Yearly Archives: 2009

The Daily Feed
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This Weekend: Folk Music Fest

Photo courtesy of
‘A step back in time’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’

Tomorrow and Sunday, come rain or shine (and its looking like shine – 80* and sunny!) The Folklore Society of Greater Washington will present its 29th Annual Washington Folk Festival.  The event, which features dozens of performers on 7 stages, will take place from noon to 7 p.m. both days at Glen Echo Park in Maryland. There will also be many artisans present as well, peddling their wares — everything from homemade soap to Swedish painting to “Wine Bottle Art” (my favorite kind of art). Though there is limited parking at the site, GEICO is apparently providing satellite parking and a shuttle from their campus near the Friendship Heights Metro Station.

Monumental, The Features, WTF?!
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Monumental: The Zero Milestone

Photo courtesy of
‘Washington, DC’
courtesy of ‘iguerra’

You might’ve spotted this small obelisk on the Ellipse, as it sits there just opposite the White House on the north end. It was supposed to be something much like the American Meridian: designed to be a measuring point for all of the highways in the United States. Instead? It’s just the measuring point for the highways in the District of Columbia (yeah, I know, what highways?). But why a milestone at all? The system of highways was dependent upon common reference measures in order to handle guidebooks and maps, as well as establishing distances between locations. Thus, if they were measured from a common location, which could be surveyed and plotted appropriately, better travel guides and directions could be created.

The milestone dates back to the post World War I era, when expansion of the highway system was just beginning. In 1919, an advocate for the early highway system, Dr. S. M. Johnson, proposed a single national marker, based on the Roman system, from which all roads would be measured. He wrote to the Army Motor Transportation Corps, “The system of highways radiating from Washington to all the boundaries of the national domain and all parts of the Western hemisphere will do vastly more for national unity and for human unity than even the roads of the Roman Empire.” His letter was successful, and after an act of Congress, a temporary marker was erected before a large convoy of vehicles would take the Lincoln Highway from DC west to San Francisco on July 7th, 1919.

President Harding would dedicate the permanent marker that now rests on the Ellipse in June of 1923. It would be the first of many to follow, including milestones in San Diego (for the Lee Highway), Nashville, and other major cities on the national highway system that existed prior to the Eisenhower Interstate System that we know today. US 1’s milestone is in Key West, Florida. Our milemarker is a short obelisk with a bronze 16 point compass rose, atop it, inscribed with some of the journeys that began from it in 1919 and 1920.

So, our milestone stands proud, just south of the White House, on the site of the Jefferson Pier, on one of the great meridians of Washington. Though its purpose is past, it reminds us that context, and where you measure your roads from, is ever-shifting beneath us. You can read more about the first national truck convoys, or about those involved with the milestone, courtesy of the Department of Transportation.

The Daily Feed
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DOT Photography


DOT re photography
Originally uploaded by erin m

You may have read about the initial incident over at DOT a month or so ago, where security for the picturesque new headquarters are harassing anyone who might try to photograph the art installations in front of the building. There’s a new wrinkle today, as the ACLU has issued a letter (click on the above to read it) to the General Counsel of the DOT requesting a clarification of the policy and what it’s based on. If you want a full treatment of the policy as it stands, check out the DC Photo Rights Flickr Group’s lengthy and thorough treatment of the situation.

Photography isn’t a crime. We’re not terrorists, we’re artists. Training your security staff to threaten and detain photographers is a waste of time and of tax dollars.

Essential DC, Fun & Games, Life in the Capital, Sports Fix, The District
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The New King of the Kastles

Murphy Jensen by Max

The inaugural season of the Washington Kastles, DC’s very own World TeamTennis team, was wildly successful, selling 94% of their seats and all of their boxes, an amazing feat by any standards.  In response to this great demand, their second season proves to be even bigger and better.  The Kastles Stadium (currently under construction) will again be located in the heart of downtown on the corner of 11th & H Streets NW, will be expanded to nearly 3,000 seats, and will also host an additional “marquee player game” as well as the WTT Championship Finals.  The icing on the cake however is the addition of their new head coach, ex pro and TV personality, Murphy Jensen.

I had a chance to sit down with Jensen to discuss what he hopes to bring to the team this season.  If you know anything about Murphy and his exuberant, gung ho personality, it may come as no surprise that interviewing him was like herding cats.  Cats on a Red Bull diet.  What I’d imagined to be a well executed, fifteen minute set of questions and answers, turned into an hour long chat with one of the most high energy individuals I’ve ever met.  During our conversation we covered topics ranging from his excitement to be a part of the Kastles, his comedy travel show Murphy’s Guide,  his advice on shaving your head, the first time he drove a Porsche, playing tennis with “41”, and of course what he loves about DC.  Many of his responses were as if they came from a politician in that they were long-winded and never really answered my question, but in the end I left the Kastles office thinking to myself, “That is one awesome dude.”

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed, WMATA
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Like This is News to Us

Photo courtesy of
‘Metro – All Aboard – 9-16-08’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Surprise, surprise.

Guess what? Metro’s not putting in vendors after all. (Thanks to Hank Silverberg at WTOP for the tip.) And apparently, the plan fronted today only included proposals for spaces to sell flowers, newspapers and dry cleaning services. (Dry cleaning? Keep Roy Pearson away!)

Oh, and to everyone’s non-surprise, food vendors were also rejected. I wonder why?

The board told General Manager Joe Catoe to go re-think his plans and they’ll (maybe) revisit the issue next month.

And in other news, pigs still don’t fly.

The Daily Feed
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Banjo Insanity at SOVA tonight

Photo courtesy of
‘Sova Menu’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

Sitting in the Library of Congress listening to some sweet lunchtime fiddle music, reminded me that tonight is one of my other favorite fiddle-related events: weekly bluegrass at SOVA espresso and wine tonight. SOVA is a gem of a coffee shop on the eastern end of H Street NE, just a few doors down from the newly opened H Street Country Club. Tonight’s tunes will feature The Extension Agent & Friends. SOVA has a recently expanded menu and beer and wine selection, so you can have one of many delicious adult beverages along with your bluegrass.

Food and Drink, Fun & Games, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Shopping With A Side of Brunch

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Spodie Odie’

New York-based handbag designer Jennifer Baum Lagdameo of Ananas Collection returns to her native Washington, DC with fellow clothing designer Anya Ponorovskaya. Fashion-forward Washingtonians can stop by Firefly Restaurant on June 13th, where Ananas and Anya Ponorovskaya are holding a lovely sample sale, offering 50-75% off past season styles.

But that’s not all, with your handbag, you’ll also get food, of course! Ananas (pineapple) mimosas will be available and shoppers can nosh on the latest additions to Chef Danny Bortnick’s spring brunch menu, including favorites like snake eyes – 2 soft-cooked eggs baked in a bread basket, country sausage, red eye gravy and potatoes and green eggs and ham – spinach, gruyère and Virginia ham quiche.

Firefly is located at 1310 New Hampshire Avenue, NW. The sample sale will take place in the restaurant’s lounge. Cash is preferred but credit cards will be accepted. Oh, and would you like some charity with your shopping and food? Of course. For every bag and clothing item sold, 5% of the proceeds will be contributed to ‘Team Firefly’ for their fundraising efforts for the Breast Cancer 3-Day held in October.  And for every ananas mimosa sold, $1 will also be donated to the cause.

The Daily Feed, WMATA
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The Best Transit Manager in the Nation!

Photo courtesy of
‘Arriving’
courtesy of ‘Karon’

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has named Metro’s own John Catoe as the best public transportation manager of 2009.  APTA has credited Catoe for managing Metro well during Inauguration craziness, as well as improving safety system-wide in the wake of several Metro-related pedestrian fatalities.  Metro has started calling itself “The Best Ride in the Nation”, and with this honor, it doesn’t seem so off-base.

What do you think?  Has your commute gotten significantly better since January 2007, when Catoe began at Metro?

All Politics is Local, Life in the Capital, News, The Features
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Prop 8 and You: How California’s Marriage Debate Affects DC

Photo courtesy of
‘DC “No on 8” March’
courtesy of ‘ann gav’

Proposition 8 is not a strictly Californian issue. It is an initiative of national consequence and its underlying strategic principles are redefining the same-sex marriage debate in DC. To restate the obvious, the results of the Prop 8 vote flew in the face of political convention. The population of a relatively liberal and historically gay-friendly state voted for a heterosexual definition of marriage. To many, it signaled a break between popular ideology and the viewpoints of elected officials.

