By Tom Bridge
It’s hard not to see this video and wince, both at the terrible brawl and the stomping of people, and also the underlying international incident it represents. The Post’s Gene Wang was on hand and has posted an account of the game and the fight, which is oddly absent from some of the Chinese accounts of the game. The Hoyas, on a goodwill basketball tour, have played two games in Beijing, and have a few more games to go in Shanghai.
By Don
Double your money! Admittedly it only doubles after you part with it, but what the hell – you want to be a better person, don’t you? (I’ve met some of you – if you don’t, you should. For serious.)
Well you have a few hours left to do more good with less – DC Central Kitchen has a generous donor – the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation – committed to matching every donation through the rest of the day, up to around another $8,000 as of the time I’m typing this.
So if you just drop $10 on them over here it’ll mean $20 in their coffers. Good for your soul (did I mention it needed it? Really. C’mon), good for them, good for our community. If you believe the American Enterprise Institute, good for the economy – they claim a $1 donation has an eventual $15 benefit for GDP. You want to help the economy, don’t you?
Edit: I twitter-harassed DCCK because I wasn’t clear from the header – they’re trying to hit $25,000 in donations for the day but the matching grant exceeds that target. So, if enough of you have dropped some cash to push them over the target by the time you read this you can still donate some more and get that extra oomph.
By Don
‘yellow zucchini’
courtesy of ‘ekelly80’
Tom: This weekend is all about the glories of summer. I’ve been putting off and putting off a visit to the Bloomingdale Farmers Market, where I’m sure they’re drowning in sweet corn, peaches, and fresh tomatoes, and that sounds an awful lot like salsa to me. While we’re in the hood, a trip to Rustik sounds mighty good, while we dream of a Rustik of our own, maybe at the 901 Monroe development. With the Phillies in town, I’ll likely not be heading for Nationals Park, but it is Ian Desmond Bobblehead day.
Brittany: I am getting back from a week in Maine just in time for the weekend in DC. As much as I love relaxing around trees, sweaters, and sail boats, I am ready to be back to enjoy the last weeks of summer excitement at home. Friday, one of my very best friends will be playing at Subterranean A, which is a great space and I think the turn-out will be really good. Monday brings more friend-band fun when my lovely friend Ian’s label Cricket Cemetery puts on a showcase at Galaxy Hut. His own band Lions&Tigers&Whales is playing and is super good – and he informed me other day that I am going to love his label-mates The Tender Thrill. In between Friday and Monday: Housewarming parties, birthday parties, trying to pack up my apartment to move, and lots of good coffee because they still do not have that in Maine.
By Tricia Barba
This isn’t what we at We Love DC call a “First Look,” since America Eats Tavern has already been open for more than one month. Even more importantly, it won’t be around forever. Instead, this a friendly recommendation that you be sure to check out this pop-up restaurant brought to us by Chef José Andrés, before you miss your chance.
Eating here is definitely an experience. This red, white and blue (on the outside) restaurant opened on July 4th. Plainly put, America Eats Tavern is a six-month “benefit” destination in support of the National Archives Experience exhibition program, “What’s Cooking, Uncle Sam.”
‘Pickle and B&W Cookie’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’
In an mmmbop they’re gone. In an mmmbop they’re not there. So don’t let another mmmbop pass before you head out of your office and find where the food trucks are. And look! WeLoveDC and the strEATS have a handy map for you after the jump.
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courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’
I’ve been participating in the Zipcar Low Car Diet challenge this month, and something that I’ve noticed as I’ve gotten more transit-dependent is that a lot of intelligent, resourceful people are completely confounded by any bus that’s not the Circulator. If their destination is not close to a Metrorail stop, they drive to it. I humbly submit that this is completely ridiculous; the bus is just not that hard.
However, it IS true that Metrobus lacks the navigational simplicity that Metrorail has. The Metro map gives you a nice sense of the finite nature of Metrorail: there are only 5 lines, and they’re, well, lines; they go to all the stops in order one way, and they go back along the same stops the other way. That’s it. Have you seen the full Metrobus system map? It’s a freaking mess. It’s not even one map; they had to split it into three.
