Brittany Martin is a friend of Metroblogging DC and submitted this review of this past weekend’s Crafty Bastards event in Adams Morgan

“Get awesomized!” was the tantalizing pitch that the Washington City Paper used to lure customers to the 4th annual Crafty Bastards indie craft fair on Sunday. Clearly the advertising worked – the Marie Reed Center was packed with shoppers looking for hand-made goods to break the monotony of the mass-produced. Over 100 vendors plied their wares, including accessories, clothing, concert posters, and plushies in the shape of weeping burnt toast.

As my shopping companion and I moved from booth to booth, we frequently let out squeals of “Oh! I know them from the internet!” and we were not alone. More “big name” craft vendors made a visit to DC for this year’s event than in the past – attracting artisans from Georgia, Chicago, Boston, and elsewhere. Two of my favorite booths were such folks-from-away: the whimsical and super-delightful Gladys Makes Things and Barry’s Farm.

Many local talents were also on display (if perhaps fewer than in past years) including De*Nada Designs. Virginia Arrisueno of De*Nada makes great bags which I am seeing more and more girls carrying these days – a testament to her good design and constant presence at DC design and craft scene events (I regret that yesterday, I passed up the chance to pick up a tote emblazoned with a pattern of skeleton keys, daggers, and guns).

One complaint about the vendors at Crafty Bastards was that there was the usual paucity of goods on sale for those of the male persuasion. Though there was no shortage of cute hipster boys strolling around, most vendors offered them the predictable American-Apparel-tee-with-screenprint and not much else. Remember, crafters: boys carry wallets and bags, wear scarves and hats in the cold, and so on. Similarly, I would love to see more DC boys rocking the handmade goods.

In spite of the heat and sunshine, many of the shopkeepers and shoppers dressed up for the event – in a display of great vintage dresses, stylish coifs, scarves, and flat skimmer shoes in every color of the rainbow. Most of them complimented their hip getups with the muslin totes handed out at the entrances bearing the Crafty Bastards logo, stuffed with purchases and indie cred.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

There’s been a lot of talk of home construction here this week, what with Wayan looking for a new kitchen, and Don talking about green construction, this weekend is the DC Green Festival at the Conference Center downtown.

If you’re interested in Green life in DC, this would be the place to go, with 350 Green Businesses on exhibit, and 125 speakers or so, it looks like it could rock. Tickets are $15, which mean they’re just as accessible as the technologies on display.

Check it out!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

… but it isn’t exactly impossible either. Wayan’s on the prowl for some cabinets and appliance and finds EXPO’s big-ticket mentality unpleasant. If Home Depot’s take on upscale home renovation isn’t to your liking, there’s always the opposite way of going: reused building materials. Like everything else, there’s an association for the concept – The Building Materials Re-use Association – but somewhat amazingly, they’re not one of the bazillion situated in DC.

These are the people who sit at home and seethe as the folks on Trading Spaces or other renovation shows take sledgehammers to perfectly good cabinets and fixtures that just aren’t the color they want. Thankfully not everyone is as needlessly dramatic, and places like Harrisonburg’s Friendship Homestore or our area’s Community Forklift, or Baltimore’s Loading Dock will take those more carefully removed products and re-sell them.

If none of them are to your liking, check the general Builders’ Guide to Reuse & Recycling which has directory listings by category. Community Forklift and Loading Dock are run by non-profits and Friendship Home Story has a social imperative, but they are by no means the only place to get used materials at a discount. There’s more than one place to buy a cat-skinner.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Wayan’s DC Photos

I want to add a kitchen to my finished basement. A place for guests or renters to cook and entertain a guest.

On the advice of others I went to the Home Depot Expo Design Center Saturday morning. Oh what an error that was!

First off, all the massive bathrooms when you first walk in made me realize just how small my house is. But the real affront happened at the kitchen design center.

There a very arrogant salesman demanded I start my kitchen design with cabinet selections, ignoring my desire to start at what appliances would fit in my small space.

When I balked at his minimum kitchen design price, $45,000!, as ridiculous crazy talk, he became downright nasty. Apparently, unless you are trust fund wealthy, you are not welcome at Expo Design Center, Montgomery Mall.

Which leaves me with a problem: where do I go to design a little basement kitchen on a small budget?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

image courtesy of Nufkin

As I alluded to recently, I’ve changed jobs in the last thirty days. In doing so, I’ve become one of a very large group in our area – someone whose salary information is available to anyone with a FOIA request and an inkling of where to send it.

It hadn’t occurred to me when I took this job that this was the case, though if I’d had any reason to ponder it I’d have realized it. The point was driven home when I was googling around for some information on my new boss and hit upon a site where someone had published some FOIAed info, including her name and compensation. It got me to thinking today that we’re almost certainly the area with the highest density of people whose lives are laid bare in this way.

Every region has public employees, but in addition the usual local government, various state organizations, and some local transit labor we’ve got the Fed and local charities. Googling ‘senate staff salaries’ turns up the Legistorm page and you can tell that Vince Morris probably got paid about $80k a year (I’m extrapolating based on one quarter’s salary, though Legistorm warns me that may be inaccurate) in exchange for being asked several hundred times to comment on the significance of the phrase “don’t tase me, bro!”

Charities are less complete, but Guidestar can show you the IRS form 990s for an organization. Directors and trustees are at the back but there’s also the section that lists the “compensation of the five highest paid employees other than officers, directors, and trustees.” Bryan Detchon of the Better World Fund – you are SO picking up the drink tab if we go out for a beer.

If you’re directly in the public employ it’s a good bet someone could find what you make if they wanted to. It’s an odd feeling for someone who was raised to believe it’s gauche to talk about salaries.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

More news on this morning’s fire from WTOP, NBC4, WJLA, WUSA9, WaPo and Express, and we have photos from on the scene by area Flickr user lukekb.

The fire is now out, but the four-story building is completely destroyed, displacing residents from 30 units. Notoriously low water pressure complicated firefighting efforts, forcing firemen to run extra hose to reach a stronger water main. A press conference with Mayor Fenty is scheduled for the site of the fire at noon today, and DCFD.com is sure to have photos soon.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

While Connecticut Avenue NW is now open, it spent much of the morning blocked to all traffic, along with 18th Street, and Columbia Ave, as firefighters fought a four-alarm blaze in Adams Morgan. What made the situation much worse is that the water pressure in the hydrant at the 2600 block of Adams Mill Road was entirely unable to pump out the water necessary to fight the fire. Instead, hoses had to be run across the Duke Ellington Bridge to Connecticut Avenue, where a 20″ water main fed the hoses.

Check out the map here. That’s how far they had to run the hoses. That’s half a freaking mile to the nearest source with decent water pressure. According to the Post, the WASA rep involved said “That area is just an area that doesn’t have as high pressure as some of the surrounding areas, that’s just the way it is.”

A whole area of town that just gets to burn to the ground and that’s “just the way it is”?

Well, Good thing for Ward 1 that Jim Graham, scourge of the nightclub is around. Jim Graham prosecutes issues in his ward like freaking Sam Waterston on Law & Order. The guy is just plain fierce.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Wayan’s DC Photos

Were you hungry this morning? Live in northern Northwest DC? Then Colorado Kitchen is for you.

At 14th and Kennedy Street, on Colorado Avenue, the aptly named Colorado Kitchen servers up tasty treats on the weekends, like homemade donuts and poached eggs on lobster.

But be quick if you want to eat before noon. Colorado Kitchen opens at 11am and the line forms at 10:30am. If you are not in the first 25 people or so, you will have to wait for the second wave of seating and not get your food until around noon.

Still, the food is worth the wait, the donuts come out piping hot and will be fought over when they hit your table.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Don’s post about the Book Festival inspired me to go check out which authors would be in attendance. In past years, Bridge Household favorites Neil Gaiman and Neal Stephenson have been in attendance, so I generally think it’s a pretty worth event (and yes, Neil Gaiman is enough of a rockstar that people will wait until well after midnight for his signature.

I knew Judith “Miss Manners” Martin would be there to do a signing of her new travel book… but somehow I had failed to be aware that Jack Prelutsky would be here, in mah very own DC, to sign books.

Who is Jack Prelutsky, I hear you ask? He’s a freakin’ genius, as far as my brother and I are concerned. When we were kids, we had a paperback copy of his The New Kid on the Block. It eventually disintegrated from our repeated readings, accompanied by gales of laughter at such gems as “Ebeneezer Bleezer’s Ice Cream Store” and “Yubbazubbies.” But my personal favorite began:

Homework, Oh Homework
I hate you, you stink
I wish I could wash you away in the sink.

Maybe I’ll make my way down there this weekend. My brother is moving away to Wyoming next month, and he needs a housewarming gift.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

The countdown timer on the LOC webpage says it’s under 12 hours now till the Bookfest kicks off, and while I’m probably above-average (or below average, if you ask my lower back as I pack and move this weekend) in my book fetishism, I have to say two things in response to this.

One, really, we’re calling midnight the start time? Are there a lot of events tonight at midnight? Will Joyce Carol Oats and Terry Pratchett be rolling at the LOC-sponsored rave tonight? Someone warn Holly Black to stay off the brown acid, one of the brains behind the Spiderwick Chronicles doesn’t need yet more trippy imagery in her head.

Two, a countdown timer? Again, big book fiend here, but is anyone really counting the minutes to this shindig? You’re watching too many Halo 3 commercials, folks. “Saturday” would have done well enough. Toss an exclamation point in if you really feel the need.

The main page advertising the event is here but personally what I am always interested in at a book fair is the authors, who are listed by category here and alphabetically by name here. If you’re an autograph hound – or just one of us with a somewhat constrained schedule – the signing schedule is here. All the other non-time-sensitive stuff is listed out by pavilion over here.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

It’s human nature to complain about prices going up whether it’s the cost of housing, a gallon of gas, or a loaf bread. It’s well founded too, I mean who wants to pay more for something especially if you see little to no personal return? Does your car run better or go farther on a tank of gas if it costs $3.10 vs $3.05 per gallon? Why pay the extra nickel?

The answer is usually because that extra money is going into the cost of maintaining the system (or so we hope) and also due to the cost of other things going up. A loaf of bread used to cost 10 cents back in the good ol’ days, but the salary of the bread factory employees, the cost of the bread ingredients, and the cost to ship the bread to the store were far less.

Recently Metro’s General Manager John Catoe Jr. presented a plan to raise the fare of riding the subway, riding the bus, and parking fees, designed to “close a projected shortfall” and wouldn’t you know it, people are complaining. The plan is proposing bus fares to be increased from $1.25 to $1.50 (a quarter!) and parking fees to go up from $3.50 to $4.00 (fifty cents!).

One of the complaints is that urban riders, those who pay to park at Metro lots, are bearing more of the brunt of the increase. It’s just not fair! The fare isn’t fair! Why do we have to pay an extra fifty cents when the bus riders only have to pay an extra quarter? Jim Graham, our Ward 1 Council member, argues that the poor, disadvantaged people of DC can’t afford the extra quarter and will not support any proposal that raises the bus fare for his people. He argues that instead the parking fees should be raised even more since “the market rate for parking is much higher.”

I’m calling “boo hoo” on all of this. Not to sound insensitive, but we haven’t had a Metro fare increase in years that I know of and it’s bound to happen sooner or later. Tracks need repair, parking lots need repainting, employees want raises, gas prices are higher…it all adds up. Let’s say you ride the bus 30 times per month. Even if you are extremely poor, can you not afford an extra $7.50 per month? Or if you park in a Metro lot 20 times per month, it’s only going to set you back another $10.

I guess it’s not a question of if Metro fares will be increased, it’s a matter of how much and who will pay more, our “poor” citizens or our urban commuters? Either way, I’m sure people will find a way to deal with the extra costs whether it means working a couple of extra hours, carpooling with coworkers, or even canceling your HBO service. That is a sacrifice I could never make.

Photo by Grundlepuck

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

This Saturday, you really need to go for a walk. Fall weather is here, meaning that you’re in the rare God-it’s-awesome-outside conditions that only seem to happen in late September/early October and then again from late March through early May. It’s “Walking Town DC” Day on Saturday, and there are 45 walking tours in DC that day, featuring “The Spies of Georgetown” and “The History of Brookland” and “More than Monuments.”

Better still? All the tours are free. Bring your cameras, though, and take photos for the contest, which could net you a season ticket to Arena Stage’s next season, and publication in the next See DC brochure.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I’m sure you’re all clamoring to be regaled today with yet another DMV entry after Don’s, so I am happy to oblige with this quick tip: when converting an out-of-state driver’s license at the DC DMV service center in Georgetown, said license is not considered a valid primary ID. Yeah, you read that right. See those requirements here. Real clear, right?

And if the lady at the desk says that “there is no birthday on that license” even though there is a birthday on the license, there is no birthday on the license. And we just wasted a morning because we didn’t bring a passport and our health insurance cards don’t have birth dates on them.

No Profanity, now!

Related Family Guy video, with some racial overtones:

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Wayan’s DC Photos

Back in the day, I loved me some Blue Room. It was my best back-up plan as almost always scored a phone number or a kiss. Then I met the Betrothed Butterbean and my life changed.

So did the Blue Room. It’s gone, replaced with Bourbon. But just like I am the same guy, now with a new focus, Blue Room didn’t undergo too much change to be Bourbon. In fact, when the BB and I went there last night, we failed to see any difference. They even kept the massive chandelier!

Bourbon has changed it style a mite bit. Last night was The Modernist meet-up, “another evening of intellectual / libidinal stimulation.” And with free Belvedere Vodka for the first hour, everyone got the libidinal stimulation going, even the two clueless & overdressed sorority girls who came in for one round of non-vodka shots.

The intellectual stimulation was high-brow, with The Modernist promoter even throwing out “pretentious” as Porochista Khakpour read from her debut novel, Sons and Other Flammable Objects and denied romantic relationships with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Sadly, she did not comment on the Iranian President’s sartorial sacrilege. It may have enlightened a few fashion victims in the room that it’s still a little early to break out the winter leather boots.

Still, the Blue Room Bourbon did not disappoint. Talent was impressive and wanting. Men were even hit on while going for free vodkas, with their girlfriends standing next to them! So men, leave the newspapers and head over to Bourbon on a Thursday night.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

“If you got time to lean, you got time to clean” is one of the two things I most remember hearing at my first job, though there were many variations. “I bet that piece of floor will hold itself down without you, why don’t you go straighten some things up” and “you’re starting to collect dust, go wipe down the counters” were two other flavors of the goad.

The other principle didn’t have any clever flavors, and I only heard it once, when I argued with “you’re late” by saying I’d been there on time. “You’re on-time when you’re here and ready to work. Showing up for your shift on time and then spending ten minutes in back drinking coffee or putting on your tie is no different from walking in the door ten minutes late.” I don’t wear a tie to work anymore – thank grod – or wait on walk-in customers, but I still remember that lesson.

Well, nobody gave the folks at the Tyson’s Corner DMV that lesson, or at least not most of them. I showed up at the 8am opening time so I could do the trifecta of plate transfer, renewal, and address change before moving in to your new home with help from the moving company dublin.

You can, in fact, do most of this online if you don’t have any esoteric requests. The address change is pretty minor – they’ll send you a little card to keep with your driver’s license if you don’t want to get a new one at the $10 charge. As it happens I wanted to get the car done quickly so Arlington wouldn’t give me any crap about parking and I had some vanity plates from a car I sold that I wanted to transfer over.

So I put myself in my seat at 8:03 and waited for my number & letter combo to be called. There were a fair number of people milling about behind the counter that weren’t waiting on folks – only 3 windows seemed to be in operation, in fact – but there’s always a lot of that, or seems to be, anytime you’re waiting to be seen and are feeling hurried. A few of the folks in question, however, spent all their time at specific windows, and seemed to be doing things there. On more careful examination I realized they were prepping their windows to open. One was counting a cash drawer. Another was cleaning every apparent inch of countertop in her work area with an aerosol can and paper towels. Another had some papers she was shuffling.

Our of curiosity I took out my pad and made notes based on the big clock hanging behind them.

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

Wayan’s DC Photos

Are you this lucky in your office building? Does your mens bathroom have reading material in the stalls?

I love this community operated perk at my new place of business. Daily newspapers to pass the time on the throne.

Today its the Express, but other days its the Times or the Journal. A great library in the bathroom that should make you jealous.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I’ve caught a few episodes of the Showtime series Dexter and intend to catch up – not only is it set in my hometown of Miami, but its pretty entertaining as well. With season two kicking off this Sunday, Showtime is launching a big push to promote the show and are having in-place events at fourteen cities. The one for our fair city is being held at Union Station. Apparently they involve “Dexter’s red fountains.” I’m not sure what that means, but with a show that revolves around a serial killer odds seem slim it’s entirely wholesome and free of innuendo.

I’m not free to go over to witness the ‘festivities’ when they happen today sometime between 11 and 5p, but if one of you does and take some pictures then you can join the Flickr group that Showtime has set up and add your photos. They’ll be giving some things out, apparently including a DVD with the first episode. “The first one is always free” is a tactic I am sure I have heard of somewhere else…

I’m half tempted to think that a promotion for a show about a serial killer is inappropriate in a city that has at times competed strongly for murder capital of the nation, but I honestly can’t find it in myself to be bugged by it. Maybe it’s because I like the show, maybe it’s because I know the central character tries to harness his murderous impulses in a constructive way, maybe… I just can’t bring myself to care about fiction when there’s enough yuck promoted in reality.

If any of you see any of this, let us know what it was all about or if the giveaways were of any interest.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

image courtesy of Clav

My darling girlfriend and I are in the process of moving, one of life’s lesser joys. I’ve got a few stories to tell, though several of them are hers, since she’s shouldered the burden of dealing with most of the utility companies. I don’t really suggest changing jobs a few weeks before a major move but I have to say it’s a great trump card when trying to convince your partner to pick up some of your slack, if moving is a real pain for you, hiring a reliable moving service like ADTMoving will relieve all your stress. “Gosh honey, could you do that? I just don’t feel like it’s a good message to send for me to be on the phone so much on my third day.” Grod love her, she’s good to me.

One of the first hurdles we jumped was a mover for her and we selected Moving Leads Only announced online. Being a long-time bachelor myself I’ve got more computer toys, saws, and books than furniture. She, however, is bringing the majority of the heavy gear to the new place, so she was determined to hire someone. Whoo-boy! I knew a fellow who once quipped that “finding an unbiased drug study is even harder than finding a sober Kennedy,” but drug policy is a snap compared to determining is a mover is trustworthy and fairly priced.

We spoke to several, including ones suggested by fellow metblogs authors, but in the end went with someone used by one of her coworkers, Charles in Charge. Others seemed good, but the biggest deciding factor in the end was that CiC didn’t want to charge a minimum travel time. We felt that was kinda unreasonable from a mover whose office was one mile away to move objects between two houses that are… let’s see what Google says…. 1584 feet apart. So paying for two hours of travel stuck in our craw. We also read on union county movers that could help in long distance moving, as well.

I’ll give you a review when it’s done. Here’s hoping.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs