Yearly Archives: 2010

The Daily Feed
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It’s a Goodwill Travelin’ Trunk Show

Trunk show

Courtesy of Greater Goods

Now that spring is on the way (just 10 more days), it’s time for spring cleaning — and new spring clothes. On Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., take care of both at Greater Goods, where Goodwill will host its Travelin’ Trunk Show.

Bring your own items to donate and/or check out their collection of vintage fashions, fabrics and buttons.

All proceeds support Goodwill’s mission to educate, train, employ, and place people with disabilities and disadvantages throughout the greater DC area.

History, News, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Women Airforce Service Pilots To Receive Congressional Gold Medal

Photo courtesy of
‘… WASPs and B-17’
courtesy of ‘x-ray delta one’

Today at 11am, the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) will get their much deserved recognition when they receive the Congressional Gold Medal, 68 years after their honorable and noble service to this country during WWII.

Faced with a shortage of U.S. based pilots in 1942, the Air Force recruited 1100 civilian female pilots and had them fly military aircraft across the country, test newly developed aircraft (including the B-29 Superfortress bomber that dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan) and tow targets for ground and air target practice.

Despite serving their country for two years and losing 38 WASPs  in the line of duty, the WASPs were not granted military status until 1977.

Yesterday, WASP survivors and family members gathered for a Remembrance Ceremony at the U.S. Air Force Memorial and a Salute Reception at the Women’s Memorial. Fewer than 300 WASPs are alive to receive the commendation and experience this truly historic event in U.S. women’s history.

Comedy in DC
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Comedy in DC: Table Scraps Edition

These next couple of weeks are a little sparse on the comedy front, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. The Washington Improv Theater FIST competition continues apace, with round 1 finishing up this weekend. They’ve already got some highlight video posted, so you can see if competitive amateur improv looks like a fun night out to you.

At the Arlington Drafthouse this weekend is Carlos Alazraqui and Cedric Yarbrough, stars of Comedy Central’s Reno 911, a show I’ve never understood the appeal of, but I seem to be in the minority on that point, so maybe you’d like to go see them. Continue reading →

Entertainment, Fun & Games, Night Life, People, The Daily Feed
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H Street Country Club Offers Competitive Skeeball – Sign Up Now!

Photo courtesy of
‘Skeeball League – Score! – 01-10-10’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Registration for the spring “skeeson” of competitive Skeeball at H Street Country Club is now open! Rally the troops (aka your closest pals and drinking buddies) or sign up on your own (the Skeeball folks are happy to place you with a group that has an open spot) for a rousing 8 week round of  head-to-head Skeeball combat in NE DC.

What better way to bring you back to the glory days of your youth than with Sunday and Tuesday night Skeeball challenges starting April 11? Dave & Buster’s might be a close second, but really … come on … SKEEBALL? Sounds awesome.

Plus – there’s $3 Bud Lights, $5 Margaritas and discounted food!

8-12 players make a team, but 12-15 is recommended.

Visit the United Skeeball Association (yes, there is such a thing) webpage for more details.

The Daily Feed
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I Need a Drink

evening_sign_screwtop.jpeg

I really need a drink today. Between the real estate woes, and some serious work stress, what I need a glass of wine or six, and some relaxation. Fortunately, Screwtop in Clarendon tweeted that they’re doing $4 glasses of wine tonight, along with bruschetta. I’m not exactly sure how they’re tweeting their specials, when advertising wine or other drink specials is against the law in Virginia, but maybe they’re just hoping the ABC is asleep at the switch. C’mon by before the man shuts ’em down.

The Daily Feed
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Vote For Us!

Do you love We Love DC? How about you let the City Paper know as part of their annual DC Best Of issue! That’s right, we’re starting the write-in campaign to be this year’s Best Blog. Tell your family, tell your friends, tell your pets to all vote for We Love DC in this year’s Best Of DC list.

The Daily Feed
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A Modest Proposal

Photo courtesy of
‘popped collars’
courtesy of ‘Sub-Urban’

Yesterday’s request for Georgetown to be Freed from the Tyranny of all the poor people in DC got us thinking, and we’ve decided to help them out by writing their Declaration of Independence for them:

When, in the course of Late Night Shots, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political and social bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the superior and fucking awesome station to which the Laws of Nature and their daddy’s employment entitle them, an indecent molestation of the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that Smith Point is far better than any piece of shit you have east of Rock Creek park, and that us Georgetowners are endowed by our bank accounts with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and not having to deal with poor, homeless people on Friday night. That to secure these rights, we are going to kick your sad ass to the curb and erect (dude, you said erect) checkpoints where we will only allow real cool people into Georgetown. The rest of you can piss off.

Signed, the douchebags of Georgetown, esquires.

Good luck in your endeavors to rid Georgetown of those less fortunate than you. I beg forgiveness from the ghosts of our Founding Fathers for the above egregious bastardization of the Declaration of Independence.

People, Scribblings, Special Events
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Scribblings: Gail Harris

Photo courtesy of
‘Missile Exercise’
courtesy of ‘mashleymorgan’

Gail Harris was assigned by the U.S. Navy to a combat intelligence job in 1973, becoming the first woman to hold such a position. When she retired at the end of 2001, she was the highest ranking African American female in the Navy; her career spanned 28 years of leadership in the intelligence community, from the Cold War to Desert Storm to Kosovo. Her last challenge was in developing policy for the Computer Network Defense and Computer Network Attack for the Department of Defense. She recently authored A Woman’s War: The Professional and Personal Journey of the Navy’s First African American Female Intelligence Officer and will be at a special program at the International Spy Museum tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. She’ll share her unique experience and perspective in providing intelligence support to military operations while also battling the status quo, office bullies, and politics.

After the jump, a brief Q&A between the International Spy Museum and Gail Harris. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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A delightful coincidence

Photo courtesy of MrMoonPie

Tiffany’s sign was pretty popular, courtesy of MrMoonPie

Above is MrMoonPie – occasional commenter around these parts – and his wife. In addition to being an all-around good guy he’s a licensed wedding officiant in the District… and he has made himself available to same-sex couples who applied for licenses last week and are starting their ceremonies today. Last he told us over on MetaFilter he was up to 14 total ceremonies but his comment on the post over at Washington City Paper indicates he’s up to 18 now… 8 of them today!

Personally I never get tired of this picture and it still makes me mist up a little every time I see it. So I’m happy to post it, but the real reason I’m running this piece is that I am tickled pink by the symmetry in this recent statement from MrMoonPie:

An interesting detail is that I’ll be performing a marriage in the Trinidad neighborhood, one block away from where the Loving family lived after they got kicked out of Virginia for marrying across racial lines. They were, of course, the inspiration for the sign that got all this started.

I’m less delighted by the additional symmetry that this is happening the week after some more modern douche-y behavior out of Virginia, but it’s nice to know that the District continues to be a place welcoming those driven out of Virginia.

Food and Drink, News, The Daily Feed
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Serendipity coming to Georgetown

Photo courtesy of
‘Fried Oreo Sundae at Serendipity 3 at Ceasars Palace’
courtesy of ‘joanna8555’

Serendipity 3, that most New York of institutions, is opening a location in DC.  K Street Kate reports that the popular restaurant chain will be taking up in Nathan’s old location on Wisconsin and M in Georgetown.  Prime real estate, to say the least.  If you’re not familiar with Serendipity, it’s an ice cream shop of sorts that is famous for its huge (I’m talking punch bowl size) portions.  They’re particularly well known for their frozen hot chocolate, which is really something that you’ll just need to try.  And yes, it is in that movie Serendipity.  The developers are hoping to have the restaurant open by the end of spring.  I’d wager that it’ll be an instant hot spot.

The Daily Feed
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Strasburg Finds Success In First Outing

Photo courtesy of
‘Basics for Baseball’
courtesy of ‘Jinx!’

If you couldn’t find yourself an AM radio or don’t follow any baseball writers on Twitter, allow me to re-cap young Strasburg’s first outing:

Total Pitch Count – 25

Total Strikes – 15

Total Hits – 2

Total K’s – 2

Plus — his first career strikeout was against Miguel Cabrera with a 98 MPH fastball on a full-count.

Way to go, kid. Now let’s see if your teammates can back you up with some run support after your first two innings.

News, The Daily Feed, The District
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Panda Updates: Nothing New at Home, but Butterstick is Happy

Photo courtesy of
‘panda national’
courtesy of ‘christaki’

It’s too easy to be overly-clever while writing stories related to panda pregnancies (what, you couldn’t have gone opened with “one bamboo stick or two?” Come on!). Regardless of pregnancy test ledes, NBC Washington is reporting that this edition of “Mei Xiang Pregnancy Watch” is…still going on. According to the report, scientists at the National Zoo are not confirming if it’s a “no” or a “yes,” for the aging bear, so it looks the watch will continue for now.

We’ve already had to say farewell to our beloved Tai Shan in the early part of this year, and with the 10-year-loan on Mei Xiang and Tian-Tian soon to run out and the pandas sent back to China, this may be the last chance for a new cub here in the District. At least it sounds like Butterstick is enjoying his first time free from quarantine after returning to the home land.

The suspense is brutal back here at home, though – so keep your fingers crossed that a new cub could be on the way.

The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: Some Girl(s)

Clementine Thomas and Brian Sutow in No Rules Theatre Company's production of "Some Girl(s)" Photo Credit: C. Stanley Photography

It’s Neil LaBute’s birthday next week, so it seems fitting that relative newcomers No Rules Theatre Co. are performing his play Some Girl(s) now through March 21st. Many have called him a psychologist of the dark side of the human soul, others a misogynist (personally, I think he’s an equal opportunity misanthrope). LaBute was responsible for one of my favorite films, Your Friends and Neighbors, scenes of which still sting sharp in my mind. Fellow WLDC author Don and I ventured out to H Street Playhouse convinced we would be at each other’s throats at the end of the play, in fitting tribute to LaBute with a raucous “He Said, She Said” review.

Our bottom line? This is a tight production featuring great performances, guaranteed to cause debate afterwards. The play’s age is showing, and a key character seems miscast, but that shouldn’t stop you from heading out to H Street and laughing cruelly as LaBute holds the mirror up to our blighted interpersonal relationships. It seems a pretty simple plot – watch as a man revisits his most memorable flings and exes before his impending marriage. Fun times! Who hasn’t wanted to gloat a little over the ones you left behind? But it’s not that simple, of course.
Continue reading →

Downtown, News, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Wedding Bells

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘erin m’

Today is the day that many gay couples in the District have been waiting for: wedding day.  DC has processed the first batch of marriage license applications that were filed last week and will begin issuing said licenses today. Around 150 couples should have the document in hand by this evening, allowing them to marry when they see fit.  A few couples have opted to make today the day they and are tying the knot at various institutions around the city.

The Daily Feed, The District, The Mall, Tourism
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Michelle Obama Donates Inaugural Gown

Photo courtesy of
‘Michelle Obama Donates Inaugural Gown’
courtesy of ‘tbridge’

In a ceremony in the NMAH’s Flag Hall this morning, First Lady Michelle Obama donated her Jason Wu-designed chiffon and Swarovski crystal gown to the Smithsonian as part of their new “A First Lady’s Debut” Exhibit that opens tomorrow. Featuring gowns from the last 50 years of Inaugurations, from Mamie Eisenhower through to Michelle Obama,

Designer Jason Wu, 28, was on hand to meet the First Lady for the first time, and today thanked her for “letting my story become a small part of the events,” surrounding the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. Wu emigrated from Taiwan when he was just 9 years old, studied in New York and Paris before opening his own studio in Manhattan 4 years ago. He is the youngest designer to outfit the First Lady for the Inauguration.

The exhibit is open to the public starting tomorrow morning.

Michelle Obama and Jason Wu with her Inaugural Gown Michelle Obama Applauds Huntington High School Students 

Smithsonian Secretary G. Wayne Clough introduces Michelle Obama Jason Wu speaks about his Inaugural Design

The Daily Feed
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Three million dollars? You’re sitting in it.

Photo courtesy of
‘081214 Twenty-nine Bills’
courtesy of ‘Dan4th’

The WMATA news today is that the cost of the June red line crash is about 25 million dollars. That’s pure hardware and labor costs – any lawsuits will raise the total. Insurance may cover that… after the 5 million dollar deductible.

The Examiner’s story says “The memo says four rail cars were destroyed at a cost of $12 million,” so a little basic math tells us that when you plop yourself into a bright orange seat you’ve sitting in a $3M vehicle. That’s 14 Ferrari Testarossas, or $4 a day since the birth of Jesus.

I don’t know what Jesus has to do with anything but dollars-since-salvation seemed to be a popular metric in the last year and I felt a little left out.

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Oh DDOT, You’re Such a Kidder

DDOT Fail.jpg

When I parked on Constitution this morning to go to the National Museum of American History for the donation event surrounding the First Lady’s inaugural gown, I was expecting to park at a meter that worked.  After all, those have to be some of the best moneymakers for the city, with all the tourist attractions.  Not only did meter CONS1292NW not work, can you spot the significant problem with the meter’s signage?

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Strasburg’s First Start Couldn’t Be Coming At A Better Time

Photo courtesy of
‘Waiting for the call’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

Stephen Strasburg’s first start with the Nationals is being welcomed during a desperate time.

Here’s the set-up: In 6 games, the Nats have been outscored 67-30 and haven’t won a single game so far. Granted, this is Spring Training. The games don’t matter. What DOES matter is prepping for the regular season. The hopeful pitching staff isn’t showing much in the prep department as of yet. They have given up 91 hits, 28 walks and 12 home runs in 50 innings.

If that wasn’t bad enough, the real killer is – 17 pitchers have an ERA of 9.00 or higher – with a team ERA of 10.98.

Here’s to hoping that the six previous losing were just the Nats “taking a few for the team” while waiting for Strasburg to take the mound. But – if that’s the case – there’s no excuse for such poor performances.

“You don’t like to see your guys get knocked around,” Riggleman told Nationals Journal writer Adam Kilgore. “You hate to see your guys giving up runs. We’re trying to win the ball game. Nobody’s trying to give up hits. Nobody is satisfied that we’re not winning ball games […] It’s just part of what we got to go through to get through these first couple of weeks of spring training. Our guys are just taking it on the chin a little bit.”

Tune-in to WFED 1500 AM at around 12:30 for the 1 pm Strasburg debut. Charlie Slowes and Dave Jageler will be announcing the play-by-play.

Update 9:56 am — (Via Adam Kilgore’s Twitter) “The #Nationals will make cuts earlier next week, and it will consist mostly of pitchers.” Good thinking.

Featured Photo
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Featured Photo


Kid & Gorilla by architeuthis dux

A great photo can evoke many emotions from the viewer, much like the one above.  My first reaction was, “Awww, look at the cute kid at the zoo.”  Do you remember those days, when your parents or siblings took you to the zoo and you couldn’t believe your eyes?  How amazing was it that there was a magical place full of animals that you’d only seen in your books and on TV?  Oh and the only things to eat at this place are snow cones and cotton candy?!  Nice knowing you Mom and Dad.  I’m coming to live here with the elephants and tigers.  I appreciate all that you’ve done for me but the zoo is a bazillion times cooler than our house and I can poop wherever I want to!

My next thought after I’d looked at this photo for a while was, “Damn I feel so sorry for zoo animals, particularly the intelligent ones like the gorillas.”  There aren’t too many things that separate humans from primates, yet somehow it’s OK to keep them locked up in a cage for their entire life.  I know that zoos help protect endangered species and educate the public about animals, but that doesn’t keep me from wanting to let them loose into their natural habitat.

And my my final though, or rather my question, is which of these two creatures is more intelligent?  A 10+ year old gorilla or a wee little toddler?  I bet they’d both rather be on the opposite side of the glass.

capitals hockey, The Daily Feed
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Ovie Nets Two, Caps Lose in SO

Photo courtesy of
‘Alex Ovechkin’
courtesy of ‘brianmka’

The good news? Alexander Ovechkin has found the net again. The bad? The Caps home game streak at Verizon has ended at 13 as the Dallas Stars stole a 4-3 shutout win.

The Caps seemed en route to another home win against the visiting Stars. After two periods, the Caps held a 2-0 lead and with a record of strong third periods, seemed destined to add to the record-breaking streak. The Stars have been lackluster of late; they entered the Verizon Center with a three game losing streak and have been outscored 17-5 since the Olympics ended.

“I thought the entire team had a hiccup in the third period,” says Caps coach Bruce Boudreau. “They [Dallas] came on [in the third period] and thought, ‘Hey, we’re still in the game.’ Once they got the first one in, I knew it was going to be a dog fight.”

Continue reading →