So with the goal of making it all a little less daunting for the novice Metrobus-rider, here are a few things you need to know: Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
‘DSC_3791’
courtesy of ‘photopete’
The Nationals couldn’t deliver any of their 5 runners in scoring position on Wednesday night against Johnny Cueto and the Reds, and they let Ross Detwiler’s best start in recent memory get written into the books as a loss. The Nationals got their only run on a 400-foot bomb by Ryan Zimmerman to start the eighth, but couldn’t capitalize any further than that, despite having the bases loaded with one out in the ninth against the Reds’ Cordero.
A few close calls might have been the difference in the game for the Nationals. First base umpire Ed Rapuano saw things a bit differently than the rest of Nationals Park on a couple occasions, leading us to wonder if the old “tie goes to the runner” adage held true, or even held consistnt between innings.
The Nationals did their best to keep themselves in the game, and the 9th inning rally didn’t disappoint, until Wilson Ramos swung at the first pitch and found himself in a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat and the game.
‘Pulled Pork from PORC mobile’
courtesy of ‘yostinator’
Yo! I’ll tell you what I want, what I really, really want. It’s lunch from a food truck. There, I said it. Now go see where the food trucks are so you can get what you really, really want. And may whatever you eat for lunch make you “want to zigazig ha.”
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By Don
We’re changing it up a little this week from the usual concert ticket giveaway. This week we’re happy to be sending you and a victim friend to see the very last Cherry Red show ever on the 27th: The Aristocrats.
Yes, those are wangs. This should tell you something about what to expect here.
‘UNI_3851’
courtesy of ‘MissChatter’
A hot offense served up right-handed pitcher Chien-Ming Wang’s second victory since his return to Major League Baseball on Tuesday night when the Washington Nationals topped the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 to kickoff this week’s homestand. It was Wang’s first time facing the National League Central club managed by Dusty Baker. Continue reading
By Tricia Barba
Verdict: Great spirit and potential; a work in progress
Earlier this year when I heard Starfish was closing, I couldn’t have been happier. In its place is Lavagna, an Italian restaurant that takes its name from a fishing port city in Italy and also means blackboard in the romance language. I’m always a fan of the chalkboard theme, so plus for sure.
Walking in was interesting, you could almost see Starfish, but not. Gone was the bar to your right, replaced by a service bar further left. The exposed wall looked even better, adding to that rustic feel.
By Don
No, not in the comments of our last post, though Zesty and I are having a rousing back-and-forth over there. At the American Association of University Women, tomorrow night. It’s free and open to the public – simply register online. SlutWalk organizers, critics, and others will be on a panel to talk about the event and take questions and have discussion. It would be nice if it wasn’t just an echo chamber of folks who are already active in the subject area so if you’re interested, come out.
6pm Aug 17th, AAUW, 16th and L Streets NW
By Tom Bridge
‘$5 Nats Ticket’
courtesy of ‘MudflapDC’
There are just two long homestands remaining in 2011, and just 26 home games between now and the end of the season. While the Nationals aren’t in the midst of a playoff hunt, there are still a lot of good reasons to head out to the ballpark before the end of the season.
Highlights
This homestand should be interesting for a couple reasons. First has everything to do with the draft last night. The Nationals signed all of their last five draft picks last night in a flurry of late-night activity, and there’s a decent chance some of these guys will come to DC to meet with the team. Last year, we saw Robbie Ray make a surprise visit to the Nationals shortly after the draft. It’s possible we might see Anthony Rendon or Alex Meyer or Kylin Turnbull or Matt Purke here in Washington this home stand.
In addition, we’re coming to the end of Jordan Zimmermann’s season, as he’s hitting his innings limit soon. Recovery from Tommy John surgery is a long process, and with 145 IP already on the books this season, he’s coming rapidly up on the 160 IP total that the club is rumored to have for him. With two starts for him likely on this home stand, if you want to see him this season, you’d better be out at Nats Park on Thursday night or Monday next.
‘Curbside Cupcakes’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’
Every night in my dreams, I see them, I dream of eating them. That is how I know food trucks go on. Near, far, wherever the heck they are, you should go get lunch from a food truck. Sorry for the theme this week. It’s hopefully a laugh-inducing doozy.
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By Michael R
‘Sunset on the Potomac’ by specimenlife
It’s difficult to capture the vastness of nature through photography. A track of mountains or an ocean stretching infinitely on the horizon are unquestionably photogenic, but the challenge lays in conveying the scale before you. In the case of specimenlife’s photograph, a wandering cloud finds several points of scale to remind the viewer just how big they actually are. Land, air, and sea are all dwarfed. Clouds are so present in our daily lives that we only think twice about them if they pose a threat to our outdoor activities or commute, but specimenlife turns this ordinary occurrence to the extraordinary. His compelling colors and strong composition keep your eye moving around the photograph. The lines the sun draws through the cloud and along the sky leave one in awe of the majesty of nature.
By Don
‘SlutWalk Tampere 6.8.2011’
courtesy of ‘Kulttuurikahvila Hertta’
There’s been a few news tweets about the SlutWalk that happened this weekend and unsurprisingly several of them – maybe most – have touted photos. I’m not condemning that – I like looking at provocatively dressed women myself. But don’t miss the very serious reason it’s called SlutWalk and involves protesting while scantily-clad: to combat a perception that dressing a certain way is in any way permission or a valid reason for other people to use your body against your will.
If that seems implausible in 2011, well, the whole impetus for this now nation-wide and multi-country phenomenon was the somewhat astonishing statement from a Canadian officer of the law during a lecture on health and safety.
“You know, I think we’re beating around the bush here,” he reportedly told them. “I’ve been told I’m not supposed to say this – however, women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimised.”
I’m (sadly) not surprised that someone would say a version of “If you wear that skirt you’re just asking to be raped,” but I can’t say I expected to hear it from a police officer.
Holly Kearle writes very eloquently here about the point of SlutWalk and why she participated. She’s also the force behind the excellent Stop Street Harassment blog. If you’ve got the time to look at some skin you’ve got the time to read what she wrote about this event. I’d encourage you to keep up with the SSH blog as well.
It’s easy for us men to be blind to the reality of the million little shitty things that happen to women in our society – we’re not the target of the harassment. We might not ever see it going on, but it does. Constantly. Take ten seconds at Holla Back DC and see the sort of unbelievable crap that happens all the time, ranging from crappy inappropriate talk about mustache rides to stalking and physically threatening behavior against a fifteen year old girl.
SlutWalk might not be how you want to confront this sort of thing in our society – Holla Back DC’s Chai Shenoy didn’t feel like it was a productive thing for her – but the women who stood up and told their fellow DC residents that how they look or dress isn’t cause to mistreat them have good cause to think making the statement is necessary. Make their sacrifice of their time worthwhile and look past just the pictures.
By Tom Bridge
Wow, this hits all of my core competencies: Food Trucks, Beer Dinners and Baseball. Das Bullpen will be hosting a 3-hour beer dinner on August 27th with Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head breweries, as well as the tasty deliciousness of Cap Mac, Porcmobile, Stix, Hula Girl, Doug the Food Dude, and Eat Wonky. Sierra Nevada and Dogfish Head will also have Life and Limb, their co-operative brew, on taps all night.
Tickets are $75, and benefit Living Classrooms, which provides hands-on job training programs for those who need them most. Get your tickets early, I’m better this is going to sell out.
By Don
It’s 8 days till Reggie Watts – the man whose voice is behind one of my favorite very-not-worksafe YouTube videos ever – comes to town for his limited engagement at Woolly Mammoth. If you need a little something to tide you over till then… how about watching him do a little percussive backup for Amanda Palmer as she sings about Dr Who and his TARDIS?
By Katie
“You just can’t get barbecue up here like you can down there,” I used to tell all my friends back home in North Carolina. That was before I met Willard’s. Way, way the hell out there in the suburbs near Dulles, Willard’s BBQ is what happens when Lexington, North Carolina transports itself right to Virginia. And for a Carolina Girl, that means Willard’s tastes just like home.
Ya’ll, they’ve got the pulled pork. They have the ribs, the brisket, the chicken, the catfish. Everything you’ve been craving, Willard’s has it all. And lord, is it done right. Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
When it was announced earlier this year that DDOT would be accepting mobile payments through Parkmobile, I was pretty excited. I spend a lot of my time driving around DC, and while I was often parking on the street, I was often stopping at the bank for a couple rolls of quarters. By the end of the week, when I was running out, I’d often ration my quarters and find myself the winner of a shiny blue parking ticket from DCDPW.
Parkmobile picked up a pair of zones in the early pilot programs in neighborhoods that I found myself in regularly, and I was primarily using their call-in service to handle my parking. When they went citywide, I downloaded their iPhone app, which was both great, and not-so-great all at once.
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