The result of the Prop 8, along with the passage of similar ballot initiatives in Florida and Arizona, has lead many gay marriage opponents to believe that they’ve found their adversaries’ Achilles’ heel:  when put to the question, populations will vote against legalizing homosexual marriage. With  momentum in DC gathering for legalization, this idea has already begun manifesting itself.  As Tom reported this morning, a group called “Stand 4 Marriage D.C.” has applied for a marriage definition referendum with the Board of Elections.  If the application is approved, they will need to collect over 20,000 signatures to have it placed on the ballot next year.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Indian Food, in a Truck, with Moustaches

Photo courtesy of
‘fojol’
courtesy of ‘a loves dc’

I’m immensely intrigued and amused by the newly discovered Fojol Brothers of Merlindia, a “travelling culinary carnival.” The Fojol Brothers are dudes wearing strange get-ups and (fake?) handlebar moustaches in an ice cream truck tricked out to serve preservative-free Indian food. There’s a variety of veggie and meaty options to top some basmati rice. Also, all of their eating implements are biodegradable  and they donate a percentage of their proceeds to help at-risk youths in DC. How do you find this mobile meal machine? Follow the Fojol Brothers on Twitter, duh. I mean, how does anyone do business these days?

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Do Try This at Home: Driving with Biodiesel

Photo courtesy of
‘Cooking oil to biodiesel’
courtesy of ‘Marufish’
Wanna save on gas and save the planet? Learn to power your car with biodiesel. On June 9, at a 6 p.m. Carbonfree DC meetup at Martin Luther King Library downtown, they’ll say where in the DC area where you can buy biodiesel, plus talk about local laws and incentives.

You’ll also learn how to make your own biodiesel home brew with vegetable oil, perhaps gathered from area restaurants — the very epitome of reduce, reuse, recycle.

Of course, this might make you drive hungry, the scent of fast food wafting through your car. French fry, anyone?

The Daily Feed
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Smiling at VA DMV now forbidden, not just unlikely

Photo courtesy of
‘Yay Snow! (214/365) (060/365)’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’

I thought for a moment that I was reading the Onion. The Virginia DMV is in the process of banning smiling in your drivers’ license photos. Due to some face-recognition technology being implemented in DMV systems, you’ll need to adopt a “neutral expression” when your picture is taken, or the system, programmed to detect your terrorist-loving grin, will reject the photo.

So when your teenager gets her license, she’s not allowed to look happy about it. The face-recognition software works better on faces wearing the same expression.   Which is just dandy, really- technology that can’t identify a face that’s smiling is going to be used by all manner of law-enforcement agencies to identify suspects, by comparing that oh-so-high-quality DMV photo with the crisp and sharp images from ATM cameras and suchlike. Because I know that when I’m knocking over a liquor store, what I’m wearing is a “neutral expression.”

News, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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“DC” Group Wants Marriage Referendum

Photo courtesy of
‘lift your fist’
courtesy of ‘m hoek’

A group calling itself “Stand 4 Marriage D.C.” (the substitution of the number in exchange for a three letter word is really what makes them jerks. That is, unless they want polygamy? I’m so confused.) has requested the paperwork necessary to start a referendum in the District on the subject of marriage. They’ll need 21,000 signatures of registered DC Voters in order to get the question on the ballot, which could come as soon as this Fall.

Who’s behind this? Marylanders. Bishop Harry Jackson of Beltsville is powering this new group, and is acting as its spokesman. What’s not clear, though, is how he thinks he’ll be able to get around the DC provision that referendums can’t violate the Human Rights Act, which this would likely fall under. The 180 day clock for those signatures started yesterday, after which the referendum petition must be reviewed by the Board of Elections before it could go on a ballot.

Food and Drink, The Features, Thrifty District
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Thrifty District: Recession Bean Soup

"Spilling the Beans" by Roger Smith, on Flickr 

"Spilling the Beans" by Roger Smith, on Flickr

When it comes to budgeting, I bargain with myself. A lot. As in, “if you really want those shoes, buy them, but then you have to eat bean soup for a week.” 

UGH. Bean soup?

As a child I hated beans. But somewhere along the line I had a cracking good bean soup that changed my mind. Once I had to tighten the belt I decided to try to recreate it myself. So, for all of you budget bargainers out there (I know I am not the only one!) here it is, my Recession Bean Soup recipe.

First off, we all know legumes (somehow it sounds more classy to say legumes instead of beans… be sure to snootily – or sexily – elongate the ‘oo’ when you say it) are crazy good for you. Protein, fiber, and magic. But, there’s a certain squeamish factor about, um, their effect on your digestive system. But don’t worry. If you use dried beans, simply rinse and rinse and rinse until the water no longer foams, and you will not offend anyone in your presence after consuming.

Now, to the recipe.

Continue reading →

Life in the Capital, People, Technology, The Daily Feed
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Time Warner – You’ve Got No Mail!

not such a happy family anymore?

not such a happy family anymore?

Fresh off the presses today, it seems that a number of employees now at Time Warner/AOL can shorten that to just “AOL”. The board of directors authorized the divestiture of AOL from the company and, as expected for many months (if not years), AOL is left to fend for itself. As a friend of a number of AOL employees, both past and present, I’m sure there’s even more speculation as to what’s going to happen to one of NoVa’s largest employers.

The Daily Feed
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A brief Ford’s closure

Photo courtesy of
‘Police Cruiser – Old Style Ford’
courtesy of ‘JLK1979’

What, what? No no, wrong Ford!

Photo courtesy of
‘Rehearsal, Ford’s Theatre’
courtesy of ‘Jenn Larsen’

Okay, there we go! The National Park Service is going to do a little maintenance on Ford’s Theater at the end of next month and will close to the public between June 22 and 26th, as well as the 29th and 30th. The Petersen House property across the street where Lincoln spent his last hours among the living will remain open. They’ll open on the 27th and 28th for weekend visitors so if that’s a must-visit time frame for you that’ll have to do.

The Features
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Openings: H Street Country Club

Birdhaus lights

The time has come: the newest and very long-anticipated Joe Englert H Street hot spot opens its doors today, and bar-goers will like what they find there. H Street Country Club has a lot going on– its a well-developed concept bar with impeccable attention to detail as well as a sporty hang-out and Mexican restaurant. KatieT and I got a sneak peak Tuesday night and our expectations were met by what we found, in every way.

The first thing that struck me upon entering the downstairs bar was the enormity of the space. Compared to other H Street spots like the Pug, it’s HUGE. There is a large and long bar with enough room flanking it for table seating, and further back in the place there are two tables each of shuffle board and pool with space to spare. In the back corner there are also two skeeball games, if you need some sporty engagement while you wait for a table. Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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13 Aquatic Specimens Die at Zoo

Photo courtesy of
‘Stingray City, Grand Cayman’
courtesy of ‘petersbar’

11 of the National Zoo’s stingrays and a few arowanas died this morning, according to the Zoo staff. The water in the Amazonia exhibit had reached a dangerous low oxygen level, and asphyxia is the likely, if not the confirmed, cause of death. The Zoo is adding oxygen meter readings to their schedule as well as water-quality tests.

The 55,000 gallon aquarium dates to the early 1990s, where it’s been home to a healthy and reproducing stingray population, which was sadly decimated by the decrease in oxygenation. Here’s hoping they’ll rebound well.

Crime & Punishment, The Daily Feed
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We Love Juicing

Photo courtesy of
‘Syringe 1 With Drops’
courtesy of ‘ZaldyImg’

According to WUSA 9, the bust of a major steroid distributor in Florida has implicated teams in D.C. as buyers.  While no specific players were named, the incarcerated dealer did admit to selling anabolic steroids to the Nationals and Capitals sports clubs.  I would be inclined to attribute the Caps’ recent success to this, but given that the Nats were sold (presumably) the same drug, my judgement is that this dealer’s stock wasn’t of the highest quality. Will D.C. be the next target of media and legal ‘roid rage?  I guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Essential DC, Talkin' Transit, The Features, WMATA
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Talkin’ Transit: Tourist Tips

Photo courtesy of
‘Packed Blue’ courtesy of ‘ArcaHeradel’

So Memorial Day has passed, meaning that from now through Labor Day, hordes of tourists will be pouring into the District for various events, concerts, vacations and visits. If you’re reading this and you’re a soon-to-be visitor to our region – or if you’re a resident who has friends or family coming in to visit – we want to encourage you to continue reading. We wish to equip you to better handle and enjoy our transit system with minimal disruption to those of us who live and work here.

It’s a win-win situation.

You don’t want to suffer the embarrassment of being a “District n00b” and we certainly appreciate minimal disruption to our daily commutes. So we’ve gathered up the opinions and suggestions from several District riders and residents and are going to share our golden wisdom with you.

Trust us, it’s best this way.

Continue reading →