Monthly Archives: July 2010

The Daily Feed
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Nats Bats Come Alive For Strasburg

Photo courtesy of
‘5TH’
courtesy of ‘MissChatter’

Wednesday night’s Nationals (41-54) game versus the Cincinnati Reds (53-43) wasn’t Stephen Strasburg’s most dominant performance to-date, but the man got the job done.

Strasburg, who just turned 22 Tuesday, tossed 5.2 innings with seven hits, three earned runs, one walk, and seven strikeouts. What worked for the Nats during this 8-5 victory in a ballpark where long ball is often the name of the game (Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark has yielded 2.58 home runs per game this year) is what hasn’t been as of late — their bats. Continue reading →

Entertainment, Interviews, Music, People, Special Events, We Love Music
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An Interview with David Iskra, Star Wars: In Concert Exhibit Curator

Star Wars: In Concert
photo by Don Whiteside.

Star Wars invaded Washington DC last Saturday when George Lucas and Another Planet Touring brought their phenomenal multimedia road-show, Star Wars: In Concert, to the Verizon Center for two very special concerts. The concerts featured a massive orchestra and choir performing selections from John Williams’ historic run as score composer of the six Star Wars films.

Another major element of this event is a traveling exhibit of original props and costumes from all six Star Wars films. The exhibit filled the hallways of the Verizon center with exotic costumes and strange creatures from a galaxy far, far, away. My review of the concert portion of this event will go live later this afternoon. But first, here is a transcript of an interview I conducted with David Iskra, the curator of the Star Wars: In Concert traveling exhibit.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Local Chefs Do Farm to Table

Photo courtesy of
‘Veg for sale’
courtesy of ‘randomduck’
Just when you were running out of ways to use rhubarb, the Toyota Farm to Table Tour is here to save you. On Thursday, July 29th from 3pm to 7pm, the tour will settle down in our very own FreshFarm Market near the White House with chef demonstrations featuring locally grown seasonal ingredients. Some notable D.C. chefs will be cooking up bite-sized complimentary tastings using some of their favorite fresh ingredients.

Participating local chefs include Ryan Wheeler of Restaurant Eve, Kyle Bailey of Birch & Barley, Scott Drewno of The Source, Mike Isabella of Zaytinya, Olivier Perret of Ici Urban Bistro, Nora Pouillon of Restaurant Nora, David Varley of Bourbon Steak, Paul Stearman of Marcel’s and Nicholas Stefanelli of Bibiana.

Special Events, The Features, We Love Arts
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The African Diaspora Film Festival at National Geographic

Freedom Riders, courtesy the filmmaker and the National Geographic Society

Beginning tomorrow, the fifth annual African Diaspora Film Festival kicks off at the National Geographic headquarters here in Washington, DC. Showcasing a selection of independent films from around the world, the festival runs through Sunday and is presented in collaboration with the National Geographic All Roads Film Project and TransAfrica Forum. The festival will exhibit 10 films, eight of which are premiering in the DC area.

The ADFF presents to Washingtonians an eclectic mix of foreign, independent, classic, and urban films representing the global Black experience through an extraordinary range of subjects and artistic approaches. Created in 1993 in New York City, ADFF has long been delighting audiences with U.S. and world premieres of independent films, including features, documentaries, animation, and shorts.

The opening film, Freedom Riders, is the first feature-length film about the civil rights activists who risked their lives to bring the American people and government face-to-face with the civil rights inequalities that plagued our nation. The film was a Sundance Film Festival 2010 Official Selection made by Stanley Nelson. Gaining impressive access to influential figures on both sides of the issue, Nelson chronicles a chapter of American history that stands as an astonishing testament to the accomplishment of youth and what can result from the incredible combination of personal conviction and the courage to organize against all odds. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Construction Begins On Columbia Heights Writing Center

Photo courtesy of
‘Lemon #23’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Construction is a general term meaning the art and science to form objects, systems, or organizations, and comes from Latin constructio (from com- “together” and struere “to pile up”) and Old French construction. Construction is expected to begin this week on a new writing center for 826DC, the local affiliate of a national youth writing program founded by author Dave Eggers. Up until now, the non-profit has visited area schools to encourage the creative and expository writing skills of local students. While in-class instruction will remain, the new space will give the organization a permanent home for writing workshops and drop-in tutoring sessions. The center will inhabit the old Score space on Columbia Heights Plaza, and should be open for business by autumn according to the best builders you can find at https://www.weinerestates.com.

