By Dave Levy
‘National Press Club #27’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’
Craigslist is a great place to find a missed connection or an up-and-coming Switchfoot cover band. For the Associated Press, that’s also one way they’ll be seeking out a new DC Bureau Chief. Think you have what it takes to run a wire satellite office? The requirements: Continue reading
By Tom Bridge
P1040409
By Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie
Welcome back for another issue of Campaign Notebook. There are just 32 days until the Primary. In little over a month, the hard decisions related to a lot of the city offices that are up for election in November will be completed, and we’ll have a mayor- and council chair-apparent. We’re gearing up for fever pitch here and there’s a lot going on.
By Patrick Pho
Hey remember last year when that romantic comedy was filming around Adams Morgan and everybody was trying to get a look at Paul Rudd & Reese Witherspoon?
Well that film, How Do You Know, is slated to be released the day after my birthday (December 17th, 2010) and the first trailer has been released.
The film stars Paul Rudd, Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, and Jack Nicholson. According to IMDB the film is described as, “a romantic comedy centered on the love triangle between professional softball player Lisa Jorgenson (Witherspoon), a corporate executive (Rudd), and a major-league pitcher (Wilson.)”
This summer has seen a string of excellent, female-fronted, electro-pop acts in concert so far and the action continues on Sunday night at Rock & Roll Hotel with Dragonette. Much like the record temperatures have been driving the mercury higher and higher, each awesome electro-pop show to hit town has raised the stakes for the next. The Golden Filter, Goldfrapp, and Robyn have all delivered phenomenal shows in DC and each one has been better than the last. For Sunday night, Dragonette are on deck and I’m expecting it to be a hot, humid, sweaty dance party when they make their bid for the Summer 2010 Electro-Pop crown. Continue reading
By Ashley
‘Curbside Cupcakes’
courtesy of ‘Amberture’
Well, folks, save your lobster bibs for another day, it looks like D.C.’s first lobster truck will not be opening today. The rain was just too much I guess (don’t lobsters live in the ocean?) but they expect to be open by Monday. Not to worry, there are some more water-resistant trucks out today.
By Tom Bridge
‘Double rainbow over Glover Park’
courtesy of ‘ianseanlivingston’
It’s not a big thing. It’s a pretty small thing. But it’s still a thing, so I’m going to ask nice. Can we not have any big nasty news stories today, like shootings or fires or political candidates getting huffy and bitchy? I need a heavy dose of fluffy kittens, lobster trucks, double freaking rainbows, or maybe yet another story on local grocery stores by Sommer Mathis at TBD. Can you help me out, DC? Can you? Please?
Or is it just going to be one of those weeks where every day has another suspicious package or two? Or a world-ending power-wrecking tree-carnage-causing storm? Or a baseball team whose primary skill against the Marlins appears to be looking good in a uniform? Or a football team whose pre-season stinks of a 5-11 effort in the regular season? Or a local mayoral race where we can’t seem to stay focused on the issues long enough to talk policy?
Sigh. DC, I need your help. Bring me the good stuff.
By Ashley
Oyez! Oyez! Mark your calendars folks, this is a day that will go down in history. The much anticipated Red Hook Lobster Pound Truck (that’s a mouthful) is finally here. It’ll roll out today after months of Internet chatter about just when, how and what would come to pass from something so perfect sounding as a lobster roll truck.
An offshoot of a restaurant and truck of the same name in Brooklyn, the owners are bringing their brand of heaven on a roll to their native Washington. At $15 a piece (or $18 with a drink and chips), the rolls aren’t exactly cheap, but they are packed to the gills with real deal, lip-smacking, knuckle and claw Maine lobster. You can get it with the traditional lemon-mayo dressing (my style) or the “Connecticut style” with lobster tossed with butter. Really, you can’t go wrong with either. And they’ll be serving up homemade Whoopie Pies to top off the meal, but in my honest opinion, there’s no better way to top off a lobster roll than with another lobster roll.
They’ll be tweeting their locations daily (and will of course show up on the Food Truck Tracker), and welcome suggestions of where to land while they get their bearings in a new town. I’ve already anonymously tweeted for them to park outside my apartment thirty or forty times today. Well, I guess not that anonymously.
By shannon
‘DSC_0940’
courtesy of ‘mediaslave’
Thanks to your great suggestions telling me where you live, we have several more neighborhoods in the District, Virginia, and Maryland to profile over the coming weeks. This week, we’re heading back in to DC to look at a very neighborly neighborhood: Bloomingdale. It’s a beautiful neighborhood close to the center of town but it feels worlds away. Read on to find out what makes Bloomingdale a great community, and the number one thing that residents love about the neighborhood.
History: Bloomingdale wasn’t part of Pierre L’Enfant’s original plan, and started out as a pretty rural area. It was next to the planned suburb LeDroit Park, and didn’t really see much residential development until the 1890s when streets were paved and a streetcar connected through the area. Bloomingdale quickly became home to rowhouses, churches, and schools, and it has remained a quiet residential neighborhood ever since. More on the history of Bloomingdale over at Bloomingdale DC.
