Category Archives: The Features

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

capitals hockey, Special Events, Sports Fix, The Features
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2010 Eastern Quarterfinals: Capitals vs. Canadiens

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC_6297’
courtesy of ‘bhrome’

Finally.

After what seemed like weeks of waiting – ever since the Olympics were over, really – the Washington Capitals finally enter the NHL postseason. First opponent in the opening salvos of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals?

The Montreal Canadiens.

The Caps desperately want to get the right skate forward this year; after last year’s rough start dropping the first two games at home against the Rangers, it’s something the team is aching to move past. And by all accounts from various team sources the last couple of days, they’re not only aware of it, they’re chomping at the bit to roll.

Despite the Habs’ recent struggles, however, the Caps cannot enter the series tomorrow taking Montreal for granted. True, the Habs enter the postseason after only notching three wins in their final 11 games. And true, forward Michael Cammalleri hasn’t been nearly as effective in his first nine games after knee surgery, nor has the netminder situation been anything spectacular. No team enters the NHL’s “second season” not wanting the prize at the end of the two-month campaign.

Let’s not kid around – both of these teams want the Stanley Cup. Montreal, to start its next century off right after last year’s dismal failure to celebrate their 100 years in style. Washington, to finally grab the golden ring of hockey that has been oh-so-close only a handful of times in its young (relative to Montreal) hockey existence.

So let’s look over the keys to Round One, starting here in the District on Thursday at 7 p.m.

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Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Red Sparowes (+) @ Rock and Roll Hotel 4/11/10

red sparowes at rock and roll hotel in dccourtesy of Red Sparowes.

It is always difficult deciding how to start a post-rock concert review. This massive, instrumental genre has no convenient entry-point for the uninitiated and for those who already are, the music is usually so personal that any attempt to describe a particularly beloved band will fall short of the high expectations. I say this as someone who both reads and writes a great deal about music, and happens to have some very personal opinions about my own favorite post-rock bands. It is with this in mind that I am challenged to review Sunday night’s spectacular Red Sparowes concert at Rock and Roll Hotel. So, I will take the easiest route and start from the top.

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Talkin' Transit
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Talkin’ Transit: Institutional

Photo courtesy of
‘good morning’
courtesy of ‘volcanojw’

Last week we told you about Metro’s board having voted to give preliminary approval to change their privacy policy in order to be able to provide SmarTrip data to users over the internet. The press release outlining what was to happen later this year set off my “I-can’t-believe-we’re-having-this-conversation” alarms.

In that release, Metro points out two things that set me off. First, there’s the reason for the change. It seems that after SmarTrip was introduced in 2004, the board approved a privacy policy in 2005 that seems not have considered the possibility that people would want access to their data over the internet.

Let me repeat that: five years ago, almost 15 years after the world wide web was invented and a decade after “information superhighway” entered the general lexicon, Metro’s board didn’t consider the internet when making their plans. Add to that having to have the board act in order to change the privacy policy because, it seems, the policy is written so narrowly that delivering the same data online and offline requires a change.
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Entertainment, The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: Kafka’s Metamorphosis

John Milosich in Synetic Theater's production of "Kafka's Metamorphosis." Photo credit: Graeme B. Shaw

I’ve always had a fascination with insects – the hive brain, the rigid delineation between workers and soldiers, queens and drones, a repulsive caterpillar breaking out of a hard cocoon as a delicate butterfly, the viciousness of praying mantis sex, spider babies eating their mother… just your average day in a realm all around us, a kingdom we barely notice.

Gregor Samsa, the unfortunate center of Kafka’s Metamorphosis, leads a life not unlike that of a worker drone, slaving away at a clerical job so that his family may live, in particular his beloved sister Greta. His creator, writer Franz Kafka, lives in a body progresively weakened and diseased while pining for his beautiful love Felice. Director Derek Goldman takes these two and morphs them together in his adaption for Synetic Theater of the story of a man waking up one morning to find himself transformed into a nasty and unwieldy insect body. Here, Kafka’s internal rage at his body’s weakness and his psychological wounds are directly manifested as he creates Gregor’s world.

Now through May 22, you can witness this grostesque and haunted world (“creepy,” as artistic director Paata Tsikurishvili said at opening) at Rosslyn Spectrum, where the stage has been incredibly and nauseatingly transformed into wild angles by designer Natsu Onoda. Your stomach will also be turned by the sound design of James Bigbee Garver, evoking a gooey, icky insect world. It’s all lit with eerie unnaturalness by Colin K. Bills. The production design is top notch.

