Monthly Archives: January 2010

The Daily Feed
By

DDOT Tries New Meters

Meters.jpg
New Parking Meters
Photos courtesy of DDOT

One of my biggest complaints about parking in the District in the meters. The older single meters require a whole satchel full of quarters, and the new ones have reliability problems in my experience, making parking a total crapshoot if you want to avoid a ticket. DDOT’s aware of the issues, and is looking for options to expand their current offerings. Look for meters like these above to spring up in five districts:

U Street/14th Street, NW (Ward 1)
2000 H Street, NW (Ward 2)
600 Indiana Avenue, NW (Ward 2)
5300 Wisconsin Avenue (Mazza Gallery) (Ward 3)
3500 John McCormick Road, NE (Catholic University/Brookland Metro) (Ward 5)

The new meters are quick to install, just two minutes, and fit over the existing change tanks, and better yet: they take Visa or Master Card, which means you can stop carrying roll upon roll of quarters. DDOT hasn’t said for sure if they’re also going to take advantage of the pay-by-phone option that these meters also accept.

Adventures, Entertainment, Life in the Capital, Night Life, Special Events, The Daily Feed
By

United For Haiti Fundraiser

Photo courtesy of
‘Dining Room Interior, Policy’
courtesy of ‘Jenn Larsen’

If you’re looking for a place to have your Thursday night out, and honestly who on a Wednesday afternoon isn’t thinking about non-work related activities, then definitely check out United For Haiti Fundraiser to benefit Partners in Health (PIH) taking place at Policy.

Starting at 7:30pm, your $25 donation will help aide PIH’s efforts in Haiti, get you entry into one of coolest restaurants/lounges in DC, provide complimentary liquor drinks until 9:30pm and have DJ spinning good beats until the wee hours.

A good cause, good food, good drinks, good friends, what a great way to start the weekend.

Essential DC, Food and Drink, The Features, We Love Food
By

We Love Food: Et Voila!

bar2

People look at me quizzically when I tell them that one of my favorite restaurants in DC is in the Palisades. Most people give me a little head tilt and say, “I don’t know where that is?” “Yeahhhhh,” I always sigh. “It’s above Georgetown, towards the Potomac. Totally inaccessible, but I SWEAR OMG it is worth the trip up there for Et Voila!”

I’m sorry I’ve kept it to myself this long… I’ve uh…been busy and stuff. Plus the restaurant is super tiny, and if you knew how good it is, you’d be there filling up my seat. Call me selfish, whatever, I can take it. But I’ve finally cracked and the secret is out: Et Voila! is delicious, unpretentious Belgian food, and you should go. Don’t have a car? Get yourself a Zipcar, grab your bike out of hibernation, strap on the rollerblades, call up your ex, do whatever it takes. Even (gasp) take the D6 bus! I mean business.

So all this gushing, but you’re sitting there staring at your computer screen asking what IS Et Voila!, exactly? Located along Macarthur Boulevard, this French/Belgian gem doesn’t look like a whole heck of a lot from the outside. But once inside, I always feel like I’m in London, or even Paris. The wait staff speaks almost exclusively French, and the close, cozy interior always has a buzz about it.

Chef Claudio Pirollo and Pastry Chef Mikael Cornu have built an accessible menu full of well executed classics. Et Voila!’s Web site quips, “Chef Pirollo was named “Best Young Chef in Belgium” in 1994 and served as the personal chef to the Irish Ambassador for the past six years.” And not for naught. The menu, full of staples like mussels, french onion soup, foie gras, is in a word impeccable. The brunch menu isn’t to be taken lightly either – Belgian waffles, of course, but brunch favorites such as eggs benedict with smoked salmon, leek quiche and croque madame come out to play. The quiche has a flakey, buttery savory crust, and every detail right down to the cheese in the quiche shine through. Continue reading →

Essential DC, News, The Daily Feed
By

Commander Salamander Closing

Photo courtesy of
‘Obamismo’
courtesy of ‘Daquella manera’

Georgetown shop, Commander Salamander, which surprisingly has its very own definition in the urbandictionary, will be shutting it’s Wisconsin Avenue doors shortly. The shop known for it’s puny t-shirts, colorful trucks and gag gifts has long been a staple of the Georgetown shopping scene. No word yet on why the shop is closing, but fortunately, sister shop Up Against The Wall, with a location in the Georgetown Mall on M Street across from J. Paul’s, will remain open.

Scribblings, Special Events, The Features
By

Divulging Canadian Secrets at the Spy Museum

Photo courtesy of
‘Spies, More Spies, & Still More Spies’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

“Certain death lay ahead if the least hint of my intended desertion got about.”—Igor Gouzenko

In September 1945, a cipher clerk named Igor Gouzenko walked out of the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa, Canada with secret papers and a plan. For Western intelligence, Gouzenko’s defection, and the layered information he shared, ushered in a new era of cooperation against a common foe. Tonight, join Amy Knight, author of How the Cold War Began: The Gouzenko Affair and the Hunt for Soviet Spies, to hear her ground-breaking findings. She was the first to explore recently de-classified records of the Gouzenko case in Canada, Britain, and the United States.

Ms. Knight is a well-known specialist on Soviet/Russian intelligence; in addition to her discussion, guests will also have a chance to see artifacts on loan from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service related to the case. The event is co-sponsored by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) and the Embassy of Canada in celebration of the 25th anniversary of CSIS and in recognition of the collaborative and enduring security relationship between the United States and Canada.

A brief Q&A with Ms. Knight, after the jump. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

Restaurant Eve’s Todd Thrasher on the Dinner Party Download

Photo courtesy of
‘[Kitchen utensils hanging below a spice rack with mint, caraway, tyme, and sage jars] (LOC)’
courtesy of ‘The Library of Congress’

I got around to listening to Friday’s episode of the excellent Dinner Party Download this morning on the way to work and was tickled to hear that this week’s history-inspired cocktail is the Hattie Bo Baddy created by Todd Thrasher of PX and Restaurant Eve. While I might quibble a bit with DPD choosing an Alexandria-based mixologist to honor the first woman of the Hill (you couldn’t pick someone at least in the D.C. limits? ) it’s hard to complain about getting the skinny on a Thrasher cocktail.

Not that this is a concoction to try at home unless you’re serious. You can find the full recipe at the link for DPD #40, but suffice to say if you’re not willing to spend the thirty minutes to create the components you need for this cocktail (caraway-infused honey syrup) maybe you should just go let Mr Thrasher make you one himself…

Essential DC, The Daily Feed
By

Give to Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network With One Click

Photo courtesy of
‘Conversations’
courtesy of ‘N.S.’

From now until January 22nd, if you’ve got Facebook, you’ve got the power to change Arlington’s homeless population forever.

Chase Bank is donating $5 Million to 100 small nonprofits nationwide, allowing Facebook users to decide the winners. Arlington’s own Street People Assistance Network (A-SPAN) finished in the Top 100 and is now eligible for the $1 Million Grand Prize. All you have to do is vote for A-SPAN on Facebook. A-SPAN will share the prize with these other Arlington nonprofits: AMEN, AFAC, AACH, Borromeo Housing, Doorways for Women & Families, and OAR.

I’m a big fan of Doorways for Women & Families, having volunteered at battered women’s shelters in college, so I love that A-SPAN will be distributing its $1 million prize far and wide to help all populations. For more info, see the Sun Gazette article. And, vote!

News, The Daily Feed
By

DC, VA Apply for $450M in Schools Funding

Photo courtesy of
‘Dunbar High Schoolâ��’
courtesy of ‘Daquella manera’

DC and VA have applied for $450M in Race to the Top funding, hoping to garner a share of the funds available through a new federal program to add significant federal dollars to local schools as part of new programs. Maryland has decided to wait until the second round of grants in mid-2010.

The District’s proposal (PDF) went unsigned by the WTU, which may detract from its strength. WTU is currently in a protracted conflict with Chancellor Michelle Rhee over their labor agreement, current policies, current staffing, current control structures and what color the sky is (Rhee says Columbia blue, WTU says more of a Dodger blue) which lead to this situation. The proposal weighs in at 187 pages, and features sections on low-achieving schools, better programs for teachers, and using data to better inform instruction.

Winners for Phase I will be announced in April. Unselected bids will get feedback so they can reapply in June of 2010.

The Daily Feed
By

Caps 3, Red Wings 2

Photo courtesy of
‘Caps WIN!’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

Going into last night’s game, the Capitals knew they were going to be tested. This week, the Caps face both Stanley Cup finalists from the last two seasons and Coach Bruce Boudreau knew it was going to be an examination of sorts for the team. Coming off a 5-3 win against the Flyers on Sunday and winning four of their last five, the Caps were looking to impress. (And possibly get Ovechkin his 250th career goal.)

They did, but not in any way you’d think.

While the Capitals did skate out with a 3-2 win over an injury-ridden Detroit team, the Caps weren’t performing at their finest. Detroit controlled most of the game, dominating in the offensive zone and sewing up their defense around Osgood. The Caps started the game extremely weak, with only 3 shots on goal in the first period. The Caps forwards came on in spurts, but couldn’t sustain any consistant pressure against Osgood. Despite some stellar play by Jason Chimera early in the first to give Nicklas Backstrom a couple of shining opportunities to score, the Wings just dictated the pace of the game. Jose Theodore decided to have a good night, however, and kept the Caps even with the Wings through the first two periods, handling several breakaways with skill.

