Arlington is sponsoring a volunteer fair for Baby Boomers and other experienced adults. Are you a 50+ person who wants to give back to society somehow? Go check this out.

When; Wednesday, July 25 from 10am to 12 noon
Where: Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street in Ballston

From the Arlington DHS site:

As the first wave of the Baby Boomer generation starts to retire, the possibilities for their increased community involvement are endless. There are more than 60 million Americans over age 50 today — a number that will increase by more than 50% in the next 25 years. Never before have so many people had so much knowledge–and so much time to use it.

The Arlington Volunteer Office is partnering with RSVP, AARP, and the Department of Libraries in presenting the “Sail into Service” Volunteer Expo, where more than 20 local nonprofit agencies will be on hand to encourage people over 50 to “get engaged all over again” through volunteerism.

There is no charge for the Volunteer Fair on July 25. Refreshments will be served. For further information, please contact the Volunteer Office at 703-228-1760.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

The Post has finally picked up on the homeless protesters racket, focusing on the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council of Carpenters and Joiners, who pay a group of homeless folks $8/hr to make a racket outside of various buildings with suites under construction by non-union shops. They show up, bang on buckets, shout about fair wages, and then pack up and leave for another site.

I applaud the council for supporting local homeless shelters, and there’s even a great success story in the Post article about a guy who now has a job driving a truck for National Geographic, but guys, if you’re going to pay people to shout about fair wages, at least pay them more than the average Wal-mart employee. Seriously.

The whole thing just reeks stupidity, corruption, and well, pretty much everything else labor unions stand for, so I shouldn’t be surprised, but seriously, pay your temps better than Wal-mart. It’s the least you can do.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Much to my surprise at the other DC Metblog authors, very few of them have admittedly visited the Birchmere for concerts. However, the groups and other artists that tend to float through their roster are either for an older set or are not usually mainstream music genres. But, the venue remains one of the few places in the area where you can take in bigger name genre acts in a more intimate setting, such as Lyle Lovett and others.

Last nights performance by former front-man of the 80’s band, Men At Work, Colin Hay expanded upon his all acoustic performance last year by bringing a full band with him, including his ever hyper and entertaining wife, Cecilia Noel. While obviously (and I do mean “obvious”) plugging the release of his new album, “Are You Looking At Me?“, the set lasted a full two hours, interspersing some of his previous band’s hits as well as a few of his own originals. While, I think “Overkill” was the highlight of the evening, the best resurrection of one of his better solo songs, “Looking For Jack” appeared just before the encore, much to the gasps of the audience, who haven’t heard it trotted out in a while (including last year’s stop). Overall, Colin’s performance was just as good, and just a bit less funny, than last years, with his very raspy but distinguished voice bringing just the right edge to his music (besides the lazy eye).

The opening act was “The Green Cards“, an appropriately titled band composing of one American guitarist, a Brit, and two Australian ex-patriots covering fiddle, mandolin and bass. The sound ranged from neo-adult contemporary ballads to a rather unique Australian take on bluegrass sounds. The instrumental pieces were much better than those interjected with vocals, but remained a pleasant intro to Colin and his band.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

While I did a little eye-rolling waiting for the show to start, once “Cautionary Tales for Adults and the Many Adventures of Trixie Tickles” got going I didn’t have time to do much of anything but laugh. The long name is reflective of the fact that this is really two shows back to back. The first, Cautionary Tales, is presented as a sort of odd storytime for adults. The not-so-well-meaning librarian brings four stories to life with the not entirely willing assistance of her audience of four. A transparency projector provides us a view of some of the pages as her charges act out the scenarios.

Being subversive is easy – it doesn’t take much talent to thumb your nose at The Man. The trick is making it interesting, as anyone who’s ever had to listen to the ravings of a patchouli -stinking longhair with a bullhorn can tell you. Cautionary Tales manages it handily and is funny not just in the punchlines but in the moments in between.

After an interstitial song/spoken word performance, presumably to provide time for the actors to change costumes while providing the audience a cleansing few minutes of complete confusion, we launch into the Many Adventures of Trixie Tickles, a children’s show gone insane. If someone were to re-animate Hunter S Thompson and task him with creating an amalgam of Dora the Explorer and The Wiggles this is probably what you’d get.

The two shows make a fun pairing. Cautionary Tales riffs on the fact that life is often unfair and sometimes miserable, in complete opposition of what we tell kids in their stories. Trixie flirts with this, particularly in the hysterically funny scene in which the kindergarten teacher asks her kids what they want to be when they grow up, only to inform them that things rarely work out how you want and that they’ll probably only manage these things in their dreams.

Most of the rest, however, is given over to turning the children’s show on its head and teaching all the wrong lessons with the standard kid’s show messages. You should make friends with new people… and that stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet, so why not take that candy he’s offering? Imagination is your key to grand adventures… why not play pretend with daddy’s gun?

You’ve got one more shot to get out and see it and I highly recommend it. Have a cup of coffee, pop a few no-doz, and head out on Saturday, July 28 @ midnight.

Source Theatre
1835 14th St. NW
Washington, DC 20009

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I was driving to an appointment on Sunday when I noticed a placard attached to a phone pole advertising the web site www.nudezines.com. No wonder, I thought, since I was right by Falls Church’s premiere porn palace. Then I noticed the rest of the ad – business cards, custom printing, brochures. Talk about cognitive dissonance – here I was imagining all sorts of interesting naughty, tingly human bits and the ad was for printing.

I couldn’t quite figure out the connection so I looked it up online. Turns out the business is Nu Dezines, not Nude Zines. A tip to our fine printing friends – a simple spelling tutor or copy editor could have helped you out on this one so you could more easily reach your target market.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

Give a moment to morn Dragonfly Bar, a Dupont Circle haven of euro-disco and movie projections in all-white funky retro interiors.

I’d miss Dragonfly if I were single. I stalked the hotties there back in my day, pulling a few birds during late night prowls.

Prowls that always had me repulsed at Dragonfly’s dinner options. Who really wanted sushi with a side of cigarette smoke? I sure didn’t.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Next time you walk down the street, I double dog dare you to count the number of “custom framing” stores that you see. As I picture my neighborhood streets in my head, I can count at least five framing shops within a one mile radius of my house. Is there really a big demand for framing? Are people buying rolled up oil paintings and then thinking, “Hmmmm. Now what? Oh! I need it framed!” These places normally charge an exorbitant amount of money for a simple frame, and it’s nearly impossible to get a snow white matte (they’re usually off white which is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me).

They’ve been working on a new place to replace the video store next to Rosebud Liquors on 17th street for a few months now. I noticed that they now have a sign up: Picasso Framing. Great! Another framing store within a stone’s throw from my house. I guess if you hit the 7 Eleven for a Slurpee, then Rosebud for some vodka, the only thing missing is a frame for that photo of yours. Of course if you walk two blocks south you could grab a bite to eat and then check out the other framing store.

What gives? Has anyone noticed this absurdity? Is there some sort of mafia connection here?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Right under the K St NW bridge near the Rock Creek Parkway entry ramp between Foggy Bottom and Georgetown, this large pane of glass sits atop the grass, which has gradually turned brown where the glass blocks rain from watering it but lets the sun dry it out. I can fathom no reason that someone would throw a pane of glass like this off a bridge. It’s unbroken and seems free of major surface flaws. Free window, anyone?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

WTF?

Originally uploaded by tbridge.

I’m not exactly sure what this is supposed to be, other than fugly. Please recognize I do not speak as a qualified art critic, and that all I can speak about it my own personal aesthetic, but what the heck is this thing? What’s your best guess for what the artist was using going for what they were crafting this?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

So, you’re so cool and got your iPhone. Now you just wish you could do more with it. I totally get that. I love my iPhone, but it hasn’t yet figured out how I take my coffee in the morning, or what kind of cheese I like with my nectarines (manchego, if you’re curious.)

Now, though, thanks to the brilliant creative minds at meenster.com, you can use a neato web tool to check when the next train’s coming at any given Metro station. In real time. Yeah, in real time, meaning you can be sitting at O’Sullivan’s or Four Courts, or Bar Pilar, or $awesomeDCBar and you can check to see when you need to start walking down to the Metro to catch a train home. Use it to save yourself from a long-ass wait. Better yet, it works on all devices and browsers, not just the iPhone, so the kids who haven’t yet proven their cool with $500+ of silicon and glass can play too.

Hat Tip, Justin Thorp!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

CONFUSED courtesy of Cackhanded

Are you a blogger interested in politics? Do you have low self-esteem, a desire to be micromanaged, and at the same time be provided with almost no set goals or metrics to determine if you’re meeting expectations? Well then, “one of America’s most prominent news organizations” wants you to come blog for them. For $50 a week.

Exactly what that week entails, mind you, they (at best) don’t know or (more likely) won’t say, since there’s no definition of how many posts or words they expect you to put in or what kind of editorial guidance will or will not be exercised.

Normally I don’t ascribe more complicated motives to something when stupidity and/or incompetence will explain something, but in this case this seems to be a complete lack of respect or understanding of what’s involved in blogging. I think a lot of people in media understand that blogging is very different than traditional journalism and that doesn’t make it worse OR better, but this sure seems like a group of people who think we’re just hack chumps desperate to give it away. How else do you explain the arrogance of this line: “Most bloggers toil away for free, but 50 bucks buys your lunch for a week and the major network affiliation gives you exposure.”

Wow, thanks. Is that part of your negotiating tactic with TV news anchors? Oh, you get to BE ON TV, isn’t that payment enough?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

A few months ago, I was complaining that DC is one of the few major US cities not to really see the likes of The Police on their tour this year. Even Baltimore snagged them, but due to the wrangling in DC about Live Earth locations, The Police were relegated to Jersey.

I got lucky, I have tickets to see them in Boston this weekend and Fenway Park. However, this is the first time I’ve flown in a while, and definitely the first time I’ve seen “carbon offsets” offered as a package addition through Orbitz. I’m not sure if this was an altruistic move on their part, or just bending to demand and public opinion, which is just simple sense for many who travel and live in Europe. For simply five and half dollars, less than the TSA / Homeland Security fees automatically tacked on to your ticket, I was able to donate a little “sumpthin’ sumpthin'” to CarbonFund.org to supposedly due something greener for the planet than my plane ride.

I like the idea, and would hope to see something come of this, at least if they plant a tree, they’re really doing something more with the money than I think the TSA is, for harassing mothers, and getting all bent out of shape over a few ounces of hand moisturizer.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Our first outing for the Fringe was Gilbert and Sullivan’s Trial By Jury at Source theater. If you have the slightest familiarity with Gilbert and Sullivan I highly recommend you get out to see their last performance tonight at 5p. The cast is a little over a dozen singers who range from 12 to 25 and the absolute worst of them is good. Their best is simply phenomenal. I’ll try to edit this later to put in the names that I noted but I forgot my program when I left for the office.

The only complaint I had about the show was nobody’s fault but the venue. The piano accompaniment was superb, but seated less than 10 feet from it as we were it could at times overpower the singers. If you go I suggest that you either sit down on the long bleachers in the front as close to the entrance as you can on on the shorter bleachers closest immediately to your right. The ones farthest from the entrance are closest to the piano.

If you’re at all put off by title’s mention of “followed by a Gilbert and Sullivan Sing-Along,” don’t be. The nominally sing-along portion are pieces from the MIkado, Pirates of Penzance, and HMS Pinafore and the sections the audience are called upon to participate in are simply a few chorus sentences from the ensemble. You can sit and enjoy the excellent singers without ever saying a word and nobody will ever say boo.

Source Theatre
1835 14th St. NW
Washington, DC 20009

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Piola

Originally uploaded by tbridge.

It’s a funny thing about DC. You can get almost every kind of ethnic food here, and yet you can hear every kind of whining that you “just can’t get decent ______ in DC.”

I hear it a lot about pizza, and always from people whose idea of good pizza was formed in Chicago or New York and not, you know, Italy. I usually think those people are full of crap- I’ve had plenty of perfectly tasty pizza here, and it seems to me that anything served on a platter, family style, and eaten with the hands is the ultimate anti-snob food.

2Amys is widely regarded as the best traditional Italian-style pizza in the area. And I’d have to agree, but I hardly ever go there because it’s a pain to get to by public transport AND by car.

