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We Love Food: Co Co. Sala

 Co Co. Sala by sinksanctity, on Flickr

With the wine bar trend in full escalation (Proof, Veritas, Vinoteca, Cork, Enology, etc.), it appears we may now be heading into a dessert bar phase. While artisan chocolate cafes like ACKC and bakery empires like Cakelove provide the basics, Co Co. Sala pushes the sweet stuff into high art. If only it weren’t so high octave… it’s an intimate, sexy space but it isn’t exactly conducive to whispering sweet nothings. Upon entering, I spied a white feather boa draped behind a gaggle of celebrating women at the bar. As their decibel level threatened my mellow mood, I wondered, “does chocolate bar = screeching estrogen?”

But restaurants can’t completely control their clientele. If you worship at the altar of cacao, Co Co. Sala deserves a taste. Just be prepared for a bit of a scene. And after knocking back a “Disia” - their lychee rose cocktail that tastes like Aphrodite’s elixir - I was mellow again and ready to give an entire chocolate dinner a try.

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Older Features

Muxtape, The RIAA and Pandora


Untitled by erin m

So, you might be a fan of Brittany’s awesome District Mixtape series of columns that we’ve been putting up. The idea is an age-old one, written about by novelists, charted by all the pop-trend-watchers, and beloved by anyone old than about 25 and younger than about 50. The age of the cassette tape mix was a golden one for music. 60 minutes of space, two cassette decks, a steady trigger finger, and a lot of love. If you want an excellent read about this stuff, grab Love is a Mixtape.

So, it’s with no small amount of sadness that this is what I saw this morning when I went to listen to Brittany’s latest concoction:

muxtapefail.png

The RIAA shut them down. Probably for something like the Royalty Problem that is also potentially about to shutter Pandora. So, I’m a bit bummed today. We’ve (temporarily) lost a great tool for publishing our feature, (don’t worry, we’ll figure out how to get around it somehow.) but it seems doubly unfortunate that they went after this one.
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District Mixtape: Mike Boggs

We Were Pirates

We Were Pirates

Mike Boggs is the creative force behind We Were Pirates. He plays shows under the name with other musicians, but crafted the whole of his EP “The Wolf” on his laptop with two mics and himself. Currently, We Were Pirates is focusing on a full-length album to be recorded in the studio built in Boggs’ garage. We were delighted when the life-long area resident agreed to prepare a mixtape for us! — Brittany

So, The Ode to DC mix consists entirely of songs I am fond of by dc bands, bands with members from DC, songs about DC or songs that are heavily influenced by the “DC sound”
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EveryBlock comes to DC

everyblock.png

The geographically-based super-engine EveryBlock has finally come to DC. Think of EveryBlock like the best mashup of Flickr, Google Maps, The Public Records Office, MPD’s Crime Blotter, the Real Estate Section of the paper, and just about every news story out there in the District, whether it comes from Blogs, or from the Post or Examiner, or from the local TV affiliates, EveryBlock is there.

It’s all one big map, and they’re all over the geolocation of various events:

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This map gives me a listing of real estate around the Brightwood neighborhood. Just a click away in the Crimes listing, or the Calls for City Services, or the Business Reviews.

It’s pretty impressive. Go play!

Sports Fix: Redskins Romp, United Triumph, Nationals Abysmal

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Jets vs Redskins by Erica

The Redskins are doing their best to impress this pre-season, racking up their third win on Saturday night against the Jets, 13-10, in New York. Soap-opera star, er, quarterback Colt Brennan was impressive for the ‘Skins, leading a fourth-quarter rally to push us over the top. The big story, unfortunately, was that Brett Favre started for the Jets, and that seems to be all anyone can talk about. It’s fine, though, fortunately his presence overshadowed the Skins disappointing performance from their starters. It definitely was the bench that won this game for them.

One little tidbit out of ESPN before we head on to DC United, apparently there’s talk of Usain Bolt heading to the NFL as a receiver. Dan Snyder, if you’re listening, get this guy now. It’d be hilarious to see cornerbacks try to cover the fastest man in the world.

On to United and the Nationals, below the cut.

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Someone doesn’t like United Airlines

I’ve always wondered what United Airlines did to deserve their treatment at Dulles Airport. I mean, really, you guys have the worst terminal in the airport. No, not sort of. They put you out in ghetto, trailer park, bus stations look better than this, terminal. I don’t know what you did (okay, I can imagine a few dozen things) but the travelers are really paying for your sins.

For anyone who has been to Dulles, there are actually two airports out there. The first, relatively nice, airport is the newly expanded A & B terminal. Getting there is a snap. Come out of the security gates and head towards the brand new tunnel. No shuttle buses for you - those are reserved for the low class section. A long set of escalators in each direction, and some moving walkways, and you emerge in to the Dulles equivalent of airport heaven.

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Tourists Love DC: Diane from NYC

Di from NYC

Have you ever wondered what might be going through the mind of a tourist to our fair area? We see them all around every day, from all corners of the globe – wandering museums, walking the Mall, riding transit. So what if we took a moment to find out what it is they’re thinking as they visit what we see every day?

This is the first in a periodic series of interviews of tourists to our area. Call us curious, but I’m sure all of us at one time or another want to know what these out-of-towners really think about Washington, DC.

So let’s introduce a recent visitor. Meet Diane, from New York City. She actually was in town for the Cherry Blossom Festival; I had enjoyed talking with her then and felt she’d be a great start to this unique series here on WeLoveDC.

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Getaways: Ocean City

Photo courtesy of amishah

Ocean City, Maryland, courtesy of amishah

When it came time to come up with this week’s getaway column I stepped up to volunteer to cover Ocean City. Why write a full column all by myself when I can instead lean on my darling fiancée to provide me with material on her hometown?

The trip out to Ocean City is notorious at the best of times, but this last week it’s been in the news a lot. I’ve never cared for their dual-tracking on that bridge and I go out of my way to either be on the far right hand lane on the Westbound trip or on the Southernmost bridge when I’m heading East. Once you make it over the Bay Bridge - hopefully without too much tooth grinding - you’re on Kent Island, a perfect not-quite-halfway place to stop for lunch or dinner. We’re partial to the Harris Crab House but there’s no shortage of options.

Put down that last hush puppy and get back on the road, buddy - time’s a-wasting. Read the rest of this entry »

We Love Arts: Up in Arms

Halberd, dated 1611. Higgins Armory Museum

Halberd, dated 1611. Courtesy Higgins Armory Museum

Just in case you’re unaware, the Folger Shakespeare Library is now weaponized.

Currently running in a limited engagement, the Folger presents Now Thrive the Armorers:
Arms and Armor in Shakespeare
, an exhibit where you come face-to-face with “a wide-ranging collection of armor and weaponry dating from the fifteenth through seventeenth centuries.” For you non-history types, that’s a critical period in arms development, as the nature of warfare across Europe underwent rapid change to keep up with evolving technologies and societal change.

The exhibit features primarily pieces from the Higgins Armory Museum, the largest collection of medieval arms and armor outside of Europe, along with several pieces from the Folger’s collection. According to Amy Arden, a Folger representative I was able to talk to, the “exhibition centers on Shakespearean plays in which arms and armor figure prominently while also exploring ‘real world’ weapons and fighting techniques from the period.”

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Social Calendar: August 14 - 20


umbrella courtesy of needlessspaces

Mid-August and it does not seem like there is that much going on this week. No cannot-miss shows or events, just enjoy the quiet streets

Thursday, August 14 I messed up a little last week, and gave you a hint at what to do tonight: Thao Nguyen & The Get Down Stay Down at the Black Cat. Given that, you get a bonus second Thursday suggestion: GOOD Magazine hosts a fundraiser for Ashoka during a “changemaking happy hour” held at Lotus Lounge.

Friday, August 15:Every Friday, there is free, live jazz in the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden. Bring a picnic and a date (one of these is for sale on-site as well).

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