Yearly Archives: 2010

The Features
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How To Get Around in The Storm

Public Transportation in the Snow

Public Transportation in the Snow

Even though we’re all being told to stay home, we’ve got restaurants to visit, snowball fights to participate in, and hills to sled down.  So what’s the best way to get around in the city?

Skiing seems to be very popular, as seen in this picture taken this morning in Adams Morgan.  Most pedestrians are walking in the streets, since they tend to be plowed better than sidewalks (many of which are covered in 2 feet of snow).  There’s no Metrobus or Circulator service today, and the Metro system is operating only underground with trains every half-hour.

Check out some other creative transportation options after the jump. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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If You Do Go Out Today, Tip Well

Photo courtesy of
‘Ivan, Plume’s bartender’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’

It’s crazy out there. The snow is coming down pretty hard, even still this morning. Roads are largely impassable, and it’s looking like it’s going to be screwy through tomorrow. But, as you know, we’ve got bars and restaurants staying open for the duration of the storm, and that means we’ve got servers and busboys and line cooks and sous chefs who have risked life and limb to come to work to serve you. So, a few things you might want to think about:

  • Be patient. There’s likely a bunch of folks who couldn’t get in, so they may be understaffed.
  • Be flexible. If they’re out, they’re out, have a backup in mind.
  • Be relaxed. You don’t want to be “that guy” that gets all out of sorts because you don’t have a place setting, okay?
  • Tip Extra Well. Seriously, these guys went out in the biggest storm in nearly 100 years so you could have that drink/entree/dessert.
  • Remember Later Who Was Open. These guys are the anchors of your neighborhood, and they deserve your custom not just in blizzards, but in the best of weather.

Just a few things to think about. Got a story of an awesome server or bartender or cook who saved your bacon this weekend? Add it in the comments. And thanks much to all the folks at Four Courts in Arlington who kept me well-supplied with Guinness last night. Much love, Maraid and the gang!

The Daily Feed
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MoCo House Not Zoned “Erogenous”

Photo courtesy of
‘Cuffs4’
courtesy of ‘banspy’

Want to know how to run afoul of Montgomery County zoning laws? Host BDSM parties in your house and charge admission.

Paul Pickthorne, of Merrimack Park, has been hosting kink parties in his house for some time, and has been charging admission to defray the costs of hosting. His non-kinky (that we know of, anyway) neighbors complained to their county council representative, Roger Berliner, who responded that the county “has moved aggressively to put an end to this blight on your community.” This swift action took the form of a warning from the zoning inspector.

But I have to ask myself why it is that a bunch of consenting adults getting it on according to their non-mainstream-yet-not-hurting-anyone-who-doesn’t-like-it preferences constitutes a “blight” on a community, since the Post article makes clear that guests don’t park on the street or wear costumes outside of the house. I find it kind of chilling that neighbors can use a legal technicality to make trouble for someone because they’re uncomfortable contemplating (not even witnessing!) the legal sexual activity taking place inside the house. Turn your TV up a little louder and leave the kinksters alone.

The District, The Features
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Not Over Yet: The Snow In Pictures

Photo courtesy of
‘Beginning to Snow’
courtesy of ‘tzk333’

We’re a good few hours away from the end of the storm, which should taper off around 8 p.m. tonight, but here’s a look at our flickr contributor’s snow pictures from the great storm of 2010 thus far. Snapped some snow photographs of your own and want to see them here? Add them to the We Love DC pool on flickr! We’re always looking for great pictures of DC from our local photographers. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Be a Good Egg and Dig out your Fire Hydrants


fire hydrant
Originally uploaded by Allee574

Sure, some of the fire hydrants in the district don’t work and we don’t necessarily know which ones, but emergency responders will need to know where these are and have quick access to them in the event of a fire.

Don’t the local governments pay people to do this? Verily they do, my smart friend, but they can’t get to all of them at once, and you have to ask yourself which task the fire fighters should be doing, should your home catch fire: looking for a buried fireplug, digging one out from more than a foot of snow, or merely going to it and hooking up the lines. Your choice.

Seriously, get out there and dig out the fire hydrants. A little time now can save a life later.

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Blizzard Warning for DC

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Hoffmann’

Yes, that’s right, a blizzard warning.  The National Weather Service has issued a statement going into effect at 10pm warning of blizzard conditions in the District.  Earlier today, a similar warning was issued for Baltimore and Southern Maryland, but it seems the effects are projected to be further south than originally expected.  So, look for 2 feet of snow on the ground by the time you wake up tomorrow, and in excess of 20 inches when all is said and done.  Welcome to the true Snowpocalypse. December’s got nothing on February.

News, Talkin' Transit, The Daily Feed
By

Metro Moves 14 Bus Routes to Snow Emergency Routes

Photo courtesy of
‘Snow’
courtesy of ‘Amberture’

14 Metrobus routes in the DMV are now operating only on Snow Emergency routes:

In the District of Columbia, the U5, U8, D2, G2, and H8 are operating on snow emergency routes. In Northern Virginia, the 1 (A,B, E, F, Z), 3A, 3T, 4(A, B), 16 (A,D), 16G, 17H, 28 (A,X), 29 (H,G) are operating on snow emergency routes.

WMATA suggests that you use NextBus to find your nearest bus during the storm.

The Daily Feed
By

Some shows must go on; other are right off

Screen shot 2010-02-05 at 5.55.41 PM

If you had tickets to any shows at Ford’s Theater tonight or tomorrow you suddenly have an opening in your schedule. Ford’s Theatre has canceled the following performances of “The Rivalry” and “The Little Shop of Horrors:”

* Friday, February 5, at 7:30 p.m.
* Saturday, February 6, at 2:30 p.m.
* Saturday, February 6, at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday’s 2:30pm showing of “The Rivalry” is still tentatively on, though they’ll let you reschedule for another performance if you like. If they decide to cancel that one they’ll announce by 10am Sunday morning. You can get details on exchanges and contact numbers from their release.

Screen shot 2010-02-05 at 5.57.12 PM

Studio Theater, on the other hand, is pushing on (though they are applying liberal exchange policies) and offering a deal – $30 tickets for tonight’s performance of In The Red and Brown Water if you’ll brave the weather. Call their box office or use the code SNOW.

They’re also still planning on going forward with their annual gala tomorrow so I hope you have some cross-country skis that go with your tux.

The Daily Feed
By

Want a donut? Not so fast there, Skippy.


Krispy Kreme closed
Originally uploaded by carlweaver

My lovely wife and I had lunch in Alexandria today and afterward had a hankering for a doughnut. Of course, I thought, let’s go to Krispy Kreme. For those of you who never leave DC, there are hot doughnuts now on Rt. 1 south in Alexandria.

When we got there this sign and a locked door were all that greeted me. You think it got bad when you couldn’t get your coffee? This is dire, my friends. Big Daddy needs his doughnuts. I’m not screwing around anymore.

Is there an area Krispy Kreme that is open in this Snomageddopocalypse?

The Daily Feed
By

Blizzard Warning for Three MD Counties

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

Anne Arundel, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties are now officially in a blizzard warning.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING VIRGINIA HAS ISSUED A BLIZZARD WARNING…IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 PM EST SATURDAY. THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EST THIS EVENING.

Also, NOAA is taking this storm very seriously and wants you to as well. From the head of NOAA (the parent agency of the National Weather Service):

An epic snowstorm has the mid-Atlantic region in its cross hairs. At this time, personal safety must be first and foremost. National Weather Service forecasters have been tracking this storm for the past week and now that the storm is here it must be taken very seriously.

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed, We Love Drinks
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Friday Happy Hour: The Kraken

Photo courtesy of
‘The Kraken’
courtesy of ‘wrgenec’

Welcome to the Friday Happy Hour, your single drink primer for the weekend.

I admit freely that when it comes to liquor, I can easily be seduced by bottle imagery. Shallow, I know, but when beautiful imagery is actually matched by flavor, well, that’s it. Done.

The first night Tom Brown showed me a bottle of The Kraken black spiced rum, it was Christmas Eve at The Passenger, and I was in a magical mood. The vintage image of the beast from the deep hit all my old Mystic Seaport memories from being a kid peeping at exotic (and often erotic) scrimshaw. The color, dark as the night sea, was also pretty evocative. But let’s be honest, it could’ve tasted like bilgewater.

Only it didn’t. Continue reading →

Adams Morgan, Food and Drink, The Features, We Love Drinks
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Drinks Preview: Tryst

4329313964_1c0e20b5c2

David Fritzler burns up a Blue Blazer. Photo credit: Samer Farha.

For many people I know, Tryst is “The Office.” Well, now they can drink on the job in style!

Last week the Adams Morgan coffeehouse pioneer rolled out a new cocktail menu, and fellow WLDC author Samer and I were treated to some fine libation as they branch away from the bean. And as we all await the impending snowflakes of doom, it’s nice to note that Tryst will be open throughout the storm!

In operation since 1998, Tryst has always aimed to be a neighborhood gathering place true to its fun motto, “No Corporate Coffee, No Matching Silverware.” Of course they opened the year after I’d already left Adams Morgan for Logan Circle, so I’ve never been one to hang out there – but several friends really do treat it as their office, setting up with laptops and getting social over the screens, fueled by lots and lots of coffee. Just as the java isn’t corporate, when it came time to debut a new cocktail menu, Tryst wanted to do the same for drinks. With David Fritzler at the helm, Tryst’s beverage director for the past ten years, and two new bartenders – J.P. Cacares and Lana Labermeier – the new menu is billed as “quality cafe cocktails” ranging in price from $6-10.

