By Don
Continuing today’s Google Maps mashup trend, I bring you Dave Faris’ Pick Your Own Produce map. This started its life as a Washington Post article but Dave’s Google stylings makes it much easier to find the “fresh blackberries, blueberries, strawberries and other produce” closest to you. Kudos to Dave for taking the time to key in all these addresses. Hopefully this’ll give our city mouse some new markets to explore.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Wayan
Wandering through Petworth the other day, I came across an interesting sight: two Hummers for one man.
Now I can understand a man’s need to compensate with one Hummer. But two?
Are his reproductive organs that small? Does he need to accelerate Global Warming that fast? Or does he enjoy tossing gas money down a hole?
I am only worried that two Hummers that close will spawn another. H2 + H3 = H5?
Somebody, get that man a Prius!
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Don
While not specific to our region, Hotspotr is a great resource for when you’re looking for someplace to plonk yourself and twiddle on the laptop. Sure, you could be like Tom and just live at one of the Murky Coffee locations, but some of us are a little more mobile. The best thing about it is that it graphically differentiates between places that are free and that charge for the connection – see the little dollar signs?
The second best bit about it is that it doesn’t wink and ignore one of the essential problems of online finder things – how the hell do you use it if you need it to find your online access? m.hotspotr.com from your mobile phone, in this case. Punch in your zipcode and get a nice listing, sorted by physical distance from you.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
If you’re new to DC, you probably haven’t heard about the Millenium Stage at the Kennedy Center. It’s a free, daily performance of Something Artistic, be it music, be it theatre, or, this week, be it tiny ninjas performing MacBeth or Romeo and Juliet.
That’s right, Monday through Thursday, Tiny Ninja Theater Company will be performing at the Millenium Stage. Don’t miss it, they’re absolutely positively hilarious. And besides, it’s part of Shakespeare in Washington, if it is being done by tiny ninjas. Go. Laugh. Enjoy. You won’t regret it.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Wayan
If you are a hapless shrimp swimming in the ocean blue, you need to fear Tom Bridge.
Tom is all over killing shrimps for food and he is grilling the slow ones this afternoon.
His cousin Mike says the shrimp on the barby are nice but it is all about the beer. Specifically Abbaye des Rocs that Tom bought at auction and now will be consumed on this special day:
Tom’s one year wedding anniversary.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Carl Weaver
Okay, I admit that I knew it was a porn movie place when I pulled in the parking lot but the story doesn’t start there.
“Oh look – a video store,” my wife said, pointing to a building on Leesburg Pike in Falls Church. I did a quick assessment. MVC Late Night Video. Blacked out windows above eye level, dirty parking lot, seedy strip along a busy road. Yep, it’s got to be porn.
“Did you know there was a video rental place there?” She asked.
“I think it’s a porn place.”
“No, they wouldn’t put a porn place there. It’s not hidden enough to be a porn place.”
“No, it’s got to be a porn place.” Men have a sixth sense about this type of thing. She should trust me on such issues, not challenge my authority on porn recognition.
A few days later I passed the same place on the way home from a student’s house and decided to poke my head in, so to speak. Pictures of bare ta-ta’s, vibrating everything and videos galore. Mom and Dad would be proud to know that I had the follow-through to put that mystery to rest.
Thanks, MVC, for keeping the landscape along Leesburg Pike interesting, if not wholesome or clean.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Wayan
How’s them flashy rims? They bling bling enough for you? They are for me, as I watched the owner lovingly wash each one by hand.
Out for a run, I cam across the pride of 3rd and Allison Street NW being washed and waxed DC style: on the street.
Now I only ask if you take such care of your ride, especially if your ride was named “Zeus” and could glide down the Potomac in style.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Don
Who cares if they make you wait an hour for prints that take under five minutes? Costco has the best unofficial waiting room of any photo printing agency in the DC area.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Jenn Larsen
In keeping with my resolution to eat more fruits and vegetables this summer (six consecutive mornings of Irish Breakfasts will do that to a girl), I got up early today to go to the new farmers’ market in my neighborhood (early for me on a Saturday, that is. I got there at 11:30am. I’m lazy, what can I say?).
The 14th & U Farmers’ Market opened last weekend and will run every Saturday 10am-2pm outside the Reeves Center until November 17. It’s small, about seven or eight local producers, and it’s going to become my new addiction. Just a five block stroll from my house and all the seasonal bounty I can carry back. Fantastic. I had about $25 in cash in my pocket and picked up apples, mesclun salad, arugula flowers, strawberries, and applewurst. I could easily also have been tempted by the delicate thin asparagus (I HATE thick asparagus with a passion), jugs of apple cider, farm-fresh eggs, and rhubarb (if I had any clue how to make rhubarb pie).
Back home my husband laughed at his city mouse ecstatically eating strawberries and waxing poetical about how adorably sweet they were (“and they’re not all the same size!” I cried, waving my now-red fingers in glee). As a former country boy he knows all about the virtues of farm produce and thinks my naivete pretty hilarious. It is, but that won’t stop me from indulging in my new Saturday ritual next week. Hope to see some of you there. I’ll be the girl buying all the honey she can carry.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Carl Weaver
Recently I was driving my lovely wife to work along the same route we always take, through Arlington along Lee Highway when I saw a line at the National Pawnbrokers store at Lee and Kirkwood. I don’t mean some guy was waiting for the place to open. About five people were waiting at the door.
I first assumed these were people who had somehow spilled out of the bus queue but they were definitely at the pawnshop door. Was there a sale on jewelry? Hand tools? Musical instruments?
The most curious thing of all is that one of the people in line was holding a toaster. Maybe he needed a buck before the plasma center opened or maybe he simply ran out of bread and no longer needed it. I hoped, for his sake, that he was just taking it for a walk and not reduced to trying to sell off a cheap appliance to a pawnbroker. That’s a desperate measure, to be sure.
So, DC area friends – what’s the weirdest thing you have sold at a pawnshop when you needed that early morning buck in your pocket?
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Carl Weaver
Sure it’s hotter than blazes at only 11 in the a.m. but it’s never too hot for a cricket match. The Washington Cricket League has its full schedule online with matches every weekend through the end of August.
I never thought I would advocate supporting cricket, having been brought up to think it was a wussy British sport but my friend Shriram talked me into giving it a shot, at least as a spectator, and from what I can tell it’s quite interesting. What better way to meet new people, have a great cultural experience and thoroughly heat up before traveling to Petworth to join Wayan for a cool drink?
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Wayan
With all due respect to WFY’s Gin & Tonic love, I have to say that the real summer drink should be a tall, cold glass of Absolute vodka with a splash of tonic and a twist of lime.
This version at Rumors, while not perfect, is perfect for me right now.
I prefer the version at Trios, there patio party time is not complete without the knock-your-socks-off straight up vodka over ice with a chaser of tonic (served in in little bottles of course).
Here, today, with the stupid hot heat, you’ll note that I am the only drunkard fool drinking outside at Rumors. But I am not the only one who prefers vodka to gin. In my company is Jenn, Max, and Jenn again.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
Yeah, it’s really, really hot out there. My Veedub says it’s 100°F in Arlington this afternoon, and it feels stuffier than a politician on a morality bender out there. Drink lots of water or other clear liquids, make sure to stay out of the heat if you can, and don’t even bother to drive anywhere or start up the lawnmower.
It’s largely supposed to suck until Sunday and Monday when temps will be back in the low 80s like they belong, so until then, hydrate, sunscreen, all those usual summer tips to make DC manageable in this oppressive heat.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Don
My companions to go see Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead pushed our tickets out to the 22nd so I can’t give you my opinion yet, but I can give you someone else’s. Today’s Wall Street Journal, which rarely lowers itself to discuss shows outside NYC, has a glowing review of Studio‘s production of Stoppard’s play.
My most recent trip was to the Studio Theatre, which is putting on “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” as its contribution to “Shakespeare in Washington,” the city-wide, season-long celebration of the Bard currently under way in the nation’s capital. I’ve been hearing good things about the Studio Theatre for the past couple of years, and this revival confirmed them all. It’s the best “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern” I’ve ever seen on stage.
The article goes on to praise actors Raymond Bokhour and Liam Craig as well as Kirk Jackson and Daniel Conway, the director and designer. Full text here [paid sub may be required]
Congrats to all involved on the national attention. I’m really looking forward to the show.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Wayan
In a move that should make Prince of Petworth proud, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs has issued a Stop Work order on a Petworth eyesore.
The remodelers of the ugly ass house at the corner of Upshur Street and New Hampshire Avenue (4143 New Hampshire Ave) were excavating and backfilling without permits.
In addition the plumber on site wasn’t licensed. (No word if he was keeping it real though.)
I think the DCRA is missing a much larger code violation: color coding yellow brick to yellow vinyl. Yellow being a bad color for brick, it looks even worse when its mis-matched with a tan vinyl-clad addition.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Carl Weaver
Dana Ellyn is a pretty incredible DC artist and is having a show of some of her paintings opening on Saturday. Her work is unique, expressive and shows an interesting twist on some pretty touchy subjects. I got this information from an email she sent (not that I know her personally – I’m on a “big fan of Dana Ellyn” email list):
“I Call Shenanigans”
Solo Show
Opening reception THIS Saturday, June 9th 6-8pm
Long View Gallery, Washington DCIn my solo show, “I Call Shenanigans”, I am exhibiting approximately 70 paintings which tackle the subjects of religion, politics, family and a few other touchy issues. Included in the show is my new “Star Spangled Banner” series for which I created 15 paintings – one for each stanza of the national anthem. Also on display are select pieces from the past four years of my “31 Days In July” series in anticipation of this July’s work.
The works will be shown at Long View Gallery at 1302 9th Street, NW (9th & N) and will be on display until the end of the month. Go check it out.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Tom Bridge
The Nationals lost last night, Chad Cordero gave up a 9th inning homer to the Pirates’ Jason Bay to drop to 24-36 for the season. That’s right, .400 ball. Granted, it’s probably better than we expected at the beginning of the season, and Dmitri Young is proving to be a firecracker in the offensive side.
But that doesn’t justify the insanity prices for next year’s tickets. Currently, I pay $23 a seat for my two seats in Section 426 at RFK. We have 20 games there, and I’ve come to even like RFK’s upper deck. But, this season will be my last as a Nationals Season Ticket holder. Come next season, I’ll be looking at $55 (an increase of 158%, I might add.) a seat for my upper deck tickets. I’ve been corrected, that was the club level that is $55, my seats would be $20. I’m slightly less irate now.
This part still stands, though, even if you’re just taking club seats into contention: What is this, the NBA? I’m not going to pay $55 a seat to sit all the way in the upper deck to watch the Nationals play anything less than .600 ball and win the goddamn division. Besides, it’s not like the team is having to pay for the construction of the Stadium. That was done on the backs of the taxpayers of the city of DC. Now you’re planning to hit us at the turnstiles, too? You’re insane. No one in their right mind is going to pay $55 to sit in the upper deck and watch the Nationals lose more than half their games. No one in their right mind is going to pay $60 to sit behind the dugout and watch the Nationals Pitching staff flounder and struggle game after game.
I’m sorry, Uncle Stan, the only way you get to charge that much money is if you win the World Series next season, not sit at the bottom of the cellar like you are now. I know the Lerner family spent a boatload on the team, and they want to make a profit back, but this is unacceptable. You’re now competing with Fenway and Yankee Stadium for the most expensive baseball experience around. That’s going to keep all the people in my section right now out of the ballpark entirely. You can’t afford to do that.
Here’s the real problem. The Nationals have 16,000 season ticket holders. That’s it. Doubling ticket prices isn’t going to fix that. Get a clue, Lerner Family, you can’t charge this kind of money for shit baseball.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Wayan
Did you know that the District Department of Transportation is working with its bus shelter partners, Clear Channel Adshel, to launch an automated bicycle rental system in DC?
The first of its kind in North America, James Sebastian, Manager of Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transportation Demand Management programs of the DDOT says this system will be similar to car sharing or airport luggage carts.
The automated bicycle rental system would allow members to swipe a card and release a bike from a kiosk. Clear Channel is operating similar systems in Europe, like this one in Barcelona. DDOT hopes to have the first few kiosks installed by the end of the summer, with all 10 in place by next summer.
Each rental kiosks holds 120 bikes, but as the bikes are rented without locks, you can only park them at other kiosks. And the kiosks require web-based registration and membership cards, so they are for locals, not tourists.
The kiosks will be located near each other, and in high traffic areas – in other words, Downtown DC, but the sites are not confirmed. They are roughly 30 feet by 6 feet and James is looking for 10 kiosk sites with lots or jobs, housing, retail, major attractions, and nearby bike facilities.
He reviewed census data, discussed locations internally and at a bicycle advisory council meeting, and has some initial ideas, and now is asking for public input from Washington area cyclists via a online survey.
I’m sure you, like I, have tons of questions about this effort, from its financial sustainability to its impact on increased bicycle traffic and traffic impacting cyclists. Then be sure to join me at the next bicycle advisory committee meeting on July 11.
James is promising more info and project details.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Don
The snazzy formatting in the marketing mail
Yes, that’s a numeric IP address where
they have their promo material. Pimp.
Megan Rosenfeld and Crew Creative Advertising want you to know about some movie really badly. So badly that they’re just blasting out half-assed emails to people like me and completely failing to comply with the CAN-SPAM act (specifically they provide no opt-out option or physical mailing address). With fines of $11,000 per offense they must be pretty desperate to promote this movie.
I’m not gonna bother to report them, but I dunno what difference it makes. This is an advertising firm that can’t get a handle on the basics of e-mail marketing law and who send out messages with all the glitz you can see in the screencap above. They may not do enough business to stay afloat long enough for an FTC ruling.
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
By Don
Since we seem to be on the road to All-Petworth-All-The-Time, why should Wayan have all the fun? Jare over at Ask.Metafilter is wondering what’s a well-managed apartment building for him to choose in Wayan’s new neighborhood.
In his shoes I’d personally be looking in HousingMaps but I realize some people prefer dealing with corporate entities. Any of our constant readers live in Columbia Heights/Petworth apartment buildings that they’d recommend?
This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs
