Category Archives: The Daily Feed

News, The Daily Feed
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Green/Yellow Line Delays This Afternoon

Photo courtesy of
‘Metro Train in Motion’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

Riders be weary, there are now major delays on the Green and Yellow lines after a woman was struck by a train shortly after 1 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Square/7th Stret Convention Center stop, which is closed at this time which is open as of 2:37 this afternoon. Trains continue on a single-track through the station.

Currently, the Yellow line is split into what WTOP is calling “two segments”, running from Huntington to Gallery Place-Chinatown and from Shaw-Howard University to Fort Totten.

The Green Line is running from Branch Avenue to Gallery Place-Chinatown stations and Greenbelt to Shaw-Howard University.

There are a few shuttle buses being run by Metro at the Mount Vernon Square/7th Street Convention Center station. But riders please note, waits for the shuttle buses could reach an hour and can only carry up to 50 people (as opposed to the trains who can carry near 800 people at a time.

WTOP reports that people can also take Metrobus Routes 70, 71 and 79 – which run along Georgia Avenue – to get around the incident.

The Daily Feed
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This Saturday: Potomac River Watershed Clean Up Day!

Earth day is right around the corner, April 22. Have you thought of what contributions you’ve made to helping the environment this year? If you’re a little behind, join us this weekend in cleaning up the Potomac River watershed!

Saturday marks the 22nd Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup, which brings together people from all over the community. Last year, cleanups took place at approximately 500 sites–and hauled out more than 290 tons of trash!

We Love DC, Trail Voice, Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment, the DC Trash Runners and more are partnering to clean up Rock Creek Park.

Come early (8:15 a.m.) for a morning yoga stretch thanks to a Lululemon Yoga Ambassador and fresh baked goods compliments of Firehook Bakery, plus an option to clean up while taking a morning run.

Or, just meet us at 9 a.m. at the grassy area on the Southwest corner of P Street and 23rd Street NW, about 4 blocks west of Dupont Circle.

Sign up on the Trail Voice site! Can’t make our clean-up day? Join another of the hundreds of sites closer to your home.

Clean-up site is just west of Dupont Circle in Rock Creek Park from 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon on Saturday, April 10. There is no cost for you to participate. It is recommended that you bring your own work gloves, although some will be available on-site.

The Daily Feed
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ADI to Host an Open House for the Little Twinkle Toes in Your Life

Courtesy of American Dance Institute

Courtesy of American Dance Institute

If you’re like me, then you’re all for every little girl believing that she too, can be a ballerina someday.  That being said, you’ll be even more excited about the American Dance Institute’s FREE Angelina Ballerina Open House on Sunday April 25th from 12 noon to 2pm. 

The American Dance Institute (ADI) will be hosting the event at its Rockville, MD location in honor of National Dance Week and the District’s celebration of dance, Dance is the Answer.  There will even be an extra-special celebrity cameo from none other than Angelina Ballerina herself, the official spokescharacter for National Dance Week.

Children ages two and older can come out (accompanied by an adult of course) to be a part of an interactive story dance as well as watch a performance from the ADI Chamber Ballet.  There will also be arts and crafts, a prize giveaway, and a ballet “Petting Zoo” where the kiddies can play dress-up in various costumes and dancewear.  For more information, you can call (301)984-3003 or visit their website.

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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DC Food Blogger Happy Hour Tonight! Art & Soul on the Hill

Following the DC food bloggers around town is never a bad idea. Having worked their way through Commonwealth, Churchkey, Vinoteca, and Black Squirrel, just to name a few, they’re always out and about checking out a great restaurant scene.

Stop by Art and Soul tonight for happy hour with DC’s food bloggers from 6-8 p.m. A quick peak at the menu reveals deviled eggs, pork rinds, and chips and dip. 

Join us by RSVPing on the DC Food Bloggers Facebook Fan Page. These happy hours have created quite the fan following over the past few months, with 52 attendees expected per Facebook. So, if you haven’t stopped by for one yet, come on over tonight!

Thanks to the planning committee – doubling as great, local food bloggers – for putting together another great happy hour: Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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What’s It Mean to be Confederate?

