Category Archives: Life in the Capital

Fun & Games, Life in the Capital
By

DC Strokes Stonewall Regatta XX

DC Strokes at Stonewall Regatta 2009 / Credit: M.V. Jantzen

DC Strokes at Stonewall Regatta 2009 / Credit: M.V. Jantzen

This weekend local rowing group DC Strokes will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Stonewall Regatta, which runs Sunday from 8:30am-5:00pm at the Anacostia Community Boathouse.

The event will bring over 400 rowers from across the US to compete in high-intensity races on the Anacostia River. Admission is free, with music included and food trucks expected in abundance.

DC Strokes is the oldest LGBT club in the world and 1 of 4 independent, self-sustaining LGBT and ally rowing teams internationally. It was founded in 1991 by 8 members of DC Front Runners (a gay running group) looking for a cross training activity.

I spoke with team member and coach Elisabeth Morgan Fondriest – a founding member of the Gay and Lesbian Rowing Federation (GLRF) and an active part of the Stonewall Regatta since its opening year – about the event and why it’s a great thing for DC.

Continue reading →

Fitness District, Fun & Games, Get Out & About, Life in the Capital, The Great Outdoors
By

On Running and Falling In Love Again

Chilly Morning Run Karon

I am a runner. It feels a bit weird to say that, because only 8 months ago, I couldn’t even run a mile.

It started last August. I had been a bridesmaid in a wedding for an entire weekend, you know the drill – bridesmaids luncheon, rehearsal, rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception. All weekend long I had been wearing the tallest of high heels, and the Sunday after the wedding I set out for a short jog, stepped off a curb and pulled my IT Band. Something about extending it and contracting it, and whatever. It ended in pain. I played tough guy for about a month, but after limping around the office for too long, my boss yelled at me and made me go into the doctor. The doctor prescribed physical therapy and I wound up in the good care of Alyssa White at PhysioTherapy Associates. (She is amazing. So is her colleague Sarah, if you’re looking for a good physical therapist.)

Somewhere in my first few weeks of PT, I got the bright idea that I should enter the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile lottery. Just on a whim. One afternoon at work, I decided that it was a brilliant idea and so I just did it. Everyone asks why, especially when the longest I’d ever run was a 5k, and I had no real explanation.  I wanted a goal. I wanted to show up each week and exercise my discipline. I wanted to do it because I knew I could.

So I set about creating a team of people and DC small businesses who would help, and the first step was Alyssa and getting my ITB back in shape. The second was finding a decent training program.

Continue reading →

Adventures, Entertainment, Essential DC, Fun & Games, Life in the Capital, Night Life, Special Events
By

The 2013 Fashion for Paws Runway Show

Photo credit: Moshe Zusman

 

Cute critters, cupcakes, celebs and clothes, oh my! If you’re looking for something spectacular to do this weekend, then The 2013 Fashion For Paws runway show this Saturday, April 13, 2013 at the National Building Museum is your ticket.

E! News Now anchor and E! News correspondent Ashlan Gorse returns to host over 1,700 guests for a four hour open bar and runaway show to support the Washington Humane Society. Which, by-the-way, is where I got my adorbs orange tabby Archie.

At this year’s event, Congressmen Jim Moran (D-Virginia) and John Campbell (R-California) will be honored with the 2013 Humane Hero Award, which recognizes individuals in media, politics and entertainment who have displayed a passion for animal welfare.

So whether you’re an animal <3er or a fashion enthusiast, get your ticket now!!!

Adventures, Entertainment, Essential DC, Fun & Games, Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed
By

Crashing Panels And Taking Names

Photo courtesy of Dan Dan The Binary Man
TGIF! From Me & Orion :)
courtesy of Dan Dan The Binary Man

This Friday just got even better since a friend of mine showed me “The Panel Crasher.”  The two day old blog documents the exploits of a former Hill staffer/Non-profit associate turned unemployed sequestration victim with a ton of time and no funds as he crashes Think Tank/Hill events, eats their food, pays no attention to their discussions and then makes fun of them on his blog.  There have only been two entries to date, but they feature a problem intern girl, Michael Jordan fashion, a Luke Perry reference and tons of other hilarity.

DC Victory Gardens, Food and Drink, Fun & Games, Life in the Capital, We Green DC
By

How Does Your DC Garden Grow? According to Manchester landscape

an organic presidency philliefan99

It’s already that time, you guys! That’s how you know spring is almost here…. it’s seed sowing time. I’m so excited to start in on my vegetable garden, I’ve got my grow light out, I’ve got all my books (this and this) on my coffee table and I’ve been madly perusing the Seed Savers Exchange website. Finally, all those tools that I bought from OccupyTheFarm paid off. It only shows that you don’t really need the expensive machineries and tools to get your garden started. But I got a little overwhelmed with where and when, exactly, to start, so last weekend I sat down  to talk a little bit with Meredith Shepherd of the DC-based organic home gardening service Love & Carrots and get her advice for starting your own small home garden.

Here are a few of her tips according to Manchester landscape you ca read more about at https://didsburydriveways.co.uk/blog/manchester-landscape/.

  • Grow herbs. The landscapers Melbourne crew advises the best way to get started gardening is to design and grow a small herb garden, especially if you’re a renter. Her favorites are lavender, sweet woodruff, lemon verbena and chives.
  • Don’t over water or under water. Read up on what you plant and what kind of soil and water level it needs so you don’t waste your time or drown your plants. (She told me I should be keeping my rosemary separate from the rest of my herbs because it likes it a bit drier.)
  • Salad greens can grow in the shade, especially the “cut and come again” varieties. This is handy if you live on a narrow street and don’t have much sunlight.
  • The District proper is a plant hardiness zone warmer than the rest of the surrounding DMV area. This is handy to know when you’re trying to figure out when and what to plant.
  • Get a hose reel. A hose reel can be a great useful garden tool to keep your garden or lawn looking clean and tidy as well as making hose use more convenient. BestofMachinery’s Bob Robinson made a list of the best hose reels on the market today. Visit his reviews on https://BestOfMachinery.com

Overwhelmed? Love & Carrots can help. Meredith’s service offers everything from consulting (a one-time service where she helps you think it all through) to coaching (you set up regular appointments where they teach you everything you need to know, complete with syllabus and notes emailed to you after), or full plant-and-care service done by her staff.

After confessing the way growing a garden makes me feel like I’m sticking it to big agriculture (Monsanto, I’m looking right at you), Meredith agreed. “I feel like I’m bringing back a part of culture,” she said about Love & Carrots. “All our grandparents had gardens, it just makes sense.” If you are interested in doing the same thing, check out this mini rotatory hoe to start giving shape to yourgarden.

Continue reading →

Business and Money, Downtown, Education, Essential DC, History, Life in the Capital, Opinion, People, The Features
By

A Conversation on Culture and Change Regarding the Washington [blank]s

Photo courtesy of BrianMKA
FedEx seats
courtesy of BrianMKA

By now, local Washington media has covered the internet with their summaries of a timely – yet still largely ignored – issue involving a particular football team located in this area. While Racial Stereotypes and Cultural Appropriation in American Sports spoke to the broader issues regarding Native American culture and peoples and their use as sports logos and traditions, make no mistake: the local NFL team’s moniker was a lynchpin in the discussion. The topic was subject of one-third of the day’s symposium, and itself is well-covered elsewhere. (You can watch the recording online in its entirety.)

I couldn’t attend in person, so I settled for the live webcast. And I’ve spent time re-watching the panels as well, because there was so much information and passion involved I couldn’t catch all of it the first time around. I could probably write several blog posts about the topic, and may yet in the future.

