Category Archives: The Daily Feed

Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Why Milk and Bread?

Photo courtesy of
‘Harris Teeter bread isle’
courtesy of ‘wfyurasko’

We’ve been reporting since yesterday that, in light of the storm, stores have been running out of “essentials” like milk and bread. Now, I’m not from DC originally, I’m from Maine, but I’ve lived in the south for most of my life. It’s always perplexed me that citizens of non-snow prone states, at the first whispers of a substantial storm, immediately flock to their local grocery and buy up all the milk and bread. Why milk and bread? Why would you need more milk and challah buns during a snow storm than you would on any other day? Up north, people stock up on salt and snow shovels, and make sure they’ve got enough of the food they’d normally eat to last for a day or two. Can a southern reader please explain to me to logic behind the milk and bread craze?

The Daily Feed
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MPD Cop Brings Gun to Snowball Fight

Photo courtesy of
‘mischief – it’s how i roll’
courtesy of ‘NCinDC’

The City Paper’s City Desk blog is reporting that during today’s snowball fight at 14th & U, some of the snowballers decided to target a maroon Hummer making its way down the street, only to have the driver get out, lose his shit, and start waving a gun around. Turns out, it’s a Metropolitan Police Department officer, possibly a detective. He didn’t identify himself  before drawing his weapon, but did after additional police arrived, apparently summoned by a 911 call to report a man with a gun.

I can’t imagine why it is that police have such a problem with community relations, can you?

[Update from Don @ 5:45p] There’s some video of the crowd and the officers – the plainclothes who started the incident and the uni who showed up subsequently – here on WJLA’s website. Someone in the scene also has a video camera running so I’m sure this isn’t the last angle we’ll see on this. No coverage here of the initial alleged gun-waving but the way the plainclothes keeps walking up to get into the face of his accusers says something to me about his demeanor, and it’s not flattering.

Wonder if Chief Lanier will make a public statement condemning this behavior?

The Daily Feed
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Are you a Fairfax 4WD owner looking to help?

Photo courtesy of
‘On Patrol…’
courtesy of ‘korona-pl (looking for inspiration…)’

If you’re home in or near Fairax and the keys to your 4WD are burning a hole in your pocket there might be a justification for you to venture out in this. INOVA Fairfax hospital might have a need for you and your vehicle to help some of their employees get to or from work.

If you call the hospital’s main number at 703-776-4001 and tell them you’ve got a 4WD and are willing to volunteer they will connect you to the right person. They’ll take your location and look to see if there’s any medical personnel near you who need a way to get to work. They may not need you at all or you might have an opportunity to do more than one run, if you so desire.

Please don’t just jump in the car – call and find out if you’re needed. The other way you can help emergency services is by staying off the roads unless you absolutely have to go out: keep clear and don’t potentially become someone who needs their help.

The Daily Feed
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Bolt Bus Cancels DC Service for Tomorrow

Photo courtesy of
‘Bolt Buses’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

Via the Bolt Bus site, we’re seeing that bus service is drastically affected for tomorrow:

“Due to the approaching winter storm, we have decided to cancel the following services on Saturday, December 19, 2009:
Between New York & Washington all schedules are cancelled.
All service for December 20, 2009 has been cancelled.
Please continue to check our website for information concerning service on December 21, 2009.

We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause you.”

The Daily Feed
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Soviets Can Handle Snow


Soviet Safeway by maxedaperture

I have been hearing from friends that grocery stores in the area are fresh out of the basics: milk, bread, and toilet paper.  Oh, and by “hearing”, I mean via photos on Flickr and Facebook updates – sorry, I forgot that nobody actually speaks to each other anymore.  So I decided to go to my local grocery store to see how they’ve weathered the storm.  My conclusion: the Soviet Safeway at 17th & Corcoran is stocked full of everything you need to survive.

How is your local grocery store doing?  Tell us in the comments. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Snow Cancels Flights, But Not Trains

Flying out of DC today? Probably not: according to the FAA, National Airport (DCA) is closed till tomorrow afternoon. Dulles (IAD) and BWI are experiencing gate, taxi, and arrival delays of “15 minutes or less,” but MWAA says most airlines have cancelled flights. Pretty much every local airport website is crawling right now, and BWI’s database server seems to have crashed. Check with your airlines, and look out there: a foot of snow so far and still coming down hard through till tomorrow? This is not good plane weather.

If you’re going out by rail, however, you’re in luck: IMGoph and Get There report that Amtrak is running just fine; though delays may intensify through the day. Getting to the station might be a problem, though, especially if you’re coming from an above-ground Metro stop.

(Thanks to America.gov for the photo.)

Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed
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Snow Bored Yet?

Photo courtesy of
‘Snowball fight’
courtesy of ‘takenbyjillian’

So you woke up this morning all “AHHHHH SNOMAGEDDON, SNOWPOCOLYPSE, SNOWMAIGAWD, THUNDERSNOW2009! HOLY CRAP!” and about an hour later that wore off and now you’re all like, “SNOW BORED.” So if you’re like me, you can’t sit still for that long, the snowstorm is wrecking your epic weekend plans, and you’re antsy. Well, never fear, there are some snow activities still kicking in the DC area.

First, may I recommend the Brightest Young Things snowball fight happening this afternoon at 2 p.m. at 14th and U? Be there. Armed and ready! In Clarendon, the Capital Weather Gang is hosting a snow happy hour at Liberty Tavern where they’re having their regular happy hour specials from 2-5 p.m. Pete’s A Pizza in Columbia heights is having a half-priced bottle of wine with purchase of any pie special. And of course, sledding! Cathy has you covered with recommendations.

The other great thing to do? Get out there and take pictures! And then submit them to the We Love DC pool on flickr, (We’ll be sure to do a big photo feature on them! You know you want yours included!) and add them to the comments of Karl’s snow post for some real-time snow lovin’.

News, The Daily Feed
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Smithsonian Closed Today and Tomorrow

Photo courtesy of
‘Rural Letter Carrier in Sleigh’
courtesy of ‘Smithsonian Institution’

You read that right. It’s a big storm when even the Smithsonian shutters their doors for a couple days. According to their website:

“Due to the heavy snow, all Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo will be closed to the public today, Saturday, Dec. 19 and tomorrow, Sunday, Dec. 20.”

The last time we think that happened was in 1996, which certainly puts this storm in the historic category.

The Daily Feed
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Ford’s Theatre Cancels “Christmas Carol”

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC_3450’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’

We received this from Ford’s Theatre regarding today’s performances of “A Christmas Carol“:

Ford’s Theatre has canceled both performances of “A Christmas Carol” for Saturday, December 19, 2009. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by this change, but we felt it to be in the best interest of our patrons and staff. A decision regarding Sunday’s performances will be announced tomorrow.

Patrons who purchased through our authorized ticket distributor, Ticketmaster, will be contacted early next week concerning their refund. Patrons who purchased directly through Ford’s Theatre will be contacted by Ford’s Theatre; if they have not heard from Ford’s Theatre by Monday morning, they should contact the Ford’s Theatre Box Office at (202) 347-4833. For tickets purchased through any other outlet, patrons should contact that vendor directly.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Georgetown to Get Shady

Photo courtesy of
‘A Tree Grows In Georgetown’
courtesy of ‘hohandy’

If you think you’re seeing trees sprout up overnight in Georgetown, your eyes aren’t deceiving you. By the end of December, Casey Trees and Trees for Georgetown will have planted 47 trees along the residential streets. Most will go in existing, empty tree boxes, but a couple will go in new ones.

The new trees are Nuttall oak, Swamp white oak, Parrotia persica, Sweetgum, London plane, Chinese elm, Zelkova, and Shumard oak.

Fun & Games, The Daily Feed, The Great Outdoors
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Don’t get struck by lightning while sledding, but…

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

It’s going to be WILD out there tomorrow. With all the snow coming down tomorrow morning during the thunder storm, we’re thinking there’s a pretty good chance for some decent sledding, if not SKIING.

So, where should you head to, and what’s your weapon of choice?

I did a little internet surfing and WeLoveDC author surveying, and here’s what we came up with (but disclaimer, do not trespass! Please check any signs and be cautious of your boundaries, and ESPECIALLY of oncoming traffic, duh).

Sledding Hills by Location

In the city:

  • Meridian Hill Park (NW, U Street) *Recommended by WLDC Author Tom
  • Fort Reno (NW by American U.)
  • 3545 Williamsburg Lane, NW (NW, Cleveland Park)
  • Georgetown University’s old school of dentistry (NW, Burleith)

Continue reading →

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Friday Happy Hour

Photo courtesy of
‘spruce goose’
courtesy of ‘rabid_c’

Welcome to the first ever Friday Happy Hour, your weekly, single-drink primer.

In the Christmas spirit, I’m going to recommend a beer the bears the taste of the season.  Well, it bears the taste of your Christmas tree, anyways.  Spruce Goose, by Steamworks Brewing Co., is a strong ale brewed with spruce tips.  As you can imagine, the beer has a distinct pine flavor, which evokes the vestiges of the Christmas season like none other.  The ale is balanced and fruity, with subtle yet distinct overhang of spruce.  The pine is prevailing flavor, but it’s not over powering such that you get a full, complex range of flavors as you sip the beer.

It can be had from Rick’s Wine and Gourmet in Alexandria, as well as at other specialty shops in the area (readers: be so kind as to report sightings).

The Daily Feed
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Christmas Camel Back at Mount Vernon

Photo courtesy of
‘Mount Vernon – Aladdin – 12-26-08’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Now through Jan. 6, Mount Vernon is having a special holiday celebration with historical chocolate-making demonstrations, 18th century dancing, and a Christmas Camel named Alladin.

Yes, that’s right, a camel, back by popular demand. It seems our founding father had a penchant for exotic animals, and in 1787 he paid 18 shillings to bring in a camel at Christmastime to entertain his guests. Hmm, do you think they were surprised? (And is that little “Alice the Camel” ditty now playing in your head?)

This year’s stand-in comes from the Full Moon Ranch Home in Berryville, VA, and is said to be very friendly, though of dubious help in a snowpocalypse. More on our man GW and his camel after the jump. Continue reading →

Business and Money, News, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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DC Area’s Most Expensive Toll Road…

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

…will be the Intercounty Connector in PG and Montgomery counties.  The ICC, which will be completed next year, is scheduled to levy a $6.15 toll, each way. That amounts to around $0.35/mile, shattering the standing area record at $0.28/mile, held by the Dulles Greenway.  According to MTA, the exorbitant fee is necessary to cover road maintenance and construction costs.  If it makes you feel any better, the ICC will not be the most expensive road in the nation.  That distinction is held by SR-91 is California, which charges nearly $1/mile.

News, The Daily Feed, The District
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Thunder, Thunder, Thunder, ThunderSnow!

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

(Hopefully you read that title to the theme song of the popular 80’s cartoon)

UPDATE: NWS just issued a Winter Storm Warning with up to 20″ of snowfall.

Unless you’ve been hiding for a few days, you know that our beloved city is in for a real winter storm this weekend. And by that I mean REAL. A once every three years or so kind of thing for DC with predictions of over a full foot of snow even inside the beltway. But what makes this storm even more unusual than simply the amount of snow that could fall is the fact that we could experience the meteorlogical phenomenon that is thundersnow. DUN DUN DUN. A thunderstorm with snow? What? Crazy talk? Luckily, we have Logan Johnson, a Senior Meteorologist with the National Weather Service, here to save the day.

“Thundersnow is a rare weather phenomenon, which is basically a thunderstorm that forms in weather that is cold enough for the precipitation to fall in the form of snow instead of rain. Thundersnow is rare because normally thunderstorms need warm and moist air to form. Cold and drier air, like what occurs during the wintertime, is not very conducive to the development of thunderstorms. The two things that are necessary for thundersnow are the presence of unstable air and a force that will push this unstable air upwards. This force of rising air is provided by strong low pressure. The low pressure will push the unstable air upwards, allow for clouds and thunderstorms to form, and provided that the atmosphere is cold enough, it is thundersnow,” writes Logan. His full detailed and exclusive forecast just for WeLoveDC, including a complete explanation, is after the jump.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Shelter Hotline for Inclement Weather

Photo courtesy of
‘Habitación’
courtesy of ‘Daquella manera’

In the impeding frigid weather and possible snow, should you see someone on the street and think they’re in need of shelter, you can call the DC Department of Human Services Shelter Hotline Number at 1-800 535 7252.

They can provide transportation to a shelter and also provide blankets and clothing to homeless person who choose not go to shelters. It’s a fantastic public service and one that should be called if you have any worry, however slight, about the health and safety of someone on the street.

News, The Daily Feed
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Fenty To Sign Same-Sex Marriage Bill Today

Photo courtesy of
‘well-dressed mayor’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Mayor Fenty is scheduled to sign the same-sex marriage bill approved by the DC council at All Souls Unitarian Church in a public ceremony today.

Why sign the bill in a church? All Souls’ senior pastor Rev. Robert Hardies told the Washington Post that Fenty’s decision to sign this historic bill in a house of worship, “[…] is symbolic of the strong religious support for this bill in D.C.”

According to WTOP, supporters of the bill expect same-sex couples to have the ability to marry in DC as early as March.

The Daily Feed
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Right to Bare Everything on trial in Fairfax today

Photo courtesy of
‘no mires 2 / don’t look 2′
courtesy of ‘tutescin’

The WaPo’s breaking news blog reports that Erick Williamson’s trial for indecent exposure is today. You may remember this case from two months ago when police arrested Williamson because a woman reported that he’d exposed himself to her and her child. Whether Williamson made a concerted effort to be seen or not is a big part of the argument. It’ll be interesting to see how this turns out, but in the mean time: close your curtains.

The Daily Feed
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DC in Cookies

Courtesy of the Four Seasons Hotel

Courtesy of the Four Seasons Hotel

This week, the Four Seasons Hotel unveiled a gingerbread replica of the Smithsonian Castle. Talk about a sugar rush. To make this three-foot-high confection, Executive Pastry Chef Charles Froke used 100 pounds of gingerbread dough, 50 pounds of icing, 30 pounds of icing for snow, 20 pounds of sugar, and five pounds of chocolate. It will be on display at Seasons restaurant, open during breakfasts and weekend lunches and brunches.

To see the Mall and more in sweets, day or night, head to the lobby of the Marriott Wardman Park.

Or see a gingerbread version of the White House within its State Dining Room — you know, if you’re a random tourist or someone unmentionable.

The Daily Feed
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Keep Living in the Past

Photo courtesy of
‘Drawing of proposed National Airport’
courtesy of ‘DC Public Library Commons’

The District has a very cool history, and it’s amazing to think how it has changed over the years. One of the coolest parts of this history is how DC has physically changed since it was planned. We talked a little bit about this when I busted the myth that DC was built on a swamp, but here’s an even cooler way to see it: historical map overlays in Google Maps!

There are two maps you should really check out, DC in 1851 and DC in 1861. You can make these layers transparent and see how the landscape of the city has changed since then. Hains Point, the Jefferson Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial were all water back then, but places like Georgetown look exactly the same. Take a look and leave a comment with anything cool you find!