Yearly Archives: 2009

The Daily Feed
By

Thanks for the hard-driving reporting, Washington Times

Photo courtesy of
’84/365 – Read me. Please.’
courtesy of ‘bp6316 (comp dead, catching up soon)’

I guess after WaPo’s public drubbing over ethical lapses this month the Washington Times was feeling a little left out. North Carolina newspaper The State has revealed a number of emails sent to Governor Sanford’s office while he AWOL and our other local paper is one organization that reached out to his staffers.

“If you all want to speak on this publicly, you’re welcome to Washington Times Radio,” wrote staffer Joseph Deoudes to Sanford spokesman Joel Sawyer on June 23. “You know that you will be on friendly ground here!”

Pretty impressive.

The Daily Feed
By

Those are NOT lettuce leaves

Not actual lettuce leaves. Photo courtesy Twitter user @dalebanks

Not actual lettuce leaves. Photo courtesy Twitter user @dalebanks

I’m calling bullshit on PETA here. The models handing out veggie dogs are clearly NOT wearing “nothing but strategically placed lettuce leaves.” If it’s not clear from this photo, you can definitely see from this one. Green lace is not lettuce, and a veggie dog is not food.

But, you know, I’m sure the faux lettuce are made from cotton and nylon, no animal fibers involved. Because we certainly wouldn’t want to exploit any animals while parading half-nekkid Playmates around DC.

Entertainment, History, Media, News, The Daily Feed
By

Vote DC’s Ed Walker into National Radio Hall of Fame

Photo courtesy of
‘Studio Microphone’

courtesy of ‘curtis.kennington’
Ed Walker, American University graduate and DC radio legend, has been nominated to the National Radio Hall of Fame in the category “Local or Regional — Pioneer.”  With his soothing voice and radio history expertise, Walker has hosted The Big Broadcast,  a four hour radio show featuring classic radio programming from the 30s, 40s and 50s, since 1990.  These classic shows (Suspense, Flibber McGee and Molly, Dragnet, Gunsmoke, Lux Radio Theater, etc.) offer us a weekly reprieve from computers and TV, and transport us back to a time when big movie stars like Orson Welles, Gary Cooper, Gene Harlow and Jack Benny communicated their acting and comical talents to the American public over the airwaves. Continue reading →

Comedy in DC
By

Comedy in DC: Gimme Some Variety

Photo courtesy of
‘Last night at Dr. Dremos – 35’ Hampton Yount
courtesy of ‘Aaron Webb’

Mid summer ( I KNOW, HOW IS IT THE MIDDLE OF JULY ALREADY?!) is kind of a weird time for comedy. The college audiences that fuel the smaller shows have gone home, but that also means that bored comics get… experimental.

In practice, that usually just means some other stuff mixed in with the comedy but in the case of the “There Will Be Laughter” show at the Drafthouse on Friday the 31st, it could get a little weird.  Hampton Yount and Will Hessler are putting it on. Both are quite funny and have made me laugh riotously on multiple occasions. But Hampton gets… a little punchy. The last time I saw him get up (albeit for an audience made entirely of other comics, so grain of salt here), his time culminated in a sketch that involved a woman’s wig, a t-shirt with some slogan scrawled on it in black Sharpie that I can’t remember probably because I blocked it out, a basketball under his shirt, and I’m pretty sure there was a Whoopie cushion in there somewhere. Anyway, my point is, when Hampton says, “Sketches, Stand-Up, Song, Alcohol, Merriment,” it’s the merriment part you’ll remember most. Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
By

Flyers Beat Caps AGAIN

Photo courtesy of
‘Tied Up’ courtesy of ‘clydeorama’

Yes, yes, I know. There’s no actual hockey going on. But, there is.

News came down today that the NHL and NBC have announced the teams and location for the 2009-10 Winter Classic. As expected, it’s in Boston at Fenway Park. Yep, the Boston Bruins hosting. And following prior year NHL logic, the other team will also be a rising powerhouse with a top-notch superstar, right? Like, as expected, the Washington Capitals with Russian powerhouse Alex Ovechkin?

Wrong.

Nope, the League, in its continued head-scratching pathetic screwball logic, has named the hated Philadelphia Flyers as the other team. That’s right, those despicable FLYERS. Supposedly, the decision was made because Philadelphia has a bigger hockey television market than Washington.

Say what? Guess the NHL and NBC forgot about the tremendous buzz the Caps/Pens series put on. Or the continual highlight-reel goals by Ovie, or his mounting hardware from numerous awards, or the fact that the Caps are one of the top five most exciting teams to watch…

Yeah, I know. I don’t get it either. Stupid ****ing Flyers.

Life in the Capital, The Features
By

This is Why You’re Fat

Photo courtesy of
‘Typical Beltway traffic’
courtesy of ‘brianmka’

This past week, Time Magazine ran an article on why southerners are so fat.  The article was in response to a new report showing Mississippi as the state with the highest rate of obesity for the fifth year in a row.  The top five heaviest states are all in the south: Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, Lousiana, and South Carolina.  The typical causes of obesity are all there: southerners tend to be poorer, so they have less money to buy nutritious food; southern food is greasy and fried; it’s too hot to exercise outdoors; the list goes on.  But this article also included the fact that many southern towns lack access to public transportation, that many places lack sidewalks, and that there are few safe places to bike.

It’s refreshing to see a national publication tie the physical environment to obesity.  Suburbs and more rural areas have typically been home to more overweight residents than central cities: by driving everywhere, you’re not getting the exercise you would be by walking to the bus stop, or biking down the block.  Suburbs also have fewer destinations within walking distance: going to the grocery store or heading to the movies require car trips, rather than bike or walking trips.   We’re lucky in the District that we have a great public transportation system, lots of sidewalks and crosswalks, and a growing system of bike lanes and paths– things that encourage us to lead more active lives.  Because of that, we’re on average about 6 pounds lighter than our exurban counterparts.

Continue reading →

Dupont Circle, Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
By

$3 Pizzas? $3 sparkling wine? I’m There.

Photo courtesy of
‘Urbana Interior’
courtesy of ‘needlessspaces’

One of my favorite Dupont lunch and happy hour spots, Urbana, is turning 3 years old! Next week, July 20-26, they’re running some badass happy hour specials – most of them for only $3. This is a recessionista’s heaven!

First, they’re running happy hour specials (4 p.m. to 7 p.m.) featuring rotating $3 small plate specials featuring dishes from Chef Alex Bollinger’s new summer menu. (Monday’s $3 small plate will be three bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with Laura Chanal goat cheese.) They’re also doing $3 Peroni, Estrella Galicia, Prosecco and house red and white wine, and $3 half-portion pizzas! The regular portion is enough to share, so you should be set for two drinks and dinner for $9!

Second, in celebration, Chef Bollinger is running a $30 three-course tasting menu featuring his newest summer items, with a selection of appetizer, entrée and dessert. The menu will be offered daily from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the restaurant’s dining room. All dinner guests can toast to and blow out candles for Urbana, and will receive a complimentary glass of Prosecco and a cupcake (with birthday candles of course).

Cheers to that!

The Daily Feed
By

Harry Potterpalooza, Part 6

Is that Rita Skeeter?

Last night, Harry Potter fans around the district lined up in a now years-old tradition of festive midnight releases of the latest cinema installment. Full disclosure: yours truly was among the eager fans at the midnight showings at Gallery Place. I say showings, because at Gallery Place alone there must have been 6 or 7 “midnight” showings, staggered minutes apart: 12:00, 12:01, 12:02, 12:03… you get the idea. Tickets to showings were sold out last night, though the Cleveland Park screening sold out over Fourth of July weekend. (They did still have tickets to their 3:30 a.m. screening as of last Tuesday, however. Appealing.) Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

Would you like some sexy with that veggie dog?

Photo courtesy of
‘hot dogs’
courtesy of ‘stu_spivack’

Starting at 12pm, a scantily clad Playboy Playmate of the Year Jayde Nicole will be handing out free veggie hotdogs on Capitol Hill (Rayburn courtyard, to be specific). She’ll be wearing nothing but strategically placed lettuce leaves and handing out vegetarian starter kits along with the dogs as part of PETA’s “National Veggie Dog Day.” Just don’t squeeze the mustard too hard– you’ll squirt the nice lady. Thanks to MetromixDC on Twitter for the tip.

Foggy Bottom, The Daily Feed, WMATA, WTF?!
By

Foggy Bottom Platform Escalator Fail


Foggy Bottom Platform Escalator Fail
Originally uploaded by brownpau

So you know how the Foggy Bottom Station escalators are actually a two-layered system of bottlenecks? Today the platform-to-mezzanine bottleneck was made worse by one of the two up escalators being blocked off (at rush hour with no work being done on it at the time, natch) so that hordes of work-bound Metro riders had to cram on to one single escalator. Good thing there wasn’t a fire. Thanks, Metro!

Essential DC, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, The District, The Features
By

Frozen Treats: DC’s Best Creameries

Photo courtesy of
‘Saturday Road trip’
courtesy of ‘gregoirevdb’

They tell me the first step is admitting you have a problem. So here it goes: I am shamelessly, hopelessly, horribly in love with ice cream. Now, I say ice cream, but in actuality, ice cream is a pretty generic term for what I really mean – frozen treats. I don’t care if it is gelato, custard, actual heavy-cream ice cream, or even italian ice. As long as it is sweet, and frozen, it qualifies. My partner in crime for ice cream loving is my friend Melissa, who has the genius idea to host an ice cream bar at her wedding. She’s the only one who truly understands my love. We’ll talk about going to a Nat’s game, and the first thing out of our mouths will be “OOOOH DIPPIN DOTS!” It’s a passion, not just a hobby, people.

So when I was informed that July is National Ice Cream Month, well, then, fine. That sealed it. I had to share with you, my dear We Love DC reader, my favorite ice cream (loose term) eateries in the city.
Continue reading →

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
By

Barack Hussein Obama Park? Not So Fast.

Photo courtesy of
‘every presidential departure is carefully choreographed’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Okay, I get that DC is place with a name for everything, and that the park at 14th & Girard Streets is as of yet just named for its location, but do we really need to name it Barack Hussein Obama Park, as per the recommendation of Councilman Jim Graham?

I mean, I like the guy, but he’s been in office all of six months now, and we’re just going to go naming things after him willy-nilly? Can’t we see if he can actually pull the troops out of Iraq, or enact meaningful Climate Change legislation, or fix the healthcare system, or maybe just make it halfway through his term before we start naming things after him? Surely there are community figures important to DC that are more deserving? Perhaps an Eleanor Holmes Norton Park, instead? At least she’s been our representative for the last 18 years.

But, it may be a moot point, as DC Wire points out in their update: “No public space in the District shall be named in honor of any living person, or in honor of any person who has been deceased less than 2 years, unless the deceased person was a President or Vice President of the United States, a United States Senator or Representative, a Mayor of the District of Columbia, or a member of the Council of the District of Columbia.”

So, time to rewrite the law to exclude seated politicians? Either way, this isn’t happening right away.

The Daily Feed
By

Or tennis

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

If hitting the pool isn’t your cup of tea or the recent Legg-Mason competitions have got you interested in picking up a racket East Potomac Tennis wants us to let you know they’re delighted to take your money.

As an indoor activity it’s not a bad deal at $20 per hour, and considering that the temperature and humidity are on their way up you may want to take your exertions inside, to learn how to play, visit tennisinformation.net. They’re located over on Hains Point and have indoor and outdoor courts to choose from and a variety of services and instruction options.
Tennis is a very popular sport in Australia and is played by people of all ages. Tennis can be played by two people (called ‘playing singles’) or four people (‘doubles’). Players use racquets to hit a ball over a net into the other side of the court. A game of tennis involves a variety of types of play, including serving the ball over the net, rallies (when the ball is hit back and forth between opponents), fast movements and strategic game play.

Tennis can be played as a sport or as a recreational activity with friends and family. Either way, playing tennis is a good sport to maintain your health, fitness, strength and agility. It has been calculated that an hour-long game of singles tennis burns around 600 calories for men and 420 calories for women.

Honestly, I think they deserve your business just based on their having a FAQ question that starts with “I am a complete, uncoordinated beginner. Can I learn tennis?” I am, admittedly, somewhat easily amused.

Crime & Punishment, The Daily Feed
By

Crime drops in PG County

Photo courtesy of
‘Car 8928’
courtesy of ‘Bogotron’

The Washington Post reported today that crime in Prince George’s County, MD has dropped more than 14% in the first half of this year. That’s good news for the county, which is generally regarded as a high-crime area. They’ve had 10 fewer killings, 12 fewer rapes, and 1,307 fewer stolen cars in the six-month period, which the police attribute to closer contact with the people in their communities and addressing symptoms before they become problems.

Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, Night Life, Penn Quarter, Special Events, The Features
By

Second Look: W Hotel Washington (Now, With Pictures!)

Photo courtesy of
‘P7130052’
courtesy of ‘needlessspaces’

Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s green eyes flash with amusement as I launch into a tirade of questions about the DC food scene. Jean-Georges is holding a plate of appetizers during a tray-pass reception at the downstairs Wine Bar at the W Hotel Washington. I’ve captured his attention for a few minutes, battling other reporters and bloggers with notepads and cameras out, much like myself.

“So with all the celebrity chef steakhouses in DC, what sets yours apart?” I ask coyly. “Only half our menu is steak,” he responds quickly, “and our appetizer list is like a best-of from all my restaurants.” “So why DC, what made you choose DC?” I ask. “My relationship with the W, they approached me, it seemed like a fit,” Hmm, I thought, I wonder how he views DC, if this wasn’t a concept he came up with on his own. “So the DC food scene, has it arrived or is it on it’s way?” I ask. “Oh, Komi rivals any restaurant in New York!” Vongerichten responds, making a plug for his old friend from France. And suddenly Jean-Georges has a second reporter touching his arm and he is pulled in another direction. He shoots me a grin, and with that he’s off. (He returns later to pointedly offer me a mini-mini burger, only to dash off again.)

And so there I am, in the crowded basement of the W, sipping cocktails, ruminating on the hotel and making conversation. I’m here to try all of Vongerichten’s food, but also to check out the scene on the deck at POV, attempting to answer all the questions Jenn asked in We Love DC’s first post about the W, written when Jenn visited before it opened. What is the scene going to be? Jenn pondered, saying it will only be answered when the bar is filled with people. And last night, it certainly was full to the brim with all kinds of people, food and fanfare. Continue reading →

All Politics is Local, The Daily Feed, WMATA
By

Liveblogging the Metro Crash Hearing

Photo courtesy of
‘Eleanor Holmes Norton Schools Union Station Management’
courtesy of ‘lightboxdc’

Dr. Gridlock over at WaPo is liveblogging the congressional subcommittee hearing over the recent WMATA crash. We had a chance to submit some questions; hopefully we’ll see those brought up. So far, DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, a subcommittee member, has said that today’s hearing will make public all that is known now, allowing the public to separate urban legend from authoritative testimony.

Catch the latest updates over on Dr. Gridlock’s column.

The Daily Feed
By

Want to go for a Swim?

Photo courtesy of
‘My feet in the pool’
courtesy of ‘jc.westbrook’

Well, you’re not alone.  Word has gotten out about DC’s free public swimming pools, and (anecdotally at least) they seem particularly more crowded than in previous years.  This past Sunday, East Potomac Park at Hains Point (home of an Olympic-size pool and favorite location of triathletes in training) had to turn people away because the pool was over capacity. 

The Department of Parks and Recreation keeps an updated list of pool attendance for the summer, and it turns out that my two favorite swimming pools, East Potomac Park and Francis (at 25th and N in West End) are everyone else’s favorites too, with by far the highest attendance this summer.  East Potomac Park has logged more than 8,700 visitors as of June 25, and Francis has logged more than 7,000 visitors, while most other pools are in the 2,000-3,000 visitor range.  So what do you think– have you noticed your favorite pool becoming more crowded this summer?

The Daily Feed
By

Congresswomen Compete to Benefit Breast Cancer Survivors

Photo courtesy of
‘Just playing around in the back yard…2’
courtesy of ‘cruffo’

Batter, up! It’s now the ladies turn to swing for the fences in the first-ever Congressional Women’s Softball Game. A team of Congresswomen from both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate will face off against female staffers of the DCCC, RNCC, DNC and RNC tonight. Donations will be accepted at the gate and will benefit the Young Survival Coalition.

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz D-Fla., herself a breast cancer survivor, will co-captain the congresswomen’s team with Rep. Jo Ann Emerson R-Mo., Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand D-N.Y. and Sen. Susan Collins R-Maine.

The congresswomen’s team will also include the following big-leaguers:

Betty Sutton, D-Ohio; Kathy Dahlkemper, D-Pa.; Betsy Markey, D-Colo.; Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y.; Grace Napolitano, D-Ariz.; Susan Davis, D-Calif.; Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.; Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla.; Jean Schmidt, R-Ohio; Laura Richardson, D-Calif.; Donna Edwards, D-Md.

The game will be played at Guy Mason Field, 3600 Calvert St. NW. The first pitch will be thrown at 7:30 p.m.

Entertainment, Special Events, The Features, We Love Arts
By

Fringe Arts: Riding the Bull

Jason McCool as GL Mitchell in "Riding the Bull," photo courtesy Riot Actors of Washington

Jason McCool as GL Mitchell in "Riding the Bull," photo courtesy Riot Actors of Washington

One of the chief joys of going to a Fringe Festival performance is the bare bones aspect. Sitting in the hot upstairs of a townhouse shell, a minimal set against peeling plaster and paint, no frills, no pyrotechnics, just actors and text battling it out for your attention. I love it. And when the acting is top-notch, there is no better joy.

“Riding the Bull” is a morality play about a rodeo clown whose naivete and greed bring about his downfall in aptly named Godsburg, Texas. Um, wait. A rodeo clown? Yes, this is a dark comedy complete with a banjo player, accents worthy of “Deadwood,” and even Elvis himself. Oh, and Jesus gets molested. Sorry. It’s Fringe, leave your squeamishness at the door!

Jason McCool is GL Mitchell, a clueless rodeo clown with an Oedipal complex a mile high and a repulsion/attraction to Lyza, played by Kate Debelack with a lusty grip on life and a habit for rearranging nativity figures into orgiastic configurations. Oh, she also can predict the winning rodeo cowboy on orgasm. All GL wants is to make his Mama happy, and all Mama wants is Elvis. The real one, who’s been hiding out in an insane asylum. Naturally. Continue reading →

All Politics is Local, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
By

WSJ: The Nationals Are Like The Senate GOP

Photo courtesy of
‘mccainwilsonpearce’
courtesy of ‘twinkletoez’

And, I have no idea who is worse for the comparison. But, here, the WSJ argues that like the Nationals, the Senate GOP is asking, “Why are we here?”

It’s hard not to think of a few more obvious parallels to yesterday’s hysterical McSweeney’s piece on what might happen if the 1977 Royals were in charge of the hearings. Certainly, it’s funnier to think what it might be like if the Republicans in the Senate Judiciary Committee were members of the Nationals. Perhaps Senator Hatch (R-UT) could start in place of Adam Dunn? I mean, he can’t be any worse in the field, right? I suspect Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) could stare down batters a lot more effectively than Kip Wells. What are your picks?