Category Archives: The District

Dupont Circle, Special Events, The Daily Feed, The District, The Great Outdoors, We Green DC
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Clean-up Rock Creek Park

Photo courtesy of
‘Artistic Trash – Unheeded Words – 03-27-10’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Looking for a trashy way to spend your weekend? We’ve got a suggestion.

WeLoveDC is partnering with Trail Voice in two weeks (April 10th) to host a cleanup site in conjunction with the annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup event hosted by the Alice Ferguson Foundation. Our cleanup site is at the P Street bridge over Rock Creek – about 4 blocks west of Dupont Circle. 

Register on Trail Voice’s site to volunteer your time.  We encourage you to participate in this event to help spruce up a well-used portion of our inner-city landscape.

The trash clean-up should last from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon, but we’re teaming up with a few local vendors who have offered everything from morning yoga stretching to baked goods to help make this environmental sweep a little more fun.

Clean-up site is just west of Dupont Circle in Rock Creek Park from 9:00 a.m. – 12 noon on Saturday, April 10. There is no cost for you to participate. It is recommended that you bring your own work gloves, although some will be available on-site.

Business and Money, Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed, The District, We Green DC
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DC Bag Tax Nets $150,000 For Anacostia River Clean Up

Photo courtesy of
‘Reusable Giant Bags’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

The District’s 5-cent bag tax, which started in January 2010,  netted approximately $150,000 during its first month of enactment. According to the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue, only 3 million bags were issued in the month of January compared to 2009’s 22.5 million bags per month average, and it appears that the new law DC shoppers has been successful in altering  shopping bag habits faster than was expected.

Prior to enactment, the new tax was estimated to generate $10 million in revenue over the next four years and would fund the Anacostia River Cleanup Fund. Given January’s results it appears that consumer behavior has changed so rapidly that this revenue may fall short of its original projection.

Crime & Punishment, People, The Daily Feed, The District, WTF?!
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Hizzoner Once Again in Trouble

Photo courtesy of
‘Marion Barry and Mr. Grumpy Pants’
courtesy of ‘ricepeter’

So now the IRS is jumping back into the Marion Barry pool. (And a dirty one that is, too…) The IRS filed a lien against Hizzoner in an attempt to reclaim some of the $15,000 in unpaid taxes that Barry owes. “There is a lien in favor of the United States on all property and rights to property belonging to this taxpayer for the amount of these taxes,” states the lien.

This lien appears to be unrelated with Barry’s earlier IRS troubles, where he admitted he hadn’t paid the bulk of taxes on the $500,000 he earned between 1999 and 2004. The IRS has been taking $1,350 from Barry’s salary since late 2006 to repay that debt.

According to the lien, Barry also owes $649 for 2005; $4,907 for 2006; $8,679 for 2007; and $1,022 for 2008. Fred Cooke, Barry’s attorney, believes Hizzoner paid his 2008 taxes in full.

News, The Daily Feed, The District
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DC Ranks No. 6 For Highest Rental Market Costs

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘dno1967’

If you thought your rent was expensive … you were right.

The District is the sixth most expensive rental market in the country, according to a study called “Paycheck to Paycheck: Wages and the Cost of Housing in America.”

The 2009 fair market rent in town was $1,494 a month (which, for comparison’s sake, is the same as Bethesda).

San Francisco, Honolulu, and Santa Cruz round out the top three.

History, The District, The Features
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Behind the Design: National Press Club

Photo courtesy of
‘National Press Club #27’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

The National Press Club, rich in historical context and paramount in its mission, is best-known as a retreat for the affiliates within the journalism industry. As a Washington, D.C. fixture, the feeling evoked upon entrance into the Club could best be compared to the dilemma that a young child may face as they enter the formal living room of the home – you are in complete awe of its presence and utterly afraid of breaking something, yet, somehow still manage to want to touch everything in sight.

The good thing is that what differs between this presented scenario and that of my first visit to the National Press Club, is that at the Club exploration is not only encouraged – it is celebrated.

Continue reading →

News, People, The Daily Feed, The District
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Home-Grown Pot May Become An Option In DC

Photo courtesy of
‘Reefer Madness/The Burning Question (1936)’
courtesy of ‘Caveman (Kickin’ 66 with Pete Zarria)’

It’s Congress approved … now the next step in upholding the legalization of medical marijuana in the District is figuring out how to get the green stuff into the city itself.

D.C. Council is considering a “home cultivation” option in which individuals requiring medical marijuana could grow up to two plants at a time in their own privacy via a city-issued licensing process.

Complete legalization of medical marijuana usage is on hold until the D.C. Council approves and passes a new law in its name.

The Washington Examiner reports the District’s biggest concern  at the moment, according to D.C. Judiciary Committee Chairman Phil Mendelson, is how to not make D.C. a mistake like Los Angeles, “who opened the door so wide it was tantamount to legalized pot” in their city.

The District, The Features, The Mall, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: Josef Albers

Josef Albers, “Homage to the Square: Glow,” (1966). From the Hirshhorn’s collection.

“We must teach each other… education is not first giving answers but giving questions.”  – Josef Albers

Abstract art is void of narrative.  The composition often speaks only through the viewers mind.  A type of understanding through speculation, providing the sort of simple canvas that the imagination needs in order to thrive.

Josef Albers (1888-1976) was a master of the subjective canvas, an explorer of color and an ambassador for the abstract form.

Continue reading →

News, The Daily Feed, The District
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Panda Updates: Nothing New at Home, but Butterstick is Happy

Photo courtesy of
‘panda national’
courtesy of ‘christaki’

It’s too easy to be overly-clever while writing stories related to panda pregnancies (what, you couldn’t have gone opened with “one bamboo stick or two?” Come on!). Regardless of pregnancy test ledes, NBC Washington is reporting that this edition of “Mei Xiang Pregnancy Watch” is…still going on. According to the report, scientists at the National Zoo are not confirming if it’s a “no” or a “yes,” for the aging bear, so it looks the watch will continue for now.

We’ve already had to say farewell to our beloved Tai Shan in the early part of this year, and with the 10-year-loan on Mei Xiang and Tian-Tian soon to run out and the pandas sent back to China, this may be the last chance for a new cub here in the District. At least it sounds like Butterstick is enjoying his first time free from quarantine after returning to the home land.

The suspense is brutal back here at home, though – so keep your fingers crossed that a new cub could be on the way.

The Daily Feed, The District, The Mall, Tourism
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Michelle Obama Donates Inaugural Gown

Photo courtesy of
‘Michelle Obama Donates Inaugural Gown’
courtesy of ‘tbridge’

In a ceremony in the NMAH’s Flag Hall this morning, First Lady Michelle Obama donated her Jason Wu-designed chiffon and Swarovski crystal gown to the Smithsonian as part of their new “A First Lady’s Debut” Exhibit that opens tomorrow. Featuring gowns from the last 50 years of Inaugurations, from Mamie Eisenhower through to Michelle Obama,

Designer Jason Wu, 28, was on hand to meet the First Lady for the first time, and today thanked her for “letting my story become a small part of the events,” surrounding the Inauguration of President Barack Obama. Wu emigrated from Taiwan when he was just 9 years old, studied in New York and Paris before opening his own studio in Manhattan 4 years ago. He is the youngest designer to outfit the First Lady for the Inauguration.

The exhibit is open to the public starting tomorrow morning.

Michelle Obama and Jason Wu with her Inaugural Gown Michelle Obama Applauds Huntington High School Students 

Smithsonian Secretary G. Wayne Clough introduces Michelle Obama Jason Wu speaks about his Inaugural Design

All Politics is Local, News, The Daily Feed, The District
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Marriage Day Slide Show

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘erin m’

Today was a big day for the gay community in DC and WLDC Flickr Pool contributor Erin M. was there to capture the moment.  I’m happy for the couples and realize that they’re the point of this whole business, but I find the counter protesters facing off against Westboro Baptist Church to be particularly hilarious.  I’m of two minds on this: I feel that counter protesting gives Westboro exactly the attention that they want.  On the other hand, I love when people stand up to hate groups.  Either way, I really enjoy some of the counter-protest signs.  See them in the slide show after the break. Continue reading →

Life in the Capital, People, Special Events, The Daily Feed, The District
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The Art of the Blog

Photo courtesy of
‘2010:57’
courtesy of ‘::FiZ::’

Friday night I had the opportunity to attend The Art of the Blog at District in Adams Morgan.  Hosted by Ready Set DC, The Art of the Blog is a new, monthly get together for bloggers across the nation’s capital.  With a focus on ‘neighborhood blogs’ this month, the special guest speakers – Dan Silverman of Prince of Petworth & David Garber of And Now, Anacostia – both shared candid interpretations of what it’s like to be a DC blogger.   Continue reading →

Essential DC, History, Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed, The District
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Cultural Tourism DC Opens A New Visitor Center On U Street

Photo courtesy of
‘U Street’
courtesy of ‘Rolenz’

Cultural Tourism DC opened a new Visitor Center on U Street last week to introduce a new audio tour of the historic  neighborhood. Local residents and tourists are encouraged to stop by the new center and take the audio tour to learn more about the rich cultural history the neighborhood has to offer.

Stops on the tour include the restored Lincoln Theater, Jazz hot-spot Bohemian Caverns, The Whitelaw Hotel, and The Thurgood Marshall Center for Service and Heritage.

For more information, email Trail@CulturalTourismDC.org or call 202-661-7581.

Entertainment, Essential DC, Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed, The District, The Mall, WTF?!
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Screen On The Green In Danger … Again

Photo courtesy of
‘Screen on the Green’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’

Screen on the Green is in danger for a second year now. HBO has yet to determine their 2010 budget, which  means no one has any idea whether or not Screen on the Green will be back this summer.

Want to support the effort and keep Screen on the Green a running DC tradition? Screen on the Green supporter and founder of the Save the Screen on the Green Facebook group Jesse Rauch is asking fans to vote for Screen on the Green as Best Festival in CityPaper’s annual Best of D.C. contest. You can cast your vote at the CityPaper’s webiste.

Want to stay updated on the latest news concerning Screen on the Green? Check out the Facebook group.

Monumental, The District, The Features
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Monumental: Mount St. Fenty

Photo courtesy of
‘glacial dome’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Rising high above the streets of DC, seen here with a height on par with the Capitol Building, is Mount St. Fenty.  The monument, in which is carved the sorrow of all District residents, was erected in the early part of 2010 by the District’s Department of Transportation on the orders of the Mayor.  While the initial monument was created as part of what should have been the art installation equivalent of a flash mob, on orders of the Mayor, the monument would stand for months to come as testament to the powers of the mother nature.

The ad-hoc architectural construction of Mount St. Fenty is a bold statement in contravention to traditional artforms, favoring chaos and confusion over structure and focus.  The confusing form has been the topic of much discussion over the past few days, and the Mayor himself has expressed incredulity at its reception.  If the avant garde nature of Mount St. Fenty is its most obvious feature, the Kafkaesque drama that it carries with it as undercurrent is its most long-lasting.  The neighborhoods are rife with frustration as the Mount is causing all manner of parking difficulty throughout the city, leaving residents with flat tires, flared tempers and a sharp increase in the alcoholism rate.

Plans to move the monument at this time are quite sketchy, as the Mayor has said that the weather will have to do the job itself, and that city funds are stretched to the limit to move the monument to its final location. The delay, though, will prove to be a campaign issue for the Mayor in this fall’s primaries.  Well, should anyone decide to run against Mayor Fenty.

The District
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We tell you where the hydrant is, you dig it out

Chief of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Dennis Rubin has been asking the public to help out and clear snow from around fire hydrants, but it’s not uncommon for some to be covered. Where to dig?

Well, we’ve whipped up a tool to help you find ones close to you, buried or not. Put in a few extra minutes after shoveling your walk and un-burying your car – the house you save might be your own.

The map is powered by Google Maps and uses up-to-date GIS data from the District Water and Sewer website. Just scroll it around to find the 40 nearest hydrants or key in an address or zip code to re-center the map. Only District hydrants are mapped.

Click the image below to go to the finder.

Screen shot 2010-02-10 at 11.55.19 PM

Business and Money, Essential DC, Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed, The District
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Georgetown Shops Continue To Take A Beating

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

The shops lining M Street and Wisconsin Avenue have had a turbulent year. We’ve lost American Eagle, Commander Salamander, Up Against The Wall, FYE, Smith and Hawken, Nathan’s, etc. However, we have gained North Face, True Religion Jeans, Arisu, etc.  A full survey from late January of the closings and openings can be found at Georgetownmetropolitan.com.

Now comes word from Georgetown blogger Carol Joynt that more stores are closed or in peril. According the Joynt, Benneton has already shuttered, Sisley is soon to follow and the Aldo’s “remodeling” is suspect.

Continue reading →

The District, WMATA, WTF?!
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Metro Continues Underground-Only, Expects “Limited” Metrobus Service

Clarendon Metro

The word for tomorrow is out, and it’s not good:

For Monday morning, Feb. 8, commuters should expect limited underground Metrorail service to start at 7 a.m., and very limited Metrobus service from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., as icy conditions on roadways and Metrorail tracks continue to be a barrier to providing safe service. MetroAccess service for Monday will be suspended for the entire day.

Blowing snow and re-freezing are the culprits currently keeping Metro from restoring above ground rail service. Regarding Metrobus:

Fewer than two dozen Metrobus lines will be in service on Monday, Feb. 8, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. due to snowy and icy conditions that persist on the region’s roadways. Metrobuses will stick to snow emergency routes to start the day. Customers may want to take advantage of the next bus prediction technology to get an idea when the next bus will be arriving by logging onto Metro’s web site or calling 202-637-7000 and saying, “Next Bus.” Buses are expected to be moving slowly on the roads, which remain slippery.

This is a particularly rough showing for Metro in a time of dire need for the DC Metro area, and it’s not clear when things are going to get better with 4-8″ of additional precip expected this Tuesday night.

The District, The Features
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Not Over Yet: The Snow In Pictures

Photo courtesy of
‘Beginning to Snow’
courtesy of ‘tzk333’

We’re a good few hours away from the end of the storm, which should taper off around 8 p.m. tonight, but here’s a look at our flickr contributor’s snow pictures from the great storm of 2010 thus far. Snapped some snow photographs of your own and want to see them here? Add them to the We Love DC pool on flickr! We’re always looking for great pictures of DC from our local photographers. Continue reading →

Essential DC, Food and Drink, The District, The Features
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What Snow? Restaurants & Bars To Stay Open in DC Blizzard

Photo courtesy of
‘Metaphorical lesson’
courtesy of ‘c00lmarie’

[Update 2/8, 11AM] Hey there – if you’re reading this now that the blizzard is over (for now…) maybe you’d like some more topical information, like Katie’s updates on lunch specials available on Monday, Feb 8th.

If you’re like me, the thought of spending an entire 24 hours in your apartment makes you a little batty. In the snowstorms of recent past, my lovely roomie and I have zipped up our boots, slung on our hats and trudged out into the great beyond in the name of burgers and beer, searching for the only place along Wilson and Clarendon to be open. I love the neighborhood-y feel DC gets in the snow; everyone emerging from warm apartments and the air filled with a little buzz of excitement and “we’re all in this together”-ness. So where can you find your neighbors? Here’s a great list to get you started. Some of my favorites are hosting snow specials, so I’ve got an entire section on that, just for you, because I love you. Plus, omg, A MAP! Tom made a map, places with specials are in red, places that are open are blue. Cheers to the snow. Continue reading →

Food and Drink, Foodie Roundup, The Daily Feed, The District
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DC Meat Free Week

Photo courtesy of
‘Chef Palma’s Westend Green Tomato Salad’
courtesy of ‘CathyLovesDC’

First, there was meat week. And after I announced it, former WLDC author Jasmine astutely pointed out that every week is meat week, really. Which is a point I totally agree on – it is absolutely easier to eat meat in this city than it is NOT to eat meat. Enter: DC Meat Free Week. DC Vegan has put together a delicious sounding week of vegan menus, starting February 6 and running through the 12th and I have to say, it looks mighty tasty.

With some of my favorite restaurants like The Source and Restaurant Nora, on the list of participating places, this isn’t something to scoff at. DC Vegan also reports, “Two of the restaurants are debuting new vegan menus, and one is offering discounted rates off their regular prices. Gene Baur, Farm Sanctuary President and Co-founder, will be attending dinner one night. And two of the events are fundraisers, including one with all profits donated to Haitian relief.”

I’m sold – eating ethically is important. I can’t wait to see some of of our cities finest restaurants step up to the challenge.