Sunday was not a fun day to be on Metro. I descended into the Red Line that morning to see a “RESIDUAL DELAYS” notice warning of single tracking between Gallery Place and Rhode Island Avenue. Now, generally single tracking between so many stations means these delays are anything but “residual,” and when the “minutes left” on all the PID screens blanked out I knew it was time to bite the bullet and go up to take a taxi.

But the fecal matter really hit the rotary ventilation around noon, when birds started dying. Yeah, that’s right: the birds were dying. Metro riders panicked when bird carcasses started turning up around Rhode Island Ave, Takoma Park, Greenbelt, College Park, Anacostia, Naylor Road, and Branch Ave stations. With sightings of someone in a black pickup truck spreading what looked like poison, the stations were closed, shuttle buses were brought in, the FBI and NIH came in to investigate the possibility of terrorism, and an already-crappy Metro day was made crappier by what would turn out to be a pest abatement program done wrong.

Apparently Metro’s contractor for pest control is supposed to spread rat poison late nights or early mornings, and the poison guy’s responsibilities include cleaning up the collateral damage of bird and other animal carcasses. Instead, the poisoning was done at noon on a Sunday, and, in what looks to have been a bout of Not My Job Award-worthy laziness, no effort was made to clean up the dead birds — at least, not right away.

The one silver lining to this whole bird-poison mess is that most of the birds killed were English House Sparrows and European Starlings, both of which are species non-indigenous to North America, whose introduction has led to the decline of other native American bird populations. DCeiver gives us the dirt on starlings. The pests.

Thanks, Metro!

More from WaPo, WTOP, NBC4, and WJLA.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

With today, the second annual DC Fringe Festival draws to a close. I’ve got a backlog of shows to tell you about, primarily ones that I saw today or at their last showing, reducing my pressure to get a writeup out to you. You can look forward to (or dread) my analysis of Air Heart, The Blue Lagoon: A Musical, Butter: a love story, Carrie Potter at the Half Blood Prom, Petpourri, Queen of the Bohemian Dream, Reefer Madness: The Musical, and Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind.

As soon as I get some SLEEP.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Were you on I-95 north heading home from the beach? Were you one of the guys who blocked me from moving into the next lane? I feel I must thank you for helping me practice my patience and meditation on the long ride home from Manteo, NC.

If you were on I-95 today, you have my deepest sympathies. Traffic is bad enough on a Sunday, with yahoos like me trying to get home from a weekend trip. Add to that flash floods, hellacious rain and thunderstorms and throw in some ever-present bad drivers, and you have one heck of a drive.

If you are like me and just got home and are enjoying a nice cold homebrew, welcome back. To those of you still stuck on the highway, I feel for you. Those bad drivers are still out there, no doubt. You know that one guy who keeps honking, despite everyone being in the same traffic mess? He’s the one to run off the road if you feel the need to be aggressive. He’s the same one who blocks us from changing lanes.

Go to it. Have fun. Stay calm. Remember – each jerk on the road gives you an opportunity to practice being patient.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

The first of my three Fringe outings yesterday was the Super Secret Show at Noon, which was, as the narrator said, “possibly the earliest burlesque performance ever… I’m still asleep. So I’ll just be phoning it in.” Maybe true, but his phoning was about a million times more entertaining than my last show of the day, Butter. But more about that train wreck later – we’re here to talk about some burlesque.

Let’s cut to the chase: Get off your ass and go to this show tonight. Aside from the fact that it’s smart, funny, and dumb in all the best ways, the burlesque aspect is well done and enjoyable. You’ll get suckered initially into thinking this is just going to be some silliness with some pseudo-striptease only to see the routines get more complex and impressive. Which doesn’t even address the hysterical use of flashlights to do a piece set to “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” Hell, Trixie Little’s trapeze act is worth the price of admission alone. The tenuous plot to hold it all together manages to be a perfect balance – not too pointless or moronic but also not taking itself more seriously than it deserves.

The show is a gas and a fun hour. It also has the advantage tonight of being at 9pm at Warehouse, which is having it’s farewell party tonight. There’s still going to be theater there starting again in September but the music and – sob – the bar will be gone. Come mourn and have a laugh break in the middle and I’ll see you after my last show lets out of Playbill at 9.

9pm July 29th at Warehouse Arts – Mainstage
1021 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

All cities have their different flavors of movie theaters. The nice ones, the not so nice ones, the old ones, the new ones, the one that shows “artsy fartsy” movies, the one that shows blockbusters, the one with the giant screen, the one with the dollhouse sized screens. Here’s my breakdown of the theaters in DC:

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

Saw this heartbreaking sight on my way to the Foggy Bottom Trader Joe’s yesterday afternoon. There isn’t even a note on the windshield, so whoever snagged onto this poor guy’s bumper must have run off. Our deepest condolences.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

It’s one thing to shoot with natural lighting or with a simple flash, but when you start to get into portrait photography you realize you’ve barely scratched the surface. Strobe or continuous? Modeling lights? Umbrellas or soft boxes? Pocket Wizards? Muslin? Am I speaking Greek to you? Well if you want to learn more about lighting as it relates to photography, I highly recommend the upcoming Lighting & Digital Photography Training Camp, hosted by master photographer Jack Reznicki:

Saturday, August 18th, 9am to 4pm

Cafritz Conference Center
George Washington University
800 21st Street NW
Washington, DC 20052

Pre-registered Cost: $99
At the Door Cost: $119

Photo by yospyn

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

After a long week chewing through work, do you fell stuck in your job? Like your efforts bubble up, only to pop? Do you want something more elastic? More cleansing? How about Gum Busting?

Yeah, you’re not seeing things – there really is a job, a need for industrial bubble gum removal. There is even an international need for gum busters too.

No word on if they use big blocks of ice or peanut butter, two ways I’ve heard to remove chewing gum from hair or clothes. Regardless, while not a job I would want, I do love that America is so rich, we have gum removal specialists.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I’m addicted to Mike Rowe and his Discovery Channel show, Dirty Jobs. They’ve supposedly “searched this great land of ours” for people performing “jobs that make civilized society possible”. He’s hit Baltimore (Glen Burnie – McShane Bell Foundry) for a bell maker and groundskeeper for the Bowie Baysox, but no love for DC?

What do you think is the dirtiest job in DC? Cleaning up the sidewalk in front of Rumors after an overextended night of drinking? Maybe one of the Big Bite munching construction workers and landscape artisans at the local 7-11? How about being a lobbyist to congress for one of the “sin stocks” (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms)? Maybe even filling potholes in DC for the DOT? I could think of a few jobs uniquely “Dirty in DC”, what’s your favorite disgusting, grungy, smelly dirty job in DC?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

We’re going to see Reefer Madness tonight at Studio as part of our Fringe outings, but unlike most of the other performances it’s not limited to a few showings. It opened in early July and we’re entering the last week of showings now – the show will close on August 5th, a week from Sunday. I’ll try to find some time to talk about it – continuing my lovingly named ‘reviews too late to do you any good‘ – but this far into the run there’s already plenty of reviews. Of the ones I can quickly find they’re positive, positive, positive, and Peter Marks.

Fooey on him. I’m expecting a good time.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Right there on 18th Street, just half a block off Connecticut sits Candey’s Hardware. It’s one of those almost impossibly cool places in the District, much like its neighbor, the 18th St. Lounge. A little tiny hardware story in the middle of the big city. The Post has a long elegy to Candey Hardware (with some really great photos) in its pages today. Candey’s has been in business since 1891, and has passed down through five generations of Candey’s, but now it will be no more. The building will be sold, the business packed up and finished.

Like many before me, including some of DC’s finest, that was where I went for my duplicate keys, ever since my friend Dan Glover showed me the door to Candey’s back in 2000. But no more. Much as David Candey says, “As you go through life, you’re born, you have real days when you’re thriving and productive, and then you come to an older time when it’s time to look ahead.”

Such is the way. Businesses spring up and flourish, surviving bad times and doing well in the lush times, but then there comes a point when they must be closed for good.

Goodbye Candey’s Hardware. I’ll miss you.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

With the Voting Rights Bill unlikely to make the Senate Floor before the long August Recess, you might well be wondering what this is all about. But, we were thinking it might be good to see where the various presidential candidates stand with regard to DC’s Voting Rights:

For the Democrats:

Barack Obama (Senator, IL) For DC Voting Rights:

Currently a co-sponsor of SR 1257

Hillary Clinton (Senator, NY) For DC Voting Rights

Currently a co-sponsor of SR 1257

Mike Gravel (Former Rep, AK) Unknown

Oddly, as on most issues, Gravel was eerily silent on DC Voting Rights.

For the Republicans:

Rudy Giuliani (Former Mayor, NYC) Unknown

I cannot find a public stance from Mayor Giuliani. Could be sympathetic, though, as he was a mayor.

Mitt Romney (Former Governor, MA) Unknown

I cannot find a public stance from Governor Romney.

Ron Paul (Representative, TX-14) Against DC Voting Rights:

Voted against HR 1905 which would grant DC a voting member of the House of Reps. Of course, also said some really skeevy stuff about DC back in the day, including: “Given the inefficiencies of what D.C. laughingly calls the `criminal justice system,’ I think we can safely assume that 95 percent of the black males in that city are semi-criminal or entirely criminal.” (Google Cached from the Houston Chronicle.

Fred Thompson (Former Senator, TN)* Unknown

Thompson hasn’t spoken on this issue directly, but is a strong states’ rights proponent, and may likely be against the dilution of the power of the states.

*please note that Thompson hasn’t yet declared he is running.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I suppose there’s some irony in this, but the Fringe show called “Trixie Little & The Evil Hate Monkey present:
The Super Secret Show” has had a venue change, as well as a different time for all but 1 show, potentially resulting in people (like myself) with tickets showing up at the old venue only to discover the show in fact happened a mile away 12 hours prior. Secret indeed.

SO, if you’ve got tickets to The Super Secret Show you need to get yourself to the Warehouse stage NOT the Scientarium. The times are Friday @ 5:30pm (still), Saturday @ Noon, and Sunday @ 9:00pm.

Warehouse Arts – Mainstage
1021 7th Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I was headed to lunch in Old Town today, when I heard the craziest thing on the radio. Now, I realize that just because I heard it on the radio, it doesn’t automatically have to be true, but would Kojo Nnamdi really lie to me? I don’t think so. The subject in question was the contempt citations that the Judiciary Committee voted to issue for Josh Bolton and Harriet Miers.

The question is: Should these two be cited for contempt of Congress, it is likely that the charges will not be filed by the Executive Branch, but what about the idea of inherent contempt of Congress? By that authority, the chamber could consider Bolton and Miers in inherent contempt of Congress, send the Sergeant at Arms (who’s well compensated for the privilege) to detain the object of their ire, and bring them forth to the Capitol for a speedy trial and sentencing.

The last time this happened was in 1934, when the Postmaster General was tried by Congress and sentenced to 10 days incarceration in the DC Jail:…

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

I love my new work hood, 19th and M Streets NW.

There are a great number of entertainment options just steps from my door. But stepping by Rumor’s door, I looked down and almost jumped off the sidewalk.

Just look at that gross-ass spillage from too many drunk Bob’s and Betty’s who can’t hold their Miller Lite. You’d think Rumors would have the decently to pressure clean the concrete. Or at least buy a bigger mat.

Do something, please, because those stains are just nasty, and are detrimental to my drinking experience.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I recently had a too-close encounter with a guy who stunk of liquor and sweat on the metro. The other day, this fellow was complaining about how crowded Metro Center was during rush hour.

“Is it always like this?” he asked to nobody in particular.

“Yes,” a woman answered. “But today’s not so bad. Sometimes people push trying to get up and down the escalator.”

“That ain’t no good,” the guy said. “If somebody pushes me, I’ll end up going to jail.” He tried to make eye contact with me, smiling as if I would know what he was talking about, which I did, or relate to him because of his many white supremacist and prison tattoos. Yes, I know a bit about prison tattoos, but not from first-hand experience, I assure you.

The guy said a few other things in my general direction, as if he were looking to tangle with someone. I just kept reading my book, pretending to not notice or care.

My only comfort with the situation was from tattoo guy having a tourist map he kept referencing. That means he is likely just passing through. And if it simply means that he is living here and new to the area, that’s okay too because eventually someone will push him and he will go back to jail. Either way, I am fine with it.

But dude – don’t be offended if I ignore you. I just aim to heed the wisdom of Benjamin Franklin, who said that if you lie down with dogs, you are bound to get fleas. I have had enough metaphorical fleas for one lifetime!

Kind readers – who has made you uncomfortable on your commute recently?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I’ve been wanting to post about this film for a few months now, namely since seeing the trailer and also realizing it’s a film about an interesting time in DC, as well as the local celebrity that spawned it. The film is “Talk To Me” and stars Don Cheadle (“Hotel Rwanda”), Martin Sheen (“The West Wing”), and Chiwetel Ejiofor (“Serenity” and “Kinky Boots”), and is about radio personality Ralph “Petey” Greene, and ex-con and community activist who was on WOL-AM in the 1960s and 1970s. He railed against poverty and racism on his shows, and participatied in demonstrations during the height of his popularity. Even if Mr. Cheadle looks like a less exaggerated Eddie Griffin from “Undercover Brother” in makeup, it shouldn’t dull the sincerity of the performance.

The film opens this week in selected theatres around the country, and can be seen in and around DC at Regal Gallery Place and The Avalon Theatre in The District, . It truly looks like an funny, uplifting, and excellent round of performances from all the actors involved. If you want to support DC as a filmmaking location (and a source of good stories), outside of “Enemy of the State” and “Being There“, and NOT “Live Free Or Die Hard“… go see this film, plus you might learn something along the way.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Not content with just preventing gays from marrying in Virginia, a group of bored conservatives are working to make marriage, and divorce, harder in Virginia. They’re working to institute policy to bring down the Virginia divorce rate, which is just 3.85 people per 1,000. State involvement in relationships isn’t the way, though, in my opinion. Of course, this is Virginia, where two men or two women can’t enter into the same legal covenant that my wife and I have, simply because they have matching genitalia.

Of course, we could always just blame something tangential to the matter…

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs