Far Goal
courtesy of tbridge

With the beginning of the lockout-shortened season just over the horizon, the Capitals hosted fans in an appreciation event at Verizon Center, where fans could pick their own seats for an open practice. The lower bowl at the Phone Booth was full, and the concourses teeming with fans in their hockey jerseys. The Caps promised free popcorn, sodas, hotdogs and hamburgers for the masses, and delivered with the expected lines throughout the evening.

Owner Ted Leonsis spoke with the media before the practice, and commented publicly for the first time on his role in the lockout and about the negotiations. Leonsis also spoke about the history of the franchise under his ownership, saying that he had “yet to make a penny of profit” from the hockey team, and preferring to keep the business details of running the franchises out of the view of the fans who consume the product.

In some ways, it’s easy to see why Leonsis is frustrated: when you guy a cup of coffee from a local shop, are you interested in what they’re paying their baristas? Or how long their contracts are? Generally that’s less important to your coffee experience. The same might be true for any number of other service providers that we deal with every day, but as we all know: sports is different. We want different things from our sports teams – they’re points of public pride, after all – and that means that we often want to see and know more about how they work inside. It may be a slap in the face to some to hear the owner say he doesn’t like prying eyes.

None of that dampened the festival atmosphere at Verizon Center last night as the players took to the ice, in some cases doing a dance, and the crowds were into it as the pucks once again flew across the sheet. The crowd wasn’t quite the size of a usual game day, and the muted atmosphere in Chinatown was a mirror of the reluctance many fans feeling a bit pinched by the lockout, but that there was hockey on a weeknight in winter felt just fine by this reporter.

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The modern remix culture that we live in means that we’re constantly seeing cultural appropriation in new and different ways as our city cultural nexus aligns in new and unexpected ways. My friend Brittany, constantly on the look for the cool, sent me this yesterday, as she knows that I’m a huge Doctor Who fan. Next Friday, the Black Cat is playing host to Swami YoMahmi‘s Doctor Who Burlesque Adventure. 

There are two showings next Friday (8:30 & 11) and tickets will run you just $10 ahead of time and $12 at the door.

Whovian attire is suggested, but not required. I’m sure, by the by, that there will be one dance done in just Tom Baker’s scarf. See you there, nerdy friends.

DC Brew Cycle 2012 Start
courtesy of Mr. T in DC

Tonight’s weather is just about perfect for March, let alone January, which means that any chance you can get to be out and about in the weather is one you should take. There’s a group called DC Ride that’s meeting tonight at 7:30 in Dupont Circle for a jaunt about town ending at Rendezvous Lounge in Adams Morgan. The ride is free, and there will be a sweet bicycle-mounted stereo powering crowdsourced tunes for everyone to enjoy.

The route is available if you get a late start or want to join in process, and please be sure to bring lights and a helmet, as well as a lock for your ride at the party. There’s more info on their rides on their Twitter account, @DCBikeParty, or their website.

Enjoy this unseasonable awesomeness on two wheels. If you want to ride, but don’t own a bike, can I recommend Capital Bikeshare? Their bikes are comfortable and speedy enough, and they already have the requisite lights. All you’d need is a helmet and a credit card to make that happen.  You’ll likely want to get there early to get a CaBi Cruiser, though, I suspect that’s going to be a popular option.

Reproduced in full from the MPD email alerts

Missing Person: Noble Watkins

(Washington, DC)-The Metropolitan Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a critical missing person identified as 11 year-old Noble Watkins. He was reported missing on Thursday, December 6, 2012, from the 5500 block of B Street, SE

Noble Watkins is described as a male, 4’8 in height and 82 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black sweater, green and black camouflage pants and a green pea coat. 

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Noble Watkins is asked to call the Metropolitan Police Department at 202-727-9099, the Youth Investigations Division at 202-576-6768, or 911.

It’s A Bad Brains Christmas, Charlie Brown from Tad Was Here on Vimeo.

Much love to Tad Was Here on Vimeo for posting this beautiful mashup of classic Charlie Brown Christmas with DC’s own Bad Brains on the tune age side.

Happy Holidays, everyone.

2012 09 12 – 0834 – DC – P St Candids
courtesy of thisisbossi

The marathon legislative session of the Council of DC this week had more details than your average chess match, but it did result in some clear new laws associated with the various hired transport services like cabs and sedans and limousines. Big winner? Uber, who are now completely street-legal in the District, provided they follow the guidelines set down by the council. That doesn’t seem to be a problem, as Uber CEO Travis Kalanick has professed his love the council. It seems Uber is here to stay, and if the cabbies of DC have anything to do with it, it seems that Uber may be able to prosper.

Late yesterday, WUSA’s Russ Ptacek revealed some video of a consumer sting operation on cabbies in DC, who have a bad habit of not picking up street hails from black people in DC. In the video, a black man asks for a trip to Alabama Ave SE, and is denied, but the same cabbie picks up a white rider who’s going to the exact same address, starting from the very same block.

The report airs tonight at 11 on WUSA 9.

One difference in the approach that the participants used to talk with the cabbie: the refused passenger didn’t get in the cab, while the accepted passenger did. Once you’re in a cab, they pretty much have to get you there. Ideally you shouldn’t have to negotiate with a cabbie before you get in, and the rules are a bit different about what happens outside the cab as opposed to inside.

Though, if you’re still psyched on the idea of the taxi, instead of the sedan, or are looking to save a couple of bucks, you might look to MyTaxi, which handles hails in a similar fashion to Uber, but provides a standard cab instead of a more luxe sedan.

Dan Haren 1
courtesy of afagen

The Nationals, according to Ken Rosenthal and other sources, have agreed to terms with RHP Dan Haren of the Angels. In the one-year deal, Haren will accept a $3.5M buyout from Anaheim, and make $13M more as a member of the Nationals.

Haren, 32, has a career average of 7.6 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9, and fits the mold of the Nationals current staff. His average of 187 IP per season doesn’t take into account a stint on the DL last year, and he has 7 seasons over 200IP, and 3 seasons over 200 strikeouts. 

Haren would likely be the number five starter in the Nats’ rotation, following Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, and Ross Detwiler. It’s hard to see this as anything but an upgrade over Edwin Jackson, who departed as a free agent after the 2012 season. The deal is still pending a physical, which will happen in the near future.

As the Winter Meetings continue in Nashville, the Nationals still have a few other issues to resolve: a contract to return Adam LaRoche to 1st Base for 2-3 years, where to put Michael Morse now that there isn’t an outfield job for him any longer, and what they’ll do for a left-handed arm out of the bullpen. Though the Nationals did sign southpaw Zach Duke to a new contract, they may want to also bring back Sean Burnett. It is said that Burnett’s current desire is a 4-year contract, which is likely a bit more than the Nationals would want to hold.

We’ll know more in the coming days about LaRoche and Morse, and that’s likely to be a bit of a Sophie’s Choice for the Nationals and their fans. Both have made significant contributions on and off the field, and losing one will be painful.

Denard Span
courtesy of Keith Allison

Late yesterday, the Nationals announced that they had completed a deal with the Minnesota Twins to bring center fielder Denard Span to DC in exchange for minor league pitcher Alex Meyer. Span’s early career has been nothing short of impressive, with a .746 career OPS, a slash line of .284/.357/.389, and some plus defensive skills that will make a Harper/Span/Werth outfield a place where balls go to die.

Span was 9th in the AL last year among position players in Wins Above Replacement, which determines a player’s overall contribution level to their club.

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