Category Archives: The Daily Feed

The Daily Feed
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The Day the Shutter Died

Photo courtesy of ivan | sciupac
Holga CFN 120
courtesy of ivan | sciupac

January 4th 2012 was not a good day for the DC photography community. As is common knowledge, local photography chain Penn Camera filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection yesterday, closing the majority of their stores. Their long term future is uncertain. In addition, Eastman Kodak, the film company who’s name is synonymous with photography, is reported to be close to filing for bankruptcy as well. Either piece of news is bad; taken together, it’s hard for anyone who is a photographer not to go hug their SLR, film or digital. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Thies: Chairman Brown had broadcast of press conference edited

Photo courtesy of �ậ�ëø

censored(red stamp)
courtesy of �ậ�ëø

The Office of Cable Television is the entity that is responsible for the broadcast of Channel 13, DC’s public access network that broadcasts (and re-shows) various hearings and meetings of the city council. Local political writer Chuck Thies says that, at the behest of Council Chairman Kwame Brown, cameras were turned off during a public press conference, and the tape was edited to remove a question from a WTOP reporter in its online and archived version.

That question’s subject matter had every reason to be embarrassing to Chairman Brown: it had to do with the ethics of the council, something that has created a dark cloud over the body’s current term, due to scandals surrounding members both at-large and from the wards.  According to WAMU, Brown and his deputy Chief of Staff are denying responsibility for the cut, the OCT has said they were just doing what they were told.

Entertainment, Fun & Games, Music, Night Life, The Daily Feed
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District Karaoke at Policy: An Excuse to Get Social & Sing

Photo courtesy of furcafe
03106-17Crop
courtesy of furcafe

I don’t know about you but I’ve been searching for an excuse to get my karaoke on for quite some time. There’s Japone in Dupont where I went a few times in college and Hill Country Texas BBQ has country karaoke once a week, but now there’s a whole new karaoke game in town.

Thanks to Nats fan Laura Murphy for pointing it out earlier today, we now know that Policy (1904 14th Street NW) will start hosting the inaugural season of District Karaoke – the District’s only social karaoke league – this February. For real. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed, WMATA
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Cracked rails on Red and Blue line snarl commute, threaten evening

Photo courtesy of (afm)
YIP 228 – Things you don’t want to see in the Metro
courtesy of (afm)

Cracked rails on the Red and Blue line this morning in commute-heavy portions of the above-ground part of the rail system have snarled morning commutes. The breaks, near the Pentagon and near Takoma, were caused by the rapid cooling of the DC area to a low of near 10 degrees Fahrenheit last night, according to Metro spokesman Dan Stessel. The breaks cannot be fixed during rush hour, and repairs will take place once morning rush is cleared.

The Daily Feed, Ward 5, WTF?!
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Report: Ward 5 Councilmember to resign in plea deal

Photo courtesy of itjournalist
D Block, Alcatraz
courtesy of itjournalist

We only gave Harry Thomas Jr the #3 slot in 2011’s Worst of Scandals list, but it appears he will be the number one figure in DC politics for the next few weeks. WUSA9’s Bruce Johnson is reporting that Councilmember Thomas will resign as part of a plea deal that will send Thomas to prison for 2-3 years. In addition, according to comments obtained by the Washington Post, Thomas failed to make his second scheduled $50,000 payment this week.

Thomas’ resignation would leave Ward 5 without a seat on the council (excepting At-Large Councilmember Vincent Orange, who also lives in Ward 5) until a special election could be called. The District, according to law, must hold the election on the Tuesday after 114 days from the certified vacancy. Should Thomas’ vacancy be certified by Friday of this week, that election would take place on April 30th, but a May election date is more likely. Thomas faced three challengers in the 2010 primary, with none gathering more than 19%. No word yet on if any of his 2010 challengers would make a run for his seat.

Should Thomas resign, it would be nice to see the Council take efforts to, give the financial situation, amend the charter to add more flexibility to the special election options, including alignment to nearby primary and special elections, as well as provisions to allow for the Board of Elections to avoid days that could limit voters for religious reasons.

Talkin' Transit, The Daily Feed
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Metro like you haven’t seen it

Metrodistort

Map by MV Jantzen

We all have our own internal mental map of the Metro that takes into account weekend track work, single tracking, transfers between lines, transfers to buses, and I suspect they look an awful lot like MV Jantzen’s Distorted Metro Map. The cleverly-done HTML 5 app moves the iconic map around a polar scale, putting time distance between station at a premium instead of a clear map, moving stations into closer proximity if they’re closer by time than necessarily by distance.

There’s also a bad-ass Pac-man mode where you get to gobble up the stations like power pellets, which, frankly, is all I’ve ever wanted to do to the Red Line.

Entertainment, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Boston’s Big Four Puts The Hurt On Wizards

If you have been referring to Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Kevin Garnett as Boston’s “Big Three”- you need to think again.

Rajon Rondo is out to prove this season that it’s actually Boston’s “Big Four”. The Wizards were the latest victim to the Boston Point Guard that started the season with back-to-back double-double performances and unleashed terror on the court last night with a triple-double performance (18 points, 11 rebounds, 14 assists) in a Celtics win over the Wizards 94-86.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Christmas Tree Disposal Time

Photo courtesy of philliefan99
capitol christmas zoom III
courtesy of philliefan99

Well, it’s that time again, time to clear out the Christmas tree and pack up the ornaments and lights for another year.  Starting on the 3rd, and going until the 14th, DC DPW will accept your (bare) Christmas Tree for pickup.  Leave the tree in the treebox space in front of your home, having removed any ornaments and lights, and they’ll turn it into tasty mulch that you can pickup throughout the gardening season. Neat, yeah?

Just remember – no ornaments, and no lights.

No tree box? Leave it in the area between the sidewalk and the curb.

The Daily Feed
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A Last-Minute LivingSocial NYE Deal

Photo courtesy of LaTur
Two Less……………
courtesy of LaTur

If you didn’t find something for you in Britany’s New Year’s Eve events roundup yesterday then here’s one more option for you: a $50 deal to get into the Hamilton and a glass of champagne at midnight for the toast. In between there’s stuff to nibble on and – the part that called out to me – some blues.

No matter where you go, if you go out please be safe – both in your own behavior and in awareness that others may not be operating at their best, to put it delicately. Be particularly careful walking; that little black dress is adorable but it’s hard to see at night.

The Daily Feed
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Food Truck Tracker

Photo courtesy of Jenn Larsen
Champagne Flight, Veritas
courtesy of Jenn Larsen

Cheers to the new year, food truck trackers! Here’s to a prosperous year for the trucks rocking and rolling through the streets of DC, feeding all you hungry people lunches that are far more tasty and interesting than whatever frozen thing you’ve got stashed away in the work freezer. Have a happy and safe weekend. We’ll be back with the FTTs on January 3rd. Here’s to 2012!
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The Daily Feed
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News Channel 8 Christmas Special

Mike Conneen

Is there a worse assignment for a serious reporter than having to do live hits in a department store at 5am? Possibly, but only outside in the freezing cold, I suspect. Via Poynter’s Twitter account comes the video of News Channel 8’s Mike Conneen on Christmas Eve in the Tysons Macy’s, where he had some fun with the segment, doing some shopping for his studio anchors, including corduroy jeggings and a beautiful sequined bear hat. Watch the video and chuckle a little bit.

Continue reading →

capitals hockey, The Daily Feed
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Caps Top Rangers 4-1

Photo courtesy of jennifer.walters
IMG_1661
courtesy of jennifer.walters

Following a demoralizing loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Monday, the Washington Capitals came into tonight’s game desperate for a win. Rumors floated during the day that a Caps loss would lead to drastic action (read: trades). In what might be called a “character win,” the Caps put in a (mostly) complete effort against the Rangers and were rewarded with two points, leaving them at 18-15-2 on the season.
Continue reading →

Capital Chefs, Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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New Chef Takes the Helm at Blue Duck Tavern

Photo courtesy of prettylovelythings
Entrance – Blue Duck Tavern
courtesy of prettylovelythings

It caused a bit of a stir when Brian McBride, the long-time chef at Blue Duck Tavern left in November to team up with Robert Wiedmaier on a concept that has yet to be unveiled. But now the restaurant in the Park Hyatt in Georgetown has a new executive chef leading the way: Sebastien Archambault.

The 34-year-old chef was born in Texas but trained in Paris, and has worked under the direction of big names such as Alain Ducasse, Jean-Francois Rouquette and Guy Savoy. Additionally, Archambault has worked in France, Mexico and in Corsica, where he earned a Michelin star during his time at Restaurant Le Pirate. In 2008, he became the executive chef at the Andaz West Hollywood hotel’s RH Restaurant where he met the McBride, the former Blue Duck Tavern chef McBride who assisted in the opening of RH.

“Sebastien is certainly the ideal choice for my successor at Park Hyatt Washington & Blue Duck Tavern,” said Brian McBride, former executive chef of the Park Hyatt Washington in a press release. “He is not only an incredibly talented chef, but also a friend who I have had the pleasure of working alongside in many kitchens – from sharing menu ideas and new dishes to collaborating together at the esteemed Masters of Food & Wine event in Buenos Aires. Sebastien’s culinary vision and commitment to sustainability mirrors the spirit and concept of Blue Duck Tavern and he will work closely with Chef de Cuisine John Melfi to bring the true flavors of seasonal ingredients to the table.”

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed
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Taylor Gourmet Opens on 14th Street January 3rd

Photo courtesy of william couch
Taylor Gourmet
courtesy of william couch

Oh 14th Street, let me count the reasons why I love thee. And now I’ve got another reason: Taylor Gourmet is opening up on January 3rd.

Just a few weeks since the Bethesda location’s first birthday, the owners Casey Patten and David Mazza have announced the opening of a fourth location. Plus, this one will offer delivery service to the Dupont Circle and Columbia Heights area. For those who bemoan the late night dining options of DC, you’re in luck–the 14th Street Taylor Gourmet will be open until 2:30 AM on Thursdays and 3:30 AM on Fridays and Saturdays.

“We’ve wanted to open a shop on 14th St. for years because the neighborhood is a great reflection of D.C. We have customers who live and work there that frequent Taylor Gourmet and wish they didn’t have to come across town,” said Casey Patten in a press release.

The new Taylor Gourmet is located at 1908 14th Street NW.