Category Archives: The Features

These are our features. They come back either weekly, bi-weekly or monthly.

Talkin' Transit
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Talkin’ Transit: Future

Photo courtesy of
’31/395 – Daunting Entrance’
courtesy of ‘andrew.cohen’

In the mass transit world it always seems like it’s “us vs. them”. The drivers, with their greedy, self-centered, insistence that they have to drive everywhere vs. the saintly public transit lovers who are sure that you’ll love it if you tried it. Or, another way, the drivers, with their need to drive into their jobs from far away vs. the hippies who have no idea what it takes to get into work in the morning.

Yes, those are slightly exaggerated caricatures. And, yes, there haven’t been any pitched battles (yet). But the reality is that each side in the transit game is deeply entrenched. Car owners are loathto give them up, even when they have a transit option; transit lovers want, through increasing expense, to drive more people to public transportation. For many, it’s a binary situation, good vs. evil, black and white, ones and zeros.

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. There’s no sane way to remove all (most, or even a sizable small fraction) of the cars from the road. For one thing, the infrastructure isn’t there: Metro and all of the regional transit agencies together couldn’t handle the load. Metrorail is averaging about 735,000 rides a day on weekdays (over the last 14 weekdays), and system capacity is roughly a million rides. And that capacity is only when the system is running 8-car trains in automatic mode.
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Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Atari Teenage Riot @ Sonar 9/24/10

Last Friday, Atari Teenage Riot performed on the Club Stage at SONAR in Baltimore. It was their only DC-area concert and one of their first shows in the United States since 1999. The world has changed quite a bit since this digital-hardcore terror cell was originally active and their reformation and reactivation in 2010 is as random and surprising as their debut was so many years ago. Their Baltimore show was a chance to see what Alec Empire and his crew have in store for audiences in 2010 and an opportunity to answer the obvious question surrounding ATR’s return. Why reactivate now?

The performance Atari Teenage Riot delivered on Friday night was an inspired evening of sonic brutality that was less about breaking new musical ground or politics and more about celebrating ATR’s and Alec Empire’s legacy in music. It was a blistering ear assault that revisited ATR’s original 1990’s noise-campaign and showed that even after eleven years the music world has still not completely caught up to their intensity or creativity.

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Entertainment, Fun & Games, Music, We Love Music
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The Winning Ticket: Rogue Wave & Midlake

As a way to say thanks to our loyal readers, We Love DC will be giving away a pair of tickets to a 9:30 Club concert to one lucky reader each week. Check back here every Wednesday morning at 9am to find out what tickets we’re giving away and leave a comment for your chance to be the lucky winner!

This week we are giving away a pair of tickets to catch Midlake and Rogue Wave co-headlining at the 9:30 Club on Friday, October 1st.

I have to be honest here. I don’t have a clue who these bands are or who their fan-base is. So rather than insult your intelligence with some phony write-up (because that’s just not my style, you dig?), I’ll simply direct you to their Myspace pages and let you sample their wares for yourself: Midlake and Rogue Wave. If you like what you hear, take a crack at those tickets! Or if you happen to be a huge fan of one or both of these bands, then say it loud and say it proud in your comment.

For your chance to win these tickets simply leave a comment on this post using a valid email address between 9am and 4pm today. One entry per email address, please. Tickets for this show are also available through Ticketfly If today doesn’t turn out to be your lucky day, check back here each Wednesday for a chance to win tickets to other great concerts.

For the rules of this giveaway…
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Mythbusting DC, The Features
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DC Mythbusting: Bike Lanes Are Just for Bikes

Photo courtesy of
‘Doublemint Runners’
courtesy of ‘M.V. Jantzen’

DC is home to over 47 miles of bike lanes, and an ever-increasing number of residents are choosing to bike around the city. The Solowheel glide 3 is a new and innovative method to go around our world, equipped with an 800W motor and a premium 3A rapid charger. It’s essentially a powered unicycle with a top speed of 18 miles per hour. It comes in a small package that opens up to reveal a stunning and powerful piece of technology. Discover more amazing things of the solowheel glide 3 only at Scooter Adviser! While not in use, it is best to bring a bike lock with you to avoid theft and secure your bike, just in case.  But ride around the city on any of these bike lanes, and you’ll see more than just cyclists taking advantage of them. Tourists on segways, people riding motorcycles, parked or stopped cars– they all feel at home taking advantage of our city’s bike lanes. But bike lanes are meant for just bikes, right?

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Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Caribou w/ Emeralds @ Black Cat 9/23/10

IMG_4413
All photos by author.

Last Thursday night Canadian indie-dance troupe Caribou made their second stop in DC in six months when they played to a nearly-full Black Cat. This time around they brought Ohio’s psychedelic/electro princes Emeralds along as openers. Combining Emeralds’ intense sonic textures and Caribou’s intricate dance music provided for an interesting evening of music that would have fit right in with last week’s Sonic Circuits Festival.

