Yearly Archives: 2010

We Love Weekends
By

We Love Weekends, July 3-5

Photo courtesy of
‘Big Blue Fireball’
courtesy of ‘M.V. Jantzen’

John: Friday night I’ll be playing a show at Whitlow’s with my cover band, “Hang the DJ” and then heading down to Yorktown, Virginia for a Norman-Rockwell-painting-esque Fourth of July weekend with my girlfriend and family. If I were staying in town, I’d head down to the Capitol and watch A Capitol Fourth, which is also broadcast on PBS. With the NSO, The Old Guard Howitzer Salute Battery (what makes fireworks better? ARTILLERY!) and a string of great performers, it’s always a fun, patriotic show. I worked the show for about 6 years and you can see my photos from 2007 and 2006.

Rachel: What’s more American than spending 4th of July weekend centered around a ball park? I can think of no better way to celebrate our Nation’s birthday than that! Friday I’ll be at Nationals Park watching game two of the Mets series. Then Saturday is the big day! I’m debuting my new EP with a live set starting at 1 p.m. at the Columbia Heights Market Place. Proceeds from the new EP’s sales will be donated in honor of my late father to the National Kidney Foundation and Donate Life campaign. Of course, Sunday’s the big kahuna — Nationals baseball in the Nation’s capital on the Nation’s birthday (you have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to write that sentiment down for others to see. It brings joy to my eyes!) This will be my third 4th of July Nationals game, they always make for a good time. The game will be followed by the Uncle Sam Jam on the South West waterfront. Party on, America! Continue reading →

The Daily Feed, The District
By

Marion Barry surprised by Barry Administration streetcar plan

Photo courtesy of
‘Marion Barry’
courtesy of ‘cliff1066â�¢’

David Alpert at Greater Greater Washington has a great find regarding the never-ending streetcar debate. This week the DC Council passed emergency legislation authorizing the use of overhead wires for the H Street-Benning Road streetcar line. During the debate about the legislation, Councilmember Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) brought up the “lack of planning” angle again, stating that all along he’s been surprised the H Street line has even been on the table. This was the same argument present back in May when the streetcar funding was temporarily cut. Barry back then, on May 26 said:

Our original plan was to go from Bolling Air Force Base down to Anacostia station. … Down Martin Luther King, up Good Hope Road, and maybe across the 11th Street bridge to Capitol Hill. All of a sudden I hear from somewhere that H Street is on the agenda.

Interestingly enough, however, planning for the H Street line has been in the works for over a decade. In fact, the H Street line appears in DDOT’s 1997 transportation plan, a report stamped with “Marion Barry, Mayor.”

Perhaps DDOT could be criticized for a lack of communication in the past, but the planning has been there. And within the last few years, there have been many community meetings and planning reports issued. It’s amazing to see members of the DC Council, and in the case of Barry–a former Mayor–ignore the years of work DDOT has done to make this plan a reality.

The Daily Feed
By

How badly do you miss Tai Shan?

Photo courtesy of
‘Treats You Have Treats For Me? (2 of 3)’
courtesy of ‘Daniel.Techie{TaiShan~4Ever} @ 127.0.0.1’

Enough to pay $5,000 plus airfare to go visit him? That well-known panda-lobbying organization The Friends of the National Zoo is organizing a 10-day trip this fall to China, one that will include a stop at the Bifengxia Wildlife Preserve, home to our beloved Tai Shan. Sure, there’s lots of culture and dining and education and blah blah blah mixed in, but we know what it’s really all about: checking up on Butterstick to make sure he hasn’t been brainwashed by the communists.

Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed
By

Montgomery County on Water Restrictions

 

Photo courtesy of
‘Grass’
courtesy of ‘Eric M Martin’

While the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission repairs a 96″ water main in Montgomery County, all WSSC water customers are under mandatory water restrictions. The 96″ main near Tuckerman Lane and Gainsborough Road in Potomac set off early warning alarms this morning concerning its stability, and WSSC leapt into action. During these restrictions, WSSC customers are to:

  • Stop all outside water use – no watering lawns, no washing cars, no topping off swimming pools
  • Use water only as necessary
  • Limit flushing toilets (do not flush after every use)
  • Limit using washing machines and dishwashers (wash full loads only)

 

This will preserve enough water to allow for firefighting and medical uses of water. So if you see your neighbor in MoCo washing his car, tell ’em to wait until after the pipe’s fixed. And don’t water the lawn.

The Daily Feed
By

Rep Your DC ‘Hood With A T-Shirt


Photo by Dan Levy/NBC Washington

Dan Levy of NBC Washington’s got a good find — DC neighborhood T’s available at Mustard Seed in Bethesda.

Mustard Seed is located at 7349 Wisconsin Avenue and is now carrying the neighborhood logo tees that range in price from $9 to $19.50. Don’t want to rep your ‘hood? You can show your District loyalty by purchasing a simple yet ever so patriotic DC top.

Not gonna lie, that NW/DC knock on AC/DC is definitely something I want circulating in my wardrobe. Just saying.

The Daily Feed
By

DC Pixelworkers, Unite!

dcpw.jpg
Design courtesy of United Pixelworkers

DC plays host to one of the largest creative workforces in the country, with innumerable web and creative professionals who spend all their days staring at monitors moving little pixels around to make an awesome image. Now, there’s a sweet t-shirt that you can get your hands on to prove your membership.

Finally, a “union” we can all get behind. They’re running a sale on shirts through July 4th, where shirts run $17.76. They’re usually $22, so take the savings while they’re available, comrade!

The Daily Feed
By

Last Chance To Send The Nats To Anaheim

Photo courtesy of
‘Nationals vs Mets 23’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’

The Nationals (34-45) return to the District to start a 10 game homestand tonight after going 1-5 on their most recent roadtrip.

With June behind them, Manager Jim Riggleman remains positive. “Let’s play some good baseball before the All-Star break and start feeling better about ourselves,” he told MLB.com.

Want to get your favorite Nats to the 2010 All-Star Game in Anaheim? MLB veteran Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez remains atop the NL leaders in votes but still needs more. Other players are in the running but they won’t get anywhere without fans notching their names in the tally column.

Ballots close at 11:59 p.m. tonight. That means: if you want to see those Washington faces in sunny California representing District baseball, you’ve got less than 24 hours to make something happen.

You can vote on the Nationals website or at MLB’s Campaign Manager Headquarters.

People, The Features
By

He Loves DC – B. Lamont Rooker


Photo by Chris Skillman

Last week, MSNBC posted a list of the best college towns in America, and, while there are some great college scenes here in D.C., we didn’t make the cut alongside places like Lawrenceville, Boston, Boulder and Athens. But, if someone out there were to look at the best alumni cities, where chapters from dozens of schools intermingle and join together for service and fun, well, D.C. probably can’t be beat. Maybe it’s because of its location close to many of the southern universities and major northern college towns. Maybe it’s just the age of the citizens includes many just out of – and therefore, still attached – to their alma maters. Regardless of why, the fact is, there are many active, engaging chapters helping keep recent grads in touch with their schools.

With so many diverse alumni chapters from across the country, it’s great to see that there’s an organization to help bring them all together – the Capital Alumni Network (CAN). I got a chance to talk with B. Lamont Rooker, the president of CAN, about what the organization does and how it helps more and more groups love D.C. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

Another run of badly-written gun stories

Photo courtesy of
‘Bang!’
courtesy of ‘Samer Farha’

July 1 is tomorrow and the alterations to the Virginia concealed weapons law go into effect. Previously a person with a concealed weapons permit couldn’t – subject to some exceptions – carry their concealed weapon into any location that served alcohol. The new rules allow permitted individuals to keep their weapons on them so long as they do not consume any alcohol.

