Category Archives: The Features

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

Comedy in DC
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Comedy in DC: Sheng Wang

Sheng Wang Pro

I got to know Sheng Wang over the phone recently and found out who he is and what to expect when he headlines the Cool Dudes Hanging Out Show happening at the Velvet Lounge this Friday from 7 to 10 PM. I don’t like to give excuses, but want to let you know that my trusty I-Pod that I use to record my conversations failed to record and I do not have a lot of quotes. What I do promise you though is that I can tell you his story using the very ephemeral storage space in my brain. In fact I am scrambling to disseminate as much information as possible right now so that the story is fresh in my mind. Continue reading →

Mythbusting DC
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Mythbusting: The Internet was invented in Arlington?

Photo courtesy of
‘IMP Control Panel’
courtesy of ‘Erik Pitti’

This past week, just about every DC-based news outlet has picked up the Associated Press story that Arlington County is dedicating a plaque at 1400 Wilson Boulevard to commemorate the birthplace of the Internet-predecessor, the ARPANET. While there’s no question that DARPA, namesake of the network, was deeply and inextricably involved in the development of the network, can you really say that Arlington was its birthplace?

Part of this question is deeply philosophical: what exactly does it mean to invent something that spanned a continent, and then a globe? Are the wires the network? The machines that connect them?  The people that wrote the software that the machines run? There’s not going to be as clean cut an answer here as you’d like, but let’s take the opportunity to explore the region’s involvement in the creation of the second greatest technical achievement of the 1960s, shall we?

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Sports Fix
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The Road Trip: New York, Baltimore and Milwaukee

Photo courtesy of
‘Route 16’
courtesy of ‘Kevin.Jack’

The Nationals got a nice present from Mother Nature yesterday: a rainout. A day off at home is about as rare a commodity as you’ll find during the Major League Baseball season.  The Nationals leave in the morning for a quick two-game jaunt in New York before three games of interleague play in Baltimore, and then three games in Milwaukee.

With a 20-21 record, the Nationals go into their road trip with a 6-4 record over their last ten games.  Their trip to New York will see them play the last place New York Mets, who are also sporting a 6-4 record over their last ten games, mostly at the hands of Houston and Los Angeles, who’ve not had strong starts, but also against Colorado, who lead the West.  Tom Gorzelanny (2-3) and Livan Hernandez (3-5) will start in New York, with Jordan Zimmermann losing his start due to the rain yesterday.  Given that the Nats are trying to limit the returning hurler’s innings this season, a saved start is a wise choice for the club.  They’ll likely face Dillon Gee (2-0) and R.A. Dickey (1-5).  A split would be the bare minimum, but I’d say it’s possible we’ll see a short sweep.

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History, People, Scribblings, Special Events, The Features
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Scribblings: Annie Jacobsen & the Notorious Area 51

Photo courtesy of
‘2010_08_06_rno-phx-bos_071’
courtesy of ‘dsearls’

Tomorrow, secrets of Area 51 will be revealed.

Okay, not quite all. But more than you’d expect. The International Spy Museum is hosting a special (and free!) documentary screening and author discussion tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m. in conjunction with the National Geographic Channel. Annie Jacobsen is a contributing editor at the Los Angeles Times Magazine and an investigative reporter whose work has also appeared in the National Review and the Dallas Morning News. Her two-part series “The Road to Area 51” in the Los Angeles Times Magazine broke online reader records and remained the “most popular/most emailed” story for ten consecutive days. Her findings resulted in both a new book, AREA 51: An Uncensored History of America’s Top Secret Military Base, and a companion National Geographic special, Area 51 Declassified.

Jacobsen has been busy prepping for her book tour, which kicks off at the Spy Museum, but managed to squeeze off a few answers to WeLoveDC regarding Area 51, its purpose, and what really went on at America’s most well known Top Secret facility.

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Entertainment, Music, Night Life, Special Events, The Features, We Love Arts
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Art Explodes at 14th & Florida

Photo courtesy of
‘BYT/Vitaminwater Uncapped 9’
courtesy of ‘Jenn Larsen’

I’m standing in front of a beat-up industrial building whose windows are papered with notices, its imposing iron gate clanged shut. It doesn’t look like much is happening on this corner of 14th and Florida Avenue NW. But above me is a new black sign with familiar logos signaling that three partners have come together to bring DC an exhilarating pop-up destination combining art, music and the unexpected for one month of mayhem.

Get ready for vitaminwater uncapped LIVE with entertainment programming from Brightest Young Things and Art Whino‘s G40 Art Summit: Friday May 20th through Friday June 17th at 2217 14th Street NW.

BYT’s own Svetlana Legetic took me on a walkthrough of the 20,000+ square foot space, while artists set up their installations and graffiti spray hung in the air. Opening weekend is in a few days, and everyone involved is incredibly excited. After what I saw, I’m excited too! I love the possibility of browsing room after room of crazy eclectic artwork, meeting interesting people, hanging out at a concert or dancing in a basement garage – all in the same place. The whole building has been taken over in an explosion of art – every available wall space is covered, including stairwells, hallways, bathrooms, ceilings – everywhere you look there’s something new to discover. Add people and music, and I’m looking forward to one hell of a fun time.

Let’s take a peak. Continue reading →

Featured Photo
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Featured Photo


‘Circling Around’
courtesy of ‘Eric Spiegel’

Long exposures, or keeping the shutter open for longer than the fraction of a second in a typical photograph, can do amazing things in photography. Sometimes you know what you’re going to get in the shot; a lot of the time, you get wonderful surprises. The technique can be used to show motion; it can be used to bring out bright colors; it can show fine details; it can do awesome things with reflections; and sometimes it captures that which is both quick and beautiful.

Eric shows off many of the best aspects of long exposures with this shot of a plane’s approach into DCA. Colors of the plane’s running lights are bright and distinct; the surprise hextagon lens flare which adds a bit of mystery to the shot; and the wonderful lines of the plane’s approach catch the eye. It all comes together for an excellent long exposure.

Food and Drink, Fun & Games, The Features
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Justin’s Cafe: NatsTown’s Finest

Photo courtesy of
‘Cubs @ Nats (July 17, 2009) – 1’
courtesy of ‘Garyisajoke’

Nats fans are practically orphans when it comes to bar options surrounding their beloved ballpark. If you’re one of the effected parties, it’s downright miserable to live with from time to time. If you’re an observer of the culture and the area, it’s not that much better.

Current options include: The Bullpen and Das Bullpen. There’s also a McDonalds, a gas station, a couple hotels and apartment complexes. But, alas, a diamond in the rough!

Justin’s Café opened last year, just a few blocks from Nationals Park. They opened up shop at 1025 First Street SE with a fine line of beer, wine, and meals oh so divine. Pardon, my rhyme but I feel the selection was worth the cute play on words. Continue reading →

Getaways
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Iceland: A Cool Weekend Getaway

courtesy of Samer Farha
‘Battered’
courtesy of ‘Samer Farha’

With Icelandair starting service out of Dulles tomorrow night, and having just returned from Iceland, I thought it would be a good excuse to show off some of my photos and convince you that you should book a nice long weekend in Reykjavik.

It’s really not the hard to convince people, especially after telling them it isn’t that cold. It is beautiful though, and has kept me entertained and coming back for over ten years now. It doesn’t hurt that because of their economic problems, Iceland has become much more affordable than a few years ago.

The lighthouse above is over a hundred years old, and disused, but oh, so photogenic.
Continue reading →

Weekend Flashback
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Weekend Flashback: 5/13-5/15

Photo courtesy of
‘rock creek cemetery_0036’
courtesy of ‘christaki’

Considering the dire predictions of massive, weekend-destroying rain, the days ended up being quite nice. Agree or disagree, we have some great flashback photos to show that at least some people found great things to do. Click on the link below and see for yourself….though stay away from the Vegemite sandwiches in the last photo. I’ve had the stuff; not the best thing to come from the Land Down Under.

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Interviews, People, The Features
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She Loves DC Sports: Pam Chvotkin


Pictured: Ted Leonsis and Pam Chovtkin. Photo courtesy of Pam Chovtkin.

Pam Chvotkin loves sports. She loves taking pictures of live games. She loves talking or writing about a team and their efforts. There’s a glimmer in her eye when she watches a team progress, not only as a reporter, but as an on-looker.

After graduating from the University of Tennessee and spending some time in Knoxville, Tenn., Chvotkin moved and now currently resides in the greater-DC area.

For the moment, Chvotkin is freelancing for ESPN while serving as an active member of the DC sports media for several sports organizations. She also keeps a blog called Break In The Action.

Chvotkin took a few minutes to sit down and tell We Love DC what it is that gets here so enthusiastic about Washington sports. The following interview speaks to that.

Rachel: What is it about sports that got you thinking “Maybe I could write about this stuff” – was there a moment you just realized it was something you had a passion for?

Pam Chvotkin: I live in a family with sports fanatics, a father in sports broadcasting and two older brothers that were deeply involved with sports in high school, college, and professionally. At a very young age, it became a passion of mine as well, and followed suit. At some point, probably in middle school, I realized that I had something to contribute and I had a voice. Interestingly enough, people listened.

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Sports Fix
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Nats flash bats, beat Fish 8-4

Shark and Pudge at the plate

Photo by Anthony Amobi

After two games where the Nationals could barely get the bats off their shoulders, they came out hammering in the first against struggling hurler Javier Vazquez.  Every National made it to the plate in the first, putting seven aboard, and scoring six.  Even pitcher Jason Marquis got in on the fun, ripping a double to the left field corner before being gunned down at third trying to stretch it into a triple.

Roger Bernadina lead the game off with a bunt single, just beating out a throw from Greg Dobbs.  Jayson Werth would take first on a grounder to the left side that Hanley Ramirez wasn’t able to handle cleanly, and the Nats found themselves with runners on first and second with just one out.  This homestand had, so far, been filled with disappointment for runners on base, but the Nats just kept delivering on Sunday afternoon.  Laynce Nix stroked a single to shallow left, followed by a walk to Adam LaRoche, and a 2-RBI single by Pudge Rodriguez.

Continue reading →

Business and Money, Special Events, Thrifty District
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We Love Madness: The Running of the Brides Part B

Running of the Brides 2011 7
All photos by Don Feduardo

We now present the thrilling conclusion of the Social Chair’s first-hand gonzo journalistic effort in the trenches, er, basement.

After recharging briefly at home, I met up with three friends: my maid of honor, Darling Wedding Planner, and the self-proclaimed “Muscle” of our operation. We had a lovely, leisurely lunch and got to Filene’s Basement around 2:30. All the dresses were back on the racks, though not arranged by size. There are simply too many dresses to try to maintain any semblance of order.

Many of the employees I’d met earlier were still there, eagerly helping customers and quickly getting rejects back on the racks. Additionally, an industrious local alteration company had set up a table and could give you spur of the moment advice. I discarded some dresses after I found the alteration would cost more than the dress itself.

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Entertainment, Music, Night Life, The Features, We Love Music
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We Love Music: My Chemical Romance @ 9:30 Club, 5/10/11

All photos by Aminta S. Nieves-Candamo.

Guest reviewer Alexia Kauffman of The Torches was at the show for We Love DC:

My Chemical Romance brought their own special brand of supercharged power-punk-goth-pop to DC’s 9:30 Club on Tuesday night. In the middle of their World Contamination Tour, they were joined by fellow New Jersey rockers Thursday, and Kansas City, Missouri’s Architects.

When I arrived at the 9:30 club on Tuesday night, I could hardly believe my eyes. It was about fifteen minutes until the 7pm door time, and the line was outrageous! It looked to be at least four people wide or more, and stretched almost three full blocks! When I joined the end of the massive line I began to feel a little bit out of place. From a glance it seemed that, oh, maybe 90% of the people in line were teens or tweens. And most of the rest looked to be the parents of said teens. Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised. The thing is I’d never been to a My Chemical Romance show before, though I’ve been listening to them (and ok I admit it loving them- does this count as a guilty pleasure?) since the release of their second album “Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge” in 2004. Anyway, once the massive line snaked its way inside the club the darkness helped equalize everyone, so it didn’t matter if I was one of the few adults without kids in tow. (More to come later about the pros & cons of a teen audience.*) Continue reading →

We Love Drinks
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We Love Drinks: On the Town With Dale DeGroff

Dale DeGroff 1
All photos by the author

Monday I attended a talk by noted (some might say legendary, and they might not be wrong) bartender Dale DeGroff. Arranged by and benefitting the Museum of the American Cocktail (also behind the Hotel Cocktail seminar Jenn attended), the talk had the simple title On the Town with Dale DeGroff and an equally simple, but delightful, construction.

The fact that you probably already know what a Cosmopolitan cocktail is, and most likely even have a mental picture of the sort of person you imagine would drink it, owes its existence to King Cocktail. Widely credited as the bartender who made it popular (if not ubiquitous) from behind the bar at the Rainbow Room in the 1980s, DeGroff has a long history both with his leg up in front of the bar and as the all-seeing, all-hearing master of ceremonies behind it. The “On the Town” seminar is a chance for him to tell a sample of the stories he has collected – or been a part of – since he moved to New York four decades ago.

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Business and Money, Special Events, Thrifty District
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We Love Madness: The Running of the Brides Part 1

Running of the Brides 2011 20
All photos by Don Feduardo

The following is a guest entry by the Social Chair, who is far more qualified than I am to discuss this particular subject matter.

At the end of February, Fedward asked me to marry him and become Social Chair For Life. Within five minutes of my saying yes, we agreed that we wanted “a short, non-religious ceremony with a really great party” and that it would be in DC (after all, we love DC) or metro accessible Maryland or Virginia. Our only other requirement? Great cocktails. Obviously.

Trying to plan a reasonably priced wedding in DC is much like trying to find a reasonably priced apartment: it’s not impossible, but it takes some work. I was chatting with Jenn about the most recent sticker shock I had seen: $25k for 100 people for a cocktail reception (I looked carefully and saw no mention of monkey butlers, which might have made the price palatable). She suggested an occasional post about planning a local wedding, and I knew the perfect way to start the series: by talking about April 29.

I bet you think I’m talking about that fancy shindig across the pond. Yes, I watched; I love me some pomp and circumstance. I cannot wait for my own procession to the ceremony with thousands of people waving at me (that happens for all brides, right?). However, Kate and Wills were merely the opening act for a much bigger event: Filene’s Basement’s Running of the Brides.

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Comedy in DC, The Daily Feed
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Comedy. Tsunami relief. Underwear?

Photo courtesy of
‘yeah! we’re crazy!’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

The comics who regularly appear at the Eleventh Street Lounge open mic night in Clarendon (from this point known collectively as “the Lizards”) are having another comedy-for-relief event tonight. This time, it’s for tsunami relief in Japan, and the gimmick is that all the 10+ comics will be performing in their underwear.

The show starts at 8:30 and admission is $5. Five bucks for comedy, a good cause, and for the comics’ total willingness to sacrifice their dignity for your entertainment. Cheap at twice the price!

We Love Weekends
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We Love Weekends – May 14-15

Photo courtesy of
‘Breaux Vineyard’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’

Addison: Friday, I am heading to one of my all time favorite spring events: the Mount Vernon Spring Wine Festival and Sunset Tour. In an effort to channel my inner NASCAR driver, some buddies and I are heading out to WV’s Summit Point Kart for a few laps. Saturday night, a friend’s birthday is the perfect excuse to partake in some Dupont Circle nightlife. And, as usual, Sunday I will be out front of the Capitol playing kickball.

Mosley: I get to see one of my cousins graduate from Catholic on Saturday (Congrats Jillian!), so that day/night isn’t exactly free for me.  But if I had that day to myself, you’d find me at Cheverly Day!  Cheverly is my hometown, and I look forward to Cheverly Day for the same reason I look forward to the Fourth of July: the awesome fireworks.  Sunday I’m taking it easy for most of the day, but in the afternoon I’m going to a DC Social Flickr meetup at Malcolm X Park.  Photo nerds will abound, and all are welcome, regardless of your photo experience.  If you’ve ever wanted to talk photography with a bunch of camera enthusiasts, this is the event to go to.

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Sports Fix, The Features
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Homestand Preview: Marlins & Pirates

Photo courtesy of
‘ballpark crescent’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Welcome to the sweet spot of the baseball season in Washington, when the weather is perfect, the team is playing good cohesive ball, and there are enough deals and giveaways to make a night at the ballpark sound absolutely redeeming. The Nats come home this Friday night for a short but sweet five-game homestand.  There’s a lot to look forward to, for the dyed-in-the-wool fanatic, and the casual fan. Read on.

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The Features
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Science Fiction signing bonanza

Photo courtesy of
‘Sign – Science Fiction’
courtesy of ‘Wootang01’

If you’re a science fiction nerd aficionado like me and a fan of getting autographs & rubbing elbows with the pixel-stained wretches then your nerdvana is almost upon you – a crazy large list of SF authors are going to be in town for a conference and they’re going to have an open-to-the-public event at the Washington Hilton up above Dupont on Friday May 20th.

The biggest challenge is going to be getting all the signatures you want in 90 minutes if you’re widely read. The current list – in full below the break or at the SFWA website – was so long that I pasted it into my editor and looked at the line count rather than count them by hand. Forty-two authors total (which is awesome and it’ll break my heart if they add or delete any) and I only recognize a quarter of the names.

Of those I can only pick out a few whose books or work I remember I have read and liked – Paolo Bacigalupi who wrote The Windup Girl, Chris Claremont of X-Men fame, Joe Haldeman who wrote The Forever War and my favorite, coincidentally a former local, John Scalzi and his fantastic Old Man’s War and the follow-up books in that universe.

Personally I’m not much for autographs – most ink rubs off my kindle and their signatures are the least interesting things these folks write in my opinion. But I’ll admit that in my greener youth I did have some very nice conversations with authors when I waited in their signature lines. Vernor Vinge was a particularly nice fellow, and while I’m sure it irked the people behind me I found the conversation we had to be delightful.

Friday, May 20, 2011 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00p.m
The Washington Hilton,
1919 Connecticut NW

full announcement below the jump

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The Features
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Why the Uniform Change for the Wizards Should Be It

Photo courtesy of
‘It’s been awhile’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

Disclosure: In the following rant, I speak for myself. I have no clue what the rest of the WLDC team has to say on this matter and if they agree with me.

In case you missed it yesterday (it was nearly impossible), the Wizards unveiled new jerseys for the 2011-2012 season, and as we’ve known since, like, September, the color scheme reverted to the thematic-DC red, white and blue.

You may recall that there used to be a basketball team in the DMV region that was called the Bullets, and they wore these new colors and that DC/hands logo with the basketball in the new system is very familiar. The inevitable follow up is the muted chatter that the new jerseys should be followed by one more change – bringing back the Bullets all the way.

Some background:

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