Photo courtesy of
‘The Confederate Memorial in Alexandria, Virginia’
courtesy of ‘DC Public Library Commons’

Almost 150 years ago, our nation was split in two by force. Two sides faced off, and a war was fought. More than half a million Americans died in combat as the Confederate States and the United States fought. At issue was slavery, economics, states rights, and what it means to be a free and sovereign nation. We all know this. It’s part of every American history curriculum in the world. Last Friday, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell declared April Confederate History Month angering a bunch of people who probably have bigger things to be angry about than this.

When I was in elementary school, we did a geneaology project to find out if any of our ancestors fought in the Civil War. Sure enough, I had relatives on both sides. We have letters from that greats-and-a-grandfather Benjamin Franklin Houff (b.1834) who lived out in Staunton who joined the army of the South after Virginia seceded in April of 1861. He wrote in a letter to his family that though he voted against secession, he was a Virginian first, and an American second. He didn’t own any slaves, he was a farmer, but he was also a Confederate.

Isn’t the point of declaring something This Cause Month or That Cause Month to focus on what actually happened, and focus on the history of the people involved? From as many viewpoints as you can lay your hands on? There will always be agendas and politics associated with history, because that’s what human nature does. There are no lenses free from these subjects Think on the people who made those choices 149 years ago. Not all of them can easily be put into the stereotype that those who are quick to anger at certain key words might have you believe.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Barcodes and “The Trial of A Lifetime”

Who Killed Robert Wone Barcode
Image provided by authors of WhoMurderedRobertWone.com

It looks like a mystery has sprung up over the last few days around the U St. area. Prince of Petworth noted that posters have suddenly appeared in the area featuring the above image and big bold text that declares, “Trial of A Lifetime, May 10, 2010” – and nothing more. If you’ve never seen this type of barcode (called a QR code in the geek world) – you may be even more confused, and PoP asked his readers for some help figuring it out.

To find the answer, you need to have a phone with a camera and a barcode scanner application – available in the app stores for all types of techie devices. After you scan the code, you’ll be taken to…

WhoMurderedRobertWone.com. The authors at the blog have diligently tracked the news, hearings, events and proceedings of one of the District’s most recent homicidal mysteries for some time now. The Trial of a Lifetime to which the posters refer? The trial of three Dupont Circle residents charged in connection with the murder, which starts in just a little more than one month. If you are interested in the topic – or even just a fascinating, real life court drama here in the city – you can’t go wrong by checking out the site.

News, The Daily Feed
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Get Ready For Commuteageddon: Nuclear Edition

Photo courtesy of
‘Washington, D.C. Convention Center’
courtesy of ‘NCinDC’

Getting around downtown can take a good long time. It’s the nature of any downtown, really. But how about when they close a two block radius around the Convention Center, and a Metro stop? That’s what’s happening on Monday and Tuesday next week for the Nuclear Security Summit. Here’s the details:

Thirteen Metrobus routes are expected to be impacted: 42, 63, 64, 70, 71, 79, 80, D4, G8, P6, S2, S4, and X2 will all be detoured around the closures. The Circulator’s Georgetown-Union Station route will be split into two routes around the closures at the Convention Center while the Convention Center/Waterfront route will go no further north than I Street. Mt. Vernon Sq./Convention Center Metro will close on Sunday night and will not reopen until Wednesday morning. Trains will transit the station, but not stop, and no street access to the station will be permitted.

Parking Restrictions will be in effect throughout the area, so don’t expect to park your car on the street anywhere near the Convention Center Monday or Tuesday. In addition, if you work over there, you won’t be able to reach your own garage, most likely. You will have your ID checked entering the zone, which will be available to business owners only. Included in the zone is The Passenger, so expect to find a new place for cocktails for Monday and Tuesday.

Click through for a map of the closed streets. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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St. Albans School in NW On Lockdown

Photo courtesy of
‘Night View’
courtesy of ‘Karon’

Details are still very loose right now, but as an NBC Washington story filed moments ago notes, St. Albans School is currently on lockdown after a report that someone with a gun was spotted near campus. The all-boys  St. Albans has roughly 600 students in grades four through 12 and is located in Northwest on the campus of the National Cathedral. Currently, no injuries have been reported and authorities are looking to confirm the report.

