‘#11 – John Wall (Kentucky Wildcats)’
courtesy of ‘rubendn’

DC has suddenly become a very crowded sports town in the last six months. Even without what some would call “winning” franchises, the national spotlight has constantly swirled in the direction of the District throughout the fall. Most interestingly, that focus may have finally grown to include a team that has generally been under the radar for a few seasons (at least for its on court performance): the Washington Wizards. The center of the attention is the lucky draw of a lifetime, the #1 pick from the University of Kentucky, guard John Wall.

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Via our neighbors up in New York City, some good news for all you DC photographers: The Department of Homeland Security is, once again, being forced to admit that you have the right to take pictures of federal buildings. As part of a settlement brokered by the New York Civil Liberties Union, DHS –and specifically the Federal Protective Service, those guys who run the security for almost every federal office building around the country, including those in DC–has “agreed to provide federal officers written instructions emphasizing the public’s right to photograph and record outside federal courthouses,” the NYCLU says. Continue reading →

‘TaKorean’
courtesy of ‘Joe in DC’

The day may look dreary, but all of your favorite food trucks are making sure that your day is bright and sunny.  Take a walk at lunchtime, cupcake, you probably could use the clearing of your head. Click through to find your favorite food truck.

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courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

If you, like me, have an irrational love of free samples, then write this down: Food & Friends is offering free samples of pumpkin pie this week to promote their annual fundraiser Slice of Life. You can stop by any of the locations below from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to snag a bite or two of autumn goodness. On Friday, the fundraiser will officially kick off with a happy hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Logan Tavern. That too will have free pie, as well as hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and prizes.

Food & Friends delivers meals to DC area residents living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other debilitating illnesses. Slice of Life, which sells pre-made pies during the holiday season, typically raises over $215,000 for the organization.

Tuesday: Outside the Washington Marriott at Metro Center (12th and H NW)

Wednesday: Outside the CVS at Dupont Circle

Thursday: Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring (near Potbelly’s)

‘Presidential Motorcade’
courtesy of ‘jasonippolito’

Motorcades are one of those distinctly DC things that make morning traffic through the District even more fun. This morning, if you were on the Maryland side of things, you may have had a little extra company as President Obama and the First Lady took off from the White House early this morning to visit with Sasha and Malia’s teachers at Sidwell. West Wing Reports on Twitter indicated that they left fairly early (around 7:15 a.m.), and, as the Associated Press added, the couple stopped by Sasha’s elementary school before meeting with Malia’s educators.

Given the era in which we live, some cable talking heads will argue that this is just the President trying to push more of his current education platform through example, but the timing is more convenient than political. The Obamas have consistently attended their daughters’ conferences as long as 44 has been in office, including earlier this year in the spring semester.

‘Kadri #15’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Trash pickup on Thursday has been pushed back a day to allow DPW employees to go to the funeral of their slain colleague, Larry Hutchins. No arrests have been made in the shooting, which also injured an as-of-yet unnamed colleague.

‘Crime Solvers’
courtesy of ‘Marcellina.’

The Washington Examiner reports that as of today, the District’s homicide tally for 2010 has gone over 100, to 103. The 100 homicide mark has frequently been cited by police chief Cathy Lanier as a benchmark number that she wants to hold the city under, but has not yet been able to achieve. It’s worth noting (as the Examiner does), that the District took an extra month to reach 100 this year, and that homicides are down 5.5% in comparison to last year. As of October 18th, 2009, there had been 109 District homicides in that year.

‘Bethesda Row Dining on Street’
courtesy of ‘faceless b’
As a Montgomery County native who spent much of her misspent youth hanging out at the seedy Barnes & Noble in Bethesda late on summer nights getting in to all kinds of suburban trouble*, I have a special place in my heart for Bethesda Row Restaurant Week.

It starts today and runs through Sunday, October 24th with twelve restaurants participating this year. For $15, you will get a three course meal at lunch while $30 will get you three courses at dinner. Participating restaurants include new Bethesda spots American Tap Room and Taylor Gourmet, and old favorites like Jaleo, Redwood, Raku and Mon Ami Gabi. Details and a list of participating restaurants can be found here.

* By “seedy” I mean totally non-threatening, by “late” I mean 10:30pm, and by “suburban trouble” I mean lots of gossiping. My revisionist history of my suburban upbringing is what makes me so mysterious, so just go with it.

‘TaKorean’
courtesy of ‘Joe in DC’
Hey Crystal City folks, you’ve got a new truck in your ‘hood! Sweetbites is making their first Crystal City visit today, so show them you love ’em and visit them on 18th and Crystal Drive.

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‘Courthouse’
courtesy of ‘spiggycat’

This weekend saw the arraignment of five employees of DC9, all charged with aggravated assault in the death of Ali Muhammad.  They were arraigned on Saturday on the lesser charge pending the findings of the medical examiner.  The ME’s report is expected sometime this week, and should the cause of death be determined to be homicide, the charges of murder could be reinstated.  The story is gradually being told, the information gradually coming to light, but progress is slow.  We’ll get there, though.

I know there can be some arguments concerning what’s appropriate on Metro, and that this would largely not constitute acceptable behavior given the whole “no music” thing, but I have to say: I would love catching these guys on the Metro at some point.  They’re Atomic Tom, and this fall they had their instruments stolen this fall, and have produced this awesome video, playing just on their iPhones.  Their album is pretty good, too.

Hey guys, come down and play on the Metro, I think it’d be pretty awesome.

‘Whiffle Ball Fielder’
courtesy of ‘texas_mustang‘

It’s October, and after six seasons since baseball’s return to the Nation’s Capital, we have not yet had the opportunity to root, root-root for the home team in the MLB playoffs. As the District continues to wait for the day to christen postseason baseball at Nationals Park, I suggest an alternative course. Nay, I write with a plea: support the Texas Rangers as the ALCS kicks off this evening in Arlington, Texas. I say this because cheering for the Texas Rangers over the New York Yankees is truly a vote for part of Washington D.C.’s sports past.

American League baseball? Here on the hallowed pages of We Love DC? Believe it. And trust me, we deserve some baseball to cheer for after the summer we went through. Continue reading →