‘Greg Engert Tells a Story About Beer’
courtesy of ‘snapzdc’
Congratulations to Greg Engert of Birch & Barley/Churchkey (who Kirk profiled in January) and John Wabeck of Inox in McLean (who we haven’t profiled yet but Katie and Cathy visited Inox for Capital Chefs) for making Food & Wine‘s Sommeliers of the Year list. There are but 7 sommeliers on this list, so to have not one, but two locals appearing on it is pretty exciting.
‘Sweetgreen #14’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’
A bit over a year ago, as I was sitting in my Institutional Design Studio, I was flipping through my favorite magazine – Metropolis – when I came across a feature story on Georgetown’s Sweetgreen. I was in awe of the historic retrofit, the building used to house the Little Tavern hamburger ‘hut’, in conjunction with its eco-friendly and streamlined interior – I knew that as soon as class was over I would be off towards M Street in order to explore further. Could it be true? Does a piece of design paradise exist with-in a 460-square foot envelope just down the street from me?
Fast-forward a year later, to yesterday actually, where my investigation of Sweetgreen continued with Nic Jammet, one of the restaurants three owners (the others are Jonathan Neman and Nathaniel Ru), at their newest location in Logan Circle.
By John Athayde
‘Orchids’
courtesy of ‘flipperman75’
Our friends at Bread For The City let us know about a City Blossoms new garden project happening in NW on Marion Street. They are turning an empty lot into an “intergenerational community garden with education opportunities for children, youth and adults.” They’re looking for a few good workers to help them build it out.
There will be vegetables, herbs, native plantings, butterfly gardens, fruit, rain gardens and more that will be used to host workshops for area residents and schools. All produce will be shared freely through workshop participation but first year yields are not expected to produce enough to donate to places like Bread For The City.
Urban gardens are an important part of neighborhoods, not only for improving the look of an area but also for encouraging local food production. However, you should take care of your garden and maintain it to avoid pests, according to Sustainable Pest Systems Charlotte. On a larger scale, cities like Detroit are turning huge swaths of abandoned housing into semi-rural areas. Eat local!
By courtney
‘Elephant with Green Hat’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls…it’s that time of year again! Who doesn’t love the circus? The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey are coming to town next week, complete with a grand entrance and all. The circus will kick off the festivities with its annual elephant parade to Capitol Hill.
Starting at Virginia Avenue SE and ending at the Verizon Center, the parade is set to start at 1pm on March 16th. This year’s special guests appearing in the parade are the Washington Nationals Presidents. So grab the kiddies and catch the show! It starts March 18th at the Verizon Center.
By Donna C.
Winter Pie with celery root puree
Here’s another edition of our Farm Fresh feature where WeLoveDC authors Donna (greenie) and Katie (foodie) have paired up to tell you about local area restaurants that take on the challenge of being green. Donna explains the restaurant’s environmentally friendly efforts and Katie tells you if the food tastes any good. It’s a rough life, but someone has to do it, right?
Katie: Radius is one of those neighborhood gems that make you feel like you won the jackpot when you discover it. Tucked away on the second floor of an old row house on Mount Pleasant Street in Columbia Heights/Mount Pleasant, the little pizzeria is one of my very favorite restaurants in the city. Last April, husband and wife team Todd and Nicole Wiss took over the former Italian eatery and turned it into one of the city’s most eco-conscious restaurants.
Donna: Chef Todd and his Nicole met while working at Poste Moderne Brassiere, which also has a commitment to local and sustainable food. It was there, while directing a James Beard Dinner that Todd became passionate about farm-to-table cooking. “Having eaten this way the majority of my life, I found it really important to make it our goal to create awareness to the diner that this is really important for the sustainability of our land, for future farming, and future generations,” said Todd. And then he shared that other reason: “It tastes a hell of a lot better!”
Continue reading
By Dave Levy
This photo, taken by Bill O’leary, ran on the front page of the Washington Post on May 4 and with this article. It sparked a number of letters to the WaPo ombudsman as well as subscription cancellations.