News, The Daily Feed
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DCPS, WTU to Announce Tentative Contract

Photo courtesy of
‘Turning Around Low-Performing Schools: Local Strategies in Action’
courtesy of ‘Center for American Progress Action Fund’

For the last three years, DC Public School teachers and the school district have operated without a current contract. Rhetoric has waxed and waned on both sides, tensions have run high, and this morning at 11am, along with Mayor Fenty and the AFT’s Randi Weingarten, Michelle Rhee and George Parker will announce the new deal. The City Paper had the story first, and then The Post last night had the highlights of the deal which runs through 2012. Any deal will need to be reviewed and approved by Union members and the City Council. Most interestingly? $65M of the deal is funded through private sources.

The Daily Feed
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If It Fits, You Must Visit

Photo courtesy of
‘Kadri #1’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

In an agreement finalized today, the Newseum acquired the suit, tie and shirt that O.J. Simpson wore on October 3, 1995, the day he was acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

The clothing items, which were originally offer to and declined by the Smithsonian Institution, have been at the center of a legal dispute between Mr. Goldman’s father and Mr. Simpson’s former manager.

No word yet on when the items will be on display.

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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We Love the River!

Rope Swing Over River

Summer Swing

If you love DC, this weekend join us in giving some love to the river!

Saturday marks the 22nd Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup, which brings together people from all over the community. Last year, cleanups took place at approximately 500 sites–and hauled out more than 290 tons of trash!

We Love DC, Trail Voice, Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment, the DC Trash Runners and more are partnering to clean up Rock Creek Park.

To sweeten the pot, we’ve teamed with local vendors to offer things like a morning yoga stretch and fresh baked goods, plus an option to clean up while taking a morning run.

Meet us at 9 a.m. at the P Street bridge over Rock Creek Park, about 4 blocks west of Dupont Circle. Sign up on the Trail Voice site! Can’t make ours? Join another of the hundreds of sites closer to your home.

Clean-up site is just west of Dupont Circle in Rock Creek Park from 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon on Saturday, April 10. There is no cost for you to participate. It is recommended that you bring your own work gloves, although some will be available on-site.

The Daily Feed
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My Third Place Returns: Northside Social Opens



Originally uploaded by Atomic Overmind

Since the closing of Arlington’s Murky Coffee, I’ve found myself without a true third place. I bounced around to Chinatown Coffee Co, to Buzz Bakery, even Greenberries once in a blue moon. None have captured me the way that Murky did. When I found out that the minds behind Liberty Tavern were taking over the space to open a coffee/wine bar, I was skeptical. The building was in a pretty bad state of neglect, and I wondered how they could construct a new shop without tearing the whole place down to the foundation. Color me pleasantly surprised. Continue reading →

Adventures, Entertainment, Fun & Games, History, Technology, The Daily Feed, The Great Outdoors, The Hill, The Mall
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DC Podcast Tours Led By Middle Schoolers

Photo courtesy of
‘Ksenya 06’
courtesy of ‘yospyn’

WOW!  Alexandria’s Sandburg Middle School has developed ten awesome DC podcast tours that offer fabulous insights into our city’s neighborhoods, monuments, museums and local shops/restaurants.  Each podcast is accompanied by a informational guide that includes the closest metro stop, address, entrance fees and relevant website. How useful! The tours and voice overs are all performed by Sandburg students, and can be easily downloaded to your ipod or mp3 player. What a stellar find and what a stellar way for students and DCers to learn about our nation’s capital.

The Daily Feed
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When Arena comes home, Synetic takes over Crystal City


Synetic performing at a CCBID event last year

Well, not all of Crystal City. Though that would be cool – imagine walking down a street where everyone is dressed cool, well-lit, and dancing to intense music.

No, they’ll be taking over the space that Arena was using while the Mead Center was being built in their proper home in SW. When they move back home this Fall it’ll become Synetic Theater’s full-time location.

That’s great news for them, the Crystal City business improvement district who wants to keep things popping in that area, and for all the rest of us. Jenn told us about how great their Anthony and Cleopatra was. We can also take something from the fact that the presenter at the Helen Hayes last night was shocked – gasped after opening the envelope, actually – that, for a change, someone other than Synetic’s Irina Tsikurishvili took home the choreography award.

Congrats, Synetic. From everything I hear it’s well-deserved and I look forward to finding out for myself soon – Metamorphosis opens in 3 days.

The Daily Feed
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Opening Day Is Over, Forgedddabout It

Marquis and McCatty
Photo by Rachel Levitin

Let’s not allow for another rousing bout of Nationals Park turning into Citizen’s Bank Park South. Opening Day is now behind us, there are many more games to be played, and plenty of beer to drown the woes of an embarrassing loss should it be necessary.

