Yearly Archives: 2010

The Daily Feed
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Real Housewives of D.C.

Photo courtesy of
‘Lincoln’s Cottage Southern Exposure’
courtesy of ‘christaki’

Bravo has announced that the Real Housewives of D.C will premiere on the network August 5th at 9 PM.  The  cast will include Catherine Ommanney, Lynda Erkiletian (founder of T.H.E Artist Agency, or as Bravo puts it, “one of the top modeling agents in D.C.” — Bravo, how many model agencies do you think we actually have?), Mary Schmidt Amons, Michaele Salahi (yes, part of the White House crasher duo), and Stacie Scott Turner.

Although I have no idea if this Real Housewives franchise will be as popular as NYC or NJ, I definitely will be tuning in.  I welcome any opportunity to support the city I love and watch mind-numbing TV all at the same time.

Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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The Winning Ticket: Bettye LaVette

Betty LaVette @ 9:30 Club 6/24/10

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!

For this week’s giveaway, we have a pair of tickets to see R&B, soul veteran Bettye LaVette perform at the 9:30 Club on Thursday, June 24th.

Bettye LaVette is a true soul warrior. She has been singing in the trenches for five decades; constantly reinventing herself and perfecting her approach to that after hours place where soul, R&B, and jazz blend together into a sexy, humid sound. It is almost hard to believe that this late into a career she can finally be hitting her peak, but that is exactly what Bettye LaVette is doing. For the last ten years, Ms. LaVette has been a recording dynamo; recording and releasing albums with more regularity and consistency than ever before. Here is a performer who seems to have put the insecurities of youth behind her and has emerged a more confident performer than ever before. This is best demonstrated on her latest album “Interpretations: The British Songbook“. On “Interpretations…” Ms. LaVette takes on the daunting task of rearranging classic British Rock songs like The Rolling Stones’ ‘Salt of the Earth’ and The Who’s ‘Love Reign O’er Me’. Ms. LaVette reworks these hugely recognizable songs in a way that transcends the “cover song” tag by completely owning them. Only a real master could accomplish such a thing so beautifully. The chance to see Bettye LaVette perform these interpretations and other songs from her impressive career at the 9:30 Club is a special opportunity for DC music fans.

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. Tickets for this show are also available through Ticketfly. 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
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DC Triathlon this Sunday

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC_5490’
courtesy of ‘photopete’

DC is known for hosting the Nation’s Triathlon every year, which has become one of the bigger triathlons in the country with 6,000 participants. But the race sells out very quickly and only has an Olympic-distance course. To encourage more local participation and more first-time triathletes, the folks who put on the Nation’s Tri started the DC Triathlon this year, which will be run this Sunday starting at 5:30 AM. This race includes two different distances, with courses that include a swim in the Potomac, a bike through Rock Creek Park, and a run around the Mall.

The inaugural race is sold out, but I’d recommend heading down to watch the craziness this weekend. I completed last year’s Nation’s Triathlon, and I’m registered for this Sunday’s race, so I’ll see you out there!

The Daily Feed
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DC Liquor Stores to Open for the 4th

Photo courtesy of
‘A Thousand Points of Light’
courtesy of ‘M.V. Jantzen’

The DC Council voted today to allow District liquor stores to be open on Independence Day. Since July 4th falls on a Sunday and liquor sales are usually not allowed on Sunday, it took an act of the council to decide that residents can run out for a last minute bottle of bourbon for their picnics and cookouts. Cue the usual hand-wringing about the dangers of alcohol mixed with fireworks, which means it’s a good time for me to remind you about DC’s fireworks laws. Basically, you can’t have anything that explodes, or which moves on its own after you light it.

Virginia liquor stores, however, will still be closed on the 4th. (Edited to clarify: That is, VA liquor stores which are typically closed on Sundays will still be closed on that particular Sunday.) So, last-minute party shoppers of NoVa: We in DC welcome your dollars.

The Daily Feed, We Green DC
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Wed. Screening: How Everyday Folks Bring Change

Environmental Film Fest logo

If you’ve ever thought of starting your own sustainably sourced salad shop or of plucking all the trash from the city streets, check out tomorrow night’s screening of Climate of Change, a film that shows how ordinarily people are making a difference for the planet, around the planet.

It shows how self-described “hillbillies” in Appalachia battle strip mining and mountaintop removal, a London woman starts an environmental communications firm, a 13-year-old in India rallies against plastics, and more.

The screening starts at 6:30 p.m. at Georgetown’s Letelier Theater, and a wine reception catered by Sweetgreen follows. Tickets are $20 and RSVPs are required to this Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital event.

The Daily Feed, WMATA
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Metro to Remember 22 June Accident

Photo courtesy of
‘metro’
courtesy of ‘spiggycat’

Metro announced this afternoon that they will hold a remembrance ceremony at the Fort Totten metro on June 22nd at 10am, to remember the accident that claimed the lives of nine riders last year. The families of the dead will also dedicate a plaque to their memories, and lay a wreath in honor of all victims.

It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since the deadly crash. The system is still operating in crisis mode, with no clear timetable to resume normal operation, and the city’s relationship with WMATA is on the rocks. It’s hopeful that the release of the NTSB findings will begin to put some milestones in place for Metro to work toward, and more importantly, talk about publicly. While they wait for the NTSB to write the final report, their hands are very much tied about what they can say publicly.

The text of the plaque is after the break. Continue reading →

Adventures, Business and Money, The Daily Feed
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DC Crafts: Find Of The Day

Photo courtesy of
‘God’s Eyes’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

Maybe it’s the hot and humid weather, or maybe it’s because I feel like the city scene has been a little lethargic over the last few months, but I think we’re in need of some daily, local craftiness to inspire us to greatness.

So here it is. Today’s DC Craft of the Day comes to us from Etsy seller ksickles, who’s Washington DC  Metro Area Glass Tile Pendant will allow you to “Declare your love for Washington DC” and the surrounding hoods of Rockville, Baltimore, Annapolis, Alexandria and Arlington. FYI: The pendant is not waterproof, so no jumping in the Potomac with it on.

Fashionable DC, Featured Photo
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The Seersucker Social in Photos


All photos by Max Cook

This past Saturday was a crazy day in DC.  Despite the sweltering heat, dedicated soccer fans filled Dupont Circle to cheer for their favorite teams.  Hoards of people filled the streets to watch or partake in the Pride Parade.  However my choice of torture was to participate in the Seersucker Social.  What was supposed to be a delightful, dandy of a bike ride through Rock Creek Park was actually a hot, sweaty, feat of endurance.

As a witness to the Tweed Ride last fall, I was determined not only to photograph the Social, but to participate in it as well.  While my normal summer attire consists of shorts and a t-shirt, I purchased some seersucker pants, a matching belt, and a madras tie to add a little flare to the ensemble.  Had the temperature been 65 degrees and the humidity low, I would have been fine, however with temps in the 90’s and the humidity of a Vietnamese jungle, I was miserable the second I stepped out of my door.  That’s not to mention the fact that I had borrowed a friend’s vintage Goodyear, bazillion pound, single speed bicycle that I had to push uphill to the finish line.

Are you tired of me complaining yet?  Good, because I’m done.  Once I had taken a bath in the restroom sink at Hillwood Estate and drank a gallon of water, I was rejuvenated and ready to start documenting the affair.  This was my first visit to Hillwood and let me say that it’s straight out of the movies.  With stately buildings, manicured lawns, and acres of beautiful greenery, it was the perfect setting to socialize with other seersucker-wearing sweat bombs.  The sun soon hid behind some clouds, refreshing (amazing) drinks were served, and music began to play.  As for the rest of the afternoon, well, I’ll let my photos speak for themselves.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Gannett to experiment with hyperlocal

Photo courtesy of
‘Truthful Cliches’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’

In yet another case of local-media-imitates-outlet-that-hasn’t-launched-yet, Gannett will be rolling out new “community websites” in 10 of its TV markets, including the DC area (They own WUSA9, the CBS affiliate, here). They aren’t saying when, but the idea is to “leverage user-generated content” to provide “hyperlocal coverage” and, of course, provide additional targeting data to advertisers. Will any of this user-generated content appear on the TV stations whose websites receive this coverage? Of course not. That’s for “professionals.” Which means I expect the Gannett stations to solicit this hyperlocal coverage for free.

Entertainment, Night Life, We Love Music
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Upcoming: Revolution @ FUR 6/17/10

Revolution @ FUR

This Thursday the DC alternative music scene makes its return to a proper dance club with the launch party of “Revolution” at FUR Nightclub. For years industrial, goth, 80’s, and punk music has been surviving (and in some cases thriving) in basements and bars around the DC area. The underground was not always relegated to the shadows in this town however. For the first fifteen years that I lived in the DC area, there was always a large format dance club giving Industrial/Goth/Punk/80’s dance music a home. Cavernous clubs with huge dance floors and sick sound systems lending themselves once-a-week to the alternative crowd for epic dance parties. For many, these clubs were the epicenter of not just music but also of a thriving nightlife community. Hell, I met my wife at one of those clubs and had my wedding reception after-party at another!

It has been too long since a kick-ass, proper dance club has opened its doors on a regular basis to this scene. This Thursday the Industrial/Goth/Punk scene will come roaring out of the underground and take over FUR Nightclub for the first of a bi-weekly, genre, dance-party called “Revolution”. I was invited to be one of the DJs for this awesome event and I happily accepted. After speaking with the event organizers it was obvious to me that we share the same idea about bringing these genres to one of DC’s nicest and most well-equipped dance clubs. The organizers, the other DJs, and I are all dedicated to creating a great dance party that won’t simply evoke the old, scene, dance clubs; we are determined to create a unique event that will hopefully grow to become legendary in its own right. With a great sense of history for the Industrial/Goth/Punk/80’s scene in DC, we all hope to begin a new era of massive dance parties with our party “Revolution” at FUR. Continue reading →

Adventures, Business and Money, Essential DC, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, Special Events, The Daily Feed, The District
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Wonji Juice Comes To DC

Photo courtesy of
‘Juicing Apples’
courtesy of ‘tiffanywashko’

After Saturday night’s bender, my body and mind were begging me to consume something, anything really, that was nutrient-rich and healthy. With a frozen pizza and some left over chips my only pantry option, I dragged myself off to the nearby Whole Foods to fill my cart with leafy greens and organic goods.

When I arrived at the Georgetown temple of all things gluten and pesticide-free, I espied a new, and at that moment, perfect cure for my lingering hangover, a juice bar. Wonji Juice, the Annapolis started and based juice bar company, offers delicious and super-nutritious fruit, vegetable and superfood concoctions that address any therapeutic need (hangover, stress relief, skin health, etc.) that may be ailing you.

My cure was the Green River, which according to Wonji is a  “Vitamin and mineral dense greens for a nutritious blast! High in chlorophyll to improve blood quality and folate to help produce and maintain new cells.” I definitely picked the right juice for the occasion, and while I can’t say it immediately made my hangover go away, I could definitely tell that my body was thankful for the vitamin rich sustenance.

News, The Daily Feed
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Peculiar Robbery at Annapolis City Hall

Photo courtesy of
‘Vintage Bank Money Bag’
courtesy of ‘las (used to be meeza 1)’

If you’ve paid any bills lately to the City of Annapolis, you might want to call them to make sure your check wasn’t one of the $149,000+ worth of checks that were in a bank bag that was stolen on Monday. The bag contained checks that were stamped “for deposit only” and those will likely have to be stopped and reissued, which can cost some change to the sender. No word yet who will pick up that tab. The thief also got away with around $4,000 in cash.

The Daily Feed
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BuddhaFest

Photo courtesy of
‘Screen with Wings’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

When it’s hot outside, all I want to do is go to the movies.  Something about sitting in an incredibly dark and cold room with a diet coke (or perhaps one of those yummy cherry frosty things) in my hand just makes it all better.  For about 2 hours at least.

So, when I heard about DC’s first Buddhist film festival this weekend I thought, now this is really something, 4 days out of the heat – I am so in.

BuddhaFest is a four-day event being held June 17-20 at American University’s Katzen Art Center.  BuddhaFest presents 12 films, including a world premiere, talks by leading American Buddhist teachers, meditations, and a Picnic for Peace.

Most tickets are $9.95 and festival passes are available starting at $47.75.

Now all you need is that delicious cherry frosty…

Featured Photo
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Featured Photo


Spice Girls Suck!!! Miley Rules by borderstan

As a full-blooded American who was born on the Fourth of July, whose favorite memory of playing soccer as a kid is eating orange slices after the match, I have to wonder what makes you die hard fútbol fans tick.

To you Brits from across the pond, you do realize that you’re standing in your lost land?  Sure, your ball kicking skills may be slightly superior (oh wait, it was a tie), but your inferior musket loading, cannon firing, and battlefield positioning skills are spread all over the pages of history books like beans on toast.  I’ll take my apple pie and Cherry Coke any day of the week over your bland food and high tea.  The only thing you have on us Amerikuns is that sophisticated accent of yours, and the women* who speak with it.

To my fellow Americans, please, let’s just give them this one small thing shall we?  Even though we were raised to believe that we’re superior to the rest of the world in every way, we don’t have to squash their hopes every chance we get do we?  Let them win this tiny, silly game.  Just remember the following facts.  We invented McDonald’s.  We’re home to the companies that build iPods and Windows 7.  We have spacious skies and amber waves of grain from sea to shining sea.  They have the Spice Girls, and the Spice Girls suck!

* Kate Beckinsale – call me!

All Politics is Local, News, The Daily Feed
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Does The DC Democratic Party Straw Poll Mean Anything?

Photo courtesy of
‘CPAC Straw Poll’
courtesy of ‘Gage Skidmore’

This past weekend, the DC Democratic Party held their convention at Howard University’s Law School, and as part of the festivities, the assembled citizens held a straw poll election of candidates for Mayor. The showing wasn’t good for Mayor Adrian Fenty, who was booed by those in attendance. They were all there to see Council Chairman Vincent Gray, who received just over seven hundred votes. Mayor Fenty could only come up with just under two hundred.

Is this straw poll a big deal? Probably not. If it had meant anything, I would imagine the Mayor would have rallied a comparable number of supporters to make it a close vote. In 2006, the straw poll voted strongly for Vincent Orange and Linda Cropp, with Fenty only gathering few votes, but he drew much more heavily at the primary election, where he won all the precincts.

This was an empty victory, largely geared toward the Democratic Party apparatus, and not the citizens as a whole. Keep an eye on the polls.

The Daily Feed
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Strasburg & Pontius Named Players of the Week By MLB and MLS

Photo courtesy of
‘Player of the Week’
courtesy of ‘jem’

In what is sure to be the first many major awards in Stephen Strasburg’s career, he got his first today when he was named the Bank of America MLB NL Player of the Week.

Why was he named the NL’s top player this week? Well, besides the obvious fact that Strasmania has hit the blogosphere, Mr. Strasburg is tied for 2nd on the all-time list of most strikeouts recorded in first 2 big league starts at 22 K’s. Only Karl Spooner (27 in 2 starts in Sept. 1954) recorded more in first 2 big league assignments.

The San Diego native also fanned 19 before issuing first walk. The only other pitcher to do that since 1900 was Cinncinatti’s Johnny Cueto who went struck out 22 before walking someone in 2008 .

Strasburg is now 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA.

The Nationals’ new starter isn’t the only DC athlete getting nods this week. The United’s Chris Pontius was named MLS Player of the Week for Week 12 of the 2010 season. Pontius scored two goals and recorded an assist in DC United’s 3-2 victory over Seattle Sounders FC on Thursday, June 10 at Qwest Field.

This is also Pontius’ first career Player of the Week award in addition to it being the first time a DC United player was chosen as Player of the Week this season.

Congrats to both DC athletes on quite a week’s worth of achievements!

The Daily Feed
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Goat. Bound & Gagged. In the Trunk of a Car

Photo courtesy of
‘Stare’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

…that’s really all you need to know. At a sobriety checkpoint in Bedford County, DC resident Fiona Ann Enderdy arrived at the checkpoint, and there were… noises coming from the trunk of her car. It was a goat, bound and gagged, and of course panting because it was ungodly hot and nasty this weekend even if you were NOT covered in fur and gagged in the trunk of a car.

Enderdy was charged with animal cruelty and released, but insists that in the UK, where she’s from, transporting goats that way is perfectly acceptable.

Dupont Circle, Essential DC, History, Life in the Capital, People
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We’ve Come A Long Way, Baby

Photo courtesy of
‘Equality’
courtesy of ‘ep_jhu’

When DC’s first Pride event took place in 1975, there was no AIDS. There was no same-sex marriage. Rocks were thrown at windows of gay businesses. There were no laws protecting LGBT individuals in the workplace. My, how much has changed. As rights have been won and acceptance has grown, the District’s LGBT community has flourished and thrived, as this year’s blockbuster Pride celebration reflected. As the photos here document Capital Pride 2010, which ended yesterday, here’s a look back on 35 years of celebration, change and progress. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Mr. Irrelevant Celebrates 2,000 Posts

Photo courtesy of
‘Oh Boy …’
courtesy of ’emilywjones’

While I don’t remember the first time I came across the Mottram brothers’ mecca of a DMV-area sports blog, I do know this — I’ve read it every day since then and don’t foresee stopping anytime soon.

That being said, Mr. Irrelevant — the brainchild of the brothers Mottram — achieved a blogging milestone in recent weeks when their post-count reached an impressive 2,000.

Jamie and Chris have been at it for three years now, both still finding time to work full-time sports blogging gigs (Jamie is the Managing Editor for Yahoo! blogs and Chris is the Senior Editor at SB Nation) in addition to Mr. I, which is what they spend their free-time doing.

Congrats to both Mottram brothers on a successful run so far. We Love DC and I look forward to many more witty, comical, yet serious sports blog posts to come!

The Daily Feed
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Petty Theft May Thwart Council Candidate Robinson

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘erin m’

Sometimes I love DC because our political scene is so ridiculous, not despite. Kelvin Robinson, erstwhile candidate for At-Large council seat, has abruptly switched races to run for council specifically from Ward 6, challenging Tommy Wells.

He says there were a lot of factors in the decision, but Mike Debonis points out that a significant one may have been that his stack of ballot petitions was stolen out of his car. So either there’s some dirty business going on and someone is trying to keep Robinson out of the race, or some petty thief was really pissed when he opened up the bag he/she had just finished stealing.

To continue in the At-Large race, Robinson would have to get another 2,000 signatures, but to get on the ballot for Ward 6, he just has to get 250 Ward 6 registered voters to sign, which may be logistically easier.