagna was strange, with the largest noodles I’ve ever seen, laid on it’s side, and not yummy. The Chicken Parmigiano, the best of our four dishes, could pass as edible, but I could have made it more freshly at home. And the calzone seemed hastily thrown together, with each of the $1.00 additional-charge ingredients sparsely and randomly spotting the cheese.
And to make matters worse, Continue reading
By Katie
Restaurant 3’s Chicken and Waffles Dish – but with WHAT side?!
I recently had the pleasure of having dinner at Restaurant 3, where I talked with Co-Owner Jonathan Williams about their Chicken and Waffles dish. He was joking around, saying they were trying to settle a debate on whether the chicken and waffles should be served with a side of maple syrup or a side of gravy. The argument has been raging internally at Restaurant 3 with the Owner and Chef on different sides.
You see, I feel very strongly about this, and what the correct answer is, but I promised to remain neutral and open it up to you, We Love DC readers to decide. Vote in the comments – gravy or maple syrup, and I’ll use random.org to pick a winner to get a free dinner for two at Restaurant 3. Also, in addition to offering the dinner for two, Restaurant 3 will actually alter the dish according to customer feedback. If the majority of the group says gravy, the restaurant will adapt the dish. Hurry, voting ends at noon on the 18th! I’ll announce the winner of dinner for two, and what dish will be served at the restaurant later that day.
To give you a little insight into the debate at Restaurant 3 I talked to the opposing sides. “The balance between salty and sweet is the classic twist on flavors that make Chicken n’ Waffles ridiculously delicious. The chicken has a crisp salty flavor, it is the sweet maple syrup that is the contrast. And who wants to eat a fluffy waffle without maple syrup?” says Jonathan Williams, Co-Owner of Restaurant 3. His Executive Chef does NOT agree. “Chicken n’ Waffles is not a light breakfast dish. It is a savory, hearty dinner dish that combines the sweet Belgian waffle with the crispy fried chicken. A hearty, savory gravy poured atop the Chicken n’ Waffles gives it the kick the pushes the dish into dinnertime.” says Brian Robinson.
So the fate of chicken and waffles lies to you, dear reader – so what do you say? Should it be served with maple syrup, or with gravy?
By Don
After a pretty serious weekend of i^2783923 teabaggers with signs, we need a little levity. Thankfully David Willis is ready to step up to the plate and offer a suggestion for some ways to mix it up with the signage. A fun non-partisan gag.
By Kirk
‘Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova a.k.a Dragunov Sniper Rifle’
courtesy of ‘brian.ch’
MSNBC reports that a Virginia judge has scheduled John Allen Muhammad, the infamous DC sniper, for a November 10 execution date. Muhammad was convicted of murdering Dean Meyers during a random killing spree in 2002 that left 10 people dead and several others severely injured. Over the course of three weeks, Muhammad and his accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo, shot 14 innocent people in Virgina, Maryland and DC. The pair concealed themselves and a high powered rifle in the back of a specially modified sedan. Both were captured in 2002 after a concerted effort by law enforcement and local communities and Muhammad was sentenced to death in Virginia in 2004.
By Rebecca
‘Gin&Tonic’
courtesy of ‘hildgrim’
Now I’m a big fan of both gin & tonics and wine flights, but I’m not so sure how I feel about the “gin flights” now being served at New Heights in Woodley Park. This alcoholic adventure of rotating gin & tonic features selections from the restaurant’s 30 different and unique varieties of the historic spirit with flavors that range from juniper to candied licorice to olive and honeysuckle, combined with a variety of tonic waters. As the weather cools, offerings will shift to heavier and more full-bodied gins and tonic waters to better suit the season. Before you dive right in, may I suggest you also take a gander at their food menu, so as to avoid any possible trouble.
By Max
A few nights ago I was stumbling home from Lauriol Plaza when I noticed that my neighborhood gas station at 18th & S magically transformed itself from a BP to a W Express. I’m sure we have all seen a BP (short for British Petroleum) station and maybe even seen one of their commercials on TV. They’re a huge global energy corporation right? Right. I’m guessing however that you probably know little to nothing about W Express. In fact, I tend to think of myself as a pretty good master of using the Google and the Bing, but I can’t find any information on W Express. None.
So I have to wonder how a gas station changes hands from a global energy giant to what appears to be a local rinky dink company, who I might add has one of the worst logo designs I’ve ever seen. What does the “W” in W Express even stand for? Where does their gas come from and how good is the quality? Now I’m sure most people don’t have a preference of which gas company they use, but what if your local grocery store was a Safeway one day and then a “Q Speedy” the next? Would you still buy food from a store you knew absolutely nothing about?