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Featured Photo
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Featured Photo

Photo courtesy of
‘top’
courtesy of ‘volcanojw’

Proving that photography doesn’t have to be about the equipment and that a good eye is at least as important, here’s a fantastic shot taken with a plain old iPhone camera.

Just as in comedy, timing is (almost) everything. Jenn‘s timing is impeccable, catching the escalator rider stepping off, silhouetted against the sky. The timing is especially difficult when using a phone or a point and shoot camera because of shutter lag.

And because timing isn’t everything, the lines, the sky, and the escalator form a nice frame and lead your eye to her reflection.

Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Virgin Mobile FreeFest 2010 @ Merriweather Post Pavilion 9/25/10

Virgin Mobile FreeFest 2010 was just about as perfect a day as one could ask for. The weather was phenomenal, the crowds and lines were manageable, and the music was spectacular. An irresistible atmosphere of fun prevailed over Merriweather Post Pavilion as Virgin and I.M.P. presented three stages jam-packed with a variety of great musical acts. The one genre that eclipsed all others however was dance music; the day featured a killer line-up of electronic-inspired groups that kept a large portion of attendees in a near-constant state of dance-frenzy.

I split my FreeFest experience between the Dance Forest and the Main Stage. Although I intended to check it out, I did not venture over to the West Stage once all day; thanks in large part to the caliber of the performances I was already watching. From Will Eastman dropping some DJ science early in the day all the way through to LCD Soundsystem’s mega-finale, I had a fantastic time at Virgin Mobile FreeFest 2010.

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Sports Fix
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Sports Fix: Fall is Coming Edition

Photo courtesy of
‘BIG PAYBACK #27’
courtesy of ‘Danilo.Lewis|Fotography’

Redskins
Record: 1-2
Last Two Weeks: 0-2
Place: Tied for second with Dallas & New York

Play not to lose, and you end up doing exactly that. The Redskins have played not to lose for the last three weeks, and their 1-2 record is reflective of a franchise that has yet to play to win a football game. The Skins’ on-field presence has been lackluster, and their off-field shenanigans, with the battle over Albert Haynesworth’s heart and “mind” still proceeding, and a number of player shakeups.

This is a team that is going to dominate the news cycle despite not deserving an iota of your attention, so get used to it, unless they can find a way to put together the will to win. I’m not saying that can’t happen, I’m saying that they don’t seem to have it at this point. Continue reading →

Sports Fix, The Features
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Week 3 Recap: Skins vs. Rams

Photo courtesy of
‘bale to the redskins’
courtesy of ‘christaki’

Early on in this game the Redskins knew they would have a long day ahead of them. After allowing a 42-yard touchdown run by Stephen Jackson on the opening drive, the Skins fumbled the ball on their first possession and the Rams quickly responded with a touchdown pass by Sam Bradford to take a 14-0 lead after just six minutes elapsed in the first quarter. The Skins did score 13 unanswered points and Philip Daniels blocked a field goal to end the first half, but the rest of the game belonged to Bradford and the Rams defense. Donovan McNabb had a frustrating day because the Skins defense could not get off the field and they allowed the Rams to gain 133 rushing yards. The Skins also turned over the ball twice, had a punt blocked, and the offensive line looked disjointed partly due to Trent Williams’ injury. The 30-16 victory by the Rams is only their second in the last 19 games. While the 1-2 start should not cause panic at Ashburn, there are some major concerns about the Skins’ inability to stop opposing offenses and the lack of depth at key positions. Continue reading →

Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Maya falls apart as Braves top Nats 5-0

Heyward hits Ramos
Photo by Ian Koski / Nationals Daily News

Before the game today, when asked about Yunesky Maya, Jim Riggleman said that he’d settled down.  Jim was right until the top of the sixth today.  The wheels came flying off Maya’s bus, as he gave up a walk, advanced the runner to second on a wild pitch, and gave up a double, a single and a 3-run homer before getting the hook.  The start of the game had been so promising, with Maya retiring the side in the first on just 11 pitches, 9 of them strikes.  After that dominant first inning, though, Maya would begin to lose his razor sharp placement, especially when the Braves had runners aboard.

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Downtown, Fun & Games, Special Events, The Features
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Geckos: The New Cuteness?

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC_0015’
courtesy of ‘RomeTheWorld’

Opening today and running through the first week of January is a new exhibit at National Geographic. “Geckos: Tails to Toepads” features just over 15 species of live geckos of different colors, stripes, shapes, and sizes. While there are also interactive displays and a kids-oriented area, the main attraction are the self-contained terrarium-style displays with all sorts of geckos.

