Photo by DC Metroblogger

How bad do you want falafel? How much do you really crave it?

Enough to stand in line? How about a line down the stairs? And onto the sidewalk?

This is the line for Amsterdam Falafel, the Adams Morgan falafel shop, on a Sunday. Anyone have a clue why it’s worthy of the wait?

I know its easily better than jumbo slice pizza but is the falafel really that good? The grain hand grown? The side of humus chick peas hand mashed? Or are these kids toking the hookah too much today?

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Photo by DC Metroblogger

What might a dozen very ernest AU students do on a beautiful Sunday? How about putting out a buffet for the Dupont Circle homeless.

Its only too bad that the self-respecting street people spurn the “Food not Bombs” kids’ bagels and pasta for real food.

The hungry today? Passing people annoyed that Wrap Works is closed.

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Photo by DC Metroblogger

This weekend is the Mt. Vernon Wine Festival, and if you are a wine lover, this is your weekend to booze it up.

There are wine samples from many of the areas wineries and tasty treats from Marvelous Market to cleanse the palate between Merlots and Cabernet Francs.

But if you are like me, a hard-core wine drunkard connoisseur, you will be disappointed. Wine is not served by the glass, only by the sip. I guess they expect you to get a good buzz taste from just one swallow.

Photo by DC Metroblogger

I got real smart, real fast and only stood in line for the wineries that gave out a decent pour. I am a Fox and Hounds regular, you know.

The wine sipping apparently was enough to make other folks get crazy. See this unassuming couple here – not George and Martha Washington, but the youngin’s.

See that big-ass smile on the girl’s face and George’s shock? Well, Patagucci-boy just gave Martha a box to hold and seconds later (after I was told to stop photographing) he dropped to one knee.

Yes, there was a marriage proposal at the Mt. Vernon Wine Festival. A sweet, romantic, wet, and cold moment of love.

My contribution? As I followed a supermodel up the stairs, George W. asked me: “Will you be next, dear sir?” My instant reply: “Hell no!”

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

They’re here. Where are you?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Well, Art on the Avenue isn’t as sunny and warm as last year but this one is just as well attended, it seems. This is the view out of my booth, where you can come buy a Nice Mirror, but if that’s not your style there’s a lot of other great stuff here. And the food…. between the BBQ across the street from me and the crab cake booth next to me (do the organizers WANT me to get fat fatter?) and the brats and indian food down the road there’s something for everyone. And that’s just on the 1/4 of the stretch I’ve had a chance to check out.

Come by – the show’s going on for another 5 hours till 6pm. Once we’re gone it’ll be another year…..

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Photo by DC Metroblogger

Hello my little lost friends. Where are you headed today? You know you can’t pass that yellow line – your wheels will lock.

Who left you out here, all alone and wanting? Might you need a push back inside?

Or are you happy here, in the fall’s morning light? Taking in a cool breeze, a morning’s sight.

Either way, I will let you be. I need to shop, I need to buy, comsume, fill your brethren with my goods and sundries.

Enjoy your respite. The weather sure is nice.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

This is the postcard rack at Mt Vernon, George and Martha house.

Do not get too excited though. These postcards do not come with a need item: stamps. For some obscure and annoying reason, stamps are not sold at the gift shop.

Wanna guess how many people ask in a day and the number of lost sales when they are disappointed?

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Yeah, it’s been a rough week for Politicians, they can’t talk about their penises or getting drunk with the underage pages who work on the Hill anymore, and it’s causing a lot of stress out there. There was apparently a Republican brawl at Capitol Lounge last week, with all sorts of issues associated with it. But worst of all, it appears that the DC Prosecutors are now looking into the Foley case, possibly subjecting Mark Foley to an inside look at the DC Jail.

I hear they don’t look too fondly on child molestors in prison.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I’m headed to the Mount Vernon Fall Wine Festival and while they offer several ways to get there, including by Metro and by boat(!), in this yucky rain, I’d rather take a taxi there.

In DC, I would just hail a cab on the street, cabs being plentiful even if driven by psycho taxi drivers. Out in the wilds of suburbia at the Braddock Road Metro exit, I don’t think I will be as lucky.

Here’s where I need your help, NoVA Metroblogging DC readers: What taxi company do you find responds the fastest and offers the best service in south Arlington County? I want to call one to be waiting for me at the Metro exit and retrive me from Mt. Vernon.

As for the Zip/Flex car proponents who will chime it, the copious amounts of fermented grapes I shall consume preclude any motorized vehicles operation.

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photo courtesy of theimacguy

Well it seemed like the logical progression of Vote or Die…

If you’re not already registered to vote the clock’s ticking down on you. In DC and Virginia you’ve got till this coming Tuesday, October 10th. In Maryland you’ve got another week, till the 17th. If you do it by mail you can have it postmarked on the 10th for DC and Virginia but Maryland has to receive it by the 17th.

Forms and information are online here for DC, Maryland and Virginia.

If you’re already registered and are interested in in absentee ballots you can find forms here for DC, Maryland and Virginia.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Now what might this be? An armored troop transport, I assume. And by that color scheme only meant for one location, Iraq, but what the hell was it doing rolling down 9th Street NW last night?

Why might the Army drive a military troop transport through downtown Washington DC? Was there a fear of attack in Chinatown? Might the Pentagon be upgrading Present Bush’s limousine? Could this be Vice President Cheney’s “undisclosed location”?

Or is this the coffin for Rumsfield’s career as Secretary of Defense?

