By Don
The website of Ted Kennedy has been updated to include information and a map on today’s events. Specific times are a little thin but they promise to update the twitter stream throughout the day. If you’ll be out and about near the mall you should keep an eye on it.
If you’d like to pay your respects, the website invites everyone to come gather on the east lawn of the Senate at 4p.
‘Law Books’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’
Have a DC Public Library card? Are you sure? According to John Kelly’s Post chat today, in recent system cleanup, the library cards of everyone who did not currently have a book checked out were wiped out. (Scroll down about a third of the way, or do a CTRL-F for “DCPL.”) As someone whose job depends on the functioning of a well-ordered database, I can think of lots of reasons to wipe out/archive old, inactive cards, but I can’t think of any reason to do so without a date cutoff to preserve people who just, you know, went on vacation. In the summer.
So if you were thinking about dropping by the library, you may want to check the status of your card.
By Don
‘Nationals Park Layer Cake’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’
Washington Business Journal has an article about the powers that be at Nationals Park trying to book more private events.
They mention, but don’t link to the information about booking the park. It’s all here, including some pretty fun panoramas like this one of the clubhouse. Yep, you can rent the clubhouse in the off season. However that’s only good for 60 folks. For that same five grand you could have the Stars & Stripes club at first base and accommodate 600.
Me, I think it sounds like a dream wedding for the well-off baseball-loving bride and groom. (Or bride and bride or groom and groom, depending on how D.C. law shakes out in the coming year). Drop the extra $20,000 and you can take folks out on the field for three hours of batting practice. If you’re really interested you can find the rate information here.
By jasmine
‘Corcoran Gallery of Art’
courtesy of ‘dcjasmine’
Just a reminder that tomorrow is your last chance to take advantage of free summer Saturdays at the Corcoran Gallery of Art! On display now are the William Eggleston photography exhibition, Nature as Nation, and other displays of their permanent collection. Besides the exhibitions, there’s a family workshop at 10:30 am, docent tours at 12 pm and 3 pm, and a class on how to take cool photos inside museums at 2 pm.
By Karl Johnson
‘Got my netbook. Got my coffee. This is my office. I’m happy’
courtesy of ‘Ed Yourdon’
Let’s see a show of hands as to how many of you love free wifi? Now keep those hands up if you knew that Arlington provides free wifi in most of the busy, populated outdoor areas of the county! What? Nobody knew? Well now you do! While wifi coverage for Shirlington village was just added this summer, the busy outdoor areas from Court House to Clarendon on Wilson and Clarendon Blvds have been covered for a number of years now. Most large Arlington libraries, as well as the Walter Reed Community Center, also provide free service. I just can’t believe most people don’t know about this! (Which included myself until recently.) Details from Arlington County are here. For a post on where to find free wifi all over, check here.
By Ben H. Rome
‘My Trusty Gavel’
courtesy of ‘steakpinball’
Just like we predicted, Roy Pearson is appealing his wrongful termination lawsuit that a U.S. District judge tossed last month. He’s taking his case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit. The appeals court may or may not decide to hear an oral argument in the case.
Roy? Quit de-pantsing yourself with this foofaraw and just go home already.
By Karl Johnson
‘049.’
courtesy of ‘Englishmuffins’
Verizon has announced a ribbon cutting on September 1st to kickoff the installation of an all fiber optic network in the District. What does this mean to you? DC residents will finally be able to get the services of FiOS Internet and tv provider starting later this year! DC officials, including the mayor, will be joining Verizon for this event to celebrate the launch of the project. Workers are starting the laying of the fiber in SE, although specifics of where the cable tv services will be available when have not been announced. A few years ago, this would have been really, REALLY cool.
But I am glad to hear that this is finally happening and that DC residents will have a solid choice in the near future. Near is a relative term though – service to the entire District could take up to 9 years. see here
By Tom Bridge
‘The Lady’s Brunch Burger – Side View’
courtesy of ‘Marshall Astor – Food Pornographer’
Rejoice, Adams Morgan! In addition to your Jumbo Slice, and your Amsterdam Falafel, will be Ray’s Hell Burger in the space once occupied by Ghana Cafe, which has not renewed its lease. It’s going to be a battle between the second Hell Burger location in AdMo and Ray’s The Heat in Northeast to see which is Michael Landrum’s first DC eatery. The Heat is just two phonecalls from opening, according to Ray, but it looks like build out is only just beginning at the second Hell Burger location.
Update, 2:50pm: Sadly, Washington Business Journal jumped the gun. City Paper’s Young and Hungry says Not So Fast after a discussion with Ray’s proprietor Michael Landrum, who’s not convinced Adams Morgan is well enough policed, or that the community there would be welcoming. I suspect that the community would love a chance at the tax revenues from a DC Ray’s Hell Burger, but can’t vouch for the policing issue.
By Rebecca
‘New Year’s Day Sunshine’
courtesy of ‘Karon’
This past Monday, August 24, marked the beginning of Operation: Remove, Restore and Replace Georgetown’s C&O Canal Bridges. The project’s three targets, the 29th Street, 30th Street and Thomas Jefferson Street development bridges will be undergoing some serious work over the next 36 months. Yup. That’s right. According to the DDOT, each bridge will take one full year to complete and DDOT is conducting the work on one bridge at a time.
The first on the docket is the 30th Street bridge, which as of Monday, will be closed to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic until July 2010. Thomas Jefferson Street and 29th Street are the designated detour routes, the “open” part of 30th Street has two-way traffic, and the closure does not limit access to the business and residences located along 30th Street. Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
‘BART in San Francico’
courtesy of ‘Nick Bastian Tempe, AZ’
They say that no two subways are alike. Wait, that’s snowflakes, but it’s mostly true for transit systems as well. If you look at the Metro and BART on scaled maps, for comparison, they’re fairly similar in size. More so, due to the concurrent construction dates, they use similar cars and similar farecards and fare structures. But, BART’s got it over WMATA in a few ways: Continue reading
By Ben H. Rome
‘38768-35’
courtesy of ‘furcafe’
If you feel the need to groove this Saturday, I remind you that the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities is presenting the 6th annual Dance DC Festival. While there will be several free performances of folk and traditional dances held around town between Friday and Sunday, two of particular interest are being hosted by the National Museum of the American Indian at noon on Saturday:
CapoeiraDC is performing the art of capoeira, a unique blend of martial art, dance, and music that evolved from a vibrant Afro-Brazillian culture.
Hui O Ka Pua `Ilima is performing both traditional and contemporary dances of Hawai`i, Tahiti, and New Zealand in an informative and interactive format.
You don’t need to have a sense of rhythm to enjoy these performances, so get out and enjoy the groove! Call the Dance DC Festival for more information at 202.724.5613.
By Don
‘Announcement of the National Champ’
courtesy of ‘brianmka’
Local shooter Melissa Golden just put up pictures she took at the 2009 US Air Guitar Championships at the 930 Club three weeks ago. They are, to damn them with faint praise, f-ing metal d00d!
I don’t have her permission to use them here so just go to the above link and check them out. ‘Specially the belt buckle. That shot is intimidating. I mean scary. I mean… just go look.
By Don
‘Tree Death in DC’
courtesy of ‘Wayan Vota’
It won’t win him any points with Remy but it’s raised him up in my estimation. During his Post chat today, Ezra “all health care all the time” Klein fielded a question outside his normal beat: where to live in the area.
Adam – Zurich, Switzerland: A bit off topic, but maybe you could throw this in at the end of your chat session. My wife and I are moving to the DC area, where would you recommend living for an urban 30-something couple? If you had to choose between Clarendon, Rosslyn or Ballston, which would it be?
Ezra Klein: None of them! I recommend living in DC if you can, particularly the Mt. Pleasant or Columbia Heights area. Petworth is getting better fast, and it’s comparatively affordable, and some interesting stuff is happening down in the 5th and K area.
Kudos for the D.C. love, Ezra, and for encouraging newcomers to actually live in the city.
By Cathy
‘Melvin’
courtesy of ‘Amberture’
In an effort to help solve the problem of declining blue crab populations in the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland attempted to buy back 2,000 crabbing licences – asking the crabber to name his/her own price. However, Maryland recently abandoned the plan, citing the few bids they received were too high (one offered his $50 license for $425 million – an obvious “protest bid”).
As it turns out, many license-holders haven’t actually crabbed in years, so why do they want to keep their licenses? Some see the license as a part of their identity and a connection to a past livelihood on the Chesapeake.
So you have to give it to Maryland for trying to save those little yummy crabs that we all want to have around forever, but it looks like the state may have to tackle the problem from another angle for now.
By Don
I love me some Lebowski, so the arrival of the Lebowski Fest in D.C. is cause for celebration… mostly.
I’m a little put off by the bowling portion of the two-day event being held at Strike! Bethesda. My darling wife would argue that bowling is bowling and no matter where you go you have to put your fingers in grody never-cleaned balls and wear rented shoes.
She has issues.
However I have a hard time imagining The Dude at Strike! That place is way too upscale for him, even if the neon really brings the room together.
By Cathy
’13th & U’
courtesy of ‘N.S.’
While the prostitution is not exactly a new problem in the 11th and K and Street area, Fox 5 ran a story late last night describing how the prostitutes have changed to morning shifts. Starting around 6:00 a.m., the prostitutes are dodging their usual schedules to stay out of trouble.
But a prostitute in broad daylight can cause some discomfort, to say the least. While this corner is occasionally on my morning commute, I’m happy to say I wasn’t witness to this offense: Continue reading
By Katie
‘St. Pauli Girl (Hair-Down Label)’
courtesy of ‘drewesque’
The other day WLDC author Acacia and I were talking about her recent trip to New York City. I got jealous during our conversation cause while in the big apple, Acacia visited a legit beer garden. Together we were wistfully wishing DC had a hardcore actual German beer garden, complete with spilling pints and bratwursts.
Enter: news via Frozen Tropics, someone has heard our cry. Frozen Tropics reports, “Aaron McGovern of the Dupont Circle restaurant Russia House recently began work on his latest project. He intends to bring a large German restaurant and beer garden to 1355 H Street.”
Now excuse me while I go strap on my bodice and grab pint glasses to slosh together.
By jasmine
‘wall of polos, tommy hilfiger outlet, south edmonton common’
courtesy of ‘PinkMoose’
Apparently, Tommy Hilfiger is DC’s newest fan. The city and its “new energy” was his inspiration for the new clothing line, and he has a flashy new website to share his favorite parts of the city with you. I like the way it’s organized, but that’s about it. The picks are pretty freaking random, making me wonder how much time he has actually spent here. He does give a shout out to our fave bar, Science Club, but recommends the Kreeger Museum for High Art. Say what?
By Cathy
‘Arlington’
courtesy of ‘Spoungeworthy Redux’
The final schedule, including times, of the funeral processions and memorials for Senator Kennedy was released this morning by WaPo. While the large majority will take place in Boston, including the funeral service, Senator Kennedy will be buried at Arlington National Cemetary at 5:30 p.m. this Saturday evening. Continue reading
By Max
Dog Park Turf by Max Cook
It seems as though Mayor Fenty is making a name for himself in this town by sprucing up or completely rebuilding some of our parks, and not without controversy. These parks aren’t just getting some new grass and a drinking fountain. They’re getting new landscaping done by the gold coast landscaper team, artificial turf, benches, fencing, ornate stone walkways, and additional lighting. Oh, and drinking fountains. Dog drinking fountains.
By 