If you have any information about W Express or are better at Googling than I am, please share in the comments.
By Cathy
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’
You don’t have to be a disaster-phobe to appreciate that working near the White House comes with its own toll. So, to prepare you for the worst (while we all hope for the best!), the Golden Triangle BID is hosting an Emergency Preparedness Fair at Farragut Square Park (corner of Connecticut and K, NW) today from noon to 2:00 p.m.
The fair aims to inform and ready the community for the “unexpected,” which ranges from swine flu prevention, to subscribing to local government agencies’ text alerts, to finding alternate routes out of the city in case of an emergency. Free and open to the public, you can walk through 15 “booths” staffed by representatives from various agencies and organizations, picking up useful maps, hand sanitizers, whistles, and more – to help you actually become better prepared.
When’s the last time you got to tour a firetruck up close? And have you ever directly asked a Metro or DDOT employee about the city’s best evacuation routes? Expect to spend anywhere from 5 minutes gathering up brochures to 30 minutes interrogating the various agency representatives…
By Ben H. Rome
‘Going nowhere fast.’
courtesy of ‘jerseygal2009’
In a cost-saving move, the Fenty administration and DC DMV has persuaded the DC Council to end its safety inspection program for private cars. Emissions inspections will still be required every two years, however.
The mayor’s office has said that the city would save $400,000 with the move, which goes into effect on October 1. But is it the right move?
Yesterday, many safety advocates and city mechanics questioned the mayor’s wisdom with the move, saying that thousands of residents already fail to properly maintain their cars. Last year alone, 35 percent of those inspected in the District failed on their first look.
So are our streets about to be flooded with unsafe cars and an increase in wheels on the road? Many residents cite the hassle of the inspection process as one of the reasons they don’t own a car in the District. (Parking is another big one, in case you cared.)
By Tom Bridge
‘Children’s National Medical Center’
courtesy of ‘Daquella manera’
Congratulations to Children’s National Medical Center who will receive $150 over five years from the government of Abu Dhabi. The gift will create the Sheik Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, which will be designed toward pioneering new surgery techniques for childhood conditions. The Institute will have four major foci, including pain management, bioengineering, and immunology. The gift is the largest for pediatric surgery, and one of the largest for a children’s hospital.
By Tom Bridge
‘Sad Kanye West has a sadness’
courtesy of ‘Dr Stephen Dann’
So, it’s late here, and I’m about to head off to the WLDC authors meeting, but I felt I had to share the Kanye Apology Generator. Watch what happens when you put DC-related stuff into it: Continue reading
By Rebecca
‘American Girl Place Los Angeles’
courtesy of ‘Smart Destinations’
Local Michaels’ stores will be hosting FREE crafts event this Saturday, September 19, inspired by the American Girl series. Participants will create three American Girl® projects that are focused on various periods of American history from the viewpoint of pre-teen girl characters. It would also be a great time to check out the Halloween supplies they have for costumes.
By Don
‘Shower Head Water Drops 7-26-09 1’
courtesy of ‘stevendepolo’
That’s about the long and short of WMATA’s press release today about what they intend to do to deal with the possibility of OMGWTFPIG H1N1 outbreaks this fall. Unfortunately this is reassurance that leaves you less assured than before.
Metro is using an environmentally friendly disinfectant cleaner to wipe down surfaces throughout the Metro system to help keep riders and employees from catching the flu.
The disinfectant is used to clean and disinfect “contact-surfaces” in the Metrorail and Metrobus systems. Metrobuses and Metrorail trains and equipment are disinfected every week, and will undergo more frequent cleaning if necessary.
Then slightly lower:
Metro has taken several steps to protect its more than 1 million daily riders and 10,000 employees from contracting the H1N1 Flu.
So to be clear: 1 million individuals a day move through the metro system. Every seven days, the system gets wiped down with a disinfectant. So grab that handrail with assurance that no germs will have been on it for more than 377 hours.
At first I thought this might simply be a reassurance of what was already being done, not a claim that this was an improvement (from what, exactly? Prayer?) but further down the release there’s a list of bullet points following the assertion that “in preparation for a regional flu event, Metro has taken many actions.” One was “Increased the complete disinfection of the Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess vehicle interiors at more frequent intervals;”
‘hello, gorgeous’
courtesy of ‘erin m’
If you’re one of the AT&T customers not getting your phone calls today because AT&T is sending them to your voicemail (or worse, your voicemail never picks up at all), you can wait out a solution by disabling 3G on your phone. If you’ve got an iPhone (and if you don’t, what the hell are you doing on AT&T?), this is in Settings > Network. Your phone will pick up the EDGE network and you’ll be able to get calls again.
By