The Daily Feed

Hot Ticket: Modern Man @ Black Cat, 5/20/11

The Black Cat is hosting a great evening of local music on Friday night that features singer-songwriter Brandon Butler opening for Modern Man and Shortstack.

After their performance at last month’s Sweetlife Festival, Modern Man is something of a We Love DC staff favorite these days. After the fest, our own Tom Bridge declared, “(Modern Man) really wailed!” When discussing Modern Man in his review of the festival, Andrew Markowitz described their sound as “similar to Creedence Clearwater Revival’s harder songs with a hint of outlaw country-rock sound,” and said that out of the many DC local bands Modern Man is one he would be happy to pay a cover to see again. Thumbs up from my WLDC colleagues is enough to convince me these guys are worth checking out.

If their endorsement ain’t enough for ya, consider these two tracks Modern Man kindly gave us permission to share with you:

My Annoying Tendencies
1957

Did I mention this show is only $10 yet? Can’t really go wrong with this one folks!

Shortstack
w/ Modern Man & Brandon Butler
@ Black Cat
5/20/11 – 9pm
$10

Food and Drink

First Look: Senart’s Oyster & Chop House

S 002
If you’re looking for some of the best oysters in DC, just head over to the ever-busy Barracks Row and walk into Senart’s Oyster & Chop House. It would have been easy money to bet that restaurateur Xavier Cervera’s new gem on 8th Street SE would be a smashing success, yet every time I walk into Senart’s I’m amazed by the fact that it is constantly packed.

Let’s start with the exterior, which was great to see being renovated during the construction period. The Senart family resided in the building between 1913 and 1939, and lived of the second floor while serving bar fare and fresh oysters on the first. Seventy years later, the place is updated and back. You can even see the restored mural on one side of the building – classy.

Walk inside and the oyster bar is narrow, but it just keeps going and going back. (I almost thought I would never actually make it to the bathroom.) It is just beautiful – marble and 50 ft. long. Personally, I’d rather sit outside on the patio under the patio umbrella very similar to the one on PatioPro, but as you can imagine, that’s hot property during the spring and summer.
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Comedy in DC

Comedy in DC: Sheng Wang

Sheng Wang Pro

I got to know Sheng Wang over the phone recently and found out who he is and what to expect when he headlines the Cool Dudes Hanging Out Show happening at the Velvet Lounge this Friday from 7 to 10 PM. I don’t like to give excuses, but want to let you know that my trusty I-Pod that I use to record my conversations failed to record and I do not have a lot of quotes. What I do promise you though is that I can tell you his story using the very ephemeral storage space in my brain. In fact I am scrambling to disseminate as much information as possible right now so that the story is fresh in my mind. Continue reading

The Daily Feed

Harmon Killebrew (1936-2011) and the 5/18 Sports Ticker

Photo courtesy of
‘Harmon Killebrew’
courtesy of ‘librarygrrrl’

The Lead Item: Yesterday, Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew lost his battle to cancer, passing away at age 74. This isn’t a stretch by any means to put into context for Washington baseball fans and history. As you can see above, Killebrew is topped by a Twins cap on his plaque up in Cooperstown, but he also is among the best to ever wear a jersey for the Washington Senators.

While spending much of the mid-50s going back and forth between Washington minor league affiliates, Killebrew made a more regular move to the Show in 1959, the penultimate season of the squad before it moved to Minneapolis. Mind you, Killebrew didn’t have a huge impact while the team was in Washington (in his two seasons playing full-time with the franchise before it packed up to go north, the Senators finished 8th and 5th in the 8-team AL), but at least we can tell the story that the legend of ‘The Killer’ Killebrew began here in DC. Sports Illustrated‘s Joe Posnaski passed on this story of the not-really-overnight, overnight success story of the youngster from Idaho: Continue reading

Mythbusting DC

Mythbusting: The Internet was invented in Arlington?

Photo courtesy of
‘IMP Control Panel’
courtesy of ‘Erik Pitti’

This past week, just about every DC-based news outlet has picked up the Associated Press story that Arlington County is dedicating a plaque at 1400 Wilson Boulevard to commemorate the birthplace of the Internet-predecessor, the ARPANET. While there’s no question that DARPA, namesake of the network, was deeply and inextricably involved in the development of the network, can you really say that Arlington was its birthplace?

Part of this question is deeply philosophical: what exactly does it mean to invent something that spanned a continent, and then a globe? Are the wires the network? The machines that connect them?  The people that wrote the software that the machines run? There’s not going to be as clean cut an answer here as you’d like, but let’s take the opportunity to explore the region’s involvement in the creation of the second greatest technical achievement of the 1960s, shall we?

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Adventures, All Politics is Local, Essential DC, Life in the Capital, News, People, The Daily Feed, The District

Help Find Lost Dog Sassafras

YouTube Preview Image
It’s been 6 weeks since beagle-jack russell mix and kill shelter rescue, Sassafras, escaped from her daytime caretaker in the AdMo area. Since then, her family and dedicated volunteers have hung 2000+ posters, received 4500 phone calls, created a “Find Lost Beagle Sassafras” blog, posted numerous tweets, facebook entries and listserv entries, brought in two professional trackers, and united the DC dog community to help find Sassafras. As a result, there have been numerous reported sightings of Sass with the latest at Rock Creek Cemetery on May 11, but she has yet to be reunited with her family.

In their search to find Sass, the owners have uncovered both the positive and negative facts of recovering their dog, including the need of having the pet doors locked at night.

1) The city department charged with disposing of dead animals, does not notify pet owners even if the dead animal has tags and other easy identification.

2) While many area shelters post pictures of animals brought to their shelters online, the DC shelter does not, even though they have the capability. Continue reading

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed

Red Hook Lobster Pound Gets a Second Truck

Photo courtesy of
‘it’s here!’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

The lobsters have outgrown their shells and are getting a second truck. That’s right, hungry food truck stalkers–double your lobster, double your fun. Red Hook Lobster Pound’s second truck has actually been rolling around the streets unofficially for a while now, and is having its official launch this week.

I talked to Doug Povich and Leland Morris from the Lobster Truck and asked them a few questions about the second truck. Read what they had to say after the jump.
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Sports Fix

The Road Trip: New York, Baltimore and Milwaukee

Photo courtesy of
‘Route 16’
courtesy of ‘Kevin.Jack’

The Nationals got a nice present from Mother Nature yesterday: a rainout. A day off at home is about as rare a commodity as you’ll find during the Major League Baseball season.  The Nationals leave in the morning for a quick two-game jaunt in New York before three games of interleague play in Baltimore, and then three games in Milwaukee.

With a 20-21 record, the Nationals go into their road trip with a 6-4 record over their last ten games.  Their trip to New York will see them play the last place New York Mets, who are also sporting a 6-4 record over their last ten games, mostly at the hands of Houston and Los Angeles, who’ve not had strong starts, but also against Colorado, who lead the West.  Tom Gorzelanny (2-3) and Livan Hernandez (3-5) will start in New York, with Jordan Zimmermann losing his start due to the rain yesterday.  Given that the Nats are trying to limit the returning hurler’s innings this season, a saved start is a wise choice for the club.  They’ll likely face Dillon Gee (2-0) and R.A. Dickey (1-5).  A split would be the bare minimum, but I’d say it’s possible we’ll see a short sweep.

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Entertainment, Fun & Games, Music

The Winning Ticket: Sound Bites

As a way to say thanks to our loyal readers, We Love DC will be giving away a pair of tickets to a 9:30 Club concert to one lucky reader each week. Check back here every Wednesday morning at 9am to find out what tickets we’re giving away and leave a comment for your chance to be the lucky winner!

Last week we gave you music and a horse race; this week we’re offering music and food from some of DC’s best eats. Enter to win two tickets to the Sound Bites event at the 9:30 Club on Sunday, May 22. Sound Bites combines free food samples from area restaurants with performances by area bands to benefit D.C. Central Kitchen, whose programs help the area’s homeless and underprivileged via meals, outreach, and counseling services. This edition of Sound Bites features music from go-go legends Trouble Funk and area ska godfathers The Pietasters to name a few of the acts that will help you dance off all those tapas, oysters, and empenadas.

For your chance to win these tickets simply leave a comment on this post using a valid email address between 9am and 4pm today. One entry per email address, please. If today doesn’t turn out to be your lucky day, check back here each Wednesday for a chance to win tickets to other great concerts. Tickets for this event are available on Ticketfly.

For the rules of this giveaway…

Comments will be closed at 4pm and a winner will be randomly selected. The winner will be notified by email. The winner must respond to our email within 24 hours or they will forfeit their tickets and we will pick another winner.

Tickets will be available to the winner at the 9:30 Club Guest List window one hour before doors open on the night of the concert. The tickets must be claimed with a valid ID. The winner must be old enough to attend the specific concert or must have a parent’s permission to enter if he/she is under 18 years old.

The Daily Feed

Civic Associations, Letters of Support, and Local Business

Photo courtesy of
‘Former Engine No. 12’
courtesy of ‘parkview dc’

If you follow the food scene as closely as so many do in this town, you’re probably well aware of the circumstances surrounding Firehouse 12.  The space on North Capitol and Quincy Place in Bloomingdale that was once the home of DC FEMS Engine 12 has been bought and is being developed into a restaurant named after the former occupants, Engine Company 12.

This past Friday, the General Manager Stephen May Jr. of Engine Company 12 wrote an open letter to lambast the local civic association for dragging its feet in supporting the restaurant publicly with a letter of support, which would help them through the process of obtaining an ABRA license that would allow them to serve alcoholic beverages. On Sunday, the Civic Association responded.  Late yesterday, Curbed published another response from Mr. May.

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History, People, Scribblings, Special Events, The Features

Scribblings: Annie Jacobsen & the Notorious Area 51

Photo courtesy of
‘2010_08_06_rno-phx-bos_071’
courtesy of ‘dsearls’

Tomorrow, secrets of Area 51 will be revealed.

Okay, not quite all. But more than you’d expect. The International Spy Museum is hosting a special (and free!) documentary screening and author discussion tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m. in conjunction with the National Geographic Channel. Annie Jacobsen is a contributing editor at the Los Angeles Times Magazine and an investigative reporter whose work has also appeared in the National Review and the Dallas Morning News. Her two-part series “The Road to Area 51” in the Los Angeles Times Magazine broke online reader records and remained the “most popular/most emailed” story for ten consecutive days. Her findings resulted in both a new book, AREA 51: An Uncensored History of America’s Top Secret Military Base, and a companion National Geographic special, Area 51 Declassified.

Jacobsen has been busy prepping for her book tour, which kicks off at the Spy Museum, but managed to squeeze off a few answers to WeLoveDC regarding Area 51, its purpose, and what really went on at America’s most well known Top Secret facility.

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The Daily Feed

$1 Monday at Nats Park, Fan Says ‘Exceeded My Expectations’

Twitpic from Bud McDonald used with permission

Friend of WLDC, Ryan C., took advantage of the Nats’ $1 Monday promotion last night. $1 tickets, $1 hot dogs and other snack foods – and a response that caused the special-priced tickets for a Monday May game against the Pirates to disappear within minutes. Ryan was lucky enough to get seats, and he passed his thoughts on how things went in to us.

While it was a late arriving crowd on Monday evening for $1 night, the items were relatively easy to come by, despite my fears that the Nats would not plan for the influx of purchases and run out of hot dogs early. When I arrived at the ballpark around 6:15 pm I went to the food court area right by the centerfield gate. I went to a stand that sold hot dogs but was told that only “Nats Dogs” concession stands were selling hot dogs. I found the nearest “Nats Dogs” stand and waited in line for about five minutes where I was able to purchase four hot dogs for $1 each.

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Entertainment, Music, Night Life, Special Events, The Features, We Love Arts

Art Explodes at 14th & Florida

Photo courtesy of
‘BYT/Vitaminwater Uncapped 9’
courtesy of ‘Jenn Larsen’

I’m standing in front of a beat-up industrial building whose windows are papered with notices, its imposing iron gate clanged shut. It doesn’t look like much is happening on this corner of 14th and Florida Avenue NW. But above me is a new black sign with familiar logos signaling that three partners have come together to bring DC an exhilarating pop-up destination combining art, music and the unexpected for one month of mayhem.

Get ready for vitaminwater uncapped LIVE with entertainment programming from Brightest Young Things and Art Whino‘s G40 Art Summit: Friday May 20th through Friday June 17th at 2217 14th Street NW.

BYT’s own Svetlana Legetic took me on a walkthrough of the 20,000+ square foot space, while artists set up their installations and graffiti spray hung in the air. Opening weekend is in a few days, and everyone involved is incredibly excited. After what I saw, I’m excited too! I love the possibility of browsing room after room of crazy eclectic artwork, meeting interesting people, hanging out at a concert or dancing in a basement garage – all in the same place. The whole building has been taken over in an explosion of art – every available wall space is covered, including stairwells, hallways, bathrooms, ceilings – everywhere you look there’s something new to discover. Add people and music, and I’m looking forward to one hell of a fun time.

Let’s take a peak. Continue reading

Featured Photo

Featured Photo


‘Circling Around’
courtesy of ‘Eric Spiegel’

Long exposures, or keeping the shutter open for longer than the fraction of a second in a typical photograph, can do amazing things in photography. Sometimes you know what you’re going to get in the shot; a lot of the time, you get wonderful surprises. The technique can be used to show motion; it can be used to bring out bright colors; it can show fine details; it can do awesome things with reflections; and sometimes it captures that which is both quick and beautiful.

Eric shows off many of the best aspects of long exposures with this shot of a plane’s approach into DCA. Colors of the plane’s running lights are bright and distinct; the surprise hextagon lens flare which adds a bit of mystery to the shot; and the wonderful lines of the plane’s approach catch the eye. It all comes together for an excellent long exposure.

Special Events, The Daily Feed

DC Yoga Week, May 15 – 21 with the best yoga mats

Photo courtesy of
‘IMG_0964’
courtesy of ‘Joe in DC’

Between cursing Metro and trying to be understood in a city full of budding and boring politicos, we all could use a good cleansing breath and a quiet moment. Let out a sigh and get your pranayama on, get down with your downward dog and get ready for DC Yoga Week.

Although rain and a muddy Mall cancelled this year’s Yoga on the Mall, you still have five days to get in some quality time on your mat. Don’t forget the yoga flashmob on Saturday at 10 AM if you’re really feeling bold. David Romanelli, who co-founded Yoga + Chocolate, will lead a one-hour flowing yoga class, to stretch your consciousness and your tummy for the three-course dinner that will follow. The menu is chock full of fresh, local, seasonal food, such as an oyster salad, dandelion greens, and strawberry and rhubarb gratin.

We will also be using from now on the best yoga mats to prevent hands and feet slipping during asana practice in modern-day yoga exercise. Yoga mats are the modern-day yoga equipment you can buy at https://www.youryogashop.co.uk.

Throughout the week there free and $5 classes for both beginners and experienced yogis, and the goal of the week is to promote awareness about the benefits of yoga. Ten yoga studios throughout the city are participating this year and are offering a range of classes, including introductory classes, prenatal yoga, and gentle yoga. Plus, the classes are offered during a variety of times. See you on the mat, my fellow yogis.

Food and Drink, Fun & Games, The Features

Justin’s Cafe: NatsTown’s Finest

Photo courtesy of
‘Cubs @ Nats (July 17, 2009) – 1’
courtesy of ‘Garyisajoke’

Nats fans are practically orphans when it comes to bar options surrounding their beloved ballpark. If you’re one of the effected parties, it’s downright miserable to live with from time to time. If you’re an observer of the culture and the area, it’s not that much better.

Current options include: The Bullpen and Das Bullpen. There’s also a McDonalds, a gas station, a couple hotels and apartment complexes. But, alas, a diamond in the rough!

Justin’s Café opened last year, just a few blocks from Nationals Park. They opened up shop at 1025 First Street SE with a fine line of beer, wine, and meals oh so divine. Pardon, my rhyme but I feel the selection was worth the cute play on words. Continue reading