Yearly Archives: 2010

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed, We Love Drinks
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Friday Happy Hour: Moonshine Iced Tea

Photo courtesy of
‘Easy Day’
courtesy of ‘Samer Farha’

Welcome to the Friday Happy Hour, your single drink primer for the weekend.

For this holiday weekend which proudly celebrates our American independence, it might be treasonous to suggest you head over to British gastro-pub AGAINN for your happy hour, but there are two words guaranteed to make me do a happy dance in the world of drinks – tinctures and tea. Add moonshine, and well, say no more.

Ace bartender JP Caceres showed me how they are serving up a Moonshine Iced Tea cocktail with inspiration coming from the past – traveling medicine shows where old wives’ wisdom in the form of specially crafted tinctures cured all ails. Your bartender will mix up the base – 1 oz of your liquor choice, 1 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1 oz simple syrup, and a highball glass is filled with crushed ice and tea. Here’s the fun part – you then get to choose from several different tea-based tinctures with delightful names (like Happy Tummy, Dawn Chorus, Easy Day) splashing a few drops into your drink to your own taste. The idea is to use some old-fashioned knowledge to self-medicate and experiment with different tastes depending on your mood. The results are lovely – flavors ranging from herbal, floral and vegetal with the alcohol just a side note to tea’s invigorating kick.

Ok, that sounds tempting Jenn, but what the heck are tinctures anyway?
Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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A Thought on Tyranny

Photo courtesy of
‘Spark’
courtesy of ‘Techhie’

Sunday, in addition to being We Love DC’s 2nd Birthday, is Independence Day, the day we celebrate our rights to be free from English interference and to self-govern.  Twitter user Keith Ivey remarked that this morning’s reading of the Declaration of Independence on NPR reminded him that many of these same grievances against King George might also apply to the District and her citizens.  Among the obvious ones, I would point out:

  • He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
  • He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
  • He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation

While there’s been no plundering of our seas, or burning of our towns, or cutting off trade, or quartering soldiers in our homes, the mistreatment of residents of the District is not to be so easily glossed over. Take some time this weekend to think about what rights exist for the states but not for the District.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

All men. Not just those in Virginia and Maryland. Remember that much this weekend.

Life in the Capital, The District
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Why I Love DC: Rebecca

Photo courtesy of
‘Captured a taxi, despite all the rain’
courtesy of ‘KentonNgo’

They say when you meet the one, you just know. It’s the thrill. It’s the magic. It’s the joy. It’s the romance. It’s the respect you have for him, and he for you. It’s the way he makes you feel like the most beautiful creature in the world.

For me, DC is undeniably the one. I’ve flirted with Paris and set up house with St. Louis. I eloped with Brussels and begged for New York to have me. But it’s DC, my childhood home, that turned out to be the love of my life. Washington was the guy next door that took me by surprise and became my knight in shining armor.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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A little more equity for the 18-21 set

Photo courtesy of
‘chauffeur’
courtesy of ‘NCinDC’

The DC council has passed act 18-445 unanimously, removing the absolute restriction that a commercial driver’s license holder must be aged 21. There’s still some limitations that seem a little arbitrary; that license won’t allow the driver to command a school bus or any vehicle with more than 15 passengers, hazardous material, or weighing more than 26,001 pounds. If we view these things as so important that they require more competence and maturity then maybe they should be tied to experience and how long the license has been held, not an absolute age.

However it’s a good start on making equitable a process that already tests for knowledge and competency. Good on the council and the mayor for allowing folks old enough to die for their country to have equal opportunity to earn a living.

All Politics is Local, The District, The Features
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Campaign Notebook: July 2, 2010

Photo courtesy of
‘Pride Parade’
courtesy of ‘erin m’
There are 74 days left until the primary.

As we approach the holiday weekend, the mayoral campaign continues to ratchet up a bit. Education was the big topic this week, a subject that most certainly matters and most certainly will not fade. There’s been some developments in the Ward 1 race, and Vincent Orange is becoming a bit more visible. There’s been a good deal of news, so let’s get to it. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Stage 5 Clinger Situation Ends With 5 Years in Prison

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘dno1967’

Back in January we told you about the woman charged with breaking into her ex’s house and camping out in the attic with some food and a toilet bucket.  She allegedly called her ex 100+ times in one evening and sent threatening text messages and e-mails when the other woman ended the relationship.  Well,  justice has been served and she’s now headed to jail for five years.

A judge sentenced Taylar Nuevelle to five and a half years for breaking into Janet Albert’s home and camping out in the attic for over 24 hours.  Let that be a lesson to you– in the heat of the moment after a breakup, maybe it seems like a good idea to go all bat-shit crazy and camp out in your ex’s attic, but there are repercussions.  Unfortunately, it seems this lesson hasn’t quite been learned, as Nuevelle’s lawyer says that the real lesson here is “don’t have a bad breakup with a lesbian judge.”  But I think we all can agree that the ice-bucket-as-toilet situation really pushes this from bad breakup to prison-worthy offense.

Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Win Tickets to Explore Leonardo’s Universe

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC_6846’
courtesy of ‘bhrome’

Our friends at the National Geographic Museum are giving WeLoveDC readers a chance to win some tickets to the July 8 lecture “Exploring Leonardo’s Universe” with special guest Dr. Bülent Atalay. Author of Math and the Mona Lisa and Leonardo’s Universe, Dr. Atalay offers a comprehensive look at Leonardo, his work, and his world. Both a scientist and artist, Dr. Atalay is uniquely qualified to give a comprehensive overview of Da Vinci’s art, discoveries, and the many ways his genius has influenced the world around us. The lecture is a companion event to the free exhibit “Da Vinci – The Genius,” currently showing at the National Geographic Museum.

We’ll be giving away two pairs of tickets today to the lecture; simply comment below and use a legit email address and your first name. We’ll draw our winners today at 1 pm. And don’t worry if you don’t win today – you’ll get another shot at some more tickets next week.

capitals hockey, The Daily Feed
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Caps Enter Free Agency Fray

Photo courtesy of
‘Dany Sabourin’
courtesy of ‘Yokitis’

After remaining quiet on “Free Agent Frenzy” day in the NHL yesterday, the Washington Capitals have begun making a small amount of noise this morning, signing goalie Dany Sabourin to a one-year contract. (Details not yet released by the team.) Sabourin was technically with the Bruins last season but spent the year in Providence/AHL with a 28-27-0 record, 2.67 GAA, .915 save percentage, and 3 shutouts. He dressed for the Bruins as a back up for two games in March. Sabourin played previously for the Flames, Canucks, and Penguins. Most of his NHL experience comes from his 2007-2009 stint with the Penguins, notching a 16-17-3 record with two shutouts.

It’s a surprising move for a well-stacked Caps net; with Varlamov probably stepping into the lead role, it’ll be interesting now to see who slips in as backup between Neuvirth and Sabourin. Most likely, the Caps are positioning to cover Neuvirth’s move to the NHL by placing a veteran minor leaguer with the Hershey Bears.

More signing updates as they come.

Music, The Daily Feed
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Photos: Welcome back, Fort Reno.

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘erin m’

I love Fort Reno. And I don’t mean in some, “Oh man, that’s a great event” sort of way. I mean…well, you remember that scene in “Say Anything” where John Cusack is holding up the boom box outside Ione Skye’s window? That’s how I feel about Fort Reno, the summer concert series that kicked off Thursday night. Fort Reno to me is summer. It is grass. It is picnics. It is kids and dogs and ice cream trucks and glorious sunsets and, most importantly, it is music.

Thursday’s show became the de facto kick-off for this year’s series after the threat of rain canceled last Monday’s concert, and a drummer’s broken arm forced the usual trio of bands to become a twosome–let’s hope that’s it for the curse-like events this year. The two bands, Gangland Buries Its Own and Sleeper Agent, stepped up admirably and gave a great welcome to this year’s concerts. After the jump, photos of the picnics,  the people, the glorious sunset and the music.

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The Features, Where We Live
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Where We Live: Crystal City

Photo courtesy of

‘Crystal City – Lightning Ball’
courtesy of ‘Mo Kaiwen è�«æ¥·æ��’

Welcome to another edition of Where We Live. This week we’re hopping on the yellow line, crossing the river, and checking out Crystal City.  When I started looking into Crystal City for this feature, I wasn’t too sure what I would find– a neighborhood named after a chandelier that claims to be Arlington’s largest downtown?  All I knew of it was that there were lots of hotels and office buildings.  But what I found was a lot of people who absolutely love living in Crystal City.  Read on to hear what’s great about Crystal City, as well as some recommendations about what to check out next time you’re in the area!

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The Daily Feed
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Foggy Bottom Escalator Backup


(Thanks to peroty for the mobile photo and heads-up)

If you’re aiming to get into or out of Foggy Bottom Metro station on the Orange Line this morning, be warned that at the moment two escalators are closed, and the only open escalator is going up. This, and one broken platform escalator, make getting out difficult, and getting in pretty much impossible (unless you like lining up for the elevator).

Alternatives: Farragut West, or Rosslyn + blue bus or 38B. We have, of course, been here before.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Scrappy Nats Pull It Together Against The Mets


Photo by Ian Koski/Nationals Daily News

“Don’t get too caught up in the calendar, but June is over.” Manager Jim Riggleman’s got a point there.

The Washington Nationals pulled off a bottom of the ninth 2-1 victory thanks to a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded and one out off the bat of Ryan Zimmerman. Up until then, the starting pitching on both sides proved solid and spectacular for the National League East rivals. It was a pitching duel for sure. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Celebrate The Fourth A Little Early

Photo courtesy of
‘David Archuleta – #2’
courtesy of ‘Aine D’

Like every Fourth of July, wary locals will avoid the Mall’s impenetrable masses and blistering heat. But that doesn’t mean you should miss out on the big show. You can catch the rehearsal of A Capitol Fourth a day early, when temperatures will be lower and tourists less scarce. There won’t be any fireworks of course, but who needs them when you have David Archuleta’s sweet voice to woo you? In addition to Mr. Archuleta, the run-through will include the concert’s full lineup of Reba McEntire, Gladys Knight, Darius Rucker and the National Symphony Orchestra. The Saturday rehearsal is free and begins at 8:00pm on the West Lawn of the US Capitol. The real deal will be held same place, same time on the Fourth.

The Daily Feed
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If a Picnic Won’t Cut it on July 4th

Photo courtesy of
‘one last fireworks pic…maybe’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’
On July 3rd, picnic foods procured from the CVS down the street or whatever leftovers have been floating around my fridge seem like a great idea. But by the time I get mid-fireworks on the 4th, I’m starving. If you feel like a little extra sustenance this year, you are in luck.

  • Liberty Tree– Lobster and clam boils to go, whether it’s to the Mall for fireworks or your backyard kiddie pool. There are three packages available: clam boil ($15), lobster boil ($25), clam AND lobster boil ($35). Each package includes the whole shebang–the seafood, corn on the cob, red bliss potatoes, pork sausage and carrots. Must be pre-ordered by Thursday for pick up on the 4th between 11am and 2pm.
  • Equinox– Head to this close-by location if you’re looking to eat up before the fireworks.  From 4pm-9pm, the gourmets at Equinox will cook up standard BBQ fare for either dine in or carry out. Priced from as low as $9, they expect to offer pork sandwiches, burgers, panini and sides to fulfill all your patriotic culinary needs. Continue reading →
Entertainment, Penn Quarter, People, Special Events, The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: Dana Ellyn, BANNED

"The Books" by Dana Ellyn. Courtesy of the artist.

There was a time when banning a book meant silencing a voice. Flush with the power of our digital age, we may forget that information so readily available to us – both truth and lies – was once so easily stopped. That is, until we read about governmental attempts to control knowledge through digital means and realize it’s all still very prevalent.

I distinctly remember being very frightened as a child by the idea of books being banned – or worse, burned. The clandestine copy of Forever passed around my grammar school, eagerly highlighted, was the best instructor of sex education we had (we have it so easy now, seriously) and when it was confiscated by a puritanical teacher the sense of shame and then rebellion that resulted was a defining moment. Later on, books like Brave New World and A Clockwork Orange spoke deeply to my developing beliefs about personal freedom and responsibility. There’s a natural outrage in me against those who would try to censor artists from holding the mirror up to our not-so civil society.

Artist Dana Ellyn continues her examination of controversial subjects with Banned, a solo exhibit showing now through July 31 at MLK Library. Last December she applied her laser eye for hypocrisy to a wide range of untouchable subjects such as religion, politics, and feminine identity in Divinely Irreverent, a show I unabashedly loved as “an audacious exhibit delivering hard slaps to myths of many kinds.” Here, the examination comes from books banned or otherwise considered subversive – perfect for Dana’s love of metaphor – and the slaps are delivered to those who would ban information and keep us in the dark.

The exhibit opened to coincide with the American Library Association’s annual conference, and it’s worth taking a look at their list of the frequently challenged books – you may be surprised by what you see. Banned features seventeen paintings inspired by controversial books; here are three that I found resonated particularly with me. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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We All Scream For Gelato

Photo courtesy of
‘CH Farmer’s Market Gelato’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

It’s official: I’m breaking up with Ben & Jerry’s. There’s a new frozen delight in my life, and its name is Dolcezza Artisanal Gelato.

In a private tasting last night at the gelateria’s recently opened Dupont location, a few lucky ducks were invited to sample the expansive summer menu. It was mind-blowing. Possibly even life-changing. I’ve eaten a lot of sorbet, gelato and ice-cream in my day, but nothing has ever come close to the bright flavors and subtle complexity of what I experienced last night. I admit I was skeptical going in, as many of the offerings sounded more like salads than sweets. Basil-flavored gelato? Cucumber mint vodka? With every bite however, my cynical little heart melted into a pool of blubbering mush.

Continue reading →

Alexandria, The Daily Feed
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King Street Closed for PM Rush

Photo courtesy of
‘Water Main Breakage’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’

According to the City of Alexandria’s website, the portion of King Street between Janneys Lane and Russell Road will be closed from 3 pm through the evening hours today. Repair crews will be tearing into the street to repair a water main break that happened earlier during the morning rush.

If your commute takes you through that area or nearby routes, be prepared: all traffic in both directions will be diverted onto Janneys Lane to Quaker Lane to avoid the work area.

Arlington, The Daily Feed
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Mystery Object Found in Shirlington

Shirlington Mystery Object

I was waiting on a friend in Shirlington the other day when I saw this contraption. Anybody have an idea what it is? It is rather reminiscent of things I remember from history class, like stocks and pillories. In fact, the first thing I thought when I saw it was a photo I recalled from the Boxer Rebellion. No joke.

Anyway, hopefully this is some sort of useful device under construction, and not a form of public humiliation for lawbreakers, although honestly I don’t think that would be so bad. Any thoughts?

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Cupcakes: Trendy, fattening, delicious

Photo courtesy of
‘Cupcake’
courtesy of ‘christaki’

Yes, cupcakes are a trend, a fad that will probably end soon enough. But until it does, I will bide my time eating as many of them as possible and debating the merits of DC’s many, many cupcakeries. The latest installment in our city’s love affair with frosting comes in the form of a Cupcake Camp scheduled for this fall in Arlington.

Continue reading →