Yearly Archives: 2011

The District
By

Media fails Law 201, PR Spin 101

YouTube Preview Image

DC’s public intoxication statute doesn’t set hard blood alcohol content (BAC) numbers the way driving under the influence laws do – in fact DC ST § 24-601* opens with a statement that the law is about minimizing harm.

In order to accomplish this purpose and alleviate intoxication  and chronic alcoholism, all public officials in the District of Columbia shall take cognizance of the fact that public intoxication  shall be handled as a public health problem rather than as a criminal offense, and that a chronic alcoholic is a sick person who needs, is entitled to, and shall be provided appropriate medical, psychiatric, institutional, advisory, and rehabilitative treatment services of the highest caliber for his illness.

This matters because we’re seeing a video blaze around the Internet today of a police encounter with a man in a motorized wheelchair-type device (often called by a trade name, Rascal). I’d be somewhat surprised if you haven’t seen it already, but it’s at the top of this article. We’re also seeing some poorly chosen words in describing the incident.

I don’t mean talking about the use of force. The question of how this really played out is now certain to become a subject of interest and we can be sure that review boards will be involved. I’d contend that’s how it should be in any case where the amount of violence used by law enforcement seems at all excessive.

The problem I’m talking about is that we’re seeing a description of how inebriated the man was by talking about “the legal limit.” but there’s the thing: In a case like this there is no legal limit.

Continue reading →

The District
By

St. Albans Wins Stotesbury Cup

Photo courtesy Julien Blarel

The St. Albans’ crew team’s men’s first varsity eight brought home the prestigious Edward T. Stotesbury Cup from their trip to Philadelphia over the weekend for the 2011 Stotesbury Cup Regatta, one of the largest and oldest high school crew events in the country.
Continue reading →

The Daily Feed, The District
By

Your Wegmans, Bring it to us.

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Make Lemons’

With the Walter Reed Army Medical Center slated to be realigned as part of BRAC, the expansive campus is ripe for redevelopment. This weekend, DC got a peek at what could be coming to that site, and it thrills me to my toes to think that DC might get a Wegmans on that site. The Examiner’s Freeman Klopott and Liz Farmer are reporting that Wegmans and the Mayor and Council are meeting at a retail development conference in Vegas this week.

The idea of continuing to shop at Wegmans, and the District getting my sales tax revenue instead of Prince George’s County is pretty exciting to me.

The Daily Feed
By

Redistricting timeline now available

Photo courtesy of
‘Bridging ward boundaries’
courtesy of ‘Payton Chung’

This morning Councilman Harry Thomas released a timeline of events for the coming redistricting of the eight wards, with the first votes coming as early as Thursday. The 2010 Census revealed an imbalance in the size of wards 2, 7 and 8 that will need to be corrected to comply with the city’s charter. Ward 2 will need to shave off approximately 1,000 residents, while Wards 7 and 8 will need to grow by approximately the same amount.

The City Paper’s Lydia DePillis took on the contentious issue a few weeks back, and this shapes up to be one of the more difficult processes that the city faces, especially in the wake of the Mayor’s successful “One City” slogan. The logical expansion targets for Wards 7 and 8 are in prosperous Ward 6, and some of the residents there aren’t at all thrilled at the idea of being represented by Councilmembers Marion Barry (D-8) or Yvette Alexander (D-7).

The schedule released today is after the cut.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

Metro refines station naming policy ahead of Silver Line

Photo courtesy of
‘2010:117’
courtesy of ‘::FiZ::’

With the Silver Line tracks growing longer every day, WMATA’s board is looking to refine the station naming policy that has given us such beauties as “Woodley Park-Zoo-Adams Morgan” and “New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet,” ahead of the new maps that will be necessary.  While renaming a station isn’t cheap (it’s said to be around $100,000 for all the new maps and signs), the Silver Line’s budget has new maps and signage already included, which gives the agency a chance to rethink the names of the 15 stations that violate the long-standing 19-character guideline for good station names.

The policy change also puts the onus of paying for any name change after this set on the person requesting the change.

Adventures, Essential DC, Life in the Capital, News, People, The Daily Feed, The District
By

Help Dog Find Its Owners

This little cutie was found Sunday afternoon in an alley near 16th NE. His rescuers describe him as “ridiculously sweet, trusting, quiet, and well-behaved” and as much as they’re enjoying his companionship, they’re hoping to reunite the pup with his family ASAP. If you recognize him, please email founddogdc@gmail.com.

Weekend Flashback
By

Weekend Flashback: 5/20-5/22

Photo courtesy of
‘you kids play nice!’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Here we are, again. I don’t know about the rest of you, but there was a small part of me hoping, against all logic, to be kicking it in heaven instead of being at work this week. I’m taking this as a sign that I’ve been chosen to teach you all how to be good people. So, do unto others as you would have them do unto you; share and share alike; be sure to tip your waiters and waitresses; and, for God’s sake, please use your turn signals! Now, go fourth and preach the word…but first, check out the sights of the weekend. Continue reading →

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
By

Friday Happy Hour: Stillwater Ales Jaded

This 2011 American Craft Beer Week has been marked with many events around the DC area – some of which will carry on in the craft beer spirit all though SAVOR next month. While I appreciate the concept, I generally prefer to keep Craft Beer Week in my heart year round and avoided most of the official events. That did not mean, however, that I avoided drinking some truly lovely beer.

Baltimore-based but globally-travelling, Stillwater Ales has been making some of my favorite new beers recently. Jaded, brewed at De Struise Brouwers is the third edition in Stillwater’s “Import Series” and is, in a word, lovely.
Continue reading →

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
By

Food Tweet of the Week: Sixth & Rye

Photo courtesy of
‘Good Stuff’
courtesy of ‘lorigoldberg’
On a roll like always is the ubiquitous Spike Mendelsohn. Despite what was perhaps a bad choice of words earlier this month, Mendelsohn’s first food truck lunched today without a glitch in sights.

Sixth & Rye has been popular before the deli truck even first hit the streets. You can think of it as DC’s First Kosher Deli on Wheels with Sixth & I, Chef Spike and Chef Malcolm Mitchell behind the venture. It even has 1,755 followers on Twitter already, where the truck goes by @SixthandRye.

Continue reading →

Capital Chefs, Food and Drink, Penn Quarter, The Features
By

Capital Chefs: Kaz Kazmi of Merzi (Part 2)

Photo courtesy of
‘Food’
courtesy of ‘MichaelTRuhl’

It’s easy to be intimidated by the prospect of cooking Indian food. Will it turn out right? Will my kitchen smell like curry for days? Am I better off ordering from a restaurant in town that actually knows what they’re doing? But take my word for it: making Indian food, really good Indian food, doesn’t have to be that hard. Save your pennies on having someone else make you chicken tikka masala; you can do this.

After the jump you’ll find Kaz Kazmi’s recipe for pakoras, a traditional Indian fried vegetable fritter. They’re flavorful and spicy and taste so good that before you know it the entire batch you made will be gone.
Continue reading →

Capital Chefs, Food and Drink, Penn Quarter, The Features
By

Capital Chefs: Kaz Kazmi of Merzi (Part 1)

Photo courtesy of
‘Owner Qaiser Kazmi’
courtesy of ‘MichaelTRuhl’

There’s a phrase that comes to mind after talking to Qaiser (Kaz) Kazmi: “go big or go home.” The father of three and entrepreneur gave up the corporate life working in IT and set his sights on creating an Indian-inspired concept back in 2005. Today, he’s working on perfecting the first Merzi restaurant in Penn Quarter/Chinatown and looking to expand across the city, and eventually across the country.

Merzi, which means “choice” in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu, came about after Kaz found himself becoming less and less connected with his career and more and more invested in his passion for food. But for someone who wasn’t classically trained as a chef, there were a few bumps in the road. “In 2002, we were having some people over, and I said to my wife: ‘If these kabobs I make are delicious, then I’m ready for a restaurant,'” said Kaz, laughing a bit. As the story goes and as we’ve all experienced before in the kitchen, Kaz’s attempt to look for a sign from God or the stove ended in what he referred to as “terrible kabobs.”

But a few years of research and taste testing later, Kaz created a concept to bring Indian food to a level that is comfortable and  not intimidating for Americans.

