Yearly Archives: 2010

The Daily Feed
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Last Dance for Panda Jane

Photo courtesy of
‘:)’
courtesy of ‘Daniel.Techie{TaiShan~4Ever} @ 127.0.0.1’

It’s official, The Zoo has set the last day for Butterstick in DC: Saturday, 30 January 2010, and there will be a big party at the Zoo to send him off to the wilds Panda breeding program in China. It’ll run from 11 to 3, and at 1:30, Tai Shan will get his very own “special celebratory treat,” which we’re pretty sure isn’t some sort of strange euphemism, and since pandas don’t eat deer, I think it’ll probably be a bamboo cake of some sort.

Extra cool, though? Land O’Lakes got in on the Butterstick thing, and will be showcasing a set of photos of our favorite panda as part of the party. Nice work, DCist!

News, The Daily Feed
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Populist Rage Comes to the Kojo Show


via the Kojo Nnamdi Show

Kojo Nnamdi had mayoral candidate Leo Alexander on the Politics Hour where he railed against poverty and unemployment, and, wait for it, illegal immigrants? He claims that 30,000 undocumented workers in the DC area are taking jobs that poor people in DC should be taking, and wants firmer job controls forced on DC employers of all kinds, specifically using the E-Verify system as a standard for all employers.

I don’t think that Alexander is all that viable a candidate as it stands, and this certainly won’t help his cause.

Five Favorites, The Features
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Five Favorites: Swimming Pools

Photo courtesy of
‘Swim’
courtesy of ‘dansteeves68’

Here in DC, we’ve got a good thing going: all of the District’s swimming pools are free and open to DC residents. Other cities make you purchase pool passes or pay each time you go to a pool, but because of the “DC Free Swim” program sponsored by Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States, we don’t have to. And not only do we get free pool access, there are also free swimming lessons available at many pools. And whether you’re a triathlete looking to get a good workout, or you just want to splash around and pretend that it’s summer, there’s a pool for you. So what are you waiting for? Head out to one of these year-round DC pools today! Here are my picks for the best pools in the District:

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Food and Drink, The Daily Feed, We Love Drinks
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Friday Happy Hour: Bruno Porro Dolcetto

Photo courtesy of
‘Too much red wine’
courtesy of ‘koalazymonkey’

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

Stormy weather for the weekend. Sigh. With all the gloominess looming, I think I’ll tuck myself away in a corner at Tabard Inn and indulge in some serious wine. Not only do I adore this quirky inn but they also happen to have one of my favorite wines by the glass – Bruno Porro Dolcetto di Dogliani.

Whenever I order this rich dense red, my friends roll their eyes. “You and your funky wine!” they laugh, wrinkling their noses. “It’s not funky, it’s earthy!” I protest back. Semantics. A smattering of plums and cherries? Maybe some coffee, chocolate? A log of mushrooms, damp from the forest floor? See, it’s this last scent that really drives me crazy and keeps me ordering it again and again. It’s like when you used to jump into a pile of leaves as a kid, you didn’t care that it was wet and maybe a little moldy, it was fun! The winery is in Piedmont near Alba, and that’s where my grandfather’s family is from, so maybe my love of earthy wines is in the blood.

Tabard Inn has a very sweet framed letter from Bruno Porro thanking them for importing their dolcetto (look for it in the restroom). I feel like thanking him myself for this red velvet delight. I’ll just wrap myself up in a glass and nap before the fireplace.

Entertainment, Essential DC, Life in the Capital, Music, People, The Daily Feed
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Let’s Hear It For DC!!!

I was listening to Metro on Connection‘s report on this past weekend’s 2010 Orginial DMV Music Awards show, and I was pleasantly surprised to hear this DC remix of the Jay-Z/Alicia Keyes “Empire State of Mind” by Eezy Money.  The song titled “Capital Conscience” calls out Mumbo sauce, the Skins/Nats/Wizards poor seasons and features a  DC montage music video.

Well worth sharing.

The Daily Feed
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Current Opens Second Location

Photo courtesy of
‘Indian Scarves’
courtesy of ‘Rukasu1’

I’m obsessed with consignment and vintage stores at the moment. I can’t stop blathering about Treasury, and last weekend I bought a dress at Secondi and another dress at Junction. (I, uh, have a shopping problem… obviously.) But my main squeeze of consignment shops is my local store Current Boutique. And lucky for those of you Alexandrians, Current has opened their second shop on the west end of King Street in Old Town.

“Old Town seemed like the perfect spot to open a second location,” said owner Carmen Lopez. “It’s filled with a nice mix of modern, budget conscious professionals who like quality items and need a store like Current to help with their revolving wardrobe. Consigning is becoming so popular because many women wear an outfit either once or twice and they don’t want their items just sitting in the closet, when they can recycle their designer wears and get money back on their investment. Customers that shop our store get to enjoy buying great designer clothes at affordable prices.”

I’ve currently got a suit for sale at the Arlington location (it’s Express! And adorable! Only reason I gave it up was, well, I wore it in college and, uh, you know.) so it’s also a great place to sell your gently worn, yet still adorable items. I snagged a pair of dark wash Joe’s Jeans for $50 the other day and rock them all the time. Anywho, 1009 King Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, or call 703-549-2272. They’re closed on Mondays. Breaks my heart.

Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: The Cribs @ 9:30 Club 1/19/10*

cribs
courtesy of The Cribs.

The Cribs treated DC to a fantastic evening of guitar-driven Brit-pop at the 9:30 Club on Tuesday night. Sporting their new 4-man line-up (now including pop-guitar legend Johnny Marr) The Cribs impressed and entertained the crowd of die-hard fans with a set heavily featuring material from their two most recent (and best) albums. While they did not stray very far from their musical comfort zone, the band did put on a dazzling display of their strengths that made for one of the most fun shows I have seen hit DC in quite some time.

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Special Events, The Daily Feed
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AU Hosts Holy Cross in Patriot League Championship Rematch

AU beats Holy Cross in the Patriot League Championship

When you think of college basketball in DC, one of the furthest things on anyone’s mind is the American University Eagles. But — once a year — students don their red, white, and blue apparel inside Bender Arena for the “BIG” game of the season i.e. Phil Bender.

This year’s game is a rematch of last season’s Patriot League championship between the 2008 defending champion Eagles and the Holy Cross Crusaders. Granted, this is no “We Are Georgetown” packed house at the Verizon Center, but it’s as close as AU gets.

AU Men’s Basketball made it to the NCAA tournament for their first taste of March Madness in school history in 2008, followed by a repeat appearance in 2009. They were knocked out in the first round, but if there’s anything that could have and should have been learned it’s that school pride reigns supreme when sports are involved.

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The Daily Feed, We Love Arts
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DC Seeks Vision for Dupont Underground


Old Entrance by M.V. Jantzen

Decades after the trolley system was shut down at Dupont Circle, the city is still looking for a viable use for the abandoned underground space.  The last attempt was a food court, creatively named “Dupont Down Under”, however it failed miserably and was only open for a year.  In 2007 a proposal to create some adult strip clubs was circulated but not surprisingly it was shot down.

The Post is reporting that the city will be putting out a request for proposals next month to solicit possible uses for the 100,000 square foot space.  Council Member Jack Evans  (D-Ward 2) says, “It needs to be a destination place that people will come to.”  What a novel idea.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Arlington Named One of World’s Most Intelligent Communities

Photo courtesy of
‘Day 24.10 tablet testing’
courtesy of ‘frerieke’

Those Arlingtonians; they think they’re so smart.

Or at least someone does.

Arlington has been named one of the 2010 Top Seven Communities of the Year, and a role model for the development of vibrant digital age communities.

Of 400 communities worldwide that applied for the honor, only one other in the U.S. (Dublin, Ohio) made the list.

The Intelligent Community Forum, a New York-based think tank, noted Arlington’s technology, educational excellence with a highly diverse population, quality of life, and ability to keep both an independent identity and economic ties to the Feds.

The Daily Feed
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Exotic Dance Workshops for Valentine’s Day

Photo courtesy of
‘Inner Goddess’
courtesy of ‘lululemon athletica’

I know, it’s still only mid-January and it’s a little early to be thinking about Valentine’s Day, but if you are someone who would consider learning exotic dance as a gift for your mate, you probably want to get started so you can practice. Born2Dance Studio in Vienna is offering workshops in exotic dance in advance of Valentine’s Day, 2 hours each for $45.

The workshops will not be pole oriented, and high heels are optional. And if exotic dance isn’t really what you’re after, there’s always belly dance to try out.

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Bag Fees May Come to MD, VA

Photo courtesy of
‘Reusable Giant Bags’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

Break out those reusable totes! DC’s new 5 cent fee for disposable bags is such a great idea that Virginia and Maryland may soon follow suit. That is, if two new bills pass.

This week, Maryland Del. Alfred Carr (D-18) introduced a bill patterned after the District’s that would give 3 to 4 cents per disposable paper or plastic bag to the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund to pay for pollution mitigation.

Last week, Virginia Delegate Adam Ebbin (D-49) introduced a similar bill that works the same way and would benefit the Virginia Water Quality Improvement Fund. He says this approach could reduce taxpayers’ costs for cleaning waterways and lower stores’ expenses on bags.

Both bills exempt some bags, including those for meat and produce, restaurant carry-out and dry cleaning.

News, The Daily Feed
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Scandal at Sidwell

Photo courtesy of
‘Sidwell Friends School’
courtesy of ‘NCinDC’

WTOP is reporting that a Middle School teacher at Sidwell Friends School has been fired for inappropriate conduct with a student. The teacher, Robert A. “Pete” Peterson, was fired when charges were filed by Montgomery County authorities. Peterson is alleged to have watched pornography with one of his students, and then touched the student inappropriately. Peterson is also facing charges on the Eastern Shore related to the school’s day camp.

Adventures, The Features, Tourism
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Tourism: Catoctin Mountain Park

Photo courtesy of
‘Catoctin Mountain Park-5’
courtesy of ‘TrailVoice’

Nestled an approximate 90 minute, northwesterly drive from DC,  Catoctin Mountain Park located just outside of Thurmont, MD, is a great spot for a day trip or the perfect location for a weekend getaway from the district’s hubbub.

I’ve long had Catoctin on my radar since moving the DC, in fact visiting the national park is one of my New Year’s resolutions. And while I wouldn’t consider now the perfect time to visit the park, I’m of the spring/summertime hiking ilk, the park is definitely still opened to hikers, drivers and visitors, although you should check the park’s website prior heading out for closure updates, and is well worth the effort. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Wale, 9:30 club raise $37,000 for Haiti

Photo courtesy of
‘USAID Relief Supplies in Haiti’
courtesy of ‘USAID_IMAGES’

If you made it out to Monday night’s concert at the 9:30 club, you saw an amazing show, and you did a good thing for Charity. Last night, the 9:30 club announced that the concert raised $37,000 for Yéle Haiti. All of the performers’ fees, the ticket prices & convenience charges, the drinks and food, and the 9:30 club staff’s wages went into the kitty for Yéle, making for a great event all the way around.

Congratulations, 9:30 club for a great event, and thanks so much Wale, D.C. Don Juan, Tabi Bonney, XO, Kingpen Slim, K-Beta and Phil Ade for giving back.

The Daily Feed
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Nationals To Host “Expos Day”? It Could Happen…

Photo courtesy of
‘More than Half-Empty’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

Before Washington got the Nationals, our boys in red were shagging flies and blasting runs as the FIRST Major League Baseball club to play outside of the states. The Montreal Expos, who started as a National League expansion team in 1969, changed their Canadian mailing address and club name on Dec. 3 2004 when they became the Washington Nationals.

Nationals blogger Ed Chiglaik, founder of the Federal Baseball blog, took a minute to remember our team’s heritage today. How’s about a Montreal Expos Day at Nationals Park this summer to commemorate the days of baseball past as we move forward with the 2010 season?  Nationals pitcher Collin Balester says he’s a fan of the idea! Anyone else?

Who knows — it might just give our guys the karma boost they deserve to give their “forefathers” a slight tip of the hat. Anything to notch a few more W’s in that win column, right?

Food and Drink, Interviews, People, The Features, We Love Drinks
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We Love Drinks: Elli Benchimol

Photo courtesy of
‘Elli’
courtesy of ‘Samer Farha’

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.

Elli Benchimol is never without a wine key, maybe two. Sometimes three. This can cause problems with airport security. Or, it can save the day! Either way, she laughs it off. It’s a chilly afternoon, and she thoughtfully pours me some hot tea as we sit down to talk about her background and learn about the beverage program she manages at AGAINN, downtown’s new “British Isles Bistro.”

Fellow author and photographer Samer has come along and can’t stop salivating at the wall of scotch. But we’ll get to that soon! I had previously stumbled onto AGAINN one night not having a clue that they had a brilliant cocktail program, and was instantly smitten. The bar is beautifully lined with fresh ingredients, garnishes and brown bottles, a selection of bitters, exotic tinctures of vanilla rooibos.

“Some people have added the syrups to their fish and chips by accident,” Elli smiles.
But I’m sure they would never be made to feel intimidated about such a mistake here. It’s a friendly environment, with the affectionate camaraderie between Elli and her staff immediately obvious.

Maybe that’s part of the West Coast style. Elli is a transplant from the laid-back land, someone who (like our first profile Josh Volz) was profoundly influenced by the San Francisco cocktail and wine scene. She’s part of a tradition of culinary professionals who believe that bar and kitchen should go hand in hand, and that quality is worth the wait.

“In San Francisco I learned that waiting for ten minutes for a cocktail is the true test,” Elli says, getting ready to line up some of her favorites. Samer and I lean forward like eager students.

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Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Ovi vs Crosby Tonight

Photo courtesy of
‘Caps/Pens: Game 1 (2009 NHL Playoffs) – 17’
courtesy of ‘Garyisajoke’

In case you’re not a big hockey fan, you may not have recognized that tonight is the Caps vs the Penguins in a steel cage death match in Pittsburgh. You want rivalry? We got rivalry. These are two teams lead by charismatic and skilled young players and grizzled old veterans who eat nails for breakfast. Tonight, Puck Daddy and Japers Rink are hosting a watch party for the game at Bailey’s in Ballston at 6pm and they’re giving out prizes.

Rock the Red!

All Politics is Local, People, The Daily Feed
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Mr. Brown comes to Washington

Photo courtesy of
‘REPUBLICAN SCOTT BROWN RUNNING FOR SENATOR OF MASS…Could be Democrats worst nightmare…’
courtesy of ‘roberthuffstutter’

Ok, lame headline, but the newly elected senator from Massachusetts, Scott Brown, arrived in DC today.  Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re aware that Senator-elect Brown is the harbinger of doom for the Democratic party and the health care reform bills (or a simple consequence of Bush era politics.  It depends on which news channel you watch). Brown is expected to be seated some time next week, but he arrived early to get his office in order.  He’s been running around the Hill, meeting with Senators anxious to catch a glimpse of the conservatives’ great white hope.  Do you feel that? I think Uncle Teddy is rolling in his grave.