Yearly Archives: 2011

Entertainment, The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: Art

Photo by Scott Suchman

If you could take the premise Yasmina Reza’s “Art” and turn it into an episode of Seinfeld, it would have been a classic.

Just imagine George Costanza marching into Jerry’s apartment to see a blank white 5’ x 4’ canvas…

Jerry: George! Behold my latest acquisition!

George: What is it?

Jerry: It’s an Antrios!

George: Antrios?

Jerry: Antrios!

George: Never heard of him.

Jerry: Well he’s a classic- and this painting will be as well! I got it at such a steal!

George: How much?

Jerry: $200,000. What do you think?

George: I am speechless. I am without speech.

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The Daily Feed
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Offseason, The Lockout, The Redskins and the 4/20 Sports Ticker

Photo courtesy of
‘Linebackers’
courtesy of ‘Danilo.Lewis|Fotography’

The Lead Item: One full Sports Ticker dedicated to the ‘skins this lockout offseason seems appropriate. Let’s catch you up on a few things:

  • As of this morning, even though the 2011 schedule has been released by the league, all signs are still pointing to lockout and the fact that those games are only going to get played in Madden ’12.
  • Let’s be optimistic, though, for once – there are some dates definitely worth circling when it comes to the schedule. First, the Redskins will probably be one of two center stage events on the first Sunday of the season in hosting a New York area team here in the Capital Region on the 10th anniversary of 9/11. The tributes will be in full force, for sure. After that opening weekend game, Redskins fans can look to a Monday night date in Dallas, home dates with both the Jets and the Patriots and a trip to Toronto to face the “Ontario” Bills.
  • Another question: what’s the story with Donovan McNabb? Benched last year for Rex Grossman, McNabb could very well be on his way out the door, especially if Washington can pick up a QB in next week’s draft. Likely landing point? Minnesota…at least as of now.
  • Even though workouts aren’t necessarily allowed to happen right now (at least with coaches/team facilities), that didn’t stop a few players from working out on their own, led by London Fletcher. What’s also interesting is that there are reports of rifts between the middle-tier of players and the upper-tier, which could be an explanation for the practice and who was and wasn’t (McNabb, Haynesworth) there.

There, decently up to speed now, aren’t we? Let’s move on to the rest of the ticker.

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Talkin' Transit
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Talkin’ Transit: Parking Edition

Photo courtesy of
‘281|365’
courtesy of ‘Danilo.Lewis|Fotography’

I hate parking meters. I think they’re an awful concept. Not because they make you pay for what you use, but rather how they make you pay for it: with change.  As rates have increased in the downtown core to $2/hr, it means that you need to carry with you rolls and rolls of quarters if you’re going to do any parking in the core that isn’t in a garage.

We started to see pay-by-phone metering last year, with a number of trials in Dupont Circle and in Foggy Bottom with a pair of services that work on a zone-based system.  Call a number, enter a credit card (the first time) and then enter the zone where you’re parked.  Bam, you’re good for as long as you’re within the limit for the zone.  If you only intend to stay for 50 minutes, that’s all you pay for, instead of the potential for overpaying at a traditional coin meter.  It’s a revolution.

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The Daily Feed
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Too Much Light tonight, you set the price

The Neo-Futurists in "Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind" at Woolly Mammoth. Photo credit: Colin Hovde

The Neo-Futurists and the ever-changing Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind have returned to Woolly and tonight is the “pay what you can” evening. Translation: if you’ve got more free time than cash then this is the way to go. The show is at 8 but tickets go on sale at 6pm with folks getting in line as early as 4:30pm. Or perhaps earlier – this is a hot ticket and dropping $5 or $10 in the donation box appeals to a lot of folks more than spending the usual $30.

Personally I think it’s well worth the $30 and I’m intending to buy tickets. If you can afford the time, however, go get in line. This is a show that benefits from audience energy and the kind of folk with that sort of dedication.

Entertainment, Fun & Games, Music
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The Winning Ticket: Scala & Kolancy Brothers

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!

This week’s ticket giveaway is for a pair of tickets to see Scala & The Kolancy Brothers perform at the 9:30 Club on Monday, April 25th.

If you don’t know what the heck Scala & The Kolancy Brothers is yet, don’t feel bad, you are not alone. Odds are you might know their work without even knowing who they are. Their weird and heart-breaking cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” was used heavily in the ad campaign for the film “The Social Network” last year. That’s where I was first exposed to this massive all girl choir from Belgium and the pair of brothers who work with them. Digging into Scala a little deeper reveals a group that specializes in soul searching choral arrangements of famous pop tunes; a niche market that they have been dominating for years. Thanks in no small part to the exposure that “The Social Network” provided, Scala & The Kolancy Brothers are able to bring their live show to America. I have a feeling this is going to be an unusual and special night at the 9:30 Club.

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 concert are available on Ticketfly.

For the rules of this giveaway…
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The Daily Feed
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Redskins Release 2011 Schedule

Photo courtesy of
‘Skins Game’
courtesy of ‘MudflapDC’

Last week gave us the announced preseason schedule for the Redskins, and today the NFL followed suit with the regular season league-wide fixtures. Here’re your 2011 dates:

  • Sun.,Sept. 11 New York Giants
  • Sun, Sept. 18 Arizona Cardinals
  • Mon, Sept. 26 @ Dallas Cowboys
  • Sun., Oct. 2 @ St. Louis Rams
  • Sun., Oct. 9 BYE
  • Sun., Oct. 16 Philadelphia Eagles
  • Sun., Oct. 23 @ Carolina Panthers
  • Sun., Oct. 30 @ Buffalo Bills (Toronto)
  • Sun., Nov. 6 San Francisco 49ers
  • Sun., Nov. 13 @ Miami Dolphins
  • Sun., Nov. 20 Dallas Cowboys
  • Sun., Nov. 27 @ Seattle Seahawks
  • Sun., Dec. 4 New York Jets
  • Sun., Dec. 11 New England Patriots
  • Sun., Dec. 18 @ New York Giants
  • Sat., Dec. 24 Minnesota Vikings
  • Sun., Jan. 1 @ Philadelphia Eagles

Of course, any time we post about this, we have to remind you that we really don’t know if the lockout will allow the season to take place. Plan backup events as you deem necessary.

Food and Drink, The Features
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Eat for Good Causes: Charity Events Roundup

Photo courtesy of
‘Rows of Desserts’
courtesy of ‘bonappetitfoodie’

You like eating to begin with. That much we know already. But it doesn’t hurt when you can eat good food and support a good cause at the same time.

After the jump, here are three upcoming charity events that incorporate some good food and good causes.
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Entertainment, Special Events, The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: The New Electric Ballroom

(l to r) Nancy Robinette, Jennifer Mendenhall, and Sybil Lines in The New Electric Ballroom by Enda Walsh. Directed by Matt Torney. Photo: Carol Pratt.

Countless poets have asked the question – is love worth the risk of a broken heart? Are fleeting moments of a racing pulse and desire’s first flush worth facing the possibility of loss and loneliness?

To those questions, Irish playwright Enda Walsh adds – is it better to just stay safe inside? In The Walworth Farce and The New Electric Ballroom, playing now in repertory at Studio Theatre, “inside” is both the literal confines of a fixed space and the “inside” of one’s own mind and heart. “Inside” is both as safe and confining as the womb, the physical space as limited as the mental world is limitless. The choice of staying in or going out is of vital concern, stamping the characters with an equal dose of longing and repulsion.

Whereas The Walworth Farce deals with how this choice impacts three men and the woman who comes into their space, The New Electric Ballroom turns that question over to three women and the man who enters. “And enter then” is a phrase constantly repeated here, a reminder that no matter how safely we bind ourselves against risk, it always finds a way to seep in to our carefully constructed lives. Just as in The Walworth Farce, the three women in The New Electric Ballroom have constructed a daily world of stories, re-enacting the past where two elder sisters first met and lost love. The stories here are also a warning of the risk of the outside.

The results are not as physically violent, but the women are just as scarred, the desperate longing to escape from the demeaning cycle of small-town gossip driving them deeper into their minds. Continue reading →

History, The Daily Feed
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Smithsonian Snapshot: W. Atlee Burpee & Co.

Photo courtesy Smithsonian Institution

This week’s snapshot of an artifact not on display but contained within the archives of the Smithsonian Institution is that of a W. Atlee Burpee & Company Seed catalog. This seed catalog is from the W. Atlee Burpee & Co., which was founded in Philadelphia in 1876 by Washington Atlee Burpee, an 18-year-old with a passion for plants and animals—and a mother willing to lend him $1,000 of “seed money” to start his business.

The seed trade catalogs document the history of the seed and agricultural business in the United States; they also provide a history of botany and plant research such as the introduction of plant varieties into the country. The Smithsonian Institution Libraries’ trade catalog collection includes about 10,000 seed and nursery catalogs dating from 1830 to the present.

Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Spectrum @ SONAR, 4/14/11

IMG_9761
all photos by author.

On Thursday night I trekked up to Baltimore to see Spectrum perform on the side stage at SONAR. After witnessing their transcendent show at the Velvet Lounge last year, how could I resist this opportunity to see them again? Based on the strength of their previous show (and my soul-crushing fear of being alone), I talked a friend into coming along for the ride. To get him to tag along, I really talked this show up; an easy task considering how impressive Spectrum was last year. Unfortunately due to problems both technical and olfactory, this experience was very different than last year. Instead of seeing an easy contender for show of the year, we watched as the band plowed through a glitch-riddled set while pinching our noses and breathing through our shirt collars.

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Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Cook like a Pro: Learn to Roast a Whole Pig at BLT Steak

Photo courtesy of
‘The main entree – pig’
courtesy of ‘wfyurasko’

It’s not every day that you get to roast an entire pig, and frankly, it seems like a daunting task. But this weekend executive chef Victor Albisu of BLT Steak can break it down for you, as well as show you how to break down the whole hog.

The April 23rd class will run from 12:30 until 3 PM and is $100 per person. The class includes a four-course lunch and cooking demonstration. At the end, you get to feast on lechon asado, whole roasted suckling pig, crispy pig ears and artichokes, a valencia salad with Iberico ham and a chorizo stuffed pork loin. In hog heaven, yet?

To snag a spot, you can make reservations with Erica Frank at 202-689-8989 or email her at erica@bltrestaurants.com. Enjoy the Saturday afternoon literally “pigging out.”

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

Photo courtesy of
‘Video: Scenes from around flooded Georgetown waterfront’
courtesy of ‘brownpau’

Despite yesterday’s fears, the 9pm high tide came and went without the Georgetown waterfront breach reaching K Street. As of 8:30am this morning, the Georgetown Waterfront is still completely shutdown with very, very limited access. The K Street side of the Waterfront is filled with emergency flood repair vehicles, workmen, Pepco vans, etc., all awaiting instructions from site surveyors. Local buildings continue to monitor their basements and lower level garages for flooding and seepage.

I managed to gain access to the 31st Street walkway that leads to the waterfront, and saw a heavily pumping Potomac river and the front side flooding. While the flood barricades along 31st street were all in tact, I could see where the waterfront walls leading into the fountain area had been breached. At that time the river was below fountain area level, and I could see some evidence of water being pumped out of the fountain pool back into the river.

Featured Photo
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Featured Photo

Photo courtesy of
‘Entrance Fare’
courtesy of ‘Collin David Anderson’

Not every great photograph is crisp and perfect, in clean focus and with smooth grain. This shot, from inside the Foggy Bottom Metro this weekend, captures the motion of this protestor as he leapt to the top of the faregate, and, from the description, into the waiting arms of MPD. What I love about this photo is that you’re seeing what’s about to happen, as well what is happening.  That’s a hard capture as a photographer, to get the viewer to see what’s next, as well as frame the moment.

I love the clean lines in the background, the curving squares of the Metro ceiling stretching onward into infinity.  The Do Not Enter lights of the faregates express clearly the transgression in progress.

Wonderful job, Collin David Anderson.

The Daily Feed
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Bicycle races – err, routes – are coming your way. Came. Whatever.

Photo courtesy of
‘Shadowcycle’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

Let’s get the obligatory Queen link out of the way shall we?

Over eight thousand of you picked up Capital Bikeshare memberships from Living Social so we’re assuming some of you might want to actually, y’know, ride somewhere – particularly with the weather improving notably. Here’s two great resources for you:

One, the local organization Rails to Trails has a great site called TrailLink. You can simply retrieve all the DC trails or you can venture out into Maryland or Virginia. The C&O is lovely and runs through a lot of great places to stop along the way. Make it out to Loudoun and you can get a sandwich at Wegmans to hold you over till we get one in the city. Or the Whole Foods in Vienna – we won’t tell.

If TrailLink’s minor registration requirement rubs you the wrong way or you’re looking to take a more practical and less scenic trip you can actually use Google Maps for cycling. This feature actually went in a year ago and it does some interesting things to try to keep you in bike lanes and avoid heavy traffic areas. They talk a little about it in this announcement here and it’s interesting reading even if you’re not a mega-nerd. I found it outright fascinating. *harrumph*

We Love Music
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We Love Music: Acid Mothers Temple @ Red Palace, 4/14/11

acid1
All photos courtesy of Acid Mothers Temple

On Thursday night, I cruised down to the Red Palace to catch an offbeat show. When I first heard about a self-described “guitar freak-out” psychedelic rock collective from Japan, named Acid Mothers Temple, I knew they’d be up my alley. I love noisy bands that can bring a ton of energy to a venue. I love going to shows that push the boundaries of music, that are truly an experience unlike any other.

A handful of people got that experience at the show, but I felt like I was missing something. It was weird and offbeat, but it wasn’t the transcendent event I hoped it would be. In my head, I imagined a bunch of guys nodding in rhythm, hanging on every note the guitarists would bless us with. The band gave us a few moments like this, but for the most part I just didn’t find them that intriguing.

I enjoyed openers Shilpa Ray a bit more – they were an unusual four-piece, with Shilpa playing harmonium jams while alternating between singing, yelling and growling. Their songs worked well, and I could feel the intensity when the band hit their groove.
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Sports Fix, The Features
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Patriots’ Day, Morning Baseball and the Senators

Photo courtesy of
‘[Nick Altrock, Washington AL (baseball)] (LOC)’
courtesy of ‘The Library of Congress’

Someone will point out after this is posted that the Washington Senators – whether the Twins or Rangers versions – are not the same club as the existing team that plays in the National League down by the Navy Yard. Regardless, they are a still chapter of Washington’s turbulent baseball history, and I found a cool tidbit worth sharing in relation to the Senators and the unique Boston Red Sox tradition surrounding Patriots’ Day.

In the state of Massachusetts (as well as Maine and, for some reason, Wisconsin), today is a civic holiday by the name of Patriots’ Day. The day recognizes the start of the Revolutionary War, which started in the Boston suburbs of Concord and Lexington a few centuries ago. As part of the celebration, the city of Boston completely shuts down for two events: the running of the Boston Marathon (this year is the 115th) and the only MLB game of the year that is scheduled to start before noon.

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The Daily Feed
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Hot Ticket: Mogwai @ 9:30 Club, 4/19/11

Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die

UPDATE: According to their official website, Mogwai are postponing this date until October due to issues with their visa. All tickets for this show will be honored.

Mogwai. How do I even begin recommending that you check out my favorite band of all time? I’d rather you not even come, in case you don’t understand what they’re about. In fact, I’d prefer that we keep the crowd really small – like, just me and the band members, please.

I know, it ain’t gonna happen. This Tuesday, Mogwai are sure to pack the 9:30 Club again. Mogwai are legends of the post-rock scene, who “invented,” or at least popularized, the genre along with bands like Explosions in the Sky and Godspeed You Black Emperor. They earned the motto “loudest band in the world” from their devastating live shows. And yeah, it’s going be loud – the last few times I’ve seen them, they’ve hit notes that I could feel rattling my bones.

The typical Mogwai song has a melancholy air to it, building up slowly to a burst of energy and noise and bliss. Mogwai have distilled this formula to perfection; while I prefer the older albums, each new album they release have a couple of songs designed to show their strength live. I’m looking forward to checking out Rano Pano and San Pedro from their February release, Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will. Any fan of loud music or instrumental rock needs to check out this band right now. Anyone looking for an intense concert experience should be there on Tuesday.

Mogwai
with Errors
9:30 Club
Tuesday, February April 19, 2011
$20

Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Cake at 9:30 Club 4/14/11


all photos by Andrew Markowitz.

Who doesn’t love Cake?

No, not the dessert (although everyone loves it, too), I’m talking about the band who has spawned such hits as “The Distance”, “Never There”, and “Short Skirt/Long Jacket”. These are songs that I think most everyone knows and everyone can sing along to. And when Cake opened up a three night set at 9:30 Club on Thursday night, that’s exactly what the entire crowd did.

No one opened up for Cake that night; as lead singer John McCrea later explained “We’re opening up for ourselves.” Before the band came out a small tree was brought out to the front of the stage and I can’t say I’d ever seen anything like that before. Shortly after 8PM, the show started by a recorded speech that would be similar to what you’d hear from a stewardess before taking off for a flight. The recording instructed audience members to turn off all electronics including cell phones and cameras. I had a good laugh as I looked around the 9:30 Club and saw people actually pulling out their phones and cameras and shutting them down in all seriousness. C’mon, didn’t you realize what band you were coming to see?

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