Continue reading →

Downtown, Entertainment, Special Events, We Love Arts
By

Celebrate Hawai’i at NMAI

Photo courtesy of
‘530919_Shoshone_Indians_Ft_Washakie_Wyoming_Indian_Reservation_and_
The_National_Museum_of_the_American_Indian’
courtesy of ‘whonew’

Kicking off last night at the National Museum of the American Indian is a special exhibit about our 50th state, Hawai’i. The exhibition, “This IS Hawai’i” is a collaboration between NMAI and Transformer, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit visual arts organization. Together, they present a multisite exhibition featuring new and experimental works of art that explore what it means to be Hawaiian in the 21st century. The artwork includes sculpture, action figures, drawings, an interactive website and a fictional work titled “Post-Historic Museum of the Possible Aboriginal Hawaiian.” The work of Maika’i Tubbs will be presented at Transformer, opening day Saturday, May 21, and the work of Solomon Enos and Carl F. K. Pao will be presented at the NMAI’s Sealaska Gallery, with artist Puni Kukahiko’s outdoor sculptures presented at both sites. The exhibition is presented in tandem with the museum’s annual Hawai’i Festival, which is this weekend.

There are other events planned around this exhibit through Memorial Day weekend, including the museum’s popular Dinner and a Movie, live performances, a fellowship dance, and interactive discussions. All of the events are free at the museum.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

What’s the Most Memorable Home Run in Nationals Franchise History?

Photo courtesy of
‘waiting for Adam’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

I was reading Craig Calcaterra’s piece on each franchise’s most memorable home runs, and I felt a little disappointed as he blew right through the history of the Nats and the long ball:

Nationals

Whether you include the Expos or just go with the Nats, I’m struggling to think of a single truly memorable home run by this franchise. I looked up every memorable moment in each team’s history and none of them involved home runs.  I think Jonah Keri is gonna have to help me out here.

I can think of two that at least deserve mention, but would love to open this one up to the crowds. My two votes:

  • Opening Night, 2008 – Ryan Zimmerman walks-off the Braves on the first night of the new Nationals Park on a Sunday night in front of a national audience.
  • Father’s Day, 2006 – Zimmerman, again, leads the Nats over the Yankees in a final at-bat homer at RFK.

Any other votes?

Sports Fix, The Features
By

Atlanta, Winnipeg and How It May Just Affect the Caps

Photo courtesy of
‘IMG_2722.jpg’
courtesy of ‘bridgetds’

Could Southeast Division fans be losing one of their own members to the great white north?

In 1996, during the ‘Canadian Flight Era’ of the NHL, the Winnipeg Jets were one of several teams that crossed the border to an American professional sports market. Moving to Phoenix and becoming the Coyotes, the Manitoba city has been without an NHL team now for 15 years – but financial troubles in the last few years by the Coyotes have left Winnipeg hovering the team like someone waiting for a bar stool to open up.

The Coyotes needed to find some $25m to stay operating or a new buyer (presumably the True North group of, you guessed it, Winnipeg) could swoop in, but thanks to some idiosyncrasies of the team and the hockey-only-arena they play in out in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale, the town and the NHL are sinking more money into the franchise to keep them around.

If only the same lifeline could be thrown to the Caps Southeast Division rival, the Atlanta Thrashers.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

This Week in Food

 

Waffles!

In what I find the best news of the week, Wicked Waffle tells us it’s finally opening up its McPherson Square location — sometime in June to be specific. Think made to order waffles, sandwiches (with waffles as the bread of course), and soup. Can’t wait!

Toast of the Town

Today Zoofari, tomorrow Toast of the Town. You can head to the National Building Museum on Friday for an evening of wines, spirits, beer, music, and the gourmet food. Participating restaurants include Cava Mezze, Art and Soul, Sonoma, Matchbox, and Toki Underground. Buy tickets here. Enjoy!

Seasons 52

WaPo critic Tom Sietsema headed to North Bethesda this week to check out Seasons 52. The best part of the review was actually about the piano man: “An entertainer who desperately needs voice lessons is holding forth in the piano bar the night I come for dinner, but the dining room across from White Flint mall puts me more in mind of Northern California than Northern Bethesda. (Ledgestone walls, abundant natural light and handsome wine displays help.)” Ouch.

Jack Rose

Young & Hungry takes a look at the soon to be open Jack Rose, writing “Beyond the Single Malt: At Jack Rose, Craft Beer Flows Like Scotch.” 2,700 bottles of scotch, really? Wow. You can check out the obviously still a work in process website here. Better bet, try Twitter @JackRoseinDC.

Cafe Atlantico

The easiest place in DC to score a reservation (ha!) is closing. In the saddest recap I’ve ever ready, writer Chris Shott tells us about his proposal at the restaurant. Of course, José Andrés never fails, so I bet the pop-up concept will be a hit, and I hope Atlantico comes back as well.

Happy eating!

We Love Weekends
By

We Love Weekends – May 21-22

Photo courtesy of
‘St. Elizabeths – Fallout at Hitchcock Hall – 12-13-08’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Mosley: Saturday morning I’m going on a DC Preservation League walking tour of St. Elizabeths.  I’ve taken the tour before, but I’m interested in seeing what’s changed with the DHS construction project.  Also, I’ll hopefully be getting better pictures than the first time around.  The Preservation League does some great tours, and I always recommend them to people.  Other than that, my weekend is fairly free, so any suggestions in the comments would be appreciated.

Marissa: Being the savvy shopper that I am, I plan on heading to the newly opened Nordstrom Rack on Saturday and expanding my wardrobe and shoe collection a bit, while shrinking my bank account at the same time. Sunday will be filled with food for me. I’m incredibly excited to be one of the judges at Lamb Jam (sorry folks, you’ll have to use the waitlist) and then heading to DCCK’s Sound Bites at the 9:30 Club. You can still get tickets for $50 and I can’t wait to check out all the good food and music while supporting a great cause.

Brittany: I recently put together that my rarely being hung-over on weekend mornings might explain my lack of enthusiasm for going to brunch – the two seem intimately related. This weekend, I intend to test that theory. This starts on Thursday with the Thrillist and Don Julio Tequila Luxury Drop party, followed by tUnE-YarDs at Red Palace. Friday brings the super-rad vitaminwater uncapped LIVE opening night with the Fatback/Tenderloin/Que Sera triple threat. Saturday brings DC Grey Market, a Positive Force benefit show (that bit being totally xstraightxedgex, obvs), and then a trip to the beautiful House of Sweden for a rooftop party to celebrate that country’s Music Doc Film Festival, probably followed by more something, somewhere. Come Sunday, I want to be able to arrive at brunch and see what all this hungover dining has going for it.

Continue reading →

History, The Daily Feed
By

Smithsonian Snapshot: Pac-Man Telephone

Pac-Man Telephone, 1982; photo courtesy Smithsonian Institution

Reportedly inspired by a pizza with one slice removed, Pac-Man was developed by Tōru Iwatani, a programmer for the Japanese company Namco. His primary motivation was to develop a nonviolent game that would appeal to male and female players alike. Unlike previous hit video games like Pong and Space Invaders, Pac-Man had a recognizable main character that allowed it to be the first video game to also be a licensing success. Pac-Man is considered today to be one of the video game classics and an icon of the 1980s.

Recognized by 94% of American consumers, Pac-Man has the highest brand awareness of any video game character ever. The character itself appears in more than 30 officially licensed game spin-offs and countless unauthorized ones. During the early 1980s, Pac-Man was everywhere. It was the first video game to spawn a marketing phenomenon, including licensed books, clocks, radios, gumball banks, a Saturday-morning cartoon and gadgets like this Pac-Man telephone.

This item is one of 137 million artifacts, works of art and specimens in the Smithsonian’s collection. It is not currently on display.

Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
By

We Love Music: Arctic Monkeys @ 9:30 Club, 5/17/11


courtesy of Arctic Monkeys.

And so with this review of Arctic Monkeys at 9:30 Club on Tuesday night, my time reviewing concerts on We Love DC has come full circle. On December 11, 2009 I posted my first feature review as WLDC’s new music writer. It was a glowing review of Arctic Monkeys’ 9:30 Club performance and their dedication to artistic development in the face of a relatively disinterested audience who just wanted to hear the hits.

The world was a different place then. 9:30 Club tickets were sold via Tickets.com instead of Ticketfly. Osama Bin Laden was still hiding in every shoe, belt buckle, and in-seam instead of resting in a watery grave. I had yet to experience and subsequently declare 2010 ‘the greatest year of live music ever’. And Arctic Monkeys had a huge savings account of mainstream goodwill that they hadn’t yet squandered with their somewhat anti-populist tour.

I don’t know if it is because the quality of 2010’s concerts irreversibly raised my standards or if it is because Arctic Monkeys are currently caving in to popular opinion instead of sticking to their artistic guns, but something about this week’s concert really disappointed me. How this band that has only received rave reviews from me in the past suddenly ended up boring the hell out of me is kind of mystifying. I guess the answer is a combination of both aforementioned reasons.

Continue reading →