So when a friend of ours enthusiastically recommended Piola on Wilson Boulevard in Arlington, we were pretty excited and headed there last night. It’s in Rosslyn, right near where Rosslyn meets Courthouse, next door to the perennial Arlington favorite Cafe Asia. Piola is an international chain- ordinarily I don’t get excited about chain pizza, but when the chain’s country-of-origin is the same as that of the type of food they serve, I make an exception.

We chose to sit outside due as much to the fantastic weather as to the too-loud jazz trio that would have required us to shout across the table to be heard. Upon opening our menus, a single sheet of paper slid out of mine, describing that evening’s “Non-Stop Pizza” special for $11.95. The special, as you might guess, is all you can eat for approximately the same price as a single pizza. There’s a list of pizzas that are available on that night’s special, and when you order it, the wait staff just starts bringing you slices of whatever they happen to be carrying from the list. So it’s good if you’re hungry and want to try a lot of different kinds. They do it every Sunday night. (Yes, I know these kinds of specials are designed to ensure that the less fresh ingredients get used up as the restaurant re-stocks for the week. Do I care? No.)

The pizza itself was really tasty- very thin crust, as opposed to the slightly thicker Neapolitan style crust at 2Amys (Piola does Neapolitan style pizza as well, but I haven’t tried it). The variety of toppings is interesting- particularly this odd, creamy, Brazilian cheese that appeared on one of my slices with chicken. When fresh tomatoes are one of the toppings, the tomatoes are added after the pizza is baked, leaving them cool and fresh as they sit in the melted cheese.

Having thoughtfully chewed through a slice or two, Tom and I concluded that Piola’s pizza is “80% as good as 2Amy’s, but 100% more convenient, which counts for a lot.” We would have provided photos of the pizza itself, but honestly, it didn’t stay on the table long enough for a decent photo.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

“High temperatures are unlikely to get out of the 70s (74-79)” says Capital Weather. I don’t know which of you bartered your soul to the devil for this beautiful run of pleasantness in July, but I much enjoyed sitting on the deck last night and enjoying the cool breeze.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Wayan’s Washington DC Photos

Check out a Sunday evening at the DC Convention Center, it’s a bus jam of Biblical proportions.

On my way to the soon-closing Warehouse Theatre, I counted six buses lined up on 9th Street, including these three blocking the intersection. Buses all full of convention-goers going somewhere else.

Now I am of two minds on these land ships. It’s nice that folks are taking mass transit, even if it is a tour bus, instead of clogging streets with cars, but I’m sad to see folks in buses at all, especially since they’re probably headed a few blocks to a hotel, or a short ride to a Arlington hotel.

Either way, public transport, the Metro or their feet, could get them back and drive a few extra bucks to the city and city businesses on the way. Visitors need not be shuttled in isolation from hotel to convention.

Which brings me to the Convention Center anchor hotel the city wants to build across the street at 8th and Massachusetts Avenue and connect to the center via an underground walkway. I have only two words for that tourist tunnel: HELL NO!

We need people walking the streets, patronizing DC shops and stores, driving a revival in retail around the convention center, not sequestered underground or in hermetically sealed buildings.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Here’s a little preview of Mark Phillips’ Fringe show Cheating at Poker and other Scams from Thursday night’s Fringe kickoff. He was quite good and had a good presence, even amidst the party’s chaos and noise.

Remaining showtimes are Thursday, July 26 @ 10:00pm, Saturday, July 28 @ 6:30pm and Sunday, July 29 @ 8:30pm at Warehouse Arts – Beyond
1017 7th ST, NW
Washington, DC 20001

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

Is this the scene at your house this weekend? Your significant other lost to the land of hogwarts?

Harry Potter’s latest adventures have cast a spell on my girlfriend. I’ll not hear from her till mid-week now.

Does anyone know if there is a Potter Widower Support Group yet? If not, wanna join me in making one?

Us muggles need love too.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Dropping into RFK

Originally uploaded by tbridge.

It’s rare to have a 4pm start time for a baseball game, but the Nats have made it work today, as part of Armed Forces Appreciation Day. We had the privilege of watching the Black Daggers fly in the colors.

The crowd is light today, most likely owing to the wealth of outdoor options and the peculiar starting time, or perhaps the release of Harry Potter? Our friends at Metroblogging Berlin are all atwitter about that book…

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs