Monthly Archives: June 2010

The Daily Feed
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Gannett to experiment with hyperlocal

Photo courtesy of
‘Truthful Cliches’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’

In yet another case of local-media-imitates-outlet-that-hasn’t-launched-yet, Gannett will be rolling out new “community websites” in 10 of its TV markets, including the DC area (They own WUSA9, the CBS affiliate, here). They aren’t saying when, but the idea is to “leverage user-generated content” to provide “hyperlocal coverage” and, of course, provide additional targeting data to advertisers. Will any of this user-generated content appear on the TV stations whose websites receive this coverage? Of course not. That’s for “professionals.” Which means I expect the Gannett stations to solicit this hyperlocal coverage for free.

Entertainment, Night Life, We Love Music
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Upcoming: Revolution @ FUR 6/17/10

Revolution @ FUR

This Thursday the DC alternative music scene makes its return to a proper dance club with the launch party of “Revolution” at FUR Nightclub. For years industrial, goth, 80’s, and punk music has been surviving (and in some cases thriving) in basements and bars around the DC area. The underground was not always relegated to the shadows in this town however. For the first fifteen years that I lived in the DC area, there was always a large format dance club giving Industrial/Goth/Punk/80’s dance music a home. Cavernous clubs with huge dance floors and sick sound systems lending themselves once-a-week to the alternative crowd for epic dance parties. For many, these clubs were the epicenter of not just music but also of a thriving nightlife community. Hell, I met my wife at one of those clubs and had my wedding reception after-party at another!

It has been too long since a kick-ass, proper dance club has opened its doors on a regular basis to this scene. This Thursday the Industrial/Goth/Punk scene will come roaring out of the underground and take over FUR Nightclub for the first of a bi-weekly, genre, dance-party called “Revolution”. I was invited to be one of the DJs for this awesome event and I happily accepted. After speaking with the event organizers it was obvious to me that we share the same idea about bringing these genres to one of DC’s nicest and most well-equipped dance clubs. The organizers, the other DJs, and I are all dedicated to creating a great dance party that won’t simply evoke the old, scene, dance clubs; we are determined to create a unique event that will hopefully grow to become legendary in its own right. With a great sense of history for the Industrial/Goth/Punk/80’s scene in DC, we all hope to begin a new era of massive dance parties with our party “Revolution” at FUR. Continue reading →

Adventures, Business and Money, Essential DC, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, Special Events, The Daily Feed, The District
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Wonji Juice Comes To DC

Photo courtesy of
‘Juicing Apples’
courtesy of ‘tiffanywashko’

After Saturday night’s bender, my body and mind were begging me to consume something, anything really, that was nutrient-rich and healthy. With a frozen pizza and some left over chips my only pantry option, I dragged myself off to the nearby Whole Foods to fill my cart with leafy greens and organic goods.

When I arrived at the Georgetown temple of all things gluten and pesticide-free, I espied a new, and at that moment, perfect cure for my lingering hangover, a juice bar. Wonji Juice, the Annapolis started and based juice bar company, offers delicious and super-nutritious fruit, vegetable and superfood concoctions that address any therapeutic need (hangover, stress relief, skin health, etc.) that may be ailing you.

My cure was the Green River, which according to Wonji is a  “Vitamin and mineral dense greens for a nutritious blast! High in chlorophyll to improve blood quality and folate to help produce and maintain new cells.” I definitely picked the right juice for the occasion, and while I can’t say it immediately made my hangover go away, I could definitely tell that my body was thankful for the vitamin rich sustenance.

News, The Daily Feed
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Peculiar Robbery at Annapolis City Hall

Photo courtesy of
‘Vintage Bank Money Bag’
courtesy of ‘las (used to be meeza 1)’

If you’ve paid any bills lately to the City of Annapolis, you might want to call them to make sure your check wasn’t one of the $149,000+ worth of checks that were in a bank bag that was stolen on Monday. The bag contained checks that were stamped “for deposit only” and those will likely have to be stopped and reissued, which can cost some change to the sender. No word yet who will pick up that tab. The thief also got away with around $4,000 in cash.

The Daily Feed
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BuddhaFest

Photo courtesy of
‘Screen with Wings’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

When it’s hot outside, all I want to do is go to the movies.  Something about sitting in an incredibly dark and cold room with a diet coke (or perhaps one of those yummy cherry frosty things) in my hand just makes it all better.  For about 2 hours at least.

So, when I heard about DC’s first Buddhist film festival this weekend I thought, now this is really something, 4 days out of the heat – I am so in.

BuddhaFest is a four-day event being held June 17-20 at American University’s Katzen Art Center.  BuddhaFest presents 12 films, including a world premiere, talks by leading American Buddhist teachers, meditations, and a Picnic for Peace.

Most tickets are $9.95 and festival passes are available starting at $47.75.

Now all you need is that delicious cherry frosty…

Featured Photo
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Featured Photo


Spice Girls Suck!!! Miley Rules by borderstan

As a full-blooded American who was born on the Fourth of July, whose favorite memory of playing soccer as a kid is eating orange slices after the match, I have to wonder what makes you die hard fútbol fans tick.

To you Brits from across the pond, you do realize that you’re standing in your lost land?  Sure, your ball kicking skills may be slightly superior (oh wait, it was a tie), but your inferior musket loading, cannon firing, and battlefield positioning skills are spread all over the pages of history books like beans on toast.  I’ll take my apple pie and Cherry Coke any day of the week over your bland food and high tea.  The only thing you have on us Amerikuns is that sophisticated accent of yours, and the women* who speak with it.

To my fellow Americans, please, let’s just give them this one small thing shall we?  Even though we were raised to believe that we’re superior to the rest of the world in every way, we don’t have to squash their hopes every chance we get do we?  Let them win this tiny, silly game.  Just remember the following facts.  We invented McDonald’s.  We’re home to the companies that build iPods and Windows 7.  We have spacious skies and amber waves of grain from sea to shining sea.  They have the Spice Girls, and the Spice Girls suck!

* Kate Beckinsale – call me!

All Politics is Local, News, The Daily Feed
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Does The DC Democratic Party Straw Poll Mean Anything?

Photo courtesy of
‘CPAC Straw Poll’
courtesy of ‘Gage Skidmore’

This past weekend, the DC Democratic Party held their convention at Howard University’s Law School, and as part of the festivities, the assembled citizens held a straw poll election of candidates for Mayor. The showing wasn’t good for Mayor Adrian Fenty, who was booed by those in attendance. They were all there to see Council Chairman Vincent Gray, who received just over seven hundred votes. Mayor Fenty could only come up with just under two hundred.

Is this straw poll a big deal? Probably not. If it had meant anything, I would imagine the Mayor would have rallied a comparable number of supporters to make it a close vote. In 2006, the straw poll voted strongly for Vincent Orange and Linda Cropp, with Fenty only gathering few votes, but he drew much more heavily at the primary election, where he won all the precincts.

This was an empty victory, largely geared toward the Democratic Party apparatus, and not the citizens as a whole. Keep an eye on the polls.

The Daily Feed
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Strasburg & Pontius Named Players of the Week By MLB and MLS

Photo courtesy of
‘Player of the Week’
courtesy of ‘jem’

In what is sure to be the first many major awards in Stephen Strasburg’s career, he got his first today when he was named the Bank of America MLB NL Player of the Week.

Why was he named the NL’s top player this week? Well, besides the obvious fact that Strasmania has hit the blogosphere, Mr. Strasburg is tied for 2nd on the all-time list of most strikeouts recorded in first 2 big league starts at 22 K’s. Only Karl Spooner (27 in 2 starts in Sept. 1954) recorded more in first 2 big league assignments.

The San Diego native also fanned 19 before issuing first walk. The only other pitcher to do that since 1900 was Cinncinatti’s Johnny Cueto who went struck out 22 before walking someone in 2008 .

Strasburg is now 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA.

The Nationals’ new starter isn’t the only DC athlete getting nods this week. The United’s Chris Pontius was named MLS Player of the Week for Week 12 of the 2010 season. Pontius scored two goals and recorded an assist in DC United’s 3-2 victory over Seattle Sounders FC on Thursday, June 10 at Qwest Field.

This is also Pontius’ first career Player of the Week award in addition to it being the first time a DC United player was chosen as Player of the Week this season.

Congrats to both DC athletes on quite a week’s worth of achievements!

