Will the Taxi Zones really die so easily? I’m not sure they will. I can see a potential taxi-strike, or maybe some sort of peculiar form of passive protest? Then again, how would you know if your cab driver was being a jerk to you because of the meters he’s had to take over, or because he’s a nutjob with a crappy-ass cab?

It’s really going to be hard to tell if they take up the passive protest route. I suppose a court challenge isn’t out of the realm of possibilities, but I look forward to seeing what’s next. Mayor Fenty has said “he has no idea how much the transition will cost or what the timetable will be,” according to the Washington Post, which is a bit of a bummer. I was hoping to see a drop-dead date today for the changeover, but I suspect now they’ll have to standardize the fare rates, not to mention settle on a meter platform, and get them installed in taxis. So, I think the death of the taxi zone is probably still at least 9 months off, and probably closer to a year given the District’s proclivity toward taking a good amount of time to do anything.

Now, if we could just make cabbies sit for The Knowledge in DC…

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

photo courtesy of Zoom zoom

You’ll be seeing these in cabs here in DC before long – WTOP is reporting that Fenty has approved scrapping the existing zone system and going to meters based on time and distance. Personally I think it’s a wash, though lots of people have strong feelings on the matter.

I’ll just be happy if they don’t put in any goddamned TVs.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

The Geek Comedy Tour 3000 (“Comedy that knows Han shot first”) is coming to Arlington next weekend with a show on Saturday, October 27th at the Comedy Spot in Ballston.

No, I’m not on the Tour (and in fact, I notice a startling lack of female geeks on the tour- what’s up with that?), but I’ve caught a number of the Geeks as they’ve performed around the area and am confident to say that if you like comics who read comics, this is the show for you.

Tickets are $15 at the door, but the GCT3K site has instructions for getting your tickets two-for-one. So much comedy! So little money! You’d be crazy not to go.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Rolling around in the back of a New York City taxi on Monday, look what I saw in the backseat: a live TV monitor beaming back at me.

Now wouldn’t it be cool to have a TV in the backseat of a DC taxicab? A TV system that can show you location on a real-time city map, can give you a Zagat restaurant reviews when you’re hungry, and best of all, offer a direct conduit to the DC Taxicab Commission?

But this cool wiz-bang technology isn’t coming to DC if we stay with zones. There’s no impetus for psycho taxi drivers to add electronics if they can zone gouge with taxi fares based on invisible lines and crap maps.

I join Max in calling on Mayor Adrian Fenty to step in where the DC Taxicab Commission is too chicken-shit to tread. Fenty, let Senator Levin’s requirement come to pass.

Give us meters in DC cabs!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

At the car wash

Originally uploaded by tbridge.

One of the things I grew to depend on was the frequent rainstorms in the late summer and early fall, but with a drought in progress, it’s hard to get the grime off without hitting the carwash and either paying something like $15 to get it done nicely, or paying $5 for a creaky gas station carwash, where things may go awry.

There seems to be little middle ground in terms of a good wash that doesn’t cost a ton of money. I know some of the downtown area parking garages offer detailing service, but how do you know which ones to trust? I felt good doing it at my office in Columbia Square, but not so much the office on Thomas Circle. While I’m sure Wayan would rather the only Cars we dealt with be the work of front man Ric Ocasik (whom I recently learned married Paulina Poriskova! How the hell did THAT happen?!), the rest of us who can’t rely on mass transit need a place to wash up.

Where are you getting your car washed?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Tomorrow, Mayor Fenty has to make a decision between keeping the existing crappy zone system for taxis or requiring them to begin using meters like they do in every other major city. If he fails to make a decision, legislation by Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.) will make the choice for him and require meters to be installed in all cabs.

According to the Washington Post, “81 percent of frequent riders rated the city’s cabs as fair or poor” and are generally in favor of doing away with the zone system. It’s hard to argue with those numbers, but it’s easy to argue with a cab driver when he says a 5 minute trip will cost you $13 because it’s rush hour and there is a gas surcharge and the moon is full.

As you have probably guessed, I’m also in favor of installing meters in cabs. Sure, it won’t always work out in your favor, but at least you know you’re being treated fairly and the driver isn’t picking a fare out of thin air. The drivers of course are protesting this change because they’ll more than likely see a decline in income, but I say welcome to the real world where you have to play by the rules.

If anyone has any arguments for the zone system I’d love to hear them, but in my opinion, Fenty has an easy decision to make.

Photo by zeul

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Wayan’s DC Photos

Just check out this super cute carport I found in Petworth.

Perfect for a Sicon or a Mini, it is tiny. Perfect for an alley, its tucked against the house. Perfect for everyone, it has a porch on top, doubling its use.

One thing its not perfect for is a big annoying SUV. And I think that almost alone makes it perfect for DC.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Today’s OMGWTFBBQ-it’s-the-Hill story comes to you via Jezebel:

Our Democrat friend wears Chuck Taylors and jeans to the Russell Building when Congress is in recess, no questions asked. But our Republican pal is not so lucky! Just last week, she was pulled aside by a supervisor and debriefed as to the ins-and-outs of Grand Old Party dressing. Open toe-shoes are a no-go, as are jeans. Heels are mandatory at all times. But most bizarre is the “pantyhose policy.”

Basically, pantyhose must be worn every day, she was told. Even in the summertime? Oh yes, and “no exceptions.” Well, what about pantsuits? “Well, I suppose you can wear them,” the supervisor sighed, “But you are going to need to check with the Senator herself whether or not you will need to wear hose under pants, as well. I’m not entirely sure of the Senator’s stance on pantsuits at this time.”

Yep, we still haven’t left the 50’s and 60’s in some offices at the Hill. Heaven forfend that people might work in some semblance of comfort. Wait, before you ask it, yeah, I know what it feels like to wear pantyhose, as any swimmer worth their salt will do post shave-and-taper to simulate extra drag. They’re kinda itchy.

I’ll let you wager your own guesses as to which of the Senators this was, I have no idea myself, but I have a few guesses. Every day I walk by tons of people in full “business” dress, and glad that I don’t have to abide by their rules anymore.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Autumn begins in Clarendon

Originally uploaded by tbridge.

Walking to lunch today, there was something in the air that’s been oddly lacking in Fall so far. Maybe it was the smell of dry leaves and fresh mulch, or maybe it was golden leaves and the rustling in the breeze, I’m not all that sure.

I’ve been enjoying the return of soup to the lunch menu of my favorite haunts, back from its summer hiatus. The colder evenings are just begging for chilis and chowders and soups, and this weekend we took the time to make the first batch of pasta e fagiole, and this week will bring the first batch of clam chowder (new england, not manhattan), and have me thinking about brining a turkey before too much longer.

I’m sure we’ll be seeing stew weather before too much longer, even if the forecast still holds nothing but warmth for the week.

What are you missing from your menu so far this Fall?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

In going through the gyrations to complete my move, I’m handling getting my tax and sticker settled up with Arlington county. Ah, what a joy. Can anyone explain to me why they don’t just have the stickers and the property taxes on the same schedule? Or better yet, why the Treasurer’s office speaks to you like you’re a slow child when you call them with a question about stickers? After all, they have details about the stickers on their own web page, next to their contact information. If that’s not a sign to call them, what is?

What I really wanted to mention to you, however, is that they’ve also been so kind as to provide meddling busybodies a welcome tool as well. Notice a car parked on your street who isn’t handing their $24 to the county? Then report them from the comfort of your own home! (Tom, check to see if it’s iPhone compatible – maybe you can even do it on site!)

My favorite bit is the box to tell them the owner’s name, if you know it. If you’re driving an out-of-state (or even county) car you’d better think twice about pissing off Ms Jacobs down the road…

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Annie Leibovitz is an icon of modern photography. Building her career from scratch, she has become one of the most recognized, sought after, and important photographers in the world. Over the span of her career she has photographed countless celebrities including Demi Moore, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Al Pacino, Robert Dinero, and Scarlett Johansson. She has worked for such magazines as Rolling Stone, Vanity Fair, and Vogue and created ad campaigns for The Gap, American Express, and the Milk Board. She was designated a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress and Smithsonian Magazine has called her one of the “innovators of our time”. She has photographed the last two sitting presidents and many of their cabinet members. Hell, she recently photographed the Queen of England claiming that “they had fun” during the shoot. When asked by a reporter if she has a “dream shoot”, that is someone she’s been dying to work with, she sort of scoffed at the question. From a professional photographer’s point of view, her life has been a dream shoot.

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

Wayan’s DC Photos

Getting off a red eye from PDX at DCA, I was looking forward to a direct Yellow Line ride to Petworth. Foolish me for thinking that Metrorail would be easier than rousing the Betrothed Butterbean for an early morning National Airport pick up.

With the Yellow Line bridge across the Potomac closed, what would be a 20 minute trip is now an hour long two-line transit trauma.

And a classic WMATA welcome back to Washington DC.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to get kicked out of the White House, look no further than local rabble-rouser Mark Plotkin. Many thanks to DC Shadow Representative Mike Panetta for sending along this gem:

In typical Plotkin style, he blurted out the following question:

“Mrs. Bush, do you agree with those who say and believe that members of the Ballou High School band should not grow up to become members of the House of Representatives?”

About half way through the question, Mrs. Bush realized this was not a friendly softball being lobbed from the peanut gallery, but a real question with an agenda from the press gallery.

Mrs. Bush looked down and walked to her seat without a word. The smile was gone.

So, that’s what it takes to get kicked out. A real question. Segraves’ commentary is excellent, and worth a read in its entirety, as I agree that the media has become too much an enabler and not nearly as critically questioning of the people involved. Was Plotkin’s question to the First Lady rude? Not nearly as rude as her ignoring it in its entirety.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Remember when I graduated from comedy school? I know some of you were thinking, even then, what a terrible shame it was that you couldn’t make it out to catch the beginning of what will surely be a majestic comedic career.

Fortunately for you, you have another shot at it. On Thursday, October 25th, I’ll be competing against a number of other up-and-coming local comics in the Kz’s House of Talent Comedy Contest, held at Floyd’s Bar and Grill in Alexandria. Other comedians featured include Janice Brown and Mike Blejer, both of whom have cracked me up recently at the local open mics.

Cover is $10, which is but a pittance for the massive quantity of entertainment you will receive for your Hamilton. See you there.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I know it has felt like summer a lot recently but the signs of autumn are upon us and soon hot pants will be replaced by corduroy and tending gardens will be abandoned for washing purple bird shit off my car. Why do birds have to eat poke berries and then shit on my car? Should I be so blessed with abundance in nature as to have both birds and pokeweed along my daily commute?

Until it really starts to feel like autumn, let’s enjoy one last picture of bounty from my garden. Imagine the taste – a sweet earthiness mixed with a lip-tingling spice, whose heat reminds us of the scorch of sun as the shadows grow longer and daylight wanes.

A toast to the summer! To borrow from John Keats’ Ode to a Nightingale:

O, for a draught of vintage! that hath been
Cool’d a long age in the deep-delved earth,
Tasting of Flora and the country green,
Dance, and Provençal song, and sunburnt mirth!
O for a beaker full of the warm South,
Full of the true, the blushful Hippocrene,
With beaded bubbles winking at the brim,
And purple-stained mouth;
That I might drink, and leave the world unseen,
And with thee fade away into the forest dim

This is what I think of when I think back on summer days – the joy and carefree sense of my days, keeping a light heart and drinking, even if just symbolically, from a fluted glass as the wine of life flows through my veins.

What literary or pictorial allusions bring you back to the warmth of summer?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

image courtesy of Drsnaut

You might think me lazy but really I’m just impatient. Trying to get into the swing of rail commuting, I find myself somewhat put off by the mile and a half stroll from my house to the metro stop. I enjoy the walk, but to get there to catch the early enough train so I can catch the early enough shuttle means I need to be up and our of bed earlier than I want.

Okay, so I’m impatient and lazy.

So I was kinda interested to see a recent entry in Kevin Kelly’s Cool Tools for the Strida folding bicycle. Every folding bike I have ever seen has been, to put it as kindly as I can manage, a complete turd. This one is seems pretty nifty, at least so far as its transportability once folded. I’m not sure I think it looks very ridable – and I’m even less sure I’m willing to pay $500 just to shave 15 minutes off my morning – but I wondered if in a city with as many commuters as we have, have any of you seen any of these around town?

Or do you use any kind of wheeled contraption to speed your trip? If they made razor scooters with slightly more robust wheels I’d be tempted just to get one of those. At $30 or so they seem a lot more palatable for a cheapskate like me…

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Hidden in an alley in Old Town is the entrance to Restaurant Eve, Cathal Armstrong’s canvas. His palette is food of many varieties and his brush is his incredible kitchen. One of my clients, on completion of a serious deadline, took me there today for a celebration. The appetizer today was a tomato soup which was thick and rich and the chives added such a gentle flavor to it that I was very glad that some thick and crusty bread was ready to make sure that not a drop was contained by the bowl when it was whisked away.

For my cohorts, it was the pulled pork sandwich, and the daily special of a ham and gruyere sandwich. For me, though, was the finest combination of tomatoes and pork and bread that I’ve ever experienced. The bacon was the hock-based or back-based bacon instead of the much more fatty American bacon, and the delicate flavor of the bacon combined with the fresh tomatoes and excellent sourdough.

A good lunch, though, ends with sweets. I had the butterscotch creme brulee, but what I should’ve had was the toffee sticky buns with vanilla ice cream. Boy did that look good. Next time. Next time.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Thanks, Clara

In a move sure to further incite Wayan, the Red Cross has altered their questions since the last time I donated. Next to last on the list I had to peruse before they’d stab me with their 18ga: have I had sex with someone who is from or has lived in Africa. It doesn’t say if this is or is not a deal breaker for them, but I figured that even though my darling girlfriend is adopted and we can’t be 100% sure exactly where she came from, my blond-haired ivory dearheart is probably not from one of the West-African states that the Red Cross is concerned about.

Before Wayan or Kim hit full dudgeon, however, I’ll share with you what I discovered their reasoning is: HIV “type O” (here I thought I was well informed but this was new to me) is common in many west African states, and apparently it is prone to evade detection tests. (!) So if you’re looking for that van, Nigelmoose, I hope you’re from the US or European.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

A different Wilford Brimley like-a-look

So I’ve walked out of my office in search of coffee and notice that there’s a Red Cross van parked just down the way. They’ve been after me to donate – I’m several months overdue – and I don’t have any meetings in the next few hours so I figure what the heck, I’ll go do it now.

When I round the big ol’ van to where the entrance is, however, I find a few stacks of boxes and tables, the doors closed… and Wilford Brimley’s younger, pudgier brother standing outside in his t-shirt and jean shorts, smoking a cigarette. He informs me they won’t be up and running till 10am, so I thank him kindly and leave him to his tobacco.

I wonder if I can target my donation for him? Hopefully they don’t ask you to be specific about the surgery itself since I’m unsure if they’ll need it for lung replacement or angioplasty.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs