Yearly Archives: 2010

The Daily Feed
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Calm Your Earthquake Nerves with a Deal

Photo courtesy of
‘Peychaud Rinse’
courtesy of ‘Samer Farha’

If the discount shake at BGR didn’t do the trick, fear not, the folks at Westend Bistro have something in mind to celebrate D.C. making it through this morning’s shake up. Stop by the bar any time this weekend and ask for the Aftershock, made up of tequila, pineapple juice, simple syrup, OJ and muddled jalapeno. It’ll only run you $3.60, so stock up in case of actual seismic aftershocks.

If tequila and jalapeno only make you think of Southern California and it’s many earthquakes, head over to Capital City Diner today for their Earthquake Day special. It’s a mint chocolate brownie sundae for $3.50. Now that’s worth a little shaking, right?

The Daily Feed
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Despite How it Feels, DC Not a Swamp

Photo courtesy of
‘little loudmouth’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

As we enter into a weekend that will be extremely hot and humid, I just figured I’d remind everyone that we busted the myth that DC is a swamp last year.  Yes, it’s really muggy and gross here this time of year, but we don’t have it that bad– we’re not even on the list of the 101 cities with the highest average humidity.  So when you hear the tourists complaining this weekend about our lovely city being built on a swamp, set them straight.  And tell them to schedule their next family vacation to the District in the spring or fall, when the weather in the city is absolutely perfect.

The Features
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Behind the Design: Immortal Beloved

Image Credit: Max Cook

Design is everywhere.  Your toothbrush is designed, your office is designed, and even the carts at the grocery store are designed (next time check out the difference between the elongated single carts and the compact double carts – the latter makes maneuvering through a crowded aisle much, much easier).  Design is truly meant to improve the physical and emotional relationship that we have with a space or a product.

Having spent a couple of years studying design, my sense of awareness in regards to its implications has been heightened.  No matter what I do, I take notice – the good, the bad, and the extremely ugly.  And one type of environment that has always left me wondering is the hair salon.   Why the heck do they all look and feel like clones?  High-end salons are almost always ornamented with chandeliers; trendy salons love to play glaring music – the louder the better; and I don’t think a “budget cut” salon exists without some dated, checkered vinyl flooring.  Can’t someone please answer my salon design woes and create something truly unique?

And in fact someone has finally answered my prayers! His name is Kelly Gorsuch and he is the owner of Immortal Beloved.

Continue reading →

Entertainment, Special Events, The Daily Feed, We Love Arts
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Fringe 2010: Chlamydia dell’Arte

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘erin m’

I’m reviewing eight plays over eight days for the 2010 Capital Fringe Festival, in collaboration with DC Theatre Scene. Get your button and join me!

With a title like Chlamydia dell’Arte: A Sex-Ed Burlesque, I just couldn’t resist. The name alone represents all things Fringe! Risky titillation rubbing up against camp with a classy wink? I’m in. Not to mention the added benefit of watching people’s faces twist up in disgust as the title rolled off my tongue like the first line of Lolita.

Gigi Naglak and Meghann Williams bring their special brand of sexual education performance art to DC’s Fringe from Philadelphia, and there’s something very Philly to my mind about this show. It’s basically a raw and earthy variety act.  Continue reading →

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Looking For Some Post-Quake Relief? Half-Price Shakes At BGR!

So the big news story/joke today is the DC Quake– or lack there of. To fully understand the magnitude of the event I direct everybody to this Twitpic posted by Brightest Young Things:

Anyways to celebrate the seismic event BGR: The Burger Joint will be selling their milk shakes at half price ($2.50) today between 3-4 PM. When you visit check to see the Strasburger is back, after the weekend I’ll be visiting them to make sure they kept true to the promise they made to me earlier this week.

(h/t @aminatou)

The Daily Feed
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Is The Washington Post Revealing Government Intelligence Contractors Next Week?

Photo courtesy of
‘Boundaries’
courtesy of ‘bhrome’

According to a memo from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence acquired by Erick Erickson of Red State, there may be a few landmark stories about government contractors appearing in next week’s pages of the Washington Post. The memo from ODNI serves as a waiver to the  “corporations and individuals who do work to assist the security of the country” that the articles are coming and could reveal information such as who does intelligence work for the government and the type of work in which they are engaged.

In addition to stories, there also seems to be some sort of interactive feature coming to the paper’s website that will detail the links between agencies and contractors. Pentagon Papers, this probably isn’t, but it’s still a sensitive topic that will serve as some good ink space during the normally quiet summer months of Washington, D.C.

We’ll look to the papers come Monday to see what kind of news is exactly on the horizon. Stay tuned…

All Politics is Local, The Features
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Campaign Notebook: The Passion of Fenty, July 16, 2010

Photo courtesy of
‘it’s Mayor Fenty!’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

It’s been a big week in DC politics, best summed up in two words: Game On. There was plenty of sparring in the mayoral race, culminating in a drama-filled radio debate yesterday. Council chair candidate Kwame Brown continues to face questions about his finances, and Jeff Smith reaches out to bloggers in Ward 1. It’s 60 days until the primary and things are getting juicy. Continue reading →

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Congratulations to The Passenger!

Photo courtesy of
‘The Passenger 7’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’

Bon Appetit magazine has named local favorite The Passenger as one of the top ten best new cocktail bars in the country in their August edition, with a nod to its internal cocktail club the Columbia Room as well. That should come as no surprise for a bar that has continued to excel since its November opening.

It’s a well-deserved honor for the Brown brothers, co-owners Tom and Derek, who are true gentlemen imbibers and fantastic practitioners of the cocktail craft. So head on over to give them your congratulations. This would be the perfect time to sample DC’s own Rickey!

Adventures, Business and Money, Entertainment, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, News, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Free Cupcake Madness

In honor of the premiere of their new reality show airing tonight at 10pm on TLC, Georgetown Cupcake is giving away a free, special edition cupcake all day today.

Some co-workers and I stopped by the M Street shop at 10am to snag our freebie and were met with a line and some questionable cupcake giveaway flow problems.

Words of caution: If you’re dying for a cupcake, you must be willing to battle the lines, which will undoubtedly grow longer as the day goes on, and the hot, humid and gobs of sweat inducing weather. You’ve been warned.

The Features, Where We Live
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Where We Live: Columbia Pike

Photo courtesy of
‘STRENGTH_13’
courtesy of ‘Arlington County’

For those District residents who don’t own cars and don’t like MetroBus, the extent of the Washington region is limited.  Sure, you can get to a lot of major attractions via MetroRail, but you’re missing out on a lot too.  Take Columbia Pike for example– it has a vibrant, fun “main street” feel to it, but many Washingtonians haven’t been out there (except maybe to catch a movie at the Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse).  Even though there isn’t a Metro station nearby, this area is definitely worth a visit.

History: Columbia Pike has always been a major thoroughfare through Arlington County since it was chartered in 1801.  It was originally a streetcar suburb, with a streetcar stop at the intersection of Walter Reed Drive and Columbia Pike and a direct bus connecting to the District.  But during the 1940s, the area became much more suburban and car-friendly, with lots of car dealerships and gas stations.  This pattern of development continued for the next fifty years.

The important thing to note here is that many of the neighborhoods in the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor developed similarly, but they got Metro stations in the 1970s.  This led to a surge in land value, which then led to compact development and reinvestment right around those stations.  Columbia Pike didn’t get a Metro station, so there was no catalyst for urban development.  But the story isn’t over: a streetcar is coming to Columbia Pike in the next decade, which can finally bring the reinvestment that the area has been waiting for.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Happy Residence Act Day!

Photo courtesy of
‘The Capitol’
courtesy of ‘Danilo.Lewis|Fotography’

Some may claim that today is DC’s official birthday, but today is really more like the day that Virginia and Maryland got it on, and nine months later, President Washington selected the official boundaries on March 31st, 1791. Think of it like conception day. The Residence Act, voted in by Congress on this day 220 years ago, required that a federal district, no more than ten miles square, be set up along the Potomac. Until such time as the new capital city was ready, Philadelphia was designated the capital-in-fact for a period of no more than ten years. To this day, their sports fans are still a little bit bitter.

The specific part of the act related to the location of the District reads, “Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That a district of territory, not exceeding ten miles square, to be located as here-after directed on the river Potomac, at some place between the mouths of the Eastern Branch and the Connogochegue, be, and the same is hereby accept for the permanent seat of the government of the United States…and be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be authorized to appoint, and by supplying vacancies happening from refusals to act or other causes, to keep in appointment as long as may be necessary, three commissioners, who or any of two of whom, shall, under the direction of the President, survey, and by proper metes and bounds define and limit a district of territory, under the limitations above mentioned; and the district so defined, limited and located, shall be deemed the district accepted by this act, for permanent seat of the government of the United States.”

If that’s not pillow talk, baby, I just don’t know what is.

The Library of Congress has an original sketch of the District done by Thomas Jefferson among its public collection, and a bunch of other sweet documents! Happy Conception Day, DC!

The Daily Feed
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DC Earthquake: Feel the Earth Move Under Your Feet?

Photo courtesy of
‘Earth Day 2010’
courtesy of ‘vpickering’

Feel something shaking this morning? According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a mild earthquake was felt around the Potomac region at roughly 5:04 a.m., measured at a 3.6 magnitude. As the Washington Post noted in its coverage online, this is decently significant for the area. The last measured quake was ten times less severe (a 2.6 magnitude) from 1990. Structural damage is also not likely, given the relative weakness of this morning’s shakes.

As this is D.C., we are always taking suggestions for what nickname this event should earn (a la Snowpocalypse). Clubhouse leader? “The Big Shakedown.” Leave your better ideas in the comments.

Entertainment, Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed
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D.C. Shorts Film Festival Tickets On Sale

Photo courtesy of
‘E Street Cinemas’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’

Passes for the 2010 DC Shorts Film Festival are now on sale!

There are 3 options being offered this year including:

  • The “Pick 3” – $30, which includes any three events including open parties and the “Best of DC Shorts.”
  • The “Pick 5” – $45, which includes any five events including open parties and the “Best of DC Shorts.”
  • All-Access VIP – $125, which allows you to choose as many screenings and parties (including events for “filmmakers only” plus the “Best of DC Shorts.” They’ll even throw in a T-Shirt as a gift.

Individual screening ticket sales begin August 15 and in-person ticket sales can be made from September 9 – 12 (during the festival) at one of two box offices located at E Street Cinema and the U.S. Navy Memorial.

The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: Interview with MIJA

Image Credit: MIJA Jewelry

In less than four years, Michelle Guest has turned her passion for art and jewelry design into a thriving business.  MIJA Jewelry is literally everywhere, and has graced the pages of almost every fashion magazine and tabloid – decorating a truly A-list clientele (Gwenyth Paltrow and Ellen Pompeo are huge fans).  In this We Love DC exclusive interview, the designer and Glover Park resident lets us know a little bit more about what makes her collection special and where she goes to find inspiration in her very own backyard.

We Love DC: What is MIJA?

Michelle Guest: MIJA is a combination of the first two letters of my name (MIchelle) and the first two letters of my sister’s name (JAni). My sister was the one who really inspired me to start the business by creating a collection of children’s jewelry.  The company has since expanded and now also features a huge collection [of] women’s jewelry.  She really encouraged me to jump into a business I initially knew nothing about.  If it was not for her, I’m not sure I would have ever done it!

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Not Your Mother’s Peanuts and Cracker Jacks

Photo courtesy of
‘PGE Park concession stand’
courtesy of ‘halvorsen_brian’


Eat your heart out, Cal Ripken stadium. They may have crabs in the outfield (great name for a movie, but I digress) but Harry Grove Stadium has Bryan Voltaggio. On Tuesday, July 27th, the kinder, gentler Voltaggio brother will be whipping up some concession stand delicacies for fans at the Frederick Keys/Lynchburg Hillcats game. Some of his planned dishes are pretty liberal interpretations of ballpark favs, such as: heirloom tomato gazpacho “Dippin’ Dots,” truffle popcorn, lamb hot dogs, and cheddar bacon burgers. And as an added bonus, the first 1,000 fans in the stadium will receive a Bryan Voltaggio bobblehead. Padma will be so jealous!
A portion of the proceeds from the VOLT Concession Stand will go to the Keys Care Foundation, which helps out non-profits in the Frederick area catering to youth and young adults. Get your tickets while they last.

The Features, We Love Weekends
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We Love Weekends, July 17-18

Photo courtesy of
‘Cooling off’
courtesy of ‘(afm)’

John: I’ll be playing two shows this weekend. Friday at Ri-Ra in Arlington with my cover band and Saturday at Tarara Winery north of Leesburg with Juniper Lane. Tarara has a “Saturday night summer series” with different bands playing from 6-9pm almost every weekend. Saturday afternoon I’ll be digging in the garden and fighting off groundhogs in a true Caddyshack approach to pest control. If I wasn’t so engaged with nature, I’d spend my afternoon down at Biergarten Haus on H Street enjoying a slice of Bavaria in my own proverbial backyard.

Rachel: I’m headed to Nashville for the weekend to audition for the 10th season of American Idol. Is the show a joke now that Simon and Paula’s gone plus the fact it’s the show’s tenth season? Maybe. Sure. But I’m doing it anyway. If I wasn’t, you better believe I’d spend the whole weekends watching Nats away games on TV or online. Wish me luck? Here’s to hoping I can put DC on the map via a Fox reality television show going into its first decade? Why not? Someone has to, right?
Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed
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Owe the District? Now’s the time to pay up

Photo courtesy of
‘final days’
courtesy of ‘zenobia_joy’

The District is on the verge of announcing a two-month amnesty for most taxes, including sales and income taxes, according to the Business Journal’s Michael Neibauer.  That means you can pay your back taxes without penalty, but still including the interest owed.  Currently outstanding to the District’s CFO are $200M in unpaid taxes.  Getting the chance to pay them without penalty might get a few of the scofflaws to pony up with the dough necessary to help offset the massive $550M budget deficit that the District is currently facing.

Do tax amnesty programs help?  Well, when Pennsylvania did the same thing last month, they collected $261M in back taxes that they were owed, approximately $70M more than they expected.  New Jersey collected $725M in their tax amnesty last year. While tax cheats in the District owe significantly less than New Jersey or PA, it’d be a surprise to not see the city pickup a good $50-75M on this amnesty, and hopefully more.

The Daily Feed
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DC Full of Rich, Smart Vegetarians?

Photo courtesy of
‘foam finger fan’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

We love rankings that compare DC to other cities, rather than states (which can be very misleading).  So we’re happy that our great city is at the top of three recent city rankings: Washington is America’s highest-earning city, its best-educated city, and its most vegetarian-friendly city.  Here’s the thinking behind these superlatives: District residents earn lots of money because they’re lawyers and lobbyists and politicians, they’re well-educated because the region is home to those high-paying jobs that require advanced degrees, and it’s veg-friendly because vegetarians are supposedly richer and smarter.  So congratulations to all you rich, smart vegetarians pushing us to the top of the pack!