Yearly Archives: 2011

The Daily Feed
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Take a second and vote Mike Morse

Photo courtesy of
‘Nat’s – Phillies Broken Bat’
courtesy of ‘Tony DeFilippo’

With the All-Star Break nearing, the Nationals are looking like they might get just a single player, setup man Tyler Clippard, into the game this year. However, there’s a way that you can maybe help Nationals’ 1B Michael Morse eke his way into the game. He’s one of the five players up in the Final Man vote, but he’s up against some pretty stiff competition.

Since early May, Morse has been just crushing the ball, batting .333/.388/.644 since May 2nd, with 14 homers and 37 RBI since he took over the 1B job. He’s been one of the best offensive 1Bs in the National League and definitely deserves the city’s support. Go Vote.

The Daily Feed
By

Food Truck Tracker

Photo courtesy of
‘Sol Mexican Grill’
courtesy of ‘ekelly80’

Thanks to the people who submitted some more food truck photos–much appreciated! If you have work today, hopefully you aren’t feeling like there are “bombs bursting” in your head. Benjamin Franklin may have said, “Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy,” but unlike our Founding Fathers, you’re lucky enough to have food trucks to help ease your holiday hangover.
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Weekend Flashback
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Weekend Flashback: 7/1-7/4


‘fish gone wild’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

I’ve watched the movie 1776, and I think we need to celebrate July 5th like the Founding Fathers did. That is, drink amazing amounts of fermented molasses, pat ourselves on the back for plagiarizing the ideas of John Locke the day before, and get very little done at work. While you think over the notion of celebrating this day traditionally, take a minute (or thirty) and check out the “All American,” extra large, Flashback from the three day weekend.

Something to note: You’ll notice an amazing lack of firework pictures. That’s because our group was flooded with so many awesome shots of the fireworks, we decided to do a dedicated Fireworks Flashback. It’ll run later today, so get your fireworks photos into the We Love DC Flickr group if you want them considered! Continue reading →

Entertainment, Music, Special Events, The Features
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A Capitol Fourth 2011 Rehearsal in Photos


Pictured: Kelli O’Hara and the U.S. Army Band

On Saturday July 3, some of the finest names in American entertainment assembled to rehearse for what would become PBS’ Capitol Fourth concert on the West Lawn of the Capitol building. The show’s talent included Broadway’s Kelli O’Hara, Glee‘s Matthew Morrison, American Idol’s Jordin Sparks, vocal sensation Josh Groban, comeidan/actor Steve Martin and many more.

The following photo set features O’Hara, Morrison, Groban and actor/host Jimmy Smits. All pictures were photographed on July 3, 2011.

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Fun & Games, Sports Fix, The Features
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Werth’s Hustle Starts Holiday Party as Nats Beat Cubs 5-4 in 10


‘Jayson Werth, where is you’re head at?!?’
courtesy of ‘Tony DeFilippo’

Jayson Werth, the focus of so much agonized discussion among Washington Nationals fans over the last few weeks, didn’t get the big hit in this 4th of July thriller. But he did score the winning run, drove in two more, walked twice, and helped cut down a runner at the plate as the Nationals scrambled back to the .500 mark, defeating the Chicago Cubs 5-4 in 10 innings in front of most of an announced crowd of 32,937 at Nationals Park.

Washington’s winning sequence was classic National League baseball. After Werth worked a walk off losing pitcher Marcos Mateo, he was bunted over to 2nd base by pinch-hitter Livan Hernandez. Hernandez was actually the second pitcher to pinch-hit in the game as Nationals manager Davey Johnson was forced to creatively manage his shortened bench in the absence of Michael Morse (hairline fracture of the forearm). After Mateo was forced to depart with an injury in favor of Carlos Marmol, Werth caught the Cubs infield defense napping and stole third without even drawing a throw. Finally, when Marmol’s 2-2 pitch slipped past Geovany Soto and bounced around the backstop, Werth raced home with the winning run.

