Category Archives: The Features

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

Sports Fix
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Eagles defeat Redskins 20-13

Photo courtesy of
‘John Beck’
courtesy of ‘Keith Allison’

After Rex Grossmanhad thrown his fourth interception of the game and John Beck entered and led the Redskins on a late touchdown drive the natural order of Washington Redskins football returned. There cannot be a Redskins football season without a quarterback controversy. From the early days of Sonny Jurgensen vs. Billy Kilmer to Heath Shuler vs. Gus Frerotte to Brad Johnson vs. Jeff George, and the more recent quarterback battles of Jason Campbell vs. Todd Collins and Donovan McNabb vs. Rex Grossman there has seemingly always existed a need to have a battle for quarterback.

Some of this might have to do with the fact that the Redskins haven’t had a top quarterback for what amounts to a lifetime for some, but whatever the reason is when John Beck came out on the field and looked competent he put the Washington Redskins universe in order. It doesn’t matter if the game was out of hand at that point and would have taken a miracle to win. It was out of hand because Rex Grossmanand the Redskins offense weren’t able to capitalize on the mistakes made by an Eagles team that has made mistakes all season.

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Weekend Flashback
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Weekend Flashback: 10/14-10/16

Photo courtesy of
‘Maryland Renaissance Festival (31 of 47)’
courtesy of ‘caroline.angelo’

The first good weekend of Fall is behind us. Judging by the photos in our Flickr pool, you all took advantage of the excellent weather. I always describe this time of year as one of the best times to be in Washington. Cool but not cold weather; clear skies and still plenty of light; and lots of things to do. Check out the photos below to relive a bit of the nice weekend. Continue reading →

Entertainment, Music, Night Life, The Features, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Yuck @ Black Cat 10/12/2011

photos by Sarah Jackson

London-based quartet Yuck rocked out at the Black Cat Wednesday night to a sizable crowd. The band is just finishing up their US tour in support of their self-titled debut, released in February on Fat Possum Records. This was their second visit to the Black Cat; the first was in May, opening for Australian psychedelic-rockers Tame Impala. I was at that show to see Tame Impala, and had the magical elusive fortune of experiencing an opening band that I hadn’t heard before blow my socks off. I became an instant fan. Wednesday night’s almost packed house proved that they have collected quite a few fans in the past year, and they were clearly pleased with the turnout.

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Sports Fix
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Redskins Preview Week Six: The Eagles

Photo courtesy of
‘Eagles vs Redskins 11/15/10’
courtesy of ‘Matthew Straubmuller’

Five weeks ago at this time the Phillies were the best team in baseball and the Eagles were 1-0 and well on their way to what was supposed to be a dream season. Now just a few weeks later the Phillies are enjoying the golf course and the Eagles dream has become a nightmare. The Bills game last week serves as a microcosm of why the Eagles season has been a disappointment to this point. Short passes went for long yardage as tackle after tackle was missed, Fred Jackson ran for over 100 yards against an Eagles defense that has allowed over 140 yards a game, and Michael Vick turned the ball over four times on interceptions.

When the Eagles acquired Nnamdi Asomugha this off-season it was thought to be the final piece to turn a defense that ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in passing touchdowns allowed in 2010 into a well above average defense. As Redskins fans have learned in recent years one big free agent signing cannot on its own turn a weakness into a strength, and the Eagles defense this season ranks second in the NFL in most passing touchdowns allowed. It is a good thing for the Eagles then that passing is not the Redskins strength, but the Eagles have allowed an average of 140.2 rushing yards a game while the Redskins have rushed for an average of 126.8 yards a game. It appears that the Redskins offensive strength matches up well with the Eagles defensive weakness.

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We Love Weekends
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We Love Weekends – October 15 – 17

Photo courtesy of
‘Irene’s fury.’
courtesy of ‘gerdaindc’

Oh hi everyone, how are you? Sorry we’re a little quiet, we’re all just enjoying this delightful return to September’s weather and planning our weekends. Do us a favor, this time when you chant “rain, rain, go away” please follow up with “come back another day that is more than just a few weeks down the road because seriously we JUST got the moss our from under our fingernails and Don still doesn’t have a new roof on and it’s getting kinda drippy.” Thanks.

So, that aside, if you haven’t planned for the weekend – which the Capital Weather Gang claims will be cool but with few clouds – you could poach some of our concepts.

Photo courtesy of
‘new mr. yogato stamps’
courtesy of ‘ann gav’

Patrick: This weekend I’ll be at the Capital Hill Arts Workshop where I’ll be running performances of Circle Mirror Transformation. After seeing it at Studio Theatre last year, I jumped at the opportunity to stage manage a production by the Capital City Players. It’s a quirky comedy about five people in an adult education class in Shirley, VT. Besides that I won’t have much time for anything else- except a trip to Mr. Yogato where I will be cashing in my Scoutmob deal.
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Business and Money, Fashionable DC, Life in the Capital, News, The Features, Ward 2
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Brooks Brothers Opens On Georgetown Strip

This year’s latest addition to the Georgetown shopping scene is New York based Brooks Brothers which takes over the former Pottery Barn and Smith Hawken spaces on the corner of M & 31st Street NW. When I attended their grand opening party last week, I had completely underestimated how large this combined location would be. The new store offers three floors of retail space filled with ready-to wear suits, sports jackets, wool sweaters, shirts, etc.

Unlike other two DC Brooks Brother stores I’ve been to (Chevy Chase and Dupont), which have a prim, proper and country club-esque sterility to them, the Georgetown Brooks Brothers is a complete departure; the shop plays heavily on a hunting lodge or Adirondack cabin vibe with dark wood paneling, heavy uses of flannel and tweed fabrics in the drapery, carpeting and upholstery. On the lower level, you’ll find a pool table and bar lounging area that companion shoppers can relax in while tailoring takes place. Continue reading →

Featured Photo
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Featured Photo

Photo courtesy of
‘Mallards Coming in for a Landing’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

Urban wildlife; sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it? But there really are quite a lot of interesting species of wildlife within the boundaries of DC. There are hunting eagles; baby deer; even foxes along the Mall! Most times, you just have to keep your eyes open and you’ll see some fascinating animals cross your path.

I know ducks aren’t necessarily that fascinating, we see them everyday after all, but a good picture of ducks is fascinating. And Mr. T’s photo is certainly a good shot. Catching the ducks landing, in formation no less, with a fast shutter speed to freeze the movement is what makes this shot. And if you’re interested in seeing more of the wildlife DC is blessed with, do what Mr. T does and go down to Constitution Gardens. You’ll see some fascinating birds, I can guarantee it.

Entertainment, Music, The Features, We Love Music
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We Love Music: The Lemonheads @ Black Cat, 10/7/2011

 

photo by Justin Feller

A word to the wise: don’t try to relive the past- you will inevitably be disappointed. In the weeks leading up to The Lemonheads show at Black Cat last Friday I was excited. Excited at the thought of hearing the album It’s A Shame About Ray performed top to bottom by the dreamy pop-rock idol Evan Dando and whoever else he was calling The Lemonheads this time around. Excited to be momentarily transported back to 1992, and the happy state that album put me in. I first heard that album when I was in middle school, and got to meet Dando several times from then on at various in-store appearances, including Kemp Mill Records in Georgetown (R.I.P.) and Tower Records in Foggy Bottom (R.I.P.). (To the kids of today- there used to be things called record stores, and artists used to make appearances/perform/autograph in them for publicity while trying to promote their albums.)

 So I was a fan from a young age, and saw Dando in his prime. He is no longer in his prime. (This has nothing to do with age, by the way) I think it is partly because I was a fan since I was 12 or 13, and had seen him up close (I have a picture of 13 y/o me with Dando), that I was so blown away and shocked by the sad state he appears to be in now. But I’m trying to write a music review, so before I address the crisis that is Evan Dando, I will talk about the music. Continue reading →

Adventures, Entertainment, Food and Drink, Fun & Games, Special Events, The Features
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Join Us at the Renaissance Festival!

Photo courtesy of
‘Exhorting the Gentlefolk’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

UPDATE: THE BOOMERANG PARTY BUS TO THE RENNFEST WITH WE LOVE DC AND THE PASSENGER IS NOW SOLD OUT! THANK YOU!

Ah, yes, it’s that time of year. The time when you begin to have strange cravings for Steak-on-a-Stick, or smoked turkey leg eaten right off the bone, gnawing away with relish like Henry VIII. Perhaps you find yourself speaking in an excruciatingly bad English accent, or inexplicably adding “e” to the ends of words like “Shop” or “Old” – well then my friend, it’s time to don thy frippery best and hie thee to the Maryland Renaissance Festival!

