Category Archives: The Features

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

Music, The Features, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Hanson

Photo courtesy of
‘Taylor’s still got it’
courtesy of ‘dcjasmine’

Oh, yes– you read right. I went to see Hanson (and Hellogoodbye) on Tuesday. Confession time: I liked it. A lot. I mean, my music taste has come a long way in 11 years, but you never forget your first love. And man, that Taylor Hanson… sweet Tiger Beat, he’s still got it.

The boys of Hanson– Taylor, Isaac, and Zac– may all be all grown up (plus married and with kids, no less), but their music retains the same sweetness and light that made them famous back in the late ’90s. Just about every song featured their signature three-part harmony, and most of their lyrics are about pure, unadulterated love. Continue reading →

Farm Fresh, We Green DC
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Farm Fresh: Redwood Restaurant and Bar

Photo courtesy of
‘Cherry Tomato & Watermelon Salad’
courtesy of ‘snapzdc’

Here’s another feature where WeLoveDC authors Donna (greenie) and Katie (foodie) have paired up to tell you about local restaurants that take on the challenge of being green. Donna will explain the logic behind the environmentally friendly trends, and Katie will tell you if the food tastes any good. It’s a rough life, but someone has to do it, right?

Katie: Located in the heart of Bethesda Row, Redwood Restaurant and Bar is sleek, clean and stylish. With high ceilings and unsurprising wood decor, it’s a huge modern space with some seriously tasty food. And not only that, they do a great job of sourcing their products from local farmers, and utilizing the Bethesda farmer’s market, conveniently located right outside their door. Donna and I were invited to explore Redwood’s local food, so we went one Thursday night and sampled the fare and heard from Executive Chef Blake Schumpert exactly how he chooses the produce and meats he uses.

Donna: I like that at Redwood, they spell out their philosophy toward local foods up front, with a statement from owner and CEO Jared Rager posted on the Web site and a shorter message printed on the menus, so there’s no mistaking: “We are an independent, locally owned restaurant that showcases a seasonal menu featuring the best mid-atlantic ingredients available. Our produce, cheese, meat, and seafood is naturally-raised, organic, or sustainable whenever possible and is sourced from local growers. We’ve assembled a wine list from around the world with a particular focus on small production vintners who practice sustainable viticulture – making wine in a way which is economically viable, socially supportive and ecologically sound.” Hooray!

Katie: So with a clear mission, and a farmer’s market right outside their door, Redwood is an excellent place to eat some savory fare while feeling good about your meal’s carbon footprint. Continue reading →

The Features
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Trick or Treat? Local Halloween Thrills

Photo courtesy of
‘Count Gore De Vol and band’
courtesy of ‘Photos by Chip Py’

Oh, Halloween. Silly Halloween. Childish Halloween. With your costumes, and your theme parties, and your candy. You’re for kids! …Aren’t you? Not in DC.

Amongst the usual suspects are some slightly sophisticated ways to spend Halloween. You can be indoors or out. Get things going early or stay out late. But you can be sure that this Halloween there’ll be tricks and treats — and naked butt cheeks (gah!).

Outdoor scares

DC’s temperate weather up until just about Halloween allows for some great outdoor scare-fests (and some costumes that seemed like a good idea). Drive for up to an hour to reach some real thrills, or stay nearby for some seriously freaky fun.

Every year since I discovered it, I’ve gone to Markoff’s Haunted Forest to scream my way through one of the two dark and spooky outdoor trails. The first year was the best, and by the second, I had remembered most of their scare tactics, but it didn’t mean it still wasn’t ridiculously fun.  But what really keeps me going back is taking someone with me who has never been. It’s just an experience you need to have. An hour away, the cost is a steep $25 on a weekend.

But Markoff’s Haunted Forest also has a number of “while-you-wait” activities, such as watching a 7 year old boy climb to the top of the wobbling telephone pole “Death Jump” only to be too scared to jump off or climb down. Terrifying… Continue reading →

Comedy in DC
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Comedy in DC: Still Talking About That Same Festival

Photo courtesy of
‘shure beta’
courtesy of ‘billaday’

Yeah, okay, so… the big news in DC comedy is still the Bentzen Ball. I rounded up some clips for you (and some fussing about the “curation” of the festival) a couple of weeks ago, then Washingtonian inexplicably profiled the least representative sample possible of comics appearing.  Dandy. But what you need to know is… there are unpublicized shows the Thursday through Saturday nights. Oh yes. After the ticketed shows wind up, there are going to be late-night gigs at Ben’s Chili Bowl featuring informal sets from several of the comics appearing. As one of the organizers of the rogue shows says, “Imagine an open mic where everyone is amazing.” So if you’ve missed out on tickets or are out late on U Street or just want to hang out with funny people, Ben’s Chili Bowl is the place to be.

In what seems like someone’s staggering failure to check the calendar, the DC’s Funniest Fed Finals are  also happening this weekend- Friday night at the Arlington Cinema ‘n’ Drafthouse. Tickets are $15 and the show starts at 8.

If this explosion o’ comedy this weekend isn’t enough for you (and it isn’t for me, since I’ll be at a wedding for a good chunk of the weekend) Continue reading →

The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: A Flea in Her Ear

Joe Brack, Katie Atkinson, and Heather Haney in "A Flea in Her Ear," photo courtesy of Constellation Theatre Company

Joe Brack, Katie Atkinson, and Heather Haney in "A Flea in Her Ear," photo courtesy of Constellation Theatre Company

Missing suspenders, snapped frilly garters, a revolving bed, a man who can’t pronounce his consonants – Georges Feydeau’s “A Flea in Her Ear” takes some uptight French aristocrats and rattles them around in the Frisky Puss Hotel. It’s a tightly constructed “bedroom farce” that Constellation Theatre Company attacks with frenetic physical comedy. Lots of scenery is chewed in this production, but that’s a good thing!

Woeful Raymonde Chandebise (a sprightly Katie Atkinson) suspects her husband is unfaithful, because he’s stopped fulfilling his conjugal duties. Until she solves the mystery of his failed desire, she can’t rest – and certainly can’t take a lover until her mind is at ease! Devising a ruse with best friend Lucienne (Heather Haney, butter wouldn’t melt) to catch her husband in the act, she sets off a series of wildly implausible and ever more ridiculous situations of mistaken identity. Don’t bother trying to keep track of it all, just let the riot take over.

Anchored by a strong cast all showing great vocal and physical command, the production is clearly rooted in the world of farce. I honestly laughed to tears at several points. It makes for a truly hysterical night at the theater.
Continue reading →

Featured Photo
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Featured Photo


Skyline Drive Color 2 by afagen

The time is here when the green shades of summer transform into fall’s multiple shades of red, orange, and yellow, definitely one of my favorite times of the year.  It’s time to break out your favorite sweaters, your corduroys, and over the last week, your umbrellas and rain coats.  I may not have time to visit Skyline drive this year, but luckily Flickrite Afagen was there to capture this beautiful photo of the foliage for us.  Seeing this shot makes me want to hop on my cafe racer motorcycle (which I have yet to acquire) to take a ride through the beautiful hues of autumn, stirring the leaves as I rumble by.

One key ingredient to getting a nice shot of the fall colors is having a good set of filters.  On a sunny day you’ll definitely need a UV filter to cut through the haze.  You might also try using a warming filter to give the colors, well, a warmer feel.  There are numerous vantage points to shoot from along Skyline drive.  The hard part is finding a time when the colors have peaked and the crowds have not.  The good news is, like the annual blooming of the cherry blossoms, if you miss your chance to photograph the fall foliage this year, there’s a good chance it will happen again next year.

Adventures, Fun & Games, Sports Fix, The Features
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Newcomer’s Guide to Capitals Hockey

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC_4085’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’

After attending the Predators – Capitals game on Saturday with a friend new to hockey, I came to a sudden realization. The Capitals are pretty much the only local pro team that is resisting the giant sewer of suckitude. With their winning ways, it’s an easy bandwagon to jump on, something I pointed out first last spring.

To that end, we’ve got some new fans showing up at the Verizon Center (I still refuse to stoop to calling it “the Phone Booth”) to cheer on the Capitals. So why not lay out some ground rules and info for you newcomers to the great game of hockey? Besides, it’s a good refresher course for out out-of-town visitors and rabid fans in general.

I give you the “Unofficial Guide to the Washington Capitals Fan Code of Conduct.”

Continue reading →

Adventures, Food and Drink, The DC 100
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DC Omnivore 100: #50 Sea Urchin

Photo courtesy of
‘Sea Urchin’
courtesy of ‘aslives’

It’s that time of week when WeLoveDC brings you another edition to our ever growing list of DC Omnivore 100. For this entry, let’s push the envelope and go beyond personal food comfort levels by trying Sea Urchin.

If you’ve watched any Jacques Cousteau-esque nature shows, you know what a sea urchin looks like–a purplish-black, spiked, baseball sized creature attached to the ocean bottom or coral.  And you know that stepping on them is a definite no-no. It’s also one of those peculiar food items, like lobster or snails, where some human was SO hungry and that he/she had no other option than taking on the time-consuming task of figuring out how/what parts of this creature they should/could eat.

Given the spiny, hard appearance of the sea urchin, it’s of no surprise that only a small portion of the creature, its roe (aka: gonads, ovaries, milt or eggs,) is edible.  “Uni,” as the Japanese call the eatable part of the sea urchin, is considered a culinary delicacy in many parts of the world. Sea urchins are often eaten raw, with a squeeze of lemon or used to flavor omelets,  soups and sauces, or used instead of butter. Continue reading →

The Features
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Public Media Camp

Opening Session

What would happen if you got 300+ people involved in digital media creation and curation, public media and news reporters, and even the public at large together to talk about the future of Public Media? Organizers Andy Carvin (who works in Social Media for NPR) and Peter Corbett (from iStrategyLabs) decided to put it together and see what would happen. The result is the first of its kind Public Media Camp hosted by the Center for Social Media at American University this weekend. Content creators and producers, web and application developers, folks involved in public media in many different aspects, from APIs and tools to stories and relationships.

The unconference was kicked off by the CEO of NPR, Vivian Schiller, who discussed the changing environments of the modern media culture. Her remarks suggested that 2009 might be “the year everything changed,” suggesting that convergence between public, for-profit, and passion-driven media outlets might be closer than currently is expected. Participants ranged from NPR Ombudsman Alicia Shepard, to developer shops like Development Seed, to producers and developers at WAMU, to documentarists, to the Sunlight Foundation. With the charge given, the unconference divided itself into many skeins, those for programmers, those for producers and content developers, those for the more navel-gazey ethicists and the enthusiast gamer were all on the schedule. So what happened?

Continue reading →

Essential DC, Special Events, The Features, We Love Arts
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The Strange Comfort of Brian Jungen

People's Flag

Opening today at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is a new exhibition that will run through August 8, 2010. Brian Jungen: Strange Comfort is a major exhibit showcasing the critically acclaimed works of the Canadian-based artist and is his first exhibition organized by a Native American museum. Jungen’s work has been on display around the world, including the Casey Kaplan Gallery in New York, the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal in Quebec, and the Witte de With in the Netherlands.

The NMAI’s first solo exhibition since its opening in 2004, Strange Comfort is exactly that. The stunning “Crux” is your first view of Jungen’s work – recognizable from the crocodile piece show in the recent ads around town – and only continues to intrigue and inspire when you visit the main gallery on the third floor.

Jungen, of Dunne-za First Nations and Swiss-Canadian ancestry, explores several themes through his art. The use of every-day objects to create Indian cultural icons is something very different, born from Native ingenuity of crafting one object out of another, a common practice with many First Nation people. Jungen commented in the NMAI’s press release that he grew up watching his Dunne-za relatives recycle everything from car parts to shoe boxes. “It was a kind of salvaging born out of practical and economic necessity, and it greatly influenced how I see the world as an artist.”

Continue reading →

Getaways, The Features
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Getaways: Philadelphia

City Hall
City Hall by Corinne Whiting

The mention of Philly conjures different associations for different people. Some instantly envision mounds of steaming cheesesteak (“Get the whiz or they’ll mock you!” Philadelphians warn). Others think of the Founding Fathers, the Eagles and their die-hard fans, that famously cracked bell, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia or of a fist-pumping Rocky racing up the art museum steps. (Some others I know love to bring up this ridiculous survey. I’m reluctant to make any cracks here when DC doesn’t always fare so well itself…)

For me Philly now means frequent visits with a dear friend whom I met in Scotland (go figure) and hours of aimless wandering around this fascinating city. Each time I marvel at how a place so physically close can sometimes feel so very far away. As a child I traveled once or twice to this historically-rich town (the nation’s temporary capital from 1790 to 1800) to stand on the very spots where the country’s Founding Fathers drafted the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. As school kids here we learned about Renaissance man Benjamin Franklin, famed not only for his revolutionary electricity experiment, but also for creating the country’s first insurance company and the city’s first public library and fire department. We ogled at the Liberty Bell, rung to announce the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1828 in Great Britain, hopped back on our bus, and trekked home to the nation’s newer capital.

These days I make the two-and-a-half to four-hour “dragon bus” journey (I’d recommend the speedier/pricier Amtrak option if unpredictable budget shuttles aren’t your thing) when craving an urban change of scene. When DC is feeling just a little too rigid or pristine or orderly, and New York feels too far away, I head north to the “City of Brotherly Love.” Franklin deemed Philadelphia the “new Athens,” but to me, it feels suspiciously reminiscent of Glasgow, Scotland, perhaps for its mix of historic charm—cobblestone streets and narrow row houses in European-esque Old City—splashed with modern blocks of gray concrete and urban grit. In any case, the place is full of character and refreshingly down to earth.

Continue reading →

Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Skins Face Sixth Straight Winless Team

Photo courtesy of
‘Teddy’
courtesy of ‘brianmka’

The 2-3 Redskins face the 0-5 Kansas City Chiefs this weekend, making them unique in one way this season: Every team they’ve played thus far this season hasn’t had a win. They faced the 0-0 Giants, the 0-1 Rams, the 0-2 Lions, the 0-3 Bucs and the 0-4 Panthers. Sure, some teams like the Giants, were unlikely to have lost to the Skins. If you take out the Giants’ record, the Skins went 2-2 against teams with a current 2-17 record. Yikes.

So, with Zorn’s job on the line this weekend, will the Skins deliver?

The Features, We Love Food
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First Look: Restaurant 3’s Bacon Week

Photo courtesy of
‘pigs in a row’
courtesy of ‘specialkrb’

Books have been written about it. Love songs. Poems. It’s salty. It’s crispy. It’s fatty. It’s bacon.

And Restaurant 3 knows about the beauty of the food, and the Clarendon neighborhood restaurant is celebrating the “Week of Bacon” from October 21-27, 2009. Each day for the duration of the week of bacon, the restaurant will offer a daily Bacon Happy Hour, where bar guests can feast on bacon bites such as bacon on a stick & bacon-wrapped shrimp and wash it all down with $3 craft beer draft specials. Not only can you stop by for bacon and beer, but Restaurant 3 is offering a Bacon Tasting Menu priced at $30 per person. I was lucky enough to preview a few of the Bacon Week specials, and let me tell you. It’s impressive. Continue reading →

Alexandria, Entertainment, Food and Drink, The Features
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Modern Gents at Morrison House

Champagne Sabering

"Jason Tesauro sabers champagne" by Jenn Larsen, on Flickr

Maybe it’s easier to define feminine elegance than masculine, but one thing I know for sure – a man can be elegant without losing his swagger. In fact, both complement the other. It’s no coincidence that the men who best epitomize this quality are usually from another era – Humphrey Bogart, Cary Grant, Duke Ellington, Steve McQueen.

Sound appealing? Enter Jason Tesauro, author of The MODERN GENTLEMAN: A Guide to Essential Manners, Savvy & Vice. Earlier this week I had the privilege of attending a complimentary preview of his upcoming series at Morrison House in Old Town. These four courses are designed to give modern gents a roadmap for mixing confidence with class. Or as Jason put it, to give you “a code of ethics even in the dicier areas of vice.”

Want to learn how to saber a bottle of champagne? How to navigate the world of artisan cocktails, stocking your home bar with confidence? How about choosing hand-rolled cigars, carving a bird, learning about custom tailoring, all while wooing the ladies? Covered, in true raconteur style. Continue reading →

We Love Weekends
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We Love Weekends 10/17-18

Photo courtesy of
‘(270/365)’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’

Ben: This weekend looks to be on the chilly side but that won’t stop our usual Friday hockey viewing. Saturday we’re entertaining a friend from New York who just recently became a U.S. citizen, so we’ll be visiting the National Archives and checking out the nation’s founding documents with her, followed by an early dinner at Matchbox and finishing off with a visit to the Verizon Center, where the Caps take on the Nashville Predators. Sunday looks to be a day of recovery but may involve a trip out to Foxfire Grill, our new foodie addiction in Springfield.

Shannon: We’re right in the thick of fall, and I’m gearing up for Halloween this weekend!  Friday night I’d like to check out a lantern-lit ghost tour at the National Building Museum, and Saturday I hope to finally head out to Poolesville for Markoff’s Haunted Forest, which I’ve been wanting to check out for ages.  Saturday is also Bike DC Day, so in between these two spooky, scary nights I’ll be biking around the city on car-free streets.  And on Sunday, I’m going to head to the pool, because I just signed up for next year’s Alcatraz Swim and I need to train to outswim any sharks.  How’s that for scary? Continue reading →

Arlington, Special Events, Talkin' Transit
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Watching the Emergency Response Drill

Photo courtesy of Me

DSC_0012
courtesy of Me

As I watched the teams from multiple counties go through this drill I heard the radio announcement voice in my head say “If this has been an actual emergency, there would have been a lot less official rubberneckers taking snapshots.”

Photo courtesy of Me

DSC_0029
courtesy of Me

It makes perfect sense – if the point of a drill is to run a scenario and determine how well you’re doing things then you need observers who aren’t a part of the response to watch and grade. There were also other folks occasionally providing input to the suited-up response teams who were seemed to be running the scenario and providing the simulation participants with information about what they were discovering as they went.

Photo courtesy of Me

DSC_0033
courtesy of Me

The day started like all official operations: with a lot of waiting around. Those of us who’d shown up from the press to observe were given time to talk to Arlington and Alexandria county officials about the exercise, as well as a representative from the railroad management organization CSX. The visuals got a lot more interesting once we were led to the site of the simulated incident.

Continue reading →

The Features
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Not Your Typical Swag: DC Antiques, Art & Jewelry Show

Raymond Lee Jewelers has this Platinum diamond bracelet. Total diamond weight is approx 20.50 carats.

Raymond Lee Jewelers has this Platinum diamond bracelet. Total diamond weight is approx 20.50 carats.
Courtesy of Raymond Lee Jewelers

Every weekend, do you swing by the Hope Diamond to glare at its stunning size and beauty on your way to Home Goods for some second hand “antiques”? That’s not that too far from my ideal weekend.

No matter your inclination, starting tomorrow and through the weekend, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center downtown is hosting almost 100 exhibitors for the Antiques, Art & Jewelry Show. For $15, you can spend up to four days to see Antique Road Show-style action right here in town, and maybe learn a thing or two during the free lectures. You’ll feel just like you’re down the street at a Smithsonian, only these goods come with a story – and a price.

The variety of unusual historical art collections and antiques from around the world available at this show makes it compelling for both serious collectors and beginners. The first annual show’s collections will feature everything from original paintings and works of art, to Art Deco and Modernism pieces. Continue reading →

Interviews, People, The Features
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He Loves DC: Michael Babin

Michael Babin 3

Michael Babin isn’t necessarily a DC household name, but his restaurants sure are. He’s one of the co-owners behind the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, (NRG) the powerhouse behind Buzz, Evening Star Café, EatBar, Planet Wine, Rustico, Columbia Firehouse, Star Catering, Tallula and Vermilion – all Northern Virginia staples that have quickly become community favorites. With Michael opening his first restaurant in DC proper any day now, the beer-focused Birch & Barley and upstairs bar Churchkey, I thought it was high time to talk to him about what he loves about DC.

Katie: How long have you lived in the DC area?
Michael: 18 years.

What is the best thing about DC, in your opinion?
DC is much more manageable and affordable than just about any other city with comparable cultural attractions. Also, the people who live here tend to be well educated, well informed, and passionate about public issues. Because there is more awareness of the inside baseball of how things really work, it can seem to outsiders like a cynical town, but just as much (if not more), it’s a city of idealists and big dreamers.

What would you change about DC if you could?
Lower the pollen levels and eradicate those tiny Asian mosquitoes.

Why did you start NRG, and what do you see for it in the future?
I opened the Evening Star Cafe because I wanted to get a practical education in business by starting and owning one. A few years later, I decided to do this full-time and it turned into NRG. I have too many goals for NRG to mention, but personally I hope to continue to earn the right to work with smart, creative, and committed partners in the kitchens and fronts-of-house to create and operate places that we, and our guests, genuinely love. Continue reading →