Then came the third period. Continue reading →

Downtown, Talkin' Transit, The Features, WMATA
By

Talkin’ Transit: Short and Sweet

Photo courtesy of
‘Metro – Track Work – 6-27-09’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Of course, WMATA and GM John Catoe, Jr.’s resignation announcement continue to dominate most area transportation headlines. Tom already posited some questions that Metro needs to answer in their quest for a new GM (and for the Board to consider); I don’t see a reason to rehash it all. Mainly because, well, I’m just tired of Metro.

So a couple of short-n-sweet transportation notices you should be aware of…

WMATA: For the upcoming President’s Day holiday weekend, Metro plans to close the Rosslyn Metrorail station from 10 p.m., Friday, Feb. 12 to closing, Monday, Feb. 15. (The notification is at the end of the linked press release.) During the closing, Metro will install two new rail switches at the Rosslyn Metrorail station. Metro will operate free shuttle buses between the Court House and Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail stations and between the Pentagon and Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail stations. Riders should an extra 40 minutes to their travel plans if they need to pass through Rosslyn.

March for Life: This Friday is the 37th Annual March for Life on the Mall. (Map of the route is here.) The rally site is on the Mall at 7th Street NW and progresses along Constitution Avenue up to Capitol Hill and the Supreme Court. The rally starts at noon and usually is over by afternoon rush, but plan accordingly as the cross-streets along the path will be closed.

Food and Drink, Special Events, The Daily Feed
By

Cocktail Class at The Columbia Room

Photo courtesy of
‘20090120L1000010_640’
courtesy of ‘furcafe’

Now that The Passenger is well embarked with Tom Brown at the helm, brother Derek Brown’s internal cocktail laboratory – the bar-within-the-bar called the Columbia Room – is set to start classes in February. Seminars will be held every other Wednesday at 7pm for $65 each. The current line up through March sounds fascinating. It’s an ambitious program that will be helpful not only for you libation geeks already making your own bitters and eager to learn more, but also for those just delving into the world of craft cocktails.

“A Primer on Orange Liqueur” kicks off February 17, covering the difference between major top-shelf makers and showing participants how to make your own version of triple sec. Derek will demonstrate proper Margarita, Sidecar and Fancy Gin cocktails and help elevate this sometimes over-abused ingredient. Continue reading →

Special Events, The Daily Feed
By

Tickets On-Sale For 2nd Annual NatsFest Today

Photo courtesy of
‘Nationals Park – Magic of Summer – 9-20-08’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Get ready Nats fans! The 2nd annual NatsFest is scheduled for Sunday, January 31st and the team is ready to show their fans and their city some love before taking the field at Spring Traning 2010.

Fans will get the chance to take pictures with their favorite sluggers, fielders, pitchers and catchers and even get a few autographs in the process. And, for the older fans with a few more thoughts on their mind, there’s a Q&A with the Nationals Executives (and few TBA special guests).

NatsFest will be in the Lexus Presidents Club, Red Porch, Stars & Stripes Club and in the Nationals Park Conference.

General sale tickets go on sale TODAY (Wednesday, January 20) at 10 a.m. and are $10 for adults and $5 for kids. There are also ticketing options for season ticket holders here but will need to use a password provided to them via e-mail to redeem or purchase additional tickets.

Food and Drink, Night Life, Penn Quarter, The Daily Feed
By

Cuba Libre Coming to DC

Photo courtesy of
‘Mojito’
courtesy of ‘Katayun’

Philadelphia, Atlantic City and Orlando – now DC will get its own taste of Old Havana when Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar opens at 9th & H Streets NW this May. I’m particularly excited by this news as Cuba Libre is known for its large rum selection featuring over 75 Latin American varieties. Will this mean that the naysayers who are calling for the death of the mojito will be proven wrong? We’ll see, as Cuba Libre is also known for this summery cocktail with 15 variations to choose from… at the very least, I’ll be happy to sip a Cafe Cubano after dinner!

The food menu will be overseen by Chef Partner Guillermo Pernot, 2002 winner of the James Beard Award for Best Chef of the Mid-Atlantic Region. Concept chef for the Cuba Libre restaurants since 2006, he’s said to be inspired to create dishes as if Castro had never come to power. Indeed, that pretty much sums up the restaurant’s concept – to celebrate 1950’s Old Havana in every way. Continue reading →

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
By

Miriam’s Kitchen Begins Dinner Service

Photo courtesy of
‘090924-G-4159B-936.JPG’
courtesy of ‘aclintonb’

As of yesterday, DC’s homeless can now have a healthy, home made dinner at Miriam’s Kitchen.  Up till now, this local soup kitchen had only served breakfasts but has now expanded its service to include an evening meal, as well.  This is good news for the philanthropically minded late-risers.  If getting up around 5am isn’t your style, you can now volunteer in the evenings from 4pm-6pm. If you’re interested, check out the MK website and sign up. Those that want to be really cool  should sign up for breakfast service on either the 2nd or 4th Thursdays of the month.  That’s when the really awesome people volunteer, if you know what I’m saying.

The Daily Feed
By

Beltway 3rd Worst Commute in US. Surprised?

Photo courtesy of
‘Temple Ahead’
courtesy of ‘diskychick’

The Daily Beast has been crunching numbers to come up with a list of America’s 75 Worst Commutes, and surprising exactly no one, our own Capital Beltway came in at #3.

But what actually did kind of surprise me was the “expert’s opinion” quote they came up with to go with it:

“It’s a rough road,” says Adam Tuss, transportation reporter for WTOP 103.5. “It has lots of twists and turns, people speed on it and it’s got a lot of slow points too. It’s certainly not a freeway without its challenges.”

Really? That’s the best explanation anyone could come up with? It has fast-and-slow points? It’s twisty? Not the fact that it’s 5 lanes across in places and the exit patterns are constantly changing? Or that there’s pretty much no useful alternative to it if you’re trying to get between Maryland and Virgina?

News, The Daily Feed
By

Creepy Pervert Warning on the W&OD Trail

Photo courtesy of
‘DSCF1771’
courtesy of ‘Kingfox’

Arlington Police are currently investigating a pervert who is exposing himself to women on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail in the county. He has exposed himself to five different women in the past week. ACPD said today: “A white male subject exposed himself to woman at various sections of the bike trail. Detectives are looking for more information from the public regarding these exposures.”

If you know anything about this pervert and his tiny winky, please contact Detective Comer at (703) 228-4243 or Detective Austin at (703) 228-4241.

We Green DC
By

New Twists on Green Events

Photo courtesy of
‘Day 7 – Duck Shoot’
courtesy of ‘DaGoaty’

From the deep, dark motives of rubber duckies to shivering dips in the chilly Chesapeake Bay to free tickets to the Washington Auto Show, there’s some creativity in the next couple of weeks’ green events. Without further ado, here are some new ways to save the planet.

Learn If a Duck Is Plotting to Kill You
Wednesday, Jan. 20
6:30 p.m.

Slow Death by Rubber Duck – Discussion and Book Signing
Downtown/U Street Corridor
Busboys & Poets, 2021 14th St., NW

To research their new book, authors Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie spent a week eating and breathing things that are abundant in our homes and offices, from dust to shampoos and toothpaste.

Slow Death by Rubber Duck: The Secret Danger of Everyday Things tells the story of the toxins that accumulated in their bodies during that short time and jumps from there to the corporations that make these toxins, the governments that stand by and watch, and the effect it has on people worldwide.

Come for a talk and signing. The book is said to be hopeful, empowering readers with simple ideas for protecting themselves and bringing positive change.
Continue reading →

Food and Drink, News, The Daily Feed
By

Coming Soon: Taco Bell in Union Station

Photo courtesy of
‘Taco Bell’
courtesy of ‘Javier Aroche’

To all of our dear Taco Bell lovers out there — we’ve got some good news and we’ve got some bad news.

Bad news first … Taco Bell founder Glen Bell, Jr. passed away on Sunday.

Now the good news … A Taco Bell is opening its registers at Union Station soon now open in the Union Station food court!

So go satisfy that craving you have for “cheap taco-y goodness” in memory of Mr. Bell. I’m sure he’d apprecaite it.

Mythbusting DC, The Features
By

DC Mythbusting: International City

Photo courtesy of
‘Flagged entry’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

Hi, and welcome to a new year of Mythbusting!   We’re going to start out the year off with a myth about the character of the District.  When I first moved to DC, I always thought it was such an international city– walking down the street, you hear people speaking foreign languages,  and with all the embassies it seemed like it was home to people from many different nations.  And I’m not alone– there are clubs in the city focused on bringing international professionals together, and DC is known as a major global city.  But is the District home to more people from foreign countries, and more foreign speaker, than other peer cities?

Continue reading →

Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed
By

Drivers Beware! The Parking Meter Conversion Is Complete.

Photo courtesy of
‘me limit 0:00’
courtesy of ‘theilr’

The parking meter conversion is scheduled to reach its completion today and DC residents must now be aware that  new enforcement hours and higher rates – including  Saturday enforcement and some meters running to 10 pm  — are in effect.

Not sure if these changes have anything to do with you? WTOP has the low-down on what you need to know.

But one thing’s for sure, it’s probably a good idea to start paying attention when parking on the street. You don’t want to go and get a ticket for forgetting to read a sign.