It was the perfect end to an up-and-down day for the $126 million man. Werth’s broken-bat single in the bottom of the first drove home Danny Espinosa and made the score 2-0, Washington. But Werth was  also a supporting player in one of the worst defensive plays seen from the Nationals at any point in their history. Continue reading →

Fun & Games, Sports Fix
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Nats Back Below .500 as Bucs Blast Marquis


‘Clippard Pitches’
courtesy of ‘MudflapDC’

If, as the old baseball truism goes, the baseball gods have given the Washington Nationals 54 wins, 54 losses, and 54 toss-ups, than Sunday afternoon’s 10-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates unquestionably falls into the second category. Jason Marquis faced just 13 batters and recorded only four outs. Hundreds of fans were still milling around in the centerfield plaza, trying to decide whether to find their seats or find a hot dog, when Neil Walker scampered home on Lyle Overbay’s RBI double to give the Pirates an 8-0 lead and cap off a five-run top of the second inning that, for all intents and purposes, ended the competitive portion of the afternoon’s entertainment.

“I left too many balls in the zone,” a grim-faced Marquis said after the game. “There wasn’t enough late action on my balls.” To his credit, Marquis didn’t make excuses, nor did he hide behind the double play that probably should have been recorded by the very second batter of the game. After allowing Alex Presley to lead off the game with a sliced single to left field, Marquis induced Chase d’Arnaud to tap a ground ball back to the mound. Trying to start the pitcher’s best friend, Marquis rushed his throw and put it at second baseman Danny Espinosa’s feet. It was a difficult play to be sure, but one that Espinosa could have (if not should have) made. Instead, the throw skipped into center field and Presley picked himself up and went to third, later scoring on an RBI single by Nate McCutchen. Walker and Overbay followed with RBI base hits of their own, and the Pirates led 3-0 after half an inning.

“It didn’t have any effect [on me],” Marquis said when asked afterwards about the botched play. “They’ve been doing a good job defensively, they’ve spent the whole year battling, and are trying to make plays.”

“Things like that shouldn’t be able to affect you,” Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. “He just didn’t have it today.” Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Walk-off Wall Banger From An Unlikely Hero Propels Nats Over Pirates

Photo courtesy of
‘IMG_0682’
courtesy of ‘Lane 4 Imaging’

What is the best thing for a team that has gone through a traumatic week it after having to replace the manager and then suffer through a terrible road trip, culminating in a sweep 3000 miles away?

A win.

That wish was fulfilled in Davey Johnson’s first home game as the manager of the Washington Nationals on Friday night at Nats Park with a 2-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tom Gorzelanny was brilliant for seven innings and an unlikely hero provided some walk-off flair to lifts the spirits of Nats Town.

With the game tied at one in the bottom of the ninth, Johnson called on the oldest player sitting on his bench, 43-year-old Matt Stairs, to pinch hit for shortstop Ian Desmond with runners on first and third. All Stairs need to do was hit it out of the infield, either via pop-fly or a dribbler through the infield. For a guy with a .148 batting average through 54 at bats this season, not only was that a difficult task, but seemingly impossible. First day in front of the home fans, with the critical Washington press corps about to invade his office after the game and Johnson is putting in Matt Freaking Stairs?

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The Daily Feed
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Friday Happy Hour: Mid City Caffe Cappuccino

Do you see that cappuccino in the photo? That is a cappuccino made with love. How, you might ask, do I know it was made with love?

Because I told the kid making it to make it with love.

It helps, of course, that the barista in question is one of my very favorite people/best friends – who just happens to also be the general manager of Mid City Caffe on 14th St. (If you have been following this column, you might recognize him as the cute boy drinking in the background of many of my photos.)
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Downtown, Special Events
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So You Want to See the National Fireworks on the Mall?


