PORC mobile
courtesy of Joe in DC
At long last, it’s Friday! Maybe you deserve a treat. To my fellow colonials (lookin’ at you, GWU), you’re all graduating so you deeefinitely deserve a treat. Go get yourself one from a food truck and throw that cap in the air!
By Tom Bridge
Andrew McCutchen leads off second
courtesy of runneralan2004
Andrew McCutchen had Jordan Zimmermann’s number tonight, clubbing a pair of monster home runs off the Nationals’ #3 starter in tonight’s 5-3 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. McCutchen would also flash the leather in the field, stealing at least a double from Adam LaRoche eight feet up the center field wall in the fifth inning, preserving a coalescing no-hitter for Pirates’ starter James McDonald.
McDonald was fairly stellar for the evening as well, sending 11 Nationals down on strikes in 5 and 2/3 innings. He had a perfect game going through four before walking Bryce Harper in the fifth, and then losing his no-hit bid in the sixth. The Nationals would stage a rally in the sixth that would knock McDonald out after four hits scored three runs.
Twice more the Nationals would attempt to rally, each time putting multiple men aboard with 1 out, and in both cases the Nationals couldn’t get the base hits they needed to push over the top. With a 7-0 Atlanta victory over Miami, the Nationals fell to second place in the NL East, a half game behind the Braves.
The team struggled at the plate tonight, and James McDonald’s off-speed mix of pitches were absolutely devastating to the nominally hot offense, often freezing them with the fastball when they were expecting the breaking stuff, and vice versa.
The Nats now take on the also-hot Orioles in the first Battle of the Beltways that will live up to the name. Saturday’s game is “Script Cap” night, with the first 30,000 fans receiving a Script Nationals logo, and Sunday nets kids 12 & under a cool t-shirt if they come in through the center field gate.
By Brittany
The RAMMY Awards are an annual celebration of members of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (thus the clever name) – and the gala is one of the biggest food-industry parties of the year in DC. If that event, coming up on June 24, sounds like something you would want to peek inside, the RAMW is offering a fun way to get involved and maybe win some tickets: Drinking at the establishments nominated in the “beverage/mixology program” category.
At each of the five restaurants, a signature cocktail has been created. When diners order one of them, they will be entered to win a pair of tickets. Just ask for the RAMMY card to fill out when you place your order.
The five nominees are BourbonSteak, ChurchKey (on behalf of Neighborhood Restaurant Group), Estadio, Virtue Feed & Grain (on behalf of EatGoodFood Group), and Room 11.
Having sampled four of the five drinks at a press kick-off to the promotion, Room 11’s Chaos Theory and Estadio’s Día de Descanso were my strong favorites among the drinks (though, it is important to note, the RAMMY award is for complete bar programs and they are not being judged on these drinks alone).
courtesy JCM - joannacastlemiller.com
If you happened to visit the Czech Republic last Saturday during the EU Open House, you may have seen a few cases with books and other odd items inside, unmarked and unexplained. Those actually belong to an art show called Samizdat: The Czech Art of Resistance 1968-1989, which opened on Tuesday at the Embassy of the Czech Republic
Samizdat means “self-published.” A Russian term, it refers to any underground publication banned during Communist rule in the USSR and Soviet bloc. It includes essays, books, art, and poems. From Sex Pistols lyrics to indie rock, it was all illegal.
Pan con lechon
courtesy of yostinator
So you conveniently forgot your lunch today, eh? Lucky for you there are some food trucks that can help with that.
Sangria toast @danahotel #art of a drink
courtesy of Megan Larsen
When you’re technically on Spanish soil, the parties instantly improve.
This Saturday, May 19 at 8:30pm, Things to Do DC is hosting a black tie cultural gala for young professionals at the Embassy of Spain’s Former Ambassador’s Residence.
$109 ($65 if affiliated with Capital Hill) gets you a flamenco show, open bar (where the specialty will be, of course, sangria), dessert buffet, DJ and dancing. An optional film on Spain and fine art pieces provided by the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain will offer more insight about your embassy hosts. The VIP pass adds a dinner buffet and champagne reception.
courtesy of muohace_dc
On the fourth batter of the game Gio Gonzalez got Casey McGehee to swing at a 94 MPH fastball. It was the fourth fastball Gio threw to McGehee and his first strikeout of the game. In the bottom of the first Harper would hit his first career triple with one out and score on Zimmerman’s RBI ground out. Gio would continue the second where he left off the first by getting Navarro to strikeout on on the fifth fastball he threw him.
Gio would not be as kind to Rod Barajas. He would get ahead of him with fastballs and then dropped in a completely unfair curve that the word filthy can’t even begin to describe. The pitch floated to the plate and appeared to pause just long enough to taunt the swinging bat of Barajas before dropping out of the strike zone. Gio would then get ahead of Barmes with a fastball and curve ball before throwing him two fastballs out of the strike zone and then with his bat sped up he dropped a change-up that Barmes couldn’t help but swing at.
By Tom Bridge
Photo by Franklin Garcia, used with permission
In the special election held to replace disgraced former council member Harry Thomas Jr., the field was wide and deep with suitors for the position. Five strong candidates and seven additional candidates spent the last three months wooing voters from Bloomingdale to North Michigan Park to Fort Lincoln and Trinidad in hopes of garnering the wide open council. In the end it was Stronghold’s Kenyan McDuffie that captured the most votes – by a large margin – and will become Ward 5’s new voice on the Council of the District of Columbia at the end of the month when the election is certified.
McDuffie, 36, had worked previously for the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety’s office after an unsuccessful 2010 bid. McDuffie’s biography also includes stints working for the Civil Rights Division at Department of Justice, as well as at the Prince George’s County Prosecutor’s office, and as a letter carrier with the US Postal Service.
The margin of victory was wide – enough for McDuffie to claim a mandate – capturing more than 44% of the vote. Turnout, while fairly low at 15%, was significantly better than many analysts had predicted. McDuffie’s final total of over 4,000 votes was double his nearest competitor – Fort Lincoln’s Delano Hunter. North Michigan Park’s Frank Wilds finished in 3rd place with 15% of the vote.
McDuffie’s victory broke out to outright wins in the western part of the ward – Bloomingdale and Eckington – as well as the central four precincts in Brookland and Michigan Park, and didn’t come in lower than 2nd in any of the precincts he didn’t take. McDuffie made the rounds of the news outlets today, including Kojo Nnamdi, Fox 5, Bruce DePuyt and others. The election results will be certified by May 30th, and McDuffie would like be sworn in just after the budget passes the council.
By Tom Bridge
8030-32Crop
courtesy of furcafe
Rest in Peace, Chuck Brown. Brown, commonly said to be the Godfather of Go-Go music, passed away today at the age of 75. Brown’s #1 single from 1979, “Bustin’ Loose,” is one of the best known examples of DC’s unique style of music.
Brown was a masterful entertainer. He will be sorely missed.
By Patrick Pho
District Taco (Washington, DC)
courtesy of dmbosstone
Last time I went off my beat and wrote about food truck District Taco, a lot of comments complained about the fact the taco totin’ food cart wasn’t actually located in The District. There was also a random accusation that I was a secret spokesperson for the local establishment. Sorry to say they don’t pay me, I’m just a fan.
Even though it would be wicked awesome if they did pay me to eat their tacos- that would be a great gig.
I’m happy to report that District Taco can now fully embrace their namesake. This week DT founders Osiris Hoil and Marc Wallace opened a new District Taco location near Metro Center near 13th & F St NW. The new store is the latest step of a remarkable story for Hoil, who was laid off from his construction job in 2008 and decided to start a Taco business with his best friend and neighbor Wallace.
I took some photos at a sneak peek of the restaurant last week check them out past the cut.
courtesy of Caitlin H. Faw
The world is your oyster! And by world, I mean the five block radius around your office. And by oyster, I actually mean a slab of lasagna, slice of pizza, an empanada or maybe a lobster roll from a truck. Go get it.
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By Tom Bridge
trusty’sBAR
courtesy of 4ò5ò�productions
If there’s one thing I love about DC, it’s the way that the people rally around their bars and bartenders. Last year when there was a fire at The Tune Inn that nearly claimed the business’ future, residents rallied around their people and held a benefit to help their bartenders. Tonight, Hill East does the same for Trusty’s Full Serve Bar bartender Mike Boone, who was stabbed six times trying to stop a purse snatching outside the Potomac Avenue bar on May 1st.
Boone was med-evaced, had several surgeries to save his life, and is now facing some hefty medical bills and a recovery process that will keep him off his feet for a bit. C’mon out to Trusty’s and do a good turn for a bartender who just wanted to protect his patrons.
Trusty’s Full Serve Bar
1420 Pennsylvania Ave SE
Washington, DC 20003
Metro: Potomac Ave (Blue/Orange)
Smucker Farms of Lancaster Co.
courtesy of bonappetitfoodie
Just because you live in a major metropolitan city, doesn’t mean that you can’t bring a little countryside in every now and then. Bridging the two worlds is Smucker Farms of Lancaster Co. over on 14th street NW.
The store, founded by Lancaster-native/long-time DC resident Eric Smucker, brings in fresh produce from Southeast Pennsylvania, along with other goods from local farmers and purveyors in the DC area. You’ll find everything from fresh fruits, vegetables, meats and dairy to herbs and spices and jars of pickled vegetables or jams. Hard-core locavores can rejoice–the store carries favorites such as Gordy’s Pickle Jar, Capital Kombucha, Souper Girl and more. Plus, Smucker Farms offers a pick-up CSA option (that’s “community supported agriculture,” if you didn’t already know) with organic produce from a co-op of Amish and Mennonite farmers in Lancaster County, Pa.
When We Love DC stopped by last week, almost all of the spaces in the CSA were full, so hurry up to get in on that. Check out the photos of the Smucker Farms of Lancaster Co. which is part many business doing Factory Farming In USA.
118/366 – Food Truck Friday
courtesy of JoshBassettPhotography
Got the hangers? Easy there, chief. Back away from your desk, take a walk and get some food truckerrific lunch. Maybe bring a cupcake back for that coworker you just barked at.
Burnett windup-2
courtesy of MudflapDC
The Nationals might have won 8-5 Monday night in the first of a short two game series against the Padres but it didn’t come without a price. Watching this Nats season feels like watching baseball in the ER waiting for the next player to be helped off the field. In the space of eight days the Nats have lost right fielder Jayson Werth, starting catcher Wilson Ramos, and making his major league debut back-up catcher Sand Leon.
In the top of the fourth inning with Yonder Alonso on third and Chase Headley on second Orlando Hudson would hit a single into the outfield. With Headley rounding third Leon got in the position to field the throw from Danny Espinosa. Espinosa fired it in and Leon couldn’t handle it, but for Headley it was too late. He had already made up his mind that he was running Leon over. Leon had blocked off most of the plate and didn’t give Headley much to slide for but if he had tried to slide in under Leon it is just as likely that he would have been safe. Instead he went for the takeout, and afterwards Leon laid crumbled on the ground until he was helped off the field by trainers.
By Tom Bridge
Fuji Feather 2012
courtesy of specimenlife
The same people who put together the WalkScore for rating walkable communities have now turned their attention to the bicycle, and boy did DC do well. DC finished 6th, with an average BikeScore of 65, about 14 points back of leader Minneapolis and 5 points back of #2 Portland.
The score is a calculation based on hills, bike commuters, bike infrastructure (bike routes, bike lanes, cycle tracks, bikesharing and destinations for cyclists. DC does pretty well on the hills front, Rock Creek Park and the Palisades notwithstanding, and scores pretty high on the Destinations and Infrastructure scores. With more cyclist commuters, DC could easily move up toward San Francisco and Portland, tied at 70.
By Ben H. Rome
DSC_8793
courtesy of photopete
And it looks as if ultimate samurai coach Dale Hunter has fallen on his sword for the now-ousted Washington Capitals. According to various sources, Hunter stepped down from his stint as bench boss this morning.
GM George McPhee indicated at a brief press conference that the team will be taking its time selecting a new coach. If the Caps are smart, they’ll have someone signed on before the NHL Entry Draft on June 21. (McPhee did hint to WaPo that this was indeed a possibility.)
ProHockeyTalk has a (questionable) list of possible replacements from the NHL coach recycling bin. Of all of those listed, I would think Bob Hartley’s the best option.
Who would you like to see helm the pine bench next season?
By Tom Bridge
Virgin America N623VA Airbus A320-214 (2006) “three if by air”
courtesy of Jun Seita
As someone with family along the left-coast, I always dread travel there a bit, mostly because it means flying out of far-flung IAD or painful-to-park BWI, instead super-convenient-and-right-on-the-metro DCA. The Department of Transportation announced today four new long-haul routes for National, with a DCA-SFO from Virgin America as the most interesting, followed by JetBlue’s new San Juan route, Alaska Airlines’ new Portland route and Southwest’s direct to Austin route.
This adds to United’s direct route to SFO, Delta’s direct route to Salt Lake City, American’s direct route to LAX and US Airways’ direct route to San Diego.
Anything that means I can fly out of DCA instead of the burbclaves is just fine with me, thanks.
I Heard You Looking
courtesy of jennyboh
What’s that in the distance? Right over yonder. Is it a food truck? Why yes, yes it is! Run thither as fast as your legs will carry you.
By Brittany
That photo is terrible. I know. Let me explain. It was taken around 1:30am last night, when I was not planning to taste anything critically and conditions were sub-optimal for drink photography. When this arrived, though, it was so amazingly good, I had to grab my phone and snap a photo because I knew I had to share this cocktail with you.
You may notice that the rest of the table is covered in cans of Schlitz. I have no complaint with cheap beer drinking and was not really trying to be the one person ordering a complicated cocktail when everybody else is drinking out of tall boys – but I had already been drinking beer since 5:00, mostly for my job, and I wanted to be tasting something else. It was relatively slow and I asked our lovely server Adriana if I could have something with Cynar. (Regular readers of this column will not be surprised by the request, Cynar being my fall-back comfort liquor of choice.)
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