The adaptation itself? It’s brave, and filled with some startling imagery, but ultimately left me cold. You may feel differently, but splitting the main character dropped the stakes significantly – I found myself unable to care for Gregor’s plight, and just wished Kafka would stay behind the writing desk. That being said, it’s an intriguing production whose merits I’m still debating. Continue reading →

Mythbusting DC, The Features
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DC Mythbusting: Monumental Myths

Photo courtesy of
‘TJ, from above’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

It’s officially tourist season here in DC, and our once-serene monuments and memorials are again overrun with school groups in matching t-shirts and families pushing strollers the size of SUVs.  They’re here to see the monuments and memorials all over the city, and to educate future generations about the founding of our country and important historic events.  But there are so many myths about the monuments and memorials in the District that can’t possibly be true, so I set out to bust some of them, just in time to set those tourists straight.   Read on to find out whether there’s an extra hand of God on the Iwo Jima memorial, whether the number of horse’s hooves on the ground of a statue relates to how a person died, and what’s really buried beneath the Washington Monument.

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Fashionable DC, The Daily Feed
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Shecky’s Girls Night Out

Photo courtesy of
‘Kazuko 05’
courtesy of ‘yospyn’

Do you enjoy spending time with your friends, shopping at amazing discounts, and scoring lots of freebies?  If so, Shecky’s Girls Night Out may just be your idea of a perfect evening.  Experience the newest Spring trends while enjoying cocktails and beauty treatments all in one night.  Sounds pretty good to me!

Shecky’s will be setting up shop in DC at DAR Constitution Hall on Wednesday (14th) and Thursday (15th) — tickets can be purchased here.

Featured Photo
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Featured Photo

Photo courtesy of
‘the meet cute’
courtesy of ‘(afm)’

Street photography takes many forms and is done for many reasons. This shot looks like a private eye tailing one of the two, as if to document an illicit love affair. The subjects certainly look like they aren’t aware of anything around them, much less the camera. And the processing just adds to the feeling of someone hiding behind a mailbox, peeking above it to get the shot.

There’s a fair bit of street photography in our pool, and I encourage you to get out there and to that body of work.

Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: The Wedding Present @ The Black Cat 4/9/10

The Wedding Present play Bizarro at the Black Cat courtesy of Frank Bors Jr.

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of The Wedding Present’s seminal, break-up album, “Bizarro“; and to celebrate, band founder David Gedge is touring the U.S. playing the album in full. On Friday night The Wedding Present stopped in at The Black Cat to play a handful of non-“Bizarro” tracks and then the album proper from beginning to end. While the current Wedding Present line-up skews slightly younger than the blokes that originally played this material, the crowd on Friday night was definitely composed of first generation fans judging by the abundance of middle-aged and soon to be middle-aged men in attendance. It was certainly a night for reliving passionate youth for many as “Bizarro” is one of the great relationship-angst albums of all time. So great in fact that Gedge’s heart-wounded lyrics can still inspire a crowd of grown men to scream along with him even now, twenty years removed from the soul-crushing trials of youthful romance and the debut of the perfect soundtrack for them.

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News, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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D.C. United to take on AC Milan this May

Photo courtesy of
‘United vs Revolution 14’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’

Congrats to D.C. United for lining up a match against AC Milan this summer! One of Europe’s best sides will be coming to DC for a match at RFK on May 26th. Tickets, once they’re available, will start at just $35, which is dirt cheap to see one of Europe’s best pro-soccer clubs. When United has faced European clubs in the past, it’s not been terribly pretty for the local boys, but it is a chance to see some of the finest soccer played in the world. Set aside the 26th on your calendar, this is one not to miss.

Sports Fix
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Sports Fix: Springtime Turning Points

Photo courtesy of
‘Talk, talk.’
courtesy of ‘NDwas’

Nationals
Record: 3-3
Last Two Weeks: 3-3
Place: 4th in the NL East

After a rough start against Philly, the Nats have rebounded well, taking 2 of 3 from the Mets.  The Nats sent down Garrett Mock, and placed Mike Morse on the DL after rough starts for both of them.  Mock will spend the next several starts in AAA Syracuse being reminded that perhaps it’s a good idea not to walk five batters in your first 3 1/3. Scott Olsen will be coming up to take his spot in the rotation this week.

The Nats head down to Philadelphia for three games, and hopefully there will be some payback for the whupping we got in Washington to open the season. After that, it’s a 9-game homestand at Nats Park, including our outing on the 21st.