‘2010 – Fourth of July – I Stand with the General’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

So you want to see the National Fireworks on the Mall? But you’ve heard all this about talk about crushing crowds, insane Metro rides home, and a constant threat of rain just before the fireworks are supposed to fly. Yeah, that all happens. But I can help with alternatives and easy to handle ways of dealing with the above problems. Because, really, the fireworks on the Mall are one of the great things about living in this city and everyone should enjoy them.

I’ll go over locations, best ways of getting home, and even a short gallery of pictures. If you want info on security checkpoints to get onto the Mall, and any other info, check out the Park Service’s page on the fireworks. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Food Truck Tracker

Photo courtesy of
‘PORC Mobile’
courtesy of ‘bonappetitfoodie’

And rounding out the week is a food truck trivia tidbit from PORCmobile: Why is their truck called “Murphy?” According to them, it’s named after Murphy’s Law because everything that could go wrong in the build-out did.

Check out their ‘cue or the other trucks that are rollin’ around on this fine afternoon. And enjoy your fourth of July weekend!

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The Daily Feed
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FREE FOOD ALERT: Taylor Gourmet Hoagies and Gardein Food Truck

Photo courtesy of
‘9th Street Italian @ Taylor Gourmet, DC’
courtesy of ‘Plantains & Kimchi’

Today, you’re in luck: there are TWO free food alerts.

If you’re down on H st. NE, DC United is giving out free Taylor Gourmet hoagies today from 12-1 PM. The 6-inch hoagies are in honor of the 4th of July and for DC United’s game against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday at RFK Stadium. Go DC United! Now grab a hoagie and let’s go show Philadelphia what we’re made of on Saturday.

If for some reason meat isn’t your thing, there’s a food truck in town from July 1st through 4th bringing you some free and meatless grub. Gardein Party, a food truck from the frozen-food producer focused on providing protein in meatless meals, will be giving out free samples at the Humane Society on 21st and L NW in Gaithersburg, MD (700 Professional Drive) today from 11 AM til 1 PM. Some of the samples include seven grain crispy tenders, the mandarin orange crispy chick’n and the ultimate beefless burger.

Gardein is doing demonstrations throughout the city, and plans on donating meatless meals to a local nonprofit (no word on which one in DC) for the first 10,000 people that pledge to give up meat one day per week for the summer. If you miss them today, they’ll also be at Freedomfest on July 3rd and 4th. I’m guessing that their twitter account will be your best bet for tracking them down.

We Love Weekends
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We Love Weekends: July 2 – 4

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC_03550001’
courtesy of ‘cruffo’

It’s that time again – for us to rub it in your faces what exciting lives we all live and give you the opportunity to live vicariously through us or try to grab ahold of that desperate desire to BE us & steal our weekend plans. This week with extra violence!

Tom: We’re headed out west for a couple weeks to celebrate my sister’s wedding in the bay area, but were I here, I’d be stocking up and getting ready for the Fourth!  I’d be using DCRA’s fireworks map to find some smash-boom-bang for early on in the evening, and then I’d likely be heading to Cardozo High to watch the fireworks. While it’s great to watch on the Mall, I far prefer some of the alternate vistas this city has to offer, especially from its rooftops. The Key Bridge is also a great spot to watch.  Happy Independence Day, everyone!

Marissa: Long weekend and celebrating the birth of our nation! Saturday I might just be crazy enough to try to get a table at the newly opened Graffiato since the restaurant scene has been all abuzz about it. Sunday I’ll be going all-American and spending the afternoon at the Nationals Game (hint: there’s a double-header on Saturday if you’re interested, and a home game on the 4th as well). As for the 4th of July, I might buck up, pack a picnic and head to the Mall since I’m pretty sure they don’t let GW alums onto the University’s rooftops all willy-nilly to watch fireworks. Plus the Capitol Fourth Concert sounds good. Happy fourth of July!

