By Don
‘Daddy won’t be eating dinner with us anymore’
courtesy of ‘bobster855’
You should go to the Prince of Petworth blog and vote for Blondie as coolest dog. Not because I have any personal knowledge of Blondie or any other dog in the competition, or even live in Petworth.
You should do it because Blondie the dog is pictured wearing goggles.
If you need a better reason than that I just can’t help you.
By Don
‘Painting’
courtesy of ‘dahowlett’
Not for you – you already look great. DC’s schools, however, are about to open and could use some sprucing up. There’ll be a big community effort tomorrow to do last-minute work on the schools and- somewhat amazingly – you can still sign up. Work starts promptly at 8a (no word on if you’ll get detention if you’re tardy) and you’re out at 1p.
If you go, they list these things you might be called upon to do:
By jasmine
One of my new favorite blogs, Free in DC, posted a list today of some sweet places with free WiFi around our fair city. Some of them I knew about, like Busboys and Poets and Caribou, but others were a nice surprise– who knew the Kogod Courtyard between the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery was blogger-friendly? Find others (free and paid) with the Hotspotr tool we wrote about a little while back.
By Karl Johnson
‘Wal Mart: Salt Lake City’
courtesy of ‘Kenneth Hynek’
Wal-Mart wants a store right here in the District and is trying to get its ducks in a row to make it happen. According to the Washington Business Journal, Wal-Mart is “moving aggressively to work out a deal”. The top potential spot for the store right now is along Howard Road SE by the Poplar Point development. Wal-Mart wants to get into more urban areas and sees now as the time to do it, given the relative cheapness of land prices.
The article also goes on to discuss the fact that Wal-Mart will probably want a public partnership on this to help fund the land purchase because their stores bring foot traffic and tax revenue. Hmm, I’m not a complete self-proclaimed Wal-Mart hater like many, but I definitely do see the negative sides of bringing in a ginormous retailer to a neighborhood. Wal-Mart succeeds at capitalism at its finest and that’s the reason many people think it’s wrong for local government to stop them from being built. It’s the free market economy! So Wal-Mart, since you are such a capitalistic purist and have gotten filthy, filthy rich off of consumers, you get NO help from the government here. It’s the free market economy! Read: You can have your cake, but ain’t no chance you get to eat that shiz.
But even if they get no public funding for this effort, do you support Wal-Mart plopping down in DC? (get ready for comments from people who don’t live anywhere near the proposed site!)
By Katie
‘Dinner, Sat. Nite’
courtesy of ‘marciadc’
This week has screamed vacation, DC is desolate. And rightly so, cause this humidity and heat is enough to make anyone crazy. Thus, the food news has been slow to surface this week. We’ve got a few things, though, so read on for all the news fit to eat in the District. Continue reading
By Ben H. Rome
‘Toll Ahead (JFK Highway, Maryland)’
courtesy of ‘MPD01605’
The Maryland Transport Authority has reported that 19,000 users requested to close their E-ZPass accounts last month as the new $1.50/month fee went into effect on July 1. The MTA has had over 40,000 requests since January, when the fee was announced.
Officials at MTA insist the dropped accounts are a small fraction of the nearly 560,000 passes still out there, responding to the Examiner by saying the canceled accounts were from infrequent users. They claim the losses are somewhat offset by new accounts, but declined to say how many new ones they’ve received. They were quick to point out, however, that there are still over 70,000 accounts that haven’t been used in over a year. Those inactive accounts cost the state $2.25 each to maintain.
No word on how many of the drivers who canceled went over to states that don’t charge a fee.
By Max
Newseum WTOP Microphone by Mr. T in DC
Sorry we’re a bit late in reporting this, but thanks to WTOP, you can visit the Newseum for half price during the month of August. Half price! Seeing as how tickets normally run you a whopping $20, this is a great opportunity to save some cash and see all the museum has to offer. In order to get the discount you simply have to mention “WTOP” at the ticket desk or you can purchase them online here. With the weather being as gross as it’s been lately, this is a perfect indoor activity to keep your clothes from becoming drenched in sweat.
Is the Newseum worth $20? Eh, not really in my opinion. Is it worth $10? Totally. Go check it out. Thanks, WTOP!
By Don
‘Ft Slocum Soccer Ball’
courtesy of ‘Wayan Vota’
The Washington Business Journal reports that we’ve survived the first round of cuts in the competition to be a World Cup site. Don’t pull out the party hats just yet – this first round only trims the candidates down to 27 host cities, based on sweeping generalizations like traffic and accommodations. The next round of narrowing will happen in December and the final contenders will be bundled into the proposal submitted to FIFA in mid-2010.
There’s no guarantee at that point that FIFA will select the USA Bid Committee’s proposal, mind you. Ten other countries – alone and in cahoots with each other – have made official declarations of their intent to bid on the 2018 and/or 2022 Cup. If you’d like to keep up with the process more fully the US committee has a website and blog.
By Ben H. Rome
‘Theodore, Presented by Slapshot’
courtesy of ‘clydeorama’
Our sincerest condolences to Washington Capitals goalie Jose Theodore and his family; we got word this morning that Jose and Stephanie’s two-month-old son has died.
There are no other details at this time, not that we need them. Everyone here at WeLoveDC sends the Theodore family our sympathies and condolences during this difficult time.
By Katie
‘Yummy Lunch!’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’
We Love DC editor man Tom just sent me this link, and now my life is complete. You see, I have lunch angst. I do! I can never figure out where to get my lunch, and I always forget about all my options. So this Wheel of Lunch is brilliant! I’m in love. Input your zip code, and take the wheel for a spin and let it decide what you’re going to eat today. If wheels aren’t your thing, check out the UrbanSpoon slot machine widget.
By Tom Bridge
‘The Square One Apple Store is now opened. Looks nice.’
courtesy of ‘JoshMcConnell’
The man who is accused of shooting an Apple Store Employee in their Clarendon store on July 3rd has apprehended and charged for the shooting. Byron Dean, 21, was incarcerated on unrelated charges until recently, and is now being held without bond in Arlington County.
By Cathy
‘Brandon Barklage’
courtesy of DC United
Well, well, well. Not too shabby! It looks like Miranda (our DC United Ladies Night Tix Winner!!!!) has shown us all a thing or two about our home team.
We asked our WeLoveDC readers to vote on who the hottest DC United player is, and we used random.org to pick the winner. Miranda chose DC United’s Brandon Barklage as the team’s hottest player.
I have to say, I was kind of looking forward to seeing him in action on Saturday, but I just heard he’s out for the rest of the season. I think that means there’s a PRETTY darn good chance he might show up at Ladies Night!
Congratulations to Miranda. I’ll be in touch soon to get you those tix to Saturday night’s game against LA Galaxy!
By Don
Tastee Diner Protest, courtesy of chip py the photo guy
DCist told us about the planned kiss-in at the Tastee Diner last night. Photographer Chip Py went by to take a few pictures and put the count of gay and lesbians who showed up to lip-lock in protest at about 35. Either that one person was there making out with their own hand or Chip’s count is off by one. Regardless, I really like his shot with the selective de-coloration. Perhaps he can comment here – is that a simple emphasis move or a subtle commentary on the manager’s alleged desire to go back to the 1950s before public gay PDA was acceptable?
By Don
‘270 to win.’
courtesy of ‘erin m’
Another year, another US News and World Report colleges ranking. The big winner for our area is Georgetown at #23, though just up the road in Baltimore there’s John Hopkins at 14. GW and UMD-College Park tie at 53, AU is at 84 and Howard’s at 96. None of our other area schools break the top 100.
Georgetown is consoling themselves about their 4-year run at #23 by pointing out that High School guidance counselors put them at #9. I’d say that #23 ain’t bad and they may want to be careful what they turn to for affirmation – did you have any respect for your high school guidance counselor?
By Karl Johnson
‘Honest to goodness’
courtesy of ‘sudama’
emvii on twitter has alerted us to the fact that Pedro and Vinny’s, which was reviewed in Katie’s recent food cart roundup, is now open for business on the corner of 19th and L NW! More food carts in DC is awesome. I wish they would be on every corner offering food from all over! Why are they always so good? I’m not talking about dirty water dogs. Burritos, halal meat, Korean BBQ? Y-u-m. If you work in the 19th and L area, go check out Pedro and Vinny’s. You won’t be disappointed.
By Tom Bridge
‘Hey!’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’
You might want to stay away from 200 Independence Ave SW if you can avoid it, as the building’s been evacuated due to a transformer explosion on their 8th floor. DC Fire & EMS has ordered the building evacuated due to a lack of AC, and the Assistant Secretary there sent the following email:
You may have felt the building shake in the last few minutes. We had a failure of a piece of electrical equipment on the 8th floor which resulted in a small explosion. No one was hurt and there was no fire. We still are trying to assess the impact on the building systems, but there is no need to evacuate. Appropriate people from the General Services Administration (our landlord) are on their way to assess the damage to the equipment. When we have more information, we will be back in touch with everyone in the building.
Scary morning, between this and the Window Washer who needed rescuing after his scaffold broke.
By Max
Arts Group by Lubuto Library Project
I was saddened to read yesterday’s story in the Washington Post about the recent vandalism that took place at Life Pieces to Masterpieces. This local nonprofit organization has helped hundreds of low income African American kids by offering them a safe, loving place to express themselves through art. From their website:
“Life Pieces to Masterpieces’ apprentices learn how to make healthy choices at home, in their neighborhood and at school, enabling them to succeed and thrive against all odds. Apprentices consistently improve their school attendance and performance; improve their social and life skills; and avoid involvement with gangs, the juvenile system, and teen pregnancy.”
Over the weekend, vandals broke into the LPTM facility and inflicted an estimated $10,000 in damages which included smashing windows, spray painting walls, breaking computers and their flatscreen TV, urinating, spraying fire extinguishers throughout the hallways, and punching holes through the artwork that the boys had created. It’s still unknown who is responsible for this terrible act, but as the article says, “If anything it shows how great the need is for programs that mentor young people in neighborhoods without much opportunity.”
If you’d like to make a tax deductible donation to Life Pieces to Masterpieces to help them get back on their feet again, you can do so via their website here. I’m sure they will appreciate any help they can get.
By Don
‘Cheverly – Busy Intersection – 1-29-09’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’
And they’re willing to sue over it.
The crux of the lawsuit is the assertion that Virginia, the Federal Highway Administrationand the Federal Department of Transportation failed to do a proper environmental impact study. The linked press release above doesn’t stop there, though – it also criticizes the planning and capacity of the planned Shirlington exit and asserts that traffic will worsen for the less well-off.
If you were looking forward to the pay lanes along 95 & 395, don’t sharpen your pitchforks just yet. The project was already on hold at VDOT, so unless Virginia decides to try to restart before the suit has been settled this isn’t delaying anything… yet.
By Tom Bridge
‘Sixth & I Synagogue’
courtesy of ‘NCinDC’
When I went to see Lewis Black last year at the Sixth & I Synagogue, I was amazed at the sanctuary, with the incredible architecture, the gorgeous dome, everything. It’s one of DC’s finest worship spaces, and if you’re interested, and have someone that’s just as interested in you, you can win a wedding package there worth $3,500. What’s notable in this is that Sixth & I also supports interfaith and same-sex ceremonies, so this isn’t just limited to hetero couples and Jewish couples. You’ve still got a few days left to enter the contest, so get out your video cameras!
By Don
If you wished you’d been able to get to the GirlsRock!DC event at the 930 last weekend but, like me, couldn’t, here’s a little sample of what it was like, courtesy of regular commenter MrMoonPie. The video’s a little heavy on the bass player but doting dads can be like that, you know? His coverage of Silent District is a little more even-handed.
The girls singing the anthem is awesome too
Flickr VideoGot any links to other videos or other recordings? Share em so I can live vicariously.
