The deplorable state of street food in DC has been a given for so long (just how many hot dog carts DOES one square mile need?) that I almost don’t know what to do with this:

A local company called On-the-Fly is has launched a series of bright green, buglike vendor carts that will sell healthier food as well as local specialties on local streets. So instead of getting that hotdog of questionable age, you can have hummus or barbeque from Rocklands or something that actually, you know, is food.

But I’m a little confused by the WaPo article- it slams down the ominous-sounding line, “On the Fly hasn’t arrived without controversy,” and then fails to deliver any actual controversy. Council member Jim Graham said he wanted some more variety in the street vendor licenses, and then some other food service entrepreneur says some totally obvious thing about On the Fly having to differentiate itself in the market… and yet there’s not a single mention of hot dog vendors going on collective strike to protest greater consumer choice, or some kind of organized vendor cart parade down Constitution Ave. or even some outraged member of Hot Dog Vendors Against Competition disrupting a City Council meeting.

Is this what passes for controversy, WaPo newsroom?

Hot Dog Vendor

Originally uploaded by nolageek

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

So, in case you’ve been on vacation (like I have) or dead (like perhaps Gov. Spitzer will be shortly) you know by now that DC’s Mayflower Hotel on Connecticut Avenue in Downtown DC is the hot place to take your $5,500/hr hooker. We’re not quite sure if Gov. Spitzer made it more than an hour or not, but I suspect he had a pretty nice happy ending (at $5,500/hr, it better be, right?) but the question needs to be asked:

Where else could he have taken her in DC?

I mean, the Hay Adams is pretty darned nice, I hear. Don’t forget the Four Seasons in G’town or the Mandarin Oriental down closer to the Waterfront, or maybe the Willard on 14th Street. Personally? I’d go out to the Inn at Little Washington.

But where would you take your high-priced hooker? Are you going no-tell-motel like the Route 50 in Rosslyn? or maybe the Ritz-Carlton in Pentagon City?

Also, I think I have to agree with with Sommer from DCist, “What… DC prostitutes aren’t good enough for you?”

Mayflower Hotel
Originally uploaded by connave

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

So Sunday was the highly-anticipated Pens-Caps showdown, at least for my household. We managed to secure some last-minute seats thanks to a timely cancellation and firmly planted our Penguin-bedecked selves squarely in Section 428.

Penguin fan central.

Though our section was admittedly more tame than that of 423-425 – sections we’ve sat in previous times we’ve journeyed to these intense rivalry games – it was still wonderful to behold.

See, Penguin fans since time began – ok, since our continual playoff clashes in the ’90s – have always made it a point to flood the MCI/Verizon Center to support our flightless birds of black-n-gold. Sunday was no exception. The idea of making the rival arena our ‘temporary home’ is always appealing. We’re like a virus, after all. Albeit a black-n-gold one.

Though I will admit, the playoff possibilities have energized Cap fans to actually, you know, show up for these games now. No longer do our “Let’s Go Pens!” chants dominate the arena. Still, from where we sat, it was like being at the Mellon Arena all over again….though decidedly more updated, with a nicer scoreboard and bigger sightlines and…

Ok, fine. I’m jealous. Until the ‘guins get their new arena, that is.

Still, I’ve always loved Pens/Caps games. The energy both sides bring to the game is just phenomenal. And wonderfully respectful. I mean, there are grumpy drunks on both sides of the fence, but at least the attacks on each other remain in the verbal realm. No need for either of us to mimic Philly fans, after all. (No offense, Philly readers. But, well, you know.)

The game was electric. Ovechkin, Semin, Crosby and Malkin were all spectacular. And for it to be decided by Backstrom’s errant shot…well, that’s the breaks in hockey. I was, at least, looking forward to an intense OT period and hopefully, a successful shootout afterwards. Though I can live with the actual outcome, too.

Needless to say, though, I do hope the Capitals can pull it together for the playoffs this year. Their trades at the deadline were magnificent, Ovie’s in top form… Yeah, I can honestly say I’d love to see the Caps get into the second round at least.

Because then they’ll face the Penguins. And oh, what a series THAT will be. So never fear, Cap fans – I’ll be rooting for you for the final three games I have tickets for (Atlanta, Boston, Tampa).

Selfish? Of course! After all, I *am* a Penguins fan.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Folks, I’m all for prosecuting creepy people that think that kids are a good target for their sexual release. I just want that out there before we start talking about a new law passed in Virginia this week. What does it say about Virginia that there’s need for a law that says french kissing a person under 13 years of age is a class 1 misdemeanor? I mean, is that such a rampant problem that it requires the attention of our legislature? While we have roads that need fixing, and jobs that need creating?

I think that’s really what gets me about all of this. This was somehow a real priority in some legislator’s mind, more important than fixing transit taxation issues, more important than passing a goddamn budget. Sure, we found time to ban dog-fighting and extend the length of drivers licenses’ validity, but we felt that perverts kissing kids needed our attention more than passing a budget.

That’s pretty well fucked up.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I just got the most recent newsletter (PDF) from Derek Terrell at myLHBS and was thrilled to see that this month’s recipe was a Belgian Triple. This is a type of beer I have had on rare occasions and always enjoyed. Now that I know a recipe, I can darken the doorway of my favorite homebrew shop again to get some ingredients.The newsletter came just in time. I am going to bottle my current brew tomorrow morning and will soon have empty equipment. This is another Derek Terrell recipe – a hefeweizen similar to Blue Moon, if I did it right. I wasn’t sure how much orange peel and coriander to add to the boil, so I added the minimum Derek suggested, since he had given me a range. I wanted to avoid an overpowering flavor but definitely wanted hints of these flaovrs. I can’t wait to try it tomorrow, fresh from the fermenter.Are you a homebrewer? What do you like to make? Interested in homebrewing? There’s no better way to get beer than from your own stovetop, so go see Derek to learn about it or send me an email and maybe you can come by next time I brew a batch. Beer and photography really do go together well!Here is this month’s recipe, from Derek’s newsletter:

Triple ThreatOne of the really nice things about Belgian ales is their simplicity and the degree to which they can be altered by even minor changes to basic recipes such as this one. Triple Threat is one I brew when I’m in the mood for something Belgian yet also can’t settle on exactly what I want to make. Choose Clear Candi syrup for a Strong Golden, or opt for Amber for something akin to Ommegang’s Rare Vos (and maybe even spice it lightly for a Grand Cru). Either of the Dark syrups will brew up a rich Strong Dark Ale.

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

The National Cherry Blossom Festival doesn’t kick off till the 29th of this month but Mike Licht has already put together more information than you thought there was to find about the upcoming bloom. Most notable (or is that notional?), to me anyway, is the article he scared up indicating that in 1999 a family of beavers chewed up 14 of our trees.

Beavers.

There’s beavers in the tidal basin? Okay, there were beavers in the tidal basin?

Who knew?

Well, Mike did. Check out his post, it’s got a lot of interesting links about the history of the trees, the Japanese traditions surrounding them, and info on several other events related to the bloom but not among the official Cherry Blossom Festival organization offerings.

Image courtesy of DWinton

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Updated: This is what I get for finding a topic one day, and writing about it the next day, without checking back for any breaking developments. Ryan says that things are looking better for Dong, and Senators Jim Webb and Joe Biden have gotten involved in his case. There won’t be any hard news on it until Monday, and he’s still pretty much at the mercy of the ICE officer, so respectful communication with relevant Congressional offices is still a good thing.

I don’t know Ryan Conner personally, having only seen him around at some local open mics and whatnot, but this story was passed on to me by a mutual acquaintance and it needs some attention.

Ryan’s parents are big-hearted people who have adopted a number of children, including Sun Tao Dong, who was smuggled into the country as a boy by a Chinese gang who had assured his (biological) parents that they would ensure Dong had all his paperwork in order. Labyrinthine as the US immigration process is, his parents thought his immigration would be legal, and sent Dong and his two siblings to the US, where they were eventually placed for foster care by the Catholic Charities.

I’m sure you can see where this is going- the gang had smuggled the children into the country, and Dong and his adoptive family have spent the 14 years since trying to sort out his immigration status. Every time it has looked like they were getting close to at least getting Dong a green card, politics has intervened, and anti-illegal immigrant hysteria has complicated Dong’s case.

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

I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about my opinion of what some of my people like to call “old media.” The print edition of the Washington Post is my daily lunch companion and it bugs me when I’m forced to skip reading it. That said, sometimes I wonder at the perspectives of the people who work there.

Today’s a perfect example. In the business section there’s an article by Rob Pegoraro that could have been a good coverage of collaborative bookmarking sites like DIGG and REDDIT. If you’re not familiar with them then you’re likely also not my people. I’m not a fan or a user myself, but I’m aware of their existence and what they are. Rather than write an article about them and their relative strengths and advantages, however, Pegoraro’s article is titled “The News Is There, but You Might Have to Search for It” and opens with “Whatever the traditional definition of “news” might be, it can seem far from what fills the headlines at some of the Web’s more popular news sites. On a Tuesday in presidential primary season, here are some of their top stories:”

You know Rob, it’s funny you should mention that.

Today’s Post print edition has front page stories Results Refocus Democratic Campaign and National Dragnet Is a Click Away, Even in Victory, Clinton Team Is Battling Itself, Coloring Outside Curriculum Lines To Depict the Drop in Arts Education, Russia Pumps Tens of Millions Into Burnishing Image Abroad, and DHS Strains As Goals, Mandates Go Unmet.

If you want to read about how the FBI has broken the law by misusing national security letters and admitted it in front of Congress you’ll have to turn to page two. After all, it’s presidential primary season and there’s internal campaign matters to discuss. Surprisingly the Obama camp says they’re going to win and the Clinton camp says NUH-UH! Or you could look at the paper yesterday, which trumpeted headlines like Clinton Beats Obama in Texas and Ohio. A little less prominent – way down in the articles, in fact – was the fact that this beating in Ohio got Clinton 78 delegates and left Obama with only…. 69. Wow, stunning upset there, eh?

My point isn’t to beat up on the Post, though I have been unimpressed by their primary coverage, but to point out that when it comes to making you “search for” the news, they could give lessons. If you want to write about the collaborative sites you can talk about their underlying “wisdom of crowds” concept and the (well established) ways in which they subvert that concept by showing you what others though before getting your input. You could provide some guidance in how to get started looking at these sites, talk about, say, DIGG’s friends support that lets you see not only what the world in general is looking at but what people you know and/or trust are checking out, and what that might imply for how we consume media individually while finding and judging it collaboratively.

Or I guess you can just bitch about the splinter in their eye while ignoring the 2×4 in yours.

image courtesy of Wader

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I try to avoid talking specifically about my job here – it’s not pertinent – but I have earlier been up-front about the fact that I am a state employee, so what the hell.

I had to chuckle when this showed up in my work email 10 minutes ago, considering recent events..”

To: Virginia State Employees
From: Virginia Department of Emergency Management
Date: March 5, 2008
Subject: Statewide Tornado Drill

Tornado Preparedness Day is March 18, 2008. The program begins with the annual statewide tornado drill at 9:45 a.m. During this time, schools, businesses and families have the opportunity to practice their tornado safety plan as if a tornado warning had been issued in their area.

Thanks, but I took care of that yesterday.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

“SAVOR: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience” is coming to DC May 16 & 17th at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. Learn how to pair REAL food with REAL beer (something other than a Miller Lite and a hot wing) with brewers and chefs from around the country. This is really a who’s who’s of the brewing industry who’s planning on speaking and participating in the event. The list of breweries and other participating organizations is here.