Some of them are pretty tough to spot, like the Satanic Leaf-tail Gecko. (There are four in the enclosure, of which I found only two.) Some are pretty “obvious” geckos, similar in appearance to the animated one on television shilling insurance. And some are just downright ugly. But all in all, they are fascinating to watch and most (if not all) are pretty darn cute – for a reptile.

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The Features
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The Rundown: October Edition

Photo courtesy of
‘Marine Corps Marathon madness’
courtesy of ‘BrianMKA’

October is the month for running in the DC area– you can’t beat the weather, and since it is near the end of the running season most runners are already in shape for races.  There are all sorts of fantastic races scheduled in October– everything from 2-mile walks to a full marathon.  Here are just a few highlights in the running world:

October 2-3

Saturday, October 2 is the 24th Annual AIDS Walk downtown at Freedom Plaza.  This 5K features both a fundraising walk and a timed run, and proceeds go to benefit HIV/AIDS programs at the Whitman-Walker Clinic.  If you can’t be there to run or walk, you can even be a ‘sleep walker’ and you don’t even need to show up on race day.  Registration is $35 for the timed run and $25 for the walk.

The Capital Area Gulf Coast Relief Run, a 5K run/walk in Potomac, MD, will be held on Sunday, October 3.  This event will start at Winston Churchill High School, and is sponsored by the school’s Key Club to raise money for communities devastated by the oil spill in the Gulf region earlier this year.  Registration is $30 for the 5K and $15 for a Kids Fun Run.

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The Features, Where We Live
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Where We Live: Takoma

Photo courtesy of
‘Takoma DC Public Library’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

I went into this week’s Where We Live with limited knowledge about Takoma– I’ve visited a few times, swam at the pool, walked through the pretty tree-lined streets. I knew that Takoma was a beautiful neighborhood, filled with residents who really love living there.  But the Takoma I discovered while writing this feature was just flat-out awesome: it’s a neighborhood  that feels like a small town within a big city, with community events all the time, and even a neighborhood rooster.  Seriously.

History: Takoma got its start back in 1883 as a commuter rail suburb of Washington, offering clean water, fresh air, and a semi-rural lifestyle with access to the city.  Back then the community, which straddled the DC/MD line, was known as Takoma Park.  The area attracted a good deal of residential growth with some smaller commercial areas.  The area eventually took on two names– Takoma (a neighborhood in Washington DC) and Takoma Park (a city in Maryland).  There’s a shared identity between these two parts, and the area has come to be known for its active residents.  Residents successfully joined together to oppose the North Central Freeway Project in 1964, and they had a significant impact on the Takoma Metro station (which sits on the Washington DC side, thus the name) back in the 1970s.  Initial plans called for high-density commercial and residential development around the station and a 500-space commuter parking lot, but residents organized a group called Plan Takoma that developed the alternative of what you see today: a public park, a 100-space parking lot, and the retention of medium-density houses and shops.

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Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Nationals win third straight, beat Astros 7-2

Photo courtesy of
‘Friday Night Fireworks’
courtesy of ‘alykat’

If you’d told me the Nats would, without Ryan Zimmerman or Adam Dunn in the lineup, score seven runs, I’d have asked you if you meant in a single game, or over a whole week.  The Nats got a boost from unexpected sources this afternoon, grabbing home runs from Roger Bernadina and Danny Espinosa as well as Michael Morse in their 7-2 victory.  The win was their third straight, and they’ve got some momentum together as the Braves and Phillies come to DC for a pair of series that will end their home season.

The businessman’s special today meant a very light turnout at Nats Park, officially 14,633 but in reality more like 5,000, but those who came out saw the Nationals’ infield of Gonzalez, Desmond, Espinosa and Kennedy put on a defensive workshop.  Each of the infielders today had a play that should be on tonight’s SportsCenter.  In the 7th, Gonzalez speared a ball to his right, came up and rifled the ball across the diamond to the outstretched glove of Adam Kennedy.  In the 3rd, Ian Desmond leapt for a ball just over his head, snagged the out, and threw to Kennedy to double off the pitcher Nelson Figueroa.  Danny Espinosa would lay all the way out for a ball to his left in the 6th and flip it to Kennedy to get Michaels at first.

 

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We Love Weekends
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We Love Weekends, September 25-26

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

Michael: This weekend is jam packed with more good music than John Peel’s iPod. Thursday night, I’m catching Caribou at the Black Cat. Friday, it’s up to B’More for the unexpected but welcome return of Atari Teenage Riot. If it wasn’t for ATR’s return, I would be catching the Merzbow/Pinhas live collaboration at the French Embassy. Saturday, Virgin FreeFest takes over the area, where I’ll be catching everyone from Sleigh Bells to LCD Soundsystem. If I survive til Sunday night, I’ll be taking in Shonen Knife’s classic Japanese indie-rock at Rock & Roll Hotel. Look for a slew of reviews covering all of these great shows on We Love DC next week!

Rebecca J: I’m headed to Thunder Burger Bar for a Friday happy hour full of delicious burgers and tasty micro brews. Personally, I’m looking forward to tasting Coney Island “Sword Swallower” from Saratoga Springs, NY. The Saturday tradition of soccer in the morning and College Football continues. Luckily this week’s Mizzou and Notre Dame matches are at 2pm and 3pm, so I’ll actually have a post-game night life this week. Sunday, I have a dreadfully early soccer match, but at least that will have me up and out of the house, so I can hit up the Dupont Farmers Market. After that I believe a nap will be in order, before heading to Breadsoda for their Sunday happy hour specials, a tasty Reuben and some NFL action. Continue reading →

The Features
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A We Love DC Interview: r:u

“u:board Sample”;  r:u, 2010

In December of 2009, I graduated from The George Washington University with a Graduate degree in Interior Design.  During my schooling I learned that it takes a lot of hard work to become an Interior Designer.  Just having phenomenal taste and being really, really good at tearing out magazine spreads doesn’t cut it anymore.  Now you have to be able to sketch, compose sections, build models, create 3-D renderings, and even pass your NCIDQ exam if you want to be taken seriously.

When I heard about the DC-based design team of residents:understood, I just knew that I had to get them on WLDC.  Not only can the firm do all of the above, but they also do it in a really unconventional way.  I caught up with the three principles of residents:understood, Kiera Kushlan, James Wall, and Jessica Centella, and got all of the insider tips for how to create the perfect “personality-driven design” while living in D.C.

We Love DC: What is residents:understood?

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Comedy in DC
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Extra-Moderate: Proposed Signs for the Rally to Restore Sanity

I THINK EVERYONE INVOLVED HERE IS CUTE
Comic courtesy of and copyright by xkcd, posted with permission.

I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there’s this rally-for-people-who-hate-rallies coming up. It might be a pretty big deal.

But it occurred to me to ask… if people get fired up about a rally for moderates, doesn’t that then make them, by definition, less moderate? And what happens when a comedian becomes a media figure who then becomes a political figure? And what if I don’t care about any of these questions and I just want to mock the hell out of protesters who prevent low income people from getting to their downtown jobs in the name of helping the poor? Or protesters dressed as colonials whose signs demand that we “READ THE CONSTITUION?” What if I’m moderate as hell, and I’m not gonna take it anymore? If it doesn’t mean I have to miss too much work? Because seriously, I have a job to do.

Protest signs, y’all. (Which, of course, will be immediately cleaned up and thrown away after the rally, because our mamas raised us right.) Continue reading →

Adventures, Entertainment, Media, Special Events, The Features, We Love Arts
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NatGeo’s 2010 All Roads Film Festival

Dear Lemon Lima; photo courtesy filmmakers and National Geographic Museum

The National Geographic Society kicks off its All Roads Film Festival on Tuesday, Sept 28, launching a jam-packed fall programming schedule. The six-day event will screen nearly 30 films, an outdoor photography exhibit, a Basement Bhangra Dance Party, and a panel of indigenous filmmakers discussing their art and careers.

All Roads Film Festival Director Francene Blythe is especially excited about this year’s theme, “Inspiring Stories Connecting Cultures.” “Whether the stories are comic or tragic, they will resonate with audiences because they involve characters and stories that are relatable and told with charm, wit and wisdom.” There promises to be something for everyone to enjoy. Continue reading →

History, Interviews, Penn Quarter, Special Events, Technology, The Features
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OXCART: CIA Innovation and a Cool Spy Plane

Photo courtesy of
‘Oxcart Belly’
courtesy of ‘MrGuilt’

In the late 1950s, during the heyday of aviation and the dawning of space flight, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) approached Lockheed to develop a new aircraft that could overfly the Soviet Union. The CIA’s current plane (at the time) was the U-2, which served admirably in its role as a high-flying reconnaissance plane but was still susceptible to being shot down by high-altitude Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM). Such an incident did occur in 1960, when Gary Powers was shot down while conducting an overflight over the U.S.S.R.

The result was the A-12, code name OXCART, which ended up in a different role as the Vietnam war broke out. The CIA’s spy plane flew several black missions during the war before being phased out and replaced by the U.S. Air Force’s SR-71 Blackbird. On Thursday evening at the International Spy Museum, many aspects of the A-12 Oxcart program will be discussed by several experts, including CIA chief historian David Robarge, J-58 engine inventor Robert B. Abernethy, flight specialist Thornton D. Barnes, CIA officer S. Eugene Poteat, and pilot Kenneth Collins.

For a taste of the discussion, we managed to pin down CIA chief historian David Robarge for a few minutes to discuss the Oxcart and BLACK SHIELD programs. Continue reading →