‘Nationals vs Brewers – Nationals Park in All Her Glory – 04-17-10’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Tuesday is the start of a six-game, two series homestand for the Washington Nationals against the Florida Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Besides the prospect of Stephen Strasburg* starting on Tuesday for the opener and Sunday for the closing match-up, the Nats are providing an added incentive to watch the District’s local team play ball. Here’s a look at the exciting events and promotions at the park this week so you can figure out what games you might want to catch:

Tuesday: 2010 Hall of Fame inductee Andre Dawson (of the Montreal Expos) will be in attendance and honored before the 7:05 game. Tickets are still available.

Thursday: The first 15,000 fans at Nats Park will receive a commemorative DVD featuring Stephen Strasburg’s Major League debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 8. Game starts at 7:05. Tickets are still available. Continue reading →

‘scream and shout’
courtesy of ‘mdanys’
I know, I’m cranky and hungry and can’t decide what to eat either. Why don’t you have a looksee at the food truck tracker before you have a real meltdown…?

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‘obama-basketball’
courtesy of ‘senorglory’

There are many perks with being the leader of the free world, especially around your birthday. With the Mrs. out of town, 44 chose to celebrate his 49th by hosting a pretty star-studded pickup basketball game held on behalf of wounded veterans and members of the White House mentoring program. President Obama was joined on court with several active and retired NBA stars, including Grant Hill, Shane Battier, Magic Johnson and LeBron James.

It is no surprise that Obama threw together such a headlining basketball game as he has often professed his fandom of hoops. Obama has made several appearances at the Verizon Center to catch a game (including just last week, when he took Sasha to see the Mystics), and he even did a little renovation to the White House upon moving in to make sure he had a place to practice his jump shot. As the Post noted, Obama installed a basketball court on the grounds where tennis courts had once been, and the President was hoping to host a star event once the court opened:

In June 2009, when the basketball court was being built, the president told Bloomberg News that he was itching for some professional competition. “As soon as we get the basketball nets up, we’re going to have some of these guys over for a game,” he said of pros such as James. Asked by Bloomberg whether he would be playing, Obama said: “Of course. It’s my court.”

With the wife – and congress – back in DC, Obama now returns to his scheduled executive and fatherly responsibilities. For one weekend, why can’t the guy have a little fun?

‘Transformers 3: Actors on set’
courtesy of ‘Martin Dougiamas’

Transformers 3 will be shooting in DC later this summer, and the city’s Office of Motion Picture and Television Development is looking for extras.  If you’re interested, send a photo of yourself and some other information to movie@taylorroyall.com.  They’re also interested in your car, and you get bonus points if you’ve done ‘precision driving’.

No word on exactly what they’ll be filming in DC, but the Washington Post reports that “the robots will be here“.  The District is just one of several US cities where Transformers 3 will be shooting.  It’s wrapping up in Chicago now, and then the robots in disguise are heading to Detroit, Los Angeles, here, and somewhere in Florida.

‘National Press Club #40’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

36 years ago today, Richard Nixon turned in a letter to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger resigning the Presidency. He became the first President of the United States to walk away from the office, and left in charge Vice President Gerald Ford, who proclaimed that “our long national nightmare is over.” I know someone who toured the White House the next morning, and every photo of Nixon was absent, every one of them replaced with pictures of President Ford. All traces of Nixon had been quickly, quietly and systematically eradicated.

This is a town that can turn on a dime, strike out allegiances and bury you in just 24 hours, with the help of swift, diligent and silent forces of the bureaucracy. Every once in awhile it’s a good idea to take a moment, pause, and reflect on the fate of Nixon. No one questions that Nixon made mistakes, and that his hubris, along with his cover-up attempt, were responsible for his downfall, but this is a town that will just erase you from its present.

Now, if you’ll be needing me, I’ll be over here burning some old photographs and erasing some tapes.

Segway, courtesy of BrickFair

In addition to the great exhibit over at the National Building Museum, LEGO enthusiasts have another weekend event to attend: BrickFair 2010.  This annual event, held at the Dulles Expo Center, includes LEGO seminars, LEGO activities, and LEGO displays all weekend.  Events range from something called “Drunk Speed Build” to an interactive play area, so BrickFair is sure to satisfy visitors of all ages.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for kids, and the event is open to the public between 11 AM and 4 PM on Saturday and Sunday.

Maestro Norman Scribner, founding director of Choral Arts Society of Washington, this afternoon announced his retirement after 45 years with the group.  Scribner will set down his baton for the last time on August 31st, 2012, ending a 47 year tenure with the organization as its artistic director.  Scribner’s career in DC has been nothing short of outstanding, and he has lead the 180-voice volunteer chorus to many heights.

Choral Arts will work over the next two years to identify a succeeding artistic director (for one cannot merely replace Maestro Scribner) to lead the organization, based on a process that was approved by their board in 2007.  We will miss the Maestro greatly, and wish him well in his retirement.

‘Saloon’
courtesy of ‘tbridge’

You may have walked by The Saloon on U Street, you may have noticed the yellow painted names on their red brick. These are people that have donated more than $150 to their associated charity schools-building project, The Kamal Foundation. The Saloon and The Kamal Foundation builds schools in Africa, Southeast Asia and in other underserved parts of the world with the money they collect. Starting Sunday, they’ll be closed until September 2nd while they head over to Uganda and Ethiopia to build a pair of schools, so if you want one last fix of a great bar before they go dark for four weeks, get yourself there before the weekend.

And think about buying a brick while you’re there. This is the kind of stuff I’d love to see more of.

Photo Credit: Mary Park

Nothing screams summer like a nice frothy mug of root beer and ice cream. Something about the chemical reaction and all those bubbles brings me right back to the summer before 7th grade. Luckily, the restaurants of greater Washington are making sure that on this, the holiest of holidays, we don’t have to forget that summer. Continue reading →

‘stars bars reflection’
courtesy of ‘christaki’
You K Streeters, you totally luck out on Fridays…good luck choosing!
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