Photo by Rachel Levitin
It’s been nine years since an abrupt act of terrorism took America by surprise. That day shook us but it didn’t shatter us and nearly a decade later we stand just as tall if not taller than we did before.
Today, Major League Baseball remembers the thousands of American souls who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 with Heroes Day.
By Jenn Larsen
‘The Tabard Cocktail’
courtesy of ‘Samer Farha’
The September/October 2010 edition of Imbibe magazine is out and features a sampling of the DC cocktail and beer scenes. With cocktail recipes from Gina Chersevani of PS7, Alex Bookless of The Passenger (recent winner of the Rickey Contest), and Chantal Tseng of Tabard Inn, the ladies represent!
Try your hand at mixing up Gina’s “Beetiful Bubbles” with, yes, beet syrup, or Alex’s “That Cucumber Drink” muddling cucumber and mint, or my personal long-term favorite, Chantal’s “Tabard Cocktail” combining sherry and tequila. Fantastic.
The current issue also breaks down 20 beer spots both inside and outside the city highlighting both the usual suspects like Greg Engert’s program at Birch & Barley/Churchkey and a few surprises.
The best part about DC being featured in Imbibe this month? The tone is congratulatory, not condescending in that way we sometimes see other national publications yap about DC’s food/drink offerings (Grey Lady, I am looking at you). I love it when our local talent gets recognized!
Hey DC, I don’t know if you noticed but Underworld at the 9:30 Club quietly went on sale this week. Yes you read that correctly. Underworld are playing the 9:30 Club on October 25th!
Simply put Underworld are the best electronic live act I’ve ever seen. Even though I have seen them three amazing times in the past – seeing Underworld perform on the 9:30 Club’s soundsystem is one of my wishlist concerts. I’m announcing this onsale now because I don’t want any DC fans of this amazing, legendary electronic act to miss out on what is sure to be an incredible show.
Buy tickets.
and
Listen to their new album (instant classic) streaming for free on Myspace.
By Rebecca
Along with taking over the Blue Bus Dupont to Rosslyn Route, the DC Circulator has decided to get all techie on us with the roll out of QR codes. Recently, I noticed these bar code-esque additions (located near the bus exits) on my daily commute and I was, naturally, curious. Where would the code take me and my smartphone? Turns out the location it’s too exciting, it’s a quickie “how are we doing” customer service form. However, it did open my eyes to the super mobile and user friendly “Where is My Bus? For DC Circulator” app that covers all the various DC Circulator routes and schedules. Super useful.
By Ashley
‘street fryer’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’
It’s Friiiiiiiday! Take some time to chase down some lunch. It’ll be a lot less chasing if you’re on K St., the trucks are all over that corridor.
By Ashley
‘Free Smells’
courtesy of ‘BrentOzar’
Well, if there’s one lesson we’ve learned over the past few weeks, it’s to never open a restaurant within smelling distance of a legal juggernaut. The crankypants over at Steptoe Johnson have sued Rogue States and its landlord on the grounds that the fumes coming from the Dupont burger joint’s exhaust system are making their lawyers sick. Deliciously, deliciously sick. The legal back and forth is just plain too much for my tiny brain (though Tim Carman is doing a fantastic job of laying it all out for us), but what I have learned is this: Steptoe Johnson: he-man burger haters, Rogue States: tasty, and in deep doo-doo.
But the burger legal woes don’t end there. Go Burger (formerly BLT Burger), which will open its first D.C. location this fall directly across Connecticut Ave. from Rogue States, and its parent company BLT Restaurant Group are suing their namesake and former chef Laurent Tourondel for ripping off their menu at his newly opened Sag Harbor, N.Y. joint LT Burger. No word on whether or not this will impact the opening of D.C.’s Go Burger, but if New York’s history with restaurant lawsuits tells us anything, we may be in for some trouble.
By Dave Levy
‘The Wizards are heating up’
courtesy of ‘afagen’
Wizards #1 pick John Wall is no stranger to the concept of Midnight Madness. A tradition among many NCAA schools, the midnight practice session/pep rally is coordinated as an official training kick-off since organized practices can only begin a set number of days before the official season. At Wall’s former school, Kentucky, the star player did a little bit more than just make an appearance: he unfurled a dance move that would get everyone excited for the prospects of the prospect.
Whether it’s related to Wall, new owner Ted Leonsis, or just trying to start something different, the Wizards are going to try to find a little PR magic of their own at midnight. When the clock strikes 12 on September 28th, the Wiz will channel the college tradition and stage a madness of their own at the team’s new training home, George Mason’s Patriot Center. Doors open at 11 p.m. on the 27th, and hopefully Wall won’t turn into a pumpkin.
