Yearly Archives: 2010

The Features
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Campaign Notebook, July 30th, 2010

Photo courtesy of
‘And….’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’

Another week closer to the primary and DCision 2010.  46 days until the primary election and the end of the Gray/Fenty battle.

The Big Race

Gray ekes out a win in Ward 6. The Ward 6 Democrats held their straw poll on Tuesday night, and Vince Gray came away the winner, even if he didn’t win their endorsement.  The organization required 60% of the vote in order to grant an endorsement, and neither candidate breached that margin.  Vince Gray picked up 56%, with Adrian Fenty picking up just 40%.  As usual, straw polls aren’t a great measure of anything other than the most involved partisans.

Endorsements for Gray. Three endorsements for Vince Gray this week, one from the Fraternal Order of Police, one from the Latino Caucus, and one from the Realtors.  Endorsements are a mixed bag.  They can come with institutional support (likely from the Latino Caucus) or money (likely from the Realtors and FOP) or votes.  Enough endorsements and you’ve got a rock-steady base and a motivated group of people with a lot to lose. We won’t know how much this matters until all the cards are on the table.  Still, it looks good for Gray this week. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Vince Gray uses the Old Spice strategy

YouTube Preview Image

Noting the success of the Old Spice YouTube marketing campaign, Vince Gray takes his cue from The Man your Man Could Smell Like and has posted brief YouTube videos in response to questions and comments from DC social media users.

If you have a question for Gray, you can as @grayformayor on Twitter or leave a wall post on Facebook. Or leave your question in the comments and we’ll ask him.

Update: The Gray campaign indicates that there will be another set of videos in a couple of weeks. While I’d like to see it planned as a weekly thing at least (and I think more candidates should be doing it), it seems like the best way to encourage it is to ask lots of good questions. So bring ’em on, DC.

The Daily Feed
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August Welcomes Arts On N Street

Photo courtesy of
‘The Artist’
courtesy of ‘Mondmann’

There is a large percentage of the population who believe that pictures from Ikea qualify as legitimate wall art. There’s no shame in this – it’s cheap and generally tasteful. But wouldn’t it be nicer to have some real art made by real people? Real people who live in your city no less?

To rectify the situation, the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities has teamed up with the Washington Convention Center to host the Arts on N Street Festival. Part celebration, part art market, the event will take place during the first two weekends of August along N Street between 7th and 9th Streets NW. Fashion designers, painters, photographers and jewelry makers will be on-hand to sell their wares, while DJs will provide a little light background music. This is a great opportunity to replace that canvas of Audrey Hepburn (or maybe you went with the Eiffel Tower shot?) with something local and unique. Audrey won’t mind – promise.

The festival is free of charge and will take place on August 7th, 8th, 14th and 15th from 10am to 4pm.

The Daily Feed
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Nationals Trade Matt Capps To Minnesota

Photo courtesy of
‘Matt Capps’
courtesy of ‘MissChatter’

Matt Capps is one of the reasons Nationals baseball had an exciting ride early this year. There’s no denying that.

The team’s lone All-Star representative in 2010 was traded to the Minnesota Twins last night for catcher Wilson Ramos and left-hander Joe Testa. Both are prospect players who will start their time with the Nationals on the farm. Ramos will start at Class Triple-A Syracuse and Testa will report to Class-A Potomoc.

The 26-year-old Capps came to Washington during the off-season as a free agent. He signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal. In many ways, he was the boy with the golden touch for the Nationals bullpen who had often struggled before Capps came in as a stabilizer. Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed
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The DMV

Photo courtesy of
‘Because This Motorist’s Car Had Failed the Carbon Monoxide and Hydrocarbon Emissions Test a Second Time…09/1975’
courtesy of ‘The U.S. National Archives’

There’s nothing I hate like a contrived nickname. It’s only barely better than a nickname you’ve given yourself, which as we all know is verboten. But Paul Farhi has a piece in today’s Post about “The DMV” which refers to “The District, Maryland and Virginia.” I don’t know about you, but what I think of when I hear that awful acronym is the Department of Motor Vehicles. You know, the place you have to go once every couple of years, to fill out lengthy forms with obscure automotive references and detailed personal information, and to be reminded of the soul-crushing bureaucracy required to do anything related to the government. That’s not what I want to associate my home with, really, and I just don’t understand it.

Paul Farhi says that it dates back to Channel 9’s original name: “Actually, long before then, Washington’s Channel 9 was known as WDMV-TV, which stood for “the District, Maryland and Virginia.” But WDMV died long before the current vogue for “the DMV” (the call letters live on at a small AM radio station in Walkersville, Md.).” But, as William Yurasko points out, that’s just not the case: “Actually, Channel 9 was known as WDVM.”

That kinda guts Farhi’s whole “historical angle,” doesn’t it? I really think this nickname should die a horrific death. We’re “the Washington DC area,” or, for those who live inside the bounds, “The District.” We’re also The Nation’s Capital, if you want to get fancy, or the Greater Washington Metropolitan Area. But The DMV? No thank you. Sorry, Paul Farhi.

Adventures, Business and Money, Entertainment, Food and Drink, Fun & Games, History, Life in the Capital, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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National Cheesecake Day: Get Your Forks Out

Photo courtesy of
‘The Cheesecake Factory’
courtesy of ‘Bitman’

In honor of National Cheesecake Day, all Cheesecake Factories have slashed prices on all their cheesecakes by 50%.  They’re also debuting their latest addition, Reese’s Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake Cheesecake, which looks ultra yummy good. So stop in your local Cheesecake Factory, and treat yourself you a slice.

The Features, Where We Live
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Where We Live: Rockville

Photo courtesy of
‘RV’s New Town Square & Beall Ave 6-09’
courtesy of ‘brad.rourke’

We’re heading back to Maryland this week to check out a DC suburb that has grown to become the second-largest incorporated city in Maryland: Rockville.    Read on to find out what Rockville residents like about it, and why it’s worth a visit.

History: Rockville was one of Maryland’s oldest towns and had an important role in the Revolutionary War.  It got its name in 1801 because of its proximity to Rock Creek, and developed slowly for most of the 1800s.  In 1873 the B&O Railroad came through town, and the area grew even more.  But the real surge in growth in Rockville didn’t happen until after the 1950s, when the population increased sevenfold in thirty years.  Today Rockville is home to over 60,000 residents.  For a more detailed view of Rockville’s history, check out the city’s historic preservation website.
Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Get Your Mallets Ready

Photo courtesy of
‘Every Food Fits: Don’t Bother Us, We’re Crabby!’
courtesy of ‘staceyviera’

Throughout the month of August, Bar Pilar will have hardshell crab dinners. Yep, you heard me, a little bit of the Bay right on 14th Street. Prepared by executive chef and Baltimore native Justin Bittner, the meal ($60) is served for two and includes a pile of steamed crabs and two or three seasonal sides. Sides have included steamed corn on the cob, steamed clams with chorizo, cornbread and heirloom tomatoes.

If you can’t make it to Bar Pilar to crack crabs, hardshells are available at Art & Soul, Bethesda Crab House, Quarterdeck, The Dancing Crab, and if Metro-accessibility isn’t a must for you – Cantler’s.

News, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Nationals, Olsen top Braves 5-3

Scott Olsen on the Mound Thursday
Photo by Cheryl Nichols Nats News Network

Scott Olsen returned to the mound for the Nationals on Thursday afternoon and pitched six solid innings of 2-run ball to notch his first win since May. Olsen had been struggling to the starting rotation after tightness in his shoulder would not abate after a start in late May. Today, none of that was evident, as the hurler would go six full, with velocity reaching the low 90s, which is impressive when you think that he came into Spring Training throwing in the low 80s. After the game, Manager Jim Riggleman would say of Olsen, “He looked good…he kept the ball down, confident with his pitches,” and that’s just what the Nationals needed when they continue to face problems in their starting five. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Downed Power Lines in Silver Spring Causing Red Line Disruption

Photo courtesy of
‘Red Line to Glenmont’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

Just when you thought nothing else could go wrong for Metro today, there is a power line down on the tracks in Silver Spring, which is massively disrupting service. Refreshingly, this one is pretty much not Metro’s fault.