It has been a very exciting week for same-sex couples in the District, and the Washington Post wanted to make sure to capture the joy that city residents were sharing around the date that licenses for same-sex marriages would be accepted. As part of news coverage of that, the Post ran the above photo of Jeremy Ames and Taka Ariga kissing outside D.C. Superior Court on the front page of one of last week’s print editions.
Yesterday, Ombudsman Andrew Alexander shared some unfortunate news on his blog: a few readers were offended by the intimacy of two men reveling in the moment. He included several quotes from this feedback that don’t necessarily agree with the joy of the moment, and he noted that nearly 30 subscribers cited the photo as a reason to cancel subscriptions. Kudos to Alexander, though, for handling it incredibly well with his classy response:
Did the Post go too far? Of course not. The photo deserved to be in newspaper and on its Web site, and it warranted front-page display.
News photos capture reality. And the prominent display reflects the historic significance of what was occurring. The recent D.C. Council decision to approve same-sex marriage was the culmination of a decades-long gay rights fight for equality. Same-sex marriage is now legal in the District. The photo of Ames and Ariga kissing simply showed joy that would be exhibited by any couple planning to wed – especially a couple who previously had been denied the legal right to marry.
There was a time, after court-ordered integration, when readers complained about front-page photos of blacks mixing with whites. Today, photo images of same-sex couples capture the same reality of societal change.
’09-3-31 – Cherry Blossoms – Pink and Yellow’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’
Who doesn’t love a good design challenge? Especially one that has to do with the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The Festival is seeking amateur designers from the metro-DC area to showcase their creativity through the design of an original graphic creation using the blossom for inspiration. Entries will be judged by a distinguished panel of four, which will include Eric Hilton of Thievery Corporation and Antonio Alcalá of Studio A – to name a few. The winner will receive $5,000 in tuition prize, via Shiseido, to Westwood College School of Design. The “People’s Choice” winner will be awarded $250.00 in prize money too!
The winning design will be featured at the National Cherry Blossom Festival’s Cherry Blast: A Night of Contemporary Art + Music on Friday, April 2.
The contest is running now through March 26, 2010. Learn more about the challenge here.
By Donna C.
Courtesy of Greater Goods
Now that spring is on the way (just 10 more days), it’s time for spring cleaning — and new spring clothes. On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., take care of both at Greater Goods, where Goodwill will host its Travelin’ Trunk Show.
Bring your own items to donate and/or check out their collection of vintage fashions, fabrics and buttons.
All proceeds support Goodwill’s mission to educate, train, employ, and place people with disabilities and disadvantages throughout the greater DC area.
By Rebecca
‘… WASPs and B-17’
courtesy of ‘x-ray delta one’
Today at 11am, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) will get their much deserved recognition when they receive the Congressional Gold Medal, 68 years after their honorable and noble service to this country during WWII.
Faced with a shortage of U.S. based pilots in 1942, the Air Force recruited 1100 civilian female pilots and had them fly military aircraft across the country, test newly developed aircraft (including the B-29 Superfortress bomber that dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan) and tow targets for ground and air target practice.
Despite serving their country for two years and losing 38 WASPs in the line of duty, the WASPs were not granted military status until 1977.
Yesterday, WASP survivors and family members gathered for a Remembrance Ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Memorial and a Salute Reception at the Women’s Memorial. Fewer than 300 WASPs are alive to receive the commendation and experience this truly historic event in U.S. women’s history.
These next couple of weeks are a little sparse on the comedy front, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. The Washington Improv Theater FIST competition continues apace, with round 1 finishing up this weekend. They’ve already got some highlight video posted, so you can see if competitive amateur improv looks like a fun night out to you.