By John Athayde
‘The color of fall’
courtesy of ‘afagen’
There’s more to hunt country than an annual drunken excursion to Gold Cup. Foodies will be ecstatic to hear that this week, Middleburg restaurants will be celebrating the harvest with local dishes featuring “fresh produce, meats, cheeses, wines and other edibles.” Middleburg is a straight shot out US 50 (from I-66) or myriad other exits and routes. More information at CelebrateTheHarvestWeek.com.
By Tom Bridge
It’s not every day you catch a NASCAR driver burning rubber on Vermont Avenue just a block from the White House. Today, as part of an event to promote the Post-9/11 GI Bill, 71-car driver Landon Cassill got to do a burnout in front of the Veterans’ Administration building on Vermont Ave. The 71-car will feature ads for the Post-9/11 GI Bill’s My Story campaign, focused on demonstrating the benefits of the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Personally, I love that they added this to the road-tattoo block of Vermont, almost as a “signature” to the previous “art” that was put there.
By Tom Bridge
‘Metrobus Orion VI’
courtesy of ‘JLaw45’
After this morning’s bus fire on the Beltway, Metro announced this afternoon that they are pulling the other 99 Orion VI Diesel buses from service while they replace the hydraulic pumps.
The pump issue may have contributed to the fire that happened this morning. If you own hydraulic pumps, we recommend you to check out this website you will find everything you need to know about hydraulic pumps repair.
This is not the first time that the Orion VI bus series has had an issue with flammability. In 2007, Metro had an issue with braking systems and air dryers that caused a full refit of the Orion VI buses.
Metro began purchasing the Orion VI buses in 2000 and have approximately 100 in their fleet. There will be some delays today as the buses are cycled out and replaced with reserve buses.
‘Sittin’ on the John’
courtesy of ‘Rolenz’
If you aren’t attending a rally, maybe you just want to avoid the Mall entirely this weekend. The Black Family Reunion will be held on the Mall between 7th and 14th all day on Saturday, and Unite in Action will be holding a March on DC that day as well from 12-4, marching pretty much the entire length of the Black Family Reunion.
The Black Family Reunion and a Tea Party rally also shared the Mall last year, in fact- only last year it was the much larger 9/12 FreedomWorks Taxpayer March on Washington. That rally is also happening again this year, but it’ll be on Sunday, and since the Black Family Reunion is only one day this year, the two will not conflict.
So while the 9/12 Tea Party rally in 2009 caused some issues for the Black Family Reunion from marchers using the Reunion’s portapotties and food vendors due to inadequate facilities for their own rally, it looks like it won’t happen this year. It seems the Saturday rally’s permit has been adjusted downward for a group of 2,000 or less.
‘#WMATA Smartrip reader’s impression of the first Terminator:’
courtesy of ‘brownpau’
The Washington Examiner is reporting that Carol Dillon Kissal, Metro’s deputy general manager, told the Metro Riders’ Advisory Council that the previously approved SmarTrip card price drop from $5 to $2.50 has presented some “tricky issues,” prompting Kissal and her staff to come up with other options.
These options now include requiring riders to have a minimum value on their SmarTrip card before entering the system, rewarding cardholders with a $2.50 rebate after they have purchased a $5 card and used it for two one-way trips, or forgetting about the $2.50 price drop all together.
“The feedback I’ve received from people when they found out they would no longer be able to go negative [on their SmarTrip cards] was very negative,” Riders’ Advisory Council member Carl Seip told the Examiner.
He wasn’t kidding. Metro riders (and We Love DC authors) have expressed their frustrations regarding the matter and hope WMATA changes their mind before the new positive balance requirement to enter a Metro station takes place.
According to the advisory council’s chairman Francis DeBernardo, Metro has requested the councils feedback about the best way to approach the revised list of options pertaining to the SmarTrip. New options will be discussed on Sept. 16 at a finance committee meeting and later on Sept. 30 during a Metro board meeting.
By Tom Bridge
‘Two Dollar #11’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’
The job’s good money for little work, but it comes with a pre-requisite: You gotta vote for our guy.
That’s the deal, according to ABC7, who says that they’ve talked to a few youth who were offered $100/day for a campaign job, but had to vote for Fenty in order to get the position.
In the case of one youth, who was offered the job, driven to the polling site to vote, but then denied the position and the $100/day, this definitely looks shady. Sure, you can canvass for someone in exchange for money, that’s fair game, but requiring a vote? Shady, shady, shady. The Fenty campaign is denying that this is happening, of course, and the Gray campaign is obviously upset. Will this sway voters? Probably not. It should, but I’d guess it won’t.
Barring an unforseen setback, brit-pop veterans The Charlatans will take the stage tonight at the Black Cat, finally making their return to the DC area after two years of back to back canceled tours. Their return concert is expected to be a special one as they have three new albums worth of top-notch material that they’ve never played in the US before, in addition to 2010 marking the 20th Anniversary of their excellent madchester-defining debut, “Some Friendly“. Technically this tour is to promote their latest album “Who We Touch“, which drops next Tuesday, but I think the “Some Friendly” anniversary will have The Charlies in a somewhat retrospective mood as well.
