‘DC Slices Flag’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’
Union Station, it’s on you today to do D.C. proud. Most trucks are falling off the map for the week today, so get your fill.
By Ashley
Category Archives: The Daily Feed
By Ashley
By Dave Levy
Bill Simmons Coming to DC For Book of Basketball Signing
‘Bill Simmons (The Sports Guy) book signing in SF’
courtesy of ‘kumasawa’
Like Hoops? Like ESPN’s Bill Simmons aka the Sports Guy? Keep reading.
If you haven’t picked up his excellent Book of Basketball: The NBA According to The Sports Guy
Simmons will be at the Borders on 18th and L (halfway between Farragut West and North metro stops for you non-drivers) starting at 6:30 p.m. on December 8th. More details available at Borders, and if you get bored, you can let him know his Alma Mater lost in hoops last night to Boston College.
By Tom Bridge
Fred Fiske done lost his mind
‘My Radio is Tuned to…’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’
It’s time for 90-year old coot commentator Fred Fiske to pack up his general sense of misplaced frustration and outrage and head on home for good. Last night’s commentary rant (available in Real Media and Windows Media Player, since WAMU is so very much “with the times”) featured Fiske railing against those of us who are choosing to opt out of the new nekkid scanners. Fiske’s primary concern is arriving at his destination safely, and is willing to strip to his skivvies to do so, and encourages us to all suck it up and deal with this new intrusiveness in our lives.
Pardon me, Fred, but screw that.
By Ashley
Your Daily Pancake Reminder
‘Day One hundred and fifty-four: You know you go there too much if your waiter asks “the usual?”‘
courtesy of ‘Insulinde’
We’ve talked about it, thought about it and dreamed about it, but the day is upon us — the Columbia Heights IHOP is finally open as of today. Not that you need an excuse to order up a Rooty Tooty Fresh ‘N Fruity, but IHOP is going for the gold with special events to celebrate the opening of this, their 1,500th store and there’s something for everyone.
For the hungry (and frugal), the first 1,500 customers will receive a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes. For the creative, there will be local pastry artists on hand (Leslie Goldman-Poyourow of Fancy Cakes by Leslie and Randi Goldman of Creative Cakes, Inc.) to construct famous D.C. landmarks out of, you guessed it, pancakes. They’ll be assisted by local students during what is undoubtedly the greatest field trip of all time. My 7th grade trip to the Baltimore Museum of Art has got nothing on this.
By Ben H. Rome
Devils Torch Caps in 5-0 Shutout
Would that the Washington Capitals could just play at home for the remainder of the season…
The Caps went to New Jersey last night with a paltry 4-4-1 road record, compared to their 10-1-1 run at home. And last night, the Caps continued to underwhelm on the road, losing 5-0 to a struggling Devils team and marking coach Bruce Boudreau’s third anniversary as head coach with a less-than-stellar performance.
The Caps lost their third straight game and have been outscored 14-4 over that same stretch; two of those games, the Caps have been kept off the scoreboard.
Braden Holtby, a surprise starter last night, has allowed 8 goals on 28 shots – but the fault lies with more than just the rookie netminder. “Everything has a trickle down effect from the forwards to the defense to the goalie to the coaches,” Boudreau said after the game. “If we fail like this, it’s everybody’s fault. We all have to pick up our socks and find out what’s gone wrong in these last three games. I know it happens, but it hasn’t happened to us and I don’t like it.” Continue reading
By brownpau
Vietnam Memorial Booth Fire
We’re hearing of a fire incident near the Vietnam Veterans Memorial from DC Fire/EMS Twitter and WUSA9. The memorial wall itself is safe, but a POW/MIA information kiosk (the one that stands along the path between the Vietnam Wall and Lincoln Memorial) was “totally destroyed,” and one occupant possibly injured. The fire seems to have started with the ignition of a propane tank for heating in the booth.
Latest tweet from DC Fire/EMS as of 12:20 AM: Update – Vietnam Vets Memorial MIA/POW Kiosk – totally destroyed – cause under investigation – EMS evaluating 1 occupant
By Tom Bridge
Vince Gray laments budget situation
‘rainy tuesday’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’
This morning’s speech by Mayor Elect Vincent Gray before the press was fairly somber in tone, thanks in part to the massive $181M gap in the FY 2011 budget, and the $345M gap in the FY 2012 budget. Gray promised to keep tax increases off the table in the speech until such time as they’ve identified potential sources of waste in the current budget.
As Gray points out, out of the $5.3B total, less than a billion of that total can be considered even remotely discretionary. $1.5B is related to fixed costs, debt service and things like Metro, and the rest is divided into four pools: salaries at DCPS/MPD/DCFEMS, salaries of District employees, Medicaid/Charter Schools, and everything else.
As part of identifying potential sources of savings, Gray is recommending that all capital projects that the city is considering, but hasn’t spent money on, be frozen until further notice. He’s also pulling for a blue ribbon commission to help manage the capital positions of the District. We’re going to be calling this the Pabst Blue Ribbon Commission, given the subject, if you’ll pardon the joke.
If you’d like, you can review the Mayor Elect’s speech and budget supplemental numbers.
By Dave Levy
Quarterdeck to Close, Ending 31-Year Arlington Run
‘Every Food Fits: Don’t Bother Us, We’re Crabby!’
courtesy of ‘staceyviera’
Today is certainly a sad day for Arlington and Washington residents whom seek to find solace in a local crab feast anytime between Tax Day to Columbus Day. In an e-mail distributed to the Radnor/Ft. Myer Heights Civic Association, Lou Gatti, owner of the Quarterdeck Restaurant, announced that the venue would shut its doors after 31 years:
After 31 years, the Quarterdeck Restaurant is closing. I was at the helm for the last 15 years. For the last 2 ½ months, I have been trying to get a new lease that we could live with. On numerous occasions, I understood that we had an agreement only to be surprised later with a lease that said otherwise. It’s a long story, but we are finished. The building, which is almost 70 years old, needs major repairs and updates; the landlord expects us to do them all. Not happening.
No specific timetable was mentioned for closing, just “soon.” With the growth of residential development in this area of Rosslyn, it’ll be interesting to see what happens to the old building once Quarterdeck moves out.
By Hot Ticket: Richie Hawtin @ U Street Music Hall – TONIGHT
courtesy of MSO.
U Street Music Hall is the place to be tonight as Richie Hawtin takes on their epic soundsystem with one of his innovative and awe-inspiring live DJ sets.
To call Richie Hawtin a legend of underground electronic music would be an understatement. He has been pushing the limits of dance music and the technology used to make it for two decades. Under his Plastikman guise, Hawtin pretty much defined minimal techno as a genre. Although Hawtin is Canadian, it was in Detroit where he made his mark as one of the prime movers in the Detroit Techno renaissance of the 1990’s. A godfather of the Detroit second wave, a progenitor of minimal techno, a technological innovator, and a legendary party DJ Richie Hawtin is the embodiment of the cutting edge dance scene.
What Hawtin has in store for DC tonight is anyone’s guess. The one sure thing is that whatever science he drops on us will be unlike anything most of us have heard before. Hawtin is going to do some damage with U Street’s incredible sound system. I expect nothing less than a jaw-dropping, head-spinning set when Richie Hawtin takes to the decks.
Richie Hawtin
w/ Gaiser
@ U Street Music Hall
TONIGHT – $35
Doors at 8pm
By Tom Bridge
Ingmar Guandique found guilty on all counts for murder of Chandra Levy
‘DC Courthouse’
courtesy of ‘Joe in DC’
Ingmar Guandique has been convicted of two counts of felony first degree murder that carry a life sentence. TBD TV’s reporter Stephen Tschida on the scene said that Mrs. Levy started at Guandique with a look of anguish and happiness while the verdict was read and the jury was polled.
At last, Chandra Levy’s murder is put to rest.
Sentencing is scheduled for February, and each of the felony murder counts carries a minimum of 30 years.
By Ashley
Food Truck Tracker
‘Curbside Cookoff 2010 Lobster Truck’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’
It’s a short week for our food truck friends, so take advantage while you still can.
By Tom Bridge
DC barely makes least safe cities list
‘Thumbs Up Chuck, Chuck Brown, Godfather of GoGo’
courtesy of ‘Photos by Chip Py’
Two decades ago, DC was the murder capital of the year. This year? We barely made the violent crime list, and we’re ranked behind St Louis (#1, sorry Chris), Detroit (#3), Oakland (#5), Baltimore (#11), and New Orleans (#13). DC is currently at less than a quarter of the murders from the peak year in 1991, and will likely finish the year well beneath 2009’s total of 143. Congrats, DC, this is a milestone I think we can all celebrate.
By Tom Bridge
HR-57 moving to H Street
‘Music………..’
courtesy of ‘LaTur’
If you love Jazz, you’ve been to HR-57 on 14th street. It means you probably also heard the news this weekend that they’re moving out of their location on 14th and are headed to greener pastures on H Street NE at 9th Street, according to the City Paper and owner Tony Puesan. The non-profit focuses on the preservation of Jazz & Blues and takes their name from the House Continuing Resolution 57 that Congress passed to honor the uniquely American musical artforms. They’ll be in their new home come January.
By Dave Levy
Redskins Cheat Sheet Week 11: @ Tennessee
‘Donovan McNabb, Washington Redskins’
courtesy of ‘the extinction blues’
Some Redskins fans may still be smarting from last Monday, but the team’s season wasn’t officially over: they still had seven games left. The first of the last seven was yesterday afternoon, and in case you missed it or tuned it out in hopes that the ‘Skins would go away, the Redskins Cheat Sheet is here to be your Monday morning guide to another nailbiting Washington win.
The Redskins are up to 5-5 after the win over a now seemingly dysfunctional Tennessee Titans, and the story of not only yesterday’s game, but most of the season, is all in the numbers. As a walkthrough guide to yesterday’s game, we are going to arm you with the stats you need to get through the holiday week’s office banter about the ‘Skins. I warn you now, if offensive futility makes you squeamish, you best look away. Continue reading
By Ben H. Rome
Flyers Edge Caps in Shootout
‘Green Gets Powed #1’
courtesy of ‘clydeorama’
For only the second time this season, the Capitals lost their second straight game with a 5-4 shootout loss to the visiting Philadelphia Flyers. The loss was a tough one, though the Caps fought hard in the third to send the game into overtime.
Rookie Marcus Johnasson opened the scoring in the first period, notching his second of the season. The goal came after the Caps had put their first three shots off the crossbar and goal posts. The theme of the first half of the game was missed chances by the Caps, including a couple of failed breakaways by Alexander Ovechkin. “I thought all game we had good chances,” coach Bruce Boudreau said. “I was worried after the first period when it was only 1-0 because we didn’t get rewarded for having three 2-on-1s, two breakaways – those are the kind of times that you put teams away and when you let them hang around something usually happens.” Continue reading
By Patrick Pho
Wizards Improve to 4-9 With Win Over Grizzlies
Luke Russert said it best on Twitter: the roster for the Memphis Grizzlies read like an NCAA All-Star Team.
Between a starting line-up that featured O.J. Mayo, Rudy Gay, and Mike Conley along with Hasheem Thabeet and Acie Law on the bench and I didn’t know if I was watching an NBA game or a March Madness game.
By Tom Bridge
MPD Suspends Assistant Chief over testing misconduct issue
‘Taking a Test.’
courtesy of ‘peruisay’
Assistant Police Chief Diane Groomes was placed on administrative leave late yesterday over allegations of corruption related to promotion tests. Asst. Chief Alfred Durham will take over her duties until the investigation is complete. Groomes is alleged to have helped commanders who did not take their National Incident Management System test, which is required for all top-level MPD staff to be cognizant of national situations.
Asst. Chief Groomes said in a statement to FOX 5: “I am sorry for my actions and bad judgment…and bringing discredit to the best chief…police department and city.”
There has been significant outpouring of support on community listserves for Chief Groomes from citizens and community leaders alike, with many calling her a “dedicated law enforcement officer” and citing a record of strong service to the department.
By Ben H. Rome
Atlanta Strikes Early, Stones Caps
‘IMG_2665.jpg’
courtesy of ‘bridgetds’
The Washington Capitals suffered their first regulation loss in ten games last night, dropping a 5-0 decision to their division opponents in Atlanta. The Thrashers have handed the Caps two of their five regulation losses this season.
Atlanta led 3-0 after the first, with Ben Eager opening the scoring less than three minutes in. Two quick strikes around the 9 minute mark by Nik Antropov and Evander Kane was enough to send Braden Holtby off the ice for the evening. It was only the rookie’s fourth career start.
Dustin Byfuglien and Alexander Burmistrov rounded out Atlanta’s scoring. It was the Caps first shutout loss since Dec. 9, 2009 against Buffalo. Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
Last Chance: Monday brings the Aquabats and RBF
‘Aquabat Sticker’
courtesy of ‘bernard.rodriguez’
It’s Friday, and all you can think about is the weekend, and frankly, after this week, who can blame you? I mean, DC’s been obsessing about Wal-Mart, the TSA, and the leadership of the House all week long. Who doesn’t want to stop for a few days, drink some Four Loko with some college students, and spend the weekend engaged in Harry Potter-related activities. I mean, that’s what I’m dreaming of.
But, before we go and let the weekend subsume our very being, I’ve got a quick PSA about a concert that’s happening Monday night at 9:30 Club. It’s hard to believe that this year represents fifteen years since probably my favorite record of the 1990s, Reel Big Fish’s Turn the Radio Off, with their single Sell Out. I think that’s the only of my CDs from that decade that I actually wore out entirely. Anyhow, they’re playing with other ska great The Aquabats. Tickets are still available, and you can totally wear a big suit and skank it on out on the floor of the 9:30. Me? I wish I could be there, but I’ve got a prior engagement.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go cope with the fact that I am really old.
By Tom Bridge
More Wal-Mart details emerging
‘Maholo for choosing you Honolulu Wal-Mart’
courtesy of ‘mathrock’
The three new Wal-marts planned for the District made news early in the week, and additional details have started to flow from the press as we’ve gotten more information. This afternoon I talked with Steve Restivo at Wal-mart about the proposed stores.
Each of the stores will closely resemble the newly opened Alexandria Wal-mart which is approximately the same size and footprint intended for the new DC stores. The Alexandria store brought 275 jobs, and if that were the case for each of the new DC stores, we’re still not quite adding up to the 1,200 jobs that were mentioned in their early press.
Wal-mart associates working these positions full-time will be averaging salaries of $12.49/hr, and full-time positions will be about 60% of the jobs associated with each of the sites. The four locations are intended to be 58th & East Capitol Street SE, Georgia Ave NW & Missouri Ave NW, 801 New Jersey Ave NW, and New York Ave & Bladensburg Ave NE. All associates will have access to Wal-mart’s healthcare benefits and 401k matching plan.