Monthly Archives: March 2010

Crime & Punishment, People, The Daily Feed, The District, WTF?!
By

Hizzoner Once Again in Trouble

Photo courtesy of
‘Marion Barry and Mr. Grumpy Pants’
courtesy of ‘ricepeter’

So now the IRS is jumping back into the Marion Barry pool. (And a dirty one that is, too…) The IRS filed a lien against Hizzoner in an attempt to reclaim some of the $15,000 in unpaid taxes that Barry owes. “There is a lien in favor of the United States on all property and rights to property belonging to this taxpayer for the amount of these taxes,” states the lien.

This lien appears to be unrelated with Barry’s earlier IRS troubles, where he admitted he hadn’t paid the bulk of taxes on the $500,000 he earned between 1999 and 2004. The IRS has been taking $1,350 from Barry’s salary since late 2006 to repay that debt.

According to the lien, Barry also owes $649 for 2005; $4,907 for 2006; $8,679 for 2007; and $1,022 for 2008. Fred Cooke, Barry’s attorney, believes Hizzoner paid his 2008 taxes in full.

News, The Daily Feed, The District
By

DC Ranks No. 6 For Highest Rental Market Costs

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘dno1967’

If you thought your rent was expensive … you were right.

The District is the sixth most expensive rental market in the country, according to a study called “Paycheck to Paycheck: Wages and the Cost of Housing in America.”

The 2009 fair market rent in town was $1,494 a month (which, for comparison’s sake, is the same as Bethesda).

San Francisco, Honolulu, and Santa Cruz round out the top three.

The Daily Feed
By

DC From Space

Washington DC. Weather is getting better. on Twitpic

“Washington DC” image from Astronaut Soichi Noguchi

Smile!  Soichi Noguchi just caught you on film.  He’s a Japanese astronaut on the International Space Station, and he takes photos of various places from space and posts them to his fantastic twitter feed, @Astro_Soichi.  He has posted hundreds of images of the Earth, and yesterday he posted an image of DC from the Space Station.  You can clearly make out buildings like the Convention Center and Nationals Park in this full size version, and because of the glint of the sun, all the water really stands out and you can see the bridges and docks too.  It’s so cool to see the District from such a unique perspective– thanks, Soichi!

Adams Morgan, Food and Drink, Fun & Games, News, Night Life, Special Events, The Daily Feed
By

Madams Organ Happy Hour for Community of Hope

Photo courtesy of
‘Madams Organ Restaurant’
courtesy of ‘KrS-NrY’

Drinking and philanthropy are two of my favorite things, and fortunately, they mix fairly well.  That’s why I’m excited about the April 15 happy hour and Madams Organ benefiting local DC charity Community of Hope.  Community of Hope provides medical care, affordable housing and other social services for DC’s disadvantaged.  Madams Organ will donate $1 of every drink you order and 20% of food sales to Community of Hope.  All you have to do is show up, eat and drink. Plus, April 15 is tax day.  You’ll probably be drinking anyways.

The Features, Where We Live
By

Where We Live: Bethesda

Photo courtesy of
‘Monday Afternoon’
courtesy of ‘SWP Moblog’

It’s time Where We Live ventured into Maryland. And where better to start than Bethesda, the DC suburb that feels more like a city than many parts of DC. Bethesda is the perfect balance of city life and access to suburbs for its residents, and it has so much to offer that it’s a destination for even downtown DC residents. Read on for Bethesda’s best kept secrets and what you should check out next time you’re in the neighborhood.

History: Bethesda originally was a small settlement along a trade route that connected to Georgetown.  It got its name from Bethesda Meeting House, a church built in 1820.  There wasn’t much in Bethesda until the streetcar system connected the neighborhood to DC in the early 1900s.  The streetcar encouraged a boom in suburban development in Bethesda, which continued throughout the twentieth century.  The area got its office boom during World War II, when the NIH and National Naval Medical Center relocated here.  Bethesda continued to grow, and in 1984 the Bethesda Metro station opened, which led to even more high-density development and redevelopment.  Building on the office and residential concentrations located here, Bethesda has recently defined itself as a retail destination and lifestyle center with projects like Bethesda Row.

Continue reading →

News, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
By

Leonsis, Pollin Family Agree on Price for Wizards, Verizon Center

Photo courtesy of
‘It’s been awhile’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

The sticking point in Ted Leonsis’ negotiations with the Pollin family for the purchase of their stake in the Wizards and the Verizon Center has been price, for some time now. Finally, there’s been a breakthrough, according to a local newspaper, who report that the valuation has been agreed upon at $550M for the team and the Verizon Center. My guess is the Verizon Center is the lion’s share of that, at the moment, given how piss poor the Wizards are playing these days. From here, they’ll continue negotiations on other subjects including how the facility will be run, and whether or not the majority of the league owners will approve Leonsis’ full purchase.

The Daily Feed
By

Bus Stuck Blocking Traffic on M Street


Carolina Misadventures #1
Originally uploaded by Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie

Congratulations to Carolina Adventures Inc, who learned the hard way today that you don’t turn your bus up Half Bank Street in Georgetown. No word on how quickly they’ll be able to get the bus unstuck, but you can bet this will snarl traffic through Georgetown for the rest of the day. Thanks a ton to Chris Rief who sent us these photos. Check out the alternate angle to see just how badly they’re screwed. Nice work, guys!

News, The Daily Feed
By

Anti-Marriage Equality Amendment Defeated

Photo courtesy of
‘Love Wins’
courtesy of ‘Matt.Dunn’

Chalk one up for the good guys. Senator Bennett (R-Utah) was unsuccessful in getting his anti-marriage equality amendment through the Senate and amended to the health care bill. Don and I were talking yesterday, what’s up with Utah not wanting gay marriage in DC? Are they still bitter that the government banned plural marriage in their state so many years ago?

People, The Features, We Love Drinks
By

We Love Drinks: Thor Cheston

Photo courtesy of
‘Thor, Over Processed’
courtesy of ‘Samer Farha’

We Love Drinks continues our series where we look behind the bar, profiling the many people – from mixologists to bartenders, sommeliers to publicans – who make your drinks experience happen.

When I sat down with Thor Cheston, the beer director at Brasserie Beck, our conversation centered on the future.  Not that I necessarily meant for this to happen, it just did.  Frankly, the future’s an exciting place.  The future is place where beer is wine’s equal (almost).  The future is a place where beer de cuisine is an art form.  The future is a place in which DC has a local brewery (!!!). Thor wants to be at the center of this future, making sure that everything happens according to plan.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

Twestival Tonight

twestival.jpg

Tweeters everywhere in DC tonight will gather up at K Street’s Shadow Room for Twestival 2010, with the focus being Concern Worldwide.  A $30 donation gets you into the club for the evening’s festivities, and that will include some free libations courtesy of their sponsors for the evening.  If you want to tweetup-for-charity, then Twestival’s your bet for tonight.

The Daily Feed
By

Name That Octopus!

Courtesy of Mehgan Murphy, Smithsonian’s National Zoo

What has eight arms, no spine, and a webcam?  The National Zoo‘s brand-spanking-new giant Pacific octopus, that’s what.  There’s just one thing it’s missing… a name!  But have no fear, that’s where you come in.

The National Zoo has narrowed it down to four choices for names, which are the following:  Olympus, Ceph, Octavius, and Vancouver.  Each name has its own description and meaning relevant to our eight-armed friend, and you have the opportunity to vote for your favorite online.  You can vote until April 7th at noon, and the winner will be announced on the octopus cam at 2pm.

Something else to take under consideration is gender.  Unfortunately, we don’t know for sure whether it is male or female, and it will have to mature more before that can be confirmed.  Personally, I’m a little partial to Vancouver just because I think it could go either way, but we’ll have to tune in April 7th for the fate of the anonymous octopus.  Get those votes in!

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

2010 National Mutt Census Fails DC Dogs

Photo courtesy of
‘DH dog giggle animated avatar’
courtesy of ‘Generic Brand Productions’

This really rubs me the wrong way. The 2010 National Mutt Census, intended for mixed-breed dogs only, allows DC mutt owners to submit their data, but when it comes time to locate DC on the U.S. map and see the summary of DC mutt statistics, it’s missing.  Guess DC must have gotten lost in the Mists of Avalon or Bermuda Triangle, or something. I can’t even tell you how frustrated I was trying to navigate my mouse over the little iotas of map pixels between MD and VA. I was really hoping DC was lurking in their somewhere, but no, we’re not.

So I’ve written to the 2010 National Mutt Census, pointing out our lack of map presence and I’m hoping they will/can put us on the map. You too can help by writing Mars Veterinary (the owner of the site who BTW is located nearby Gaithersburg, MD – I mean, seriously, how did they forget DC?!!) to ask that DC mutts be represented in census.

Fail. 2010 National Mutt Census. Fail.

We Love Weekends
By

We Love Weekends, March 27-28

Photo courtesy of
‘They’re almost ready!’
courtesy of ‘vpickering’

Katie: This weekend I’ll be wishing it was weather from last weekend. But no matter – I’ve got tons of things on my plate. I’m heading out to the Kite Festival to shoot some creative pictures with a photographer friend, and then stopping by the Court House Farmer’s Market for some farm fresh ingredients for a dinner I’m hosting on Sunday. Saturday night I’ll be kicking it with Washington Improv Theater at the FIST festival, and then heading out on 14th for drinks. Sunday, the day of rest and relaxation, I’ll be doing the opposite. Cathy and I are going to meet a new chef for a Capital Chefs feature, and then I’m taking advantage of a CityShopGirl promotion and getting some free eco-friendly makeup. Along the way, I might even get to partake in my current coveted and beloved brunch, Masa 14’s Latin/Asian fusion.

Tiff: I’ve got no real estate-related tasks this weekend, so for me it’s all about the cherry blossoms. The festival starts on Saturday, peak bloom starts on Sunday, and I am all over it. Will it be crawling with tourists? YES. Do I care? NOT AT ALL. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

Final Four in 3D in Fairfax

Photo courtesy of
‘3D glasses & my messy room’
courtesy of ‘racheocity’

If you’ve been wondering about the 3D Craze, and wanted to try something that was a little bit different than Monsters vs Aliens 3D, next weekend the Fairfax Corner 14 will be showing the Final Four and Championship games in 3D. That’s right, Cinema-grade 3D to see Kansas win it all. Pardon me one second. No, I didn’t know that. Wait, what do you mean they lost? How is that possible? My bracket’s ashambles! Northern Iowa!?!? St. Mary’s?! Oh for crying out loud.

Well, whoever’s still in this thing, you can check it out at Fairfax Corner next weekend on the big screen

The Daily Feed
By

Vote We Love DC For “Best Local Blogger”

Photo courtesy of
‘Polling Place Sign’
courtesy of ‘moonShadows7’

It’s that time of year again — Washingtonian Magazine has opened up voting for their “Best of Washington” poll. As if voting  We Love DC for “Best Local Blogger” wasn’t enough, Washingtonian is awarding a lucky voter dinner for 2 … and then some.

To vote, visit http://bit.ly/aHwnV6.

Ballots close May 1 and decisions will be announced in the July issue.

The Daily Feed
By

Easter Monday Returns to the National Zoo

Photo courtesy of
‘National Zoo, Washington DC’
courtesy of ‘Roger Photos’

If you live in DC, I’m pretty sure you know that the Monday after Easter isn’t just any old Monday, and this year is no different.  The Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Friends of the National Zoo are hosting their annual celebration entitled “Easter Monday:  An African American Family Tradition,” on April 5th from 10am to 4pm.

From the easter egg hunt to the a cappella gospel quintet to the Easter Bunny himself, this year families have a lot of fun to look forward to.  The great thing about Easter Monday is it’s totally free, and will still carry on even if it rains, so there’s no excuse not to bring the kiddies out for a good time.  It’s also going to be educational, with presentations from representatives of the Zoo and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Sponsored by the 2010 U.S. Census Road Tour, United Airlines and WHUR Radio 96.3 FM, the event has been a staple in the District for more than 100 years.

Special Events, The Daily Feed
By

Wheelchair Basketball Game To Benefit Veterans

PUSHFLYER3

To do good deeds unto others is a mitzvah. To those of you who are unsure what the word mitzvah means, it’s a Golden Rule – do unto others what you would wish upon yourself.

Spring brings renewal to an outside world left barren for the cold winter months. It is this renewal I ask you to keep in mind as us who are more fortunate than others give back to those who deserve it most.

American University is hosting the Armed Forces Wheelchair Basketball game at Bender Arena on April 1 at 6 p.m. The game features Walter Reed Army Medical Center’s “Wounded Warriors” as they take on the San Antonio’s Brooke Army Medical Center team.

All proceeds from this event benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and Push America. Continue reading →

Food and Drink, News, The Daily Feed
By

BGR Expanding to Lyon Village

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

As Michael wrote in his review of BGR this December, “There is no better food than a hamburger,” and we would certainly agree. The Burger Renaissance that’s happened in this town over the last few years has been nothing short of a Golden Age for this simple and wonderful culinary treat. BGR announced late yesterday that they’re opening a new location over in Lyon Village, home of The Italian Store, in Arlington.

BGR will open on April 15th. Here’s to the spread of the delicious, tasty burger. Cheers!

BGR
near 3213 Lee Highway
Arlington VA, 22201

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
By

Fancy Fare Up In The Air

Photo courtesy of
‘PAL Airlines Food Snacks going to Singapore’
courtesy of ‘Milo Riano’

(Oh that was such a pithy little title now wasn’t it? I’m all proud of myself. ANYWAYS, not the point.) The point is, Michel Richard is either crazy or brilliant, but either way he’s cooking plane food now. Yup, as in, peanuts in bags and would you like Diet Coke or Coke Zero or maybe some Regular Coke oh and we have apple juice, plane food.

OpenSkies, an all-business class air carrier has announced that they’ll be serving Richard’s food to customers traveling on its new route between Washington D.C.-Dulles and Paris-Orly for two months beginning in June. Now, that’s a smooth move for OpenSkies, you know, since they’re trying to be all fancy in a recession. But the foodie in me has to wonder if the quality Richard is known for on the ground will translate in the air. We Love DC co-author Don pointed out that Richard sous-vides his food – a technique everyone who watches Top Chef is familiar with, where food is vacuum sealed and put in warm water to cook over long periods of time. (Think an under water sophisticated CrockPot, if you will.) And what airline doesn’t love them some vacuum packed food? So that’s a point, right? The other part of me wonders if it’ll be mushy vegetables in butter, just because you’re on a plane and let’s be real, it’s not like they have copper pots back there in the little closet kitchen.

Someone book a trip to Paris and report back, will you? K thanks.

Getaways
By

Getaways: Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Bridges, photo by Tom Bridge

Updated on 12/29/10 with links, seasonal recommendations, and Pittsburghese section.

—

I thought about not posting this pending the outcome of last night’s Caps/Penguins game. But then they won, so I figured it would be okay.

Most of our Getaways features have been about smallish towns where you might go to unplug for a few days when you need a break. But what if you don’t want to unplug? What if you still want city amenities but not, you know, THESE ones? Maybe you want to spend a weekend seeing movies at multiplexes and taking photos of architecture and going to sporting events without feeling like you should really be at home doing laundry.

Pittsburgh is a 4 hour drive from DC- 2 hours up I-70 to Breezewood, and then 2 more across Pennsylvania on the Turnpike. Staying there is nice and easy unless it’s a holiday or the G-20 is in town- there are 3 4-star hotels in the city, so it’s easy to Priceline a fantastic room for cheap and still find yourself centrally located.

And what will you find when you get there? One of my favorite things about walking around the city is the “sense of place” you get. You know how when you’re walking around Capitol Hill and it’s like the very air around you is saturated with DC-ness? Pittsburgh has a lot of the same thing, only the look is what I would call “steel baron chic.” A lot of the city’s rapid development happened in the era of Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick, leading to lots of downtown buildings with interesting architectural details like talismans and outdoor molding. It’s reflected in the decor of the hotels as well- lots of lush draperies and tin ceilings- if you manage to get your room upgraded you feel like Carnegie himself when staying at the Omni William Penn or the Renaissance.

But what should you DO there, I hear you ask?   Continue reading →