At the Arlington Drafthouse this weekend is Carlos Alazraqui and Cedric Yarbrough, stars of Comedy Central’s Reno 911, a show I’ve never understood the appeal of, but I seem to be in the minority on that point, so maybe you’d like to go see them. Continue reading
‘Skeeball League – Score! – 01-10-10’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’
Registration for the spring “skeeson” of competitive Skeeball at H Street Country Club is now open! Rally the troops (aka your closest pals and drinking buddies) or sign up on your own (the Skeeball folks are happy to place you with a group that has an open spot) for a rousing 8 week round of head-to-head Skeeball combat in NE DC.
What better way to bring you back to the glory days of your youth than with Sunday and Tuesday night Skeeball challenges starting April 11? Dave & Buster’s might be a close second, but really … come on … SKEEBALL? Sounds awesome.
Plus – there’s $3 Bud Lights, $5 Margaritas and discounted food!
8-12 players make a team, but 12-15 is recommended.
Visit the United Skeeball Association (yes, there is such a thing) webpage for more details.
By Tom Bridge
I really need a drink today. Between the real estate woes, and some serious work stress, what I need a glass of wine or six, and some relaxation. Fortunately, Screwtop in Clarendon tweeted that they’re doing $4 glasses of wine tonight, along with bruschetta. I’m not exactly sure how they’re tweeting their specials, when advertising wine or other drink specials is against the law in Virginia, but maybe they’re just hoping the ABC is asleep at the switch. C’mon by before the man shuts ’em down.
By Tom Bridge
Do you love We Love DC? How about you let the City Paper know as part of their annual DC Best Of issue! That’s right, we’re starting the write-in campaign to be this year’s Best Blog. Tell your family, tell your friends, tell your pets to all vote for We Love DC in this year’s Best Of DC list.
By John Athayde
‘popped collars’
courtesy of ‘Sub-Urban’
Yesterday’s request for Georgetown to be Freed from the Tyranny of all the poor people in DC got us thinking, and we’ve decided to help them out by writing their Declaration of Independence for them:
When, in the course of Late Night Shots, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political and social bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the superior and fucking awesome station to which the Laws of Nature and their daddy’s employment entitle them, an indecent molestation of the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that Smith Point is far better than any piece of shit you have east of Rock Creek park, and that us Georgetowners are endowed by our bank accounts with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and not having to deal with poor, homeless people on Friday night. That to secure these rights, we are going to kick your sad ass to the curb and erect (dude, you said erect) checkpoints where we will only allow real cool people into Georgetown. The rest of you can piss off.
Signed, the douchebags of Georgetown, esquires.
Good luck in your endeavors to rid Georgetown of those less fortunate than you. I beg forgiveness from the ghosts of our Founding Fathers for the above egregious bastardization of the Declaration of Independence.
By Ben H. Rome
‘Missile Exercise’
courtesy of ‘mashleymorgan’
Gail Harris was assigned by the U.S. Navy to a combat intelligence job in 1973, becoming the first woman to hold such a position. When she retired at the end of 2001, she was the highest ranking African American female in the Navy; her career spanned 28 years of leadership in the intelligence community, from the Cold War to Desert Storm to Kosovo. Her last challenge was in developing policy for the Computer Network Defense and Computer Network Attack for the Department of Defense. She recently authored A Woman’s War: The Professional and Personal Journey of the Navy’s First African American Female Intelligence Officer and will be at a special program at the International Spy Museum tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. She’ll share her unique experience and perspective in providing intelligence support to military operations while also battling the status quo, office bullies, and politics.
After the jump, a brief Q&A between the International Spy Museum and Gail Harris. Continue reading
By Don
Tiffany’s sign was pretty popular, courtesy of MrMoonPie
Above is MrMoonPie – occasional commenter around these parts – and his wife. In addition to being an all-around good guy he’s a licensed wedding officiant in the District… and he has made himself available to same-sex couples who applied for licenses last week and are starting their ceremonies today. Last he told us over on MetaFilter he was up to 14 total ceremonies but his comment on the post over at Washington City Paper indicates he’s up to 18 now… 8 of them today!
Personally I never get tired of this picture and it still makes me mist up a little every time I see it. So I’m happy to post it, but the real reason I’m running this piece is that I am tickled pink by the symmetry in this recent statement from MrMoonPie:
An interesting detail is that I’ll be performing a marriage in the Trinidad neighborhood, one block away from where the Loving family lived after they got kicked out of Virginia for marrying across racial lines. They were, of course, the inspiration for the sign that got all this started.
I’m less delighted by the additional symmetry that this is happening the week after some more modern douche-y behavior out of Virginia, but it’s nice to know that the District continues to be a place welcoming those driven out of Virginia.
By Kirk
‘Fried Oreo Sundae at Serendipity 3 at Ceasars Palace’
courtesy of ‘joanna8555’
Serendipity 3, that most New York of institutions, is opening a location in DC. K Street Kate reports that the popular restaurant chain will be taking up in Nathan’s old location on Wisconsin and M in Georgetown. Prime real estate, to say the least. If you’re not familiar with Serendipity, it’s an ice cream shop of sorts that is famous for its huge (I’m talking punch bowl size) portions. They’re particularly well known for their frozen hot chocolate, which is really something that you’ll just need to try. And yes, it is in that movie Serendipity. The developers are hoping to have the restaurant open by the end of spring. I’d wager that it’ll be an instant hot spot.
‘Basics for Baseball’
courtesy of ‘Jinx!’
If you couldn’t find yourself an AM radio or don’t follow any baseball writers on Twitter, allow me to re-cap young Strasburg’s first outing:
Total Pitch Count – 25
Total Strikes – 15
Total Hits – 2
Total K’s – 2
Plus — his first career strikeout was against Miguel Cabrera with a 98 MPH fastball on a full-count.
Way to go, kid. Now let’s see if your teammates can back you up with some run support after your first two innings.
By Dave Levy
‘panda national’
courtesy of ‘christaki’
It’s too easy to be overly-clever while writing stories related to panda pregnancies (what, you couldn’t have gone opened with “one bamboo stick or two?” Come on!). Regardless of pregnancy test ledes, NBC Washington is reporting that this edition of “Mei Xiang Pregnancy Watch” is…still going on. According to the report, scientists at the National Zoo are not confirming if it’s a “no” or a “yes,” for the aging bear, so it looks the watch will continue for now.
We’ve already had to say farewell to our beloved Tai Shan in the early part of this year, and with the 10-year-loan on Mei Xiang and Tian-Tian soon to run out and the pandas sent back to China, this may be the last chance for a new cub here in the District. At least it sounds like Butterstick is enjoying his first time free from quarantine after returning to the home land.
The suspense is brutal back here at home, though – so keep your fingers crossed that a new cub could be on the way.
By Jenn Larsen
Clementine Thomas and Brian Sutow in No Rules Theatre Company's production of "Some Girl(s)" Photo Credit: C. Stanley Photography
It’s Neil LaBute’s birthday next week, so it seems fitting that relative newcomers No Rules Theatre Co. are performing his play Some Girl(s) now through March 21st. Many have called him a psychologist of the dark side of the human soul, others a misogynist (personally, I think he’s an equal opportunity misanthrope). LaBute was responsible for one of my favorite films, Your Friends and Neighbors, scenes of which still sting sharp in my mind. Fellow WLDC author Don and I ventured out to H Street Playhouse convinced we would be at each other’s throats at the end of the play, in fitting tribute to LaBute with a raucous “He Said, She Said” review.
Our bottom line? This is a tight production featuring great performances, guaranteed to cause debate afterwards. The play’s age is showing, and a key character seems miscast, but that shouldn’t stop you from heading out to H Street and laughing cruelly as LaBute holds the mirror up to our blighted interpersonal relationships. It seems a pretty simple plot – watch as a man revisits his most memorable flings and exes before his impending marriage. Fun times! Who hasn’t wanted to gloat a little over the ones you left behind? But it’s not that simple, of course.
Continue reading
By 
By 
By