‘Real Estate For Sale Signs’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’
Our friends at Washingtonian inform us that Iceland is having to sell its ambassador’s residence in Kalorama Heights (not to be confused with the embassy itself, which is at 15th and M) due to the global recession that collapsed Iceland’s financial industry. You can snap up the 10 bedroom, 5 bath Tudor (with staff quarters!) for just a hair over $5.5 million. A bargain, no doubt.
By jasmine
‘080:365’
courtesy of ‘::FiZ::’
Who the heck is Captain Arturo? A couple of images of this sticker showed up in our Flickr pool recently, and they’re apparently all over DC. Obviously modeled after Captain America, Arturo seems to be his long-haired cousin or something. In any case, I know I wouldn’t mind a superhero swooping into DC and fixing a few things.
By Tom Bridge
Lamb & Mama
Originally uploaded by tbridge
It was just about as perfect a March day as we get here, so we headed off to Over the Grass Farm, to pick up milk, and sure enough, they had tiny little lambs running around the sheep paddock. The wee ones are probably about a week old, possibly less, and are probably just about the cutest thing ever.
Mama sheep was less interested in the photo op and bleated angrily as we got close to the fence. I was able to snap a few frames, though, before they trotted off. Six months, precious, and you will be mighty tasty even cuter.
By brownpau
Much gratitude to DC DDOT for paving over what I affectionately call “The Button Moat” around the pedestrian crossing button at Rock Creek Parkway and Virginia Ave NW in Foggy Bottom. (Bigger before-and-after-pictures after the jump.) Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
”Hollywood’ Parking Ticket’
courtesy of ‘p_a_h’
This one’s got to be just about the funniest story I’ve read in a while. Jenna Bush’s Secret Service detail in Baltimore got in a little bit of a pissing match with the Baltimore Police, which ended up in their vehicles being ticketed and towed from just outside Federal Hill.
Nice to know that the rules do apply to the Secret Service, when they’re parking illegally in a neighborhood known for horrific parking conditions to begin with. What do you say, good call to tow the USSS away? Bad? Anyone who’s ever circled and circled and circled in Federal Hill looking for a spot says good call, I think.
By Tom Bridge
| The Colbert Report | Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c | |||
| Michael Steele’s Rap Battle Response | ||||
|
||||
Sadly, when Stephen Colbert called out Michael Steele for a rap-off, they couldn’t get their calendars aligned. So, click the video above for a bit of a falsified battle. And a pinstripe hoodie. I think Colbert won, m’self.
By Max
You may have noticed the extensive renovations under way at the Jury’s Hotel in Dupont Cirle. Now simply called “The Dupont Hotel” (how very creative of them), it promises to be “the hotel the Circle has waited for.” I never did see what the old rooms looked like, but if their website is any indication, the new rooms will indeed be quite posh.
Going with that theme, the cheesy Biddy Mulligan’s is also to be replaced by, what else? “Bar Dupont”. I guess it’s better than naming it The Dupont Bar. I have to wonder if the new bar will still be a destination for bachelorette parties and St Patrick’s Day celebrations or will it be more upscale with $15 drinks and velvety booths? Hey, as long as they have a good wine list, some creative food offerings, and of course Blueberry Stoli, I’ll be there.
By Katie
‘Tools of the Trade 2’
courtesy of ‘Paul Godden’
My favorite volunteer day of the year, Servathon, will fast be upon us. In preparation for the huge day of service to DC public schools, Greater DC Cares is looking for you to give them your spare tools. No ladies, we can’t all bring our ex-boyfriends and drop them off! They’re looking for power tools, ladders, paint brushes, paper towels & drop clothes, gardening gloves and Home Depot Gift Cards.
Stop by the Greater DC Cares office from April 1st through the 3rd to make your donation to their tool box (they’re located at Located at 1156 15th Street NW, Suite 840, Washington DC, 20005). Or, take them to the Community Tool Chest on Saturday April 4th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and tour the Community Tool Chest (located at Located at 4600 Livingston Road SE, Washington DC, 20032). All your donations are tax deductible!
By Don
‘layers’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’
Today’s WaPo includes a story about WMATA deciding to put their information up on the web. The rational response from someone who isn’t a transit foamer or mega-nerd is “isn’t it there already?” Yes, though not in the universal interchange format that would allow anyone with the will and ability to massage and repackage it – till now you’ve had to make use of WMATA’s website and tools rather than 3rd party options like using the transit calculator built into Google Maps.
Now that they’ve done this…. you’ll likely still have to use WMATA’s website. Whys and wherefores after the jump.
By jasmine
Just in case you were looking for something weird and free to do this weekend, The Looking Glass Lounge is having their annual Fez and Mustache Party tomorrow night! They’ll be handing out free fake mustaches at the door (although I’m sure you can bring or grow your own) and free samples of Polish vodka.
Plus, the DJs will be spinning “Romani rock, twisted klezmer, Slavic soul and Balkan beats” just to make the night that much more complete.
By AcaciaO
‘Cone Zone’
courtesy of ‘sandman_kk’
As those of you living in NE – like myself – know, driving or riding down H St. has been a disaster recently. The X2 commute down H that, during the daytime hours, would take roughly 7-10 minutes has slowed to 15+ of late due to ever-changing traffic patterns and construction.
