Monthly Archives: March 2010

The Daily Feed
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A Property Update…

Photo courtesy of
‘C&O at twilight’
courtesy of ‘brownpau’

In January 2012 (although these dates are never quite as fluid as they yearn to be) Georgetown will become home to a new and ultra exclusive hotel.  Capella Hotels and Resorts, which currently have six properties across the world and are slated to add five more -including the DC property,  will be redeveloping the old American Trial Lawyers Association building at 1050 31st Street NW, which borders the historic C&O Canal.  The Capella Georgetown will feature 48 guest rooms and suites, a restaurant, lounge, executive boardroom, rooftop pool and bar, and full-service spa.

From the look of the 5-story rendering, the plans for the hotel’s design looks like it will fit right in with its surrounding landscape.  I just wonder if The Capella Georgetown will get the interior right.  No more extravagantly ornate details, dated color-schemes, or uber-modern finishes please!

An architect and designer have not yet been selected for the project.

Read more about this property update and see the rendering in the Washington Business Journal.

The Daily Feed
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Street Cleaning Starts This Week

Photo courtesy of
‘Downtown BID Street Sweeper’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

Today marks the return of spring street cleanings, which means that you will once again need to pay attention to your neighborhood’s street cleaning rules. Failure to do so is a $30 ticket, and you know you don’t want one of those. Worse: the street sweepers in DC are camera equipped with license-plate recognizers which means you’re probably going to get a ticket-by-mail. I don’t know what it is about tickets by mail, but I only tend to get the second notice with the higher fine, so be careful and just move your car ahead of time, okay?

Weekend Flashback
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Weekend Flashback: 3/19 – 3/21/10

Photo courtesy of
‘Rock Creek Park Cyclist’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

Hard to believe only six weeks ago we were buried under a ton of the white stuff… These past several days have atoned for it, that’s for sure. What a great way to kick off the official arrival of spring!

If you’re looking for some distractions from all the hoopla on the Hill today, we’ve got you covered. Check out some snapshots from the weekend, just after the jump.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Protest Hangover


"All That Defies the Worst Which Pen Expresses"
Originally uploaded by Kevin H.

If you see this city looking a bit haggard this morning, or nursing their fourth cup of coffee along about 11am today, it’s because there was a protest for everyone this weekend. There was the Kill The Bill group on the Mall up by the Capitol, including some seriously angry and possibly deranged folks who called Rep. John Lewis and Rep. Barney Frank names that I had thought had gone the way of the dodo in polite society.

There was also the Immigration Reform march on the Mall on Sunday, drawing tens of thousands to hear speeches on immigration reform. There were, according to reports, just as many Mexican flags as there were American flags, which seems odd to me.

And lastly, there was the Iraq War Protest in Lafayette Park on Saturday, protesting the continuation, albeit curtailed, of the Iraq War. Cindy Sheehan made an appearance, and was once again arrested in a stupid moment of symbolism that embodies her continual cry for help in the form of some serious therapy.

So, we will look a little haggard this morning, here in the city. There was something for people of every political flavor this weekend. It’s nice to live where that happens, isn’t it?

News, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Nats Demote Storen, Strasburg to AA Harrisburg

Photo courtesy of
‘take me out to the ballgame…’
courtesy of ‘staceyviera’

The Nationals today sent prospects Drew Storen and Stephen Strasburg to the minor leagues, and to the camp of AA Harrisburg. This is actually a huge relief for Nationals fans everywhere, because it means that despite their strong Spring, they’re going to give these guys some time in the minors before bringing them up to the Show.

Thank God.

My biggest fear was that these guys would do so well in the major league camp that they’d have no choice but to bring them up from Viera to Washington for Opening Day and that would have been a huge mistake. Instead the Nats are going to give them a few months of confidence-building starts in AA Harrisburg and AAA Syracuse to build their pitching acumen and get used to the concept of professional baseball.

Look for them both to join the Nationals after the All Star Break, when they’ve decimated everyone they’ve faced in AA and AAA.

News, The Daily Feed
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Omar Karim Gets Testy on Kojo


video courtesy of the Kojo Show

Omar Karim was on today’s Kojo Nnamdi Show, and boy did he get testy. I mean, I’ve seen some political figures get this angry, but in the clip above, Karim does everything except challenge analyst Tom Sherwood to pistols at dawn. Karim is one of the principals behind Banneker Development which has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, chief among them, they’re the beneficiaries of several contracts to build recreation centers in the District, which the Council will be reviewing for improper award. Karim defends his company’s record, and his relationship with the Mayor, which Karim describes as pretty mundane. Either way, it’s some entertaining watching, as Karim is certainly a fiery guy.

The Daily Feed
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Metro Wants Your Opinion on the FY 2011 Budget

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

Metro’s in a bad way. They’re facing a $189M budget deficit for the fiscal year starting in June, and proposed service cuts are pretty draconian. There will be a series of six hearings related to the deficit, and Metro will seek public opinion for how to address the major gap in funding and the service level of the transit system at large.

Some of the options for the service reductions are pretty draconian, and include the removal of 8-car trains from service, and closing three stations on the weekends, as well as reducing the frequency of approximately 40 bus lines. The options right now would make an already crowded-to-capacity system practically unusable. If these aren’t the sort of thing that you’re comfortable with, maybe a fare hike is more what you’re looking for. Options there include increasing the peak charge from $1.65 to $2 each way, and the maximum to $5.45, and peak-of-the-peak charges of $.50, as well as $.35 hikes in bus fare, and peak-of-the-peak charging for Metrobus, as well.

No matter what you do, you should check out Fair Share for Metro and use their tools to contact your representative to let them know how important Transit issues are to you. Click through for the locations of each hearing, they all begin at 7pm.

Continue reading →

The Features
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2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival: Coming to a Plate Near You

Photo courtesy of
‘Cherry Tree Blossoms & Jefferson Memorial’
courtesy of ‘cliff1066â�¢’

With tomorrow being the first day of Spring, that can only mean one thing in DC.  The National Cherry Blossom Festival is just around the corner.  This year it’s going to be running from March 27th-April 11th, and there’s plenty of stuff to do, and even better, plenty of stuff to eat!  Tons of area restaurants are getting festive and offering cherry blossom-themed dishes, drinks, and desserts, so I have taken the liberty of narrowing down this list  to a few places I would recommend just for you, and in particular places with featured drinks and desserts.  I totally have a sweet tooth, so about half of this list is dessert, but I just couldn’t help myself! Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed
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National Marathon Tomorrow

Photo courtesy of
‘Thundering Herd’
courtesy of ‘flipperman75’

If you don’t have to drive in DC tomorrow, just don’t. The National Marathon is run tomorrow through the streets of DC, and no quadrant is left out. Constitution, East Capitol, North Capitol, the Frederick Douglass Bridge, and various other streets throughout the District will be closing intermittently from 7am to 1pm. Chances are, you’re better off going around. In addition, Metrobus has rerouted 42 different bus routes as part of the event. Please prepare for transit pandemonium.

The Daily Feed
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Why Do You Care About Sustainability?

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘erin m’

Caring about the environment is the cool thing to do, right?

According to a study conducted by the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, when people shop in public they tend to favor green and more earth friendly products – however, when shopping online people tend to favor the ‘regular stuff’; thus suggesting that “green purchases are often motivated by status,” says Vladas Griskevicius, co-author of the study.

Although I find this study to be quite interesting, I wonder how variables such as statewide or citywide mandates could moderate this study’s outcome. Since the District’s 5-cent bag tax law took effect, not only is going green now hip – but if you want to watch your pennies, it’s basically required.

I don’t really thing in the end anyone really cares what your reasons for being environmentally conscious truly are, because as long as a difference is being made then it doesn’t really matter right?

Adventures, History, Tourism
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Tourism: The Old Stone House

Photo courtesy of
‘Old Stone House NHS’
courtesy of ‘Ken Lund’

Nestled in along M Street, in the heart of Georgetown, you’ll stumble upon The Old Stone House, one of the oldest homes remaining in Washington, DC. Built in 1765, the house is maintained and operated by the National Park Service, and is part of the National Park System’s Rock Creek Park unit. Since it’s original construction, the house has traded hands many times and has been used as a shop for hats, tailors, locksmiths, clockmakers, house roofing remodeled by Bell Roofing Company, house painting, and even a used car dealership. Fortunately, the house was purchased by the Federal Government in 1953 for $90,000. At today’s market prices, the house and its garden are thought to be worth close to $6-7 million.

Constructed from local quarry stones and ballast stones from the English sailing vessels that journeyed up the Potomac, the house is a prime example of a typical 18th century dwelling that would have been inhabited by common Americans. Tours and lectures offered by Colonial period-dressed park rangers, highlight the lives of these early Americans and DCers. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Let the suburbs have the protests for a change

DSC_1855, courtesy of Me President Obama is speaking out on the campus of George Mason University in a few minutes and where there’s POTUS there’s protest. The signs were pretty one-sided against health care, though one determined fellow was walking around with a huge “Public Option Now” banner that looked more suited to a renaissance faire in style than a protest. Among the reasons for the imbalance was the limits on attendees. The invitations said “cameras are allowed, however no signs or banners are permitted,” so any opposition inside is going to have to pretty much seethe in silence. The folks outside were making up for that with their energy, doing a lot of shouting across a 6 foot tape-enforced DMZ at the folks waiting to go in. Once most had entered the approximately 150 or so folks on the other side of the tape pretty much settled down to chatting amongst themselves. The ban on signs didn’t go over well with some – the woman below was yelling “there is no free speech in that building.” DSC_1875, courtesy of Me More shots after the jump. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Metro Fires Texting Driver

Photo courtesy of
‘what else is new?’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Metro announced late yesterday that they fired the driver caught texting by Unsuck DC Metro. The photos first appeared on their blog in February, and Metro finally took action a month later. I’m all for due process, but what the hell took so long here? It’s not like Metro’s policy is anything but crystal clear…

I, for one, will welcome our new Sarlesian Overlord when takes the reigns in April.

Entertainment, Fun & Games, Music, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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9:30 Club To Host U.S. Air Guitar Championship Regionals

Photo courtesy of
‘The Fro, Finals (finished 5th place)’
courtesy of ‘brianmka’

For those about to rock … here’s your chance! The D.C. Regional Air Guitar Championships are being held this April at the 9:30 Club.

The Official U.S. Air Guitar Championship website reports that entry slots for D.C. are nearly full. If you want to enter — prop up the digital camera, throw together your most rockin’ of rockin’ fits (and by “fit”, I mean “outfit”), and convince those judges you’ve got what it takes to compete by sending in an audition video via YouTube.

All videos must be under a minute long and sent to list_serve@930.com by Sunday, March 21.

Winners will be announced March 31 and regionals will be held on April 10.

Rock on!

The Daily Feed, WMATA
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Delays, A Fare Raise, And Escalator Outages — Oh My!

Photo courtesy of
’55/365 – dupont circle’
courtesy of ‘dracisk’

As if Metro riders haven’t had enough day-to-day issues plaguing them as they fork over chunks of their paychecks for endless delays and an array of other dilemmas over the past year … now, there’s more.

WaPo reports that there are 60+ escalator outages throughout the entire Metrorail system at the moment. Way to go WMATA.

I mean — I’m a firm believer in walking up the escalator stairs because that’s what feet were made for — but with Metro turning down media requests for interviews regarding the escalator problem it makes you wonder, what else is wrong that they’re not telling us about?

Entertainment, Music, Night Life, The Features, We Love Music
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We Love Music: GroundScore

groundscore

All GroundScore wants is to have a good time and watch you dance. And no – that isn’t creepy. It’s freakin’ awesome.

This trio of DC metro-area jammers debuted their first full-length record late last year and is now determined to bring that “feel good” feeling back into people’s lives one east coast town at a time. They’re a group of self-proclaimed reggae rocking, blues driven, jamming machines who rehearse with the recording tape running at all times. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Welcome to the Curmudgeons

Photo courtesy of
‘Curmudgeon Suite by Peter Lange’
courtesy of ‘ohdarling’

DC is an incredibly gifted town when it comes to the blog scene. I mean, just look, in addition to us, there’s DCist, ReadysetDC, Prince of Petworth, The Hill is Home, BYT, why.i.hate.dc. I figured we were all full up on awesome blogs, but then I found the opening entry of District Curmudgeon which launched today. Geoff and Jaime are seasoned veterans of the DC blogging scene, and definitely deserve your attention going forward. Congrats, lady & gent.

Food and Drink, Night Life, The Daily Feed
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Cantina Marina Opens Outside Deck This Weekend

Photo courtesy of
‘Cantina Marina’
courtesy of ‘sinksanctity

Need an excuse to throw on those flops and head to the waterfront since … you know … spring appears to be here now? Cantina Marina is opening their outside deck this weekend due to the totally awesome weather we’ll be experiencing through Sunday.

There are many ways to attract more customers to your restaurant, but during summer, spring and fall months, outdoor seating tops the list. No matter what kind of establishment you run, a simple deck or patio can increase revenue by up to 30 percent. Additional research by the Simons Advisory Group proved that a $200,000 investment increased overall sales by $500,000 — possibly more if your restaurant offers year-round outdoor seating.

What is it about outdoor seating that has such a large effect on your customer base? There are many factors involved, most of which revolve around comfort. Some guests say that an alfresco dining experience makes the food taste fresher and better. Others simply enjoy gazing at the view as they share a meal with friends or family. If you plan to add a deck to allow outdoor seating at your restaurant, deck builders in Auckland

If you’re interested in adding an outdoor space for your clientele, there are many ways to go about it. The following highlights some of the most popular — and successful — trends in outdoor seating today.

The dock bar will be open and the fish tacos really are a quite tasty when paired with a frozen margarita.

Plus – now that the sun’s out for longer – you can soak in the rays and get your first taste of what summer will feel like.

The Daily Feed
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Lend a Hand: Prom Season 2010

Photo courtesy of


‘prom_dress_Fuchsia-Lavender-Lime-White-81048B’
courtesy of ‘www.chicagofabulousblog.com’

It’s that time of year again…practically the biggest night of the entire year if you’re a senior in high school:  Prom!  Lots of family taking pictures, your date pinning  on your corsage, a limo full of friends waiting in the driveway, and of course the dress.  This year you can help a young lady find her dream gown by donating to DC Public Schools Annual Prom Dress Collection.

Every year many girls drop the plan of going to their only prom because of the prices of the prom dress. Their dream of attending this magical event is fulfilled by various organizations that provide free prom dresses for low-income families. No girl wants to go to prom in just anything, so it takes days, weeks, even months to find a long sleeve 2 piece prom dress. Why not help someone find their dream gown for that special night?  Free prom dresses are a boon to low-income students. The collection is accepting new and gently used dresses, shoes, jewelry and purses.  You can drop off items between 9am and 5pm Monday – Friday until April 14th at 1200 First Street NE, on the 12th floor.  For more information, call 202-442-5447 or email dcpspartnerships@dc.gov.

Food and Drink, People, The Features, We Love Drinks
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We Love Drinks: The St. Regis Bar

Photo courtesy of
‘Adour 11’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’

Of all the venerable hotel bars that this city offers, the one that never really spoke to me was the St. Regis Library Lounge. With an air that screamed lobbyist power broker, it just never provided the quirky elegance that I find essential in a grand old hotel. That changed for me this past autumn when I popped in for a look before the most scrumptious Thanksgiving meal ever (if you have a serious special occasion coming up, go to Adour, it’s incredible). I knew the hotel had been renovated but I assumed it would be more of the same. Wrong.

The Bar at the St. Regis (its official name) is soothingly decorated now in shades of violet and grey, adding Art Deco touches like crazy 1960’s biomorphic light fixtures to a 40-seat room dominated by an intensely elaborate Italianate ceiling. Lacquered, metallic, mirrored surfaces abound. It’s simply gorgeous, but not overwhelming. You can easily tuck into a soft corner and broker your deal or impress your date. As for the drinks, they’ve undergone a change too. Sure, there’s the high-end madness one might expect (Remy Martin’s Black Pearl Magnum, anyone? $1,926 – the year the hotel opened – for a two ounce pour out of the only bottle in DC…).

But you can also have a little luxury for less, and enjoy some wacky molecular mixology too! Continue reading →