Photo courtesy of
‘Folk Life Festival 10 – Cups and Petals – 07-05-10’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Mosley: Quite the weekend for me!  Two of my favorite things are this weekend: Smithsonian Folklife Festival and the 4th of July Fireworks on the Mall.  I’m planning on spending most of Saturday down at the Folklife Festival, taking in culture from Columbia and digging the Rhythm and Blues.  Pictures will be forth coming (check out the past few years).  Then Saturday night, planning on seeing Tron at AFI in Silver Spring; this will be one of many of my favorite 80s movies they are showing throughout the summer.  Sunday I’m planning on kayaking on the Eastern Branch (AKA: the Anacostia).  The Anacostia is awesome to kayak on; few people, a ton of wildlife, and sights not often seen.  I launch out of Bladensburg and can get as far south as RFK and Kingman Island.  I’ll finish up the long weekend with a BBQ on the 4th, and heading over to the Mount Vernon trail to shoot pictures of the fireworks (see past years here).  I love being down around the crowd for the fireworks; it’s always so much fun!
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Sports Fix
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Homestand Preview: What a difference a week makes

Photo courtesy of
‘Presidents Race!’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’

Some weeks, you’re George, some weeks, you’re Teddy.

The Nationals (40-41) return home on Friday night after a 2-4 road trip, and carrying a 3-game losing streak, having been swept in Los Angeles. Things have not quite gone as imagined during the aftermath of Jim Riggleman’s Sarah Palin-esque departure.  Ahead of the All-Star Break, the Nationals play 11 games in 10 days starting Friday night.

These 11 games before the All-Star Break are pretty critical to the season, but there’s many reasons for hope, Natstown. Let’s look at what we’re up against, shall we?

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The Daily Feed
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Update on Yesterday’s Fire at Hook/Tacklebox

Photo courtesy of
‘Georgetown Fire’
courtesy of ‘brownpau’

As we reported yesterday, a fire broke out at Hook and Tackle Box restaurants in Georgetown in the early afternoon. According to a media release that was circulated last night, the cause of the fire is still undetermined, but it’s believed that the fire started on the loading dock behind Hook.  The owner of the restaurants, Jonatahan Umbel, is waiting for results from the DCFD’s official investigation of the fire.

There is no specific date for when the restaurants might re-open.

Umbel gave a statement in the media release: “The most important thing to me is that our patrons and staff are safe and no one was harmed. We want to thank the DC fire department, which was quick and responsive to prevent any injuries to our staff, neighbors and diners. Unfortunately, both Hook and Tackle Box Georgetown are going to be closed for repairs indefinitely. We will be working feverishly to repair the buildings to have them open for business for our loyal patrons. During this difficult time, Tackle Box’s Cleveland Park location will be open for business and we ask our fans to support our brand so that we may be back on our feet in Georgetown soon.”

On behalf of We Love DC, our thoughts go out to Umbel and his staff at Hook and Tackle Box.

We Love Music
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We Love Music: Fucked Up @ Rock and Roll Hotel, 6/27/11

P1020147
All photos by Rachel Rasby

The smell of Cocoa Puffs crushed underfoot. Silhouettes of back-hair illuminated by a spotlight. Clouds of sweat puffing around the stage. Most of my memories of Fucked Up’s performance on Monday night at the Rock and Roll Hotel aren’t particularly pleasant. But who likes their shows ‘pleasant’ anyway? Yeah, it was kind of a sweaty mess at the front of the stage – a crowd five fans deep, jumping relentlessly up and down throughout the set. But Fucked Up supplied an undeniably, infectiously energetic soundtrack for us to go wild to.

Leading by example, Fucked Up’s Damian Abraham rushed on stage and proceeded to rip open a huge bag of store-brand Cocoa Puffs all over the audience. Okay, consider my attention grabbed. Damian was one of those frontmen that’s always doing something to keep your attention, whether he’s spinning his mic around by its cord, leaning into the crowd to yell about the Crusades, or just stomping around on stage. I enjoyed the show from start to finish; I can see why their live shows have gotten them so much buzz. They made the mostly-full Rock and Roll Hotel feel like a summer festival.
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