Yearly Archives: 2010

News, The Daily Feed, WMATA, WTF?!
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WMATA + FEMA = OK?

Photo courtesy of

‘EHN @ Artomatic’
courtesy of ‘tbridge’

With the word out that Metro is short another $18M due to lost fares and extra expenses during the Snopocalypse and Snowmaggeddon, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton has requested some additional funds from FEMA to offset the loss.  Her letter to FEMA director Craig Fugate highlights unique challenges to Metro, including its status as a multi-state agency.  She wrote, “I understand that if the president declares Major Disasters or Emergencies that Metro likely will receive assistance separately through each of the states in which they operate.   However, considering how unusual it is to be faced with a tri-state local entity under the Stafford Act, I would ask that FEMA provide the greatest flexibility in its administrative requirements so as not to unnecessarily add to the operational burdens that Metro faces.”

It would be nice to see FEMA come through with some emergency funding for our beleaguered transit agency, especially with WMATA facing a $189M shortfall for next year, with likely service cuts on the block.  Isn’t a great time to ride Metro?

Monumental, The District, The Features
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Monumental: Mount St. Fenty

Photo courtesy of
‘glacial dome’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Rising high above the streets of DC, seen here with a height on par with the Capitol Building, is Mount St. Fenty.  The monument, in which is carved the sorrow of all District residents, was erected in the early part of 2010 by the District’s Department of Transportation on the orders of the Mayor.  While the initial monument was created as part of what should have been the art installation equivalent of a flash mob, on orders of the Mayor, the monument would stand for months to come as testament to the powers of the mother nature.

The ad-hoc architectural construction of Mount St. Fenty is a bold statement in contravention to traditional artforms, favoring chaos and confusion over structure and focus.  The confusing form has been the topic of much discussion over the past few days, and the Mayor himself has expressed incredulity at its reception.  If the avant garde nature of Mount St. Fenty is its most obvious feature, the Kafkaesque drama that it carries with it as undercurrent is its most long-lasting.  The neighborhoods are rife with frustration as the Mount is causing all manner of parking difficulty throughout the city, leaving residents with flat tires, flared tempers and a sharp increase in the alcoholism rate.

Plans to move the monument at this time are quite sketchy, as the Mayor has said that the weather will have to do the job itself, and that city funds are stretched to the limit to move the monument to its final location. The delay, though, will prove to be a campaign issue for the Mayor in this fall’s primaries.  Well, should anyone decide to run against Mayor Fenty.

The Daily Feed
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Ignite DC Continues Good Run

Ignite 3 Audience

The concept behind Ignite DC is a simple one: 5 minutes, 20 slides, tell us a good story.  The realities of the presentation are vastly more complicated.  Stories can be about the revolutionary nature of motherhood, or about building an iPhone app that takes pictures and puts them on Twitter. As serious as exotic animal trade or the future of education, or as whimsical as the need for Recess in our daily lives, or how the fonts you use gets you judged.  The packed house at Town Danceboutique on a Thursday night wasn’t for clubbing, but rather for a set of great lectures from 15 different area speakers.

Ignite’s concept is interesting, but it may begin to suffer from the same problem that Merlin Mann pointed out about Lifehacker and other productivity sites: are we cultivating experts, or are we cultivating something else?  It’s hard to tell, and Ignite’s a bit too young to tell for sure, but the gimmick might be eclipsing what could be an excellent conversation about Expertise and Skill and Modernity.  What will it become?  Time shall tell.

The Daily Feed
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Snowmaggedon Cost Metro $18 Million

A frontloader clears snow at the Rhode Island Ave - Brentwood Metro station (courtesy Larry Levine/WMATA)

A frontloader clears snow at the Rhode Island Ave - Brentwood Metro station (courtesy Larry Levine/WMATA)

Metro is reporting that the huge February snowfall has cost them almost $18 million dollars. The bulk of that, $9.7 million, is due to reduced ridership because the system was barely operational and only underground during the double blast of snow.

Metro is working with area governments to try and recoup the costs through federal disaster aid, said Carol Kissal, Metro’s Chief Financial Officer.

In addition to the almost $10 million in lost revenue, snow removal and overtime cost the agency $8 million. And revenue losses continue to mount from unusable parking spaces that are still unplowed.

The December snow storm cost Metro $2.7 million, and had already pushed the system beyond it’s annual snow removal budget of $2.5 million.

The Daily Feed
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MD Delegate Seeks Ban on Marriages…Between First Cousins


‘glowing’
courtesy of ‘staceyviera’
Maryland Delegate Henry Heller, D-Montgomery County, is putting his foot down and saying no more to marriages between first cousins, unless the parties involved are either over the age of 65 or one person is unable to reproduce (because then it’s ok, right? *insert side eye*).

Heller claims that when first cousins marry, they are “playing genetic roulette,” increasing the chance of birth defects in their children.

If Maryland bans first-cousin marriages, they will be the 25th state to do so. You just can’t make this stuff up. You can see the bill for yourself.

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Mason Neck May Close to Public

Photo courtesy of
‘surprise eagle’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Mason Neck State Park, known as a good place to see bald eagles, is one of five state parks that may close this summer due to budget cuts. Set along the Potomac in Fairfax County, Mason Neck is also a heron rookery and home to ducks and tundra swans. It has several miles of trails in the woods and near wetlands.

There are other more-serious cuts proposed too, including furloughs for state workers and slashes to education and health and human services, reports The Post in local news. But if you’re a fan of Mason Neck, pay a visit soon, as the park may close as early as this spring.

Food and Drink, Interviews, People, The Features, We Love Drinks
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We Love Drinks: Chantal Tseng

Chantal Tseng at Tabard Inn. Photo courtesy Chantal Tseng/Tabard Inn.

Chantal Tseng at Tabard Inn. Photo courtesy Chantal Tseng/Tabard Inn.

We Love Drinks continues our series where we look behind the bar, profiling the many people – from mixologists to bartenders, sommeliers to publicans – who make your drinks experience happen.

It’s no secret that one of my favorite bars in the city is Tabard Inn. The creaky lounge – a Victorian Medievalist’s fantasy, with its eccentric patrons circling the fireplace – seems somehow out of time and place, a bit dreamy really. Thankfully its mixologist’s first reaction to the bar’s collection of quirky old ingredients wasn’t to throw them all away, but to find a way to incorporate and celebrate them. It makes perfect sense.

Because Chantal Tseng sees stories everywhere. Stories for cocktails, that is.

As she describes for me her foray into the great old stock of the hotel, I have a vision of her browsing through dusty bottles in search of new worlds to uncover – like some cocktail archeologist. “Wait, what’s that? Don’t get rid of it, that could be fun to play with…” Her enthusiasm pulls me along, for mixing drinks is obviously Chantal’s love, an artistic outlet fueled by the history behind a drink and the stories it weaves afterwards.

Take the tale she spins for Odette’s Curse. It begins with her standing in front of a painting of a man ice-skating. “In a silly pose,” she says, “like a dandy on ice.” Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Oh No You Just Did Not. We INVENTED The Cupcake, Bitch.

Photo courtesy of
‘9:30 Cupcake’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

“When we come into the market, people are going to realize what a real cupcake is all about,” said Crumbs bakery owner Jason Bauer.  See, they’re coming down here from Noo Yawk to tell us just how the kids in the big city eat their cupcakes.

The outrage is pretty palpable right now:

David Hagedorn: “Hey, you Crumbs, nothin’ DCers like more than ferners comin’ here to show us rubes what’s what. Keep your cupcakes & hire some (local) PR.”

Jenna Huntsberger: “”We weren’t impressed w/ anybody’s product” in ANY DC cupcake stores? So arrogant. Nice way 2 introduce yrself 2 DC community”

Nichole : “[A]nd with that, they can be sure I’ll never know. Is being an ass the new way to get people to buy your stuff?”

We could give a rat’s ass how you make cupcakes up north.  Here in DC, we practically invented the rebirth of the Cupcake.  Cake Love, Hello Cupcake, Georgetown Cupcake, Red Velvet, Baked & Wired, and that’s just what I can think of without working very hard.

Does New York have its own cupcake bakery reality show? I don’t think so.  So, really, I know you think you’re going to come in an own the market, but I know one place that I’d rather go hungry than visit: Crumbs.  Take your cupcake and shove it in your Yankee piehole, Bauer, we don’t need your filthy third-rate foreign cupcakes.

Besides, I’m betting they’re crumby.

The Daily Feed
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Architecture Beat – Francis Gregory Library in SE

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Credit: Exterior Rendering by Adjaye Associates

Having the ‘coolest’ library in the neighborhood is not far fetched for those living in SE. Just released are a few renderings by Adjaye Associates, whom, in collaboration with Wiencek Associates, have developed quite an interesting design for the Francis Gregory Library. Libraries seem to be all the rage when it comes to design lately (check out the Agave Library in Phoenix) so it’s quite nice to see DC sharing some of the attention.  I am pretty sure though that not everyone will be pleased with this addition to the DC architectural scene. What do you think?

See more renderings thanks to DC Metrocentric.

Food and Drink, People, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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DC Holds Our Own in James Beard Award Nominees

HIGH minibar-large-dzagar
Minibar by Maxwell MacKenzie

DC cleaned UP in the James Beard Award nominations this year with some great restaurants being recognized. I don’t agree with every single nomination, but when does that happen with awards? Winners will be announced at the highly-anticipated James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception, taking place on Monday, May 3, 2010 at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York City. Here’s who you’re rooting for, DC:

OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR:
Ashok Bajaj, 701, Ardeo, Bardeo, Bibiana Osteria-Entoteca, The Bombay Club, The Oval Room, and Rasika, Washington, D.C.

OUTSTANDING CHEF:
Jose Andres (Minibar, Washington, D.C.)

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT:
Vidalia, Washington, D.C.

RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR:
Johnny Monis, Komi, Washington, D.C.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT:
Trummer’s on Main, Clifton, VA
Eventide, Arlington, VA
J & G Steakhouse, Washington, D.C.

OUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF:
Amanda Cook, CityZen at Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C.

OUTSTANDING WINE AND SPIRITS PROFESSIONAL:
Derek Brown, The Passenger, Washington, D.C.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE:
Marcel’s, Washington, D.C.

BEST CHEF MID-ATLANTIC:
Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve, Alexandria, VA
Tony Conte, The Oval Room, Washington, D.C.
Peter Pastan, Obelisk, Washington, D.C.
Vikram Sunderam, Rasika, Washington, D.C.

We Love Weekends
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We Love Weekends, February 20-21

Photo courtesy of
‘China Town Arch’
courtesy of ‘rgb48’

Kirk: I’m leaving for the Olympics on Saturday, but I’m going to try to cram some weekend goodness in early, before I get out of town.  Tonight, I’m going to SOVA for some bluegrass, a bi-weekly, Thursday tradition that a friend introduced me to, recently.  Tomorrow, I’ll likely treat myself to a beer at the Saloon after work before finally going to Wisdom for the first time ever (I’m behind the times). Then it’s early to bed so I can be up for my 4am drive to BWI.

John: Friday night I’ll be sitting in early with No Second Troy at the 9:30 club for the Hotspur show. Then I promptly get in my car and trek down to Charlottesville for the “Hunting for Locavores” class all weekend. I’ll come back with new skills, a belly full of venison, and some great photos and experiences to share with you all.   Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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You’re Out! No Wait, You’re In! No, Seriously, This Time You’re Out

Photo courtesy of
‘Washington, DC 2010 193’
courtesy of ‘giantminispacegoat’

George Washington University’s Admissions office made a ginormous blunder last week by wrongly sending out acceptance emails to about 200 early applicants who had already been rejected.  Admissions caught the mistake and sent out a retraction email a few hours later.

The cause? Well, according to GW’s Senior Vice President for Student and Academic Services Robert Chernak “the snow really slowed up the delivery of the acceptance packets.” So in an effort of timely communications, GW’s Executive Dean of Undergraduate Admissions, Kathy Napper, decided to send out a congratulatory email to those who had been accepted.  Unfortunately, somewhere along the communication line someone pressed the wrong button. Whoops!

To be fair this is not the first time a university (or business or individual for that matter) has incorrectly sent an email to the wrong distribution list.  Cornell University, New York University, UC San Diego, etc. have all had their own kerfuffles with  email deployments.

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Details Loves Tabard Too

 Photo courtesy of
‘Magnified’
courtesy of ‘Samer Farha’

Details Magazine has included our own venerable Tabard Inn in its list of the Top Ten Hotel Bars, joining such illustrious lounges like London’s Connaught (though not the Algonquin in NYC? that’s an omission shocking to this lover of creaky cosy hotel bars).

They may get the clientele a little wrong (“policy wonks”? come on, that’s just lazy, there’s more to it than that) but they get the atmosphere right. And it’s fantastic to see one of my favorite places get well-deserved props.

Later today I’m continuing the love with a profile of Tabard’s mixologist Chantal Tseng. No better time to relax in that well-worn lounge in front of the fire than in this neverending winter…

The Daily Feed
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Bruce Monroe Soon to Tumble


‘Bust a Monroe’
courtesy of ‘IntangibleArts’

Councilman Jim Graham held a meeting Tuesday on the long-awaited demolition of Bruce Monroe Elementary School on Georgia Avenue. Demolition had been delayed because of asbestos problems, but the Deputy Mayor’s Office reported it will be completely finished by April 30, 2010.

For now, the site will be leveled, and will not see a new school at least for another 3-5 years. However, the Office explained that the space could possibly be used for a tennis and basketball court on the Georgia Avenue side, while the Irving side could be used for a parking lot.
The community seemed to like the idea of constructing a basketball and tennis court, but as for the parking lot…not so much. What do you think? The next meeting is set for Monday March 8th at 7pm with the location to be announced. Councilman Graham and the Deputy Mayor’s Office invites everyone to participate.

The Daily Feed
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Mayor Fenty Laughs at “Back To Normal?”

fenty.jpg

Click through for the Video

The Question: “So it’s been more than a week since the last blizzard ended, and there is still snow in the streets…when is the last of the snow going to be cleared and when should things back to normal?”

The Answer: *incredulous stare* “Well, uh, it’s kind of a question that doesn’t make any sense.”

No, Mr. Mayor, it totally doesn’t make sense for people to ask about snow removal. Not at all.

C’mon Kwame Brown, SOMEONE run against this guy. Make him work for it.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Capitol Skyline Hotel’s Curious Event Clients

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘hellomarkers!’

Twitter user @nikki_d brought this article from the Southern Poverty Law Center to our attention, about the Capitol Skyline Hotel and the multiple events by racist or anti-Semitic groups hosted there in recent months. This weekend, the American Renaissance (a white nationalist publication) conference was to be held there, but according to AR’s site, Capitol Skyline just cancelled their event. (Feel free to not click that link and give them pageviews, but I wanted to cite my sources.)

Meanwhile, the American Free Press, a publication that can most generously be described as “conspiracy enthusiasts,” but more correctly described as anti-Semitic, actually did hold two recent events at Capitol Skyline, including one last weekend. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Metro Board Turns to Former General Manager

Photo courtesy of
‘arriving’
courtesy of ‘volcanojw’

David Gunn, a transit specialist and former WMATA general manager, has been tapped by the Metro board of directors to study the agency and report back on what it would take to fix it, the Washington Post reports.

Gunn, who headed up Metro from 1991-1994, is highly regarded in transit circles and his career spans most transit agencies on the East coast (including New York, Toronto, and Boston), most recently heading up Amtrak until clashes with the Bush administration led to his dismissal.

The Post mentions that Gunn doesn’t own a computer or cell phone, nor does he use email. I find that oddly fascinating, and his reasoning revolves around not being so available that it makes all problems float up instead of being solved below. Here’s hoping the board listens to Gunn’s (presumably typed up) report.

The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: Georgia O’Keeffe Abstraction

Black Door with Red, 1954.

Black Door with Red, 1954.  Oil on Canvas, 48 x 48 in. Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia.  Bequest of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 89.63 (CR1271). Copyright, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

“Objective painting is not good painting unless it is good in the abstract sense.” – Georgia O’Keeffe, 1976

When discussing abstract art of the 20th-century, the likes of Kandinsky and Matisse are often the works that most easily come to mind.  However, the newest exhibition at The Phillips Collection – Georgia O’Keeffe: Abstraction – suggests the need for a potential addition among the abstract ‘authority’.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Spring Trends via Rckndy

Photo courtesy of
‘Spring Trend – Color (Rckndy)’
courtesy of ‘prettylovelythings’

Looking for a little interior pick-me up while anticipating warmer weather?  No problem. David Dennis, owner of Rckndy on U Street, shares exclusively with We Love DC readers a few design trends for Spring.  Pops of color seem to be the biggest trend hitting the store with “purple being the new it color” says Dennis, who also suggests that the best way to achieve this look is by incorporating bright colors through a few bold accessories, that way, you don’t overdo it.  A popular item is the Gus Modern Stool in Safron even though Dennis says that most people still end up buying it in a neutral color anyway.  If color is not your thing, no worries, I was also told that 80’s geometric patterns are having a revival.

Rckndy is located at 1515 U Street NW.