Yearly Archives: 2009

The Daily Feed
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Today’s History Lesson: The Bonus Army

Photo courtesy of
‘Carriers Setting Out on Their Daily Rounds’
courtesy of ‘Smithsonian Institution’

I must have been sick the day they talked about the Bonus Army in history class. 77 years ago, an enormous group of WWI veterans set up what basically amounts to a refugee camp in the Anacostia Flats and staged a months-long protest pertaining to service bonuses that were originally supposed to mature 20 years later, but then the Depression hit and vets started borrowing against them, and it turned into a big budgetary hullabaloo (seriously, go read the Wikipedia article I linked, it’s fascinating). The reason I bring this up now is because June 28th was the 77th anniversary of the day when President Hoover got so fed up with the Bonus Army that he actually deployed the standing United States Army against its own veterans to forcibly remove them from the capital.

There’s more to the story, of course- President Roosevelt managed to talk most of them into signing up for the Civilian Conservation Corps to support themselves during the Depression, which was great until a hurricane hit the bridge they were working on and wiped out hundreds of Bonus Army vets. Congress sucked it up, overrode Roosevelt’s veto, and paid out the bonuses early. But the other result of the whole messy business was a little thing you may know as the G.I. Bill.

The Daily Feed, WMATA
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Smoky Trains and Erratic Buses: A WMATA Morning Commute Story

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Orange and Blue Line riders heading for work this morning probably had a heck of a time thanks to the smoke incident at McPherson Square, caused by a collector shoe (which conducts electricity from the third rail to power the train) falling off, sparking a fire under the train. (Thanks to The Post’s Get There blog for the info.)

My wife was on Metro at the time, and had a heck of a trip with all WMATA had to offer, with trains AND buses providing much in the way of epic, continuous fail all through the journey. After the jump, a bulleted list of stuff she ran into along the way:

Continue reading →

The Features
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We Love Weekends: August 1-2

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

No, I’m not sure how we’ve found ourselves at the start of August, either. But, here we are. Several of our writers are on vacation this week, so it’s a light weekend here at We Love DC. Tell us what you’re planning in the comments!

Jenn: I’m in an incredibly chill mood this week. No bad vibes allowed. While I’m riding this wave of good humor through the weekend, maybe I’ll take in some art! The Freer’s got an exhibit of Whistler’s works on paper called “Texture of Night” – studies of moonlit nights which are strangely hypnotic. Kathleen Ewing’s new gallery space in Cleveland Park sounds like an afternoon house party (actually, I think her house is the gallery now), visit between 12-5pm and enjoy ice tea, cookies and her dog Teddy while enjoying easily the best collection of photographs around. You could enjoy a light dinner at Palena’s bar afterwards. Maybe a stroll through the Bloomingdale neighborhood for the Pink Line Project‘s First on 1st quirky art and music walk, with a coffee stop at Big Bear Cafe. Or have brunch at Circa at Dupont followed by a browse through the Washington Printmakers Gallery – artist Julie Niskanen is giving a Sunday talk at 2pm. Sigh. All this culture. Maybe I should head over to H Street and hit some dive bars instead!

Shannon: I’ll be spending a good part of this weekend in the suburbs. It’s the last weekend of the Loudoun County Fair, which features a doughnut-eating competition, a “pig scramble” (it sounds like breakfast, but it’s not), and yes, even outhouse races. I’m not going to miss that. And I will definitely be heading out to Bethesda for the final days of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Restaurant Week, during which area restaurants offer fixed-price $12-15 lunches and $30 dinners. And assuming the weather cooperates, I’m planning on going for a long bike ride to prepare for the “brutal” 50 States Bike Ride, which has been scheduled for September 26th.

Don: My darling wife and I are headed far, far outside the beltway for an art show in Virginia Beach this weekend so I’ll be unable to partake in any of our area’s activities. It’s too bad, because I have a soft spot for Tori Amos and the undead. Tori will be at DAR this Saturday and mid-day yesterday still showed pretty good seats available. Equally as weird but probably taking itself a little less seriously is Rorschack Theater’s “Living Dead in Denmark,” a look at what Elsinore would be like five years after the events of Hamlet. If there were zombies. How do you not want to go to that? Previews start tonight and run till opening on Sunday, which I’ll have to miss. Oh well, there’s always next weekend… Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Fire suppression efforts in NW harmed by low water pressure

Photo courtesy of
‘The Washington Times’
courtesy of ‘Bogotron’

NBC Washington has video of the house that caught fire and was pretty much destroyed on Chain Bridge Road. In the video a neighbor asserts that the fire started on a corner of the porch and might have been contained if not for a lack of water for fire crews to use. One hydrant was out of service and others lacked sufficient water pressure.

It’s been almost two years since this issue caught local attention with a fire in Adams Morgan and another at the Georgetown Library. At the same time where was news of huge numbers of out of service hydrants. Two years ago WASA claimed they were ahead of schedule on testing out-of-service hydrants and would start a five-year program of replacement.

Perhaps we’re just continuing a local tradition of a disaster following an award. Catoe gets a commendation for being a transit leader and we have a horrible metro crash shorly thereafter. Less than two weeks ago WASA received an award for their innovative use of technology in managing water hydrants and we subsequently discover that several don’t work well.

WASA and Mayor Fenty will surely be fielding some hard questions about why this problem persists two years later.

The Daily Feed, WMATA
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Get Ready for Lots of Track Work

Photo courtesy of
‘”Delays Continue.” on WMATA (U Street)’
courtesy of ‘technotheory’

Prepare yourselves for lots of waiting around this weekend if you’re taking Metro, no matter where you’re headed. WMATA tells us that there will be track work on ALL LINES this weekend. Fabulous.

On the Red Line (as if you weren’t already used to delays), there will be delays between Medical Center and Friendship Heights while some tracks are repaired. On Saturday and Sunday, every other train will terminate at Friendship Heights and turn around towards Glenmont, and trains will operate every 20 minutes between Shady Grove and Medical Center. Give yourself an additional 30 minutes.

On the Blue and Orange Lines, bridge maintenance will cause delays between Eastern Market and Stadium-Armory because trains will be sharing one track. Give yourself an additional 30 minutes.

On the Green and Yellow Lines, rail replacement will cause delays between Georgia Avenue and U Street stations because trains will be sharing one track. Give yourself an additional 30 minutes.

And finally, on the Blue and Yellow Lines, track maintenance will cause delays between Braddock Road and Van Dorn Street and Huntington stations because trains will be sharing one track. The Blue Line in particular will be operating only at certain stations, so part at Huntington if you want to avoid delays. Give yourself at least an additional 30 minutes to get where you’re going.

This might be a good weekend to take the bus instead.  Check out the bus map for routes, and find out when the next bus is coming to your stop via iPhone app, internet, or phone.  The Circulator has bus tracking, too!

The Daily Feed
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Cold War, Revisited

Photo courtesy of
‘KGB / FSB Headquarters’ courtesy of ‘rodc’

Need a lunchtime diversion? How about a history lesson…from the other side’s point of view?

Spymaster: My 32 Years in Intelligence and Espionage Against the West
Thursday, 30 July; 12 noon – 1 pm at the International Spy Museum
Cost: FREE!

He was the youngest general in the history of the KGB, and his intelligence career spanned the better part of the Cold War. As deputy chief of the KGB station at the Soviet embassy in Washington, DC, he oversaw Moscow’s spy network in the United States, and as head of KGB foreign counter-intelligence, he directed the KGB’s most valuable clandestine agents inside the United States. In his memoir, Spymaster, KGB Major General Oleg Kalugin (Ret.) provides an unparalleled look at the inner workings of Moscow’s famed spy agency. Join Kalugin to hear firsthand how he became disillusioned with the Soviet system, about his falling out with Russian president Vladimir Putin, and what he thinks of recent intelligence-related incidents with Moscow ties, including the death of Russian intelligence defector Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006.

And if you can’t make it during lunchtime, check out the two “spycasts” (podcasts) that Oleg did for the Museum a couple of years back.

Co-sponsored by The OSS Society.

Getaways
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Getaways: Sky Meadows

Sky Meadows

Sky Meadows

Sky Meadows. The name itself makes me think of rolling pastures, wildflowers, birds, and butterflies, all under puffy white clouds and a deep blue sky. But maybe that’s because I’ve been there.

This humble Virginia state park is close to the city, just over an hour’s drive west from DC. A historic house and picnic tables are there, and you can catch fun programs ranging from Celtic music to astronomy nights to an annual strawberry festival. But I go there mostly to hike.

These hikes are different from the classics in Shenandoah, such as Old Rag and White Oak Canyon. Their pretty, pastoral scenery gives them a gentler feel, and the trails meander in shorter, easier loops. To be fair, the beginnings are steep, but they rise up toward the sky through meadows of waving grasses and wildflowers. And they pass strategically placed benches that let you sit and look out at the farmlands, ponds, and softly curved mountains.

I’m going to recommend you go to Sky Meadows on a Saturday, and here’s why. Then you can make your trip a loop that includes picking up lunch at a delicious bakery on the way (it’s closed on Sundays) and ending with wine at sunset on a patio with a view (it’s open late on Saturdays). Continue reading →

Crime & Punishment, The Daily Feed, WMATA, WTF?!
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What’s Next, Metro?

Photo courtesy of
‘No Tresspassing by Order of Metro Transit’
courtesy of ‘Wayan Vota’

DCist pointed out this afternoon that WMATA buried the lede in their latest press release, which states:

In the most recent incident, a Metrobus operator refused to allow a customer to exit the bus after a verbal dispute. He was arrested by Metro Transit Police on Saturday, July 25, and charged with kidnapping. The bus operator is on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of an investigation. Metro officials will determine an appropriate level of discipline once the investigation is complete.

First it was sleeping on the job, or reading a book, or texting, and now we’ve seen WMATA employees go from light misdemeanors straight into felony charges. I was sitting here thinking just now that what we really need to see from WMATA drivers, in order to pine for reading, texting and sleeping, is something along the line of kidnapping, or assaulting an off-duty police officer or maybe even light bank robbery. Perhaps what we’re missing is an appreciation for the difficulty of light rule-breaking?

The Daily Feed
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How about a dress rehearsal at Friday’s Mystics game?

Photo courtesy of
‘kiss’
courtesy of ‘quigley_brown’

Carnal Nation reports that there’s a nationwide GLBT effort to stage a kiss-in on August 15th. You can find information on the Whys of the matter at SitIn4Equality but if you’re interested in a little protest smooching in our area you should check out this facebook group for the Washington DC event.

Scheduled for 2:00 to 2:05pm this might be the shortest protest I’m aware of. It certainly sounds like more fun than listening to some clown with a bullhorn.

All Politics is Local, The Daily Feed
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Kwame Brown Live-tweets Budget Gap Hearing

Kwame Brown

Usually we get the best DC Council livetweets from Mike “Loose Lips” DeBonis, but today, we’re getting them right from Councilman Kwame Brown, who tweeted during today’s budget meeting as the council worked through the last of the $50M imbalance:

  • Sales tax increase rejected
  • Parking tax increase still barely hanging on
  • If you smoke. Your (sic) paying more. Increase tax likely.
  • Small cigar tax look very likely
  • Job traing for DC residents still in budget. Good possibly of increase. Time to help those in the most need.
  • 2 automobile tax died rightfully so! Families deserve to not be taxed for having 2 cars.
  • I’m very proud of how Chairman Gray has conducted the budget reduction processes.
  • Do you want you property taxes raised? Even if it cost 50 to 100 extra dollars?
  • Would you mind paying more for a glass of wine?

The answer to the questions at the end is, “That Depends,” both on how the money is collected, what it’s used for, and whether this is temporary or permanent. It’s nice to see some of this as it happens.

Special Events, The Features, We Love Arts
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Wolf Trap Opera: Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria

It’s a July evening and at Wolf Trap’s colonial-era barns, Claudio Monteverdi’s 1640 opera Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria (The Return of Ulysses) is being performed. Despite the historicity of the place, the opera and its performance by the Wolf Trap Opera company has a decidedly contemporary feel. Everything the modern viewer loves — romance, deceit, unmitigated anger, sex, violence, slapstick comedy and shameless sexual puns — is right there in this evocative and entertaining Ulysses.

Before the opera began, large blinking eyes stared out at the audience, projected on a backdrop of metal screens. This eerie display is soon revealed as a manifestation of a larger theme in the play. As the prologue commences, Human Frailty personified takes the stage lamenting his suffering. He lifts his hands, displaying his palms which are each marked with what looks like the Egyptian Eye of Horus. He clenches his open palm closed, as blind Love, blind Fortune and Time frolic behind him, asserting their control. Sight, and the lack thereof, perception and deception all have important roles in the work as it unfolds. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Saving time on the web

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If you were interested in reading The Hill’s “50 most beautiful” but just didn’t have time for all 50, fear not – their website offers you the option of the top 40, cutting down those extra 10 that pushed it over from reasonable and into screwing-off-at-work snoozeville.

It’s actually not the top 40 – it’s what’s left after they take out the top ten. I’d have called that the bottom forty but [choose your punchline].

1) the Senate is still a little touchy about certain language after that Larry Craig thing
2) this is Congressional math, after all.
3) in honor of new arrival Al Franken from Minnesota they’re going with the Lake Wobegon “and all the children are above average” concept.

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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You Are Running Out of Time, Fruit Vendor.

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In-joke now complete, thanks to screenshot from Thottbot.com

A Bethesda Fruit Stand just off the highway was ordered to move its location or face sanction and they’ve decided to stand pat. Country Thyme sets up on River Road, which can be a fairly busy place to try to do commerce in the middle of the rush. They’re working on moving to a church lot, but haven’t yet completed the deal, which means they’re right where they always are.

Of course, that hasn’t stopped SHA officials from showing up, and crushing their apples.

We Love DC apologizes for anyone who doesn’t get the nerdy, nerdy jokes in this article. We have a problem, we’re seeking help.

Food and Drink
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First Look: Columbia Firehouse

Columbia Firehouse

The exposed brick walls of the building at 109 Saint Asaph belonged first to the Columbia Steam Engine Company in 1871, and carry the weathered look that go with those 128 years, though they now surround the newly-open Columbia Firehouse. The same mix of old and new is the heart of Columbia, the latest venture from the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, who curate a collection of restaurants from Tallula to Evening Star to Rustico, a fine selection of DC’s mid-level restaurants. We walked in for a late dinner this past Saturday night into the space I’d been in, for Bookbinder’s, some five years before. The bar was packed with a diverse and lively crowd, where cocktails outnumbered beers, for reasons I would soon find out.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Banita Jacks found 3/4 guilty.

Photo courtesy of
‘4249 Sixth Street, SE’
courtesy of ‘gingher’

Banita Jacks has been found guilty of murdering her three youngest daughters, but not guilty of murdering the eldest. More information to come.

UPDATE: Clarifications are coming in now. Jacks has been found guilty of felony murder for all four girls, but guilty of first-degree murder (premeditated, as all you Law & Order watchers know) on only the youngest three. The judge says that the eldest girl died from torture inflicted by her mother.

