Monthly Archives: September 2010

The Daily Feed
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Stan Kasten to leave the Nationals at the end of the 2010 season

Stan Kasten with the Media
Photo by Tom Bridge

The gaggle of reporters waited almost an hour to talk to departing Nationals President Stan Kasten this afternoon.  Kasten arrived, flanked by his son, Jay, a junior at Maryland, and General Manager Mike Rizzo. He broke the news that he was leaving the franchise at the conclusion of the 2010 season.  He notified the Lerner family “about a year ago” that he would not be staying with the franchise past his original five year commitment.  Kasten would say, “This is just about me,” likely in response to the rumors that have been flying after the Post’s Tom Boswell wrote a lengthy column this week about Kasten’s likely departure.

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We Green DC
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DC’s Local Food: Polyface Farm

Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm, and his pigs

Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm, and his pigs

If you’ve been to some of DC’s restaurants that tout local fare, or if you’ve read The Omnivore’s Dilemma or seen Food Inc., chances are you’ve heard of Polyface Farm and its charismatic leader, farmer Joel Salatin.

Go to the farm’s Web site, and you’ll see that “Polyface, Inc. is a family owned, multi-generational, pasture-based, beyond organic, local-market farm and informational outreach in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley.”

These are all very good things, in my opinion—and it lets you know, if you don’t already, that you’ll get a lot of adjectives from Salatin. So a friend and I recently took a day’s journey to Swoope, Virginia, to check out the wonders of Polyface for ourselves.
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The Daily Feed
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Photos: DC Henge, such as it was, the moon and special bonus storm

Photo courtesy of
‘Washington Monument – Old Glory Aflame – 09-22-10’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Yesterday had the potential to be a squee-worthy afternoon for DC photographers. The first day of autumn meant the possibility of spectacular light as the sun set directly along the east-west axis of the city’s streets during an event we have come to know as DC Henge, and shortly after that, the harvest moon was set to rise in alignment with the major monuments along the mall. Both are twice-yearly events that drive the photographers wild, but to have both happen on the same day is pretty unusual.

So of course, something had to go wrong. In this case, storm clouds conspired to obscure the moon until it had risen well past the Capitol Dome, and haze kept the sun’s brightest rays a bit dimmer than we’ve seen in recent days. But, because there is always a silver lining in every cloud, that storm gave up some spectacular lightning bolts for the photographers conveniently already in place along the mall. Below the jump, a collection shots featuring the moon, the sun, the storm and other signs of the apocalypse: Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Stan Kasten Resigning As Nats President

Photo courtesy of
‘605_3603’
courtesy of ‘MissChatter’

With the Nationals season really only existing in name only at this point, the team is functionally at the point of moving on from the 2010 season. Even though last night, Stan Kasten was claiming there was no update to his status as team president, things have changed since that report. Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated has reported that Kasten will in fact step down, as noted by SB Nation DC. The opinions of Kasten’s impact of the team differ. In one hand, he seems to be okay with the three-time-a-year Philly invasions, but on the other, he has stood up to the Lerners on occasion when it comes to paying for talent.

Between the front office, Strasburg’s recovery and the talk of the future (a la Bryce Harper), this stands to be an interesting off season for the hometown team.

We Love Weekends
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We Love Weekends, September 25-26

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Michael: This weekend is jam packed with more good music than John Peel’s iPod. Thursday night, I’m catching Caribou at the Black Cat. Friday, it’s up to B’More for the unexpected but welcome return of Atari Teenage Riot. If it wasn’t for ATR’s return, I would be catching the Merzbow/Pinhas live collaboration at the French Embassy. Saturday, Virgin FreeFest takes over the area, where I’ll be catching everyone from Sleigh Bells to LCD Soundsystem. If I survive til Sunday night, I’ll be taking in Shonen Knife’s classic Japanese indie-rock at Rock & Roll Hotel. Look for a slew of reviews covering all of these great shows on We Love DC next week!

Rebecca J: I’m headed to Thunder Burger Bar for a Friday happy hour full of delicious burgers and tasty micro brews. Personally, I’m looking forward to tasting Coney Island “Sword Swallower” from Saratoga Springs, NY. The Saturday tradition of soccer in the morning and College Football continues. Luckily this week’s Mizzou and Notre Dame matches are at 2pm and 3pm, so I’ll actually have a post-game night life this week. Sunday, I have a dreadfully early soccer match, but at least that will have me up and out of the house, so I can hit up the Dupont Farmers Market. After that I believe a nap will be in order, before heading to Breadsoda for their Sunday happy hour specials, a tasty Reuben and some NFL action. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Want to Be A Billionaire? You Can Join These 14 DCites on The Forbes 400

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

When it comes to the economy, talking about the is-it-back-is-it-gone recession is so annoying. Instead, let’s talk about the American Dream and Manifest Destiny, i.e., The Forbes 400 Richest People. Among that list of money makers, 14 of the 400 include some of the DMV’s most notable tycoons, including the Marriotts, Steve Case and Redskins’ owner Dan Snyder.

Two things to make you depressed (other than Snyder’s deep pockets). First, this statistic – the total combined wealth of the 400 individuals on this year’s list is $1.37 trillion, up 8 percent from 2009. The second? Bad pop music:

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The Daily Feed
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Capitals, Pens and HBO: A Hard Knocks Approach For The Winter Classic

Photo courtesy of
‘hockey(0206)’
courtesy of ‘The D34n’

While the Capitals haven’t yet gotten the chance to host the Winter Classic – the NHL’s now annual New Year’s Day game held in an outside venue – getting announced as participants for the 2011 version in Pittsburgh was a solid consolation prize for Caps fans. The national spotlight and a hated rival in Sidney Crosby and the Pens will provide for some solid hangover recovery television after the clean-up from New Year’s Eve.

If three hours of outdoor hockey isn’t enough, an interesting bit of news has surfaced via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: HBO will film a mini-documentary that features mic’d up players throughout practices leading up to the games. While it isn’t likely to share the same brand as the NFL version, this approach to professional sports has helped to make the Hard Knocks style a very popular way for fans to get to know their teams. In discussing it, Puck Daddy commented why this is so big: Continue reading →

Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Win Free Film Festival Passes!

Photo courtesy of
‘Running Dry #8’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Remember the All Roads Film Festival we featured yesterday? Well, National Geographic has graciously provided WeLoveDC with two free festival passes to give away!

The pass includes admission from Tuesday 9/28 through Sunday 10/3 to all film screenings, the photo exhibits, panels, and Saturday’s Basement Bhangra Dance Party. Want to go? Simply comment below, using your first name and a legit email address. We’ll randomly draw two winners (one pass per winner) tomorrow (Friday) at noon, so tell your friends and sign up!

The Daily Feed
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Congresswoman Norton introduced bill to name post office for Dorothy I. Height

Photo courtesy of
‘National Postal Museum’
courtesy of ‘cliff1066â�¢’

Congresswoman Norton introduced a bill last week that would name the historic Post Office at 2 Mass Ave NE for civil rights leader Dorothy I. Height.  The bill has four co-sponsors, and should likely sail through the House once it’s through committee.  The Post Office there shares space with the Postal Museum. The Post Office would be the second building in DC named for the leader, the first being the Pennsylvania Avenue HQ of the National Council of Negro Women.

The Features
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A We Love DC Interview: r:u

“u:board Sample”;  r:u, 2010

In December of 2009, I graduated from The George Washington University with a Graduate degree in Interior Design.  During my schooling I learned that it takes a lot of hard work to become an Interior Designer.  Just having phenomenal taste and being really, really good at tearing out magazine spreads doesn’t cut it anymore.  Now you have to be able to sketch, compose sections, build models, create 3-D renderings, and even pass your NCIDQ exam if you want to be taken seriously.

When I heard about the DC-based design team of residents:understood, I just knew that I had to get them on WLDC.  Not only can the firm do all of the above, but they also do it in a really unconventional way.  I caught up with the three principles of residents:understood, Kiera Kushlan, James Wall, and Jessica Centella, and got all of the insider tips for how to create the perfect “personality-driven design” while living in D.C.

We Love DC: What is residents:understood?

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The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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The Difficulty with Parking Meters

Photo courtesy of
‘New DC Parking Meters’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

Let’s get something out there from the get-go.  I hate parking meters. I hate them a lot.  I cackle when I see them broken, I chuckle when the little display blinks “FAIL” and I grin when I read a story about a guy with a reciprocating saw that cuts them down like Paul Bunyan.  But it’s why I hate them that matters. I hate them because they’re an impediment to getting what you want to get done accomplished.  They’re temperamental, they’re kludgy and they’re driven by heavy coins that you never seem to have enough of.

There’s a movement afoot to roll back the parking meter rate increases that the Fenty Administration enacted.  Rates climbed to, in some cases, $2/hr, and enforcement hours expanded.  The point was to help increase revenue for the city, and to increase it with the people that use the roads in DC and park in the commercial areas.  So, let’s look at what’s going on here.

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The Daily Feed
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NYU DC?

NYU-DC, Facade Rendering.  Courtesy of Hickock Cole Architects.

A lot of universities’ have academic hubs in D.C., but none have one quite like this.  This month, Hickock Cole Architects will break ground on a brand new academic center for New York University on L Street, NW.  NYU’s new Constance Milstein and Family Academic Center, also known as NYU-DC, will be a 12-story building with academic space and six floors of dormitories.

The new building is also aiming for LEED Gold.

NYU-DC will be located at 1307 L St, NW.

The Daily Feed
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Marquis’ Solid, Espinosa’s En Fuego, Nats Win 4-3

Marquis and McCatty
Photo by Rachel Levitin

Back in April, the Washington Nationals were calling right-handed pitcher Jason Marquis the team’s new game-changer. Due to unforeseen injuries and a rocky start, Marquis’ debut season with Washington hasn’t been too pretty.

Marquis’ role as a game-changer hasn’t panned out the way the Nationals might have liked it to. He’s gone 2-9 in 2010, but tonight he pitched a solid six innings. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Stephen Colbert Testifying (In Character) Before Congress

Photo courtesy of
‘Colbert’s portrait: redux’
courtesy of ‘erin m’

Sounds like Comedy Central’s pseudo-conservative personality wants to do more than just Keep Fear Alive here in the D.C. According to a release from the United Farm Workers of America, the comedian will be joining UFW’s president, Arturo S. Rodriguez to testify before the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law this Friday.

It seems like the media is still trying to get to the bottom of Colbert’s appearance, but it may have something to do with an appearance last July by Rodriguez on Colbert’s show. Rodriguez had appeared initially to discuss the “Take Our Jobs” campaign, a program from the UFW that involved rallying Americans to pick up their hoes and commit to the work that is often labeled as “done by immigrant workers.”

I may even watch CSPAN for this.

News, The Daily Feed
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DC Central Kitchen vandalized, needs your help

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘DC Central Kitchen’

DC Central Kitchen is just about as big a pillar in this community as there is.  They work with people who absolutely need help with job training, and they teach them how to work in kitchens across the metropolitan area.  They train hundreds of people every year and work to get them jobs.  In this economy, that’s about the closest thing to sainthood as you can find.  Last night, some people vandalized their vans, doing hundreds of dollars, if not thousands, of damage to the vehicles they use to feed the homeless in DC.

It took hours today for DC Police to respond to repeated calls to come examine the crime scene, which crippled their morning deliveries with the fleet of vans, which is equally frustrating.  Who does this?  Who goes after someone who does this kind of work?  I can’t explain it.  There are some saying it could be a Rush Limbaugh supporter who didn’t take kindly to their video flipping the radio host off.  It’s entirely possible that it’s a disgruntled former student, too. In any event, perhaps take this moment to show them some appreciation?

We have great community service in this town, and in the face of travesties like this, we must show them our support.

Comedy in DC
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Extra-Moderate: Proposed Signs for the Rally to Restore Sanity

I THINK EVERYONE INVOLVED HERE IS CUTE
Comic courtesy of and copyright by xkcd, posted with permission.

I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there’s this rally-for-people-who-hate-rallies coming up. It might be a pretty big deal.

But it occurred to me to ask… if people get fired up about a rally for moderates, doesn’t that then make them, by definition, less moderate? And what happens when a comedian becomes a media figure who then becomes a political figure? And what if I don’t care about any of these questions and I just want to mock the hell out of protesters who prevent low income people from getting to their downtown jobs in the name of helping the poor? Or protesters dressed as colonials whose signs demand that we “READ THE CONSTITUION?” What if I’m moderate as hell, and I’m not gonna take it anymore? If it doesn’t mean I have to miss too much work? Because seriously, I have a job to do.

Protest signs, y’all. (Which, of course, will be immediately cleaned up and thrown away after the rally, because our mamas raised us right.) Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Bayou Bakery Opening Soon

 

Photo Courtesy of Bayou Bakery and simoneink, llc

New Orleans native and former executive pastry chef at Passion Food Hospitality David Guas is finally set to open his much anticipated ode to the South, Bayou Bakery, next month. After a false start earlier this year that would have put the shop in the current Northside Social location on Wilson Blvd., it will now open in Courthouse right around the corner from the Metro.

Bayou Bakery will offer jambalaya, muffalettas, beignets, chicory-coffee pralines, pimento cheese and all those other treats us Northerners only wish we could get our hands on. They will also serve cult favorite Counter Culture coffee in the 70-seat counter service restaurant.

Guas hopes to have the restaurant open by late October.

Entertainment, Music, The Daily Feed
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Hot Ticket: DJ Tudo @ LIV (Win Tickets!)

Photo Courtesy of Re/Route Productions

Re/Route Productions specializes in bringing performers from around the world to perform in Washington, DC. Tomorrow, they are presenting Brazil’s DJ Tudo at LIV Nightclub. Plus, dear readers, We Love DC has two pairs of tickets to give away!

This is the first-ever tour of North America for DJ Tudo (real name: Alfredo Bello) and his stop in DC is one of only three cities he will be visiting. That said, he is hardly an underground artist on his home continent – his performance in New York is at Lincoln Center, after all, and his recent record, Nos quintais do Mundo (“In the Backyards of the World”), features collaborations with well-known artists like Mad Professor – so this is a opportunity to catch him on the ascent to international superstar dj status.
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The Daily Feed
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River Visual

This is my favorite thing about flying back into DC from a trip: the famous River Visual Approach to DCA, the path planes must take to avoid no-fly zones when landing from the North in clear weather. Sit on the left side of the plane during a river visual landing, and you get great views, from the Mormon Temple and the Beltway, down to the Cathedral, right down to Georgetown, the Watergate, the National Mall, Hains Point, and Southwest Waterfront.

When flying in to DC with a chance to reserve seats, pick a window on the left side. Even if you end up doing the less climactic approach from the South, you get a great view of Alexandria and the George Washington Masonic Memorial before touching down. (Conversely, if flying out, get a window seat on the right side of the plane for similar views.)

Bigger video after the jump: Continue reading →