By Patrick Pho
Photo from Bravo TV
Prior to the tonight’s episode I went a little to do restaurating and enjoyed happy hour with some great friends over at Brasserie Beck. Now it’s time to curl up and catch the late airing of the latest episode of Top Chef DC:
11:00: Thanks Bravo for reminding me about the pea puree. Can’t we just let it go? Of course as I learned last week, they don’t show you something unless it’s supposed to be a set-up for later on. Does this mean Ed and Alex are going to war over stolen ingredients? We can only hope.
11:01: Kenny doesn’t know why he’s in the middle, he says he’ll need to unleash the beast. Sorry Kenny you aren’t the first reality star to say that in DC. I still think you are a pimp however so it’s all good.
11:03: Ed hopes to “work closer” with Tiffany for the Quickfire Challenge: a blind-folded tag team challenge. Ed needs a girlfriend really bad.
By Tom Bridge
‘monsoon!’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’
The Nationals had a couple chances tonight, in the fifth and in the seventh, when they could’ve mounted a rally to beat the Marlins and snap a four game losing streak. In the fifth, they loaded the bases, but couldn’t capitalize as Adam Dunn continued his awful performance with runners in scoring position and two outs. Dunn can muscle the ball, no doubt, but in clutch situations he’s not delivering the way that other sluggers have. In the seventh, they’d get back-to-back singles from Pudge and Willy Harris, but pinch-hitter Alberto Gonzalez would ground into a double play and Roger Bernadina would fly out to end the effort. That would be all they could look at as they slumped off the field after dropping a 5-0 loss to Florida.
By Don
It’s hard to believe it’s been another year but Girls Rock!DC is underway again. Just as before the bands will take to the stage of the 9:30 Club at 11am on Saturday to show off what they’ve been working on this week. If you believe – as I do – that live performance is about energy and joy then this is a can’t-miss. The measly $10 it costs to get in goes towards continuing the program and you get to scream your support for young women getting up and rocking out.
By Samer Farha
‘County Fair Winner’s Ribbon’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’
DC is getting a state fair, part of Columbia Heights Day, and they are looking for photographers to enter their first ever photo competition. The theme of the photos should be to show your DC spirit and DC’s cultural independence.
You need to be a resident of the District to enter, but entry is free. Judges from Ten Miles Square (who is sponsoring the event), the Pink Line Project, and Prince of Petworth, along with a few guest judges will pick the winners. The winning photos will be printed and framed and displayed at the DC State Fair tent, and the winners will get ribbons, and a small cash prize.
Read the rules and enter up to two photos on their Flickr group. You’ve got until August 22.
By Dave Stroup
‘Smoke at 1875 Connecticut Avenue NW’
courtesy of Danielle Witt
Fire alarms sounded in the office complex at 1875 Connecticut Avenue NW this afternoon at around 1:15 PM. The fire, believed to have started in underground electrical equipment spewed thick black smoke visible throughout Dupont and surrounding neighborhoods. DC Fire and EMS reports the electrical fire did spread to the office building, and as of 2:55 PM the fire continued to burn but has been contained.
Traffic is still impacted in the area with Connecticut Avenue closed northbound at Florida Avenue, and T Street closed between Connecticut and Florida.
Witnesses report hearing several loud explosions, which fire department officials say were exploding transformers. The Universal North and South office complexes have been evacuated, and are presently without power. The complex also houses the Washington Sports Club gym, the Buca di Beppo restaurant, and a Rite Aid.
Smoke was seen coming from sidewalk grates along T Street, across the street from the Washington Hilton. Witnesses also reported smoke coming from the parking garage.
Smoke is still visible in the area. After what happened, the company has been remorseful to all affected buildings and homes and promise to hire one of the most popular Electricians in Collier Hills to fix their wiring.
By Jenn Larsen
Eleanor Holdridge, director of Theater J's "Something You Did" by Willy Holtzman. Photo courtesy of Eleanor Holdridge.
First in a series of interviews with the many theater professionals who call DC their artistic home.
Eleanor Holdridge had been freelancing as a director for twenty years. It can be a grueling profession, on the road sometimes for eight months at a time to make a living. She was ready for a home.
“Welcome to DC! Now, direct a play that’s political,” she jokes.
Having recently moved here to head the directing program at The Catholic University of America, Holdridge is out of the gate directing Theater J’s season opener, Something You Did. Playwright Willy Holtzman has updated the piece from its 2008 incarnation to reflect the current polarized political climate. Replacing the controversial Imagining Madoff with a play about 1960’s idealist turned imprisoned radical facing off against a neo-conservative media pundit prone to conspiracy theories may seem a bit out of the frying pan, but that kind of daring choice is what makes me admire Theater J.
With warm enthusiasm and infectious humor, Holdridge graciously shared a rehearsal coffee break with me to talk about her move to DC, her impressions of theater here, and what’s in store for audiences when Something You Did opens with previews beginning August 28.
As a Baltimore area native, Holdridge grew up coming to DC to see plays at Arena Stage. So perhaps it was inevitable that one day DC theater would call her back. Continue reading
By Ben H. Rome
There might be some movement on the ice in Capitals land.
Multiple sources have indicated that forward Eric Belanger has a one-year deal that is waiting to be signed by a team, but that he’s been told to not announce where he’s actually going. The deal is rumored to be just over the $1.75 million he made last season with the Capitals. Belanger told Le Soleil yesterday that he can’t say because the team working to sign him is also working on a trade.
It’s very likely the Caps are indeed resigning Belanger, who had 15 goals and 41 points across 77 games last season, but are trying to complete a deal that might bring in another defenseman. The Globe and Mail speculates the Caps may actually be shopping around Tomas Fleishmann, who just signed a one-year deal with the team last month.
What is known is that the Caps are not in trade discussions with Toronto regarding available Maple Leafs defenseman Tomas Kaberle. And of course, this is all purely informed speculation – nothing’s set in stone until GM George McPhee pulls the trigger – but it’s something for Cap fans to think about as we creep towards the start of the new season.
‘pretty clouds’
courtesy of ‘ekelly80’
Darpino: Big music weekend in DC coming up! On Saturday, I’ll be at the 9:30 Club watching Public Enemy perform their masterpiece “Fear of a Black Planet.” On Sunday, it’s over to the Rock & Roll Hotel to catch Canadian electro-pop heroes, Dragonette. In other news, the wrecking crew and I will be headed out to catch an afternoon showing of
Stallone’s mucho macho latest, “The Expendables.”
John: It’s a countrified weekend. Friday Night i’m stuck playing a cover show but if I weren’t I’d be enjoying some nice local beer at Vintage 50 out in the wilds of Leesburg. Saturday will be spent playing around in the WeLoveDC DirtLab near Oatlands and followed by a picnic dinner evening and Twilight Polo at Great Meadows south of Middleburg. Sunday we’ll grab brunch/lunch and wrap up the countrification at Market Salamander in Middleburg. Continue reading
By Ashley
‘alone in the river’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’
Well that was a tough commute, eh? However you got to work, treat yourself with a food truck delicacy today. Continue reading
By Rebecca
‘when cars and trees collide’
courtesy of ‘rebeccaejohnson’
Well that was one hell of a wake up call.
Around 8am this morning the entire DC area experience what we at WeLoveDC are calling “The Rainpocalypse.” The thunderstorm swept through the city and surrounding vicinity leaving streets covered in small and, as shown above, large tree branches. It also caused the temporary closure of three Metro stations (Silver Spring, Forest Glen and Cleveland Park). The storm is also the cause of “tens of thousands of outages” according to Pepco’s website.
The Capital Weather Gang’s radar map shows the storm entering DC at around 7:30am and quickly exiting into PG country around 8:30am. If you somehow slept through the rainpocalyspe that happened in and around 8am this morning, frankly I’m gobsmacked.
Update, 9:29am: We’re also getting multiple reports and photos of flash floods at 15th & Constitution and other locations in the city.
By Ashley
‘the joys of civilized living’
courtesy of ‘LaTur’
Restaurant Week is practically upon us and as usual, everyone’s got their opinions. Some love it. Some hate it. And some use it as an opportunity to get to know their own kitchens a little better. I was always a Restaurant Week hater until a couple years ago when I discovered that a little organization, a lot of Googling and a little better attitude can actually a delightful Restaurant Week make. And since you, dear Washingtonians, are a busy bunch these days, I’ll take it upon myself to handle the organization and the Googling – the attitude adjustment is up to you.
My issue with Restaurant Week has always been those restaurants that feel their “special menu” needs to consist of a choice of two or three dishes for each course. Um…no. That is not a menu, and it certainly doesn’t give me a feel for what a meal would be like the other fifty-one weeks a year. Another problem I have is the fabled “upcharge” where a restaurant will gladly charge me almost a 50% surcharge for getting one of their pricier options. When I am getting the entire meal for $35 and you charge me an additional $15 for the steak, I am not a happy camper. Luckily, there are restaurants out there that forget the upcharges and let you choose from the entire (if not almost the entire) menu. This is the Restaurant Week Holy Grail.
Photo by Rachel Levitin
Scott Olsen’s contract incentives couldn’t have kicked in at a better time for the young left-hander. Olsen gave up 8 hits over 1 1/3 innings, which ties his June 30, 2005 outing for the shortest of his career. Sound familiar?
That’s because Stephen Strasburg had the shortest outing of his career (albeit this his rookie season) Tuesday night, but here’s the difference – Olsen’s 11th start of the season Wednesday triggered an additional $250,000 pay day for both his 11th (which Wednesday night) and 12th starts. He will continue to cash in an additional $100,000 all starts beyond that time until the end of the season.
That means Olsen might have had a bad night on the mound and Nats fans might not be happy with the outcome, but Olsen still gets paid quite a hefty sum. Continue reading
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