Life in the Capital, Media, News, The Daily Feed
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The Only Way To Read The Hill’s Pretty Fifty

Photo courtesy of
‘The US Capitol from The Library Of Congress’
courtesy of ‘KrS-NrY’

Like clockwork, the Hill has released their 50 Most Beautiful People list. While this usually leads me to find a large bottle of alcohol and drink myself to sleep, and rant and rave about a sad commentary about our duly elected representatives, it also lets me wait in joyful hope for the coming of the snark, or, Jason Linkins’ hilarious metacommentary on the writing staff at the Hill. Don’t click through to the Hill, it’ll just make you want to take someone’s life. Between the bad writing, the horrific photography, and the human interest stories that will have you rooting for global warming, there is a beautiful opportunity for well-placed snark. This one’s a must-read.

The Daily Feed
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DC a Top City for Singles

Photo courtesy of
‘Happy Loving Couple, Farragut North Washington DC’
courtesy of ‘chip py the photo guy’

It’s always interesting to see how DC stacks up to other cities.  Apparently it’s the most walkable city, the healthiest city, and the best city for teleworking (?).  Well, here’s another honor: Forbes recently named it the 5th best city for singles. What makes it so great?  Well, here are the Forbes categories and DC’s rank in each: coolness (7th), culture (9th), online dating (3rd), nightlife (28th–ouch!), and ratio of singles to the entire population (8th).  The District is fifth after New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Seattle.

This isn’t the first time DC has been noted as a great city for singles.  Back in 2007 Kiplinger’s magazine said the District was a top 5 city for singles, in 2008 MSNBC rated the District as the sixth best city for singles, and our fair city has consistently been in the Forbes top ten list every year. With its reputation as a city full of young, ambitious recent graduates, the District does attract its share of date-able people. But is it really easier to find a date here than in other cities?

Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Folks, I Fear The Worst Has Happened.

Photo courtesy of
‘Lannan still strong in the 9th’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

I just want to get this out there: I believe that someone has kidnapped our beloved Nationals and replaced them with a group of animatronic lookalikes from the future. That is the only way of explaining the tear that the Nationals are on without resorting to miracles, incredible feats of fortune and favor, and outright violation of the laws of physics. The Nats have won 6 of their last 8, including their last four. They’ve won or tied their last three series, against the Padres, Brewers and Mets. Hell, Josh Willingham had two grand slams the other night, the 13th time that’s happened in the history of baseball.

While broadcasters Rob Dibble and Bob Carpenter are chalking it up to a mysterious baseball card from the 1970s that they were recently mailed, I believe the only possible explanation is robots from the future. Tonight the Nats send Garrett Mock to the mound, I’m just hoping that he hasn’t been replaced with an automaton with a wicked 12-6 curve and a cutter that makes Baby Jesus cry. I just hope that wherever the original Nationals are, they’re being well cared for.

Comedy in DC, The Daily Feed
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Comedy in DC: The Reruns Edition

Photo courtesy of
‘Roast of Jay Hastings 82 – Version 2’
courtesy of ‘YoLoPey’

The comedy calendar hasn’t changed much since the last Comedy in DC feature, so today it’s just a short entry with a little review:

There’s still the “There Will Be Laughter” show at the Drafthouse on Friday the 31st.  Hampton Yount and Will Hessler are putting it on. It starts at 9:45 and tickets are but $8! Cheap! Recession comedy!

DC Comedy Lab at the Comedy Spot in Ballston is happening August 8th. Jimmy Meritt and Spencer Humm are producing/hosting. Tickets are $16, but if you preorder and use the code “Jimmy185,” you’ll get 5 bucks off. No such discount at the door, slackers.

“3 Chord Comedy” will be back at the Velvet Lounge on August 14th. I guess the previous show was successful. This one is only 2 bucks for 4 comics and a band, so think of it as fifty cents a comic plus a special musical bonus. Yeah.