As David told us, “I want to bring pre-Prohibition cocktail knowledge, quality liquors and fresh ingredients out of the speakeasy and expensive hotel bars and to the general public.” As a member of the DC Craft Bartenders Guild, he’s already dedicated to a high standard of cocktail culture. We parked ourselves at the bar and knocked back a few to see whether the drinks would succeed.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

Biggest Snowstorm Since 1779…WHAT?!?

Photo courtesy of
‘(036/365)’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’

At times like these, you keep your Senior Meteorologist at the National Weather Service on speed-dial. And for good reason. Logan Johnson brings us this very interesting tidbit:

“…3 feet of snow in the district is a possibility. And the only storm ever to thought to have dropped that much snow in DC was back in 1779 in the Washington and Jefferson Storm.”

WHAT!?! Most snowfall in over 230 years in the District? So pretty much this has a very real chance of being the biggest snowstorm in DC….EVER. If you are interested in snow history, check this page out with all of the details.

The official forecast from the NWS office in Sterling is as follows (after the jump):

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

Make a power-outage plan

Photo courtesy of
‘mPower Porsche Design Flashlight’
courtesy of ‘nanpalmero’

We all hope for nothing but pretty pictures and snowball fights*, but heavy snowfall has the potential for power outages. Could be iced lines, could be a bad driver hitting a pole, could be just plain old bad luck.

Or it could be you overloading a circuit with a space heater.

So have an emergency plan. Know where your circuit breaker is Make sure your cell phone is fully charged. Check your flashlights and make sure they’re somewhere you can find them. Put some warm clothing – long underwear, etc – somewhere you can find it.

Live in a rented apartment or house? Make sure you have contact numbers for your landlord. Know where the nearest emergency room/urgent care center is.

Put the phone number to report outages where you can find them:

  • PEPCO 1-877-737-2662
  • Dominion VA 888-667-3000
  • BGE 877-778-2222.

Be careful and safe.

* just don’t throw them at cars, you never know what sort of power-mad douchebag is inside

Downtown, History, Penn Quarter, Special Events, The Features, We Love Arts
By

Spring Offerings From ISM

Photo courtesy of
‘Boundaries’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’

Every Friday for the next six weeks, the International Spy Museum (ISM) will be debuting a new exhibit within the museum, including the addition of several new rare artifacts from the shadowy world of espionage. These new additions (some for a limited time only) join the already-extensive collection regarding the world’s “second-oldest profession” and the new gallery dedicated to espionage in the 21st Century. Several of these exhibits will tie into special programs occurring at the museum over the next few months, covering not only the secret history of spying but also exploring today’s hottest topics that daily impact the world of intelligence. “Espionage deals with clandestine, hidden information and the best spies make sure their every trace disappears, which makes finding personal pieces of tradecraft very challenging,” says Anna Slafer, ISM’s Director of Exhibitions and Programs. “Many of our new artifacts have to come us from intelligence agencies and the families of these famous spies, giving us a detailed story of these object’s role in history.”

And the lineup, after the jump. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

Ugly Weather Officially Dampening the Joy of Pants-Optional Friday

no pants metro ride
no pants metro ride
Originally uploaded by laurarotondo

Have you been outside yet? Lovely Wife called me at 10:30 from the Weaver Compound in Arlington to say it was snowing somewhat heavily. We had not yet seen flake number one over in DC where I work. Now it’s a different story, of course. My office closed at noon and I am home, getting ready to dig out the hatch to the underground bunker.

If only Mother Nature would respect the rules. First rule of bad weather: Schedule it for a day other than Friday, because let’s cut to the chase here. No pants + snow = just plain messy.

The Daily Feed
By

The Second #snOMG Cometh – DC’s Best Snowtags

Photo courtesy of
‘snow ‘stache’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

#snOMG. #snowpocalyse. #snowmageddon.

#snOMGasm. #snogasm. #snoWTF. #snowlyshit

The only thing more ridiculous than the amount of snow we’ve been getting this year are the snow hashtags flying around the interwebz. And by ridiculous, I mean RIDICULOUSLY funny. In a good way. LAUGH. Let us also recognize that we must pay homage to the fact that this is indeed the second coming of the #snowpocalypse this year. Therefore, #snOMG2pointO is pretty appropriate.

#snovechkin #snohedidnt #precipaggedon #snowpocalypseNOW #snowbliteration

Continue reading →