Purple and Blue
Originally uploaded by kimberlyfaye

The Post has a rather sad story today about the Mary Livingston Ripley Garden, maintained by the Smithsonian, and trampled beyond recognition on Inauguration Day. Crowds removed the temporary fencing that had been installed to protect it and used it as a route to get into the Mall to view the ceremony. As a result, when horticulturist Janet Draper arrived the next day, she found that the mulch had been destroyed, plants were missing or flattened, and that some of the larger shrubs had been mangled by the crush of people.

The garden seems to be recovering, though- the damage to the soil isn’t extensive, the bulbs are growing normally, and some of the perennials have started to come back, ragged, but sturdy. So if you visit the garden this spring, keep in mind that it’ll take a while to restore it to its former grandeur.

photo courtesy of Herban Lifestyle

If you think naming a baby is hard, try naming a baby oil.

Local crafter Mary K. of Herban Lifestyle is trying to decide what to call her new organic baby oil, and she needs your help. Submit the winning entry, and she’ll give you a large gift set for your labor.

The oil will join her O-BALM-A lip balm, so the bar for cleverness is set high. Get creative!

‘whitman’
courtesy of ‘NCinDC’

Capitol Letters Writing Center–a non-profit organization which seeks to bring out the writer in all students in the district–was featured in this morning’s Daily Candy with a call for volunteers. Get involved and bring the joy of writing and poetry into the lives of area kids! 

It sounds like a super sweet project. Despite being entirely overbooked in life, I think yours truly is going to check it out too. Teaching kids about the arts? What better goal is there? 

Continue reading →

‘Fluidity’
courtesy of ‘primplan’

No doubt inspired by Jenn’s article about her study at Saffron Dance and viewing of the Bellydance Superstars, the Washington Post ran a great profile this weekend of the brains midriff of Saffron Dance, Rachael Galoob Ortega. When shimming she goes by Saphira, and the WaPo’s article is an interesting view of an even more interesting person.

‘murky coffee, arlington’
courtesy of ‘tvol’

Twitter user @bamelzer informs us that badged Arlington County tax auditors just walked into Murky Coffee in Arlington and posted notice of auction of assets on the window for April 2, 2009. Murky has had its share of controversy, and this would be the second location that would fall to less-than-attentive management of tax obligations.  I wonder what the auction value will be of Murky’s famed dickpunches?

‘DC Boats’
courtesy of ‘diskychick’

You may have heard by now, but on Wednesday morning, CBS/Paramount is going to commence to blow stuff up on the Potomac, north of the Key Bridge and Jack’s Boathouse.  Don’t worry, all relevent law enforcement agencies have been alerted, including the twitchy Department of Homeland Security.  And that’s good, because I have been promised a 20-30 foot fireball. So with a fireball that size, you ought to just be able to stand on the bridge and watch- which I recommend, if you’re conveniently located. The fun should take place between 9:30 AM and noon.

The explosion is a special-effects shot for a pilot called Washington Field, about the “elite” FBI Washington Field Office.  IMDB lists the series’ director as Jon Cassar, who has directed more episodes of 24 than any other director, so if we’re very lucky, the main characters won’t know where the Washington Field Office is either.

UPDATE: Skunkgal has a list of the cast members. I note the presence of Gina Torres, who played the highly-underrated Zoe on the even more underrated Firefly.