Nationals fans, transplanted baseball enthusiasts, and D.C. residents — this is the time to wear your city pride on your sleeve. Head to the ball park tomorrow night. There’s a 7:05 game against the Phillies. It’s Jason Marquis’ debut with the Nationals against Cole Hamels. Tickets are available.

Shake off yesterday. It’s over now.

Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed
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A Streetcar Named “Why All The Wires?”

Photo courtesy of
‘HOVMHTM810550a’
courtesy of ‘Charles HTM’

“Why are the tourists entitled to a better view than we are?” Monte Edwards of the Capitol Hill Restoration Society told the Washington Post. “I like to look up and see the sky and trees. They’re as important to me as a resident as the tourist’s views of our monuments.”

Edwards is one of many who are tangled “in the wires” when it comes to the reemergence of streetcars in the District.

Streetcars ran on the streets of Washington from 1862 until 1962 and was a backbone of the District’s transportation until Congress called for a bus replacement when the auto industry took off in the 1950s. Now, city planners awaiting the realization of their $1.5 billion vision will have to fight the battle guardians of the federal city before connecting the city’s widespread neighborhoods.

What are they fighting about? The proposed overhead electrical wires taking up valuable DC airspace and hindering the illustrious, open sky view we’ve been able to maintain during the city’s 200(plus) year history.

According to The National Park Service’s spokesman Bill Line, the Service “does not want and does not approve of” overhead wires in the city. No matter which side of the tracks you find yourself on in this debate, I suggest becoming vocal … and soon. That’s the only way to either put a halt to the project or get the those wires hung.

The Daily Feed
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Win Antiques Roadshow Tickets From WETA

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC04727’
courtesy of ‘Matt Lancashire’

Antiques Roadshow is a guilty pleasure of mine. People unearth their random junk, take it on down and hope to God it turns out to be a missing Picasso, or a rare piece of Revere silver or something along those lines. Get out your junk, folks, because they’re coming to the Convention Center this summer. You can register to win tickets from WETA now, and hope that you’ve got some sweet antiques. We’ll see you there.

The Daily Feed
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Late April Fools From Washington Post?

Washington Post Time WarpYesterday afternoon, visitors to washingtonpost.com got a little surprise: the homepage and all articles were from December 31, 2009.  There were holiday shopping tips, a decade in review feature, and a couple newsworthy articles on ‘current’ events.  The technical snafu lasted a half hour or so before the Post fixed the glitch, bringing back news of the Nats huge loss and Tiger’s press conference.

Maybe the Post forgot that April Fools Day is April 1 rather than April 5?  Or maybe the warm weather caused some sort of ‘Lost’ alternate universe set in a different time.  After the jump, see a full size screenshot of yesterday’s page. Continue reading →

News, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Nats Get Shelled in Opener at Citizens Bank Park South

Photo courtesy of
‘Phillies @ Nationals (May 16, 2009) – 31’
courtesy of ‘Garyisajoke’

In my life I’ve left a baseball game early less than ten times. Today was one. The Nationals’ home opener today was an absolute disgrace on a number of fronts, but primarily on the field. The Nats put out a good first inning, with strong defense and small-ball offense putting them ahead 1-0 after 2 innings, but it was short lived. In the fourth, the Phils found John Lannan’s weaknesses and exploited them thoroughly. Ryan Howard struck with a two-run shot, followed by a string of walks and hits that just took the air out of the Nationals. Placido Polanco would strike in the top of the 7th with a grand slam to finish the deed, which ended 11-1

Thanks to the aggressive courting of traveling Phillies fans, the park was majority Phils phans, making Nationals Park into Citizens Bank Park South, in a most embarrassing show for the Nationals. I do hope that the Lerners recognize that this contributed to today’s loss and to the enjoyment of the fans. Most of the Nationals fans left Section 109 early in the game when it became clear that all we’d get to deal with was rowdy Phils fans who wanted to taunt, misbehave, and otherwise abuse our fair city’s dignity.

While the Nationals have much work to do, today’s treatment at the hands of the Phils should remind us that we need to take more pride in our teams, especially those that are the weakest. Get out and go to a game, if for no other reason than to deprive some feckless Philly thug a spot.