Hello, DC.  I’m in Africa right now, so I don’t know much of what’s happening in DC.  Still, some news does trickle in to me and I received a particularly disturbing notification, today.  John Murphy, all around cool guy and evening chef at Miriam’s Kitchen (one of WLDC’s favorite charities) needs your help.  John is currently competing in the Sears Chef challenge.  He’s the only non-profit chef in the running and, until last night, he was winning.  But for some reason (nefarious, no doubt) votes poured in for other contestants and now John is 500 back from the leader. What I need you to do go and vote for John.  It doesn’t matter if you don’t know him. I doesn’t matter if you’ve never tried his food.  If he wins this round, Miriam’s Kitchen gets $5,000.  That means 5,000 meals for DC’s homeless.  Plus, if he goes on to win the competition, overall, Miriam’s gets an additional $20,000.  So please, take the time to make a few clicks and feed some homeless people.

Biergarten Haus is on the defensive.  They’re still sore from the reaming Tom Sietsema gave them in the Post (having your food described as “a lethal weapon” always hurts), and there’s a certain measure of bitterness amongst the staff against the Yelpers for their similarly worded reviews criticizing, amongst other things, the service. To me, Biergarten Haus isn’t about the food or the waiters, it’s about the beer. And how is the beer?  Well, it’s better than the food or the waiters. It’s not the best, but it’s good enough.

Biergarten Haus is the latest and greatest nightlife phenomena in DC.  It seems like one comes along every year or so, and Washingtonians pack the place out and make it impossible to find a seat on the weekends.  Last year it was Churchkey, this year it’s Biergarten. It’s a blessing and a curse.  The broader neighborhood benefits from the patronage that is turned away at the door for lack of space.  The patrons themselves face the frustration of massive crowds, slow service and lack of seating.

The beer garden was hyped and highly anticipated before it even opened its doors.  After a series of delays and extended soft openings, the DC citizenry was practically clamoring to get inside to experience the Biergarten for themselves.  When the establishment finally did open in June, it was rough, to say the least. If you came after 6, there were no seats.  If you happened to get a table, you where crammed in with literally hundreds of other people.  The staff was too small, the service was too slow and people generally left disenchanted.

‘Biergarten Haus’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

The management of Biergarten has taken significant steps to correct their most frequently criticized mistakes.  In the first three weeks, they nearly tripled their staff and attempted to streamline their order delivery process.  It’s been a mixed success, but, in my estimation, things have generally improved. I’ve been twice, gotten a seat both times, and had a chance to experience the tap list.

All in all, Biergarten Haus does offer a decent, authentic draft selection.  It’s filled with staple German beers and styles. The menu was designed to meet any budget, with beers ranging in price from reasonable to expensive. All selections are offered in different sizes, typically .5L and 1L, which further adds to pricing options.  The beer comes in heavy-bottomed, glass mugs, reminiscent of what you’d see buxom frauleins serving in some beer garden themed German post card.

The quality and breadth of the selection is adequate.  There are a dozen beers on tap and 13 more in bottles.  The real stand out in on the beer menu is Aventinus on draft. Aventinus is one of the best beers in the world.  It’s rare to see it in anything but bottles, as it’s traditionally a bottle conditioned beer, so having it on tap is a nice treat.  The rest of the list is pretty much the standard what’s what of German beers, which is my real problem with the place.

‘Phil’s Beer vs. My Beer’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

If you were to ask any semi-knowledgeable beer person to name a few German beers off the top of their head, they’d say “Spaten, Weihenstephaner, Franziskaner, Eggenberg, Paulaner, Hofbrau, Kostritzer” and that pretty much gives you the tap list at Biergarten.  They’re all fine beers, to be sure, but there’s nothing that stands out as being unique or exciting. It’s surprising considering that the menu was designed by Bill Catron, the man behind the phenomenally well crafted beer list at Brasserie Beck. I expected something more creative.

It would be nice to see some rarer German beers make their way onto the list at Biergarten, or, dare I suggest it, some American variations on German styles.  Menu updates will likely come as the restaurant ages, but for now it’s a pretty standard selection of good German beers.  Life could be worse, I suppose. They’re adding 12 taps for Oktoberfest.  That might be something worth checking out.

All in all, I do like Biergarten Haus.  I don’t love it, but I don’t think it quite deserves the beating it’s taken online and in the press.  The look and feel of the beer garden is pretty spot on, the beer is decent, the service is improving and I’m told work is being done on the kitchen.  You can avoid a lot of problems by simply going on a weeknight.  I think Biergarten Haus is a work in progress and will bring great things once it grows into maturity.

There is a movement afoot to bring a demonstration to DC that will actually be awesome. A movement determined to bring Stephen Colbert to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to call America back to it’s core values, namely truthiness. This movement is gaining traction but is still in its infancy. But I’m spreading the word.  I want this vision to become a reality. Join your voices with the literally dozens of other patriots calling for Stephen Colbert to call us back to our roots.  Maybe if you tweet something awesome, it will end up on the Report.

PS: Colbert Nation, if this rally actually happens, pick up your trash.

According to a tipster, readers on South Capitol and 2nd St SW may be without power from 8pm to 7:30am tonight due to transformer repairs in the area.  This is all well and good, except that PEPCO neglected to notify customers in the neighborhood that they would be without lights or AC, this evening. The reader that reported this saw some PEPCO repairmen in the area and asked them what was going on.  They informed her of the maintenance work and she called the power company, who was kind enough to inform her that her house would be affected. After a search around PEPCO’s website and an odyssey through their multiple, automated and impenetrable customer support lines, I can find no listing of scheduled outages or maintenance.  This means that customers are not being notified that their service will be interrupted. But then again, why should PEPCO have to tell you peons about that kind of stuff.  It’s not like anyone needs power, or anything.

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For our second Glenn Beck rally related post of the day (forgive me) the GW Hatchet reports that a pair of rally goers didn’t take kindly to DC’s tyrannical bag tax:

“Though the rally was a mostly peaceful gathering, two rally attendees got into a heated argument with an employee at the GW Deli over the D.C. bag tax, which ultimately resulted in the tea party member throwing a sandwich in the deli employee’s face.”

The deli employee, obviously being the author of said bag tax, was a perfectly reasonable target for anti-tax rage.  The rally goes, being voting members of the District of Columbia, had every right to be angry.  All in all, an entirely measured and well reasoned outcome.

Glenn Beck says that 500,000 plus attended his rally.  NBC says 300,000 people were there.  Michelle Bachman swears she saw no fewer than 1 million.  CBS estimates 87,000.  My appraisal: neither  I, nor anyone else has a clue.  It seems that we go through some form of this debate every time a sharply political rally rolls through town.  Supporters always estimate astronomical numbers while detractors offer significantly more modest figures.  The issue came to a head in 1995 when the National Park Service, who up until that point used an imprecise but fairly logical aerial imagery method for estimating crowd density (basically taking square areas of space, counting the number of individuals in that area and then extrapolating that out to include the entire square footage of the event space), was threatened with suit by Louis Farrakhan for estimating that his “Million Man March” was more like a “500,000 Man March.”   Since that time, the Park Service has refrained from calculating crowd sizes, thereby leaving the job to people who may have ulterior motives affecting their conclusions. The trouble, of course, is that the average human so rarely sees crowds in excess of a few hundred that it’s really impossible for anyone to estimate the sizes of huge crowds.  So, let’s just be honest with ourselves: there were a lot of people at the Restoring Honor rally. No one knows how many and it doesn’t really matter.

The NYT reports that on August 2, Navy personnel at Patuxent Naval Air Station lost control of an unmanned drone which promptly b-lined for DC, making its way into the restricted air space over the city before operators regained control.  The DoD blames the loss of control on the drone becoming self aware and embarking on a mission to destroy humanity a software glitch and have grounded the remainder of the fleet until they’re sure they’ve fixed the problem.  The drone, an MQ8-B Fire Scout, resembling a small helicopter, was unarmed. It managed to travel about 23 miles under its own control before it could be ordered to return to base. I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords.

DC Beer week is upon us and beer lovers are presented with a plethora of excellent events to attend.  While nearly every single one is appealing, you’re only one person and can only attend so many.  Hence, I’ve created a handy guide to help you choose what to do and where to go. My guide  is by no means exhaustive and I’d encourage you to check out the full list of events before you decide where to go.  There are some really great options, and all that really matters is that you go to at least one of them. But, should you choose to heed my advice, I’ve got three rules to make this Beer Week perfect: attend a beer dinner, find the values, sample the rare goods. I’ve selected a few events to coincide with each rule to help you decide what to attend.

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courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Attend a Beer Dinner:

Ok, sure, beer dinners can get a bit pricey, but from my experience, they’re worth every penny.  You just need to be selective about which one you go to.  These are the ones that I think look the best:

Liberty Tree, Smuttynose New England Beer Dinner – Wednesday August 25

I’m a New England boy, so this one appeals particularly to me.  Chef Graig Gulfing will create a four course meal of New England staples to pair with some of New Hampshire based Smuttynose Brewery’s beers.  The food at Liberty Tree is authentic and Smuttynose is an entirely decent brewery, so this dinner is definitely worth considering.

Granville Moore’s, Beer Dinner – Monday August 23rd

Granville Moore’s has long been regarded for its selection of rare Belgian beers, along with it’s excellent Belgian food.  For beer week, they’re hosting a five course pairing dinner with Susan Green of the Global Brewer’s guild.  Expect a series of spot on pairings with beers you’ll have trouble finding anywhere else.

‘Portsmouth brews’
courtesy of ‘jronaldlee’

Find the Values:

Let’s face it, Beer Week can get expensive.  With most events averaging in the $40-$60, it can take a pretty heavy toll on your wallet.  Wanting to get the most beer for your buck means you need to be strategic about which events you attend.  My plan is to select one or two pricier events to attend and then move around the less expensive tastings, so as to literally drink up as much of beer week as my finances will allow.  Here are some good values::

Little Miss Whiskey’s, Beer Tasting – Sunday August 22nd

Little Miss Whiskey’s is an unsung beer nerd place and owner Mark Thorp has called in Bernie van Order of Great Lakes Brewing Co. to highlight an awesome selection of nine German style beers.  You’ll be able to get your hands on the likes of Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold, Schneider Aventinus (one of my all-time favorites) and Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock.  With a $20 price tag, this is a good option.  The only catch is you have to go to Little Miss Whiskey’s in advance to buy a ticket.

Breadsoda, Opposite Day – Monday, August 23rd

You get free beer.  The gist is when you order one of Breadsoda’s draft beers, they’ll give you a shorter 8 oz beer for free that’s the exact opposite of your order.  For example, if you order a hoppy IPA, you might get served a maltier hefe.  Or maybe you’ll get a dark stout, who knows?  It’s a nice way to branch out. Oh, and get free beer.

Justin’s Cafe, Racing Dangerously – Tuesday August 24th

Beer and pie are probably two of the top 10 most awesome things in the world, and Justin’s cafe is bringing them together.  Pair a glass of the super hoppy Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA with a slice of pie from Dangerously Delicious Pies for $10. If you’re not an IPA fan, they’ll give you the same deal on any of their drafts. Good beer, good pie, good value.

‘Samer’s Birthday Beer’
courtesy of ‘Karon’

Sample the Rare Goods:

Half the fun of Beer Week is getting to try beers you’ve never tasted before.  There are plenty of beers that I’ve seen around but never tasted, and I do enjoy getting the opportunity to drink those, but what’s really exciting are the beers I’ve never tried because I’ve never actually been able to find them.  This year, Beer Week is bringing in some excellent brewers with some of their most exclusive brews.  They are absolute must attends.

Churchkey, Heavy Seas Oak Cask & Firkin Bonanza - Wednesday, August 25th

Trust Greg Engert to bring in some rare beers.  He’s hosting Heavy Seas / Clipper City at Churchkey and will showcase a number of cask aged versions of their beers. Particularly exciting is the Bourbon Barrel Aged Hang Ten, a highly alcoholic weizenbock, and the Below Deck barley wine.  Throw in a few uniquely spiced versions of Heavy Seas favorites, and you’ve got a pretty interesting night of beers you won’t get anywhere else.

The Big Hunt, Michigan Rare Craft Beer Blowout – Friday, August 27th

If you don’t go to anything else during Beer Week, go to this event. Michigan is a bastion of good brewing, and the best of the best will be at the Big Hunt next Friday. Founders Brewery is bringing along a keg of their Canadian Breakfast Stout, which is ranked as the 19th best beer in the world on Beer Advocate.  More over, it’s impossible to find (I’ve seen it once).  On top of Founders, Bell’s Brewery will be there with a “special surprise.”  They’ve got so many amazing limited releases that it’s definitely worth checking out. New Holland and Jolly Pumpkin will also be there with some unusual offerings.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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I’m a sucker for beer dinners.  Call me a fan boy, but I’m a genuine believer that beer and food were made to be paired.  That’s why I pass on to you, dear reader, any scoop I get on one that’s happening in the near future.  I happen to have such a scoop, now. Commonwealth Gastropub in Columbia Heights is hosting a dinner highlighting the beers of New York based Southampton Publik House. Southampton is a fairly recent addition to the DC beer scene and makes a wide variety of regional styles.  Commonwealth is featuring their IPA, Double White, Altbier and Cuvee de Fleurs.  I’m particularly excited about the Double White, a Belgian Wit, that is supposed to be one of Southampton’s best offerings.  Along with the beer, Commonwealth is offering a four course meal to compliment each beer.  The menu includes a red grapefruit salad, mussels, grilled pork, and ricotta in honey.  The event is tomorrow at 6:30 and will run you $45.

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NBC4 reports that the DHS warned WMATA on Sunday of a potential terror threat to the Metro system. According to a DHS memo, an  individual obtained a Turkish visa to come to the States and perpetrate a bombing on a Metro station.  The memo stated that this information has “low credibility” and that DHS has little information as to the specific date or target for the attack, or  if the individual in question is even capable of carrying out a bombing.

Snow days can be boring, especially when the drag on beyond just one or two. The novelty of the storm starts to wear off, books get read, TV’s shows get old, board games get overplayed and you start to wonder what you’re going to do with your life until work starts again. For couples trapped at home together, certain… activities present themselves as more opportune than at other times during the year. Aaand, that’s what happened during Snowpocalypse 1.0. and that now, 9 months after the storm, lots of babies are soon to be born. WaPo reports that are hospitals are staffing up to deal with the spate of births scheduled for August. Not everyone buys into  “disaster” induced conception, but the theory seems sound to me. It’s amusing, at the very least.

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“We’re quitting our jobs, next week,” Brandon Skall tells me. I look over at his business partner, Jeff, who smiles wryly. “From here on out, it’s all DC Brau.” Maybe it’s a crazy thing to do. Starting a business in the best of times is tough, but in this economy it’s especially risky. Still, Brandon and Jeff don’t seem worried, which inspires a certain confidence.

“How do your wives feel about it?” I ask, noticing wedding rings on their fingers.

“They’re scared shitless, but they’re excited,” Jeff Hancock replies. “That’s how I knew this was a good idea.” Both men smile, lean back in their chairs and sip their beers. It’s one of the hotter days in late June and we’re sweating it out on the back porch of Little Miss Whiskey’s, talking about their start-up brewery, DC Brau.

“Want to come down stairs and see a beer we’ve been working on?” Brandon asks. We head down into the cool cellar of the bar, where they’re fermenting a small-batch brew. Jeff siphons off a shot of the wort (fermenting beer) for each of us, tastes it and then busily checks pH levels. Brandon sticks his nose in the glass, sniffs, and then takes a sip. “Wow!” he said, “that came out completely different than I thought it would!”

“Yeah, the yeast is really prominent,” Jeff replies. Turning to me, Brandon explains that the wort we’re drinking is just the essence of the beer. “It won’t be ready for a few weeks. It’ll be much better when it’s actually done. The trick is being able to taste whether the beer will turn out good or bad by drinking it in this stage.”

‘DC Brau’
courtesy of ‘Samer Farha’

In many ways Brandon Skall and Jeff Hancock are distinct halves of their business. Brandon is the consummate salesman; cheerful, likable and one of those people that naturally ends up the center of attention. Tattooed from shoulder to ankle and a member of Stunner of the Month, a subscriber service that sends ostentatious shades to their patrons, he’s worked in beverage sales and distribution for the last few years. He’ll be managing the sales and the business side of the brewery.

Jeff, on the other hand, will oversee the brewing. He’s mustachioed, more quiet and thoughtful, but by no means an introvert. He has a dry sense of humor and prefers one-on-one conversation to a boisterous group discussion. Jeff’s spent years in the brewing industry, working at Arbor, Grizzly Peak, and Flying Dog. He’s got the technical know-how to match Brandon’s sales ability.

Both men were born and raised in the DC suburbs and spent years DJing before they got in the alcohol business. During his time as a distributor, Brandon noticed a void where local DC beers should have been. This started him thinking about a brewery. “I’ve had the idea kicking around for about 3 years. I wrote up a business plan a while back,” he says. Jeff, who’d been working at breweries outside of the DC area, was an acquaintance of Brandon’s nearly a decade earlier. Two years ago, they were reconnected by a mutual friend who saw the potential of their shared interests. The two hit it off, rewrote Brandon’s business plan and started pitching their brewery idea to friends and investors.

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‘DC Brau’
courtesy of ‘Samer Farha’

In the intervening time, the two managed to raise the requisite half million dollars needed to lease a property, out-fit it and stock it with ingredients. They established the vision for their brewery as completely DC-centric, from the location of operation, it’s actually in DC, down to branding their cans with mini-essays on statehood and voting rights. Their flagship beers will all bare names appropriate for the city: Corruption Ale (an IPA), the Public (a Pale Ale), and the Citizen (a Belgian style pale). They plan to name seasonals and special releases after DC neighborhoods.

DC Brau’s DC focus extends beyond the aesthetics of the beer’s packaging. There’s also a civic side to it, too. Brandon and Jeff will can their beer, a break from industry norms, because cans are more recyclable than bottles and will significantly reduce the brewery’s carbon foot-print. They’re also distributing used barley to local farms to be used as a cattle feed or fertilizer.

After our initial meeting, Brandon and Jeff invite me to a July 4th BBQ in Arlington, where they plan to reveal some of their handiwork. Party guests are mostly former DJs and take turns spinning on turn tables set up next to the pool. Brandon and Jeff pour their beers into red party cups and pass them around for people to sample. Brandon takes to explaining the beers’ flavors and recommending the order they be drunk in. “Brown first, then the stout, then the sour,” he tells everyone. Jeff sits down next to me as I take a sip of his Gueze. It’s got almost a Parmesan nose and tightens my jaw with its tartness.

“This isn’t easy to do,” I comment to Jeff.

“Tell me about it,” he replies. “Every time I open up this [base], I’m afraid of what it’s become. Fortunately, it’s stayed pretty tame.” Sour beers are notoriously finicky. They can take years to develop and have a tendency to run wild, making for some terrible flavors. This particular strain, while creating one of the funkier sours I’ve ever tried, actually made a unique, altogether good beer.

‘The Brewery’
courtesy of ‘Brandon Skall’

The other two beers aren’t half bad, either. The brown ale is nutty and well balanced, with a nice, medium texture. The porter is chock full of huge flavors. Brandon brewed it with coffee beans and chocolate nubs, which imparted a strong mocha taste. It’s reminiscent of Founder’s Breakfast Stout, but maltier. It’s unlike any beer I’ve ever tried. If these beers are any indication, expect textural beers with big flavor from Brandon and Jeff.

The present is just a step along the road DC Brau. Skall and Hancock take possession of the property they’re leasing next week and will start the build-out immediately. If all goes to plan, they should be brewing by November and distributing January.

This is part 1 of a 4 part series on the founding of DC Brau.  Check back over the next few months for the next installments.

God bless The Hill for giving Washingtonians a chance to judge based solely on appearance, every once in a while.  It’s a luxury we can seldom afford. In case you’re wondering what I’m talking about, The Hill has released its annual “50 Most Beautiful” list.  So, you know what to do.  Breeze through and wonder how Senator X beat out Senator Y, or how staffer X got number 2 when she is clearly less pretty than number 17. Scott Brown did, of course, make the list, but notably absent was Rep. Aaron Schock. All in all, the Democrats destroyed in terms of looks, with 29 representatives on the list, to the Republicans’ 17 and the Independents’ 4. I guess liberals really are hotter. What are your thoughts? Did anyone get gypped? And who would you have picked for number 1?

Did anyone else see the large meteors that fell over DC, last night? I was at Screen on the Green last night watching 12 Angry Men (always awesome) and I saw two flaming chunks of rock fall over the Capitol.  And I’m not talking about dainty shooting stars. These were large enough and close enough to be seen despite the city’s light pollution and definitely caught the attention of most of the movie goers. You could even see the rocks beginning to break up and shed chunks of debris.  They kind of looked like fireworks right before the explode.  Did anyone else see them, or am I crazy?

As a beer lover there’s something so interesting that pairings do to the way you experience beer.  You still think about the malt characteristics and the quality of the yeast as you drink, but you get the added element of how your beer is cutting or complimenting your food.  You experience whole new flavors and elements of the brew that the food enhances.  You’re continually surprised by how reality contradicts your intellectual supposition of how a certain beer with pair with a particular food.

I’ve been fortunate enough to experience pairing dinners on a few occasions, but they’re still rare enough that I still get excited when another one comes along, especially when it’s at a bar I like.  That’s why I’m happy to announce that Little Miss Whiskey’s will be joining forces with the Liberty Tree to host a beer and food pairing dinner tomorrow evening. Chef Graig Glufling of the Liberty Tree created a menu complete with oysters with a corn-spinach-horseradish cream, bacon wrapped scallops in a maple glaze, pork crusted in porcini and apple-cherry crisp to be paired with a collection of German and America beers provided by Mark Thorp, owner of Little Miss Whiskey’s.

Of particular interest is the malty, caramely, super-alcoholic EKU 28 paired with the rich, sweet, scallops, and the cherry flavored Founders Cerise which takes on an incredible tartness when drunk with the apple crisp. Thorp is offering four courses for $25, which makes this arguably the most reasonably priced pairing dinner in town. Check out the full menu and be sure to get to Little Miss Whiskey’s between 6pm and 8pm, Tuesday for the event.

Rachel: Well, I’m fresh off a stint in Nashville to audition for American Idol. It didn’t go my way but I learned a lot and am ready to rock out harder than ever before after being “cut” from the program before ever seeing any air-time. I’ve got a gig booked for Saturday night at the Tonic Lounge (located at 2036 G Street NW, near the Foggy Bottom Metro). I’m not the only entertainment on tap, several artists from the DC area will take the stage too. So grab a drink at the bar, stay for the tunes, and if you’re a Glee fan I guarantee a solid new cover added to my repertoire from the second half of last season’s show. Not gonna tell you what it is, you’ll have to stop by to hear it. Show starts at 8 p.m. with a $5 cover. I’ll also have albums on sale with proceeds going to the National Kidney Foundation in honor of my late father who received a heart transplant in 1999. Hope to see you there! It should be a rockin’ good time.

Patrick: Weeks of no social life ends this weekend. Noises Off! opens this Saturday at Keegan Theatre in Dupont Circle. As the stage manager I’ll be in the booth playing the role of incompetent sound technician #1. No seriously, come see the show and watch the actors freak out at me during Act III. The show will run through August so I hope to see everybody there eventually. While I’m running the show I’ll also be trying to figure out where to eat and drink before and after performances- anybody have any suggestions for places I should check out around 17th Street?

Max: Friday night I’ll be killing two birds with one museum at the Hirshhorn After Hours – drinking alcohol and viewing the Yves Klein exhibit that I’ve heard great things about.  I’ll also be swinging by the opening for PORTRAY, a photography exhibit curated by Frank Hallam Day at Addison Ripley in Georgetown. Saturday night I’l be attending the closing party for Mixology II at Curator’s Office, a photography show that benefits Doctors Without Borders, and then checking out work by the new 2010 Hamiltonian Fellows.  Sunday I’ll be sleeping as much as possible, but I’d like to go see Inception since everyone seems to be freaking out about it.

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courtesy of ‘julianne’s’

Dave L.: To commemorate a personal milestone of reaching my late 20s (trust me, that’s impressive if we’ve met), I’ll be ringing in the celebrations with my good friends Dave Matthews and Zac Brown at Nationals Park. After the show, it’s a whirlwind weekend of the normal activities: alumni league softball with a chance to win the division, a little bit of a cookout/pool party, some craziness at Little Miss Whiskey’s, and then practicing for four upcoming gigs: one next week and three in August.

Rebecca: Sometimes there’s nothing grander than keeping one of your weekend nights completely open, so that’s what I’m doing with my Friday night. I may go down to the Waterfront. I may go check out Inception. I may check out Drive-By Truckers at the 930 Club. I don’t know. I’ll go where the mood takes me. Saturday: I’m desperate for some farmers market produce, so the Georgetown Farmers Market is calling my name. Depending on the level of hotness and humidity, I’d like to bike down to the Mall and tour around. Haven’t gone down there in a while. Sunday: Relazing by the Volta Park pool sounds like a good idea. I hope I can catch some sort of a tan for my pasty whiteness.

Jenn: I’m breathing a deep sigh of relief as I face off a weekend not as crazily jam-packed as usual. Tonight I’m off to see my last Fringe show, Terre Haute, about the correspondence between Timothy McVeigh and Gore Vidal. Should be a barrel of laughs (just kidding, I think it will be a deeply philosophical debate). Friday sees me out on 17th Street to slurp some oysters at Hank’s and then sip some raki at Agora (hmm, dangerous combo?). I’m sure I can slip some Rickey’s in there somewhere, the contest ends soon so get out there and enjoy. The rest of the weekend is devoted to the zen of house chores. They have to be done sometime!

‘Silver Strollers’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

Tom: Given the horrific weekend forecast, I’m moving all my activities to the early morning: a quick trip to the farm and the farm markets in the morning on Saturday, and light yard maintenance on Sunday.  Of course, there are a lot of great places to hide in the shade and from the heat in this kind of weather, and I may let my air conditioning off the hook for the weekend.  I was thinking I might go down to the Sculpture Garden and put my feet in the fountain, or go see Toy Story 3, finally.  I’m also thinking that in that kind of heat, there’s no way I’m cooking. I’m thinking Ray’s River East.

Kirk: This weekend is my first in town in two weeks, so I’m thinking I’ll stick with some of my classic activities.  Like Rebecca, I’m keeping my Friday open to see where the winds of fortune direct me.  I’m guessing it will be to Red Derby, but who knows.  I’ve had this urge to cook all week and I’m planning on using Saturday morning and afternoon to satiate it, and then some.  On Saturday night I might cruise over to HR-57 to catch some jazz, and then on Sunday I’ll probably take a contemplative stroll through the National Cathedral, listening to whatever guest choir happens to be signing.

Michael: This Saturday I am going to see these guys and I can’t wait!

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Remember those red light cameras that Arlington installed for your safety, last month?  Well, today is the day of reckoning. Arlington PD will start issuing $50 infractions to drivers the cameras catch blowing red lights.  To be fair, this is a significantly lighter fine than would be issue by a cop catching you doing the same, and you won’t get any points on your license.  Remember, citizens, these cameras are there for your safety, and are in no way a revenue generator for the city’s budget.

And, in case you’re wondering, the cameras are at the intersections of Lee Highway – Fort Myer Dr, and  Lee Highway – North Lynn St.

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To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.  A time to spend $10 on a six pack of craft beer, and a time to kick back with a cheap all-American brew.  A time to savor the complexity of a well made drink, and a time to cool off with an ice cold blue collar type beer. Fortunately, Againn is facilitating the latter of these times with their 99 cent beer special.  When you purchase one of Againn’s four happy hour appetizers, you get two Yueglings for less than a buck.  Surely that’s worth coming off of your beer snob high horse for.

Today is do or die for the US World Cup team.  If we can beat Algeria, we move on to the next group and get one step closer to the finals.  I’m guessing that work places are finding themselves slightly under staffed today and so I thought I’d do a quick poll.  Who took off or is taking off to watch the match today? Me, I’ve got my ESPN3 steaming as we speak and I’m definitely taking an early lunch to watch the second half.