Photo by Anthony Amobi / Nationals News Network
Roy Oswalt’s debut with Philadelphia didn’t go the way the hordes of fans in from out of town hoped it would. Instead, Phillies and Nats fans and were treated to 6.1 fine innings pitched by Nationals right-hander Craig Stammen and a hard-hitting line-up all throughout the order. Continue reading
So if you’ve been living under a rock since Tuesday night then you wouldn’t know this, but Miss Iowa came to visit NatsTown Friday night. Why? Good question. Seems random. I know. That’s because it is.
You see, word on the street is some people can’t take a joke or misconstrue a joke as a knock on their home state. When Miss Iowa aka Katherine Connors heard word that “some pitcher” was talking trash on her as seen on ESPN (aka Miguel Batista) by one of her friends, she had to stand up and defend herself. Continue reading
‘Day 238: E Street Cinemas’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’
I absolutely love going to see movies. The more the merrier is my opinion when it comes to movie theater real estate, especially if the theater is quaint and has some personality.
According to The Georgetown Voice and the West End Flyer, the Inner Circle triplex will reopen the West End Theater at 2301 M Street NW this fall. The Circle West End first opened on April 12, 1985 and later closed in 2004.
When the theater re-opens, it will feature “first-run independent films, art house, documentary, and remastered classic films.”
I will bring the tickets if you get the popcorn (and Twizzlers please)!
‘in the pocket’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’
The Nationals continue to deal chips before the July 31 trade deadline this afternoon with news that infielder Cristian Guzman is going to the Texas Rangers in return for a few prospects.
Guzman has played in 550 games for the Nationals, second only to Ryan Zimmerman.
Guzman was also the longest tenured Nat whose service to the team had been uninterrupted. Additionally, he was on the team’s original 2005 Opening Day roster.
Updates after the page break. Continue reading
By Ben H. Rome
American Craft Masterpieces – Kim Schmahmann, Bureau of Bureaucracy, 1993-1999, courtesy Smithsonian American Art Museum
August promises to be chock full of events at many museums around town as the summer heat continues to build. Check out what’s going on down at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM) during the dog days of August; all programs are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. The SAAM is located over in Penn Quarter at 8th and F Streets, NW.
Conservation Clinic (Aug 4; by appointment only)
Questions about the condition of a painting, frame, drawing, print, or sculpture? American Art conservators are available by appointment for consultation about the preservation of privately-owned art. To request an appointment or to learn more, email DWRCLunder@si.edu and specify CLINIC in the subject line.
Book Talk & Signing: “Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera” (Aug 5, 6:30pm)
Many of Rockwell’s most memorable characters were friends and neighbors who served as amateur models. Author Ron Schick discusses how Rockwell acted as director — carefully orchestrating models, selecting props, and choosing locations for the photographs that served as the basis of his iconic images. Book signing follows. (This is a part of the SAAM’s comprehensive Rockwell & the Movies exhibition.)
By shannon
‘121:365’
courtesy of ‘.lissa.’
Ever wish you could trade in the Beltway traffic, politics, and oppressive humidity of DC for the beauty of California for a little while? Well, now’s your chance. Virgin America just announced $119 non-stop one way fares from Dulles to Los Angeles and $139 non-stop one way fares from Dulles to San Francisco. These rates are good for trips in August through October and must be booked one week in advance. And there’s no catch– just a fantastic deal and a good excuse to leave DC for a little while.
The annual Running of the Brides took place at the Filene’s Basement in Friendship Heights this morning, an event which features incredibly steep discounts on wedding gowns. After watching this video of the chaos from NBC Washington, I’ve honestly never been happier to be single.
By Ashley
‘The scene is set!’
courtesy of ‘fifikins’
Ever felt like you’re the only one who appreciates a nice al fresco meal? Well you’ll be able to join 79 of your fellow outdoor diners on Thursday, August 5th when the folks behind D.C.’s annual International Food and Wine Festival debut their Urban Farm Table. Billed as “much more than a barbeque with a bureaucratic backdrop,” the dinner will be served under the stars at long communal tables in the center of the Woodrow Wilson Plaza at the Ronald Reagan Building.
The evening will start at 8:00pm with a BBQ canape reception with the chefs, followed by a four-course gourmet meal beginning at dusk.
Diners will sample dishes made by local D.C. chefs such as Olivier Perret of Ici Urban Bistro, Todd Gray of Equinox, Xavier Deshayes of the Ronald Reagan Building and Tiffany Maclssac of Birch & Barley and Churchkey.
Tickets will run you $70 (or $60 if you are a Tastepost.com member) and are still available, but going fast. To scoop yours up, send an email here.
By Tom Bridge
‘And….’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’
Another week closer to the primary and DCision 2010. 46 days until the primary election and the end of the Gray/Fenty battle.
The Big Race
Gray ekes out a win in Ward 6. The Ward 6 Democrats held their straw poll on Tuesday night, and Vince Gray came away the winner, even if he didn’t win their endorsement. The organization required 60% of the vote in order to grant an endorsement, and neither candidate breached that margin. Vince Gray picked up 56%, with Adrian Fenty picking up just 40%. As usual, straw polls aren’t a great measure of anything other than the most involved partisans.
Endorsements for Gray. Three endorsements for Vince Gray this week, one from the Fraternal Order of Police, one from the Latino Caucus, and one from the Realtors. Endorsements are a mixed bag. They can come with institutional support (likely from the Latino Caucus) or money (likely from the Realtors and FOP) or votes. Enough endorsements and you’ve got a rock-steady base and a motivated group of people with a lot to lose. We won’t know how much this matters until all the cards are on the table. Still, it looks good for Gray this week. Continue reading
Noting the success of the Old Spice YouTube marketing campaign, Vince Gray takes his cue from The Man your Man Could Smell Like and has posted brief YouTube videos in response to questions and comments from DC social media users.
If you have a question for Gray, you can as @grayformayor on Twitter or leave a wall post on Facebook. Or leave your question in the comments and we’ll ask him.
Update: The Gray campaign indicates that there will be another set of videos in a couple of weeks. While I’d like to see it planned as a weekly thing at least (and I think more candidates should be doing it), it seems like the best way to encourage it is to ask lots of good questions. So bring ’em on, DC.
‘The Artist’
courtesy of ‘Mondmann’
There is a large percentage of the population who believe that pictures from Ikea qualify as legitimate wall art. There’s no shame in this – it’s cheap and generally tasteful. But wouldn’t it be nicer to have some real art made by real people? Real people who live in your city no less?
To rectify the situation, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities has teamed up with the Washington Convention Center to host the Arts on N Street Festival. Part celebration, part art market, the event will take place during the first two weekends of August along N Street between 7th and 9th Streets NW. Fashion designers, painters, photographers and jewelry makers will be on-hand to sell their wares, while DJs will provide a little light background music. This is a great opportunity to replace that canvas of Audrey Hepburn (or maybe you went with the Eiffel Tower shot?) with something local and unique. Audrey won’t mind – promise.
The festival is free of charge and will take place on August 7th, 8th, 14th and 15th from 10am to 4pm.
By Ashley
‘Curbside Cupcakes’
courtesy of ‘gerdaindc’
It’s going to be a good day for those of you in Franklin Park. Pizza? Or buttered chicken? Pizza? Or buttered chicken?
Continue reading
‘Matt Capps’
courtesy of ‘MissChatter’
Matt Capps is one of the reasons Nationals baseball had an exciting ride early this year. There’s no denying that.
The team’s lone All-Star representative in 2010 was traded to the Minnesota Twins last night for catcher Wilson Ramos and left-hander Joe Testa. Both are prospect players who will start their time with the Nationals on the farm. Ramos will start at Class Triple-A Syracuse and Testa will report to Class-A Potomoc.
The 26-year-old Capps came to Washington during the off-season as a free agent. He signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal. In many ways, he was the boy with the golden touch for the Nationals bullpen who had often struggled before Capps came in as a stabilizer. Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
‘Because This Motorist’s Car Had Failed the Carbon Monoxide and Hydrocarbon Emissions Test a Second Time…09/1975’
courtesy of ‘The U.S. National Archives’
There’s nothing I hate like a contrived nickname. It’s only barely better than a nickname you’ve given yourself, which as we all know is verboten. But Paul Farhi has a piece in today’s Post about “The DMV” which refers to “The District, Maryland and Virginia.” I don’t know about you, but what I think of when I hear that awful acronym is the Department of Motor Vehicles. You know, the place you have to go once every couple of years, to fill out lengthy forms with obscure automotive references and detailed personal information, and to be reminded of the soul-crushing bureaucracy required to do anything related to the government. That’s not what I want to associate my home with, really, and I just don’t understand it.
Paul Farhi says that it dates back to Channel 9’s original name: “Actually, long before then, Washington’s Channel 9 was known as WDMV-TV, which stood for “the District, Maryland and Virginia.” But WDMV died long before the current vogue for “the DMV” (the call letters live on at a small AM radio station in Walkersville, Md.).” But, as William Yurasko points out, that’s just not the case: “Actually, Channel 9 was known as WDVM.”
