‘A moment of captured beauty…………’
courtesy of ‘LaTur’
It’s the last day of the year for a lot of trucks, so get your fill. Happy holidays, truck eaters!
By Ashley
Monthly Archives: December 2010
By Ashley
By The Ten Best Concerts In And Around DC For 2010
‘Muse – Patriot Center – March 1, 2010’
courtesy of ‘Mrs. Gemstone’
This is my favorite post to write each year. There are many reasons why but the main one is that I love how it tasks me with reliving my year in music. I have re-read every review that I have written in the past year. I have thought about every show and every individual set that I have seen in 2010.* I have made numerous lists of the sets I have seen, and I have broken them down into categories to determine the best of the best in each. I always enjoy the concert-to-concert combat that rages in my memory as I try to boil down a year’s worth of experiences into a shortlist that best represents the year. I am equally surprised and proud to discover that this is the sixth year that I have completed this process of list making.
2010 may be the single best year of live music that I have experienced in my eighteen years of concert-going. Collectively the shows I have seen across the U.S. and in and around DC this year have provided me with more moments of music nirvana, pure aural bliss, then I ever imagined was possible. I often say I am on a life-long quest to attain music nirvana and 2010 is as close as I have come to discovering it in a sustained form. With a year this good, my usual challenging task of narrowing the field down to the 10 best concerts was more difficult than ever.**
By Tom Bridge
Brookland gathers to remember Raj Patel
‘flame in twilight’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’
Over 150 community members met at the Newton Market last night at 12th and Newton to remember Raj Patel, who was shot and killed during a botched robbery on Saturday. Lead by priests from St. Anthony’s, a candlelight vigil was held at the market to support the Patel family and support the community at large. I was impressed with the turnout from the surrounding community, with ANC Commissioners Steptoe, Clark and Blair present, as well as Councilman Harry Thomas Jr. and a large number of area businesses (I know that Subway, the Brookland Cafe and Inn, Brookland Grill and others were there. I only know those names by who the speakers recognize, I suspect that there were many others present) and community associations present.
Mr. Patel’s son, nephew and brother were present, and have asked that any further donations not be made to the family, but rather to Brookland causes, businesses and churches. Mr. Patel’s nephew explained that while the donations were generous and welcome, that the family knew that Mr. Patel would have wanted that money to go to the people who would need it this holiday season within the Brookland community.
I was disappointed at the lack of representation from MPD, who did not send anyone to the event. I received an email from Commander Greene of the Fifth District last night who said that they had not been made aware of the vigil, and had they known, they would have sent someone to attend and speak to the group, but that they were unaware. Given the large number of posts on area listserves, as well as flyers throughout the neighborhood announcing the event, I find it troubling they were not organically aware of the event, and would have needed an invite.
MPD has yet to issue further guidance to the community concerning the killers.
By Will Packard
Bears/Caps Beat Devils, 5-1
‘Gordon Celebrates His First NHL Goal’
courtesy of ‘clydeorama’
It took a couple of minor league call-ups to get the Caps out of their scoring funk. Andrew Gordon and Jay Beagle, brought up from the AHL Hershey Bears on December 15, scored the first two goals for the Caps, and Washington went on to beat the New Jersey Devils 5-1 last night at Verizon Center.
There were two desperate teams on the ice to start the game. The Caps came into this game to try to string together a couple of wins and leave the eight-game skid behind them. The Devils needed to make up for the 7-1 loss in Atlanta on Saturday and their awful 1-7 record in December.
The new-found discipline of strong forechecking and playing deep in the offensive zone paid dividends as the Caps had a number of good scoring chances early in the game. Gordon lit the lamp first for the Caps, recording his first NHL goal with a strong push to the net as Marcus Johansson chased down a loose puck and whipped a perfect pass to the crease. Continue reading
The Winning Ticket: Gogol Bordello w/ Trouble Funk on NYE
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 we are hooking you up for New Year’s Eve with a pair of tickets to what is sure to be the most insane party in town. Prepare yourself for the volcanic volatile mix of Trouble Funk performing with Gogol Bordello on New Year’s Eve! The party prowess of these two bands is the stuff of legend. Only the mad genius programmers of 9:30 Club would dare put them together in the same room on the biggest party night of the year. You want a NYE to remember; one you’ll tell stories about for months? This is it! Just remember when telling the tale to mention that you won your tix to this SOLD OUT shindig from We Love DC. Happy New Year everyone!
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. 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
By Don
What’s really happening at those WMATA “random” stops
Screen capture from the WMATA youtube video of today’s first bag swabs
I know – you expect me to say “security theater” and gripe about their ineffectiveness. I may, at the end, but let’s stick to the somewhat interesting factual description for the moment.
Although the WMATA press release doesn’t explicitly say-so, the general description from observers and media indicates that WMATA isn’t doing full bag checks on everyone they wave over. Instead they’re doing a quick swab of the outside of the bag and only asking folks to open it if there’s a positive result. It’s unclear whether this is an effort to make the process faster, a recognition of how difficult it is to effectively visually inspect a bag, or an effort at avoiding constitutional challenges by allowing them to claim they only really invade your privacy if they have a slightly better cause.
Be that as it may, maybe you’re interested in how this works. Let me tell you about it.
By Dave Stroup
Cause of death released in DC9 case
‘St Elisabeth’s Hospital – Surgical reports’
courtesy of ‘spiggycat’
This afternoon the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner released the cause of death of Ali Mohammed. Mohammed died outside of the DC9 nightclub on October 15 after an altercation. The report classifies the death as a homicide, and lists the cause of death as “Excited Delirium Associated With Arrhythmogenic Cardiac Anomalies, Alcohol Intoxication and Physical Exertion With Restraint.”
A quick bit of research indicates that “excited delirium” is a medical condition often associated with drug use that causes aggressive behavior and violence, as well as unexpected physical strength and hyperthermia. Excited delirium often leads to death by hyperthermia, with body temperatures reaching 105 degrees. While excited delirium is associated with drug use, there has been no information released regarding any toxicology reports, other than the “alcohol intoxication” listed in the cause of death.
The Mohammed family released a statement earlier this afternoon, noting that the death was ruled a homicide and stated “[t]his report also reminds us that Ali suffered a cruel and senseless death.”
The homicide ruling does not immediately imply that murder charges will be filed in the case. From the Medical Examiner report, it’s difficult to determine who, if anyone, could face charges. The murder charges initially filed against DC9 employees were since dropped.
It appears as though Mohammed’s death might not have occurred had the altercation at DC9 been avoided, but there has been no indication that the death was the result of a beating, as initially stated by Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier.
By Tom Bridge
New York Avenue’s Everchanging Face
‘Dave Thomas Circle 2010’
courtesy of ‘tbridge’
New York Avenue is a juggernaut of a thoroughfare. At its western end, the Treasury Department and just beyond, the White House. At its eastern end, US-50 and the road to Annapolis and points east. In between, it is an unmatched artery for vehicle transportation throughout the city. Over the last year, it’s undergone some serious construction projects, and things are about to get a whole lot more complicated for the road, and those who commute along it.
This summer, Dave Thomas Circle (pictured above) underwent a traffic reshaping project, wherein the frustrating intersection at New York Ave and Florida Ave near the ATF building was reshaped to allow for better traffic flow, a project that DDOT considers a significant success. They’re about to do something, though, that will lead to a lot of commuter frustration.
By shannon
DC Mythbusting: Everything You Thought You Knew About DC is Wrong
‘The first Inch of winter 2010-11’
courtesy of ‘ianseanlivingston’
In the spirit of wrapping up the year with a nice little bow on it, welcome to a roundup of our favorite myths over the past year. There are so many myths about the transportation, history, and culture of the District that we’ve dug into this year. So here are our favorites, all in one place! Read this through and you’ll know more about the District than most people out there.
Continue reading
By Rebecca
Missed The Lunar Eclipse?
‘Just a Hint of Red’
courtesy of ‘Samer Farha’
If you were pleasantly asleep last night from 1:30 to 4:30am then you missed the lunar eclipse. No worries because WeLoveDC’s Flickr photo pool, NASA and Huffington Post have you covered with a robust recaps, videos and photos of the celestial event.
The total lunar eclipse coincided with the 2010 winter solstice, an combination of events that had not happened for 400 years and will not happen again until 2094.
By Ashley
Food Truck Tracker
‘”Ya Better Watch Out!”‘
courtesy of ‘Photos by Chip Py’
What’s that you say? It’s too cold to go out and get food truck lunch? Well if you’re within a two block radius of the Sauca truck at 17th and K St. NW, they’ll deliver to you. It’s not lazy when it’s cold out.
By Ben H. Rome
Playing in the District: Labyrinth Game Shop
It’s a rare event when a few of my mutual interests collide these days. Happily, my WeLoveDC self collided with my gamer self earlier this month when I managed to make it out to the grand opening of Labyrinth Games in downtown DC. Specifically, right near Eastern Market in Southeast.
Typically today, if you mention “game store” to someone, you’ll most likely get a response directing you to the nearest Game Stop or Toys ‘R Us. That’s because most people tend to think of games in one of two ways – on a console system or other electronic device, or one of those popular box games you find stashed on a shelf in one of the superstore retailers. While that’s just fine and dandy for those looking for the latest release of Madden Eleventy-one or the newest “collector’s edition” of Monopoly, such stores lack the breadth and character of a dedicated game store retailer. And such a store is a rare gem, when one can find it. Especially if they’re independently owned and operated.
Fortunately, DC has finally received such a gem. Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
Candlelight Vigil for Raj Patel tonight in Brookland
‘lights joined’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’
On Saturday night, two men in masks with guns walked into the Newton Food Mart to rob it. They held the owner’s wife and son at gunpoint when the owner, Raj Patel, came out from the back room. The robbers shot him in the chest and he died from his wounds. Tonight at 5:45, a candlelight vigil will gather at St. Anthony’s on 12th Street in Northeast and walk to the Newton Food Mart at 12th and Newton at 6pm to show support for the Patels and for their loss.
Police have not released any information about the suspects other than they were wearing masks, and using silver handguns. Commander Lamar Greene of the Fifth District said via email yesterday that, “we have other information the detectives are following up on as we speak,” and refused further comment. MPD is offering a $25,000 reward to those with information that leads to an arrest.
By Tom Bridge
Census Data coming this morning
‘Card Puncher, an Integral Part of the Tabulation System Used by the United States Census Bureau to Compile the Thousands of Facts Gathered by the Bureau’
courtesy of ‘The U.S. National Archives’
Last week, we gave you the New York Times’ block-by-block coverage of the country, which separated census tract data into awesome data maps that you could play with at will. Today, we’re going to give you another one, courtesy of the US Census Bureau. At 11am today, they’re releasing the state count numbers for apportionment of the Congress.
How’s that work? Glad you asked. The Census Bureau has a neat little video on how they do the apportionment process and what it means. There’s one spot just crying out for an asterisk and an “offer void in the District of Columbia,” though, so if you’re sensitive on the voting rights issue, you may want to know that going in.
The map will go live with 2010 data at 11, but you can explore the 2000 data now. Let’s see how DC did!
By Samer Farha
Featured Photo
You’ve heard the phrase over and over again: “A picture is worth a thousand words!” Maybe. Sometimes, though, it only has to be worth one.
As soon as I saw this picture, and before I’d seen the title, I thought, “wonder.” One word. But this photo captures the feeling of wonder so perfectly, so succinctly. I’m sure this shot could replace a thousand words, but its power lies in not having to distill a rambling set of prose. It does the much harder job of showing you one singular emotion.
Jennifer Crawford‘s photo taken at Zoolights was the first that popped up as a candidate for this featured photo, and remained the front runner as I looked through the last week’s worth of pictures. I hope the snow and the season shed some wonder into your lives over the next week or two.
By Patrick Pho
Wizards Break Losing Streak In A Bobcats Blowout
‘Nick Young’
courtesy of ‘Keith Allison’
Last time the Wizards took on the Bobcats they were outplayed in a 93-85 loss. Tonight the Wizards had their revenge in a 108-75 blowout.
In the second game of the post-Arenas era, Nick Young continues to score points in his new starting role. He took shots from all over the field and went 8-13 for 21 points.
Kurt Hinrich also looked great tonight as he weaved through the Charlotte defense. With 11 assists and 18 points he knew when to facilitate and when to take the shot. I asked Kurt about an expanded role with this new team and he replied, “I’ve been playing a lot of minutes, I feel comfortable playing as a point guard and the guys have just been doing a good job moving the ball.”
By Katie
No, Thank You. Rejected. Return to Sender.
‘Cupcake Fail’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’
So, I don’t do this very often, but I’m fugunna do it right now. I’m going to be a hater. I know, I know, this site is called We LOVE DC, but that’s the thing about We Love DC – we think DC dates the wrong person once in a while, and may or not have worn something that we thought was pretty much atrocious. This is one of those times.
DC, if you accept one more cupcake place into your streets, I will lose it. Seriously. Even if that cupcake place is one of Sex & The City fame, and lord knows how much I love SATC. And here’s the thing: like the next girl, I enjoy a well-timed cupcake. I like red velvet. I can get behind a moist lemon cake in a cup shape. I can. And I do. But really, I do not need one single more shop where I can buy said treat. NOT ONE. NOT EVEN ONE MORE. NO THANK YOU. We have more than I care to recall, and with the Crumbs opening (and the massive PR fail that came with it), I finally hit my limit. We are not where New York’s trends go to die.
So Magnolia Bakery, while we appreciate the fact that you are considering opening your overly-iced doors in DC, I must say: DO NOT WANT. REJECTED. You’re beating the dead cupcake horse, and I would like to please return to sender. Thank you, and good night.
By Ashley
It’s the Most Delicious Time of the Year
‘cinnamon rolls’
courtesy of ‘Lady_Heron’
If you’re worried that you’ll be too busy playing with your new iPad Christmas morning to bake breakfast, or too busy penning an angry letter to Santa for forgetting that iPad Christmas evening to bake desserts, Buzz Bakery has got you covered. Call her the sweet treat Santa if you wish, but Tiffany MacIsaac of Birch & Barley is offering a few baked goods for your holiday needs. Available for pick up at Buzz on Christmas Eve, the sweets will satisfy your breakfast and dessert cravings.
She’ll have a box of six cinnamon rolls ($15), craberry-orange scones (8 for $18) and a special bread pudding made with cake instead of bread, mixed with chocolate chips and toffee ($22.50). Last but not least, since someone always forgets the rolls, she’ll have take and bake biscuits availabe (12 biscuits for $10).
Place all orders by calling Buzz at 703-600-2899.
By Tom Bridge
Sports Fix: Darkest Before the Dawn Edition
‘Sexy Rexy Lost the Ball’
courtesy of ‘Tony DeFilippo’
DC Sports teams are all of 3-19 for the month of December. That’s the sort of Chekhovian winter we’re in for, I’m afraid. But it’s not all bad news.
Redskins
Record: 5-9
Last Two Weeks: 0-2
Place: Tied for third in the NFC East
Down 30-14 at the end of the third quarter, it looked like the benching of Donovan McNabb was the sort of thing that the Skins wouldn’t live down. In the fourth quarter, though, Rex Grossman came alive and put up a pair of touchdowns and a 2-point conversion while shutting down the Cowboys offense to tie it at 30. Sadly, Grossman’s efforts wouldn’t be enough, and an INT inside the 2-minute mark put the ball in Dallas’ hands and they converted for the win. Continue reading
By Ashley
Winter Restaurant Week Announced
‘Nando’s Peri-Peri Dining Room’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’
That time is upon us once again, folks. No not the holiday season, the cheap dinner season. The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington has released the dates for the next Restaurant Week, which will be from January 17-January 23 this year (well, in 2011). This year, three course lunches will be $20.11, while three course dinners will be $35.11.
The full list of participating restaurants is available here, with newly renovated Ardeo/Bardeo and newish restaurants Casa Nonna, Barcode and Smith Commons all on the list. Make your reservations soon before the cutthroat OpenTabling begins.