Like all 826 chapters, the DC center will also boast a wacky storefront. The concept will be the “Museum of Unnatural History,” which is being touted as “the world’s leading authority on all aspects of nature that defy explanation, confound the scientific community, and fly (sometimes literally) in the face of everything we thought we knew about the world around us.” I am not exactly certain what this means, but I’m hoping it somehow incorporates Bat Boy of Weekly World News fame. Even if it doesn’t, the idea promises to bring added spirit and energy to an already spirited community.

Welcome to the neighborhood, 826!


Talkin' Transit
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Talkin’ Transit: Data, Data, Data

Photo courtesy of
‘Horton #9’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Metro is hoping that a release of their real time data to developers will help them get information about trains and buses to riders faster and in ways they want. On July 8, Metro announced that a public application programming interface (API) aimed at the developer community would be made available in August.

The agency told us it is looking to the community of developers to help solve some of the issues they currently face, including making live data available to the disabled, and helping to make regional transit information easier to access. Metro spokesman Ron Holzer says they would also be “delighted to be surprised with applications that are totally unexpected.”

Metro is also looking to “foster a better culture of transparency, customer service and performance accountability,” with the release of this data. So how will this work? What would this data look like for developers, and what should riders expect to see in the not too distant future?
Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Clever Elvis Headline Gets You Two Tickets To The Newseum Exhibit

Photo courtesy of
‘Beatles & Elvis’
courtesy of ‘Thomas Duchnicki :: Location Scout’

Like Elvis? Think you’re clever? Do you have a witty way with words? If so the Newseum is offering a pair of tickets to their temporary Elvis exhibit via an online contest to whoever can conjure up the “most clever headline” to describe it.

The contest deadline is 5 p.m. EST today.

So lace up those blue suede shoes, get that thinkin’ cap on, and get a whole lot a shakin’ goin on inside that head. I can almost guarentee you’ll be far more witty than the string of puns thrown together in the sentence before this, so give it a shot. It can’t hurt.

Entertainment, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Fringe 2010: The Rave Scenes

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘erin m’

Imagine a group of friends (and some hangers-on) sitting around one night talking about the club scene they used to frequent. No matter the particular scene, if you were a crazy clubkid you’ve had the post-scene breakdown, the nostalgia and the arguments about what it really meant. AWoL Productions’ The Rave Scenes is exactly like one of those nights, except the friends have an audience they are trying to educate about the scene long gone.

All the usual suspects are represented (the dealer, the dancer, the wannabe) and are helpfully nametagged as if it’s a support group meeting. In a way it is. Each personality (they aren’t really characters) is dealing with the loss of the scene and what it meant to them. Each one tries to convince the audience their version is the authentic version, and most want you to discount the drug element, which became the media and political bugbear that eventually brought the original scene down.  Continue reading →

The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: Avenue Q at the Lansburgh Theatre


AVENUE Q National Tour 2009, Kerri Brackin, Nicky, Rod, Brent Michael DiRoma © John Daughtry 2009

Lately I’ve been afflicted with strong bouts of nostalgia. Thinking back to my time in college, wishing I had done things differently, the sort of typical mid-twenties angst. For those of us who may still be unsure of what we want to do with our lives, Avenue Q is a musical that will hit home. It will also strongly remind you of a bygone era—the early 2000s. It is also the only musical with fully nude puppets having sex on stage. It has been called Sesame Street for grown-ups, which is a accurate description. Avenue Q opened at the Lansburgh Theatre last week, and is unique and entertaining look at angst-filled life in the big city. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Big Bear Cafe with Booze? Not in my backyard, says ANC 5C

Photo courtesy of
‘DC Food For All launch party @ Big Bear Cafe’
courtesy of ‘stereogab’

Last night’s hearing at ANC 5C ended the way that we feared it might: with Big Bear Cafe getting screwed by small groups of dedicated NIMBYs. The Bloomingdale hub coffee shop, and host of the Farmers’ Market on Sunday, was denied their opportunity to proceed to ABRA with the support of their ANC. The issues are frustrating, the participants stilted cartoonish caricatures, and the end result entirely typical for the process.

Sorry you got screwed by the NIMBYs, Big Bear. Next time, be sure to bribe the right ANC reps and it’ll just sail through. Or, so I’m told.

Arlington, Crime & Punishment, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Say Cheese and Pay Up

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

Remember those red light cameras that Arlington installed for your safety, last month?  Well, today is the day of reckoning. Arlington PD will start issuing $50 infractions to drivers the cameras catch blowing red lights.  To be fair, this is a significantly lighter fine than would be issue by a cop catching you doing the same, and you won’t get any points on your license.  Remember, citizens, these cameras are there for your safety, and are in no way a revenue generator for the city’s budget.

And, in case you’re wondering, the cameras are at the intersections of Lee Highway – Fort Myer Dr, and  Lee Highway – North Lynn St.

The Daily Feed
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Vote for We Love DC at WTOP!

wtop.jpg

King of DC Radio stations WTOP has put up their Best Local Blog of 2010 contest, and we’re one of the nominees!  Thanks to all our awesome readers for helping get us on the list!  Now it’s time to vote!  I’m sure you don’t want a hockey blog claiming that slot, or worse, a Fairfax blog, so get on over to WTOP and, as they say in Chicago: Vote Early, Vote Often. We appreciate all you wonderful readers!

Entertainment, Fun & Games, Music, We Love Music
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The Winning Ticket: Seu Jorge and Almaz

As a way to say thanks to our loyal readers, We Love DC will be giving away a pair of tickets to a 9:30 Club concert to one lucky reader each week. Check back here every Wednesday morning at 9am to find out what tickets we’re giving away and leave a comment for your chance to be the lucky winner!

This week’s prize is a pair of tickets to see Seu Jorge & Almaz on July 27th at the 9:30 Club. (Please note this is an early show: 6pm doors).

Seu Jorge is well known as a brilliant, Brazilian singer-songwriter and solo performer. His soulful, samba-infused songs sparked a revival of Brazilian music and influence in popular music in the early 00’s. In 2010 Seu Jorge is once again catching the world’s attention with his new band Alamaz; featuring Seu Jorge on vocals, drummer Pupillo, guitarist Lucio Maia, with bassist Antonio Pinto. Their self-titled debut album drops in the U.S. on the same day as their show at the 9:30 Club. I wouldn’t be too surprised if they treat the DC crowd to an extra special performance to celebrate the arrival of their new long-player.

For your chance to win these tickets simply leave a comment on this post using a valid email address between 9am and 4pm today. One entry per email address, please. Tickets for this show are also available through Ticketfly. If today doesn’t turn out to be your lucky day, check back here each Wednesday for a chance to win tickets to other great concerts.

For the rules of this giveaway…
Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Have A Classy Friday Night For Once

Photo courtesy of
‘Hirshhorn After Hours #51’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

There are only a few things that could improve Hirshhorn After Hours. One is unicorns. The other is drag queens. Guess which idea the museum decided to go with? This Friday, Hirshhorn After Hours returns with special guest host Summer Camp, everyone’s favorite neighborhood drag queen. In addition to Ms. Camp, the museum’s summertime soirée will also include performances by Karl Marks, Brandon Joseph Neukam and Sunrize Highway, as well as the DJ stylings of Matt Bailer and Bil Todd.

