‘(158/365)’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’

Yesterday marked the end of an era in the DC Blog Scene, as DCist’s editrix for the last three years, Sommer Mathis, finished her stint to work for the new Albritton TBD.com, and today marks the beginning of the new, as Aaron Morrissey takes her place. I just want to take a second to thank Sommer for her many contributions to DC’s blogging scene, and to welcome Aaron to the helm of DCist.  I’ve had the pleasure of sitting side by side with Aaron for a number of D.C. United matches, and Tuesday’s Nationals game, and I’ve enjoyed talking with him, and I look forward to DCist under his watch.  Congrats, Aaron, and Congrats, Sommer, it’s been a pleasure blogging with/near you both.

‘Dandies & Quaintrelles 0863’
courtesy of ‘yospyn’

This weekend’s Seersucker Social has a bike-ride associated, and from what I understand, the directions are text-only. I’ve worked with one of the riders to do some google mapping, and I’m hopeful that this is going to work. As always, keep the directions with you, but this might do the trick, as well. Continue reading →

‘snow melter’
courtesy of ‘ann gav’

The DC DPW has a ton of awesome equipment, like this mobile snowmelter that became part of the everyday lexicon of the average DC resident during the blizzard this winter. This Saturday from 9 to 2, they’re having a “truck touch” where you can come check out 20 different vehicles that might capture your imagination, over in parking lots 6 and 7 at RFK Stadium. You can climb into the various sweet rides that DCDPW has to offer, how sweet is that?

‘2010:149’
courtesy of ‘::FiZ::’

If Capitol Hill was in fact a high school, it is definitely hitting all the marks for the end of the school year. Since the prom has already happened, that must mean it’s almost yearbook season, and the DC version of that would certainly have to be The Hill‘s 50 Most Beautiful People list. Vanity and politics meet at a fantastic intersection in this annual feature from the congressional publication, and now is the time to make sure your favorite Hill-ype gets included. As Fishbowl DC notes, nominations are now being accepted for the 2010 version of the list through June 30th.

In honor of the open nomination, The Hill is sharing redacted versions of a very of the entertaining entries. My favorite of the first group:

Besides being his lucky girlfriend and No. 1 fan, I’m nominating [NAME] because he is a specimen of all that is man. I have to fight girls/my friends/his interns/my mom off of him. It’s disgusting and awesome. He is not only the most interesting and hilarious person you’d ever meet but also an unrivaled storyteller and will surely keep you more entertained with an interview than I can in this short nomination …

I’m not always a betting man, but I would gamble that a certain junior senator from up north gets included…especially if the SNL writers get a vote.

Photo by Rachel Levitin

American University rising junior and basketball player Stephen Lumpkins achieved an athletic feat that no other Division I college basketball player in the city has this year – he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 42^nd round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday.

Lumpkins, who is known for playing forward with the American Eagles, played baseball throughout high school and is on a collegiate summer league team at the moment.

Although he entered the Eagle lineup his freshman year, Lumpkins’ love for baseball did not falter. The 6’8” California native started recruiting basketball teammates to “play catch” with him last summer while at home.

“I’d like to pursue a career in professional baseball,” he told American’s Kogod News.

Lumpkins has until mid-August to make his final decision about whether or not he will return to AU and continue to play Division I basketball or join the Pirates farm system.

”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Strasburg fans: You’ve got a little present coming your way. There will be a Stephen Strasburg first-pitch poster in the Sunday edition of The Washington Post.

Posters will be available in the early Sunday edition tomorrow and in the final edition of the Sunday paper.

‘Red Shell’
courtesy of ‘M.V. Jantzen’

The Adolf Cluss façade of the O Street Market (aka Northern Market, as in Eastern Market) at O and 7th Streets NW in Shaw has remained a shell for several years after the roof collapsed in the 2003 blizzard. The city was able to save the façade of the market, though, and developers have been promising to turn it into something more with time. The project had stalled several times, but news came from DC Metrocentric this morning: construction at the site will begin in September, with preservation of the old structure continuing before the closing of the Giant Food in January. It will take two years or so for the Giant to reopen, and in 2014, a new hotel and new block of retail will open on the same site.

I love that they chose to keep the historic shell of the Northern Market and can’t wait to see what this looks like when they’re done.

‘Street Saxophonist’
courtesy of ‘Bogotron’

Calling all singers, dancers, musicians, poets, and any creative-minded folks in the greater DC-area! Metro’s Art in Transit program and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities are holding open auditions at Metro headquarters Saturday, June 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the MetroPerforms! series.

Artists selected to perform based on the June 19 auditions will be placed at Metro station entrances from June through September.

Those interested in auditioning can bring their artistic a-game to 600 Fifth Street NW when Metro will select the lucky few who will perform at 10 stations throughout the District through the fall.

’67A #1′
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Mayor Adrian Fenty may have $3.2M in the bank, but his challenger in his first quarter of campaigning raised over half a million dollars. Mike DeBonis has all of the council campaign reports, as well. With reports that last night’s candidate forum got a little heated, it’s going to be a long hot summer full of politics for DC.

‘Chris Pontius’
courtesy of ‘Joscarfas’

D.C. United last night showed Seattle, on their home turf, that perhaps last year’s U.S. Open Cup Final might have just been a fluke, and Chris Pontius was a huge part of that showing. United continued their unbeaten streak to 4-0-1 in their last five matches, and forward Chris Pontius picked up all three scores in the 3-2 final.

Congrats to you, Chris! Well done! Thanks for beating those upstarts out West!

‘kiss’
courtesy of ‘quigley_brown (Jim Hamann)’

With the city’s recent legalization of same-sex marriage, it’s been a big year for the LGBT community. But the organizers of Capital Pride want you to know that you ain’t seen nothing yet.

Although Pride events have been taking place all week, this weekend marks the two biggies. On Saturday, the annual Pride Parade kicks off at 6:30pm at 23rd and P Streets NW. The route will travel north along New Hampshire Avenue before finishing at 14th and N Street. Given that the USA v. England World Cup match will be shown in Dupont Circle earlier that afternoon, the crowd will likely be very large and very drunk. Should be a good party.

But don’t celebrate so much that you can’t make it out of bed on Sunday for the street festival. This will take place along Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 7th and 3rd Street. Food and drink will be aplenty, and three different stages will showcase various singers, bands, DJs and drag performances.

If you’ve still got more pride to show, there’s a slew of other events and parties slated for this weekend as well, including after parties on both Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Make sure to check back on Monday for a photographic roundup of Capital Pride 2010, as well as for a look back on the past 35 years of this truly awesome event.