Down on the farm, Steven Strasburg had his first start against Altoona on Sunday. His final line, via Dave Sheinin of the Post: 5 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K. He threw 82 pitches, 55 for strikes. I’m told he kept his velocity up, and looked good in his professional regular season debut. Stras did pick up the win.
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The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: Art After Hours 4/9

Photo courtesy of
‘Hirshhorn After Hours #57’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

The Hirshhorn Museum rocks.  I keep trying to think of a better description for the place, cause as writer – that is my job; however, no other term seems more fitting or more appropriate as a means to express my resulting state of euphoria that occurs following a visit to the Museum.

Whether it is the eclectic architecture of the building or an inspiring artist on display – I am consistently enamored.  And the Hirshhorn Museum’s After Hours party on Friday night, with its award-winning entertainment and international feel, just made it official.

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Fashionable DC, Life in the Capital, People, The Features
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A We Love DC Interview: Worn Magazine

Photo courtesy of
‘Worn Magazine Preview 01’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’

Some may say DC lacks a fashion presence.  However, with the onslaught of successful, local style blogs and publications in combination with the migration of young creative-types into the city – Washington is finally getting the makeover it has been desperately pleading for.

Helping our city make its mark is the new Worn Magazine.  The DC-born publication “is intended to bring greater awareness of local fashion and art to the District and to the nation”, combining the power of photography and creativity to “make DC a more art – and style-conscious city that is more accepting of various forms of personal expression”.

I had the unique opportunity to chat with Nicole Aguirre, Editor & Creative Director, about the magazine, fashion, and of course, DC.

We Love DC: What is Worn?

Nicole Aguirre: “Worn Magazine” is a new print publication that uses photography to showcase DC’s art and fashion scene and encourage it to grow.

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Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Serena Maneesh @ DC9 4/7/10

Serena Maneesh
courtesy of Serena Maneesh.

Norwegian, neo-shoegazer, wunderkinds Serena Maneesh (finally!) returned to the DC area on Wednesday night when they played a painfully short but brilliant set at DC9. It has been four long years since Serena Maneesh first brought their mammoth live sound to our area; when they played to an embarrassingly small crowd at the State Theater in 2006. I was one of the lucky few in attendance that night and I have been a babbling fool about this band ever since; singing their praises every time the shoegazer revival is up for discussion and playing just about every track off their first self-titled debut at my DJ nights over the years. If you read my original review and then their #2 spot on my 2006 best shows list, it is obvious how taken I was by their My Bloody Valentine-esque approach to live performance. The State Theater show is one of the best shows I have ever attended. Hence my many years of agony awaiting their return.
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The Features, Where We Live
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Where We Live: Old Town Alexandria

Photo courtesy of
‘View down King Street’
courtesy of ‘CathyLovesDC’

Alexandria is an independent city in Virginia that measures 15 square miles and includes over 100,000 residents (which is much larger than the typical neighborhood that we profile in Where We Live), and includes distinct neighborhoods like Arlandia, Rosemont, North Ridge, Del Ray, and West End.  This profile will mostly focus on the civic and commercial heart of Alexandria in Old Town, but it should be noted that Alexandria is made up of charming neighborhoods outside of that area that are definitely worth a visit.

History: This is a town with a lot of history.  Here’s the short version– Alexandria was originally a Native American settlement, then a major port, then part of DC in 1789 (only to be retroceded in 1846), then a quiet southern town frequented by tourists in the early twentieth century, then a growing suburb, and finally in the 1960’s the Old Town area was reborn as a commercial center and civic heart of the city (though many original historic buildings were demolished to make room for this ‘progress’).  The long version can be found on the Lyceum’s website about Alexandria history.

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Food and Drink, Interviews, People, The Features, We Love Drinks
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We Love Drinks: Joe Riley

Photo courtesy of
‘Joe Riley, Ace Beverage’
courtesy of ‘Jenn Larsen’

We Love Drinks continues our series where we look behind the bar, profiling the many people – from mixologists to bartenders, sommeliers to publicans – who make your drinks experience happen.

So far in our profile series we’ve focused on the people bringing your drinks to you – from bartenders crafting cocktails to sommeliers creating a wine list. But who brings the drinks to them? Those ingredients don’t just magically appear, do they? One name kept coming up over and over again – Joe Riley, fine spirits manager at Ace Beverage. I ventured up to leafy Wesley Heights (near AU) to meet him at the small but packed shop in Foxhall Square. We talked about his experiences as a fine spirits manager, and I also canvassed DC craft bartenders Owen Thompson and Derek Brown, along with cocktail enthusiast Marshall Fawley, to find out what it is about Joe that has loyal customers so buzzed.

