First a carjacking at Tysons, now two stabbings at the Nordstrom at Montgomery Mall?

Dude, what the hell is in that Mall water? Is this Desperate Housewives meets MS-13?

Damn, just when you thought it was safe to shop.

Update: A local visiting blogger, Irina Slutsky, was there when it happened:

a straggling shopper in a pink sweater was running toward the down escalator. she didn’t pay attention to the woman with the knife and kind of skipped onto the elevator, ahead of her. thinking she was safe, she began folding her jacket.
the woman with the knife stepped onto the escalator behind her.

after a beat, the woman with the knife began stabbing the customer in the pink sweater.

it seemed as if it was almost not going to happen.

i couldn’t scream or move.

the woman in the pink sweater ran down the steps, but the stabber followed her, sticking the knife repeatedly between her shoulder blades.

Irina is also quoted in the Washington Post story regarding the very odd stabbing.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Ollie’s Trolley

Originally uploaded by tbridge.

Downtown DC is full of expensive restaurants: Butterfield 9, Bobby Van’s, Smith and Wollensky, Morton’s, Galileo and too many others to name. It’s hard to find a good simple place for lunch when you’re just in the mood for a burger and some fries.

Enter Ollie’s Trolley.

There’s one about a block from my office downtown, they make a mean (and cheap) burger, and their fries are head and shoulders above the garbage that fast food chains put out. Covered in a mix of paprika, carraway seeds, salt, light garlic, lemon pepper and a myriad of other spices I can’t easily identify, they make for the perfect rainy day lunch food. Some days I’m just glad to spend the $6.50 for lunch instead dropping a ten-spot for a takeaway sandwich or a twenty for a sitdown lunch.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I just want to thank everyone who contributed to my hour-and-a-half commute this morning (to go 7.5 miles!)

Thanks to whoever it was that jammed traffic on 395 for twice as long as usual. Nice work!

Thanks to the lady who walked out in front of my car this morning as I was leaving the intersection, completely oblivious to the fact that I had to swerve to avoid her as she bopped along to whatever was on her iPod.

Also, I can’t forget to thank the pedestrians at 14th and K and 20th and L who think that a green turning arrow is the same as a walk signal, and who look at me like I’m the idiot for trying to get through the intersection while they have the “Don’t Walk” signal.

And of course there are the scores of truck drivers who decide that rush hour is the perfect time to stop in a lane of traffic, turn on their blinkers, and leave their trucks for god-knows-how-long. Trying to merge into the next lane, which is as congested as the one I’m in, to get around those huge, traffic-obstructing monstrosities is one of my special joys, and when I call the companies that own the trucks, I’ll be sure to tell them how much love I have for their drivers who do this. What’s that truck ID number again?

I mustn’t forget the people who block the intersection while they have the green so they don’t have to sit through another light, and then get stuck there. This causes ME to have to sit through another light, and sometimes two or three, which gives me more time to listen to my iPod. Thanks, guys!

To all of you, the driver of the silver Passat who cut me off this morning, the guy on the bike going the wrong way on L Street, and everyone else who made my commute such a joy this morning, my heartfelt thanks. I wouldn’t have made it all the way through that Stereo MCs/Frou Frou/Madonna mashup without you this morning.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

In a move to bolster the city’s bottom line, DC’s going to be adding 11 more red-light cameras, 5 more speed cameras and two new mobile speed camera vans which will target those pesky construction zones. Despite Virginia nixing red light cameras after a study showed they were causing more accidents, the District has decided that they care more about cash than about citizen safety.

Of course, they’re paying out nearly $12.2 million for ACS State and Local Solutions, Inc. to do all their dirty work. Better yet, for every ticket over 53,750 (per month) they write, they get more money. So, instead of getting DC’s fattest cops a bit more work chasing down speeders and red-light breakers, they’re going outsource the process to machines that just issue citations which may or may not hold up to the courts.

Bogus.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Watching Peter Angelos and Comcast duke it out in court over the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network is a bit like watching Stalin and Hitler in a boxing match. You’re not quite sure who to cheer for, both parties are evil, but you know you’re in for a good fight. The Orioles want to pull out of Comcast Sports Network in 2007 and move their telecasts to the newly-formed MASN which currently shows Nationals’ Games over the DirecTV network and on cable companies that are not owned by Comcast (which, at last count, was 3). However, Comcast isn’t so hot on this idea, and is now bullying the other cable companies (again, all 3 of them) to not pick up MASN. Angelos, being the fearsome whiner that he is, is bringing his army of lawyer goons into the picture, and Comcast has responded by doing the same. Expect this fight to be ugly. The only way baseball fans are going to win is if both parties happen to be in the courthouse when it is struck by a meteor.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

While poking around the Golden Triangle site for my last entry, I noticed that there will be concerts in Farragut Square at noon on Thursdays starting June 9. Since I work across the street from there, I may have to check this out.

