By Tom Bridge
Now, it should come as no surprise to anyone that I hate the “popped collar” look. Really, I don’t consider it a popped collar, but rather a sign of douchebaggery. However, it appears that the Georgetown Heckler has a bit different view of the whole thing:
Wearing Your Collar Down is for Poor People
Thank you GTH, I needed that laugh. Badly.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
While 395 may be a disaster this afternoon thanks to an accident blocking three right lanes (Thank you DC Text Alert), this weekend could well be worse if you’re headed through the Mixing Bowl or downtown this weekend.
Be prepared, take Metro.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
Tonight’s Nationals/Braves was possibly some of the finest baseball (Guzman’s error at shortstop in the 8th notwithstanding) that I’ve seen lately. This team plays with heart, it plays with precision (well, sometimes) and it plays with soul. The third base bouncers were out in force tonight, even after all the Braves fans left feeling triumphant in the middle of the 8th inning (somehow spiriting JennB away with them, perhaps?), but there’s some stuff here we can’t leave unsaid:
The Nats take three from the Braves. Amazing. Hey Atlanta, you may have beaten us in traffic this past month, but we just totally 0wned your baseball team!
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
With the town all atwitter with praise and recrimination for W. Mark Felt, folks are beginning to wonder, where exactly did the conversations take place between Felt and Woodward? Well, Woodward gives us a hint. Rosslyn. Now, I’m betting that Rosslyn’s changed a little bit, but I’m thinking that it might be the subterranean garage beneath the former Gannett building. Of course, maybe this might be a job for the Arlington Historical Society. We’ve asked them, and perhaps they’ll let us know.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
Adrian Fenty has formally announced his candidacy for DC mayor as of this morning. It’s not real clear who will run, Williams has not announced, nor has Orange, nor Cropp, nor really anyone else. Of course, with all the craziness surrounding this city, it would not surprise me in the slightest if Mayor For Life Marion Barry were to throw his hat in the ring again.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
This didn’t even occur to me until a coworker of mine pointed it out to me:
What do you suppose all those Rolling Thunder bikers did when they tried to go to Whitey’s in Clarendon and found Tallula’s in its place?
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
Dr. Dremo’s is hosting a Flip Cup Tournament on June 4th, benefitting the Relay for Life and the American Cancer Society. $100 per 5 person team, and the beer is included in that fee. For those of you blissfully unaware of the Flip Cup Phenomenon, the best way it can be described is a Beer Drinking Relay Race with an element of skill. Fortunately, since my description sucks, they’ve posted the tournament rules. Anyone interested in entering a team?
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
DC’s own Radley Balko has a great piece on Wegman’s grocery stores, now in Sterling and Fairfax, and coming to Hunt Valley, MD fairly soon. See, Wegman’s isn’t just a grocery store, and it’s not just another big box, but it’s smart shopping:
Wegmans is a grocery store, of course. So it stocks all the usual toiletries, packaged foods, spices, kitchenware, and the like we’ve come to expect from a mega-grocery. But despite its considerable high-end and hard-to-find offerings, Wegmans prices on most day-to-day goods are actually on par with or lower than its competitors. The store keeps its aisles wide, for easy cart maneuverability. It offers a holder in each cart for fresh flowers, to keep them from getting smooshed by the ice cream. It boxes up perishable items at the end of each day and sends them to local homeless shelters. The store’s seasonal magazine begins by listing areas in which the company feels it has failed, and offers solutions as to how it might do better.
But still, in an effort to crowd out large retailers that serve the community at low prices, places like Montgomery County have effectively blocked such places in an effort to bring their version of conformity to the county. Never mind that Wegman’s is Forbes’ 2005 choice for the best place to work. Of course, what they’re failing to notice is that people will drive out to Wegman’s in Fairfax or Sterling, frequently an hour trip from Montgomery County, to get there. And why not, when they’ve got low prices, better goods than the average Safeway or the truly ghetto-rific Giant, and a pleasant atmosphere. What they fail to see is the tax revenue that it would create for their community, allowing them to ease the tax burden that property taxes in a real-estate-booming area have become.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
Today begins the bidding process for the Washington Nationals, with 9 groups registered to bid with Major League Baseball. The team is expected to fetch well above $300 million, with the possibility for that figure to reach half a billion dollars if the team is sold with a portion of the MASN network. I’m hoping that it goes to the group lead by Fred Malek and Jeffrey Zients, the Washington Baseball Club. But that’s just me. Weigh in on the other options in the comments.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
With all the people taking to the highways for the holiday weekend, how often do you suppose things like this are happening?
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
While some are headed to the beachs of Maryland, Virginia and Delaware, and others still headed into the mountains of West Virginia and Pennsylvania, there are many of us still here in DC for the weekend. This morning at Arlington Cemetery, President Bush will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, in recognition of all those who have died in service to their country. Their deaths purchased our freedom, our rights and our soil. Today, we remember and thank them for their sacrifice.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
While I am a transplant to driving in the DC metropolitan area, I learned to drive on the suburban streets of Davis, California, I’ve found that driving in DC proper is fairly easy to handle. Of course, I’ve also found that most of the obstacles are caused by absolute morons who somehow managed to get their hands on a set of car keys and a license.
DCist seems to think it’s all Virginia Drivers’ Fault. But there’s a problem here. Here’s the problem:
The District and Maryland tied at 44th place in how well their drivers fared on the test — only 79.8 percent would pass — while Virginia enjoyed a three-way tie with Alabama and Nevada for 15th place — 84.7 percent.
Okay, great, Virginia drivers will pass the test given by the DMV 5 more times out of 100 than their counterparts in Maryland or the District. That’s pretty much a wash. But, Martin (or should I say, That DCist) seems to think it means it’s all Virginia Drivers’ Fault:
So what does this mean? Scientifically, not much. Practically, well, it may mean that those stick-to-the-rules Virginians just can’t seem to deal with driving in a city, where traffic rules are naturally more flexible than in the ‘burbs and are often treated more as suggestions than as actual laws. Virginians may have the book-smarts, but they lack the street-smarts.
Virginia requires that all drivers retake the state exam every 5 years. How do I know this? I just had to do it last October. I went in for my license renewal and was told I had to repass the driver’s test. I got slapped in front of a terminal and tapped in the answers to the questions. I missed one question, having to do with the speed limit on a divide two lane highway (I figured 55, since that’s what I’ve seen along the various divided highways I’ve driven in Virginia, it was actually 65mph.) The point being is that when your license expires here, you get to take the test. When was the last time you saw a driver with a Diplomat or State Department plate having to re-take their driver’s exam? How about those trucks who seem to make it their business to park in the no-stopping-zone along the various main thoroughfares in DC? During Rush Hour? Or how about my favorite: the median merge. Today, I headed up to Baltimore to take in an Orioles game, and there was a huge backup on the Southeast/Southwest Freeway at the Penn Ave exit. Did folks behave like good little drivers and be patient as the officer at the top of the bridge directed traffic? No. They didn’t. Without fail it was Maryland and DC plates that were screaming by on the shoulder or trying to sneak in via the median.
So, Martin, I know you’re trying to be funny, and your shtick seems to be bashing those of us who live on the other side of the river, but man, take a pill. Here’s a better question…
How the hell do you know what traffic’s like in the city? Don’t you take that new-fangled subway thingy everywhere you need to go? I mean, that’s what responsible DC residents would do, right? ;)
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
So, I’ve never been all that into comics or comic art. It’s not that I look down on it, it’s that it’s just not my thing. But I know a bunch of you out there are fans of the form, and perhaps you already knew about DC Conspiracy, “a group of comic creators, writers, artists, editors, and assorted hangers-on based in the Washington, DC region.”
But I didn’t. And I just stumbled across their blog. They have monthly jams at Dremo’s, so if you’re a budding artist yourself, take a sketchpad and have a beer.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
Our spies in Clarendon have passed us a fun tip: Someone drove their car into the revolving door at Harry’ Tap Room in Clarendon, shattering the door, splitting the canopy and wrecking the place.
Unreal.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
If you’re one of the brave, you might consider heading out to see The Burlesque-A-Pades at The Birchmere tonight, featuring Angie Pontani and the World Famous Pontani Sisters, as well as Trixie Little, Charm City’s Burlesque Super Hero and The Evil Tap Dancing Hate Monkey. Show starts at 7:30, Tickets are less than two drinks in a Georgetown Dive Bar.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
Books. They’re everywhere in this town, from the Law Libraries of K St., to the movie libraries of the cinemas across town, DC is one of the most literate cities in the US. As such, we’ve got our preponderance of bookstores all over this city. We’re here to tell you some of our favorites. Read on.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
Today after work I meandered slowly through the spring breeze to Dupont Circle and 18th St. NW and up North toward Adams Morgan. We met at Straits of Malaya on 18th just north of Swann St. It’s this little Malaysian place with a rooftop dining room, just across from Lauriol Plaza. I wandered through the streets in the sun, making my way slowly through this beautiful spring town. There are times I just love DC, and today was certainly one of them. Check out some pictures of today’s walk
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
The Post is now reporting that the woman accused of the Mall stabbing is Antoinette Starks, 48, recently released from prison after serving time for more than $30,000 in property damages.
Many thanks to Irina Slutsky for helping find this information! In addition, Irina has several photos in her flickr photostream from the event. Thanks again, Irina!
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
The increasing humidity, the oppresive heat, the daily 5pm thunderstorms, the exploding manhole covers, these are the signs of summer in Washington. Three manholes blew their lids by the World Bank when a transformer beneath 18th St. NW blew this morning, likely a result of a short-circuit in the conduit.
The World Bank is closing for the day as power to their HVAC system has been severed.
If you lived here a few years ago, you experienced this with the series of manhole fires along the M St. corridor in Georgetown, complete with power outages, bar closures, and all manner of havoc wrought, traffic-wise. Just another sign of the impending summer in DC.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
Wow guys, how much would it kick ass if Colin Powell bought the Nats?
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
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