By 
‘DC Empanadas!’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’
As it’s getting colder outside, why not grab a Mexican hot chocolate from DC Empanadas? The slight cinnamon taste will fill you with holiday cheer.
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Monthly Archives: December 2011
By Tom Bridge
Holidays at the White House
The White House Driveway
courtesy of tbridge
The White House’s Office of Public Engagement and Office of Digital Strategy combined yesterday to host about 150 people for another White House Tweetup at the Old Executive Office Building, and upped the ante by providing with it a tour of the White House made up for Christmas. I was fortunate to be a late addition to the group, and Tiffany and I joined the audience for a program with a number of administration officials, from the pastry chef and the florist, up to the President’s CTO and the head of the Office of Digital Strategy.
By Brian Mosley
Featured Photo
The eyes, the eyes, the eyes. I’ve said it before: to get a good wildlife shot, you have to aim for the eyes. Now, Pablo’s shot may not be a strictly true wildlife shot (wild flamingos not be native to the DC area, especially in the colder months), but it certainly is an excellent animal shot. And once you get beyond staring at the eye, you start seeing the wonderful detail of the bird’s feathers and beak, which is nicely highlighted by the black background. A shot to be proud of, that is for sure!
By Ben H. Rome
Caps Come Up Short Against Cats
41/365
courtesy of Brian Isemann
The Washington Capitals dropped another game in their latest skid, losing to Southeast Division rival (and current leader) Florida. The Panthers held off a late-game rally by the Caps for a 5-4 victory and now lead Washington in the division by seven points.
The loss is the team’s ninth out of their last 12, and third in four games under new coach Dale Hunter.
The good:
- The Caps played a solid 20 minutes. In the third period, but still – they almost pulled out a win.
- Jason Chimera’s scoring touch continues; he tipped in a John Carlson shot with 1:44 remaining in the game, sparking some spirited (but fruitless) Caps play. Mike Knuble, Cody Eakin, and Brooks Laich also scored. Captain Alex Ovechkin had four…hits.
- The Caps held Florida to six shots on goal in the final frame.
The bad:
- Penalties. The Caps got a lot of them early, and Florida capitalized with 3 PPGs in the game.
- The Caps power play is now 2 for 50 in the last 13 games. They failed to convert the two chances they had last night.
- The team continued its inconsistent play, waking up only in the third period and putting in a solid effort to force a comeback. Too little, too late.
The quote:
Brooks Laich (via Tarik El Bashir): “It’s not acceptable to play hockey for 20 minutes and not execute for the other 40. We’re not here to try, we’re to win.”
By brownpau
Corcoran in 1921 and Today
Historic photoblog Shorpy recently showed this view of the Corcoran as it was in 1921: Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
A Choral Christmas: A Round-up of Holiday Concerts
‘Columbia Heights Holiday Tree’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’
This is a phenomenal part of the year for music, and one of the best cities in the country for choral music. Between the Cathedral Choral Society, the Washington Men’s Camerata, the Choral Arts Society of Washington, the Christmas Revels, the Folger Consort, Choralis, the GMCW, you could pack your December full of great concerts, and we’ve got a good look at what’s coming this Christmas to audiences all throughout the DC area.
By Jets defeat Redskins 38-19
dolphins3
courtesy of Homer McFanboy
This past Sunday’s game against the New York Jets got off to a good start for the Redskins with two young offensive players continuing to show development. Fred Davis caught a long pass to put the Redskins in scoring range and then Roy Helu ran it in. Helu had a good first half and finished with 100 yards on 23 carries. Most of those yards came in the first half as the Jets figured out how to stop Helu and the Redskins were unable to adjust.
Adjusting in the second half has been a problem for the Redskins all season long. They are able to be competitive for a half. Consistently this season anything that was working in the first half of the game has ceased working in the second half of the game. The Redskins coaches either can’t figure out that they need to adjust or they lack the personnel to make those adjustments.
Food Truck Tracker
‘Tasty kabob’
courtesy of ‘yostinator’
Hey there, it’s Monday. And who can believe it’s December already?! Go make yourself feel better about both of these things by indulging in a little food truck lunch.
By fedward
Today’s Gridlock Brought To You By
Ouch
courtesy of Fedward Potz
PSA: If you play chicken with a firetruck, you’ll lose. This was at the corner of 18th & L NW this morning. You’ll note the sheet metal from the car’s door is still stuck to the firetruck’s bumper.
I hope everybody is OK.
By Brian Mosley
Weekend Flashback: 12/2-12/4
‘MPD watching the perimeter while the arrests take place’
courtesy of ‘Joe in DC’
One more weekend down. The inevitable march to the Holidays and the New Year goes on. I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m looking forward to the coming of the Holiday Trinity, for no other reason than to get the traditional Kwanzaa gift. If the idea of Robot Santa and Kwanzaa-bot coming around fills you with dread, then take a few minutes and relive the weekend with this flashback. Continue reading
By Jenn Larsen
We Love Arts: Krapp’s Last Tape
John Hurt in the Gate Theatre’s production of Krapp’s Last Tape. Photo by Tom Lawlor.
There are moments when economy, especially in words, must suffice.
(Shakes head. Backspace, backspace. Types.)
John Hurt. Krapp’s Last Tape by Samuel Beckett. Produced by Dublin’s Gate Theatre, at Shakespeare Theatre Company this weekend only. 55 minutes.
55 minutes of your life spent watching a master actor perform a master playwright’s reflection on the absurdity of life, memory and regret.
(Shakes head. Backspace, backspace, backspace. Types. Rubs chin. Sighs.)
Words leave me. Just the memory of Hurt’s haggard face under hard white light, the deep black of time surrounding him like a Francis Bacon painting.
Words leave me. To be haunted by a performance you cannot describe… feels liberating, to be defeated by time, by memory.
(Shakes head. Backspace. Stops. Stares at the floor. Mutters, “Idiot.” Types.)
Krapp’s Last Tape in limited engagement through December 4 at Shakespeare Theatre Company, located at 450 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004. Closest Metro stop: Gallery Place/Chinatown (Red/Yellow/Green lines), Archives/Navy Memorial (Yellow/Green lines). For more information call 202-547-1122.
By Brittany
Friday Happy Hour: Port City Tidings
One of my first Christmas beers of the season, Tidings from Alexandria’s Port City Brewing was a very pleasant welcome to this year’s winter warmers.
The strongest of all Port City’s offerings at 7.8%, Tidings is a Belgian Pale Ale with the addition of honey and seasonal spices. The honey was especially prominent in the glass I had at Rustico in Alexandria, tasting as if it might not have completely fermented out leaving a fair dose of residual sweetness and honey flavor. There are lots of flavors of coriander, clove, and pepper.
Tidings is not quite the super-high-ABV, syrupy wallop of a winter warmer like some breweries come out with around this time of year – more of a subtle toast to the season and one which seems like it would work well as a party tipple or paired with a holiday dinner.
By 
ROC Guide Highlights DC Restaurants
‘Ben’s Chili Bowl’
courtesy of ‘Michael T. Ruhl’
When picking a restaurant for your next meal out, why not choose a place where workers haven’t coughed all over your dinner because they’ve been forced to work with the flu?
Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC-United) and their local branch ROC-DC just released their first annual Diners’ Guide: a Zagat-like booklet that scores national and local restaurants based on how they treat their workers. The guide includes the 150 highest revenue restaurants in America as well as some local spots already working toward better standards for their employees.
Some of the results aren’t exactly shocking (no, Hooters doesn’t lead the industry in fair treatment of their workers). Others may be more of a surprise: Capital Grille, for example, makes it onto a special list of shame for restaurants charged with discrimination and wage theft.
By Tom Bridge
FBI, Treasury raid home of Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr.
‘FBI Police’
courtesy of ‘cliff1066�’
According to several local sources, the home of Ward 5 Councilmember Harry Thomas Jr. was raided this morning by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Treasury Department in connection to an on-going investigation. It’s not immediately clear if this is related to Thomas’ admission that he would return $300,000 of city money earmarked for youth sports goods, or if this is a new charge.
Agents impounded a motorcycle and an SUV at the Thomas house, but have not to date captured Thomas’ Audi that was purchased with that money.
As a Ward 5 resident, I hope that Thomas thinks long and hard before saying anything at Monday’s reading of the Ethics bill before the Council.
Redskins Preview Week Thirteen: The Jets
‘Mark Sanchez’
courtesy of ‘Jeffrey Beall’
Last Sunday the Redskins won their fourth game of the season. After starting out 3-1 the Redskins then proceeded to lose their next six games to fall to 3-7 before winning last week. While the Redskins were 3-1 there was talk of a playoff run, but for that to happen now the Redskins would need to win out and have a lot of luck on their side. The week four talk of playoffs was fun at the time, but that wasn’t the expectation for the Redskins. The Redskins were expected to finish as possibly one of the worst teams in the NFL by national publications, and at or around last season’s record by local prognosticators.
The Jets on the other hand were expected to contend for the AFC East and some even predicted they would be a better team than the Patriots. At 6-5 the Jets are a disappointing team. The reason for the Jets disappointing record is the play of their quarterback Mark Sanchez. Coming into the season Sanchez was thought of as one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, but finds himself ranked as the 19th best QB according to QB rating and has thrown the 10th most interception whil completing only 56.3% of his passes.
By Brittany
Celebrity Ornaments for the Parks on Display
Did you miss out on the lottery for tickets to this year’s National Christmas Tree lighting, held last night? Even if you did, it is not too late to take home a little piece of the celebration. All of the performers at the event have participated in creating Ornaments for the Parks.
Here at We Love DC, we love opportunities to incorporate a little bit of giving back into our holidays. The proceeds from the upcoming auction of the exclusive ornaments designed by local jewelers Tiny Jewel Box and autographed by the likes of Ellie Goulding and Carson Daly will go to benefit the National Park Federation.
Between now and December 11th, you can take a look at the special ornaments on display in the lobby “living room” of the W Hotel – and enjoy a tasty hot cocktail while you peruse.
By Alexia
Q&A with The War on Drugs
photo by Graham Tolbert
Philadelphia’s The War on Drugs is the brainchild of Adam Granduciel- singer, guitarist, writer, Kurt Vile-collaborator. Their first full-length album, Wagonwheel Blues was released on Secretly Canadian in 2008, and they have toured extensively since then. Over the years the band’s members have changed, but Granduciel remains front and center. Their latest LP is Slave Ambient, released on August 16th, 2011. After a short break in their US tour they are continuing for most of December, and will be making a stop at DC’s Rock & Roll Hotel on Sunday, December 4th. During the break in their busy tour schedule Adam Granduciel took a few minutes to chat with WLDC’s Alexia Kauffman. Continue reading
Food Truck Tracker
‘Food Truck @ Truckeroo 4’
courtesy of ‘GuidedbyTim’
You made it to Friday the week after a holiday. You deserve a medal, or at the very least lunch from a food truck.
By Will Packard
Caps Fall to Penguins, 2-1
Jason Chimera
courtesy of bridgetds
The calendar turned a page yesterday, but the Washington Capitals are still playing from their November playbook as they lost 2-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins last night at Verizon Center. Jason Chimera scored the lone goal for the Caps to continue his hot start to the season. It was the first time the Caps had lost to the Penguins in regulation in more than three years.
In the Caps’ second straight loss under new head coach Dale Hunter, the team played a physically aggressive game but were badly outshot, 35-17 for the game. “We played too much in our own end,” said Hunter after the game. “We have got to get the puck out much quicker.”
Call it “Dale Hunter Hockey” as it is emerging over the past four days. It starts with solid defense, the relentless pursuit of the puck, lots of hard hitting, and battles in the corners. The Caps had a strong forecheck all night, getting to the offensive corners and winning position battles. But they failed to control the puck and were not able to convert the aggressive play into scoring chances. Passes did not connect. Very few shots were directed toward the goal.
I am reminded of the days when Ollie Kolzig would routinely face 40 shots a night backstopping a scrappy, tight-checking team. I miss Bruce Boudreau already. Continue reading
By Tricia Barba
Give Back While Eating
‘panettone inside’
courtesy of ‘willsfca’
The holiday season has arrived, and it’s the perfect time to start thinking about how to give back. It gets easier and easier every year – bring cans to work, send a text contribution, add an extra dollar to an online bill payment – you really have no excuse. Food lovers have a simple way to contribute as well. In the next few months many of my favorite restaurants are teaming up with local charities and coming up with creative ways to raise money. All you have to do is eat. Here are my top 3.