Yearly Archives: 2010

All Politics is Local, The Daily Feed
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DCRA to release old maps via Flickr

Photo courtesy of
‘F Street – SW, SE, and NE – 04-9-10’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

While this map here isn’t from DCRA’s collection, the District’s regulatory agency, which includes mapping, permitting and surveying groups, will be releasing all of their collected maps and plats via their Flickr account later today and in the coming weeks. I can only imagine the treasure trove that is their map room, full of images of the city throughout its 200 year plus history. As a committed map nerd, I’m also hoping that they’ll be posting high enough res, and with proper licensing, that I could have a couple printed for our house. I suspect that I will lose hours and hours and hours of productivity looking through the various maps of the city as they get uploaded.

I’m just hoping there’s at least one Peters Projection of DC in there.

The Daily Feed
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Oh La La! PAUL Bakery Opening This Winter

Photo Courtesy of ThreeLockharts Communications

In the mood for authentic French pastries and lots of ’em? Well, you’ll have to wait a little bit, but I think it’ll be worth it. Already a staple in France since 1889, PAUL Bakery will bring their very French je ne sais quoi to 801 Pennsylvania Ave. in January.

Expect the menu to be full of croissants, pain au chocolat, turnovers and macaroons, all prepared daily and on the premises. PAUL will also serve an army of desserts such as seasonal fruit tarts, napoleons, and their moellux au chocolate, a soft, dense dark chocolate cake. If you aren’t in the mood for something sweet, PAUL will offer traditional and specialty breads, made by hand by PAUL’s master bakers.

PAUL will do its best to completely transport you to the Champs Elysees with their full-service coffee bar featuring gourmet coffee and their own private-label teas. No price list available yet, but I can assure you it’ll be less than a plane ticket to Paris.

capitals hockey, The Daily Feed
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Ovechkin Trips Senators’ Bid for Win

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC_7613’
courtesy of ‘bhrome’

Fresh off their shellacking of New Jersey on Saturday, the Caps were looking to extend their success last night against Ottawa. The Senators were looking for some redemption after being pasted by Toronto and in search of their first point on the season. A point they got, but the Senators left the Verizon Center winless, thanks to the overtime heroics of one Alex Ovechkin.

With a great fake, Ovechkin slammed a low shot home past Pascal Leclaire with only 31 seconds remaining in overtime, giving the Caps their second win in a row and on the season. The goal capped a high intensity game that by rights, Ottawa could’ve won.

“Only Alex can play like he did and still score the overtime goal and be the hero,” said Caps coach Bruce Boudreau. “That’s what superstars do. That’s why he’s out there in the last minute – because he can win you a game at any chance.”

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Featured Photo
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Featured Photo

Photo courtesy of
‘(285/365)’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’

It’s still summer out there. Yesterday, we came within two degrees of breaking the record high temperature. Today, it’ll be in the low 80s. But fall is coming. It has to, you see:

The candy corn is in the stores. People are pumpkin picking. Sexy Big Bird costumes are in the stores. Even I am doing drinks and dinner outside.

And the Halloween decorations are out. Kim Baker‘s even got her house decorated (as do half my neighbors, it seems). There’s something just this side of menacing from that spider silhouette. But, as cool (or creepy) as that photo is, the best part of it is the sure knowledge that fall is coming.

Arlington, Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Ganges Grill and Ice Cream A New Alternative To Crowded Clarendon Sub Scene

There’s no shortage of Sub shops in Clarendon/Courthouse. Between Earl’s and the chain options of Subway & Cosi, there’s more than enough options if you want lunch meats in between two slices of bread.

However, I became interested with the arrival of a new sub shop on Washington Blvd. The former Quizno’s location was now draped with banners reading, “Ganges Grill and Ice Cream.” I decided to walk across the street from the Subway (where I am currently mayor on foursquare) to find out more.

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The Daily Feed
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Transformers 3 stunt car crashes into MPD SUV

Photo courtesy of
‘Bumblebee’s accident’
courtesy of ‘BrianMKA’

Thanks to DCist for passing on video of one of the Transformers 3 cars (Bumblebee, if you follow that sort of thing, which I don’t) t-boning an MPD SUV that appeared to be rushing toward the scene of an emergency.

As you watch the video, the action isn’t on the street immediately in the foreground, but the street apparently in the background. You see an ambulance pass by the filming, then Bumblebee starts its cruise, followed by several other production vehicles, and then the SUV speeds into the intersection and the stunt car collides with it. I recommend you to check my reference for more information on what to do on these cases and how to get the best legal counselling for your case.

According to Fox 5, the officer driving the SUV is a bomb technician and was responding to the suspicious package call at 9th and F, but was using a different radio channel than the officers securing the filming location. You know, the extremely well publicized filming location. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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A Super Wedding

We normally draw the line for our DC-area blog at the beltway but hey-

  • It’s a slow news day
  • Just over the Bay Bridge past Annapolis isn’t a long drive by any means
  • Those of us stuck in the office while the rest of you get the day off need a little fun.

What could be more fun than being a secret superhero at a wedding? How about having all the men being secret superheroes and getting outed by their significant others?

That’s what happened at Erin & Tim’s wedding at the Bulle Rock Country Club and photographer Tony Hoffer was there to capture it. You’ll need to click through to get the full effect but you should do that to see the other photos anyway. My fave is the subtle Steve Ditko shout-out one of the guests is doing.

Thanks to Tony for permission to run this shot and to The Daily What for pointing me to this page in the first place.

The Daily Feed
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Marion Barry, tax advisor

TBD’s Facts Machine blog has called attention to some odd claims made by Marion Barry on the relationship between state/District taxes and federal taxes. Because, you know, people might be inclined to take tax advice from Marion Barry.

Personally, I think Facts Machine went a little too easy on Hizzoner because Barry seems to have no realistic idea at all of the relationship between increased local taxes vs. federal taxable income, but it IS true that if you’re paying more to your state (or the District), you’re paying less to the feds. Just not very MUCH less.

Sports Fix
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Week 5 Recap: Skins vs. Packers

Photo courtesy of
‘Big men hitting hard’
courtesy of ‘joelrivlin’

For three quarters yesterday, the Redskins offense could not produce any spark and the defense let Aaron Rodgers spread the ball around the field. In the fourth quarter, the offense woke up and the defense attacked Rodgers with a mission. Donovan McNabb threw a 48-yard touchdown to Anthony Armstrong. The defense had 4 sacks (two by Brian Orakpo) and made key stops on third down. After Graham Gano’s 45-yard field goal sent the game into overtime, Laron Landry came up a difficult interception and Gano kicked a 33-yard field goal to give the Skins a 16-13 victory over Green Bay. They are now 3-2 and still on top of the NFC East. A Sunday night matchup with the Colts looms but in the meantime, this is another conference win to savor. Continue reading →

Adventures, Arlington, Business and Money, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed
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Curious Case of the Chesapeake Cookie

chesapeake cookie

I’m all about dark chocolate. I’m all about pecans. I’m all about putting them together with cookie dough.  Therefore, I’m all about Pepperidge Farm’s Chesapeake Dark Chocolate Pecan cookies. However, I’m confused about why this cookie carries the “Chesapeake” name.

According to the National Pecan Shellers Association, most pecans are grown and shelled in the southeastern and southwestern United States, with Alabama leading the way as the state with the largest amount of pecan production; the closest the DC area gets on this list is the #12 spot occupied by North Carolina.

OK, so maybe the Chesapeake region isn’t the epicenter for pecans. What about dark chocolate? Maybe, unbeknownst to me,  the Chesapeake area is known for its dark chocolate. The answer is no. Approximately 70% of the world’s cacao, the nut that is used to make chocolate, comes from West Africa with Oceania, Asia, and Central and South America rounding out the pack. And when it comes to turning the cacao beans into chocolate, the Chesapeake region comes up pretty much empty handed, unless you’re talking about the chocolate coloring of the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.

So, I’m still pretty stumped as to why Pepperidge Farm gave this cookie its name. Perhaps there’s some secret dark chocolate, pecan Freemasons society sending secret messages through these seemingly innocuous and delicious cookies? Or perhaps maybe I’m just missing the connection? Anyone got the answer?

Entertainment, The Daily Feed
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Dog Whisperer Talks Immigration In DC Visit

Howie Mandel, Cesar Millan, and Terry Mandel in the season premiere of The Dog Whisperer (photo courtesy National Geographic Channel)

“Humans don’t follow principals about life: honesty, integrity… we follow contracts.”

Those words were spoken to me by Cesar Millan, aka The Dog Whisperer. He was explaining to me the difference between animals and humans in how we view and live in the world, “in the animal world you can’t survive by being selfish.” Those that know Cesar’s pack understand his belief in the value of family and community in dog training.

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The Daily Feed
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Redskins Cheat Sheet: Week 5 vs. Green Bay

Photo courtesy of
‘All Eyes Alone’
courtesy of ‘Mylar Bono’

Even with the Caps finally starting again, you probably can’t escape the fact that a Redskins team that’s winning – even if it’s creatively – is going to be the team people talk about come Monday morning. If you’re stuck in the office on the holiday and need a way to get through those water cooler conversations, turn to the Redskins Cheat Sheet.

If you’re a Redskins fan, you may be spending your Monday morning recovering from yet another heart attack win. And if you aren’t, but work in an office full of fans who have a better sense of their cholesterol as to not be moved to pain by stressful sporting events, the emotional win over Green Bay certainly could get the sense of Washington pride stirring this morning.

For the second time this season, the Skins went to overtime. However, as compared to the Houston game, the home team was victorious this time around, moving the Redskins 3-2 and clubhouse leader in the NFC East thanks to victories over division foes Philly and Dallas. A few conversation points for you after the jump.

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capitals hockey, The Daily Feed
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Caps: This is Our House

Photo courtesy of
‘Green and Kovalchuk About to Throw Down’
courtesy of ‘clydeorama’

The Washington Capitals made an emphatic statement in their home opener tonight at the Verizon Center: “This is our house.” After unfurling pennants for last year’s Southeast Division Championship and the President’s Trophy, the Caps soundly beat the New Jersey Devils 7-2 in front of a boisterous sell out crowd.

The Caps bounced back from two early deficits to dominate the Devils in every facet of the game. Scoring short handed, on the power play, and even on a rare penalty shot, the Caps demonstrated their fearsome goal scoring talent, chasing veteran netminder Martin Brodeur after 40 minutes.

The Caps generated momentum early in the first period, keeping most of the action in the New Jersey end of the ice. But two early defensive lapses in the Washington zone resulted in two first period goals for New Jersey. Rookie defenseman John Carlson started the Caps scoring when he intercepted a pass during a line change and scored with a rising wrist shot from just inside the blue line.

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capitals hockey, The Daily Feed
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Caps Stumble in Season Opener

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC_3981.jpg’
courtesy of ‘FrenchKheldar’

The Caps opened up their 2010-11 campaign last night in Atlanta. With high expectations for the team by many, the Caps were looking to jump out of the gate to redeem themselves from last season’s playoff collapse.

With only six shots in the first period, it wasn’t exactly a well-oiled Caps machine that hit the ice. Showing signs of struggle all through the evening, especially in their own zone, the Caps ultimately skated to a 4-2 loss to the new and improved Thrashers.

The evening started out rough as Atlanta’s starting goalie Ondrej Pavelec collapsed, unconscious, to the ice just over two minutes in. Pavelec was taken off the ice on a stretcher and regained consciousness later in the evening at a nearby hospital. (According to the Thrashers this morning, no serious health problems have been detected and Pavelec remains under observation.)

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Adventures, All Politics is Local, Business and Money, Crime & Punishment, News, People, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Lesbians can’t keep their hands off the Ravens’ cups

Photo courtesy of
‘Go Long’
courtesy of ‘Mylar Bono’

The Huffington Post and Washington Blade are reporting that during the Ravens’ September 26th game, a lesbian couple was unfairly thrown out of M&T Bank Stadium. There are mixed reports as to why the couple was ejected from the stadium. The Ravens claim that the couple was asked to leave because they removed concession stand merchandise (a plastic cup) without paying for it. The couple contends that they were thrown out because of their public displays of affection.

Business and Money, Dupont Circle, Entertainment, Essential DC, Life in the Capital, News, People, Special Events, The Daily Feed, The District
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Proper Topper Sale: Consolidating Shops

Photo courtesy of
‘PEYTON- Infinity Cowl Olive Green Brass Buttons’
courtesy of ‘smittenkittenorig’

After close to a decade of business on P Street, the Proper Topper’s Georgetown shop will be closing its doors on October 31st. Fear not, the billowy blouses, floral dresses and chic hats will still be available at Proper’s Dupont shop. To lighten their consolidating shop load, the store is hosting a “Wrap-It-Up” sale starting this Saturday with discounts going up as the closing time approaches. Additionally, this Sunday the shop will host the (rescheduled) Proper Swapper, where attendees can swap clothes, eat treats and help raise funds for Martha’s Table.

Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Slayer w/ Megadeth @ 1st Mariner Arena

I know every self-respecting heavy metal fan is looking at the title of this article and wondering “where the f*ck is Anthrax?”. It is true that Anthrax opened the show in Baltimore on Wednesday night but I did not get to see much of their set. Try the last part of their last song only. Thank you Baltimore for forcing a show to start the minute the doors opened to get the small army of metal fans in and out of the Inner Harbor as quickly as possible. Seriously, my buddies and I made good time on our drive from DC to Baltimore, only to be shocked that Anthrax were saying their “Thank you, good night” the minute we took to the arena floor. It was 7:36 and Anthrax had already played their full set. FAIL.

Anthrax rant aside, the rest of the Jagermeister Fall Music Tour aka American Carnage II otherwise known as Clash Of The Titans Tour Redux was a head-banging, air guitar dueling, kick ass, good time. Megadeth performed their classic album “Rust in Peace” and then some with arena-metal showmanship that, frankly, I forgot still existed. Slayer then took the stage to perform their second masterpiece “Seasons in the Abyss” along with a sampler of their greatest hits and delivered a mammoth set of skin-peeling intensity. The show was a fun mix of somewhat silly 80’s Metal nostalgia followed by a virtuoso performance by the best Metal band in the business.

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The Daily Feed
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Gray campaign moves ward town hall meetings out of schools

Photo courtesy of
‘vince gray blogger roundtable’
courtesy of ‘Dave Stroup’

Vince Gray’s campaign will be moving its remaining ward town hall meetings out of the schools they were originally scheduled to be in. District law prohibits city property from being used for partisan political purposes and the campaign had been criticized for holding campaign events there.

Since the practical reality of politics in DC is that Vince Gray is the de facto mayor-elect, I’d be inclined to roll my eyes at this as a technicality being overblown by sore losers, except that I went to the Ward 5 town hall and sat through half an hour of my Councilman, Harry Thomas Jr., literally leading the crowd in chanting Gray’s “One City” campaign slogan in between re-stating his flowery endorsement of the candidate.

It’s not that the Democratic nominee for Mayor of DC shouldn’t be absolutely free to hold a campaign rally in each ward. It’s that rallies and town hall meetings are not the same thing, and it’s a distinction that deserves to be observed, particularly when making use of public school facilities, utilities, janitorial resources, etc.

The campaign is in the process of moving the remaining town halls that were scheduled to be in schools; some locations are still listed as “TBD.”