Category Archives: The Daily Feed

News, The Daily Feed
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Natwar Gandhi: We’re short $175M

Photo courtesy of
‘Day 150 / 365 – Don’t Cut Our Budget’
courtesy of ‘anitakhart’

The figure has been hinted at a few times over the last few weeks, but now it’s here, and it’s worse than anyone thought.  According to District CFO Natwar Gandhi, DC is facing a $175M Deficit for Fiscal 2011 that starts Friday. Revenue from income and sales taxes are down $100M, and overruns from DCPS ($25M) and Medicaid ($33M) are factors as well.  Look for a lot of hand-wringing purse-string tightening, and new fees and taxes meant to make up the difference.

This is a good deal worse than anyone expected.  More detail as it’s available.

The Daily Feed
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Hot Ticket: Film School @ DC9 9/28/10

San Francisco dream-pop/nu-gazers Film School have entered new territory on their latest album, “Fission”; switching gears from the dark and gloomy approach that has served them well for for almost a decade, on their latest they are looking on the bright side of life by offering up cheery gaze-pop tunes that almost border on being danceable. It is a shift that has injected new life into a band that had been settled into a routine. Not that their past tunes are anything to sneeze at; Film School’s trademark guitar swirls, heartbeat bass, and killer male/female vocals are still some of the best in the biz. It is just nice to see that they have more tricks up there sleeve in terms of tone.

Film School will be bringing their brighter, happier selves to DC9 on Tuesday night for what I am sure will be a shoegazer highlight of 2010. Just because a band changes direction a bit, doesn’t mean that they’ve abandoned the things that made us love them. So I am expecting a well-balanced show of new tunes and Film School classics. As I type this I am listening to their albums “Hideout” and “Fission” on random and the two compliment each other in excellent and unexpected ways. Their bass playing strikes me even stronger when listening to songs from these albums back to back. Come out tomorrow night to hear how they compare for yourself.

PS – Opening band The Depreciation Guild are on the rise and this is a great chance to catch them before they hit it big.

Film School
w/ The Depreciation Guild
9/28/10
@ DC9
18+ / $10/adv $12/day of

The Daily Feed
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Tour guide licenses restrict both free speech and misinformation

Photo courtesy of
‘circling segways’
courtesy of ‘ekelly80’

J. Freedom du Lac has an interesting article in today’s Post about DC’s tour guide licensing restrictions and the tour company operators who are contesting them on First Amendment grounds. I find myself torn on the issue- as a person who writes things for publication on the Internet, I’m a cranky First Amendment zealot. But as a person who writes things about DC for publication on the Internet, I find misinformation propagated by tour guides to be particularly maddening.

Despite leaning toward the side of the tour operators due to aforementioned zealotry, there was one quote in the article that really didn’t do much to endear the tour guides to me:

On a recent afternoon, Edwards was at the Segs in the City kiosk next to the Old Post Office Pavilion – “the second-tallest building in Washington,” she says in a lilting Australian accent.

Why did this annoy me? The Old Post Office Pavilion is NOT “the second-tallest building in Washington.” At 329 feet tall, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is the second-tallest. The Old Post Office Pavilion is 315 feet tall, making it third.

The Daily Feed
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Redskins Cheat Sheet: Week 3 @ St. Louis

Photo courtesy of
‘New Washington NFL Uniform’
courtesy of ‘Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com’

All fall long – or at least until the Caps get going again – the Redskins tend to dominate Monday morning chatter in the offices around the District. Win or lose, the Cheat Sheet is here to help you fake your way through any awkward water cooler conversations that come up today.

So. That actually just happened. The Rams had lost 14 straight at home, were breaking in a rookie quarterback and hadn’t won in September since 2006. In come the Redskins, and the Rams shake off the cobwebs behind rookie QB Sam Bradford to pull down a W.

Instead of a bullet point guide this week, it may be easier to decide what kind of fan you want to be this Monday. Your guide, after the jump. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Antonio Pio Saracino at Industry Gallery

Cervo Chair.  Antonio Pio Saracino, courtesy Industry Gallery.

Industry Gallery is currently exhibiting New York-based Italian designer and architect Antonio Pio Saracino‘s first solo U.S. exhibition.  The exhibition is called Nature / Data and will run through October 30th.  In addition to eleven different chair designs, Nature / Data premieres two large-scale models of “triumphal arches”, representing Italian emigration to North and South America.

Saracino is a four-time winner of the Future Furniture Design Competition sponsored by Interior Design magazine, designed the award-winning Tibi boutique in New York’s Soho, and was named one of ARTnews magazine’s 25 trendsetters.

Industry Gallery is located at 1358 Florida Avenue, NE, Suite 200.  For more information call 202-399-1730.

Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Maya falls apart as Braves top Nats 5-0

Heyward hits Ramos
Photo by Ian Koski / Nationals Daily News

Before the game today, when asked about Yunesky Maya, Jim Riggleman said that he’d settled down.  Jim was right until the top of the sixth today.  The wheels came flying off Maya’s bus, as he gave up a walk, advanced the runner to second on a wild pitch, and gave up a double, a single and a 3-run homer before getting the hook.  The start of the game had been so promising, with Maya retiring the side in the first on just 11 pitches, 9 of them strikes.  After that dominant first inning, though, Maya would begin to lose his razor sharp placement, especially when the Braves had runners aboard.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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The Nats Dominate Tim Hudson For Once


Photo by Cheryl Nichols

Atlanta Braves starter Tim Hudson is among the cream of the crop in this year’s National League Cy Young contenders. He is in shared company beside the Cardinals’ Adam Wainright, the Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez, and the Phillies’ Roy Halladay as some of the best in the game. Not only that but Hudson has dominated the Nationals previously going 10-1 with a 1.55 lifetime ERA against the club. But on Friday night, that was of no consequence in Washington.

It took nearly six months but the Nationals finally strung together a season-high four game win-streak in front of a crowd of 22,515. The 8-3 victory over a Braves squad fighting for a Wild Card berth was a direct result of some sizzling at-bats from the Nats likely suspects at the plate. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Gospel, Sukkot, and Baseball: The Nats Final Weekend in Town for 2010

Photo courtesy of
‘Nationals Game – Jackie Robinson Day – 04.16.10’
courtesy of ‘Michael DeAngelis || mdeangelis.net’

It’s no secret by now that the Nationals aren’t going to the post-season this year. The Nationals’ season ends Sunday, October 3 at Citi Field in New York against the Mets, but their final home game of 2010 is this Wednesday night versus the Philadelphia Phillies.

As the sixth season of baseball comes to a close here in Washington, Nationals Park is still bumping with some entertainment and festivities during the final weekend homestand of 2010. Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed
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Begun, the DC food truck wars have?

Photo courtesy of
‘El Floridano’
courtesy of ‘Amber Wilkie Photography’

With their truck positioned on Farragut Square, El Floridano was serving lunch to DC’s hungry masses when, they contend, the Golden Triangle BID ambassadors working in the park turned the sprinklers on their customers.  TBD talked with Golden Triangle’s executive director, who says that’s not quite how it went down.  Our emails and calls to Golden Triangle were not immediately returned.  We have reached out to both sides for comment, but it being Friday afternoon, none has come.  Were you there this afternoon?  Did you see what happened?

Adventures, Entertainment, Fun & Games, Night Life, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Last Minute Plan: Hobo Road Show in Baltimore

Photo courtesy of
‘peace’
courtesy of ‘mac`’

Hey you! The hipster without a clue on about what to do tonight?

Head up I-95 to our northern neighbor Baltimore for The Yard Dogs Road Show at The Ottobar. This hobo themed cabaret combines vaudeville, burlesque dancers and rock and roll with sword swallowing, dolls, poetry and live music by the cartoon heavy band, Yard Dogs. Also stop by the upstairs mustache dance party that starts at 9pm and rages until 2am.

All Politics is Local, Entertainment, The Daily Feed
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The Joke Is On Congress As Stephen Colbert Testifies In Congress


courtesy of CSPAN

Like many DCers, I’ve watched a Congressional hearing or two either for work or… well, for work. I mean, who watches hearings for fun? When I heard that Stephen Colbert would be coming to Washington (ahead of his March to Keep Fear Alive) to testify in character before the Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees, and Border Security; I knew that it would be a hearing many would be tuning in for. He was called upon to talk about the issue of illegal migrant farm workers in the US after hosting several interviews and segments on the issue on his show, The Colbert Report.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Party Like It’s 1989

Photo courtesy of
‘Fluorescent leg warmers’
courtesy of ‘David Jones’

There are so many reasons why Saturday’s Cause for a Dance Party sounds like the weekend’s best bet. Reason one: an exclusive playlist of 80’s and 90’s music. Reason two: permission to wear leg warmers and other era-inspired garb. Reasons three through infinity: A lesson from dance instructor John Chu, who will be teaching the choreography from Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” video. Does that not sound like the most epic evening ever?

Saturday’s event will benefit The Reading Connection, which promotes literacy among at-risk children and their families. Doors open at 8 p.m., but don’t be too fashionably late – the dance lesson starts at 9 p.m.  The party will be held at the Darlington House and a $5 minimum donation is required.

All Politics is Local, The Daily Feed, The Hill, WTF?!
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Fictional character Colbert testifies before Congress DC isn’t represented in

Photo courtesy of
‘Stephen’
courtesy of ‘BrianMKA’

Dear Congress:

You’ll let a comedian come in and testify as a fictional character, but we’re still waiting for voting representation? Thanks for nothing.

Love,
DC, you know, your neighbors

PS: Colbert’s testimony was actually pretty pointed and is worth a watch, which you can do after the jump. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Football and Food, America’s Favorite Combo

Photo courtesy of
‘CIMG0229’
courtesy of ‘Ullisan’
As someone who isn’t the biggest fan of football (sorry Dad) but has a lot of football-lovin’ friends, I try and focus on the football food. If I’m going to a friend’s house to watch, I always bring dip, and if we’re going to a bar or restaurant, I always peruse the menu beforehand. If you’re like me, here are some top food and football choices for this weekend:

  • ChurchKey– Try the Sunday Tailgate Menu, which features brisket chili, half smokes with house-made soft pretzels, and a awesome/disgusting sounding sandwich, “The Luther” made with fried chicken and applewood bacon served between a maple chicken jus glazed donut. Yum/ew. The menu will be available every Sunday game day from 12pm to 8pm.
  • Evening Star Cafe – At the bar, you can try their special game day menu with items such as “Cornbrats” (corn dogs stuffed with brats), meatball grinders, and fried mac and cheese. They will also be tapping a new cask ale every Sunday at 1pm. Coming up, they will be tapping Green Flash Imperial IPA, Stone Arrogant Bastard and NorCal California-Style Bitter. The menu is available at the bar every Sunday during football games from 3:30pm until close. Continue reading →
The Daily Feed
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Wizards to Rock the Red, White and Blue Starting in 2011

Photo courtesy of
‘It’s been awhile’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

Channel your inner Wes Unseld, folks, because the Wizards are getting closer to the roots.

Earlier this week, teams from around the NBA announced a few design changes to the standard uniforms. Of course, whenever it comes to new colors around the league, local fans are very quick to clamor that the Wizards should switch back to the colors they abandoned when they changed names from the Bullets in 1997. Of course, when Caps owner Ted Leonsis, whose red-clad Capitals’ stock has risen both in league standings and local favor under his tenure, took control of the Wizards earlier this year, it was assumed that the Wiz would join the other squad in Rocking the Red.

It looks like it just may happen. While no official word has come down from Leonsis, Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld dropped a small nugget at the end of Thursday’s press conference:

When asked if the team had changed the colors from the current slate blue, black, gold and white, Grunfeld said, “No. The colors are the same, but as you know, [new owner Ted Leonsis] plans on changing the colors to red, white and blue the next season.”

John Wall red jersey anyone? Anyone?

News, The Daily Feed
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WMATA Call Center flooded

Photo courtesy of
‘mustachioed stick figure’
courtesy of ‘nevermindtheend’

Metro will be operating without their customer service call center due to a flood.  That means all of their customer service lines are down, MetroAccess reservations have switched to online only, and there are a few emergency lines available for reservation checks.  More details as they’re available, but for now, plan on using WMATA.com for anything Metro-related.

The Daily Feed
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More Neighborhood Festivals This Weekend

Photo courtesy of
‘H Street Festival’
courtesy of ‘Edward Hoover’

Two weekends ago we celebrated in Adams Morgan, last weekend it was H Street, and this Saturday we’ve got three more great street festivals: Barracks Row, 17th Street in Dupont, and Clarendon.

Head down to Capitol Hill on Saturday from 11 AM to 5 PM for the Barracks Row Fall Festival.  There will be lots to enjoy here: classic cars, a military chef cooking competition, tours of the barracks, a performance by the Trapeze School of New York, and lots of good food and music.  They still need volunteers too, so sign up if you’re so inclined.

Continue reading →