Photo by DC Metroblogger. More photos here and here.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

photo courtesy of Costco

I’m gonna forgoe my usual cutsey headline this time and be straight to the point. The Fed says there’s plenty of flu vaccine for everyone these year, for the first time in a while. So go get the shot. The flu kills a bunch of people 36,000 people in the US every year, and while they are primarily the very old or very young – and you may be neither – there’s still two excellent reasons to get the shot anyway.

One, having the flu sucks. It hurts and is no fun, uses up time off work that would be better served playing hooky with your loved one on a beautiful day, and leaves those of us who did get the shot at the office taking up your slack. Or worse, giving all your cow orkers your bug because you’re too goddamned type-A to stay home.

Which brings us to Two, every person who gets the bug because they didn’t get the shot is one more potential vector to pass on the virus to those old and young people who are gonna croak from it. This is a definite example of “if you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem.” In the words of my hero, John McClane, quit being a part of the f***ing problem!

The excellent website Find a Flu Shot will help you find a location and time near you.

Personally I’m gonna angle for the Costco since they’re nice and cheap at $18, but there’s a lot of sites to choose from. If anyone’s got information on free or reduced cost shots you can email me or post them in a comment here. I’ll try to highlight any best-of suggestions. That Costco poster claims that if you have Medicare Part B and no HMO coverage they’ll even bill for you, which I assume means you walk out without paying a dime. Can someone back that up?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

There is a nice patio at Circle Bistro, just off Washington Circle. It used to be full of fun and happy people.

Now it is empty. Unused, unloved, a wasted space.

Why? Because the neighbours, in their love of quiet, hatred of fun, need for vigilance, made the hotel close this great little patio.

Now I look longingly at seats in the sun, the last rays of summer warmth, wasted.

Thanks neighbours!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Cap City Oktoberfest

Originally uploaded by tbridge.

Fall is here, the weather is garbage outside, but that doesn’t have to mean you have to stay inside! Come on out to the Capital City Brewing Company‘s annual Oktoberfest in Shirlington on Saturday. Running from noon to 7pm, with an admission cost of $20, you’ll have all kinds of tasting options for excellent beer both imported and local. A little birdie whispered to me the beer listings, click the extended entry to see what you’ll be drinking this Saturday!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs Continue reading →

Photo by DC Metroblogger

Now I’ve had a few business cards in my life, what with the many jobs I’ve done, and I’ve given out my fair share of cards, both for personal and professional reasons.

Still I do have to say that my Metroblogging DC business card does start the most conversations, and as this prospective supermodel proves, is always well received and securely placed.

Now if she would only call..

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Dear Eisenhower Middle School administration:

It’s a really good idea to educate your staff aboutyour written policies as well as the First Amendment before attempting to educate any children.

Love,

Tiff

You’d think that a vice principal charged with teaching children to read would be delighted when they ARE reading, rather than attempting to prevent them from quietly reading the religious text of their choice over lunch. (Why yes, I would indeed be JUST as outraged if the child had been prevented from reading the Koran, thank you.)

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Photo by DC Metroblogger

Today’s 15th and I Street bicycle rack bike pack is a parking problem everyone should love.

Cyclists should celebrate the full take over of the bike rack – not a scooter in sight. Drivers should be thrilled with so many less cars crowding their DC commute.

I am excited that my bicycle is in the pack. Tonight I ride the Mt Vernon Trail!

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Photo by DC Metroblogger

How is this for fancy and cool technology in DC? A super duper automated teller machine (ATM).

This robo-ATM can dispense cash from 10 types of financial systems. You can pay major bills, Verizon advertises that on it. You can get or send money orders or cash checks even. You could probably withdrawal money in buckets, if you had that much.

Better yet, with 20 minutes and your ATM card I could even refinance Venezuela’s national debt.

I you wanna test run this monster ATM, head down to the 7-11 at 14th and Rhode Island Avenue. Just be sure to read the manual first, otherwise Chavez might be calling you the devil.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I exulted in playoff baseball yesterday, but not with the same dramatic fervor as if our own Nationals were in the hunt in any way shape or form. While our boys are resting at home, dreaming of February and beyond, cities across the country are bubbling over with playoff fever. While DC is fighting over financing and stadium parking structures, cities like New York are jubilant over their successful squads.

When will the day come when DC can do the same? With the Nats giving outright release six pitchers yesterday, I would think we’re looking at several years before we can even dream of competing on a playoff level, and that’s absolutely crushing. Though Soriano put up MVP numbers in Washington this year (46 HR, 95RBI, 179H) it’s not determined whether or not he’ll be back next season. If the Nats can sign Soriano, we’re looking at the core of a new team, but can Lerner, and more importantly, Bowden, deliver a championship to Washington?

I’m not so sure, but I’d like to be proven wrong.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Halloween is four weeks away!

Time to inaugurate the spooky season with a little taste of bone-chilling tales. Here’s a great list that runs down the most famous Washington hauntings.

Then head over to DC’s own version of the Blair Witch Project, the Washington Horror Tour. Its classic combination of realism and grand guignol may be just the thing to get you in the mood.

(With apologies to the author of WHT, that patch of grass that plays such an important part in its climax was actually the sight of something far more frightening in real life – the old motel that CUA bought and used as a dorm for a number of years before they tore it down. Ramshackle and rat-infested, it was so bad it made the bloody-halled Overlook look as inviting as the Burj al Arab. But then again, maybe it really was possessed. That dorm you see in the background of the picture in the Brookland story does feature prominently in a very creepy CUA urban legend …)

Want more shivers? It stands to reason that I should have some ghost stories of my own, living in a house that’s 110 years old and deep in Civil War hospital camp territory. But I’ll save them for closer to Halloween itself. What is terror without a little anticipation?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs