Yearly Archives: 2010

Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed, We Love Arts
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New Street Artist Wants to Punch You with Love

Over the past couple of years I’ve been keeping an eye on the local street art in my neighborhood, getting to know the artists, and matching their work to their name.  I love seeing pieces by DECOY, DIABETIK, Gaia and of course Shepard Fairey, pop up overnight along 14th Street NW and the surrounding area.  Aside from adding colorful character to our drab streets, one of the biggest reasons I love street art is the inherent mystery.  Who did this and why?  What’s the meaning behind their art?  Who are they?

Those questions arose again earlier this week as some new pieces went up by an artist unknown to me.  The pieces have similarities to work by other artists, but they don’t quite match up to anyone in particular.  At this point I can only guess what some of the work is, but so far I’ve seen a dead flower, what I think is the “belly badge” from a Care Bear (c’mon, we all watched strange shows as kids), and pink brass knuckles with heart-shaped finger holes – all signs of a truly twisted imagination (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

Is this person a goody two-shoes having a bad day, or perhaps a Debbie Downer trying to turn that frown upside down?  It’s hard to say, but I’m loving these new pieces and can’t wait to see what else crops up during the middle of the night.  If you know who this artist is, leave it in the comments!

The Daily Feed
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Apple Opens in Georgetown

Photo courtesy of
‘Apple Georgetown’
courtesy of ‘tbridge’

There’s long been a gap in the DC area when it came to where to get your Apple gear: you had to head to the inner ‘burbs to do it. DC has been lacking an Apple presence, much to the chagrin of all the Mac folks in the city. Today, that changes. Apple opens their first retail store in DC in Georgetown on Wisconsin Avenue, just above M Street NW. We got a sneak peak this afternoon, so take a look inside for photos.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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DC Crafts: Find Of The Day

Photo courtesy of
‘OG #4’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

The general consensus of my friends and coworkers is that this week has been a long, hot, and sleep deprived week. And today’s US v. Slovenia result did nothing to help liven the mood. Perhaps, although it’s only June, we’ve already entered the dog days of summer?

In an effort to prevent some reverse-seasonal effect disorder, I’m pulling out a secret lucky duck mood ring made by Washington DC master architect celula. It’s cute, bright, happy and perhaps might bring you and the US Men’s team some luck.

Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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The True Meaning of Strasmas

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘muohace_dc’

Tonight is the Third Night of Strasmas, as he starts against the Chicago White Sox at Nats Park at 7:05pm. The flashbulbs with all go off again, the crowd will once again chant for strikeouts, and DC will be a baseball town, as it will be all summer, for one game out of each five.

The Nationals are in for a crucial stretch of games, nine against interleague teams with records worse than their own 31-36, and then a patch of 13 against division foes that are a significant hurdle for our boys in red. Their first 67 games have not gone as planned, but the team is still wins ahead over last year’s abysmal 59-102. So, what do the Nationals have to do to make every day into Strasmas? Continue reading →

Music, The Features
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We Love Pop Culture: The Blanks

Popular culture makes its way through the District usually on the back of a Bravo series or other cable favorites. Housewives, Top Chefs and Real Worlders, you have had more than your fair time to shine a light on DC in the most recent months. Those of us not of the reality type enjoy seeing other familiar faces appear in town. Sometimes it’s a favorite comedian making a run through one of the theatres, but on occasion, the more niche parts of pop culture make their appearances.

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Fun & Games, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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mmm…brainzzzz

Photo courtesy of
‘This Is Gonna Kill Me (Again)’
courtesy of ‘M.V. Jantzen’

Update: Citing the need for more brains, the Zombies have postponed to next weekend.

The undead wars are upon us, folks. “True Blood” brought vampires back to your teevee last week, and the latest “Twilight” mind-killer is scheduled to attack you on the theater front at the end of the month. Not to be outdone by those blood-suckers, the zombies are planning to fight back en masse on the National Mall on Saturday.

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Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Isis & The Melvins @ 9:30 Club 6/16/10

isis @ 9:30 Club 6/16/10
courtesy of ISIS.

It all began as a simple tour announcement. ISIS playing with The Melvins at 9:30 Club on June 16th. For a few weeks, ISIS fans assumed that this would be an ISIS show with The Melvins as the opening act. Then it turned out that The Melvins were listed as the headliner and ISIS would be opening. And Isis fans let out a collective groan of disappointment. Then ISIS made the bombshell announcement that they are breaking up and that this tour will be their last. And ISIS fans took to the street: crying, breaking stuff, and banging their foreheads against walls like the Ayatollah Khomeini had just died. In reaction, ISIS and The Melvins wisely switched schedule spots for the remainder of the tour. So it was that noise-rock mainstays, The Melvins, opened for post-metal originators, ISIS, when they played together at the 9:30 Club on Wednesday night.

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The Daily Feed
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The Way We See It

The Way We See It, Brochure, 2010

Through their work, artists are able to convey and share their most personal thoughts and feelings with the public.  And the photography exhibit The Way We See It is the perfect example of young photographers doing just so.

The non-profit AED’s Idea: Exchange is a new effort dedicated solely to promote dialogue and communication on social and developmental issues. AED is inaugurating the Idea: Exchange with the photography exhibit The Way We See It: Young Photographers Examine, Define and Change Their World, showcasing the work created by youth from D.C. and around the world who use the art of photography to “reveal their lives, speak out about social issues, and advocate for better public policies”.

Now that is inspiring.

The exhibit will be open Wednesdays through Fridays, June 18th through September 3rd, from 2-7 PM.

The Idea: Exchange is located at the corner of Connecticut Ave and T St, NW.

The Daily Feed
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So, We Iced DCist


From L-R, WLDC’s Tom Bridge, DCist’s Aaron Morrissey, WLDC’s Dave Levy

Bros Icing Bros. You’re familiar with it, right? I feel like at this point, the only meme overtaking it involves Vuvezelas.

If you’re familiar with the DC blogging scene, you’re probably familiar with Aaron Morrissey and DCist. Aaron, long time weekend and sports editor for the Gothamist site just was named the site’s new editor, and we couldn’t be happier for him here at We Love DC.

But that doesn’t mean we couldn’t have some fun. At halftime of the US-Slovenia World Cup game (at that point, 2-0, and ever-so-painful to think about), WLDC’s fearless editor, Tom Bridge, presented Aaron Morrissey with a partially warm, Passion Fruit Smirnoff Ice. Aaron, with no ice to block it, was forced to accept.

His acceptance speech? “I’d probably rather drink this Passion Fruit Smirnoff Ice than watch the U.S. soccer game right now.” Well, the good news is that Landon Donovan halved the deficit. The bad news is that the DC blogging Ice war has begun.

The Daily Feed
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DC Water’s George Hawkins looks to the future

Photo courtesy of
Photo by the author

DC Water’s George Hawkins is an interesting man. He took over the District’s water and sewer authority last year, with no previous experience managing a utility. Previously he had worked for the District’s Department of the Environment, and before that spent some time with the EPA. He’s an idea guy, and that’s what came across last night at a blogger roundtable at DC Water’s Bryant Street Pumping Station.

Hawkins has bet his career on transforming the city’s water agency, which has been plagued with bad public relations for nearly a decade. Earlier this month, the agency unveiled their new trade name and slogan, DC Water: Water is Life. The agency’s new logo was created from contest entries.

For nearly two hours, Hawkins discussed the challenges of running the city’s water infrastructure. The system is aging, with some significant parts dating back to the Civil War. Nearly 20% of the system is over 100 years old. It’s the story of infrastructure everywhere in the 21st century. Rate increases are needed, as well as more capital funding for quicker upgrades. Continue reading →

The Features, Where We Live
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Where We Live: Clarendon

Photo courtesy of
‘IMG_0001’
courtesy of ‘blakespot’

In this week’s Where We Live, we’re venturing back out to Arlington into the heart of the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor. Clarendon is one of those places that always has something going on, and with a wide selection of bars, restaurants, and shopping, you’re never at a loss for something to do. But it’s also a great place to live– our very own Patrick says moving to Clarendon was the best choice he ever made! Read on to find out what’s so great about Clarendon.

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News, The Daily Feed, WMATA, WTF?!
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Bob McDonnell, in Richmond, Wants Control of WMATA

Photo courtesy of
‘A Simple Ass’
courtesy of ‘Orin Zebest’

Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, who lives in Richmond, 97.4 miles from the closest Metro station, wants two seats on the WMATA board (one voting, one alternate) or else he’s taking Virginia’s contribution to WMATA and going home. He’s upset that (Democrat) part time local politicians are taking up the seats that he’d like to fill with (Republican) transit “experts” that are based out of Richmond.

Call his bluff.

Entertainment, Music, The Daily Feed
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Photos: Amanda Palmer’s ninja gig

Photo courtesy of
‘AFP ninja gig’
‘erin m’

With just a few hours’ notice to her fans, performer Amanda Palmer managed to draw more than 100 fans to the historic Bethesda theater Wednesday night for what she calls a “ninja gig.” A low-key, free affair meant to reward a loyal fanbase, it offered her a chance to perform beyond  tonight’s highly structured Evelyn Evelyn gig at the 9:30 Club. Last night, as she will be tonight, Palmer was joined on stage by Jason Webley–the Evelyn to her Evelyn, their Siamese twin singers–and Sxip Shirley, a New York-based storyteller and wickedly talented harmonicist, who joins the Evelyn Evelyn family as the twins’ manager. It’s no coincidence that these three all have backgrounds drenched in cabaret performances, busking and all things theatrical.

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Entertainment, Food and Drink, The Features, We Love Drinks
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We Love Drinks: Dive Bars

Photo courtesy of
‘9946-27Crop’
courtesy of ‘furcafe’

With the amazing renaissance of our drinks culture in DC – the craft cocktail movement, the wine bar explosion, and the expanding beer consciousness all facing off against the slick corporate engines looking to make big bucks off bottle service and velvet ropes – it’s easy to overlook the plain ol’ dingy dive bar. But there’s a seedy side to the world of drinks in our fair capital city. And I love it.

What makes a dive bar? Can you really define it? Imagine you were a production designer for a crazy independent filmmaker, would you know what elements to include? Some might say DC is too Type A to have real dive bars, but the sleazy underbelly of politics proves that wrong. With so many bright-eyed babies coming here to “make it big” there’s bound to be a lot of disappointment. Not everybody’s a winner. And the dive bar thrives on losers.

Depressed yet? Good. Relish it. That’s part of the dive bar too. You’ve got to inhale that sick aroma, ripe from years of iqos dubai cigarette smoke and body odor, squint as you enter almost total darkness or excruciatingly bad fluorescent lighting, belly up to the bar and order a shot. Now look around. Let’s see what we have here.
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Fun & Games, Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed, The District, The Great Outdoors, The Mall
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DC Crafts: Find Of The Day

Photo courtesy of
’10-4-4 – Cherry Blossoms – Warm Blossoms’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Last night’s premiere of TopChefDC, filmed in April, has me thinking back to the cooler days of spring when the city was infiltrated with tourists on their yearly pilgrimages to see the cherry blossom.  While I long for the chillier weather and the beautiful, cotton candy cherry blossoms, I’m good with our present normal levels of tourists.

Today’s DC Craft lets you add a little bit of cherry blossom to your abode with this reinterpreted cherry blossom vinyl wall decal. The wall decoration comes in 17 potential colors, and features a series of 4 birds perched on blooming branches.  Chose pink for the branches, and you’ve got a DC-centric piece of wall art.

Entertainment, The Daily Feed
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We Love DC Does Top Chef DC: Episode 1

Photo courtesy of
‘PeelingPotatoes’
courtesy of ‘YoAmes’

We are halfway through the Trifecta.

Reality TV’s love affair with Washington, DC started with The Real World DC (a show I happen to know a lot about) and now Top Chef DC is here to keep us entertained before The Real Housewives of DC crashes the party.

I am excited to bring my experience covering DC’s reality shows over to We Love DC- and by cover I mean sit down on the couch while exchanging remarks with Kirk and Rebecca during our Cover It Live. Continue reading →

We Love Weekends
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We Love Weekends, June 19-20

Photo courtesy of
‘The Tourist’s Hoodie’
courtesy of ‘mwhatley’

Dave L.: Unsurprisingly, I’m still obsessed with the World Cup. With the second game for the Yanks at 10 a.m. on Friday, I’m all in for a morning break and loud cheering as the U.S. plays its second match against Slovenia. Saturday will be a brunch with some visiting family – recommendations always appreciated, in the city or in the Commonwealth – before my competitive skeeball team, Snakes on a Lane, laces up for the playoffs of United Skeeball’s third skeeson at Continental down in Rosslyn.

Paulo: I’ll be underwater over the weekend (literally), but back in town I’d love to go see GermanMaster Drawings from the Wolfgang Ratjen Collection, a relatively fresh acquisition by the National Gallery of Art, covering a millieu of artistic eras from the baroque to the romantic/impressionist. I especially look forward to seeing the waterproof coat of General Moltke. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Peebles Displays Traditional Inability to Answer Question

Photo courtesy of
‘Belgian Waffle with Fruit Compote’
courtesy of ‘phi’

R. Donahue Peebles has been not-running for office for the last few months as he was trying to decide whether or not to make a run at the Mayor’s office. He’s been notoriously doing campaign-like-things, and going on Kojo to talk about various issues, and so today, when he was on Jonetta Rose Barras’s show on WPFW, it was time to talk turkey.

Jonetta asked him point blank several times if he was running or not running and no clear answer emerged. It wasn’t a non-denial denial, but it was a non-committal commitment not to run, due to the health of his mother-in-law, whose cancer has gotten worse.

Look for more mealy-mouthed replies from Peebles in weeks to come about not running for not mayor.

The Daily Feed
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Some charges dropped in Wone trial

Photo courtesy of
‘The Spirit of Justice’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’

Judge Lynn Leibovitz ruled on the defense motion to dismiss in the obstruction trial today, dropping the evidence tampering charges against Dylan Ward and Victor Zaborsky.

At the start of the trial, Ward, Zaborsky, and Joe Price, residents of the Swann St. NW house where Robert Wone was found murdered in August 2006, were each charged with conspiracy, evidence tampering, and obstruction of justice for their actions immediately following the discovery of Wone’s body. Leibovitz found that the prosecution had not sufficiently made its case on tampering specifically against Ward and Zaborsky. As a result of today’s ruling, Ward and Zaborsky are now only on trial for conspiracy and obstruction, while Price remains accused of all three charges. No murder charges have been filed against any of the three.

WhoMurderedRobertWone.com is reporting daily from the trial, for those who wish to follow the developments more closely.