That kinda guts Farhi’s whole “historical angle,” doesn’t it? I really think this nickname should die a horrific death. We’re “the Washington DC area,” or, for those who live inside the bounds, “The District.” We’re also The Nation’s Capital, if you want to get fancy, or the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area. But The DMV? No thank you. Sorry, Paul Farhi.
By Rebecca
‘The Cheesecake Factory’
courtesy of ‘Bitman’
In honor of National Cheesecake Day, all Cheesecake Factories have slashed prices on all their cheesecakes by 50%. They’re also debuting their latest addition, Reese’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake, which looks ultra yummy good. So stop in your local Cheesecake Factory, and treat yourself you a slice.
By shannon
‘RV’s New Town Square & Beall Ave 6-09’
courtesy of ‘brad.rourke’
We’re heading back to Maryland this week to check out a DC suburb that has grown to become the second-largest incorporated city in Maryland: Rockville. Read on to find out what Rockville residents like about it, and why it’s worth a visit.
History: Rockville was one of Maryland’s oldest towns and had an important role in the Revolutionary War. It got its name in 1801 because of its proximity to Rock Creek, and developed slowly for most of the 1800s. In 1873 the B&O Railroad came through town, and the area grew even more. But the real surge in growth in Rockville didn’t happen until after the 1950s, when the population increased sevenfold in thirty years. Today Rockville is home to over 60,000 residents. For a more detailed view of Rockville’s history, check out the city’s historic preservation website.
Continue reading
By Ashley
‘Every Food Fits: Don’t Bother Us, We’re Crabby!’
courtesy of ‘staceyviera’
Throughout the month of August, Bar Pilar will have hardshell crab dinners. Yep, you heard me, a little bit of the Bay right on 14th Street. Prepared by executive chef and Baltimore native Justin Bittner, the meal ($60) is served for two and includes a pile of steamed crabs and two or three seasonal sides. Sides have included steamed corn on the cob, steamed clams with chorizo, cornbread and heirloom tomatoes.
If you can’t make it to Bar Pilar to crack crabs, hardshells are available at Art & Soul, Bethesda Crab House, Quarterdeck, The Dancing Crab, and if Metro-accessibility isn’t a must for you – Cantler’s.
By Tom Bridge
Photo by Cheryl Nichols Nats News Network
Scott Olsen returned to the mound for the Nationals on Thursday afternoon and pitched six solid innings of 2-run ball to notch his first win since May. Olsen had been struggling to the starting rotation after tightness in his shoulder would not abate after a start in late May. Today, none of that was evident, as the hurler would go six full, with velocity reaching the low 90s, which is impressive when you think that he came into Spring Training throwing in the low 80s. After the game, Manager Jim Riggleman would say of Olsen, “He looked good…he kept the ball down, confident with his pitches,” and that’s just what the Nationals needed when they continue to face problems in their starting five. Continue reading
‘Red Line to Glenmont’
courtesy of ‘afagen’
Just when you thought nothing else could go wrong for Metro today, there is a power line down on the tracks in Silver Spring, which is massively disrupting service. Refreshingly, this one is pretty much not Metro’s fault.
Basically, Pepco (also not having a great week) needs to determine whether the line is still live or not before passengers can be offloaded from the stranded train onto the rescue train. Fortunately, there is still at least AC on the stranded train. It’s the little things.
While service is not operating between Glenmont and Silver Spring, the rest of the line is still operating on either side. But, as always, expect serious delays and maybe you just want to cab it home tonight.
UPDATED TO ADD: Metro’s press release reminds everyone that relying on shuttle bus service is pretty much a joke at rush hour, because a shuttle carries 50 people while a full train carries 800-1000. Seriously you guys, CAB IT.
By shannon
‘Chik-fil-a cravings must be dealt with’
courtesy of ‘MRBECK’
What would you do for a year’s worth of Chik-fil-A? Would you camp out in this heat for two nights? Well that’s just what hundreds of people did in Silver Spring since Tuesday. The Washington Post reports that a new Chik-fil-A store opened today, and it attracted legions of fans for its “First 100” promotion. The first 100 people in line got 52 coupons for free combo meals.
These people aren’t just your typical area college students that have nothing better to do with their time, they’re actual functional members of society who traveled for hours to attend the opening. In fact, the article quotes one fan who has been to 56 of these “First 100” openings– meaning she has earned a total of 2,912 coupons for free meals at Chick-fil-A. Continue reading
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