Category Archives: News

News, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Woman Struck, Killed by National Guard Truck

Photo courtesy of
‘The Return of the Ghost Bikes’
courtesy of ‘Daquella manera’

A National Guard truck, as part of a security convoy related to the Nuclear Summit, struck and killed a local woman yesterday at 12th & New York. Her identity remains unknown, as does the identity of the driver of the truck, and the convoy that they were part of. There is significant outrage that such a large truck was necessary to use as part of any street convoy in DC, and I must admit that I share it. I’m not sure why the National Guard felt that they had to use giant box trucks instead of the standard Suburbans/Tahoes/Denalis that they use for security here in the District.

Perhaps the next time they do this, they should hold it over at the Pentagon or Bolling AFB, as those are places that usually have such large vehicles running about?

News, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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D.C. United to take on AC Milan this May

Photo courtesy of
‘United vs Revolution 14’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’

Congrats to D.C. United for lining up a match against AC Milan this summer! One of Europe’s best sides will be coming to DC for a match at RFK on May 26th. Tickets, once they’re available, will start at just $35, which is dirt cheap to see one of Europe’s best pro-soccer clubs. When United has faced European clubs in the past, it’s not been terribly pretty for the local boys, but it is a chance to see some of the finest soccer played in the world. Set aside the 26th on your calendar, this is one not to miss.

Adventures, Business and Money, News, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Tie Me Up, Tie Me Churchill Downs

Photo courtesy of
‘Ties’
courtesy of ‘bdesham’

Georgetown-based menswear designers, Charles and Patrick, have scored it big with the 2010 Kentucky Derby Icon logo tie. Made from 100% Italian printed silk, the neckties are handmade in the US, come in four colors: yellow, pink, blue, and orange, and feature the emblematic Kentucky Derby rose.

The 136th Kentucky Derby takes place on Saturday, May 1 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The annual event features the cream of the crop of three year-old Thoroughbred horses in a head-to-head race for a $2 million dollar purse.

News, Night Life, The Daily Feed, WMATA, WTF?!
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Metro Weekend Doors, Closing Early? Maybe.

Photo courtesy of
‘Lotus #49’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

It looks like Metro’s trying to get responsible, start saving money, and create more time to do track maintenance. I’d say, “Great! Hoorah! I’m proud of you,” but I can’t do that. Why? They’d have to eliminate late night train service on weekends to do it.

Director of Operations Planning at Metro, Jim Hughes, told WAMU-FM’s David Schultz that Metro carries less and less people that later in the night it gets. Well duh, Mr. Hughes. The earlier closure time would cost close to 800,000 riders a safe way home, but would save Metro more than $6 million a year.

If Metro goes through with the proposed change, DC area businesses would run the risk of losing a decent amount revenue previously brought in during those late weekend hours. Metro hot spots such as U Street, Chinatown, Dupont Circle, and Adam’s Morgan could all be hit hard by Metro’s actions.

Business and Money, Downtown, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, News, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Name That Burger Joint

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

This past Monday, BLT Restaurant Group launched an online “Name Game” contest to find the best name for its three new burger restaurants opening later this year in New York City, Los Angeles and Washington, DC (1317 Connecticut Avenue).

You must submit your burger joint name before Friday, April 30 and on Wednesday, May 5, the BLT Restaurant Group partners will select their top three choices and opened up voting to the public with the final winner announced on Monday, May 10. The two runners-up will receive $250 gift certificates to BLT Restaurants.

News, Sports Fix
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The Nationals Sold Out Their Fanbase

Photo courtesy of
‘Burning of Ravan 01’
courtesy of ‘TushyD’

I don’t usually start my posts with disclaimers, but I am starting this with one. The following is my personal opinion, and not the opinion of We Love DC, the business entity. No words here are approved by the editorial board of We Love DC, and should not be considered as endorsed by the board. I stand alone.

There is no question that in the aftermath of Monday’s abject embarrassment both on the field and off that the Nationals have sold their fanbase up the river. Stories are coming out that the Nationals made a concerted effort to attract large groups of fans from the Philadelphia area and sold large blocks of tickets (one was over 500 tickets) to Philly fans before the public at large was given a chance to buy tickets for themselves. The Nationals pursued profit first and foremost with no regard for their home market’s needs. The home market who shelled out six hundred million dollars for the temple that they play in. Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed
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Green/Yellow Line Delays This Afternoon

Photo courtesy of
‘Metro Train in Motion’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

Riders be weary, there are now major delays on the Green and Yellow lines after a woman was struck by a train shortly after 1 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Square/7th Stret Convention Center stop, which is closed at this time which is open as of 2:37 this afternoon. Trains continue on a single-track through the station.

Currently, the Yellow line is split into what WTOP is calling “two segments”, running from Huntington to Gallery Place-Chinatown and from Shaw-Howard University to Fort Totten.

The Green Line is running from Branch Avenue to Gallery Place-Chinatown stations and Greenbelt to Shaw-Howard University.

There are a few shuttle buses being run by Metro at the Mount Vernon Square/7th Street Convention Center station. But riders please note, waits for the shuttle buses could reach an hour and can only carry up to 50 people (as opposed to the trains who can carry near 800 people at a time.

WTOP reports that people can also take Metrobus Routes 70, 71 and 79 – which run along Georgia Avenue – to get around the incident.

News, The Daily Feed
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Get Ready For Commuteageddon: Nuclear Edition

Photo courtesy of
‘Washington, D.C. Convention Center’
courtesy of ‘NCinDC’

Getting around downtown can take a good long time. It’s the nature of any downtown, really. But how about when they close a two block radius around the Convention Center, and a Metro stop? That’s what’s happening on Monday and Tuesday next week for the Nuclear Security Summit. Here’s the details:

Thirteen Metrobus routes are expected to be impacted: 42, 63, 64, 70, 71, 79, 80, D4, G8, P6, S2, S4, and X2 will all be detoured around the closures. The Circulator’s Georgetown-Union Station route will be split into two routes around the closures at the Convention Center while the Convention Center/Waterfront route will go no further north than I Street. Mt. Vernon Sq./Convention Center Metro will close on Sunday night and will not reopen until Wednesday morning. Trains will transit the station, but not stop, and no street access to the station will be permitted.

Parking Restrictions will be in effect throughout the area, so don’t expect to park your car on the street anywhere near the Convention Center Monday or Tuesday. In addition, if you work over there, you won’t be able to reach your own garage, most likely. You will have your ID checked entering the zone, which will be available to business owners only. Included in the zone is The Passenger, so expect to find a new place for cocktails for Monday and Tuesday.

Click through for a map of the closed streets. Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed
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DCPS, WTU to Announce Tentative Contract

Photo courtesy of
‘Turning Around Low-Performing Schools: Local Strategies in Action’
courtesy of ‘Center for American Progress Action Fund’

For the last three years, DC Public School teachers and the school district have operated without a current contract. Rhetoric has waxed and waned on both sides, tensions have run high, and this morning at 11am, along with Mayor Fenty and the AFT’s Randi Weingarten, Michelle Rhee and George Parker will announce the new deal. The City Paper had the story first, and then The Post last night had the highlights of the deal which runs through 2012. Any deal will need to be reviewed and approved by Union members and the City Council. Most interestingly? $65M of the deal is funded through private sources.

Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed
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A Streetcar Named “Why All The Wires?”

Photo courtesy of
‘HOVMHTM810550a’
courtesy of ‘Charles HTM’

“Why are the tourists entitled to a better view than we are?” Monte Edwards of the Capitol Hill Restoration Society told the Washington Post. “I like to look up and see the sky and trees. They’re as important to me as a resident as the tourist’s views of our monuments.”

Edwards is one of many who are tangled “in the wires” when it comes to the reemergence of streetcars in the District.

Streetcars ran on the streets of Washington from 1862 until 1962 and was a backbone of the District’s transportation until Congress called for a bus replacement when the auto industry took off in the 1950s. Now, city planners awaiting the realization of their $1.5 billion vision will have to fight the battle guardians of the federal city before connecting the city’s widespread neighborhoods.

What are they fighting about? The proposed overhead electrical wires taking up valuable DC airspace and hindering the illustrious, open sky view we’ve been able to maintain during the city’s 200(plus) year history.

According to The National Park Service’s spokesman Bill Line, the Service “does not want and does not approve of” overhead wires in the city. No matter which side of the tracks you find yourself on in this debate, I suggest becoming vocal … and soon. That’s the only way to either put a halt to the project or get the those wires hung.

News, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Nats Get Shelled in Opener at Citizens Bank Park South

Photo courtesy of
‘Phillies @ Nationals (May 16, 2009) – 31’
courtesy of ‘Garyisajoke’

In my life I’ve left a baseball game early less than ten times. Today was one. The Nationals’ home opener today was an absolute disgrace on a number of fronts, but primarily on the field. The Nats put out a good first inning, with strong defense and small-ball offense putting them ahead 1-0 after 2 innings, but it was short lived. In the fourth, the Phils found John Lannan’s weaknesses and exploited them thoroughly. Ryan Howard struck with a two-run shot, followed by a string of walks and hits that just took the air out of the Nationals. Placido Polanco would strike in the top of the 7th with a grand slam to finish the deed, which ended 11-1

Thanks to the aggressive courting of traveling Phillies fans, the park was majority Phils phans, making Nationals Park into Citizens Bank Park South, in a most embarrassing show for the Nationals. I do hope that the Lerners recognize that this contributed to today’s loss and to the enjoyment of the fans. Most of the Nationals fans left Section 109 early in the game when it became clear that all we’d get to deal with was rowdy Phils fans who wanted to taunt, misbehave, and otherwise abuse our fair city’s dignity.

While the Nationals have much work to do, today’s treatment at the hands of the Phils should remind us that we need to take more pride in our teams, especially those that are the weakest. Get out and go to a game, if for no other reason than to deprive some feckless Philly thug a spot.

Essential DC, Fun & Games, News, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Obama’s Slew of Social Activities

Photo courtesy of
‘Scary Bunny’
courtesy of ‘shbaker99’

President Obama had quite the social schedule to tend to today. Granted, he played to the occasion and appears to be having the time of life. He even snuck a White Sox cap onto the diamond before taking the mound clad in his Nationals jacket to wear atop his head during the ceremonial first pitch.

But before there was afternoon baseball, there was the Easter Egg Roll. Sadly, I was not selected for Egg Roll tickets in this year’s ticket lottery. As a result I was unable to attend or get any photos of the cute kiddies on the White House lawn with the cast of Glee or the Easter Bunny (sad, I know).

NBC4, on the other hand, got some great shots of the event in case you’re interested in recapping it for yourself. Click here for their photo reel.

News, The Daily Feed
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McNabb a Redskin?!

Photo courtesy of
‘Westbrook and McNabb’
courtesy of ‘Kevin Burkett’

I’m confused. Is the Mike Shanahan that we hired here in Washington to coach our fine boys of fall actually a time-traveler from the year 2010? Because trading a 2nd-round draft pick this year and a 3rd or 4th round pick for 2011 for Eagles QB Donovan McNabb sounds like the sort of thing someone who hasn’t been watching the NFL since 2005 might do. Along with the signing of Willie Parker, that is. McNabb is due $11M in 2010, but it’s not clear who will be footing the May roster bonus yet.

News, The Daily Feed
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Metrobus Operator Arrested

Photo courtesy of
‘Butternut #2’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

Metrobus operator Dwayne Adamson was arrested by Metro Transit Police after pulling over the bus he was driving in the 2900 block of Minnesota Avenue, SE. He was arrested after allegedly pulling a knife on another motorist following a traffic dispute around 5 P.M.

Adamson was operating bus 2533 on the U2 route in Southeast. He has been a bus operator for three years.

News, Sports Fix, The Daily Feed
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Meet the Newest Redskin: Willie Parker, RB

Photo courtesy of
‘Willie Parker’
courtesy of ‘Jessa B.C.’

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Redskins today signed a one-year $3.1M maximum value deal to with Running Back Willie Parker, formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Parker, 29, had three 1,000+ yard seasons in 2005-2007 with Pittsburgh before production dropped off over the last two seasons, in part due to Parker’s broken leg at the end of the 2007 season. Parker will be competing with Clinton Portis and newly-signed Larry Johnson for the starting spot. This should make Skins camp fairly interesting this summer.

News, The Daily Feed, The District, The Mall
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Reflecting Pool Upgrade Scheduled To Begin In 2010

Icky Pool
Photo by Hilary Levitin

The Reflecting Pool could be closed for up to two years due to a face lift scheduled to start after this summer’s tourism season, according to the Washington Examiner.

Paths surrounding the pool were eroded over time due to an exorbitant amount of tourists and residents alike passing by on a daily basis. Plus, let’s face it, the water floating around is a less-to-be-desired cesspool at this point.

Building plans for the renovation project include adding a paved, 13-foot-wide walking path on the pool’s perimeter  and changes to the pool’s water system.

News, The Daily Feed
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Where in the World is Mayor Adrian Fenty?

Photo courtesy of
‘Fenty Oops’
courtesy of ‘Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com’

The headline for this post sounds a lot better if you sing it to the tune of “Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” Mike Debonis from the City Paper has the word that Mayor Fenty’s out of the country. Worse still, his return isn’t clear and his spokesman’s not talking. No one begrudges the Mayor a vacation, but a comment would be nice, or perhaps a timetable for your speedy return might be a good thing to work on, don’t you think?

Entertainment, Fun & Games, News, People, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Newest Wax Statue Elicits “Who The F*^k Is That?”

Photo courtesy of
‘Free S. Gomez’
courtesy of ‘PicturesAllDisney’

Today, Madame Tussauds in Washington DC revealed the newest addition to their wax museum, Selena Gomez. Who’s that? You logically ask. She’s one of those tween Disney Channel stars, like the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Zack Efron, etc., that gets swarmed everywhere she goes by screaming 13 year olds and she likely makes more money than God. Unfortunately, the “actress” was unavailable to attend the unveiling of her statue as she’s on tour promoting her band’s latest album.  So disappointing. I hope they place her right next to the figures of Babe Ruth, Buzz Aldrin and Winston Churchill.

Crime & Punishment, News, The Daily Feed
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10 Shot in Driveby, 4 Dead

Photo courtesy of
‘AK-47 Assault Rifle // Avtomat Kalashnikova 1947’
courtesy of ‘brian.ch’

Ten people were shot last night, four fatally, around 7:30pm in the 4000 block of South Capitol Street in an act of violence that has shaken the city. NBC4 reports that the weapon used in the shooting was “an AK-47 type” firearm, and that in the ensuing chase, four DC Police officers were injured in a crash on St. Barnabas Road in Oxon Hill as the chase went beyond the District line.  Three individuals were arrested in the Condon Terrace neighborhood in Southeast DC at the conclusion of the chase and have been taken into custody in DC.

The drive-by shooting represents the District’s single biggest act of violence since ten were shot at the O Street market in 1994 in a gang hit.  The motives for the shootings are unclear, as are any gang ties, but it is possible that the violence is related to the funeral of a man shot on Chesapeake St SE several days ago.

DC Fire/EMS said that over 50 personnel responded to last night’s shooting, including almost a dozen ambulances, in a typical mass casualty response.  Victims were transported to Washington Hospital Center for treatment.  One died at the scene, one en route to the hospital, and two have succumbed to gunshot wounds overnight.  Six more remain in the hospital, two with life-threatening injuries.  This is a story that will continue to unfold over the next few days, we’ll do our best to keep you updated.

All Politics is Local, News, The Daily Feed
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Vincent Gray Announces for Mayor



video courtesy of the Gray campaign

Council Chair Vincent Gray today announced that he is running mayor this afternoon, providing a legitimate challenge for Mayor Adrian Fenty. He gave a short statement, citing his long residency in the city and history of public service and the desire to see the District “do better,” but did not provide any policy planks in his short statement.

Gray polled well against Fenty in a January poll, and is expecting to be a fundraising tornado in the coming weeks as he looks to provide the Mayor’s enemies with an electable alternative. In addition to the announcement, Gray unveiled a new social media presence, in the form of a YouTube channel, campaign website, Facebook page and Twitter account, putting him far ahead of Mayor Fenty, who seems to have forgotten that interacting with citizens is a part of his job.

We look forward to a vibrant campaign between the two rivals.