When I worked in downtown Pittsburgh, my favorite thing about Fridays was the noon concerts at PPG Place. I’m looking forward to Sounds in the Square.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Has anyone noticed the people standing around downtown, usually near Metro stops, with the red-and-blue jackets and walkie-talkies? They’re called Downtown SAMs (note how that page doesn’t tell you what SAM stands for), and their job is basically to help you figure out how to get where you’re going, or where’s a good place to eat, etc.

Clearly, their services are meant primarily for tourists, however, I’ve found them invaluable in compensating for my complete and utter lack of a sense of direction (my ability to get lost is the stuff of legend). Usually, when I come out of a Metro station, I’m slightly disoriented because my internal compass just can’t deal with being underground. I’ve found them to be extremely polite and helpful, and even if they can’t specifically tell me how to get where I’m going, they’re happy to give me a map of the area and help me orient myself.

The Golden Triangle District, where I work, has their own version of the noble SAM- they wear bright gold jackets and are equally enthusiastic to help you out with directions or recommendations and whatnot.

Often, these local ambassadors know the area they’re standing in pretty intimately, so try asking them for a good place to go for lunch or something. They might be able to give you a great recommendation for something you’d never think to try.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

The Washington Post Sunday Magazine is now accepting photo submissions from its readers:

Photography’s history can be traced through the evolution of cameras — large-view cameras, hand-held box cameras, the Leica, the Polaroid, the Instamatic. Today’s photography is ruled by picture phones and pocket-friendly digital cameras, and the pairing of them with the Internet has given us the “photoblog,” an online version of the photo album.

Photoblogs provide us with a glimpse of the digital photographers’ world — the parties they attend, the places they work, the neighborhoods they live in, their families and their friends. This new feature, Blog City, will be about all that, too, showing you the best shots from your photo-blogging neighbors.

This weekend’s Post Magazine included photos from local photobloggers Matthew Bradley, Matt Billings, Chris Chen, Kevin Davis, and Loun-Loun Chua.

To submit your photos, they must be 8×10 at 300dpi (so, roughly 3 megapixels), and you may send three per month to blogcity@washpost.com

You can bet that I’ll be sending on some of mine.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

While I will admit to being late to the show, about 9 days late, that is, I finally got ahold of friend of DC Metblogs Dave K‘s pictures of Crystal Method at Nation. Better yet, his reviews of the Baltimore Show and DC Show. I’d like to thank Dave for taking such outstanding shots.

Were you at the show? Tell us all about it.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

With all the posturing over the DC Personal Protection Act, Lisa and I think it might be time to get some training at a local shooting range.

We’ve selected the Blue Ridge Arsenal, partially for its location but also because, hey, what’s not to love about a firing range with “Arsenal” in its name?

We’ll be booking a class for sometime after Lisa gets back from Punta Cana, where she is currently lying on the beach, drinking a fruity rum-based beverage with a paper umbrella in it. (We hate her.)

Watch for pictures.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

There’s a break in a 36″ Water Main at 13th and Florida streets this morning, causing much of the Northwest/Northeast section of DC to be without water today. The break happened around 4am this morning and has made a real mess of the roads in the area as well. The following neighborhoods are reported to be without water:

Brookland, Adams Morgan, parts of Dupont and Columbia Heights

Five medical facilities serving those areas are also short of water at this point. DC EMA says they’re hoping to have outlying areas restored shortly, but they’ll have to work through the weekend to get the areas near the main break.

The Post has more.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

There’s a rumor on the streets that Dr. Dremo’s is going to be shutting its doors due to the land being sold out from under it. As always, Dr. Dremo is on the offensive trying to prevent misinformation. Sadly, some of that rumor is true:

he owner of the Dr Dremo (and Taco Bell) property has a buyer. Development plans call for a 10 story building with 170 residential units and 36,000 sq ft of commercial space on the bottom floor

However,

Of course we are hoping that the county will not approve the plans, the land will not be purchased, and Dr Dremo’s will continue at the present location. We are hoping that the county will think the density is too great for one block on Wilson/Clarendon Blvd and deny the plans.

Now, Arlington County has rarely met a development deal they didn’t like (well, excepting one involving a baseball stadium), but I’m hoping they spare Dr. Dremo’s, as it’s the only place that I can get a good pint of Fuller’s ESB on tap. Of course, if you’ve got an idea to help save Dr. Dremo’s, feel free to drop them a line.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

You guys are gonna love this. I can’t remember where I found it, maybe BoingBoing, but I am pleased to share… Tourist Photos! A blogger in New York and one here in DC have created a photoblog full of photos of tourons tourists, or, “people taking photos of people taking photos of people.”

How do the site’s creators know who is and is not a tourist?

We try to ensure that all photos on this site clearly indicate the individual’s tourist state. This is slightly more involved than simply snapping the out-of-town onlooker. Suitcases, fanny packs, city guides, cameras, video-cameras, and stupid t-shirts are often employed in our photos to help certify our pictures as 100% tourist.

And as a random side note, I love the Ludicorp people. When I went to visit the Flickr photostream of the DC contributor, I was greeted with the system maintenance message, “Flickr is having a massage.”

Lucky Flickr.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I was on my way home tonight, listening to the traffic report on WTOP, when I heard the oddest story. Estée Lauder is creating a fragrance for Mayor Williams. The report said it was made with jasmine and citrus oils. The box will, of course, feature a bow tie.

No word on why they’ve chosen our mayor. No word on why they even chose DC. Except, of course, that politics hear stinks, perhaps?

I got nothin’.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

One of my favorite weekend stress relievers to hit the Courthouse Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning for fresh produce, and due to a Friday night poker addiction, I haven’t made it out this season yet. I managed to make it this past Saturday, picking up some strawberries (pictured) and some basil seedlings for my garden, as well as some great pictures.

If you haven’t been out to the Farmer’s Market lately, do yourself a favor this weekend and go. Get some fresh tomatoes from Toigo Orchards, or some of their amazing sauces, get some local mozzarella or ricotta from Blue Ridge Dairy, some homemade soap from Mount Harmony Soaps, or something for your garden from any of the garden vendors. You’re supporting local businesses, local people, and you get some sunshine.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

No photo!

Originally uploaded by tbridge.

That’s right, photography is not permitted at the Pentagon Metro station.

I broke the rules. Bad Tom. Bad. No donut.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

So the Nats dealt emotionally sensitive Endy Chavez to the Phillies in exchange for outfielder Marlon Byrd, who arrived in time to start in last night’s game over the Brewers. He ended up going 3-3 with three RBI to make the difference in last night’s 5-2 victory over the Brew Crew.

The Nats are 3-1 on this homestand, and with three games to go, it looks like they’ll meet Capitol Punishment‘s 5-2 goal for the homestand. The Nats will send Vargas, Loaiza and Livan to the mound, hoping to pick up 2 of 3. 2 games back of the first place Braves, and just a half game back of the Marlins. The Nats are 4 games over .500, on pace to win 89 games for the season, some 22 more than they won last season in Montreal. Not so shabby for a team with no ownership, limited funds, and a brand new fanbase.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I knew it was too good to be true.

Every once in a while I take the Metro home. Either my ride is going somewhere else that night, or I’m in a hurry, something that prevents me from making it home my normal way. So I walk down the escalator at Metro Center, slide the gates behind the tourists, weave my way around the slow-moving people down to the lower platform.

Tonight, I got there as a blue line train was pulling in, perfect timing. Sadly it was a short 4 car train, but I slid right into the last door of the last car, a perfect spot for my Pentagon exit to the bus.

The train filled up as we cruised through McPherson and Farragut, and we hit Foggy Bottom with a full load. I stepped off at Foggy Bottom to let passengers on, and retrieved my place as the doors shut. We rode the beneath the Potomac, an experience that always scares me a bit, but not nearly as much as the Trans-Bay Tunnel in San Francisco does. Stopping Rosslyn, it seemed everybody wanted off the train. Being close to the door, I filed off as well. But, it seemed, that my place on the train ended up going to a pair of Japanese tourists.

Right as the Metro system hit a major delay at Metro Center.

It was 20 minutes before I saw another Blue line train.

I knew it was too good to be true.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I’m actually spending the night in Atlanta for some business travel, but wanted to share some of my experiences during the trip today.

Dear M&M Mars:

Don’t get me wrong, I love the free M-Azing bar promotions going on at Metro stops. Who doesn’t love free chocolate? But you are clearly giving your product away because you can’t sell it, so allow me to provide you some free feedback to save you the cost of the focus group.
– Chocolate candies in chocolate bars is not that unique in the candy bar market. Come up with a distinctly cravable bar, and watch your sales rise!
– The chocolate is far too melty, particularly for a bar which begs to be broken apart with the fingers like a Hershey bar. Give me something that stands up to the warmth of my fingertips for the length of time it takes me to break off a piece and put it in my mouth.
– Use better chocolate. This cheap-ass stuff isn’t exactly flying off the shelves.

Love, Tiff

Dear Wall Street Deli in National Airport:

“Cash only” my ass. Here’s a clue: When the closest ATM is on the OTHER side of the security line, maybe accepting credit cards as a payment option for your wildly overpriced sandwiches would be a good business move. What would also be a good business move, if you refuse to leap into the 20th century, would be to post this policy, oh, ANYWHERE along your counter. Perhaps back by the sandwich ordering area would be nice. That way you can avoid what happened today when I unsucessfully tried to buy lunch from your establishment- when I discovered that my profferred debit card wouldn’t be accepted, I put the sandwich that had just been made back onto the counter and walked away. A lost sale, and a wasted sandwich. Screw you too.

Love,
Tiff

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Today, our lovely Supreme Court delivered a 5-4 verdict that will allow for wine sales online in Maryland and Virginia. Before today, state laws in 24 states prohibited the sale of wine from out of state vineyards and required a wholesaler to take part in the process. Now, thanks to Justices Scalia, Souter, Bader Ginsburg, Breyer and Kennedy, you may feel free to order that extra case from Napa or the Finger Lakes.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs