We Love DC » Wayan

We Love DC » Wayan http://www.welovedc.com Your Life Beyond The Capitol Sat, 13 Mar 2010 23:30:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 No Sidewalk? Run on the Grass http://www.welovedc.com/2009/03/13/no-sidewalk-run-on-the-grass/ http://www.welovedc.com/2009/03/13/no-sidewalk-run-on-the-grass/#comments Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:32:15 +0000 Wayan http://www.welovedc.com/?p=10630

Time to run on the grass

Time to run on the grass

Running along Colorado Avenue NW recently, I came across this scene: a sidewalk missing, so no place to run that’s not in the street. Now the usual response to this is to run on the pavement, but why? Isn’t the flat grassy area all public property? If you look in the distance, you can see a utility pole in that same flat grassy area, so its city property, not private property.

So I ran on the grass.

My knees were happy, as grass is softer than pavement, and Taxi Dog was happy, her paws like grass much more than pavement. But I wonder if the homeowners are going to be happy? Would you be? Especially if you were excited because your home didn’t have a sidewalk just to keep pedestrians away.

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washington dc by wayan

Now I am not sure what the kids think of the term "ho" these days, but back when I was a young lad, it meant a prostitute. So why would a Virgina driver use such a term on their custom plates? Is a ho no longer a sex worker? And what ever happened to "Roxanne" or am I showing my age?

]]> http://www.welovedc.com/2009/03/13/ye-ole-ho-mobile/feed/ 0 Taking Babies to the Bar http://www.welovedc.com/2009/03/12/taking-babies-to-the-bar/ http://www.welovedc.com/2009/03/12/taking-babies-to-the-bar/#comments Fri, 13 Mar 2009 03:08:22 +0000 Wayan http://www.welovedc.com/2009/03/12/taking-babies-to-the-bar/

washington dc by wayan

Tonight I was out at Looking Glass Lounge with a hot little date – Hanalei Stockard Vota – and I’m wondering how many other parents party with minors.

I asked the server if I was the first Dad in Looking Glass and she just laughed. I seem to be one of many. Yet when I was single I didn’t remember seeing too many boozing minors. I even made fun of changing tables in bars.

In the city, I expect us that juggle bottles and babies in bars to be rare. What’s the toddler tipplers take in the suburbs? Are sippy cups as common as shot glasses? And does it bother you if there are?

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New WMATA station names

New WMATA station names

Greater Greater Washington has an interesting idea gone all wrong. They’ve thought to rename Metro stations to be shorter and more logical. On the whole, I’d love the concept, as names like “U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo” are a run-on joke. But GGW better watch what it suggests.

To think that the Metro station at Georgia Avenue and New Hampshire should be called Park View instead of Georgia Avenue or Petworth is crazy talk. No, its fighting words. GGW can get all quick-hit somewhere else, cuz we’re not giving up our station to unknown Park View.

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Dont Lie to Me about Adams Morgan

Don't Lie to Me about Adams Morgan

Continuing the TV shows that feature Washington, DC, I’m watching Lie to Me and I’m finding the show actually lies about DC. In between indoor action scenes, they flash images of DC. Most are spot on, the DC Convention Center for example. While others, not so much.

Note this photo of Adams-Morgan. See anything a miss? I sure do.

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washington dc by wayan

Walking through Dulles, what do I spy but a desert only a Washingtonian could really appreciate: Change Chocolate sporting the likeness of our current President. Yes, I even bought a few bars to celebrate the sweetness of political success. Wouldn’t you?

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washington dc by wayan

Could the recent parking meter hike be reducing the number of parked cars in downtown DC? Looking for a spot today, it seems that spaces are plenty. More than I have ever seen on New Hampshire Avenue before.

Maybe it is a combo of beautiful afternoon perfect for walking and an increase in Metro ridership. Or just a random Monday fluke.

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Snow blower drag racing

Snow blower drag racing

One week ago today, I was at IAD after a half-day flight snow delay. On a people mover, we stopped mid-trip to let a funny convoy pass – runway snowblowers coming back from the March morning task. In the middle of the orderly progression, a race was on! Two snowblowers were going for the gold in the last winter blast.

Anyone else miss the snow yet?

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washington dc by wayan

Check out the bbq action in Petworth. Over at a friends house we are getting all pro on the grill. We got apples with cloves coming up on the charcoal. Next are plantains and kabobs. Desert is gluten free brownies.

This is the only way to enjoy a 70 degree Sunday in March.

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Georgia Avenue gets a lot of grief. Some of it deserved, some of it not. Personally, I find it to be a mixed bag. You have the amazing Moroni Brothers Pizza next to greasy carry outs. But times are changing.

To help with that change, Price of Petworth has started a PoPtrekker series, where he walks through the neighbourhood to show folks what Petworth is like. In Volume 2, he’s walking down Georgia Avenue:

The idea for this video resulted from the numerous conversations I’ve had with folks who are terrified of Georgia Ave. I wanted to show that Georgia Avenue is a street like any other (during the day) and there are many spots well worth checking out.

So enjoy PoP’s video and next time your around, enjoy Georgia Avenue.

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washington dc by wayan

It seems that IAD is cleaning up after this morning’s mass cancellations. My new 5pm flight is still has an on time arrival to Dulles and on time departure for SFO.

The FAA Alert for IAD doesn’t mention any serious delays, either though the NYC Shuttles might be all off their schedules. LGA has 3+ hour delays making Amtrak a better option for your Northeast commute.

Good luck to everyone flying today…

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washington dc by wayan

While DC has been quite efficient in plowing the main roads, I had no trouble driving to the White House at 8am, what’s the situation in your neighbourhood? Especially now that most folks need to commute to work.

Here in Petworth, New Hampshire Avenue and Upshur Street NW are both passable, if a little muddy, but the side roads are still piled high in Snowpocalypse drifts. I’ve watched several cars fail to make the gentle Varnum Street Hill from Grant Circle eastbound.

Is that the same on Capitol Hill? Dupont? Or Brightwood? Shout out and let us know if you’ve seen Mr. Snowplow on your block yet.

]]> http://www.welovedc.com/2009/03/02/neighborhood-snow-plow-check/feed/ 5 It is a Good Snow Day! http://www.welovedc.com/2009/03/02/it-is-a-good-snow-day/ http://www.welovedc.com/2009/03/02/it-is-a-good-snow-day/#comments Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:25:07 +0000 Wayan http://www.welovedc.com/2009/03/02/it-is-a-good-snow-day/

washington dc by wayan

Driving the wife to work this morning, I am happy to say that Fenty is responding to the Snowpocalypse better than Barry did. Roads are open all the way to the White House and snow plows are everywhere. Now let’s see Obama bitch.

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Photo courtesy of

‘going nowhere fast’
courtesy of ‘booleansplit’

If you think you’re flying out of Washington DC tomorrow morning, like I thought I was, you best call your airline right now. United has canceled everything before noon out of IAD, BWI, and DCA. Calling in a panic to my special frequent flyer line, I got one of the last empty IAD to SFO seats for all of Monday. For everyone else, welcome to the madness.

Word is that all the major airlines are canceling their flights before noon and rerouting other flights, telling folks it will be Wednesday before the snowstorm overflow passengers will all get to their respective destinations.

]]> http://www.welovedc.com/2009/03/01/snowpocalypse-shutting-down-iad/feed/ 2 Give us Statehood or Give us Puerto Rico! http://www.welovedc.com/2009/02/25/give-us-statehood-or-give-us-puerto-rico/ http://www.welovedc.com/2009/02/25/give-us-statehood-or-give-us-puerto-rico/#comments Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:43:33 +0000 Wayan http://www.welovedc.com/2009/02/25/give-us-statehood-or-give-us-puerto-rico/

washington dc by wayan

The Senate will be discussing a vote for DC in the House today. And I hope the effort fails. I reject the concept that 500,000+ people should only get one vote in Congress. We should have a real real representation – two Senators and one Representative. Or we should be free from Federal taxes.

Give us Statehood or give us Puerto Rico!

Personally, I’m all for Puerto Rico. They get full governmental benefits but are exempt from Federal income taxes. If DC were to have the same setup, our standard of living would jump waaay up. All those tax-avoidance diehards who lurk in NoVA would jump the Potomoc overnight, sending property values, population density, and economic activity into the sky. Oh and I would save up to $14,000 on my tax bill.

]]> http://www.welovedc.com/2009/02/25/give-us-statehood-or-give-us-puerto-rico/feed/ 8 Is Virgina Going Liberal? http://www.welovedc.com/2009/02/20/is-virgina-going-liberial/ http://www.welovedc.com/2009/02/20/is-virgina-going-liberial/#comments Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:07:52 +0000 Wayan http://www.welovedc.com/?p=9955

You go boy!

You go boy!

For years, I’ve considered crossing the Potomac as the entry into a whole other country, a bastion of conservatism that confused my liberal mind. Now I think its Virginians that are confused. Or at least the gun toting, God-fearing types who must be thinking they’ve awoke in Maryland this morning. Just look at these two lead stories in the WashPost:

What’s next? They allow popsicle beer?

]]> http://www.welovedc.com/2009/02/20/is-virgina-going-liberial/feed/ 2 Thirteen (13!) Pounds of Dog Poo in Petworth http://www.welovedc.com/2009/02/08/dog-poop-grant-circle-petworth/ http://www.welovedc.com/2009/02/08/dog-poop-grant-circle-petworth/#comments Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:00:28 +0000 Wayan http://www.welovedc.com/?p=9587

Up in Petworth, we do love our pets – its in our name. But it seems that quite a few Petworthians don’t like being responsible with their dogs. Specifically their dog’s poop. Out in Grant Circle, a prime dog walking spot, I noticed that winter brought on irresponsibility towards scooping the poop. More and more dog feces were left in the Circle by dog owners too lazy to bring a plastic bag.

So a month ago, I walked through Grant Circle and picked up 7 pounds of frozen feces. At the time, many were shocked and some even doubted that 7lbs figure. Well on Saturday, I repeated the poop scoop adventure and shocked even myself:

To those who may wonder why I would scoop other’s poop, I was thinking of the weekend’s warm spell, and the smell of all that poop, defrosted. I detest cleaning up after irresponsibility just a bit less than the disgust of a public health hazard in my neighborhood.

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washington dc by wayan

While my wife suggests that chicken wings are a Super Bowl snack food requirement, she is not a true Washingtonian. And while Don is trying to eat my daughter, who is a Washingtonian, I am wondering if there is a specific District-based snack food we should be consuming in celebration of America’s grand sport.

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washington dc by wayan

I wonder who in the Newseum bathroom design committee was the germaphobe that insisted they needed door wipes in the men’s room.

As a man who always washes his hands but notes the number of men that do not, I like the door wipe idea, but have a better one: electro-shock therapy for those that go urinal to door.

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washington dc by wayan

Look closely at this photo. Isn’t that hole missing something? Like a way out for the earth movers down at the bottom? How are they going to get that equipment out? Or will they convert engines into boilers like that childhood picture book that I remember but forgot the name of.

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