Yearly Archives: 2010

Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Agnostic Front @ DC9 10/14/10

IMG_4899
all photos by author.

Last Thursday night at DC9, hours before tragedy occurred outside of the club, New York Hardcore legends Agnostic Front performed that sub-genre’s definitive document, their debut album “Victim In Pain”, in full. The show was part of a tour celebrating the album’s 25th anniversary re-issue and by default NYHC’s unique stamp on American Hardcore punk music.

It is an unfortunate coincidence that the tragic event which occurred on 9th street on Thursday night happened after this fantastic concert. There have always been a lot of misconceptions and assumptions about the Hardcore punk scene and I am concerned that the violence on 9th will somehow be connected to this concert.* I can attest that the concert and the crowd attending it were focused on unity and the celebration of Agnostic Front’s music; there was much more singing arm-in-arm camaraderie than fists flying. It was in fact a riotous celebration of how much the Hardcore scene has evolved; far from its brutal roots in the 1980’s to become one of the most positive, all-inclusive, underground music scenes around.

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The Daily Feed
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Bethesda Row Restaurant Week Starts Today

Photo courtesy of
‘Bethesda Row Dining on Street’
courtesy of ‘faceless b’
As a Montgomery County native who spent much of her misspent youth hanging out at the seedy Barnes & Noble in Bethesda late on summer nights getting in to all kinds of suburban trouble*, I have a special place in my heart for Bethesda Row Restaurant Week.

It starts today and runs through Sunday, October 24th with twelve restaurants participating this year. For $15, you will get a three course meal at lunch while $30 will get you three courses at dinner. Participating restaurants include new Bethesda spots American Tap Room and Taylor Gourmet, and old favorites like Jaleo, Redwood, Raku and Mon Ami Gabi. Details and a list of participating restaurants can be found here.

* By “seedy” I mean totally non-threatening, by “late” I mean 10:30pm, and by “suburban trouble” I mean lots of gossiping. My revisionist history of my suburban upbringing is what makes me so mysterious, so just go with it.

News, The Daily Feed
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What The Tweet DC: Crying Over Spilt Beer Edition

(WTOP Photo/Kristi King)

Nothing like a beer story to welcome you back from the weekend right?

Trending on Twitter right now is news about a tractor trailer accident on I-495 near between the left exit for Interstate 270 and Old Georgetown Road. An overturned trailer spilled Sam Adams beer all over the beltway resulting in a shutdown of the loop during today’s rush hour. Beer jokes aside, the accident has resulted in the death of the trailer driver and another driver is in critical condition.

But still we can also cry over the beer right?

Also trending locally on Twitter: Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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DC 9 Update: 5 released under supervision

Photo courtesy of
‘Courthouse’
courtesy of ‘spiggycat’

This weekend saw the arraignment of five employees of DC9, all charged with aggravated assault in the death of Ali Muhammad.  They were arraigned on Saturday on the lesser charge pending the findings of the medical examiner.  The ME’s report is expected sometime this week, and should the cause of death be determined to be homicide, the charges of murder could be reinstated.  The story is gradually being told, the information gradually coming to light, but progress is slow.  We’ll get there, though.

Weekend Flashback
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Weekend Flashback: 10/15 – 10/17/10

Photo courtesy of
‘Rock Creek Park Cattails’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

October around here is the best time of year, in my opinion. The leaves change, the air is crisp, and everything is in transition for the upcoming winter. It actually reminds me of a passage from “Hymn to Intellectual Beauty”:

The day becomes more solemn and serene
When noon is past–there is a harmony
In autumn, and a lustre in its sky,
Which through the summer is not heard or seen,
As if it could not be, as if it had not been!
– Percy Bysshe Shelley

Hope you had a great weekend! Here’s to a great week, one and all.
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The Daily Feed
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Redskins Cheat Sheet: Week 6 vs. Indianapolis

Photo courtesy of
‘IMG_8690’
courtesy of ‘mdl70’

Sunday Night Football here in the District against the defending AFC champions? Sounds exciting. But also sounds like something that goes way past bedtime at the end of the weekend. Before you face the football chatter head on, here’s the Redskins Cheat Sheet to make it look like you managed to stay awake.

Here’s the clear thing with the 2010 ‘Skins: Mike Shanahan and his crew seem completely intent on keeping things interesting. Take last night’s loss to one of the top tier AFC teams, the Indianapolis Colts. Even though Peyton Manning was able to throw the ball all the live long day, the Colts only triumphed by 3 points mainly because the defense stepped up in the second half to bend, but not break, against Indy’s offense.

A few quick points to throw around the water cooler today after the jump.

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The Daily Feed
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Daily Deal Aggregator

Photo courtesy of
‘two hundred two-bits’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Dear lord, I’ve been waiting for this.

Finally, a daily deal aggregator that takes all my group coupon emails and puts them into one: Dealery.

They compile DC deal sites like Living Social, Groupon, Tippr, Buy With Me and lesser known sites like kgb deals, and puts all the relevant coupons into one place for you.

‘Bout damn time. Know of other deal aggregators that are as awesome? Leave them in the comments.

capitals hockey, The Daily Feed
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Caps Need OT to Down Preds

Photo courtesy of
‘Laich vs. Legwand’
courtesy of ‘bhrome’

The Washington Capitals finally showed up for their game against the Nashville Predators near the end of the second period. Outplayed for a good portion of the game, the Caps finally got goals from Alexander Semin and Tomas Fleischman to tie it up in the third and force overtime.

Alexander Ovechkin drew a tripping penalty less than two minutes into OT; with Preds defenseman Ryan Suter in the box, Ovie hammered a slap shot near the blue line that Brooks Laich redirected into the net behind Anders Lindback. And just like that, the Caps netted their fourth win in a row and gave Nashville their first loss on the season.

“They outplayed us so badly in the first 27 or 28 minutes of the game,” said coach Bruce Boudreau. “You look up and you see that you’re only down a goal or two goals, you’ve still got a chance. Every time we play these guys is like this. They’re so fast. The fastest team, easily that we’ve seen.” Continue reading →

Getaways
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New Bus Service Links U Street to Brooklyn (Win a Ticket to Try It Out!)

Photo courtesy of
‘Knowitexpress’
courtesy of ‘erin m’

“Don’t hate on us. Don’t hate just because we might be cool or choose to live in a creative, vibrant neighborhood,” implores Shalonda Hunter, founder of The Know It Express a new bus service between Brooklyn and DC. You might have heard it casually called “the hipster bus” – but it’s owner has a more inclusive, positive concept.

“The whole idea is to help people from both cities appreciate what the other has to offer – and connect people with their pals, where they live.” Check out Dingo Bus a leading charter and coach hire service Perth Australia. Get a cost effective travel solution – contact Dingo Bus today!

Ms. Hunter originally founded The Know It as a DC tourist-information site (now in transition to more of a traveler’s social network) after years of work in the city and a deep desire to show off both the major tourist sites, but also the personal, hometown side of DC. Even if tourists make their way off the Mall, she says, “There is more to this town than a stop at Ben’s Chili Bowl. I want to show people that.”
Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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When can we get a Metro band?

I know there can be some arguments concerning what’s appropriate on Metro, and that this would largely not constitute acceptable behavior given the whole “no music” thing, but I have to say: I would love catching these guys on the Metro at some point.  They’re Atomic Tom, and this fall they had their instruments stolen this fall, and have produced this awesome video, playing just on their iPhones.  Their album is pretty good, too.

Hey guys, come down and play on the Metro, I think it’d be pretty awesome.

News, The Daily Feed
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“Stand Strong, Bars and Stars” says DC9

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DC9 released a statement this afternoon:

DC9 is deeply saddened by the tragic events that have occurred. Our condolences go out to the family of the victim.

We would like to thank our friends, family, and all the employees of DC9. DC9 is a special environment of some of strongest friendships that could only be compared to a close family, which we consider ourselves.

We very much look forward to our day in court.

The Daily Feed
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The Texas Rangers, the MLB Playoffs and Washington’s Past

Photo courtesy of
‘Whiffle Ball Fielder’
courtesy of ‘texas_mustang‘

It’s October, and after six seasons since baseball’s return to the Nation’s Capital, we have not yet had the opportunity to root, root-root for the home team in the MLB playoffs. As the District continues to wait for the day to christen postseason baseball at Nationals Park, I suggest an alternative course. Nay, I write with a plea: support the Texas Rangers as the ALCS kicks off this evening in Arlington, Texas. I say this because cheering for the Texas Rangers over the New York Yankees is truly a vote for part of Washington D.C.’s sports past.

American League baseball? Here on the hallowed pages of We Love DC? Believe it. And trust me, we deserve some baseball to cheer for after the summer we went through. Continue reading →

Entertainment, The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: Sabrina Fair

Today’s formula for a romantic comedy is pretty clear: take two attractive actors and throw them in a highly unlikely situation. Maybe your Canadian boss needs to marry somebody in order to stay in the country or you have become the next target of your ex-husband who’s also a bounty hunter. As long as you pair up Jennifer Aniston with some hot guy (Matthew McConaughey is always a safe bet),  you’ll probably sell some tickets. Just make sure you include a series of obstacles and challenges on their journey that allow the pair to argue and bicker until the end where they fall in love.

The comedy in today’s RomComs usually come through slapstick and awkward situations. Whether it’s a grown man who still lives with his parents or a woman who’s been a bridesmaid in 27 weddings, the humor stems from a seemingly ordinary person thrown into extraordinary circumstances. Samuel A. Taylor’s “Sabrina Fair” is a product of the 1950’s and follows old conventions of subtlety in its humor and drama. The extremism of today’s comedy is replaced with dry wit. The journey and obstacles are replaced with a fairy-tale clash of social classes where a person of wealth falls in love with a someone from the working class. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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P.J. Clarke’s Opens Today

Photo courtesy of
‘IMG_2802.JPG’
courtesy of ‘The_WB’
Famed New York old school hot spot P.J. Clarke’s opens today in the old Olives spot at 16oo K Street. First opened in New York City in 1884, the original P.J. Clarke’s has a storied history that includes regulars like Jackie Kennedy, Nat King Cole, Buddy Holly and a mention or two in the seminal coming-of-age story, Coyote Ugly.

The Washington location will feature a large raw bar and a menu that focuses on mid-Atlantic favorites. You should expect over-sized entrees (no dainty tapas here), hearty soups and daily rotisserie specials such as local chicken, free-range turkey, pork and leg of lamb.

At the bar you probably won’t find any strawberry infused vodka or anything that would look natural in the hand of Paris Hilton, but you will find 14 wines by the glass and an array of well-known (and less well-known) beers on tap. Don’t be surprised to find the next Frank Sinatra bellied up to the bar, sipping a very un-Paris Hilton drink.

News, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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MPD Shutters DC9 for up to four days

Photo courtesy of
‘Police Line Do Not Cross’
courtesy of ‘jayneandd’

Using her emergency powers, Chief Cathy Lanier today announced a shutdown of DC9 for up to 4 days, while DC ABRA reviews their liquor license in the wake of the alleged violence outside the club last night.  5 employees of DC9 were arrested today in connection with the incident that left one man dead, after he threw a brick through a front window, and employees of the club allegedly retaliated.  The manager of the club denies that the individual was badly beaten by staff and that the victim was healthy and alive when they were taken away by MPD.  Chief Lanier disputed this account during a short press conference held late this morning.

It’s not clear yet when the 5 arrested individuals will be arraigned, other than this afternoon, and what charges they would be facing.  DC9 owner Bill Spieler is among those who were arrested last night.

The Daily Feed
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Sorry for the Re-Stealing

Photo courtesy of
‘Bike Backlit’
courtesy of ‘Amber Wilkie Photography’

Whenever I’m having a bad day, I head over to passiveaggressivenotes.com to find people who are having a much worse day.  I was happy to find a DC-based note yesterday about a bike.  Here’s the text of the note:

“This bike was stolen 2 Fridays ago near 14th and Q.  I am taking it back now.  Sorry for the re-stealing.”

I don’t think this is passive aggressive as much as it is completely awesome.  I’d love to hear the story of the rightful owner of this bike who had it stolen and recovered within 2 weeks.  So mysterious Washingtonian with the yorkie stationery, where are you?

The District, The Features
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She Loves DC: Kaya Henderson – Interim Chancellor, DCPS

Kaya Henderson, Interim Chancellor of DCPS
Photo courtesy of DCPS

Yesterday afternoon, we had the chance to sit down with DCPS Interim Superintendent Kaya Henderson to talk about her new position within the school system, what she loves about DC, and what her goals are as the new interim superintendent of the city schools.

You graduated from Georgetown, you have a bachelors in foreign service, in diplomacy if you will, when did you decide that Education was what you were looking for?

Kaya: When I went to Georgetown, I thought like most folks in the school of foreign service, I wanted to change the world. The world being a big place, I had traveled a ton when I was growing up and I was fascinated by what was going on in lots of other places in the world.  In the course of my four years, as my friends were headed off to farflung places to help other people, it became pretty clear to me that there was something weird about going to Latin America or Africa or Asia to help other people, I felt there were significant needs here.

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