The Charlatans are one of the most consistently fun, good time live acts one can see. Tim Burgess is an incredibly charismatic and eccentric frontman with an ultra-cool voice and the band around him build a head of steam that erupts when their songs hit their middle instrumental jam sections. DC is extra fortunate to see The Charlatans playing in a club the size of The Black Cat, back home in the UK these guys are still large-venue-filling super-stars. As anyone who’s heard me DJ probably already knows, I am personally thrilled to be seeing The Charlatans in concert again tonight. I’ll see you there.
The Charlatans UK
w/ Sherlock’s Daughter
@ The Black Cat
TONIGHT – $20
‘SW Waterfront’
courtesy of ‘Peter Gene’
A new waterfront plaza called Yards Park is celebrating its Grand Opening this weekend with events for all ages. Yards Park is a 5.5 acre park that features a quarter-mile boardwalk, extensive lawn place, bridges, waterfalls, and pedestrian walkways.
There are events all weekend starting Friday at 3:30 p.m. including a dog run Saturday at 10 a.m., live music, a trapeze act, and a beer garden by Cap City.
For a full listing of events, visit the Yard’s Park website.
Yards Park is located at 10 Water St.
By Ashley
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’
Take a personal day at lunch today and leave the forced air-conditioning and florescent overhead lights for some sunshine. El Floridano is finally back, though due to a baking snafu, they won’t have their whole menu. Though now they’re solar powered! Go green!
By shannon
‘The Strip’
courtesy of ‘Danilo.Lewis|Fotography’
Listen up Georgetowners– you’ve got a great new source of local news in town. Georgetown Patch, part of AOL’s Patch network, just launched today. This hyperlocal blog will focus on businesses, news and events in the neighborhood, and bring you up-to-date information on everything going on in Georgetown. Check out editor Shaun Courtney’s awesome welcome video to get a feel for Georgetown Patch.
This is just one of the many local Patch sites expected to launch in the DC area over the next couple months, and the first one based in the District.
‘CRIME SCENE DO NOT CROSS’
courtesy of ‘voteprime’
A car struck two women yesterday evening before crashing through the front of an Adams Morgan restaurant. The Washington Post reports that the two pedestrians were waiting on a traffic island at the intersection of 18th Street and Florida Avenue when the car, heading south, struck them while attempting to turn left onto Florida from 18th. The impact threw the women at least 30 feet, sending both to the hospital. One remains in critical condition, and the other is in serious condition. The driver of the vehicle was unhurt.
Whether it’s night or day and something unexpected just happened on the road, and you need a towing service, emergency gas delivery service, kick-starting your car, or you have a disabled vehicle that needs removing, call Towingless for help.
Following the collision, the vehicle careened into Keren Restaurant (1780 Florida Avenue NW), shattering the front window before coming to a stop. There were several patrons in the restaurant, none of whom were hurt.
Police have charged the 23-year-old female driver with driving while intoxicated and aggravated assault. Neither her identity nor the identity of the victims has been released.
UPDATE: The driver has been identified as Chamica Adams of Mitchellville, Md. TBD reports that her BAC was between .17 and .18 at the time of the crash, more than twice DC’s legal limit. One of the victims has been identified as Julia Bachleitner, a second-year student at SAIS. She remains in critical condition.
By Ashley
‘Clarendon Market’
courtesy of ‘MichaelTRuhl’
Have you moved down from New York to escape the unending abuse against vegetarians at the hands of Anthony Bourdain? Well, hang out among your brethren Saturday between noon and 6 p.m. at the D.C. VegFest on the University Yard at George Washington University. Not only will there be (meat) free samples, but you can hear speakers, watch cooking demonstrations, check out local restaurants’ meat-free options and much more.
Organized by Compassion Over Killing and the Vegetarian Society of D.C., the event will feature noted vegetarians from near and far and will reward the first 400 visitors with a free tote bag full of all that awesome stuff in the organic aisle at Safeway that is too expensive for me to consider. A girl can dream though.
By shannon
Here’s an idea about how to spend the National Day of Service on Saturday: drink beer and eat cookies for a good cause. Adams Mill Bar & Grill will be hosting a Beer & Bake Sale from 1-4 PM on Saturday to benefit Share our Strength, which is a locally-based nonprofit that fights child hunger. And not only will there be cookies, brownies, and cupcakes, but Adams Mill will also be offering drink specials throughout the afternoon. So head out to Adams Mill on Saturday, watch some college football, eat some delicious baked goods, and know that you’re doing your part to end child hunger.
By 
By 
By 
By