Yearly Archives: 2010

We Love Weekends
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We Love Weekends: February 6-7, SNOPOCALYPSE II!

Photo courtesy of
‘354:365’
courtesy of ‘::FiZ::’

Kirk: On Friday, I’m going to the Dogfish Head Alehouse in Falls Church to celebrate my tax return. My plans for Saturday are tenuous, at this point. Provided it doesn’t snow, I’m going to make another attempt at Mr. P’s Ribs and Fish, as my plans were foiled last weekend.  Sunday is, of course, Super Bowl time.  Hopefully I’ll be sitting at a friend’s house in front of a 60″ HD TV with my mouth agape.  Do I care who wins?  No. I hate the Colts and I think that the Saints are overrated. After the game, I’ll mourn the end of the football season and being preparing for fantasy baseball.

John: Friday night I’m going to grab a quick bite somewhere along U street (maybe Marvin) and then run over to play an early show with No Second Troy at the 9:30 Club (Hotspur is headlining, doors at 6, show over by 10:30). After that some drinking at Duffy’s and possibly a late night dance off at find somewhere to watch the SuperBowl and get my drink on. Without a dog in the fight, it’s probably going to see what I can do to start and yet avoid a fist fight. Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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The Latest Forecast: We’re Gonna Get Straight Crushed With Snow

Photo courtesy of
‘Vanishing point’
courtesy of ‘Pianoman75’

Friend of We Love DC Logan Johnson, Senior Meteorologist for the National Weather Service, was kind enough to provide us with a specially updated forecast for the DC Area:

Snow lovers can rejoice (yet again!) as another winter storm has set its sights on the DC Metro area. This one looks like it may very well rival or even exceed the historic storm of December 19th. Low pressure taking shape over the Gulf of Mexico will visit the southern states with heavy rain, thunderstorms, and windy conditions. As the low takes a northward turn Friday night…it will strengthen off the Georgia coast and send precipitation towards the Mid-Atlantic. A cold area of high pressure will already be in place, and this will allow for the precipitation to fall as snow as the low pressure continues to strengthen and lift north to just off the Delmarva peninsula by early Saturday. Read on for the complete coverage Continue reading →

Food and Drink, The Features
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WeLoveDC Presents: Cocktails at Wisdom

WeLoveDCDrinks

Looking to take your understanding of drinks to the next level? Experience the handcrafted cocktail revolution firsthand at Wisdom Cocktail Parlour on February 23 from 6-8 p.m. with the WeLoveDC Crew.

Wisdom’s Erik Holzherr will be dishing on the art of the cocktail, suggesting what you might enjoy in one, and offering up some amazing libations poured especially for you.

Tickets, which include your first craft cocktail, are $15 ahead of time or $20 at the door (space permitting). Food and happy hour specials will also be available.

To sweeten the deal:

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Go Red


’30/365: Family in the Snow’
courtesy of ‘Amberture’

Tomorrow is National Wear Red Day – show your support for the fight against heart disease by wearing some red (or any variation of the color for that matter). According to the American Heart Association, heart disease is the number one health threat for women. Although DC, Arlington, and Alexandria collectively ranked in at number two for the nation’s top 10 heart healthy cities for women, we can still help to spread the word. So when you wake-up tomorrow morning, in addition to remembering to wear your snow gear for the evening, GO RED!

Food and Drink, Foodie Roundup, The Daily Feed, The District
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DC Meat Free Week

Photo courtesy of
‘Chef Palma’s Westend Green Tomato Salad’
courtesy of ‘CathyLovesDC’

First, there was meat week. And after I announced it, former WLDC author Jasmine astutely pointed out that every week is meat week, really. Which is a point I totally agree on – it is absolutely easier to eat meat in this city than it is NOT to eat meat. Enter: DC Meat Free Week. DC Vegan has put together a delicious sounding week of vegan menus, starting February 6 and running through the 12th and I have to say, it looks mighty tasty.

With some of my favorite restaurants like The Source and Restaurant Nora, on the list of participating places, this isn’t something to scoff at. DC Vegan also reports, “Two of the restaurants are debuting new vegan menus, and one is offering discounted rates off their regular prices. Gene Baur, Farm Sanctuary President and Co-founder, will be attending dinner one night. And two of the events are fundraisers, including one with all profits donated to Haitian relief.”

I’m sold – eating ethically is important. I can’t wait to see some of of our cities finest restaurants step up to the challenge.

Crime & Punishment, Life in the Capital, People, The Daily Feed, WMATA, WTF?!
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The Most Annoying Metro Person

Photo courtesy of
‘day144 :: year three’
courtesy of ‘erin*carly’

People cause me great consternation on my commutes in and out of the city. I have this vision in my mind of how everyone should behave on the metro in order to make a perfect commute.  People would be kind and considerate, they would move briskly, no one would tote rolly book bags, and those two teenagers at the end of the car would stop their shouting.  But no, it’s not like that.  Maybe I’m just growing cynical, but the longer I take the metro, the more it seems like a virulent trap of obnoxious types intent on making commute as unpleasant an experience as possible.  It’s gotten to point where I’ve started grouping people into certain personalities.  There’s the “stand in the doorway” guy, the “pole dancer“, the “I’m sorry my bag is sitting here” guy, and so on and so forth.  It’s really been weighing on me for the past few days.  I’m sure this is something that you rehash this with your peers every so often, but let’s share: who is your least favorite metro personality? Mine: rolly book bag person, without equivocation.

The Daily Feed
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Good Luck and Good Hunting, Panda Bear

Photo courtesy of
‘Everyone Meet Tai Shan! (1 of 3)’
courtesy of ‘Daniel.Techie{TaiShan~4Ever} @ 127.0.0.1’

Oh, our little Butterstick is all grown up now. He was packed in a special carrier this morning along with 200lbs of bamboo, pears, sweet potatoes and other treats, and packaged off to China on a special Fedex plane. Tai Shan is headed to a panda breeding center, where he will work with other pandas to repopulate their endangered species.

We’ll miss you, fuzzy guy. You always brightened our day.

Special Events, The Features
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The Un-Valentines Day Round-Up

Photo courtesy of
‘Anti-Valentines’
courtesy of ‘septuagesima’

So when you’re not dating someone on Valentine’s Day you pretty much just want the day to disappear.  So there’s no graceful way to start this post, I’m going to just dive right into all things that you should do on Valentine’s Day when you’re not really celebrating it. I don’t call it the anti-Valentine’s Day, because it’s not exactly. I’ve got advice for the ladies who like to go out with their friends, for those of you who need dinner but don’t want to be around goopy couples all over each other, for people thinking they’ll get lucky in love on the day made for love, and for guys who want to go out with their friends. So read on, romancer, and let’s start forgetting this holiday ever existed.

Go Somewhere That Doesn’t Have a Menu For Couples (cause that makes us want to vom).

On Saturday, February 13th, AGAINN will feature an anti-Valentine’s Day menu for singles with a three-course menu inspired by the cuisine of the British Isles, priced at $39 per person. Prepared by Executive Chef Wesley Morton, the menu begins with a choice of Celery Root Soup served with Stilton Mousse and Grated Apples or House-made Black Pudding served with a Fried Egg, Petite Mustard Greens and Toast followed by a choice of Grilled Salmon Served with King Richard Leeks, Olive Oil Crusted Butterball Potatoes and Watercress Broth or Mixed Grill of Tamworth Pork with 10-Hour Roast Shoulder, Crispy Belly, House-Made Sausage and Sage Dumplings Served with Brussels Sprouts and Heirloom Apple Sauce. For the perfect ending, guests will dine on Spotted Dick Served with Maple Rum Custard. I am going to refrain from jokes about dicks.** Continue reading →

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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“You can do some serious subway flirting before you realize the guy is homeless.”

WeLoveDCDrinks

If you caught last week’s episode of 30 Rock, you probably heard Liz Lemon bemoan the winter weather. Well, we’re ready to break out of the doldrums, too.

Join We Love DC for its first event of 2010 at Wisdom Cocktail Parlour on Tuesday, February 23.  Wisdom’s owner and head bartender, Erik Holzherr, dishes about the art of the craft cocktail and matches you with the best drink for your palate.

Don’t let the snow and cold weather win. The momentum begins tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. Check back here for the details on how to get your ticket.

News, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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SNOMG, damnit!

Photo courtesy of
‘damn the snow — full speed ahead!’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

After a second snowpocalypse, do we stop getting excited about them? This question is not abstract; I really mean it.  It looks like we’re in for yet another snow storm, perhaps larger than any we’ve had so far this year. The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch, calling for up to 20 inches for the DC area.  Who’s ready to be snowed in for yet another weekend? Not this guy.  Still, it seems inevitable.  So, make a run on milk and bread and find some sweet board games, or something.  I don’t think you’ll be going anywhere this weekend. And stick with WLDC for all of your Snowpocalypse 2.0 coverage.

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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New Lunchtime Option: Mixt Greens

Mixt Greens 3 front

Sick of Chop’t? Can’t get to Sweetgreen? Scared of Organic To Go? (So am I.) You’ve got a new option in the area: Mixt Greens. Founded in San Francisco in 2005, the shop pioneered the combination of gourmet salads and environmentally sustainable restaurant practices. They offer tossed-to-order, gourmet salads and sandwiches served on organic breads along with organic, house-made iced teas and lemonades. Did I mention it was organic? Prices from $7.95 to $11.95 for salads and $8.95 for sandwiches, which are served with a side salad of greens.

Coolest thing about Mixt Greens? Each location has what they call an “edible living wall” of seasonally rotating herbs and vegetables. The wall highlights indoor urban agriculture, a low-energy, high-yield farming technique, showcasing that sustainable, fertilizer/pesticide-free, healthy food can be grown indoors in urban environments. I dig.

The first location opened last week at 1200 19th Street, NW, and the second is opening on Tuesday at 1311 F Street, NW. Two other locations are planned at 1700 K Street, NW and 927 15th Street, NW.

Alexandria, Fashionable DC, Interviews, People, The Features
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Fashionable DC: Treat Boutique

treat_lawrence-luk-for-express-450

Jen Donohue of Treat Boutique. Photo credit: Lawrence Luk

One of my favorite pastimes is visiting independent boutiques in the DC area and talking to the owner. I am fascinated by their motivation to take a risk in retail. When Treat in Old Town Alexandria opened in 2007 and was described as a sample sale boutique, I made a special trip to check out this unique shop. I was greeted by a warm, friendly smile from the store’s owner, Jen Donohue.

I am fortunate to have spent time with Jen through the years and I am inspired by her entrepreneurial spirit, fabulous sense of style combined with hard work that has made Treat one of the best boutiques in the DC area.

Jen is a copyright attorney at a large law firm in downtown DC and my type of girl as both a lover of fashion and great bargains. She first got the idea to open Treat in 2005 when she was visiting New York City and waiting in line at a sample sale. The pure madness of the lines with their pushing and shoving was not her favorite thing but a great deal on designer labels was – she came home with a coveted pair of Manolo heels. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Time for a Beer

Photo courtesy of
‘Beer!’
courtesy of ‘oparrish’

Update: This event has been canceled due to snow. Still looking for some liquid courage to see you through the storm? Join the crew for a happy hour at the downstairs bar at bread & brew from 5-7 p.m.

Even beer can be made better — made organically, that is. But what is organic beer, really?

This Friday, get the lowdown from Tim Adams, co-owner of Peak Organic. He’ll explain what an organic brew really is and how it’s brewed. And then you can sample its bubbly wonders yourself.

The DC Green Connection and Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) are partnering for this special networking event, which will bring together SAIS masters students and alumni and DC-area residents interested in going green.

Come from 5 to 9 p.m. to the Johns Hopkins University Student Auditorium, 1740 Mass Ave, NW.

I hope they save a nut brown ale for me.

The Daily Feed
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Ray’s The Steaks at East River Opens March 1

Photo courtesy of
‘Ray’s Hell Burger’
courtesy of ‘roboppy’

Michael Landrum is nothing if not controversial. In the kitchen, he’s a tour de force, as a manager, he’d make Gordon Ramsey weep. But, his restaurant empire continues to grow, and so do his revenues. Landrum’s latest is Ray’s the Steaks at East River in Northeast, which opens March 1, and adds 45 new local jobs to the District. This is Landrum’s first foray into the District as owner, with two restaurants in Virginia and one in Silver Spring, and he’s got plans for a couple more Virginia eateries before 2010 is done.

Say what you like about the man (and there’s plenty of criticism that would be perfectly legitimate), his success is good for DC’s palate.

Ray’s: The Steaks at East River
3905 Dix St. NE,
Washington, DC 20019

Night Life, Special Events, The Features
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“Gin, Gents, & Gems”: Bringing Valentines Day’s Shopping To The Bar

Photo courtesy of

‘Valentine’s display behind the bar’

courtesy of ‘brokentrinkets’

It’s never easy to buy a significant other a Valentine’s Day gift. A lot of time and effort go into finding the gift that screams, “This is JUUUUUUUSSSSTTTT right. Perfecto!” To make matters worse for women, a lot of men don’t like to shop. But what if the gifts followed the men to the bar? Men like drinking … don’t they?

Jewelry maker Courtney Weiner and Leopold Bros. Lindsay Marsh think so. The pair met through mutual friends a few weeks ago and now they’re hosting a unique Valentine’s Day themed bar event catered toward the opposite sex.

Guys go to bars. It’s that simple. Or at least that’s what Wiener and Marsh keep telling each other. “Guys go to bars, so if you put jewelry in the bar they’re more likely to buy it,” That is what spawned “Gin, Gents, & Gems.”

Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed, WMATA, WTF?!
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Gorgeous Comparison of Rail Systems

wmata.png

Good has an incredibly sexy graphic comparing WMATA to other large transit systems including CTA, BART, MBTA and MTA, including length of commute averages and other sweet statistics. This is nothing short of sweet, sweet infoporn. How does Metro compare? Right in the middle of the big five transit systems for average commute length, percent active vehicles, ridership and speed.

Like porn, though, I’m not sure if the graphic is representative of reality: how are there really 1M riders on Metrorail + Metrobus on an average day, when an average day has 1.2M trips (not riders) between the two systems and likely a total passenger total of much less than half that number. But hey, we’re probably still ahead of Boston and SF. That counts for something, right?

Fun & Games, The Daily Feed, The District
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Flash Mob Coming

Photo courtesy of
‘Dancing’
courtesy of ‘pete van vleet’

I feel like DC is on the cusp of mass pranking greatness.  Sure, we’re a few steps behind our NYC brethren, but it doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun with flash mobs and pantsless subway rides.  If you’ve yet to get in on any action of the like, you may have a chance on Feb 24th.  Steve Kemble, some fitness guru that I’ve never heard of, will be leading a dancing flash-mob in an as of yet undisclosed location in DC.  The dance moves will be posted on Youtube so that you can practice up ahead of time.  Register here.

News, The Daily Feed, The Great Outdoors, WTF?!
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Anti-Climaxpacolypse

Photo courtesy of
‘Goodbye, snowman’
courtesy of ‘erin m’

Despite the hype and my most fervent prayers, the District came out on the winning end of its bout with snow. This was due largely to getting considerably less precipitation than was predicted.  Most of the DC area reported less than 3 inches of accumulation, but this was enough to close Montgomery and Fairfax county schools and to put the Fed into unscheduled leave.  Still, the roads were little more than wet, this morning, and my commute wasn’t harried in the least.  It was kind of a let down, to be honest. We’ll see if mother nature throws something more challenging our way, this weekend.  Considering that there won’t be any work to miss, I’m guessing that she will.