Yearly Archives: 2010

The Features
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2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival: Coming to a Plate Near You

Photo courtesy of
‘Cherry Tree Blossoms & Jefferson Memorial’
courtesy of ‘cliff1066â�¢’

With tomorrow being the first day of Spring, that can only mean one thing in DC.  The National Cherry Blossom Festival is just around the corner.  This year it’s going to be running from March 27th-April 11th, and there’s plenty of stuff to do, and even better, plenty of stuff to eat!  Tons of area restaurants are getting festive and offering cherry blossom-themed dishes, drinks, and desserts, so I have taken the liberty of narrowing down this list  to a few places I would recommend just for you, and in particular places with featured drinks and desserts.  I totally have a sweet tooth, so about half of this list is dessert, but I just couldn’t help myself! Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed
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National Marathon Tomorrow

Photo courtesy of
‘Thundering Herd’
courtesy of ‘flipperman75’

If you don’t have to drive in DC tomorrow, just don’t. The National Marathon is run tomorrow through the streets of DC, and no quadrant is left out. Constitution, East Capitol, North Capitol, the Frederick Douglass Bridge, and various other streets throughout the District will be closing intermittently from 7am to 1pm. Chances are, you’re better off going around. In addition, Metrobus has rerouted 42 different bus routes as part of the event. Please prepare for transit pandemonium.

The Daily Feed
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Why Do You Care About Sustainability?

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘erin m’

Caring about the environment is the cool thing to do, right?

According to a study conducted by the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, when people shop in public they tend to favor green and more earth friendly products – however, when shopping online people tend to favor the ‘regular stuff’; thus suggesting that “green purchases are often motivated by status,” says Vladas Griskevicius, co-author of the study.

Although I find this study to be quite interesting, I wonder how variables such as statewide or citywide mandates could moderate this study’s outcome. Since the District’s 5-cent bag tax law took effect, not only is going green now hip – but if you want to watch your pennies, it’s basically required.

I don’t really thing in the end anyone really cares what your reasons for being environmentally conscious truly are, because as long as a difference is being made then it doesn’t really matter right?

Adventures, History, Tourism
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Tourism: The Old Stone House

Photo courtesy of
‘Old Stone House NHS’
courtesy of ‘Ken Lund’

Nestled in along M Street, in the heart of Georgetown, you’ll stumble upon The Old Stone House, one of the oldest homes remaining in Washington, DC. Built in 1765, the house is maintained and operated by the National Park Service, and is part of the National Park System’s Rock Creek Park unit. Since it’s original construction, the house has traded hands many times and has been used as a shop for hats, tailors, locksmiths, clockmakers, house roofing remodeled by Bell Roofing Company, house painting, and even a used car dealership. Fortunately, the house was purchased by the Federal Government in 1953 for $90,000. At today’s market prices, the house and its garden are thought to be worth close to $6-7 million.

Constructed from local quarry stones and ballast stones from the English sailing vessels that journeyed up the Potomac, the house is a prime example of a typical 18th century dwelling that would have been inhabited by common Americans. Tours and lectures offered by Colonial period-dressed park rangers, highlight the lives of these early Americans and DCers. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Let the suburbs have the protests for a change

DSC_1855, courtesy of Me President Obama is speaking out on the campus of George Mason University in a few minutes and where there’s POTUS there’s protest. The signs were pretty one-sided against health care, though one determined fellow was walking around with a huge “Public Option Now” banner that looked more suited to a renaissance faire in style than a protest. Among the reasons for the imbalance was the limits on attendees. The invitations said “cameras are allowed, however no signs or banners are permitted,” so any opposition inside is going to have to pretty much seethe in silence. The folks outside were making up for that with their energy, doing a lot of shouting across a 6 foot tape-enforced DMZ at the folks waiting to go in. Once most had entered the approximately 150 or so folks on the other side of the tape pretty much settled down to chatting amongst themselves. The ban on signs didn’t go over well with some – the woman below was yelling “there is no free speech in that building.” DSC_1875, courtesy of Me More shots after the jump. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Metro Fires Texting Driver

Photo courtesy of
‘what else is new?’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Metro announced late yesterday that they fired the driver caught texting by Unsuck DC Metro. The photos first appeared on their blog in February, and Metro finally took action a month later. I’m all for due process, but what the hell took so long here? It’s not like Metro’s policy is anything but crystal clear…

I, for one, will welcome our new Sarlesian Overlord when takes the reigns in April.

Entertainment, Fun & Games, Music, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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9:30 Club To Host U.S. Air Guitar Championship Regionals

Photo courtesy of
‘The Fro, Finals (finished 5th place)’
courtesy of ‘brianmka’

For those about to rock … here’s your chance! The D.C. Regional Air Guitar Championships are being held this April at the 9:30 Club.

The Official U.S. Air Guitar Championship website reports that entry slots for D.C. are nearly full. If you want to enter — prop up the digital camera, throw together your most rockin’ of rockin’ fits (and by “fit”, I mean “outfit”), and convince those judges you’ve got what it takes to compete by sending in an audition video via YouTube.

All videos must be under a minute long and sent to list_serve@930.com by Sunday, March 21.

Winners will be announced March 31 and regionals will be held on April 10.

Rock on!

The Daily Feed, WMATA
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Delays, A Fare Raise, And Escalator Outages — Oh My!

Photo courtesy of
’55/365 – dupont circle’
courtesy of ‘dracisk’

As if Metro riders haven’t had enough day-to-day issues plaguing them as they fork over chunks of their paychecks for endless delays and an array of other dilemmas over the past year … now, there’s more.

WaPo reports that there are 60+ escalator outages throughout the entire Metrorail system at the moment. Way to go WMATA.

I mean — I’m a firm believer in walking up the escalator stairs because that’s what feet were made for — but with Metro turning down media requests for interviews regarding the escalator problem it makes you wonder, what else is wrong that they’re not telling us about?

Entertainment, Music, Night Life, The Features, We Love Music
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We Love Music: GroundScore

groundscore

All GroundScore wants is to have a good time and watch you dance. And no – that isn’t creepy. It’s freakin’ awesome.

This trio of DC metro-area jammers debuted their first full-length record late last year and is now determined to bring that “feel good” feeling back into people’s lives one east coast town at a time. They’re a group of self-proclaimed reggae rocking, blues driven, jamming machines who rehearse with the recording tape running at all times. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Welcome to the Curmudgeons

Photo courtesy of
‘Curmudgeon Suite by Peter Lange’
courtesy of ‘ohdarling’

DC is an incredibly gifted town when it comes to the blog scene. I mean, just look, in addition to us, there’s DCist, ReadysetDC, Prince of Petworth, The Hill is Home, BYT, why.i.hate.dc. I figured we were all full up on awesome blogs, but then I found the opening entry of District Curmudgeon which launched today. Geoff and Jaime are seasoned veterans of the DC blogging scene, and definitely deserve your attention going forward. Congrats, lady & gent.

Food and Drink, Night Life, The Daily Feed
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Cantina Marina Opens Outside Deck This Weekend

Photo courtesy of
‘Cantina Marina’
courtesy of ‘sinksanctity

Need an excuse to throw on those flops and head to the waterfront since … you know … spring appears to be here now? Cantina Marina is opening their outside deck this weekend due to the totally awesome weather we’ll be experiencing through Sunday.

There are many ways to attract more customers to your restaurant, but during summer, spring and fall months, outdoor seating tops the list. No matter what kind of establishment you run, a simple deck or patio can increase revenue by up to 30 percent. Additional research by the Simons Advisory Group proved that a $200,000 investment increased overall sales by $500,000 — possibly more if your restaurant offers year-round outdoor seating.

What is it about outdoor seating that has such a large effect on your customer base? There are many factors involved, most of which revolve around comfort. Some guests say that an alfresco dining experience makes the food taste fresher and better. Others simply enjoy gazing at the view as they share a meal with friends or family. If you plan to add a deck to allow outdoor seating at your restaurant, deck builders in Auckland

If you’re interested in adding an outdoor space for your clientele, there are many ways to go about it. The following highlights some of the most popular — and successful — trends in outdoor seating today.

The dock bar will be open and the fish tacos really are a quite tasty when paired with a frozen margarita.

Plus – now that the sun’s out for longer – you can soak in the rays and get your first taste of what summer will feel like.

The Daily Feed
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Lend a Hand: Prom Season 2010

Photo courtesy of


‘prom_dress_Fuchsia-Lavender-Lime-White-81048B’
courtesy of ‘www.chicagofabulousblog.com’

It’s that time of year again…practically the biggest night of the entire year if you’re a senior in high school:  Prom!  Lots of family taking pictures, your date pinning  on your corsage, a limo full of friends waiting in the driveway, and of course the dress.  This year you can help a young lady find her dream gown by donating to DC Public Schools Annual Prom Dress Collection.

Every year many girls drop the plan of going to their only prom because of the prices of the prom dress. Their dream of attending this magical event is fulfilled by various organizations that provide free prom dresses for low-income families. No girl wants to go to prom in just anything, so it takes days, weeks, even months to find a long sleeve 2 piece prom dress. Why not help someone find their dream gown for that special night?  Free prom dresses are a boon to low-income students. The collection is accepting new and gently used dresses, shoes, jewelry and purses.  You can drop off items between 9am and 5pm Monday – Friday until April 14th at 1200 First Street NE, on the 12th floor.  For more information, call 202-442-5447 or email dcpspartnerships@dc.gov.

Food and Drink, People, The Features, We Love Drinks
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We Love Drinks: The St. Regis Bar

Photo courtesy of
‘Adour 11’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’

Of all the venerable hotel bars that this city offers, the one that never really spoke to me was the St. Regis Library Lounge. With an air that screamed lobbyist power broker, it just never provided the quirky elegance that I find essential in a grand old hotel. That changed for me this past autumn when I popped in for a look before the most scrumptious Thanksgiving meal ever (if you have a serious special occasion coming up, go to Adour, it’s incredible). I knew the hotel had been renovated but I assumed it would be more of the same. Wrong.

The Bar at the St. Regis (its official name) is soothingly decorated now in shades of violet and grey, adding Art Deco touches like crazy 1960’s biomorphic light fixtures to a 40-seat room dominated by an intensely elaborate Italianate ceiling. Lacquered, metallic, mirrored surfaces abound. It’s simply gorgeous, but not overwhelming. You can easily tuck into a soft corner and broker your deal or impress your date. As for the drinks, they’ve undergone a change too. Sure, there’s the high-end madness one might expect (Remy Martin’s Black Pearl Magnum, anyone? $1,926 – the year the hotel opened – for a two ounce pour out of the only bottle in DC…).

But you can also have a little luxury for less, and enjoy some wacky molecular mixology too! Continue reading →

Adventures, The Daily Feed
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Gtown Hoyas: The Drinking Game

Photo courtesy of
‘Basketball beer’
courtesy of ‘gcardinal’

So your team didn’t make the tourney? Or perhaps your college didn’t have a Division I Men’s Basketball program? Or maybe you’re just not that into March madness overall?

Well luckily, Georgetown University’s Vox Populi has come up with a robust, Hoya focused drinking game, just in time for tonight’s game against Ohio.

Even if you’re not a Georgetown fan, at least the game will jump start your Thursday night and could, potentially, get you back into the March Madness.

The Daily Feed
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Artist John Gerrard at Hirshhorn Tonight

Photo courtesy of
‘X Marks the Spot’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

John Gerrard, the environmental photographer and installation artist will be at the Hirshhorn Museum tonight to discuss his latest exhibition.  The exhibition consists of large-scale format, digitally manipulated pictures of American landscape that unfold in real-time — allowing patient enthusiasts to experience each “shot” unfold over a 24-hour period.

The event is in conjunction with the 2010 Environmental Film Festival.

Meet the Artist tonight at 7 PM in the Ring Auditorium of the Hirshhorn Museum [Corner of Independence Ave and 7th ST S],

News, The Daily Feed
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To School, Kiddies!

Photo courtesy of
‘100 L Street, NW (demolished)’
courtesy of ‘rockcreek’

I’m sorry kids, but you’re going to have to go to school tomorrow.  March 19th was originally scheduled as a professional development day for teachers, meaning students didn’t have to go to school.  But, seeing as you got a few weeks of unforeseen vacation courtesy of mother nature, you don’t actually get tomorrow off. So, make sure you’re in school tomorrow, don’t don’t do crack, follow your dreams, etc….

The Daily Feed
By

The Palace of Bro-nders

Photo courtesy of
‘THE BRO CODE !!’
courtesy of ‘shym0n’

I’ve been kind of underground for the last week as the ol’ day job went into annual conference mode and I was working 12 hour days for a week and a half. But that’s over now and I’m catching up on all the stuff I missed on the Internet during that time. John’s post about Spider Kelly’s rebirth as a bro-haven reminded me that BYT preserved possibly my favorite Craigslist housing posting ever: The 6BR Bro-Palace.

It’s clearly a joke post, but the quantity and variety of bro-related puns, dare I say, the brocabulary, in this post causes me to want to raise a protein shake in honor of the writer. I think “Temple to Broseidon” is my favorite.

The Daily Feed
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Please Sir, Can We Have More Restrooms?

Photo courtesy of
‘Women’s Room Sign’
courtesy of ‘mrkathika’

Here’s an interesting little piece of potty humor that doesn’t involve having a dirty mind.

There’s a lack of women’s restrooms in our government buildings. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee seek to end this potty drought by introducing the “Potty Parity Act” bill today. The bill requires federal buildings of the future and buildings leased by the government to have a 1:1 ratio of men’s to women’s restrooms.

The bill’s lead sponsor, Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) told WaPo that a lack of restrooms in our government buildings has become an issue because these buildings were constructed long before masses of women entered the federal workforce. According to Towns, some women have even suffered work-related problems and been fired as a result of their inability to take the time necessary to address health or medical concerns.

The addition of more women’s restrooms would aid the effort to help halt these uncessary women’s health concerns in the federal workplace.

We Love Weekends
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We Love Weekends, March 20-21

Photo courtesy of
‘Your Move’
courtesy of ‘e.phelps’

Tiff: This weekend marks the first one in months where I will NOT be househunting! We’ve just gone under contract on a gorgeous house in Brookland (which means we’ll be the Brookland Bridges), so I will spend a chunk of my Sunday in my future neighborhood, not only for the home inspection but also to scope out 12th St. NE, the commercial heart of Brookland. Later that day, my dance studio is having their grand re-opening in a new, bigger space, so I’ll be checking out dance performances and demonstrations with them.

Rachel: This weekend is the celebration of my life (aka my birthday). My mom’s coming into town so I’m taking her on a whirlwind tour of all things awesome in DC. Friday kicks it off with lunch at Madhatter followed by dinner and a movie in Chinatown (dinner location suggestions are encouraged!). Saturday will be spent shopping in Georgetown, grabbing lunch at Martin’s Tavern, and grabbing a few cocktails at The Gibson before heading to Atomic Billiards for a rousing night of debauchery and dart throwing. Then, we’ll wrap up this celebration of life with my REAL birthday on Sunday by brunching at Chef Geoff’s and paroozing the National Mall in true tourist fashion.   Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

When is an Earmark not an Earmark?

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

One of the side effects of finally knowing where I’m going to live at the end of next month is that I’m now paying a lot more attention to news stories involving my future Council member, Harry Thomas of Ward 5. Mike DeBonis reports in the City Paper this week that Councilman Thomas was instrumental in steering money toward certain nonprofit programs in the Ward, and argues that while the grants weren’t made through the earmark process, the fact that they weren’t competitively bid makes them earmarks in spirit, even while Council Chair Vincent Gray is banning earmarks in an effort to clean up the corruption in the process.

While agreeing with DeBonis that the grants should have gone through the normal bid process to keep everything above-board and without the appearance of preferential treatment, I continue to think it’s a pretty disgraceful state of affairs that we have a situation where a member of the Council can’t provide an opinion on some anti-gang programs in his Ward (which, you may have noticed, has a bit of a crime problem) because a different member of the Council seems to have corruption and grift trailing in his wake wherever he goes.