The construction is due to the on-going and much-needed three-year revamping of the H St./Benning Rd. stretch. Riding down H right now is kind of like off-roading it.
By Katie
‘Rocket Bar Wine’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’
I’m going to attempt to start an end-of-week or every-two-weeks foodie round up of all the news that’s fit to eat, so hang with me on my first installment, and tell me if you like it. Most of the foodie news that’s been coming my way this week has to do with wine, so let’s just start there. Continue reading
By Ben H. Rome
So a couple weeks ago, the National Park Service announced when the peak blooming period would be for the cherry blossoms this year.
Apparently, they were wrong.
This morning, Rob DeFeo, the Chief Horticulturist of the NPS, announced a ‘revised’ bloom period: April 1-4 . (Yep, shorter than previously predicted.)
We can’t blame DeFeo for revising his forecast; for years, he gave the prediction only a few days from the annual festival. These days, he’s been pressed to give it closer to three weeks out. And it’s been four years since Eleanor Moffatt passed away; her advice was always welcome around the NPS when it came to predicting the beautiful blossoms’ bloom time. DeFeo’s only been wrong a few times in his 19 year career as the Chief Horticulturist.
So DC, get ready. The tourists, they are a-comin’…
By Tom Bridge
"The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart."
Originally uploaded by kimberlyfaye
It’s official, the Sun has crossed over the Equator. Today at 7:44am, Spring arrived, even if you couldn’t tell from the weather. Though we reached daytime/nighttime equity on the 17th, today’s the Equinox. We’ll be adding 3 minutes of daylight per day for the next few weeks, which is pretty freaking awesome for those of us who live and die with the sun. Bring on the sunshine!
By Tom Bridge
‘For Two’
courtesy of ‘brmurray’
The hopes were not high for American, seeded at #14, and up against NCAA
Powerhouse #3 Villanova, but here they are, exceeding expectations massively. Halfway through their first round game, they’re up on ‘Nova 41-31. I’m going to repeat that, because it’s not a typo: American is beating Villanova by ten at the half. Tell your friends. Cinderella’s bucking for a night on the town.
Update: Ten minutes remain and they’re still up by 8. Hang tight, Eagles!
Update 2: Three minutes to go, and now AU is down by 5. Time to get back in the game, Eagles! Gotta make it count!
Update 3: And it’s over. AU can’t hold on to a halftime lead, and goes down in the first round.
By Tom Bridge
The Terps are putting on a pretty decent show against Cal here in the first round of the Big Dance here. They’re up 74-59 with just over 4 minutes to go, and they’ve been nothing short of excellent in their first showing. Here’s to the 10-7 upset!!
Update: There it is, the Terps go on! 84-71 is the final. Congrats!
‘what a find!’
courtesy of ‘NatalieHG’
It looks like we’re not the only ones with DC Victory Gardens this year- the First Family will be starting a vegetable garden on the White House grounds. I don’t see a lot of confirmation that this will be the big ol’ organic garden that Alice Waters of Chez Panisse has been pushing for, but the example of growing your own fresh vegetables is nonetheless welcome from such a high-profile family. And you know, if they need any gardening tips, the Obamas are welcome to hit us up in the comments… I wonder if they’ll be doing any preserving of their home-grown produce in the White House kitchen?
UPDATE, 3/20: The New York Times has some more details about the garden. Fifty-five varieties of vegetables, grown in raised beds, total cost: $200. Awesome.
(Thanks to Twitter user @lorig for the tip! Do you follow us on Twitter yet?)
By AcaciaO
‘United States Capitol’
A great place for stalking your congressman, approximate location of Aaron Schock-spot
courtesy of ‘cliff1066’
The WaPo this morning had an absolutely amazing marvel of a piece about TMZ’s latest move in gotcha paparazzi journalism. Turns out they’ve moved to the Hill, trying to get some candid moments with the most staffed people on the East Coast — our Congressmen and women.
Their first victim was obvious, someone for whom I’ve long held a fascination, 27-year-old Illinois congressman Aaron Schock. Not one week ago, my roommate and I ran by Schock in the exact same location, also entirely unstaffed (do they just let him wander?) south of the capitol building. It made my week, to say the least. Continue reading
By Ben H. Rome
Despite the still-shivering chill in the air these mornings, believe it or not spring really is around the corner. The Capital Weather Gang has us hitting the 50s over the weekend, and improving from there.
Meantimes, let the flowers blooming all around us be a happy reminder that warmer days are indeed close at hand. And soon, it’ll be time for planting!
By Max
It has been well over a month since the above photo was taken of the dog park at 17th & S. Since then, a small tractor was moved inside the fence giving people hope that construction would finally begin, but was then removed about a week ago. Dog park patrons have still been utilizing a small opening in the fence to let their dogs run around, but yesterday a lock was installed to keep people out. If they’re not going to do any construction, why keep people out?
Mayor Fenty said that the park would be completed by Memorial Day. I’m hoping he meant 2009.
By 