Basically, Pepco (also not having a great week) needs to determine whether the line is still live or not before passengers can be offloaded from the stranded train onto the rescue train. Fortunately, there is still at least AC on the stranded train. It’s the little things.

While service is not operating between Glenmont and Silver Spring, the rest of the line is still operating on either side. But, as always, expect serious delays and maybe you just want to cab it home tonight.

UPDATED TO ADD: Metro’s press release reminds everyone that relying on shuttle bus service is pretty much a joke at rush hour, because a shuttle carries 50 people while a full train carries 800-1000. Seriously you guys, CAB IT.

The Daily Feed
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It’s Like Winning the Lottery… of Chicken

Photo courtesy of
‘Chik-fil-a cravings must be dealt with’
courtesy of ‘MRBECK’

What would you do for a year’s worth of Chik-fil-A?  Would you camp out in this heat for two nights?  Well that’s just what hundreds of people did in Silver Spring since Tuesday.  The Washington Post reports that a new Chik-fil-A store opened today, and it attracted legions of fans for its “First 100” promotion.  The first 100 people in line got 52 coupons for free combo meals.

These people aren’t just your typical area college students that have nothing better to do with their time, they’re actual functional members of society who traveled for hours to attend the opening.  In fact, the article quotes one fan who has been to 56 of these “First 100” openings– meaning she has earned a total of 2,912 coupons for free meals at Chick-fil-A. Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed
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Wegman’s in Largo opens October 24th

Photo courtesy of
‘Wegman’s without Jessie’
courtesy of ‘ceejayoz’

Via the Washington Business Journal comes the news that there’s a Wegmans scheduled to open in Largo on October 24th in the Woodmore Towne Center development near Fedex Field. All I have to say is: bring on the proliferation of the Wegmans. These places are about the most awesome grocery store you will ever find, but due to their size, they run into a lot of the anti-Big Box store regulations, and the general problem of finding that much contiguous properly-zoned and reasonably-affordable land.

Color me super excited to see another one, and one close to me in Brookland. We’d been stopping in Leesburg when we head to the farm, or when I visit my clients there, but now to have one a bit closer is fantastic.

Food and Drink, The Features, We Green DC, We Love Drinks
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We Love Drinks: Beer that Loves DC – Part 1

Photo courtesy of
‘Jeff Hancock and Brandon Skall’
courtesy of ‘Samer Farha’

“We’re quitting our jobs, next week,” Brandon Skall tells me. I look over at his business partner, Jeff, who smiles wryly. “From here on out, it’s all DC Brau.” Maybe it’s a crazy thing to do. Starting a business in the best of times is tough, but in this economy it’s especially risky. Still, Brandon and Jeff don’t seem worried, which inspires a certain confidence.

“How do your wives feel about it?” I ask, noticing wedding rings on their fingers.

“They’re scared shitless, but they’re excited,” Jeff Hancock replies. “That’s how I knew this was a good idea.” Both men smile, lean back in their chairs and sip their beers. It’s one of the hotter days in late June and we’re sweating it out on the back porch of Little Miss Whiskey’s, talking about their start-up brewery, DC Brau.

Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed, WMATA, WTF?!
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Rain, Rain, Go The Heck Away and Stop Causing Trouble


Flooding at Foggy Bottom Metro / Photo by Tiffany Bridge

It’s as if Snopocalypse Now Parts I and II weren’t enough for the crazy weather the District’s seen in 2010. Storms galore are appearing at a more consistent rate than a Nats win streak.

Is it god crying because baseball Jesus was put on the disabled list? Who knows. Either way, WLDC Author Tiffany is reporting that gallons of water and debris are currently flooding Foggy Bottom platform from the ceiling.

Also — the power’s out at the Friendship Heights metro station. Update, 4:01 p.m.: Friendship Heights metro station is open again.

Know of any more problems? Help your neighbors by leaving ’em in the comments. It’s good karma.

More photos of Foggy Bottom flooding after the page break. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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PORC Mobile, the New (Eco-Friendly) Truck in Town

Photo courtesy of
‘BBQ Beef Brisket’
courtesy of ‘Girl Interrupted Eating’
There is finally a food truck coming to town that fills the void left in my heart and stomach after my move from North Carolina to Washington. The Purveyors of Rolling Cuisine (PORC, to their friends) are about to come on the scene serving up BBQ favorites with an eco-friendly twist.

Though they will be letting fans sample their menu this weekend, the Purveyors don’t expect to be fully operational for the lunchtime crowd until later this fall. Why the hold up? They aim to “balance local, sustainable, environmental awareness and not forget at the end of the day someone’s hungry and really just wants a tasty sandwich.” And that takes time. The guys are determined to make great food using sustainable and local products from sources such as Medina Farms in Chesapeake Bay, VA and Angelic Beef in Fauquier County, VA. And in the process, they hope to influence other food trucks to operate in a more environmentally conscious way.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Washington Highlands Library to Open Next Summer for DC Bookworms

Photo courtesy of
‘Library Books’
courtesy of ‘Jamiesrabbits’

Next summer the District has a brand-spanking-new library to look forward to at 115 Atlantic St. SW. Mayor Adrian Fenty (D), D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray (D), Chief Librarian Ginnie Cooper, and other members of the Ward 8 community broke ground the Washington Highlands Neighborhood Library last week.

Not only will the new library hold up to 80,000 books, CDs, and DVDs, but also conference rooms and 32 computers with free wi-fi for the public. With construction under way for the new facility and President Obama’s speech to the National Urban League today, it seems like education is in the air. I’m looking forward to Washington Highlands and all that it will have to offer!

So get your library cards ready, and in the meantime, an interim library is located at 4037 South Capitol St. SW.

We Love Weekends
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We Love Weekends, July 31-August 1

Photo courtesy of ‘/>
‘Tian Tian = One Relaxed Panda’
courtesy of ”

Michael: This weekend I am hitting the road. Friday, I will be in the second row at Radio City Music Hall in NYC to see one of my all time-favorite bands, Spiritualized, performing one of my all time favorite albums, “Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space”, in its entirety. It’s the only stateside show where they are doing this, so I am mighty stoked. The rest of the weekend will be a blur of Jersey shore traffic as I fight my way to Cape May for a wedding. If I were in town, I would probably find a way to sneak into the sold out Deadmau5 show at the 9:30 Club on Friday. I am afraid seeing him Wednesday and Thursday just won’t be enough.

Dave L.: I, too, will be out of the District for the weekend, enjoying the nuptials of two of my closest friends from college up in sunny Chatham, New Jersey. If I were to be around, I probably would have worked my way over to Nationals Park for a game or two, or potentially even gone up to Baltimore to catch the friendly between Manchester City and Inter Milan. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Apparently Some People Can’t Take A Joke

Photo courtesy of
‘Batista admires the curly W headware’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

As you now know, the 10th day of Strasmas didn’t occur and Miguel Batista was called upon 10 minutes before game time Tuesday to pitch in front of a crowd expecting a phenom.

The Nationals put on quite the show, shutting out the first place Atlanta Braves 3-0 with stellar appearances from the four arms that pitched the game (Batista, Burnett, Storen, Capps).

Afterward, Batista shared what it quite possibly one of the funniest lines of the season with reporters. “Imagine if you go there to see Miss Universe and you end up having Miss Iowa,” Batista joked. “You might get those kind of boos.” Continue reading →