Category Archives: Essential DC

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.

Entertainment, Essential DC, Fun & Games, Inaugupocalypse, Life in the Capital, Night Life, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Lincoln Theatre To Screen Documentary “Marching Band” on Feb. 20

courtesy of www.changethenextday.org

courtesy of www.changethenextday.org

This Saturday, February 20, at 6pm, the Lincoln Theatre will host a FREE, one-time screening of Marching Band, a documentary that captures the spirit of the 2008 Presidential election through the young and talented students of the University of Virginia and Virginia State marching bands.

While the film centers around the Obama campaign, politics is not the focal point. The film really tells the story of these two collegiate marching bands, the kids who love playing music and marching, and their experiences of the change facing their country and themselves. Continue reading →

Essential DC, Fun & Games, People, Special Events
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Behind Cupid’s Undie Run

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Erin Purcell’

Not even the snowpocalypse will stop Brendan Hanrahan from running around the Capitol half-naked this Saturday. The sole director of the first annual Cupid’s Undie Run is devoted to his cause and the message he’s helping to spread here in the DC area.

Hanrahan moved to town a few years back and has been yearning for a way to apply what he left behind at home to his daily life. The end result being Cupid’s Undie Run.

This excuse for DC to take its pants off is more than a Sunday morning stroll to annoy Metro riders or a freak shortage of condoms during the biggest snow fall in DC history — for Hanrahan, it hits home. Cupid’s Undie Run benefits the Children’s Tumor Foundation, which is Hanrahan’s purpose for founding the Undie Run.

His best friend’s brother is his motivation to raise money for the cause. To him, this justifies all the effort put in to creating a new and exciting way to raise money for a cause in the nation’s capital. Continue reading →

All Politics is Local, Business and Money, Downtown, Essential DC, News, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Fed Closed AGAIN!

Photo courtesy of
‘The White House’
courtesy of ‘william couch’

OPM has announced that the Fed is closed for a nearly unprecedented fourth day in a row.  The last time the government shut down for more than 2 days was for the blizzard of 1996, when employees were instructed not to report for an entire week (also the record for longest closure).  We’ll see if the fed decides to open for business on Friday.  I’d like to think that they’ll be able to, but God only knows, at this point.

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 →

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 →

Essential DC, Special Events, Sports Fix, The Features
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NatsFest 2010: If You Build It, They Will Come

DSC01023

Imagine a quiet Sunday morning. The city is silent from the few inches of snow that stuck to the ground yesterday. Most everyone’s either still asleep or in the comfort of their own homes trying to keep warm. It’s the last day of the first month of 2010. So, you choose to lounge around. Huge mistake. Why? You’re missing out on the most pristine, once in a lifetime moment baseball fans in DC have had since the game’s big move back to town.

NatsFest 2010 was — in a word — awesome. Although it’s easy to doubt their dedication during the season, fans turned out in the hundreds (and early!) for a fun-filled fan fest hosted by their favorite men in red. Nationals fans of all-ages wrapped themselves around the park entrance for close to an hour before the 11 a.m. start time of NatsFest. Their devotion was somewhat shocking considering their team’s losing for the past five years, but let us all  remember that the Nationals are still teenagers by baseball standards. They’re new. They’re in their awkward, “growing-up” phase. Can you really blame them for trying to find out who they are among all of the other big kids playing the game?

Continue reading →

Essential DC, Penn Quarter, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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The Best of DC Shorts At The Navy Memorial

Photo courtesy of
‘Roll Film!’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

The best of the DC Shorts Film Festival in 2009 are being presented in a special double feature format this weekend at the U.S. Navy Memorial‘s Burke Theater (located at 701 Pennsylvania Ave, NW above the Archives Metro). There will be 90 minutes of film screened at a time, with a brief intermission, then 90 more minutes of shorts to watch following the intermission.

Tickets sold online are $15 for the night (which comes out to 88 cents per movie shown … not bad). Ticket sales at the door are CASH ONLY.

$3 Stella Artois will we available for purchase, all proceeds go to the DC Shorts Film Festival.

Don’t worry if you can’t make the Friday night showing, both nights will feature the same films. Tickets for Friday and Saturday are still available.

The event goes from 7:00 to 10:30 p.m. each night.

Business and Money, Essential DC, Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed, The District
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Up Against The Wall Follows Commander Salamander

Photo courtesy of
‘Mystery man #1’
courtesy of ‘Ed Yourdon’

Exactly one week ago, I posted the sad news that long time Georgetown staple Commander Salamander would be shortly shutting its doors. The only glimmer of hope was that sister shop, Up Against The Wall, was still opened and right around the corner. Unfortunately, today’s posting by local DC-Georgetown blogger Carol Joynt, announces that Up Against The Wall will be closing as well.

No word yet on if this means the entire chain is going under.  I’m planning on swinging by the shop today and seeing if I can find out further details.

Adams Morgan, Entertainment, Essential DC, Life in the Capital, Night Life, People, Special Events
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Adams Morgan: The Movie

Photo courtesy of
‘Where have you gone, Philip Marlowe?’
courtesy of ‘LaTur’

If there’s one thing Paul DeVeaux and I agree on, it’s that DC lacks what some other major cities don’t – a movie about “us.” There is no such recounting of District life from the perspective of an actual resident — or least none that come to mind at a moments notice.

We’ve seen the White House blown up more times than we can count (anyone remember “2012” or “Independence Day?”) and we’ve borne witness to the ups-and-downs of the political game thanks to “All The President’s Men” and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” but what about a movie recounting the lives of all the folks putting their blood, sweat, and tears into making this the city what it is.

“That’s what I’m doing”, DeVeaux said. “This movie is my love letter to DC.”

Continue reading →

Entertainment, Essential DC, Life in the Capital, Music, People, The Daily Feed
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Let’s Hear It For DC!!!

I was listening to Metro on Connection‘s report on this past weekend’s 2010 Orginial DMV Music Awards show, and I was pleasantly surprised to hear this DC remix of the Jay-Z/Alicia Keyes “Empire State of Mind” by Eezy Money.  The song titled “Capital Conscience” calls out Mumbo sauce, the Skins/Nats/Wizards poor seasons and features a  DC montage music video.

Well worth sharing.

Essential DC, Food and Drink, The Features, We Love Food
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We Love Food: Et Voila!

bar2

People look at me quizzically when I tell them that one of my favorite restaurants in DC is in the Palisades. Most people give me a little head tilt and say, “I don’t know where that is?” “Yeahhhhh,” I always sigh. “It’s above Georgetown, towards the Potomac. Totally inaccessible, but I SWEAR OMG it is worth the trip up there for Et Voila!”

I’m sorry I’ve kept it to myself this long… I’ve uh…been busy and stuff. Plus the restaurant is super tiny, and if you knew how good it is, you’d be there filling up my seat. Call me selfish, whatever, I can take it. But I’ve finally cracked and the secret is out: Et Voila! is delicious, unpretentious Belgian food, and you should go. Don’t have a car? Get yourself a Zipcar, grab your bike out of hibernation, strap on the rollerblades, call up your ex, do whatever it takes. Even (gasp) take the D6 bus! I mean business.

So all this gushing, but you’re sitting there staring at your computer screen asking what IS Et Voila!, exactly? Located along Macarthur Boulevard, this French/Belgian gem doesn’t look like a whole heck of a lot from the outside. But once inside, I always feel like I’m in London, or even Paris. The wait staff speaks almost exclusively French, and the close, cozy interior always has a buzz about it.

Chef Claudio Pirollo and Pastry Chef Mikael Cornu have built an accessible menu full of well executed classics. Et Voila!’s Web site quips, “Chef Pirollo was named “Best Young Chef in Belgium” in 1994 and served as the personal chef to the Irish Ambassador for the past six years.” And not for naught. The menu, full of staples like mussels, french onion soup, foie gras, is in a word impeccable. The brunch menu isn’t to be taken lightly either – Belgian waffles, of course, but brunch favorites such as eggs benedict with smoked salmon, leek quiche and croque madame come out to play. The quiche has a flakey, buttery savory crust, and every detail right down to the cheese in the quiche shine through. Continue reading →

Essential DC, News, The Daily Feed
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Commander Salamander Closing

Photo courtesy of
‘Obamismo’
courtesy of ‘Daquella manera’

Georgetown shop, Commander Salamander, which surprisingly has its very own definition in the urbandictionary, will be shutting it’s Wisconsin Avenue doors shortly. The shop known for it’s puny t-shirts, colorful trucks and gag gifts has long been a staple of the Georgetown shopping scene. No word yet on why the shop is closing, but fortunately, sister shop Up Against The Wall, with a location in the Georgetown Mall on M Street across from J. Paul’s, will remain open.

Essential DC, The Daily Feed
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Give to Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network With One Click

Photo courtesy of
‘Conversations’
courtesy of ‘N.S.’

From now until January 22nd, if you’ve got Facebook, you’ve got the power to change Arlington’s homeless population forever.

Chase Bank is donating $5 Million to 100 small nonprofits nationwide, allowing Facebook users to decide the winners. Arlington’s own Street People Assistance Network (A-SPAN) finished in the Top 100 and is now eligible for the $1 Million Grand Prize. All you have to do is vote for A-SPAN on Facebook. A-SPAN will share the prize with these other Arlington nonprofits: AMEN, AFAC, AACH, Borromeo Housing, Doorways for Women & Families, and OAR.

I’m a big fan of Doorways for Women & Families, having volunteered at battered women’s shelters in college, so I love that A-SPAN will be distributing its $1 million prize far and wide to help all populations. For more info, see the Sun Gazette article. And, vote!

Adventures, Essential DC, The Daily Feed
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Case of the Key Bridge Hanging Ropes Solved

Photo courtesy of
‘Ripples’
courtesy of ‘S. Parker’

Ever been driving on the George Washington Parkway and seen those mysterious ropes dangling underneath the Key Bridge? Have you ever wondered, what crazy person is rope swinging into the Potomac? Or, perhaps someone has a secret July 4th firework viewing spot?

Well, the WaPo’s Answer Man, John Kelly, has put the mystery to rest. They’re not for bungee jumping, rather the ropes are used to help inspectors “access the inclined portions of the Key Bridge’s mighty arches.” Phew! What a relief!

Essential DC, History, Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed
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Happy 110th Birthday Eddye Williams!!!

Photo courtesy of
‘It’s Teddy’s birthday!’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

NBC 4 reports that Northeast’s Eddye Williams turned 110 yesterday and marked the event by celebrating with family, friends and D.C. councilman Harry Thomas Junior at her home.

Williams, the oldest known DC resident, enjoys writing poetry and banging on the tambourine. Happy Birthday Eddye and rock on!

Essential DC, Fun & Games, People, The Daily Feed
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Zorn Gets the Axe

Photo courtesy of
‘_MG_0229’
courtesy of ‘dbking’

The inevitable has finally happened and the Zorn era is no more. After a 4-12 season and an overall 12-20 record, the Redskins leadership decided that it was time to fire head coach Jim Zorn.  This move, of course, has been speculated for months, particularly after Redskin owner Dan Snyder stripped Zorn of his play calling responsibilities earlier in the season. It really comes as no surprise to most football fans.  Still, I ask myself: was the Redskins abysmal 2009 performance a symptom of bad coaching, or of something deeper?  Many Washingtonians feel that Dan Snyder’s meddling in the day to day affairs of his team is far more to blame than Jim Zorn’s apparent lack of ability.  So, Skins fans, what’s your analysis?  Was this a good move, bad move, or will it even matter?  Supposedly Snyder is courting Mike Shanahan as Zorn’s replacement.  Any thoughts on that?

Essential DC, Life in the Capital, The Features
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We Love Resolutions: 2010 Edition

Photo courtesy of
‘Comet-looking Fireworks over DC’
courtesy of ‘ianseanlivingston’

Well, hello, 2010, so nice to meet you! While you, my dear reader, are busy recovering from your hangover, the We Love DC authors have banded together yet again to bring you our second-annual We Love Resolutions feature (here’s 2009’s). Here is our list of things we resolve to do in our fine city during 2010. For those of us who have been around for a year (our staff doubled in 2009!) we’ve even held ourselves accountable to last year’s resolutions by reporting on our score.

Rachel:
1) Finally go to the Spy Museum. I’ve lived here since August of 2005, it’s really time I get there.
2) See a Wizards or Capitals game at the Verizon Center. As a baseball junkie, I went to Nationals Park AT LEAST 15 times in 2009. It’s time to broaden my horizons.
3) Wake up early enough to get the full-effect of a Saturday at Eastern Market.
4) Spend a day on Roosevelt Island.
5) See the sunrise AND the sunset while sitting on the Lincoln Memorial steps, facing the reflecting pool and Washington Monument — AT LEAST 5 times each.

Corinne:
1) Go to the top of the Washington Monument (as a DC-area native, I think it is finally time I check out the panormaic view from our city’s most iconic landmark!)
2) Check venues off my must-eat list like brunch at Tabard Inn, a burger at Ollies Trolley, custard at Dairy Godmother and Korean feasts in my hometown of Annandale (anyone have any good suggestions?)
3) Visit the Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum
4) Take more day trips and weekend jaunts to explore nearby gems-seafood in Annapolis, live music in Baltimore, hiking/camping in Virginia’s gorgeous mountain ranges
5) Attend more embassy events, maintain my dwindling language skills and continue my hunt to befriend Scots/Irish folk in DC!
6) Write more, photograph more, yoga more, volunteer more

Tom:
1) Move into the District.  Yes, that’s right, it’s time to move inside the line.  We’re looking in Eckington, Bloomingdale and Shaw.  Seen anything that’s awesome?
2) Finally get an exercise plan together.  Maybe it’s time to map out some walks within the city?  I’d like to try some of the bike trails, as well
I know, two doesn’t seem like a lot, but it’s time to focus on what’s really important and getting things moving.

How’d I do in 2009?  Well, I caught a Wizards game, and I got my Snowy Iwo Jima shot, but I still haven’t made it to Marvin. Continue reading →

Adventures, Essential DC, Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed
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Last Minute DC Gifts

Photo courtesy of
‘Zipcar ad’
courtesy of ‘Karon’

So like me you’ve waited until the last second and now you’ve got to hazard the crowded shops and DC streets to finish up your Christmas shopping. You’re fairly limited with online shopping opportunities, you have no time for brainstorming, and you’ve got a gazillion other things to do, so you’ve got to put your nose to the grind stone and pound these last little (or big) tidbits out. Lucky for you, and me, there are plenty of cool DC-related gifties out there waiting to be scooped up.

Many of us will be heading through Union Station today and the shops there offer some fantastic last minute gift pick up opportunities.  You can find historic memorabilia and inauguration items at America!’s Spirit, or small paintings, pottery and jewelry at Echo Gallery Mezzanine Kiosk, or perhaps Lids, where you can pick up a Redskins or Capitals branded baseball cap. There’s also a solid wine and spirits shop that can provide that much needed Jameson for eggnog or bottle of bubbly for Christmas morning drinkypoos.  These shops are a hurried travelers delight and are definitely worth checking out, if you’re still gift hunting or needing to fill up those stockings. Continue reading →

Adams Morgan, Alexandria, Arlington, Dupont Circle, Essential DC, Life in the Capital, Penn Quarter, Petworth, The Features, WTF?!
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Surviving the Next Snowpocalypse

Photo courtesy of
‘South Smithsonian Escalators’
courtesy of ‘william couch’

The DC area, this weekend, was something of a post-apocalyptic landscape. Driving down 395 on Saturday, one would have seen abandoned cars spun out at odd angles and their stranded drivers trudging towards some nameless help. Most residents stayed holed up in their homes, living off of the provisions they had dutifully stocked the day before. Basic commodities were impossible to come by and the majority of services simply shut down. As the snow storm abated, DC residents peered from their homes at the changed landscape, and painstakingly began the cleanup, trying to return to normality.

Ok, sure, that is a bit of an over-dramatization, but seriously, 395 did look like something out of 28 Days Later.  This snow, like any snow, threw into sharp relief how woefully unprepared DC area citizens are for wintry weather. So, as a northerner, I take it upon myself to save you all from yourselves before the next snowpocalypse.

Continue reading →