But what I wanted to really comment here and now, since other outlets are more focused on the local team aspect, is some key comments made by Director Kevin Gover at the start of the day. Thanks to NMAI, I received a full copy of his remarks; they provide a context that is important to the background of the overall discussion. While I won’t simply copy them all here – you can listen to Dr. Gover online for that – I did want to point out some relevant comments. Continue reading →

Food and Drink, Life in the Capital
By

Prepped Meals Delivered to Your Door

The worst thing about cooking for one (or even two) is that if you’re trying to cook something original and interesting, you wind up with a ton of leftover ingredients. Right now, for example, in my fridge (and I just went to look, I promise) I have: half a red onion, half a lemon, a bunch of cilantro, the end of a bag of arugula and some tahini-lemon dressing. All of this is leftover from a week’s worth of cooking. All of which I have no plans to do anything with between now and when they go bad.

So when I heard about Scratch DC, I thought it was a very awesome solution to all my very first world problems: ingredient overload, very little time to grocery shop, and my need for fresh and local food.

Scratch DC is a cooking delivery service that will drive prepped-but-not-yet-cooked meals straight to your door. They do all the prep, include all the wacky ingredients (or your basics: even salt and pepper!), and then provide friendly detailed instructions on preparing it. It’s kind of the best thing ever. And if the two meals I tried (enchiladas in a jalapeno cream sauce and feta/basil tilapia) were any indication of the daily quality, they have my sad whole wheat pasta in marinara sauce trumped any day.

Go to their website. Order the meals you want. They source most of the ingredients organically and locally. They’ll prep it and bring it to you at the time of your choice. You will cook it and look like the hero, and you didn’t even have to go to the grocery store. Prices stay in the range of about $30 or less for two servings, depending on the meal.

It’s easy as pie. Actually, it’s way, way easier than pie.

Foodie Roundup, Life in the Capital, Shopping, Ward 6
By

Where to Get Those Knives of Yours Sharpened

Grafiatto Plantains & Kimchi

Ok, so here’s the deal. Sharp knives are awesome, safer than dull knives and way more fun to cook with. So you should stop procrastinating and just go to https://viebelles.com/ and buy new knives.

1) Union Market. DC Mobile Sharpening has a pop up in Union Market and I dropped off my knives while I gallivanted around and drank lots of cocktails at Buffalo & Bergen, ate lots of cheese at Righteous Cheese and got my beef jerky fix at Red Apron Butchery. They were fast, good and reasonably priced. I do, though, feel compelled to say that I did feel a little judgement when I turned over my crappy Ikea knives. (Which, let’s be real, I’m judging myself for them, too.) (Bad foodie! Bad!)

2) Eastern Market, technically, Union Meat, a stand towards the middle of the building, will take those bad boys and shape them right up. If you go on the weekend, you can also pick yourself up some some fresh pasta, a new necklace, a hipster tee shirt and some artisan soaps. I’m pretty sure if Eastern Market doesn’t have it, you don’t need it.

3) Sur La Table. Far, far on the other side of the city, Sur La Table sharpens up some WASP-y knives in Chevy Chase. And Google says there’s one in Friendship Heights. Or is that the same place? I don’t know, and since I never go that far up the red line, I’m too lazy to figure it out. I think there’s one in Pentagon City, maybe, too. Sorry, I’m being bad about this blurb. I feel very meh about giving a chain my business when I can support local DC businesses! But, you know, I also like you enough to give you options.

So, there you have it. No excuses! Sharpen like a champion.

Entertainment, Inaugupocalypse, Life in the Capital, Night Life, Special Events, The Features
By

Inaugural Ball Flashback: The We Love DC Crew Hits The Town On Inauguration Night

The Dance Fedward Potz

We all know Washington, DC is a city that likes to drink and party. Add The President and you have a good reason to grab a tux or gown and brave the cold. That’s what many of our We Love DC crew did as they hit up the Official and Unofficial parties celebrating the  Inauguration of Barack Obama. Here’s what they saw and heard.

Continue reading →

Entertainment, Inaugupocalypse, Life in the Capital, Night Life, Special Events, The Features
By

The Inaugural Parade: Photos, Drinks, and Empty Metro Cars

2013 Presidential Inauguration dmbosstone

Four years ago I trudged down to The Mall and stood in the cold to see Barack Obama get sworn in as President of the United States of America. This time around I avoided The Mall and checked out the Inaugural Parade instead. I still ended up waiting outside in the cold but it wasn’t that bad.

Read on for lots of photos from the parade route.

Continue reading →

Life in the Capital
By

Presidential Flashback: Obama’s First Inauguration

Obama Inauguration - 1-20-09Obama Inauguration – 1-20-09
courtesy of mosley.brian

Yesterday, Tom took care of explaining what everyone needs to know before going down to see the Inauguration and the accompanying Parade. Today is showing you where all that knowledge came from.

To think, it has been four years since the big inauguration in 2009. When I say big, I’m talking size here: estimates were as high as 1.8 million. If you forgot about it, this is what it looked like from space. And this is the sight that so flustered Chief Justice Roberts, he forgot his lines.

I know not everyone is happy with how the election turned out, so I will not be beating any partisan drums here. But I will say that everyone should take a moment and hear President Obama’s address. For no other reason then it should be the duty of every American to at least listen to the President at important speeches (I would add the State of the Union to this category). With the way the country has been the past number of years, it is important at these types of events to remove labels that separate us and just be Americans. Even if it’s only for a few minutes or hours. Celebrate our true national religion today: Government By the People and For the People (as another man from Illinois once put it).

So, without further ado, here are some flashback photos to Obama’s First Inauguration. Enjoy! Continue reading →

Life in the Capital
By

The Inauguration: What To Expect

Mall before inauguration ekelly80

We’re almost there.

Everyone’s been arriving for the last 48-72 hours, and the District has been packed to the gills with visitors and residents alike as we all cram into the ten miles square. Tomorrow’s festivities start mid-morning, with the oaths kicking off around 11:30am (both the President & Vice President took their official oaths today before noon), but there are pre-event festivities that will be starting earlier. 

019 kimberlyfaye

What time do I need to get there?

Good question. Plan on getting there early. Crowds are likely to be more sparse than the massive turnout for the 2009 Inaugural, but I would still bet on half a million or so of your closest friends and neighbors to pack the Mall. Plan on getting there well ahead of time. Treat it like a sporting event that you could tailgate for, only, well, you can’t tailgate on the Mall. So you’re probably just going to stand there and chat with friends and strangers. 

Let’s just say, plan on getting to the Mall no later than 9am or so. If you have an actual hard ticket, plan on earlier still. If you’re just going down there to watch on the jumbotrons along the Mall, you’ve got a bit more time to get a spot near the big giant TVs. If you have to clear security, plan on more time even still. Everyone remembers the terrible purple tunnel of doom from 2009, and you really don’t want to get stuck like that.

How should I get there?

For the love of Pierre L’Enfant, don’t drive into the District. 

Because of the Inauguration, you can’t get anywhere near the parts of the city in a car that you might want to. Plan on public transit, which means buses, metro or even Bikeshare (more on that in a minute). Metro is running at rush hour pace from opening tomorrow until late in the day. Three stations are closed tomorrow: Smithsonian, Archives and Mt. Vernon Square. WMATA has made a fancy video and has a whole sub site for just inauguration information including a trip planner. 

Inaugural stands vpickering

What should I bring with me?

Well, as little as possible, frankly. There’s a list of Prohibited Items, and I wouldn’t recommend trying to cross the Secret Service on this one. But, if you’re into bringing stuff, may I recommend: a cellphone, a Smartrip card for Metro, your bikeshare key, pocket warmers, a small sealed bottle of water, and a snack.  You’re probably going to be outside in the cold for at least a few hours, so dress in layers. Leave your backpack at home.

What if I bike down?

Good for you. If you Bikeshare, CaBi will have two separate corrals (one north – at 17th & K NW, and one south – at 12th & Independence SW) where staff will relieve you of your bike and reshuffle them back into the system. If you are just taking your own bike, DCist reports that DDOT will have a big bike parking lot at 16th and I St NW for you to lock up your ride. Remember, people: lights and helmets if you can swing it. And don’t bike like a jerk, okay?

2013 Presidential Inauguration Day- Preparation - Freedom Plaza Glyn Lowe Photoworks

What about the parade?

Doesn’t everyone love a parade? The Parade Route is going to be crowded, so unless you’re part of the ticketed areas of both the swearing in and the parade, I’d recommend picking one or the other. If you have tickets to neither, you definitely have to pick. The parade route opens at 6:30, and you can bet that people will be there well before. So, be prepared to stand around and wait until the parade starts, and that’s not likely until at least 2:30pm. This is going to be a long stand. Be ready.

Okay, so that was fun, now what?

Well, if you got lucky and have tickets to one of the inaugural balls, have an awesome time. Be polite, don’t get too sauced, and if you do, please make sure not to throw up on your rental tux, okay? That’ll cost ya. But in all reality, if you don’t have ball invites, then head out on the town. 154 bars requested – and were granted – permission to serve alcohol until 4am on Tuesday morning, and here’s a handy map of them. 

Anything else?

Just one thing: have fun, and show off your city. This is a phenomenally beautiful place to live, work and play, and we shouldn’t be shy about sharing that with tourists, friends and neighbors. So share the love, everyone. This is likely their capital city, too, not just ours. 

Downtown, Entertainment, Georgetown, Life in the Capital, Music, The Daily Feed, The District, WTF?!
By

That Time I Walked Around DC In A Gangnam Style Costume

Gangnam Style has certainly taken America by storm this summer, and if this week’s appearance at the American Music Awards says anything- Psy might be around just a bit longer to be more than a one-hit wonder. On YouTube the video is currently the second most viewed of all-time and is poised to beat out the Biebz as #1.

Recently I took to the streets of DC to bring some local flavor to everybody’s favorite galloping dance. Watch the video below to see what happens when you walk around The Mall, White House, and U.S. Capitol dressed up as your favorite Korean rapper.

Continue reading →

Life in the Capital
By

Little Heart Reminders

enjoy the little things

I came across this little guy at Eastern Market (apparently a part of the Little Heart Man project)  and loved him so much that I snapped this picture. When I added him to the We Love DC pool, I discovered lots of other pictures snapped of similar pipecleaner people across the city with reminders on them. They’re so charming I just had to share. Most of these are from Number7Cloud on Flickr. Little Heart Man is also on Facebook.

Continue reading →

All Politics is Local, Featured Photo, Life in the Capital, News, People, Special Events, The Features
By

Election Flashback: Party At The White House

Whenever something big happens politically, locals always have an urge to flock to The White House. Even though President Obama was in Chicago to celebrate his victory over Mitt Romney in last night’s Presidential Election, people from all over decided that the best place for them to celebrate was at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Sure other neighborhoods celebrated with dancing and fireworks, but there’s nothing like reveling in front of the home of the President. When Obama clinched the Electoral College I grabbed my camera and drove down to see the crowds and they did not disappoint. Most of them were young, probably intoxicated college students who held up signs and climbed trees. Phones were out either for calling loved ones, taking photos, or checking in on Foursquare. Over 200 people were checked-in at The White House when I checked-in.

Here are a few images I took as I swam through the crowds.

Continue reading →

Adventures, Entertainment, Food and Drink, Fun & Games, Life in the Capital, Penn Quarter, Special Events, The Daily Feed, The District
By

Start Halloween Early With “A Spooky Adventure” at 901 Restaurant

If you’re looking to make your Halloween costume go beyond the 31st, then Penn Quarter’s 901 Restaurant is your place to make that happen, because this Wednesday, October 17th at 9pm, they’ll be hosting a sultry Halloween soiree with trick-o-treat inspired sips.

Show up in your Halloween-inspired attire and you’ll get a complimentary drink ticket for either a Bloody Bang, a mixture of Emperor Imperial, homemade raspberry puree and champagne, served up on the rocks topped with fresh raspberries and a lemon peel, or a Midnight Aura, a savory mix of Belvedere, lemon, home spiced Asian pear puree, ginger and lemon bitters served in a martini glass.

Tunes will be provided by DJ Steve Starks of Nouveau Riche and 901’s marble tabletops, lounge couches, veiled curtains and candle lit ambiance should make for the ideal setting to get in the Halloween mood.

 

Adventures, Entertainment, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, Special Events, The Daily Feed
By

Happy Hour + Food Trucks @ Capitale

Last Friday I swung by Capitale, located in the former K Street Lounge location, to check out their weekly food truck-nightclub partnership happy hour. Here’s how it works: Every week two different food trucks will park in the club’s valet parking space and will be there to serve only Capitale patrons –  this week it was Basilthyme and Popped Republic. Patrons will be able to grab food from the trucks, bring it inside the club, pair it with beer, cocktails, etc. and experience the club’s eccentric decor.

As for Capitale, I have to admit that I found the decor very perplexing.  The entire place looks and feels like a theatrical setting with fake columns, bookshelves, official seals, chandeliers, books, statues, etc. I’d put the experience on par with going on Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride and I definitely kept expecting the Phantom of the Opera to creep out from around a corner. Regardless, it’s a very comfortable scene with solid drink offerings which when paired with food trucks makes it a one-of-a-kind  happy hour offering.

 

Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed
By

The Bar @ The Daily Grill

Photo courtesy of Mr. T in DC
Rocket Bar Flickr Meetup
courtesy of Mr. T in DC

This week The Daily Grill, a Dupont/Golden Triangle lunch time locale and one of numerous area chain restaurants, unveiled a new bar and menu. While the layout of the bar, a U-shape, hasn’t changed, there’s been a dramatic change in decor that has erased the bordering on diner-ish feel, and replaced it with a more relaxed, yet upscale setting.

Beverage wise they’ve kept the delicious Wild Berry Mojito and expanded their on-tap offerings with brews from Shipyard and 21st Amendment, all a good decision if you ask me. Their revamped bar food menu mirrors the style and flavoring you’ll get at the restaurant. The only drawback to the menu is that many of the options are messy and not as finger-friendly as one would like bar food to be.

Another facet of the redesign that may be problematic is the limited space between the bar and the surrounding tables, which makes traffic flow extremely difficult when the bar gets crowded. All in all, the new Daily Grill bar and their happy hour is definitely worth a try if you work or live in the area.

Life in the Capital, Real World DC, Special Events, The District, Thrifty District
By

Planning a DC Wedding: Venues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While planning your big day can often seem daunting, First Class Functions will provide you with professional advice to help you know what is needed to make your special day everything you imagined.

Photo courtesy of Karon

 

Random Find
courtesy of Karon
The Social Chair returns to tell us all about finding a DC venue for a DC wedding.

After narrowing down the date for our wedding, Fedward and I began the long process of finding the perfect location. Alas, not enough of you voted for us to win a wedding, so our dream venue of the National Building Museum was quickly out of the running. What could be more DC than one of the locations of the Inaugural Balls?

There are a ton of resources for finding a venue in DC. Our best resource? Friends. DC is filled with event venues and wedding ballrooms. Ask around. Many businesses rent their spaces for private events. We joined forces with another recently engaged couple and shared Google docs with places we’d scouted after choosing our ring from the tungsten wedding rings for men collection.
Continue reading →