Joe’s reputation is that he can find anyone anything. Within a few minutes of talking to him, I’d mentioned my nostalgic love for a rose liqueur I tasted one evening in Paris, topping a glass of champagne (the waiter exploded the bottle over me, but that’s another drinks story). “Not rose water, rose liqueur,” I sighed, “but no one has ever been able to – ” Joe’s head had cocked to one side during my reverie, eyes sparkling, and I trailed off as I realized he was about to make magic. “Crispin’s Rose Liqueur, Greenway Distillers. Hand distilled from apples, infused with rose petals. Crispin Cain’s been perfecting the recipe for years. We should be able to get that soon.”

Quest ended. Just like that. I then spent about an hour in the shop listening to him weave tales of liquor lore. Not only can he find anyone anything, he seems to know about everything – a fine spirits encyclopedia, a libation historian, filled with tales of Prohibition and the Washington of old. Continue reading →

We Love Weekends
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We Love Weekends, April 10-11

Photo courtesy of
‘And so it begins’
courtesy of ‘(afm)’

Jenn: This being the first weekend in several past that I’m actually not sick, I intend to have a blast. Friday night sees me at the opening of Synetic’s Metamorphosis, eager to find out how they tackle Kafka’s work about a man who wakes up one day as, well, a bug. Saturday is Sakura Matsuri Street Festival, to collect as many cute Japanese tees and teas as possible before hitting Yuri’s Night at the Capitol Skyline. Burlesque, art and mayhem! Sunday there’s no time to recover, following my usual bellydance class by meeting my fellow cyclistas for a ride on the Arlington Triangle. Yay spring!

Michael: This weekend has excellent concert bookends. On Friday, I’ll be catching British indie-rock legends, The Wedding Present, perform their seminal break-up opus ‘Bizarro’ in its entirety at the Black Cat ($15). On Sunday, I’ll be watching Red Sparowes when they migrate to Rock & Roll Hotel ($10).   Continue reading →

The Daily Feed, We Love Arts
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Free Fun at the Corcoran

Photo courtesy of
‘Corcoran Gallery of Art’
courtesy of ‘dcjasmine’

This just in…

This Sunday the Corcoran is open to the public, FREE of charge.

And as if this couldn’t get much better, it does.  Starting Memorial Day and lasting all summer, the Corcoran will be having FREE Summer Saturdays.  Join the Corcoran for gallery tours, workshops, and performances galore all for FREE.  Here is a link to check out all of these awesome events.

I am particularly looking forward to checking out the new exhibit Helios: Eadweard Muybridge in a Time of Change — opening this Saturday!

The Corcoran is located at 500 Seventeenth Street NW.

Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Clubhouse Consensus Is: “We’re Not Worried.”

Marquis 1
Photo by Rachel Levitin

Optimism is mood in the Nationals Clubhouse, even after the Opening Day snafu of losing 11-1 and the shenanigans caused by robust Phillies fans.

Bullpen Coach Jim Lett agreed that Opening Day is over, now it’s time to get on with the season.

Shortstop Ian Desmond says he’s not worried about what happened with the Phillies fans outnumbering the hometown NatPack on Opening Day. As a Sarasota, FL native and Tampa Bay Ray fan back in the day, Desmond remembers that Tampa Bay could barely pack the park. That is, until they started winning. “The fans will warm up to us once we start winning,” he said. Why not believe him at this point, it’s true … isn’t it?

It’s not too far fetched to say that the Nats will win a few games this year. Statistically speaking, it’s bound to occur. What will get them there is chemistry. The team’s got it, according to Desmond. “We’ve got great chemistry in the clubhouse. We’ve all got the same goal – to win. The team aspect is really there this year. There are no individuals, it’s a team feel.”

Opening Day starting pitcher John Lannan agrees despite a heartbreaking loss on Monday. Lannan’s spirits as the Nationals ace are still high. “It didn’t go our way. The ball found the holes,” he said. Some of Lannan’s goals as the season continues to progress are improving on last year, lowering his walk count, and going as deep in the game as possible. Continue reading →

News, Sports Fix
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The Nationals Sold Out Their Fanbase

Photo courtesy of
‘Burning of Ravan 01’
courtesy of ‘TushyD’

I don’t usually start my posts with disclaimers, but I am starting this with one. The following is my personal opinion, and not the opinion of We Love DC, the business entity. No words here are approved by the editorial board of We Love DC, and should not be considered as endorsed by the board. I stand alone.

There is no question that in the aftermath of Monday’s abject embarrassment both on the field and off that the Nationals have sold their fanbase up the river. Stories are coming out that the Nationals made a concerted effort to attract large groups of fans from the Philadelphia area and sold large blocks of tickets (one was over 500 tickets) to Philly fans before the public at large was given a chance to buy tickets for themselves. The Nationals pursued profit first and foremost with no regard for their home market’s needs. The home market who shelled out six hundred million dollars for the temple that they play in. Continue reading →