RennFest is always a blast, and this year we’ve decided to really let our inhibitions run wild with some good olde-fashioned goofy fun. Lots of it. And we want you to come along! We Love DC has partnered with The Passenger and the Boomerang Party Bus to bring you to the Maryland Renaissance Festival this Sunday, October 16th! Tickets are $25 and include both your bus ride to and fro ye old faire and your entry admission! Snap them up on the magickal PayPal.

We’ll depart promptly at 11am from The Passenger (that’s at 1021 7th Street NW, milords and ladies) and travel to the Festival in a refurbished school bus replete with music, mayhem and dance poles (Yes, I know that’s an anachronism. But seriously, have you seen The Tudors?). After arrival at the Festival you’re free to wander the Revel Grove, slurp down some oyster shooters, indulge in fried Oreos, beer and bee stings, testing your mad skills at archery or feats of strength, buying chainmail underwear, and just giving in to the kitschy glory that is the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Then our carriage departs around 5pm to hie back to The Passenger just in time for a late, delicious brunch.

So please come along with fellow WLDC authors Don, Fedward, myself and the rest of our motley crew as we join our favorite folks from The Passenger on a trip back in time… I may even wear a corset. HUZZAH!

Entertainment, Music, The Features, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Geoffrey O’Connor, Jens Lekman @ Sixth & I, 10/5/2011

photo courtesy of Geoffrey O'Connor

Australian synth-pop artist Geoffrey O’Connor provided a unique set opening up a night of quirky, fun music at DC’s Sixth & I Synagogue on Wednesday night. O’Connor is currently on tour in the US supporting Swedish indie-pop darling Jens Lekman. When he took the stage he was a bit dwarfed by his surroundings- one man with a guitar and synthesizer in the spacious hallowed cavern of the synagogue. He introduced himself with small voice as well, not particularly exuding confidence or much stage presence. But as he began his first song, the contrast of his singing voice was immediately apparent- he sang with a deep, velvety croon, and when performing he clearly did not lack confidence. Continue reading →

Sports Fix
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The Meaning or Lack Thereof of the Redskins 3-1 Start

Photo courtesy of
‘Fred Davis’
courtesy of ‘Keith Allison’

I have spent this past week digging through so many football stats I started to dream of numbers spiraling through an immense blackness. I am filled with confusion at what all these numbers mean, what story they tell. A stat is useless unless it tells a story, contains meaning. The numbers I have looked at tell what has happened so far in the Redskins season. The numbers tell the story of a much improved team. The Redskins are a team who are controlling the game, but how much of an impact what has happened on what will happen remains a mystery.   

People smarter than me have compiled and analyzed these numbers against past history and against the strength of schedule to deduce that the Redskins have a 43.3% chance to make the playoffs. Before the season began most people would have guessed that percentage to be much closer to zero, and now it is just a bit below the odds of a coin flip. There are still those that say the Redskins have no shot at the playoffs, and this baffles me. I have never understood how some can make such declarative statements about something as unpredictable as sports. The Redskins 3-1 start is no fluke as they have outscored their opponents by a 20 point margin. Mostly on the strength of their defense.

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We Love Weekends
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We Love Weekends – October 7 to 9

Photo courtesy of
‘Clowns to the Left of Me’
courtesy of ‘dc-hulls’

Started out more like OctoBRR, amirite?

*crickets*

Woo, tough crowd. Anyway, if you’re still wrestling with what to do with yourself on this weekend’s predicted warm days and cool nights… well, just cyber-stalk us whydontcha?

Alexia: This weekend is going to be a busy one! Friday night the 7th-grade-me will freak out at the Black Cat watching The Lemonheads perform It’s a Shame About Ray in its entirety! Yeah! Saturday I’m playing with my band The Torches at Desperados at 7pm, as part of the Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie Music Festival, happening all weekend in the U Street corridor. After I get off stage, I am scrambling over to Artisphere in Arlington for The 1 Party, in honor of their first birthday. Looking forward to witnessing Volta Bureau‘s first live performance there! Sunday will hopefully be a day of rest, including strolling through Eastern Market and getting some veggies from the farmer’s market there for the week.

Photo courtesy of
‘Axum112’
courtesy of ‘Jenn Dyer’

Rachel: My weekend begins tonight with a live performance at Axum Bar & Lounge (located at 1934 9th Street NW). I’ll be debuting some new material and there’s a chance I’ll preview my song of choice for my Glee Project audition (yeah, I’m auditioning for The Glee Project this November, should be fun). Show starts at 8:30 p.m. tonight and there’s no cover charge. The rest of the weekend will likely include my standard trip to Kramer’s for Saturday Brunch for a quick read and a stop at Regal Gallery Place to see 50/50. I’ll probably stop by Utrecht for some new paints. I’ve got Monday off thanks to that whole Federal Holiday thing so I’m thinking of taking a pit stop at the zoo if it’s open.

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Entertainment, Interviews, Music, We Love Music
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Q&A with Debbi Peterson of The Bangles


courtesy of MSO PR.

The Bangles are performing at the 9:30 Club tonight so we asked our 80’s/New Wave correspondent Mickey McCarter if he’d like to have a little chat with Debbi Peterson about the band’s past, present, and future.

The Bangles, founded by sisters Vicki and Debbi Peterson along with Susanna Hoffs, have returned with a new album, ‘Sweetheart of the Sun’. To borrow a phrase from their previous album, they perhaps started a “doll revolution” with a tide of girl bands that began in the early 1980s and that really took hold in the 1990s. Hitmaker Prince liked the The Bangles so much that he gave them the song “Manic Monday,” which became one of their most memorable hits in 1986.

The Bangles have been touring a lot in the past decade and now they are back at the 9:30 Club on Thursday, October 6. We Love DC chatted with the lovely drummer Debbi, who is so refreshingly bubbly and modest, about breaking up and reforming the band, making an album without bassist Michael Steele, and what’s next for The Bangles.
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Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: The Horrors @ Black Cat, 9/30


photo courtesy of The Horrors.

Our friend Ali Lieberman covered The Horrors concert at The Black Cat for us on Friday night.

It’s incredible what three years can do. In 2009, the British band The Horrors opened for the Kills at the 9:30 Club with a presence that could barely fill the stage. They had a unique, campy, goth persona with teased black hair, eyeliner, and death-driven pseudonyms. Fast forward to last Friday night at the Black Cat where they were barely recognizable as the black-clad, emo quintet they once were.

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Interviews, People, Special Events, The Features, We Love Arts
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Juliet and the Demon Fish

Photo courtesy Juliet Eilperin and National Geographic

A first glance at the title “Demon Fish: Travels Through the Hidden World of Sharks” would probably invoke visions of bloody feeding frenzies, mouths full of razor-sharp teeth, and the sleek arrow-shaped bodies of deadly sharks. With, of course, the appropriate Jaws theme rolling around in our heads. And we couldn’t be more wrong with that impression.

Juliet Eilperin, a national environmental reporter for The Washington Post, has the spotlight this evening at the National Geographic Museum. And what she’ll be sharing with tonight’s audience will be somewhat removed from that first glimpse of her book. Despite its fearsome title, her work is more of a revelation of this sleek, deadly species that cruise the ocean’s depths (and shallows). Let’s face it: sharks have held a solid spot of fascination in our collective conscious, often as one of fear or as an image of ‘terrible beauty.’ Eilperin shines another light on sharks, however – conservation. Demon Fish strives to expose the intricacies and personalities of the shark-human relationship and reveals it’s not all about blood, teeth, and gore.

The idea bloomed after Eilperin began looking for something to write about. The oceans have had a long pull on Eilperin; they’re a subject she can fill conversations about, and for good reason. “It’s still unknown territory to humans, to a large extent, so that’s what intrigues me,” she confided. “So much of our world has been explored and documented, but when it comes to the sea, we’re still in a period of intense discovery. Also, it’s just so different from the environment in which we operate on a daily basis.” Casting about for the right angle, a colleague suggested the shark and it intrigued her enough to explore further. Continue reading →

Entertainment, The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: Lungs

Brooke Bloom and Ryan King in "Lungs" at Studio Theatre. Photo credit: Carol Pratt.

With British playwright Duncan Macmillan’s Lungs, Studio Theatre begins The Studio Lab Series – new plays produced bare bones for $20 a ticket. It’s an admirable venture that I’m excited to watch develop.

However, this first play out of the gate isn’t particularly innovative – though if the playwright’s intention is to resurrect the existential crises of the 1980’s TV series Thirtysomething for today’s thirtysomethings, then certainly he has suceeded. Or, as one woman  put it, leaving the theater in a negative huff, "white people’s problems."

It’s a pity the subject matter isn’t attacked in a more daring way, because Macmillan has a beautiful way with words. The natural cadence of the language, poetical vibrancy mixed with modern urgency, is definitely potent – but it’s at the service of the wrong plot. Lungs is jampacked with tired rom com characterizations about a young couple’s struggle to decide the future of their relationship. If it weren’t for the expressive sincerity displayed by the high professionalism of the actors and the direction, I might believe it to be an intentional (and rather cruel) satire on the "quarterlife crisis" movement. Especially as the plot can seem like hipster cliches on crack:

She’s the environmentalist PhD candidate, he’s the slacker musician! She’s a little bit psycho, he’s a little bit clueless! Wait, he’s the one who wants the baby? Insert Ikea and coffeeshop jokes! Watch out for the temp!

There’s not a single stereotypical moment in the lifeline of coupledom that isn’t explored here, the whole painful process of a paralyzed generation that supposedly thinks too much and acts too little. Continue reading →

Entertainment, Music, Night Life, We Love Music
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Hot Ticket: Dark Dark Dark @ Red Palace

photo by Tod Seelie

Embrace the chill in the air and get in the mood for fall with Dark Dark Dark at Red Palace tonight. Moody piano and clarion female vocals are joined with understated percussion and layers of cello, accordion, horns and backing vocals to create a dark, dramatic and beautiful melange. Check out the video for their single “Daydreaming” from their album Wild Go here. The group, from Minneapolis, Minnesota is on tour supporting Eastern European-inspired folk duo A Hawk and A Hacksaw.

A Hawk And A Hacksaw
Dark Dark Dark
Pillars and Tongues

Red Palace
Tuesday, October 4th
doors 8:00/show 8:30
$12

Featured Photo
By

Featured Photo

"To Go Against the Church is to Go Against God"
“To go against the church is to go against God” by andrade✖cobain

Every so often a camera phone can grab a truly stunning shot, as happened with andrade✖cobain‘s iPhone shot of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Dupont Circle. City lights shining into clouds light the church in the dead of night. The grain from the high sensitivity of the camera’s sensor shape it into a fantastic glimpse into space, with millions of stars backlighting the church. DC’s light pollution obviously prevents any such spectacular stargazing from ever actually happening, making andrade✖cobain‘s shot all that more unique. Well done.

Contribute your best photos from the DC area to WeLoveDC’s Flickr Pool!

Sports Fix
By

Redskins defeat Rams 17-10

Photo courtesy of
‘Santana Moss’
courtesy of ‘Keith Allison’

The feeling coming into this game was that the Redskins had to win by a wide margin to prove they were truly a new team after failing to close out the Cowboys on Monday night. With a 17-0 lead after their first possession of the second half it looked like the Redskins were going to win this one easily. That is not how it ended up as Grossman had one pass tick off the hands of Santana Moss into the arms of a Rams defender for a 51 yard return that resulted in a Rams field goal, then the Rams scored a touchdown after a Sav Rocca punt as the Redskins offense continued to stall, and then Grossman made an ill advised pass to James Laurinaitis of the Rams. The Redskins defense made sure the Rams were unable to capitalize on the Laurinaitis interception, but by that time the Rams had already pulled within seven.

The Rams touchdown drive was helped by what some might say is a Redskins mistake, but what might instead be a strange rule change that resulted from the lockout. Redskins defender Rob Jackson was called for roughing the passer that tacked ten yards onto Bradford’s eight yard completion to Austin Pettis. The problem with calling this roughing the passer is that when Jackson began his tackle Bradford still had the ball. Jackson only did what every other defensive football player should do and finished his tackle. It should not be a penalty to play hard until the whistle blows. The Rams might have still scored on the drive but the 10 extra yards cannot have hurt. Overall the Redskins defense deserves credit in this game as they were able to sack Sam Bradford six times and held Steven Jackson to 45 yards rushing.

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