Unfortunately the media continues to misrepresent the changes either in the name of more salacious headlines or simple brevity. In the second paragraph of their story the Washington post says “Virginia legislature lifted a ban on guns in establishments that serve alcohol.” However, as I told you back in February, no such ban ever existed and WaPo has even reported on this fact before.

I’m sure we can look forward to more of these over the weekend. Whether you support these changes or think they’re horrific you can at least take some comfort in the fact that nothing has really changed, regardless of how lazy reporters might try to froth you up. As always, establishments are free to post signs banning firearms from the premises.

The Daily Feed
By

Blogger Gets VW Beetle Towed Due To Towering Stack Of Parking Tickets

Photo courtesy of
‘parking issues #1’
courtesy of ‘gerdaindc’

Fellow District blogger Prince of Petworth got a car towed all by writing about it. Talk about the power of the blog.

A yellow 2001 Volkswagen Beetle was parked in the 1500 block of Church Street just a few feet from 16th and had a giant stack of fading pink parking tickets totaling $3,295 before additional fines for nonpayment, according to NBC Washington.

You’ve got to check out the row of pink tickets lining the windshield of the car. It’s laughable really.

The Daily Feed
By

Mo’ representation, mo’ fatties

Photo courtesy of
‘Happy The Hippo :)’
courtesy of ‘Daniel.Techie{TaiShan~4Ever} @ 127.0.0.1’

Well, probably not. But according to a new study from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation twenty states got fatter and we’re the only region that got thinner. So DC residents would have an easier time fitting into a voting booth if only they were allowed in.

Go ahead and pat yourself on the back if you like, but only do it for the exercise and don’t eat any celebration cake. While we’re down on average the quantity of obese adults rose in the poor and black populations. In that we’re just like everywhere else and it’s a pretty sad and stark number –  21.5% of our general adult population is obese versus 34.% of the black population, a full half again.

The study does have a few bright spots and calls us out as being among the half of the country that’s put in some measures to make school lunches and vended food in schools healthier. Whether vending bans actually help is a matter of heated debate but there’s no question you can load up a lot of calories from them. This 2006 Forbes slideshow of some of the “worst” vending foods lists several items that, all by themselves, exceed 10% of the FDA’s 2000 daily calories guideline.

Entertainment, Music, Special Events, The Features, We Love Music
By

We Love Music: N Street Village Night Sessions

Photo courtesy of
‘oldmic’
courtesy of ‘miss_rogue’

A woman by the name of Barbara Parker was honored this spring by N Street Village, a group empowering homeless and low-income women to claim their highest quality of life through service and advocacy. Parker was among three strong-willed honorees in April by N Street for their moving and motivational life stories.

N Street Village Assistant Director of Development Carline Meehan, who spoke to Parker last Friday after she performed live at the Rock ‘N Roll hotel alongside her friends from the N Street’s in-house choir Bethany’s Women of Praise for the first N Street Village Night Session Thursday, illuminated the night’s story.

“She was really glowing [about the performance]. I mean I could just tell that she had really enjoyed being on stage and felt a good energy in the room and good connection with the people.”

Parker is one voice amongst a company of female vocalists making up Bethany’s Women of Praise. This particular assembly of music lovers and melody chanters came together at the same place. N Street Village is what they have in common and The Holster Project is what made their “live on stage” moment become a reality. Continue reading →

Comedy in DC
By

Comedy in DC: This F-ing Hipster

This month seems to be the month of late comedy promotion. In theory, there’s a showcase at the Eleventh Street Lounge in Clarendon on the 8th, but all the usual suspects there are quiet. There’s comedy tomorrow night at Mr. Smith’s in Georgetown, but you know, Georgetown after work.

The fun thing coming up on the calendar is actually 3 Chord Comedy at the Velvet Lounge on Friday the 9th. Again. Because I’m consistently impressed with the headliners Eli books for this show. July’s 3 Chord show features: Jimmy Meritt, Jake Young , Tyler Sonnichsen, and Eli Sairs, which already makes it pretty much Tiff’s Dream Lineup of Locals Who Don’t Perform Much Locally Anymore, but the headliner is Joe Mande, who has been on VH1 and Comedy Central and HuffingtonPost comedy, but is probably most famous to you, dear reader, as the Look At This Fucking Hipster Guy.  I understand Mande is pretty excited about bringing the funny to DC, and that it’s a pretty different experience from the blog/book, so I recommend that you check it out.   Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

Zentan’s Rooftop Dining Menu

Photo courtesy of
‘Piscine Profonde’
courtesy of ‘M.V. Jantzen’

Rooftop. Pool. Sushi. Those are pretty much the only ingredients I need to be happy. And you know where you can get those three things all in one place? The rooftop at the Donovan House Hotel.

The rooftop at the Donovan House overlooks Thomas Circle, where you can sip cocktails and nosh on grilled skewers, like teriyaki pork belly, and miso and brown sugar glazed vegetables (a selection of 5 for $15) paired with sushi and sashimi (a platter of three six-piece rolls for $25), courtesy of the in-house Zentan restaurant.

Zentan also features my newest drink obsession, Canton Ginger Liquor, a deliciously dangerous sweet and spicy liquor that you can pour into champagne with ground cherries for a deadly, gorgeous cocktail.

It’s not exactly budget dining, per-se, but it sure does come with a view.

The Daily Feed
By

Firecracker FAQ: Can I Blow That Up?

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘erin m’

Once you light that fuse, you really don’t have the time to look up whether or not it’s actually legal to set off a firecracker in the District. Luckily, the good people over at the Hill Is Home did the necessary research ahead of time so you know what you can and cannot legally set off as part of your own personal fireworks display this Fourth of July:

In the District of Coumbia, the only legal “fireworks” are sparklers less than 20 inches, torches, box fire, fountains, cones, dip sticks, non-poisonous snakes, paper novelty items, colored lights, and paper caps. So basically nothing more explosive than a Christmas popper.

Everything else including firecrackers or fireworks that explode, such as cherry bombs, salutes, Roman candles, floral shells, and artillery shells is illegal.

You’ve probably noticed that around this time of year, several temporary stands are erected for you to buy your snakes and sparklers. Here is a map listing all of the licensed vendors this year.

Be safe out there…

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
By

Phillie Phanatic Being Sued By A 75-Year-Old Woman

Photo courtesy of
‘Phillie Fan’
courtesy of ‘terren in Virginia’

It’s not exactly DC news, but Nats fans can collectively heckle under their breathe over the furry, green, and beer-bellied Phillies mascot for being sued by a 75-year woman for climbing through the stands and injuring her knees at a 2008 Reading Phillies minor league game, Philadelphia Daily News reports.

Grace Crass of Wernersville, Pa. was at the Reading game with her church group at the time of the incident. The Phanatic then proceeded to climb through the stands and onto her legs paining Crass to the point of yelling at the mascot due to the pain, according to her attorney John Speicher.

“It set off the arthritic process, and in fairly short order she needed a lot of medical treatment,” Speicher told Philadelphia Daily News. “Ultimately, she needed to get knee replacements.”

Crass is seeking $50,000 in damages from several major players from within the Phillies organization. They include: the Phanatic himself Mr. Tom Burgoyne, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the Reading Phillies.

This isn’t the first time the Phillie Phanatic, introduced in 1977, was the center of a civil suit. A study published by Cardozo Law Review written by sports law professor Bob Jarvis said that the Phanatic “hold the dubious record as the most-sued mascot in the majors.”

Continue reading →

Alexandria, Entertainment, The Daily Feed
By

Top Chef DC Heads To Mount Vernon

Any Top Chef fan knows that choosing to make a dessert as your dish often spells doom. The theory has held up with the first two eliminated chefs in the DC season. So what will happen when the chefs are challenged to bake? We’ll have to tune in and see but as you can see they chefs aren’t happy.

The contestants also head on over to Mount Vernon (or as they call it, George Washington’s house) for their elimination challenge, check out the video after the cut to see the contestants attempt to grill on GW’s lawn and hear how it’s so DC to head down the GW Parkway into Alexandria, VA.

Are you watching Top Chef DC tonight? You can check out my DC take on the show tomorrow but I also want to hear what the DC crowd is thinking about the show. Send me your Top Chef DC tweets (@dmbosstone) and I’ll feature my favorites in tomorrow’s recap!

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

Nationals: Looking Like Sellers

Photo courtesy of
‘Nationals vs Mets 08’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’

During the dog days of the baseball season, there are two major July milestones that benchmark most teams for the year. First is the All-Star Break, three days off the normal schedule and inclusive of two of the only days of the year where there are absolutely no major sports being played in North America. The second is the MLB trade deadlines of July 31, where teams in contention do what they can to strengthen their rosters – and those who are lagging behind potentially make the commitment to “look to next year.”

On the last day of June, we look to the last day of July, and it looks more and more likely (even with the win last night) that the Washington Nationals are going to be clearing some room to build for the future. There are two names that seem to pop up the most in trade rumor talk: Josh “The Hammer” Willingham and Adam Dunn. Both will be free agents at the end of the season, so it’s in the Nationals best interest to try and move them to get something back on the investment. Willingham’s bat could help out many a contender, and recent conversation indicate that he may be a fit for NL East rival Atlanta; Dunn would be a good addition to an AL club like the White Sox, where he’d be able to DH and not have to see the field.

We’ll keep you up to date on who will be wearing a Nationals uniform come the end of next month – but it’s more likely than not going to be a few new jerseys to get to know.

Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
By

The Winning Ticket: She & Him


courtesy of She & Him.

As a way to say thanks to our loyal readers, We Love DC will be giving away a pair of tickets to a 9:30 Club concert to one lucky reader each week. Check back here every Wednesday morning at 9am to find out what tickets we’re giving away and leave a comment for your chance to be the lucky winner!

This week we have a hot pair of tickets up for grabs! We are giving away a pair of tickets to the sold out She & Him show at the 9:30 Club on Wednesday, July 7th.

She & Him is one of those acts whose charm is impossible to resist. Between Zooey Deschanel’s 60’s pixie, throw-back voice and M. Ward’s magical guitar playing and classic pop arrangements, their music melts even the most jaded listener’s heart. It also doesn’t hurt that Deschanel makes for an incredibly cute front-woman. She & Him’s videos are ridiculously good-humored and adorable. Their albums are the musical equivalent of laying in the grass and watching the breeze tickle dandelions. It is no surprise that this show is sold out, as people everywhere fall in love with She & Him’s simple, effective pop approach. The music of She & Him is a refreshing treat and their show at the 9:30 Club next week will provide the perfect pop escape from a hot, July evening in DC.

For your chance to win these tickets simply leave a comment on this post using a valid email address between 9am and 4pm today. One entry per email address, please. If today doesn’t turn out to be your lucky day, check back here each Wednesday for a chance to win tickets to other great concerts.

For the rules of this giveaway…
Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
By

Ridiculously Awesome LEGO Exhibit at the Building Museum

Photo courtesy of
‘P1080921’
courtesy of ‘Bill Ward’s Brickpile’

If you’re like me and never really grew out of your childhood LEGO hobby, here’s something you’ll definitely want to check out.  USA Today brings word that the National Building Museum is opening up what sounds to be a really cool exhibit: a collection of fifteen large-scale replicas of famous buildings made entirely out of LEGOs.  The exhibit, called Towering Ambition, showcases the work of architect-turned-LEGO artist Adam Reed Tucker (one of only 11 LEGO Certified Professionals in the world!).

In true National Building Museum tradition, the exhibit will include a great interactive section that will allow visitors to build their own LEGO buildings and place them on a city map.  Towering Ambition opens Saturday and will be on display until September 2011, so you’ll have plenty of time to head over and release your inner child over the next year.