Monthly Archives: April 2010

The Daily Feed
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Streetcar Showcase Scheduled For Next Week

Photo courtesy of
‘French Market Stop No.1 – Riverfront Streetcar, New Orleans, LA’
courtesy of ‘Ed Siasoco (aka SC Fiasco)’

It appears the crossroad of DC’s venture back into becoming a Streetcar city has been reached. The first modern street car is scheduled to make its District street premier next week in a DC Streetcar Showcase on Wednesday, May 5 at City Center DC (the site of the old convention center), according to a tweet from DDOT earlier today.

The Showcase schedule is as follows:

• Wednesday, May 5, 11am – 7pm
• Thursday, May 6, 11am – 7pm
• Friday, May 7, 11am – 7pm
• Saturday, May 8, 11am – 5pm

Additional Showcase-related events include:  a seminar on streetcar propulsion technology, hosted by DC Surface Transit (DCST), on Thursday, May 6, 2010, 5-7pm, at the Renaissance Hotel, 999 9th Street, NW and an extra excuse for celebration at Union Station’s National Train Day “party” on Saturday, May 8, 2010, from 11am – 4pm.

Visit DDOT DC’s website for more information.

Entertainment, The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: Bowen McCauley Dance

Bowen McCauley Dance performs to Stravinsky's Mass with the Cantate Choral Singers. Courtesy of Bowen McCauley Dance.

As a young balletomane, I was fascinated by the story of the explosive performance of Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, performed by the Ballet Russes on a night that basically produced mass hysteria in its audience. Star dancer Vaslav Nijinsky choreographed, and apparently had to stand on a chair in the wings shouting out counts for the dancers, who could not hear the music over the outraged audience’s uproar. The music and movements were so revolutionary, the elite had a collective heart attack that erupted into a riot.

Saturday night I had the privilege of attending the world premiere of a piece by Bowen McCauley Dance, set to Stravinsky’s Mass with the Cantate Chamber Singers led by music director Gisele Becker. Stravinsky’s music is notoriously difficult, but we no longer expect the audience to scream in protest and throw punches at each other as they did that night for The Rite of Spring (though, wouldn’t that be an interesting evening at the Kennedy Center?)!  When Becker approached BMD artistic director Lucy Bowen McCauley about collaborating on a piece of music never before choreographed to, by a composer many consider impossible if not painfully hard to tackle, her first reaction was -“What have I got myself into?”

Luckily, the company was well up to the task. No riot occurred, just a beautiful evening of vibrant dance and song.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Name That Redskins Quarterback

Photo courtesy of
‘Marshalling the Troops’
courtesy of ‘Tony DeFilippo’

It’s pretty weird when it becomes your beat to cover Redskins Quarterback signings, but I’m the new guy around here and not exactly partial to any specific NFL team, so why not provide this service given how much news there has been this off-season? In just the last few days, the Redskins traded away Jason Campbell, who has been the starter in town for most of the past three seasons, and signed an undrafted rookie out of Penn State, Daryll Clark. It’s getting confusing to follow, so here’s an idea of the depth chart at QB, with info about NFL service time and how each signal-caller got to the team:

  • Donovan McNabb, (entering 12th NFL season, acquired from Philadelphia via trade on April 4, 2010)
  • Rex Grossman (entering 8th NFL season, signed as free agent on March 17, 2010, last played with Houston in 2009)
  • Colt Brennan (entering 3rd NFL season, 6th round draft pick by the Redskins, 186th overall, in 2008 NFL draft)
  • Daryll Clark (entering rookie NFL season, signed as undrafted free agent after 2010 draft)
  • Richard Bartel (entering 4th NFL season, signed with Dallas as undrafted free agent after 2007 draft, signed to Redskins practice squad in November 2009)
The Daily Feed
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Pollin Family Finalizes Deal with Ted Leonsis, Sells the Family’s Wizards/Verizon Center Shares

Photo courtesy of
‘Verizon Center // Washington DC’
courtesy of ‘AchimH’

Update 3:05 pm: Both sides are expected to officially sign a purchase agreement in the upcoming keep, ultimately transferring the ownership over the course of a month to six weeks maximum.

As of now, there is only an agreement and no paper work has been signed. “What we really wanted today is to say we have basically reached an agreement with Ted,” family spokesman Robert Pollin told the Washington Post. “I wanted to get it out to our employees. We just wanted to get it all out so we can plan for a transition that would be smooth, and for the employees to understand where we are.”

Wizards ownership would provide Leonsis complete control of the Verizon Center, perhaps even gearing up a shift toward an increase in hockey related arena revenue, says the Post.

Original Posting: The family of the late Abe Pollin will be selling the family’s share of both the Wizards and the Verizon Center to Capitals owner Ted Leonsis. For on-going updates of this breaking news, visit the Washington Post’s latest on the announcement made by the Pollin family earlier today.

Mythbusting DC, The Features
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DC Mythbusting: Lincoln Edition

Photo courtesy of
‘Lincoln’
courtesy of ‘Samuel Gordon’

Had enough of the tourists yet?  Not only do they stand on the left of Metro escalators and block entire sidewalks with their matching-t-shirt armies, half of what they’re saying about the monuments and memorials in our city is wrong.  The Lincoln Memorial is the subject of several monumental myths, so this week we’ll look at myths regarding our 16th President: is Robert E. Lee sculpted into the back of Lincoln’s head at the Lincoln Memorial?  Are Lincoln’s hands supposed to be showing his initials in American Sign Language? And why is  a portrait of George Washington hanging at the Lincoln Presidential Box at Fords’ Theatre?
Continue reading →

History, News, The Daily Feed, The Hill, WTF?!
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Smallest House in DC for Rent

Photo courtesy of
‘Real Estate For Sale Signs’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

Do you ever feel like your pad is just a bit too large? Maybe you’re the type that doesn’t really like a space of their own.  Well, you’re in luck because DC’s smallest (unofficially) house is currently on the market.  For just over $1000/mo, you can enjoy all that this Capitol Hill home’s 252 square feet has to offer. The house is comes complete with a kitchenette, bathroom and backyard that’s actually larger than the interior. Frankly, though, it looks a little silly in between the neighboring normal sized houses, but I suppose that’s part of the charm.  So, if you’re the type of person searching for a unique little (emphasis on little) home, DC has the answer.  Isn’t there a tiny house in Georgetown, too?  I wonder which is smaller.

The Daily Feed
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Nats Fall To Cubs in the 10th, Both Teams at .500

Photo courtesy of
‘Pitcher-catcher celebration’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

There are two ways to look at last night’s game and the upcoming series with the Cubs: either the Nationals came to Chicago at a good time or the Nationals came to Chicago at a bad time. After a 10th inning loss to the Cubs at Wrigley, I’d say last night was on the “bad time” part of the vantage point at-hand.

The Cubs were 9-10 going into the game and the Nationals were 10-9. The Cubs have a miserable bullpen that’s been killing their season, not to mention a lack of run support when they need it most from the top of their line up. The Nationals have Zimm out for the count and have been having a less than lack luster beginning to the season when it comes to starting pitching. What both clubs have are knock out closers (Carlos Marmol and Matt Capps) and the ability to send the ball to the stands.

It’s safe to say that at this point in the season these teams are pretty comparable when compared to each other, according to the statistics. Continue reading →

Media, The Daily Feed
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White House Correspondents’ Dinner: D.C.’s “Hollywood” Week

Photo courtesy of
‘White House Correspondents Dinner’
courtesy of ‘angela n.’

The White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner – sometimes affectionately referred to as “Nerd Prom” – is a gala to which media types through D.C. very much look forward. While it’s a fancy-pants event to begin with, the dinner often attracts a wide array of politically active celebrities to visit the District to enjoy the prom.

Mike Allen has the scoop (I mean, it’s Mike Allen, of course he has the scoop) on the types of stars you can expect to grace the event. Among others, it looks like the press corps can join Alec Baldwin, Betty White, Jeremy Piven, the Jonas Brothers, Jimmy Fallon, John Cusack, Morgan Freeman, Mariska Hargitay, and even new Redskins QB, Donovan McNabb. It looks to be another A-list caliber WHCD.

News, The Daily Feed
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Departures & Arrivals at City Paper

Photo courtesy of
‘____ _______ __ _’
courtesy of ‘Sexy Fitsum’

Some big news in little china for the City Paper in the last twenty-four hours. First, as of this morning, they’re under new management. New editor Michael Schaffer has taken the helm of the Wemple-less weekly after stints with the Philadelphia Inquirer and U.S. News and World Report. Before that, he was a City Paper writer and senior editor, so this marks a homecoming for Schaffer. His first job is the second piece of news: Mike “Loose Lips” DeBonis is headed for the Washington Post, according to Bruce DuPuyt of Channel 8 News. DeBonis will write his last column for the City Paper on May 10th before starting at the Washington Post on May 15th.

Details of DeBonis’ deal are not yet clear, so it’s not apparent whether he’ll be doing the same style daily reporting for WaPo, or if he’ll be covering a more traditional desk job at the Post. Here’s hoping they give Loose Lips a blank work order and let him figure out what’s best to do.

The Daily Feed
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Georgia O’Keeffe, Extended Hours

Photo courtesy of
‘Phillips Collection Staircase’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

The Phillips Collection just announced that the museum will be extending its hours for the final two-weeks of the Georgia O’Keeffe: Abstraction exhibition.  I had the chance to check out the exhibit a few months ago and it definitely was a real treat.

Now you really don’t have an excuse for not checking it out.

On May 1-2 and May 8-9 the exhibition will be open to visitors from 10AM to 10PM.

Adventures, Business and Money, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, News, People, The Daily Feed
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DC To Get A Waffle House, Courtesy of Fred Smoot?

Photo courtesy of
‘The Old Waffle Shop’

courtesy of ‘Penelope700’

Former Redskins cornerback, Fred Smoot, loves DC. Despite his current free agent status, the footballer hearts our city and has developed a deep connection to the fans and DCers, he’s met during his tenure on the Deadskins’ roster.

Although his player status for the 2010 season is still very much up in the air, Smoot told Kevin and Rock on 106.7’s The Fan that no matter what he plans to keep his connections to the area by opening up D.C.’s first ever Waffle House. During the weekly radio show, Smoot stated, “I’m actually in the process of starting a couple businesses up here. I’m bringing Waffle House to D.C. — I think they’ve been yearning for it for a long time. My first location is right off 14th and U.”

Of course, Smoot’s plan will not only bring the deliciousness of tasty waffles to the area and meet the heavy demand for the breakfast item, but will also revive the long lived syrup vs. gravy debate that this September saw syrup take the prize. Perhaps it’s time for a rematch?

Featured Photo
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Featured Photo

Photo courtesy of
‘Earth Day 5’
courtesy of ‘erin m’

We get a lot of pictures of objects, places, bits and bobs at We <3 DC. What we don't get a lot of are pictures of people. Stories of people. One of the reasons I like to highlight photographs of people is the story behind the person and the photograph. Erin M wandered down to the Mall while the Earth Day festivities were going on this weekend. She decided she’d find interesting people, shoot them, and ask a couple of questions. And while the whole set is interesting, this picture sums up Earth Day pretty well. From the composition and cropping to the subjects, their hula-hoops and bare feet, the feel of this picture is less modern day Washington and more summer of love Woodstock.

So go out there, with your camera and some time on your hands. Say hello to a stranger, start a conversation, find part of their story. And share it with us all.

The Daily Feed
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Teen Cribs, really?

Photo courtesy of
‘IMG_1827’
courtesy of ‘”G” jewels g is for grandma’

I had no idea this spinoff/replacement for “Cribs” existed. Then again, I always thought the term crib kinda sucked, for reasons that “Teen Cribs” makes even more clear: you really want your home to be associated with the place that a baby sleeps? What’s the message here, that you can’t get feed yourself and crap in your pants? Kinda lame when you’re an adult, but a teen who still can’t regulate your own bowels? Maybe look into home schooling and don’t televise this issue…

ANYWAY. Via VoxPopuli, I came across this link on the Georgetown Metropolitan about an episode of MTV Teen Cribs that looked inside a house in Georgetown. The episode is online and the ‘crib’ in question starts at about 14:30 – just click the third “tick mark” on the slider bar, though you might want to check out the second clip – it’s just over the river in Potomac Falls and includes a guest appearance from not-a-Redskin-anymore Jason Campbell.

The Daily Feed
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Welcome Back, Washington Blade

Photo courtesy of
‘Launch issue of “DC Agenda” the successor to the Washington Blade’
courtesy of ‘dbking’

Great news this week from the world of DC media… the Washington Blade will return on Friday with its original name and URL. The laid-off staff of the Blade formed a corporation and bought the intellectual property at the bankruptcy auction in February, clearing the way to bring the paper back. The DC Agenda name will be used as the name of the Blade‘s entertainment section.

Fun & Games, The Features
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Screech’s Birthday Celebration Rounds Up The Kiddies

DSC01722

Yesterday’s main event at Nationals Park, besides the game, was being a kid again. Everyone was in on it – the Nationals in-house staff, press, the NatPack, all adults, and children themselves – everyone. Let us not forget the teaching’s of one, Mr. Billy Heywood: “Hall of Famer Bob Lemon once said, ‘Baseball was made for kids. Grown ups only screw it up.’” On Sunday, baseball was all for the kids and no one, not even a grown up, could have screwed it up this time.

Sunday was more than a ball game (that the Nationals won, by the way, making the team 10-9/1.5 games behind the Phillies). The beloved feathered mascot, Screech, turned five years old. Nationals Entertainment Coordinator Tom Davis took a moment to share his favorite eagle’s life story with We Love DC.

According to Davis, Screech hatched back in 2005 and was found in the rafters of RFK Stadium. Little baby Screech was so excited by the team hosting its inaugural season of the National Past-Time in the Nation’s Capital that the darn bird wouldn’t stop screeching – and hence, he was given a name and home with his new family – the Washington Nationals. Continue reading →

Adventures, Entertainment, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, News, People, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Cochon 555: Get Your Pig On

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

This little piggy went to market. This little piggy stayed home. This little piggy had roast beef. This little piggy had none. And this little went “wee. wee. wee” all the way home. And by home, I mean The Ritz-Carlton for Cochon 555 on Sunday, May 2.

This yearly competition travels the US in search of  the “Prince / Princess of Porc” and has 5 local Chefs go head-to-head in a pig preparation throw down. Last year’s Prince, R.J. Cooper of Vidalia returns to defend his title and chefs from Bourbon Steak, Bibiana, Eola and Westend Bistro will try to usurp him. Lots of Pre-cooking, braising, grilling, pressing, pickling, rubbing, smoking, searing, saucing, spicing, injecting, marinating, etc. is involved and top-chefs have been known to use the entire animal.

Tickets for the event go for $125, and guests not only get to enjoy some tasty pork, but will witness a whole pig butcher demonstration, taste great wines, brews and enjoy a plethora of pig perfect desserts. There will also be an after party at a location to be determined.

The Daily Feed
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Office Drones: New Food Truck Headed Your Way

Photo courtesy of
‘Cubano’
courtesy of ‘jeffreyw’

I don’t know why I bother getting excited about food trucks, since they pretty much never make it down to the extreme end of the Mall where I work, but I am nonetheless excited to hear about El Floridano, a food truck that originated with owner Stephan Boillon’s quest for the perfect Cuban sandwich. Because the only thing better than a Cuban sandwich is a Cuban sandwich that can come to me. (Even if it doesn’t, in practice.)

It’ll be a couple of weeks before Boillon’s truck will be on the road and ready for service, but follow him on Twitter to get all the news.

Sports Fix
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Sports Fix: Nearly Summertime Edition

Photo courtesy of
‘DC United vs Chicago Fire 01’
courtesy of Max Cook

D.C. United
Record: 0-4-0
Last Two Weeks: 0-1-0
Place:Last in the league, no points.

This was, thankfully, a week of rest for D.C. United, who’ve suffered ignominious losses at the hands of fate, and brutal beatings when they were outmatched. For a club that competed for a playoff spot last year, United’s shortcomings this season are numerous and deeply frustrating to watch. Without much spark on offense, they’re playing cautious football, with lots of strategy and footwork, but with no way to get it past the keeper.

Having been to the last several home games, the problems aren’t with Santino’s righteously colored kicks, or the cheering masses from Barra Brava and the Screaming Eagles; they’re deep in the heart of United itself. It’s frustrating to see a team struggle so hard to find their own identity under new leadership, and always-bespoke Curt Onalfo is struggling himself. He was very critical last week both of himself and of his players, after the loss to Chicago.

United plays a non-league match to play-in to the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday night against FC Dallas, and then hosts the Red Bulls on Saturday, and the KC Wizards next Wednesday, all at RFK. Come on down and see if we can’t get our boys a win, eh?

Onward to the Nationals continued .500+ play and the Redskins’ wheeling and dealing.
Continue reading →

Adventures, Entertainment, Fun & Games, Music, People, The Daily Feed
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Bethesda DJ School Opens Wicka Wicka

Photo courtesy of
‘Hirshhorn After Hours #60’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Just when you thought Bethesda couldn’t get any cooler, Beat Refinery, a DJ school modeled after NYC’s famed Scratch DJ Academy, opens its doors to teach students how to drop the beats and trip the light fantastic DJ style.

Classes take place in an all-new, tricked out room in Bethesda’s Bach to Rock music school, and classes have been designed by famous DJs who jetset around the globe dropping killa beats. Class size is small, 8-10 students, and are a manageable 90-minutes and the course runs for 6 weeks. Beginner class start with the basics: an overview of DJ theory, usage of DJ software, equipment set-up, basic beat counting/matching, etc. You can learn more details about the classes at Thrillist.com

So now it’s time to think up you’re stellar DJ pseudonym. I call DJ We<3DC. If you’re having trouble thinking of a moniker, Rum & Monkey offers a sweet DJ Name Generator. I also call “DJ ThunderCat”

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Jolly Green Giants

Photo courtesy of
‘Green grass, Masonville Cove’
courtesy of ‘sidewalk flying’

In its just-released May issue, the Washingtonian names the winners of its 2010 Green Awards, which honor those who protect the environment and teach others the importance of eco-friendly living.

Loyal We Love DC readers may recognize a few names — Philip O’Neal and Rhon Hayes, co-founders of Green DMV, whose Greater Washington Green Jobs Corps graduates weatherized the Gospel Rescue Ministries homeless shelter earlier this year; Seth Goldman, co-founder of Honest Tea, who told us why he loves DC; and Tracy Bowen of the Alice Ferguson Foundation, which organized the massive Potomac River Watershed Cleanup for which We Love DC co-sponsored a site earlier this month.

See the issue for more on the efforts these and all honorees have made. A hearty congratulations to all the winners! Keep up the great green work!