As usual, cocktails will flow, socialites will dance, and world-class art will be appreciated. Make sure to get there early if you want a full museum tour: though the party runs from 8pm to 12pm, exhibits close at 10pm. Don’t forget, it’s one of your last chances to see the Black Box exhibit before it ends on August 1st.

Tickets are $18, and can be ordered by phone, online, or in person at IMAX® box offices. They are not available at the door, so use the next two days to plan ahead before the event sells out.

The Daily Feed
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Site of Robert Wone murder for sale

Photo courtesy of
‘2009 05 09 – 5794 – Washington DC – Swann St’
courtesy of ‘thisisbossi’

Via NBCWashington, I note that 1509 Swann St. NW, the house where Robert Wone was murdered in 2006, is now for sale. The listing makes no mention of the Wone killing, and since DC does not require that sellers disclose that someone died in the house, there’s no reason for it to. And if you were the realtor with the unhappy task of getting $1.6 million for the scene of a notorious unsolved murder, would you mention it?

Since there is no open house scheduled that gawkers can take advantage of—which is exactly why there is no open house—take a look at the online virtual house tour.* Having recently spent countless hours of my life poring over listings and photos of anonymous houses for sale, it’s a little surreal to look at the listing while knowing the strange and twisted story that goes with the photos. Like, “hey, so that’s the carport the intruder was supposed to have vaulted into…”

*Any cracks I make about parallels between staging a house and staging a crime scene are potentially libelous, so you’re on your own there.

Edited to add: While editing this post the first time, I cut out the link to WhoMurderedRobertWone.com, who of course noticed this listing before anybody. My apologies for the oversight.

Downtown, Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Cheap Beer Alert!

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘muohace_dc’

To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.  A time to spend $10 on a six pack of craft beer, and a time to kick back with a cheap all-American brew.  A time to savor the complexity of a well made drink, and a time to cool off with an ice cold blue collar type beer. Fortunately, Againn is facilitating the latter of these times with their 99 cent beer special.  When you purchase one of Againn’s four happy hour appetizers, you get two Yueglings for less than a buck.  Surely that’s worth coming off of your beer snob high horse for.

Food and Drink, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Happy Birthday Stephen Strasburg, I Ate A Burger For Ya!

We Love DC would like to wish Stephen Strasburg a happy birthday today. The Nationals phenom pitcher and San Diego native turns 22. Today he’s probably spending the day preparing for his start against the Cincinnati Reds tomorrow but I think he should relax, have some fun, and perhaps celebrate the way I did- by eating one of the many burgers in his namesake.

After a whole adventure on Twitter my fellow co-worker Laura Murphy and I got BGR: The Burger Joint to bring back their Strasburger: a cheeseburger topped with a hot-dog, cheese, and 14 pickles. Today we achieved the lifelong dream of eating the Strasburger and as Laura tweeted: it’s was exactly what a 2.03 ERA tastes like.

So Happy Birthday Stephen, may your future starts be victorious, strikeouts come a-plenty, and Strasbugers taste delicious.

The Daily Feed
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Summer Restaurant Week Announced

Photo courtesy of
‘To eat steak rare………….’
courtesy of ‘LaTur’
Hear ye, hear ye! The August Restaurant Week dates and locations have been announced. Get your Opentable-clicking finger ready.

This summer’s Restaurant Week will run from August 16th to August 22nd, with a three course lunch running you $20.10 and a three course dinner ringing up at $35.10. As usual, beverages, gratuity and tax are not included.

For those cave dwellers not familiar with the concept of Restaurant Week, it is a great opportunity to try out some new restaurants in town (such as Agora, Lyon Hall or Againn) or those usually outside the realm of financial possibilities (ahem…Bourbon Steak, J&G Steakhouse, 2941 Restaurant).

If the list of over 200 restaurants participating seems a bit overwhelming, have a look at Bethesda-Chevy Chase Restaurant Week (July 26th-August 1st) or Alexandria Restaurant Week (August 20th-August 29th).