The Daily Feed
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Goat. Bound & Gagged. In the Trunk of a Car

Photo courtesy of
‘Stare’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

…that’s really all you need to know. At a sobriety checkpoint in Bedford County, DC resident Fiona Ann Enderdy arrived at the checkpoint, and there were… noises coming from the trunk of her car. It was a goat, bound and gagged, and of course panting because it was ungodly hot and nasty this weekend even if you were NOT covered in fur and gagged in the trunk of a car.

Enderdy was charged with animal cruelty and released, but insists that in the UK, where she’s from, transporting goats that way is perfectly acceptable.

Dupont Circle, Essential DC, History, Life in the Capital, People
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We’ve Come A Long Way, Baby

Photo courtesy of
‘Equality’
courtesy of ‘ep_jhu’

When DC’s first Pride event took place in 1975, there was no AIDS. There was no same-sex marriage. Rocks were thrown at windows of gay businesses. There were no laws protecting LGBT individuals in the workplace. My, how much has changed. As rights have been won and acceptance has grown, the District’s LGBT community has flourished and thrived, as this year’s blockbuster Pride celebration reflected. As the photos here document Capital Pride 2010, which ended yesterday, here’s a look back on 35 years of celebration, change and progress. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Mr. Irrelevant Celebrates 2,000 Posts

Photo courtesy of
‘Oh Boy …’
courtesy of ’emilywjones’

While I don’t remember the first time I came across the Mottram brothers’ mecca of a DMV-area sports blog, I do know this — I’ve read it every day since then and don’t foresee stopping anytime soon.

That being said, Mr. Irrelevant — the brainchild of the brothers Mottram — achieved a blogging milestone in recent weeks when their post-count reached an impressive 2,000.

Jamie and Chris have been at it for three years now, both still finding time to work full-time sports blogging gigs (Jamie is the Managing Editor for Yahoo! blogs and Chris is the Senior Editor at SB Nation) in addition to Mr. I, which is what they spend their free-time doing.

Congrats to both Mottram brothers on a successful run so far. We Love DC and I look forward to many more witty, comical, yet serious sports blog posts to come!

The Daily Feed
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Petty Theft May Thwart Council Candidate Robinson

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘erin m’

Sometimes I love DC because our political scene is so ridiculous, not despite. Kelvin Robinson, erstwhile candidate for At-Large council seat, has abruptly switched races to run for council specifically from Ward 6, challenging Tommy Wells.

He says there were a lot of factors in the decision, but Mike Debonis points out that a significant one may have been that his stack of ballot petitions was stolen out of his car. So either there’s some dirty business going on and someone is trying to keep Robinson out of the race, or some petty thief was really pissed when he opened up the bag he/she had just finished stealing.

To continue in the At-Large race, Robinson would have to get another 2,000 signatures, but to get on the ballot for Ward 6, he just has to get 250 Ward 6 registered voters to sign, which may be logistically easier.

The DC 100
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DC Omni 100: #12 Pho

Photo courtesy of
‘Pho’
courtesy of ‘adie reed’

It’s time for another edition of the DC Omnivore 100, where we explore the top one hundred foods every good omnivore should try at least once in their lives.

One night when my friends and I were sitting in Pho 75 in Arlington (on Wilson Blvd. in the same shopping center as Ray’s Hellburger), we pondered why so many pho restaurants have numbers in their names. We imagined a syndicate (we called it La Pho-sa Nostra) full of Vietnamese men in fancy suits, tasting each entrepreneur’s humbly-presented, steaming bowl of pho, and giving it a rating. “This pho is very tasty. You can be… Pho 75!”

Of course, the truth is nowhere near as entertaining. The number is usually either a lucky number (8s and repetition are considered especially auspicious), or a number significant to the owner: his or year birth year, the year the family left Vietnam, etc.

Pho itself originated in the late 19th/early 20th century in Vietnam. There are some regional variations, but the basic idea is a very clear, anise-scented broth with onions, rice noodles, and thin cuts of meat. It’s served with a variety of additions and condiments- at Pho 75, considered by many to be the best pho in the DC area, your pho comes Southern Vietnam-style, with a plate of bean sprouts, limes, chili peppers, and basil to stir in, as well as hoisin and Sriracha. It’s commonly eaten at all times of the day, including breakfast, but being a fan of my Western food traditions, I tend to prefer it at lunch or dinner.

If you’ve never had it, there are a few things you need to know:   Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Apple store to open in Georgetown Friday

Photo courtesy of
‘2010:75’
courtesy of ‘::FiZ::’

You may recall last year’s debate between Apple and Georgetown about whose vision for the Apple storefront would win out. Now that they’ve kissed and made up and Apple has gotten to build their store, it will open this Friday. So now you can go fondle an iPad from the convenience (?) of Georgetown, instead of schlepping aaaaallll the way into Virginia on the Metro to Pentagon City or Clarendon. Just, you know, remember to bring your hand sanitizer.

Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: This Will Destroy You @ DC9 6/10/10

This Will Destroy You
courtesy of Girlie Action.

The Texan, post-rock quartet This Will Destroy You played DC9 last Thursday. As I type this review several days later, I am still reeling from their titanic performance. I am tempted to free-style gush about it here, but instead I will break the evening down into pieces to help my brain sort out the chaos that is left in the wake of their visit to the nation’s Capital. In other words, rather than shout “Godzilla!” and start jabbering in incomprehensible language as I try to describe This Will Destroy You laying waste to everything in their path; I will try to provide you with a semi-coherent write-up of Thursday night’s show.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Two bicycles stolen from Mayor Fenty’s home

Photo courtesy of
‘well-dressed mayor’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Earlier this month thieves stole two mountain bikes from the Crestwood home of Mayor Adrian Fenty, according to Bill Myers at the Washington Examiner. From police reports obtained by the Examiner, the bicycles were stolen from the Mayor’s garage, while his security detail was on duty. Fenty was not home at the time, but his wife Michelle was. The bikes are valued at around $300 each, so they are not the top of the line of Fenty’s bike collection.

Detectives are investigating, and according to Police Chief Cathy Lanier, one officer may face disciplinary charges for neglect. The entire incident, which took place on June 3, was captured on security cameras. From the MPD crime reports, it appears as though the incident was written up as a theft from the “alley” in the 4700 block of 17th St NW.   Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Storen and Strasburg: Can They Both Be The Stopper?

storen-in-motion By Ian Koski, Nationals Daily News.
Drew Storen in-motion, Photo By Ian Koski/Nationals Daily News

The much hyped Stephen Strasburg road debut resulted in a 9-4 victory over the Cleveland Indians, snapping the midwesterner’s four-game win streak. Indians’ manager and ex-Nats manager Manny Acta said his team couldn’t get anything going offensively in yesterday’s day. That’s not 100% true.

Cleveland scored 33 runs during their four-game win streak, two wins against the Nationals. Acta’s Indians got a taste of Strasburg when he struggles. Strasburg walked five batters while striking out eight, but those five walks were crucial moments of the game. Those walks were the only real chance besides Travis Hafner’s solo shot over the right-field wall off a 100-mph fastball from Strasburg’s right hand to score.

All Indians runners were stranded. Strasburg got out of a couple jams, but not before coming out after 5 1/3 innings with Washington up 6-1 over Cleveland.

Strasburg left the game with the bases loaded and one out. Enter Drew Storen. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Dave Thomas Circle Traffic Pattern In Effect

The new d.ish blog from DDOT brings us this morning’s video that explains the traffic pattern at the intersection of New York and Florida Avenues in Northeast DC near the ATF HQ and our friends at Pound Coffee. The traffic pattern has been changed to better increase flow through the area, which is a pretty bad hotspot, between the construction and the directional changes.

The plan, dubbed Dave Thomas Circle by our friends at Greater Greater Washington, circulates traffic around the island at First, Florida and New York, which houses a Wendy’s. If this is part of your commute each day, give it a look.

The Daily Feed
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Gregg Deal’s Popmatic

Image via Gregg Deal’s Popmatic, 2010.

I love graphic design and can’t wait to stop by Sukio Design Co. to check out Gregg Deal of Modern Bird Studios‘ first solo art showcase.

In Popmatic, Deal focuses on the humor and escapism that pop culture offers to a society overwhelmed by the “current economy and consumer culture” through his graphic prints and paintings.

The weekend can’t get here soon enough so I can go and check this out!

Popmatic will run from June 12th to June 30th at Sukio Design Co. located at 1338 U. Street NW (3rd Floor).

For more information call 202-596-9090.