‘Breakfast Neon Sign’
courtesy of ‘Digital Magic Photography’
Were you just thinking to yourself, “I wish I had more brunch options on 14th Street between P and T Streets?” Well, the restaurant gods were listening to your odd request, because two places that fit the criteria are upping the brunch ante.

At Masa 14, you can eat all you can eat and drink all you can drink on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00am to 2:30pm. For $35, you can sample as many of their featured tiny dishes as you would like and sip (or slurp) on their bottomless signature cocktails. There is the Masa Breakfast Pizza, Chilaquiles, Pho Beef Sandwich, and Tenderloin Benedict. And the good news is, you don’t have to choose! Have ’em all.

A little further down the street, Estadio will debut their brunch menu starting this Sunday. For now they will just be serving on Sundays, but by mid-November, you will be able to enjoy Saturday brunch as well. Some dishes from the dinner menu will be available in addition to breakfast specialties like Spanish torrijas (think French toast) and fried hen eggs with chorizo.

So many options, so few Sundays (and Saturdays).

‘New DC Streetcar’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

DDOT this afternoon released a 42-page updated Streetcar System Plan to the Council for review and approval.  The plan focuses on the existing line that is intended to run from Union Station to Benning Rd NE & Oklahoma Ave NE, as well as the Anacostia line that’s planned to run from the Anacostia Metro to 2750 South Capitol Street near St. Elizabeth’s.

DDOT intends to have the system begin operations in the Spring of 2012.  The plan released today includes a set of goals that have been funded by the council but require approval.  Those plans include options for turnarounds at both termini (10 sites, total) and a maintenance facility (3 sites, total), and recommendations based on those options, and will build overhead power lines along the H Street line.  We’ll have more about the plan later this week.

‘The Newseum’
courtesy of ‘Danilo.Lewis|Fotography’

There are just ten and a half weeks before the end of the year.  73 days.  But, starting today, you can expect the New Year’s Eve plans emails to start rolling in. Newseum was the first in my email box, and they’re offering a gala formal called the “Headliners Ball,” which features two hours of open bar, and a champagne toast at midnight for $125 a person.  You can add a five course dinner at The Source by Wolfgang Puck for another $100, and then you can crash at Hotel Monaco for another $199.  That’s $650 for an evening for two at Newseum on New Year’s.  Whew, that seems pricy for one night, don’t you think?

‘Blogger Day’
courtesy of ‘MissChatter’

In the days following Stan Kasten’s announcement that he was departing the Nationals, there was much conversation concerning the fate of the President’s position with the team.  Many wondered if the job might be split into two pieces, one for stadium and non-baseball operations, and one for baseball front office operations.  Today, we got the answer, as the Nationals promoted general manager Mike Rizzo to a new position: Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations and General Manager.

Ben Goessling from MASN Sports was on the call this afternoon and has a full summary with quotes from the call.  Rizzo’s promotion came with a five year contract extension, putting him at the top of the club’s baseball hierarchy through the 2015 season.  Principal Owner Ted Lerner is very pleased with the extension of their front office man, saying, “Mike Rizzo is unquestionably one of the best baseball minds in the game.”

‘#11 – John Wall (Kentucky Wildcats)’
courtesy of ‘rubendn’

DC has suddenly become a very crowded sports town in the last six months. Even without what some would call “winning” franchises, the national spotlight has constantly swirled in the direction of the District throughout the fall. Most interestingly, that focus may have finally grown to include a team that has generally been under the radar for a few seasons (at least for its on court performance): the Washington Wizards. The center of the attention is the lucky draw of a lifetime, the #1 pick from the University of Kentucky, guard John Wall.

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Via our neighbors up in New York City, some good news for all you DC photographers: The Department of Homeland Security is, once again, being forced to admit that you have the right to take pictures of federal buildings. As part of a settlement brokered by the New York Civil Liberties Union, DHS –and specifically the Federal Protective Service, those guys who run the security for almost every federal office building around the country, including those in DC–has “agreed to provide federal officers written instructions emphasizing the public’s right to photograph and record outside federal courthouses,” the NYCLU says. Continue reading →

‘TaKorean’
courtesy of ‘Joe in DC’

The day may look dreary, but all of your favorite food trucks are making sure that your day is bright and sunny.  Take a walk at lunchtime, cupcake, you probably could use the clearing of your head. Click through to find your favorite food truck.

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courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

If you, like me, have an irrational love of free samples, then write this down: Food & Friends is offering free samples of pumpkin pie this week to promote their annual fundraiser Slice of Life. You can stop by any of the locations below from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to snag a bite or two of autumn goodness. On Friday, the fundraiser will officially kick off with a happy hour from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Logan Tavern. That too will have free pie, as well as hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and prizes.

Food & Friends delivers meals to DC area residents living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other debilitating illnesses. Slice of Life, which sells pre-made pies during the holiday season, typically raises over $215,000 for the organization.

Tuesday: Outside the Washington Marriott at Metro Center (12th and H NW)

Wednesday: Outside the CVS at Dupont Circle

Thursday: Ellsworth Drive in downtown Silver Spring (near Potbelly’s)

‘Presidential Motorcade’
courtesy of ‘jasonippolito’

Motorcades are one of those distinctly DC things that make morning traffic through the District even more fun. This morning, if you were on the Maryland side of things, you may have had a little extra company as President Obama and the First Lady took off from the White House early this morning to visit with Sasha and Malia’s teachers at Sidwell. West Wing Reports on Twitter indicated that they left fairly early (around 7:15 a.m.), and, as the Associated Press added, the couple stopped by Sasha’s elementary school before meeting with Malia’s educators.

Given the era in which we live, some cable talking heads will argue that this is just the President trying to push more of his current education platform through example, but the timing is more convenient than political. The Obamas have consistently attended their daughters’ conferences as long as 44 has been in office, including earlier this year in the spring semester.

‘Kadri #15’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Trash pickup on Thursday has been pushed back a day to allow DPW employees to go to the funeral of their slain colleague, Larry Hutchins. No arrests have been made in the shooting, which also injured an as-of-yet unnamed colleague.

‘Crime Solvers’
courtesy of ‘Marcellina.’

The Washington Examiner reports that as of today, the District’s homicide tally for 2010 has gone over 100, to 103. The 100 homicide mark has frequently been cited by police chief Cathy Lanier as a benchmark number that she wants to hold the city under, but has not yet been able to achieve. It’s worth noting (as the Examiner does), that the District took an extra month to reach 100 this year, and that homicides are down 5.5% in comparison to last year. As of October 18th, 2009, there had been 109 District homicides in that year.