Crime & Punishment, News, People, The Daily Feed, WTF?!

Another Cuddling Incident

Photo courtesy of
‘Cop Car in Georgetown’
courtesy of ‘Hoosiers United’

Has the “Georgetown Cuddler” returned?  Police report that a woman in Glover Park awoke on Sunday morning to find a stranger spooning her in bed. Upon discovery, the man fled without stealing anything, or otherwise causing any property damage.  This crime bears striking resemblance to a spate of sexual assaults that occurred in Georgetown, last year.  In all cases, women asleep in their homes awoke to find a stranger fondling them. This is first such incident since August.

The Daily Feed, WTF?!

Tian Tian and Mei Xiang Try Again

Photo courtesy of
‘*Caution* Do Not Attempt To Enter The Tian Tian Man Cave *Teddy Bear Sleeping*’
courtesy of ‘Daniel.Techie{TaiShan~4Ever} @ 127.0.0.1’

This was the big weekend for Tian Tian and Mei Xiang to try for another Butterstick (okay, nothing could replace our Tai Shan, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want another baby panda to coo and gush over) and that meant there was a lot of panda sex this weekend. According to the Zoo, though, all that hot and heavy action wasn’t for much (“competent mating did not occur” – which is kinda the story of Youth in Revolt), and they had to tranq both animals and help them out a little bit.

Mei Xiang and Tian Tian will spend the next 3-6 months in separate enclosures to protect the nascent pregnancy (assuming there is one…) and the mother. Hopefully by summertime, we’ll have a new panda to cuddle. And may I just say, as cute as these animals are, evolution sure is against these guys…just one opportunity to mate per year? It’s worse than having a girlfriend in another state.

The Daily Feed

A Look Into DC’s Netflix Queue

Rental Map.png

In case you missed the NYTimes this weekend, check out their map of the DC Netflix queue by zipcode. Some of the fun is seeing where the dividing line is. DC’s most rented movie was Benjamin Button, that is, unless you live in 20064 (Catholic University) in which case it didn’t even make the Top 50.

Changeling was big in 20032 (Congress Heights/Bolling). Slumdog Millionaire was only playing North of the Anacostia, while Seven Pounds was only big on the South side of the Anacostia. Burn After Reading and Eagle Eye shared the same split. I could seriously play with this one all day.

The Daily Feed

Metro Doesn’t Open Doors

Photo courtesy of
‘no-one’
courtesy of ‘cacophony76’

Another scary Metro-related story in the Washington Post today!  On Friday, a train malfunctioned and was taken out of service and all passengers were ordered off the train.  A few passengers couldn’t get out in time though, and they were trapped inside the train for several stations with the lights turned out and no way to escape.

The three women who were trapped tried the red emergency button to contact Metro (to no avail), and they pounded on the windows while screaming for help at every station that the train passed through. They eventually caught the eye of a Metro employee at Metro Center, who helped get them out.  It’s hard to imagine that this could happen, and I hope Metro is taking steps to make sure that other passengers don’t get trapped on ‘No Passenger’ trains in the future.

The Daily Feed

Southeast Freeway Ramp Closures This Weekend

Photo courtesy of
‘SR 520 Traffic’
courtesy of ‘Oran Viriyincy’

Attention all drivers – if you plan on heading anywhere near the Southeast Freeway this weekend, you might have a few detours in your future. Part of the freeway will be off-limits to cars and trucks, according to WTOP.

DDOT is in the process of demolishing a couple ramps leading to RFK stadium, so look out for ramp closures after the I-295 exit.

“What that means for motorists is that they will have to stay to the right and take the I-295 exit for the 11th Street Bridges, or exit earlier,” says.

DDOT spokesperson John Lisle says that a good alternate route to get across the Anacostia River would be the South Capitol Street Bridge. The goal of this entire project is to tear down concrete while making sure there aren’t any cars under the bridge, hence the closures. They’re a precautionary measure. Good call, DDOT, good call.

All scheduled work is between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturday, but if the work isn’t done by then, it will continue on into Sunday.

Need alternate routes to get around? DDOT has posed the following:

To reach Pennsylvania Avenue:

  • Take the Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue exit
  • Turn left on Good Hope Road, SE
  • Turn left on Minnesota Avenue, SE
  • Detour Ends – Turn either right or left on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE

DDOT has also suggested that drives avoid any detours by taking these following alternate routes:

  • From the SW Freeway, take the South Capitol Street exit
  • Cross the South Capitol Street (Frederick Douglas) Bridge
  • Take the Suitland Parkway Exit
  • Take the ramp for I-295 North

The Features

Poker, Blackjack and More Coming This Summer

Photo courtesy of
‘Game over’
courtesy of ‘banspy’

Save on the flight to Vegas and skip the traffic-ridden drive to scary Atlantic City – table games are right around the corner. Few DC area residents know it, but legit and legal table game gambling will soon be just a 75 minute car trip away. Roll the dice, try your luck at 21, bet on red over black or even go all in – pick your poison. It’s coming this summer. In addition to betting on horse races or applying your skillful strategies at one of the thousands of slot machines, Charles Town Races and Slots is just 6 months away from offering all of your favorite table games right here in the DC metro area. There is nowhere else even remotely this close to DC where you can go and gamble away the days and nights.

There is much money to be made if one does it the right way when gaming at 메리트카지노. Unfortunately not everyone operate their business as they should and this is why many of them disappear every week and new ones are launched instead. There are over 1000 of online casinos to choose from at this very moment. Picking the right one is by no means an easy task. You have to take into account all the variables to be sure that the money you deposit is in safe hands and that your winnings will be paid out fully.

So many people from the metro area head to Vegas and Atlantic City to get their gambling fix – and many more head underground for poker – that I predict the popularity of these table games will exceed even what Penn National Gaming, the parent company, is counting on, If you want to gamble with out the need to make a travel, visit https://super88bet.com/. I’m pretty sure that later this year, you and your buds will be heading up to West Virginia for a little fun at the tables. It’s going to happen. It will become the local place for bachelor parties and birthday trips, a quick weekend away with the spouse, and even where you take your out-of-town friends who’ve never been to a real casino before. It’s going to be huge and DC area residents benefit from the locals’ decision to allow table games. Well, Penn National benefits anyway (unless you’re Rain Man). But at least you’ll be entertained!

Continue reading

The Daily Feed

Those new reusable bags need to be washed occasionally

Photo courtesy of
‘detergentification’
courtesy of ‘telemetry9’

I cannot help but think that there’s some connection – after only one week of reusable grocery bag encouragement in scandal central, Washington D.C., we get a study suggesting that your grocery tote may pose a hazard to your health.

Via Lifehacker we have this piece out of Canada about a study finding “some level of bacteria” in 64% of the 24 bags checked at random. It’s not much of a sample set but it does raise the question – does anyone actually wash those bags?

At least one Canadian official does, or at least manages to sound so matter-of-fact about something I don’t think I have ever heard anyone say before.

But B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Perry Kendall said reusable bags do not pose a serious public health risk if consumers treat bags as they would cutting boards or food preparation surfaces, and wash them regularly and dry them well.

Have any of you, for one nanosecond, thought of your re-usable bags as “food preperation surfaces?” My darling wife and I made the switch to reusables about a year ago and it’s never crossed our mind to wash them.

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed, We Love Drinks

Friday Happy Hour

Photo courtesy of
‘Elmer T Lee Bottles’
courtesy of ‘SauceSupreme’

Hello, and welcome to another edition of Friday Happy Hour, your single drink  primer for the weekend.

Couple being gone for the holidays with a busy week at work and I feel like I haven’t been home in ages.  Add in the cold and I’ve got a great incentive to stay at my house for most of the weekend.  Accompanying me will be my favorite bourbon, Elmer T. Lee.  This little known distillation from from small, Kentucky establishment has won accolades from many connoisseurs who’ve sampled it.  It’s a sweeter, mellower bourbon, with a distinct, candied overtone.  Some call it toffee, some call it caramel, some call it honey.  It bears an understated complexity that reveals a new flavor with every sip.  It’s an extremely pleasant and drinkable bourbon.  Have it neat.  You can buy Elmer T. Lee at Schneider’s of Capitol Hill.

The Daily Feed

In Christmas withdrawal?

YouTube Preview Image

The epiphany has come and gone but we have this pretty snowfall – does it put you in the mood for some christmas music even if we’re past the season? We won’t tell if you indulge yourself a little. You can justify it to yourself by saying hey, it’s Anthony Kearns – he’s a famous performer all year round. It’s an event that happened at the Capitol Hill Club, so it’s local interest.

Or just butch up and enjoy some lovely music.

Music, The Features, We Love Music

We Love Music: Adam Franklin & The Bolts of Melody @ DC9 1/6/10


courtesy of Adam Franklin

On Wednesday night, DC9 played host to Adam Franklin & The Bolts of Melody as they made DC the second stop of their month-long American tour. The small venue proved the ideal spot to observe and enjoy Franklin’s guitar alchemy and emotional vocal delivery up close and personal. The band put on a really special set for the modest-sized crowd of Swervedriver fan-boys and guitar-geeks who braved the winter’s chill to catch this mid-week show.

This is where every review and article on the planet about The Bolts of Melody offers a quick rundown of Adam Franklin‘s prolific career. If you don’t know the man you can read about Swervedriver (personal favs of mine), the interesting Toshack Highway project, and Magnetic Morning on your own dime. For our purposes what is really important is that after many years of self-imposed exile from effects-pedal, guitar work Adam Franklin, one of the very best, has returned.
Continue reading

The Daily Feed

The Lovely Snow


Snow covered Capitol Hill (8/365)
Originally uploaded by katieharbath

Awaking this morning to see not just the beautiful dusting of last night’s show, but also clear roads most everywhere was such a treat. It seems to be DC’s perfect snow: Picturesque and quickly gone. Well, it would be if temperatures this weekend were going to be anything resembling above freezing. So, this beautiful layer gave us some incredible shots from our Photo Pool
Continue reading

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed

Washington Area’s Women Chefs Support Fight Against Ovarian Cancer

Photo courtesy of
‘Emmenthaler Cheese Souffle’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

Ris Lacoste of ris, Nora Pouillon of Restaurant Nora, and Jamie Leeds of Hank’s Oyster Bar along with dozens of other renowned women chefs from the DC area are teaming up to benefit The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance at their annual Gala on February 2, 2010 at the Ritz-Carlton, DC.

The special guest of the evening is Gina DePalma, the James Beard Award-winning pastry chef who is also an ovarian cancer survivor, and the night’s emcee is Wendy Reiger from NBC4.

Entrees, appetizers, desserts – the women chefs are leveraging their specific talents to create an amazing multi-course meal in a festive environment while benefiting the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed

Street Food 2.0 – Meet Sâuçá

You may not be able to pronounce it, but you will soon be talking about the coolest street food truck this side of the Mississippi – or perhaps even the Nile (not “denial”, we are actually talking about the river in Egypt). Sâuçá is a new “mobile restaurant” that will be hitting the District’s streets by the end of the month. Let’s recap a few key words that describe this new concept: on wheels, food from around the world, flat screen TVs, wifi, international pay phone, super social media usage and FOOD FROM AROUND THE WORLD. Did I mention this is all on wheels? To this, Mr. Farhad Assari (the restaurateur), I have only two words: YES PLEASE.

Continue reading

Special Events, The Daily Feed

“Peace out, District. What up, China?” Bye-Bye, Tai Shan.

Giant Panda

The end draws near on Tai Shan’s time in our fair District.

Zoo goers and panda enthusiasts will forever remember his tenure as one that brought joy to the eyes of children and adults alike. What better way to say “Peace out, District. What up, China?” than a giant party being thrown in your honor?

The Friends of the National Zoo is hosting the official “Farewell to Tai Shan” party at the National Zoo. The event is scheduled for January 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Activities include: talks with panda experts, goodbye card writing, and sweet-sweet panda lovin’ (aka oooo-ing and ahhh-ing at how gosh darn cute that lil’ panda is).

Food and Drink, People, The Features, We Love Drinks

We Love Drinks: Greg Engert

Photo courtesy of
‘Beer Master Greg Engert’
courtesy of ‘snapzdc’

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.

Greg Engert views the world through the bottom of a beer glass. This is not a statement on his sobriety, but rather the lens through which he has chosen to focus his profession and personal interest. Greg is the beer director for the Neighborhood Restaurant Group, owners of Rustico and the new, wildly popular ChurchKey and Birch and Barley restaurants near Thomas Circle. He researches beers, meets with brewers, manages his stock of beverages, and has the final say on anything beer related at Neighborhood restaurants. Sounds like a dream job, right? Well, I’m not going to lie. It is a dream job, but that doesn’t make it easy, and Greg certainly isn’t one to rest on the laurels of his title.

Continue reading

News, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed

Verizon Center Takes Down Arenas Banner

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcwashington.com/video.

NBC Washington has the video of Verizon Center personnel removing Arenas banner from the side of the building this afternoon. It’s not clear if this is a deliberate move by the Wizards, or by the Verizon Center management, but either way, Agent Zero’s profile is a bit smaller right now.

All Politics is Local, Business and Money, Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed, The District, WMATA

Another Near Metro Disaster & Potential Price Hike

Photo courtesy of
‘It has been a long day’
courtesy of ‘spiggycat’

As if WMATA hasn’t been in the news enough, today comes word that on December 10, 2009, a team of independent safety inspectors were nearly struck by a metro train at the Braddock Road Station. According to the Tri-State Oversight Committee, the inspectors “were forced to quickly scramble out of the way to avoid being struck.” Fortunately, no one was hurt.

The incident occurred shortly after Metro lifted a six-month ban on monitors accessing live subway tracks, and was only one of a long list of safety violations reported by the committee.  A summary of the report by The Washington Post stated that “Metro’s safety training was inadequate and that the transit agency needed to take “immediate, short-term corrective action” to ensure worker safety.” The Post also reported that WMATA is taking action to correct the situation and will hold a safety session with multiple transit agencies.

Additionally, we hear that the Metro Board will hold public hearings (to take place before a Jan. 28 vote) on adding a 10 cent surcharge to Metro fares. The increase in fares (from March to June 2009) would be an attempt to cover a $40 million dollar shortfall and to prevent significant cuts to both metro and metrobus service. Continue reading

The Daily Feed

Buccigross Chimes In

Photo courtesy of
‘Rock the Red’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

So remember my mid-season Capitals’ report? Well, one of the analysts I was trying to get commentary from was ESPN’s John Buccigross, who’s participated here a couple of times before. Deluged with letters and his blogumns during the holiday weekend AND the NHL’s Winter Classic, my question list slipped right on by.

Fortunately, he was nice enough to post his answers in his weekly mailbag column on ESPN.com. Here’s the specific questions I asked and his answers for your enjoyment:

Biggest surprise from the Caps’ season so far?

Bucci: Nicklas Backstrom. He has brought his game to another level and, as he improves, brings the whole team to another level. That’s the power of young, elite players.

Continue reading

The Daily Feed

World Wide Inter Wub is for showing pictures of cats

sam_bat

used with permission – full-sized original here

It turns out that I’d been enjoying the work of Paw Prints Photography for quite a while and didn’t even know it – they donate their services to the Animal Welfare League of Arlington, a site where I’ve spent many an hour just looking through the pictures of animals. The photos on their blog, however, are even more fun and better than a cup of coffee for an afternoon pick-me-up. I like the above action shot as an animal photo but the pictures from Christmas in Middleburg are beautiful art.

If you’re in the market for pet photography you should check them out. In addition to clearly being talented they give back to the animal and human community through donated work for shelters and Vet Dogs, an organization that provides service dogs to disabled veterans.

If you’re not in the market, well, just go look at the cute kitty. Who cares what Warren Ellis says?