It seems a bit pricey, at $85 a day, but you’ll pretty much learn from the best, while drinking some of the best beer brewed in America and eating some pretty tasty food. Learn something and try not to get schnockered! I’ve had the opportunity to hear many of these brewers speak at the Brickskeller before for tastings, and they are very entertaining, more so once you’ve satiated your gullet with hops and barley in a liquid suspension.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I swear, dumb criminal stories are my least favorite, though most funny, thing that I post here at MBDC, but this one takes the case. Keith “I’ll Kill Ya!” Washington had a handcuff key sewn into his shirt while he was awaiting sentencing. That’s right, he had a key to the cuffs that would likely contain him during sentencing. Well played, Keith, well played.

If it weren’t for those meddling kids, I’m sure they never would’ve caught you, Keith. Now go to Prison like a good little felon.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I flung wide the windows yesterday when the rain started to fall, and let the damp, warm air into my condo, and it felt marvelous. Hearing the staccato beat of the rain drops against the hedgerow was just delightful. The drops fell harder and more frequent until my screen was soaked through. The house smelled like first rain this morning, and it made me smile.

City Council Takes Strong Stance on Shock Therapy

Did you know that DC Special Ed students sometimes still get shock therapy? Yeah, I thought that went out in the 70s as a viable treatment for anything. Except, that DC’s been paying for it as part of tuition for Special Education students. So, yesterday, the City Council decried the practice during council hearings, and said No More! Good on them. Bad on them for not knowing it was happening.

Open Primaries?

Councilman David Catania says bring open primaries to DC! I know we’ve weighed in on this before (unfortunately our archives are still coming back as part of the migration, or I’d link to it) and we agree with the councilman. Catania said, “I, along with 63,000 other Independents, were foreclosed from an opportunity.” Couldn’t agree more.

No Tornadoes, but No Power, either

The Tornado Watch from last night was, fortunately, just a watch and not a warning, but 20,000 houses lost power as part of the thunderstorm that whipped through town last night. 4,000 or so are still without power now.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

That’s the Weather Service Bureau Identification for the Tornado Watch that’s been underway since 5:50 tonight and is in effect until 3am. The real part of the rain is supposed to hit tonight after 9pm, and that’s probably when we’ll see a lot of the chance to see tornadic activity here in the DC area. So, be careful out there, and be sure to check various news sources before you hit the sack tonight.

Here’s the pertinent part of the Watch:

DISCUSSION…VERY INTENSE VERTICAL MOTION FIELDS AND LOW/DEEP LAYER SHEAR WILL OVERSPREAD THIS REGION THROUGH TONIGHT AS STRONG UPPER SYSTEM BEGINS TO LIFT NEWD ACROSS THE APPALACHIANS. ALTHOUGH INSTABILITY WILL REMAIN MEAGER…MOISTENING LOW LEVELS CONCURRENT WITH 70+ KT SLY LLJ WILL ENHANCE THE POTENTIAL FOR LOW LEVEL ROTATION AND POSSIBLE TORNADOES. ACTIVITY MAY OCCUR IN TWO BANDS…ONE NOW MOVING INTO CENTRAL NC/VA AND ANOTHER SPREADING ENEWD ALONG THE MAIN COLD FRONT LATER TONIGHT. SEVERE/TORNADO THREAT MAY PERSIST WELL INTO THE NIGHT UNTIL THE LATER BAND MOVES OFFSHORE.

If you spot a tornado, please seek shelter.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

It’s a blog-eat-blog world out there, but we here at Metblogs love DCist and hope that they love us too (or at least really like us a lot).  To show our love for them and to help promote what is turning out to be a great showcase of local talent, I highly recommend that you join me in attending the opening of their 2nd Annual DCist Exposed Photography Show. From their press release:

The exhibit will showcase new talent as they reveal the city to us through the eyes of people who live and work in the D.C. metro area. In a city too often seen purely as a collection of federal government buildings or a destination for tourists, these photographers capture the local music, art, architecture, and urban surroundings that give Washington, D.C. its unique cultural vibrancy.

If you’re looking for a way to get into the local art scene and perhaps even start your very own collection, I can’t think of a better way to begin. Over 40 photographs will be on display and, dare I say, for sale at prices that may be a bargain one day when these photographers hit the big leagues. Regardless, this should be a fun, free event that should not be missed.

Friday March 7th, 7PM to 9PM
Civilian Art Projects
406 7th St NW (THIRD FLOOR)
Washington, DC 20004

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

As with Super Tuesday, the Washington Post is going to do some special live web coverage today, as there are two major primaries with national import going on today in Texas and Ohio. So, if you want the Post’s political take on what’s going down tonight, tune in for the preview show at 4:30 pm today, then again after 7 for the live broadcast as the results come down the pike. There will be the Post’s usual and incredible team hosting all of this, plus there’s going to be a simulcast on C-SPAN, and some interactive features.

Check it out, it will be pretty amazing, I bet.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I’ve heard at least one complaint this morning that that Nationals Single Game Ticket Sales didn’t go as planned, with crowded online waiting rooms that were full well before 9am this morning, as well tickets that were sold out instantly. While the Post said there may be “thousands” of tickets available for Opening Day on sale today, I would bet that the numbers were significantly less than that.

Did you have a horror story to share from this morning’s fire sale on tickets? Put it in the comments! Don’t be afraid to register for the site, we won’t use your email in any commercial way, you’re not signing up for mailing lists, it’s only so you can join in the conversation!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Rain is coming, and it’s supposed to be pretty serious stuff, with local creeks overflowing, low-lying areas puddling, the whole nine yards. Get ready for some thunder and lightning, as well. Weather’s going to be a bit cooler tomorrow, but still in the 50s.

The Magna Carta is Back!

Back at the Archives, that is, not back in style. We gave up on the rights of the individual back when we allowed warrantless wiretaps of American citizens’ phones and email. But if you want to see the 710-year old copy of the Magna Carta, scribed in perfect period Latin on sheepskin, go down to the Archives and check it out, it’s on display.

Armory a Concert Venue?

Well, the DC Sports Commission says so. They’re struggling financially and looking for a handout from the DC government, especially now that they really only have just the one venue at RFK, though they technically may manage Nationals Park as well. So, would the Armory make a decent concert hall?. I’m betting not without significant renovation, just from an acoustical perspective, and lord knows the empty bunker is uglier than hell.

Trying to Make Cross-Town Traffic Better

Have you ever tried to go from Capitol Hill to Downtown or Georgetown in evening rush without at least one mild suicide attempt? And I don’t just mean taking a bunch of Advil to combat the pounding in your head, or pulling out into the intersection on a yellow. Yeah, it’s pretty much impossible. Well, the District may be working on a plan to help fix that, including a new transit system on K Street, or some other fun.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

If you’re not an early bird, you might want to set your alarm clock for tomorrow. Nationals single game tickets (save for Opening Day) go on sale at 9am. If you want to get decent seats, I’d suggest the 300 level, as they’re something on the order of $22-5 instead of the lower levels which start around $54. Outfield seats aren’t cheap, either, at around $35 per game. Get out your wallet and prepare to pay heavy prices if you want to sit in the infield, or heaven help you, behind home plate. The best seats in the house are $325 per, which sound more like floor seats at the Lakers than baseball seats, but it comes with some food vouchers and in-seat ordering, so if you’re super wealthy, please consider that option fully.

No word yet on when Opening Day tickets will go on sale for those who aren’t season ticket holders. Mine arrived today in the mail from Tickets.com, I’ll be out in 108 along the left field fence, so feel free to come by and see us on March 30th when the Nats open up Nationals Park.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Make your voice heard on DC taxi fare changes! Mayor Fenty and the DC taxicab Commission are proposing to reinstate the $1.50 extra passenger surcharge with the meter system and they need to hear from you that this is nothing but a rider tax that will again make DC cab fares foolishly complex and expensive.

Get up in their grill and let them know that the original taxi meter fares are reasonable and realistic – no more surprise add-ons for additional passengers, rush hour, fuel prices, barometric pressure changes, and whatever else the DC Cab Commission can think of to fleece riders. Get online, on paper, or on the phone today and tomorrow to:

Leon Swain
DC Taxicab Commission
2041 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue, SE
Suite 204
Washington DC 20020.
dctc@dc.gov
(202) 645-6018.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs