Category Archives: Special Events

Food and Drink, People, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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DC Holds Our Own in James Beard Award Nominees

HIGH minibar-large-dzagar
Minibar by Maxwell MacKenzie

DC cleaned UP in the James Beard Award nominations this year with some great restaurants being recognized. I don’t agree with every single nomination, but when does that happen with awards? Winners will be announced at the highly-anticipated James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception, taking place on Monday, May 3, 2010 at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York City. Here’s who you’re rooting for, DC:

OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR:
Ashok Bajaj, 701, Ardeo, Bardeo, Bibiana Osteria-Entoteca, The Bombay Club, The Oval Room, and Rasika, Washington, D.C.

OUTSTANDING CHEF:
Jose Andres (Minibar, Washington, D.C.)

OUTSTANDING RESTAURANT:
Vidalia, Washington, D.C.

RISING STAR CHEF OF THE YEAR:
Johnny Monis, Komi, Washington, D.C.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT:
Trummer’s on Main, Clifton, VA
Eventide, Arlington, VA
J & G Steakhouse, Washington, D.C.

OUTSTANDING PASTRY CHEF:
Amanda Cook, CityZen at Mandarin Oriental, Washington, D.C.

OUTSTANDING WINE AND SPIRITS PROFESSIONAL:
Derek Brown, The Passenger, Washington, D.C.

OUTSTANDING SERVICE:
Marcel’s, Washington, D.C.

BEST CHEF MID-ATLANTIC:
Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve, Alexandria, VA
Tony Conte, The Oval Room, Washington, D.C.
Peter Pastan, Obelisk, Washington, D.C.
Vikram Sunderam, Rasika, Washington, D.C.

Scribblings, Special Events, Technology, The Features
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Scribblings: Shane Harris

Photo courtesy of
‘Watch The Watcher’
courtesy of ‘kevinspencer’

Tomorrow at noon, the International Spy Museum is having a lunchtime discussion with journalist Shane Harris on his new book, The Watchers: The Rise of America’s Surveillance State. In his new book, Harris tracks the government’s elusive quest to build a computer system that can sift huge amounts of electronic data for signs of terrorist activity. First proposed by national security adviser John Poindexter in 1983, reopened after the 9/11 attacks in a program called Total Information Awareness (TIA), and publicly banned by Congress in 2003, TIA was recreated as a classified program at the National Security Agency and is now a cornerstone of the Obama administration’s national security policy. Drawing on unprecedented access to the people who pioneered this high-tech spycraft, Harris contends that despite billions of dollars spent on this digital quest since the Reagan era, the government still can’t discern future threats in the vast data cloud, but can now spy on its citizens with an ease that was impossible and illegal just a few years ago.

A quick interview with the author after the jump. Continue reading →

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 →

Entertainment, People, Special Events, Sports Fix
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Capitals Hockey, 2010 Vancouver Games, and You

Photo courtesy of
‘Hockey Helmet from 1980 Olympics’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’

As you read this, Olympic hockey has begun for the 2010 games in Vancouver. So what does it have to do with DC?

For Caps fans, everything. Think of these next two weeks as less an NHL break and more of an intermission show that has the makings of an epic Game 7 Stanley Cup Final every night during the playoff round. The Capitals have five players in the tournament, scattered across three national teams. And depending on how they do and where they place, the Caps may have quite the motivator when these players return the first week in March.

Tomas Fleischmann: Czech Republic (CZE) In the middle of a breakthrough season with 17 goals and 41 points through 48 games, “Flash” will most likely end up on the second line working with the likes of Martin Havlat, Tomas Plekanec, or Jaromir Jagr. However, with several capable forwards on the Czech team this year, Fleischmann will have no problems slipping into a groove on any of the scoring lines. The Czech team is not expected to medal this Olympics, but if goalie Tomas Vokoun stands on his head and gets into a zone, they have a good shot at a medal upset. Continue reading →

Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Two DC Short Film Festivals Collaborate On Humanitarian Film Screening

Photo courtesy of
‘popcorn and movie’
courtesy of ‘ScypaxPictures’

The DC Shorts Film Festival and the Washington Jewish Film Festival have teamed up to present a collection of short films celebrating life and the stories that make it a “human experience”. You can catch this melding of two of the top names in DC film festivals Tuesday, Feb. 23 at the Washington DCJCC and Thursday, Feb. 25 and the U.S. Navy Memorial. Both screenings start at 7 p.m. and last two hours.

The event is free and open to the general public. Please note: Reservations are highly recommended, according to the DC Shorts folks.

You can make reservations for the Tuesday and Thursday screenings online.

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 →

Arlington, Special Events
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Happy Hour TONIGHT: Hard Times at 6pm with Capital Weather Gang

Photo courtesy of
‘Hard Times’
courtesy of ‘ccperkdog’

I know you’re enjoying some quality time inside, or kicking it up at the various snowball fights throughout the city (Only in DC do we need a grassroots committee to throw a snowball fight, right?) but it’s time to start thinking about what you’re going to be doing tonight. So here’s the deal:

We Love DC/Capital Weather Gang Happy Hour
6pm – 10pm
Upstairs at Hard Times – Clarendon
3028 North Wilson Boulevard (Right across the street from Clarendon Metro)
Arlington, VA

Virginia ABC Law prevents us from publishing specials, but I suspect that Hard Times will be running draft beer specials, and we may update this post after we arrive. Tell us if you’re coming, either via Twitter, or via a comment here, so we’re sure to save some room for you.

And, we shouldn’t have to say this, but: Be safe out there. This won’t be the only time we hang out with the Capital Weather Gang, so don’t take any unnecessary risks in getting there. Please don’t drive. Metro only!

Downtown, History, Penn Quarter, Special Events, The Features, We Love Arts
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Spring Offerings From ISM

Photo courtesy of
‘Boundaries’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’

Every Friday for the next six weeks, the International Spy Museum (ISM) will be debuting a new exhibit within the museum, including the addition of several new rare artifacts from the shadowy world of espionage. These new additions (some for a limited time only) join the already-extensive collection regarding the world’s “second-oldest profession” and the new gallery dedicated to espionage in the 21st Century. Several of these exhibits will tie into special programs occurring at the museum over the next few months, covering not only the secret history of spying but also exploring today’s hottest topics that daily impact the world of intelligence. “Espionage deals with clandestine, hidden information and the best spies make sure their every trace disappears, which makes finding personal pieces of tradecraft very challenging,” says Anna Slafer, ISM’s Director of Exhibitions and Programs. “Many of our new artifacts have to come us from intelligence agencies and the families of these famous spies, giving us a detailed story of these object’s role in history.”

And the lineup, after the jump. Continue reading →

Special Events, The Features
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The Un-Valentines Day Round-Up

Photo courtesy of
‘Anti-Valentines’
courtesy of ‘septuagesima’

So when you’re not dating someone on Valentine’s Day you pretty much just want the day to disappear.  So there’s no graceful way to start this post, I’m going to just dive right into all things that you should do on Valentine’s Day when you’re not really celebrating it. I don’t call it the anti-Valentine’s Day, because it’s not exactly. I’ve got advice for the ladies who like to go out with their friends, for those of you who need dinner but don’t want to be around goopy couples all over each other, for people thinking they’ll get lucky in love on the day made for love, and for guys who want to go out with their friends. So read on, romancer, and let’s start forgetting this holiday ever existed.

Go Somewhere That Doesn’t Have a Menu For Couples (cause that makes us want to vom).

On Saturday, February 13th, AGAINN will feature an anti-Valentine’s Day menu for singles with a three-course menu inspired by the cuisine of the British Isles, priced at $39 per person. Prepared by Executive Chef Wesley Morton, the menu begins with a choice of Celery Root Soup served with Stilton Mousse and Grated Apples or House-made Black Pudding served with a Fried Egg, Petite Mustard Greens and Toast followed by a choice of Grilled Salmon Served with King Richard Leeks, Olive Oil Crusted Butterball Potatoes and Watercress Broth or Mixed Grill of Tamworth Pork with 10-Hour Roast Shoulder, Crispy Belly, House-Made Sausage and Sage Dumplings Served with Brussels Sprouts and Heirloom Apple Sauce. For the perfect ending, guests will dine on Spotted Dick Served with Maple Rum Custard. I am going to refrain from jokes about dicks.** Continue reading →

Night Life, Special Events, The Features
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“Gin, Gents, & Gems”: Bringing Valentines Day’s Shopping To The Bar

Photo courtesy of

‘Valentine’s display behind the bar’

courtesy of ‘brokentrinkets’

It’s never easy to buy a significant other a Valentine’s Day gift. A lot of time and effort go into finding the gift that screams, “This is JUUUUUUUSSSSTTTT right. Perfecto!” To make matters worse for women, a lot of men don’t like to shop. But what if the gifts followed the men to the bar? Men like drinking … don’t they?

Jewelry maker Courtney Weiner and Leopold Bros. Lindsay Marsh think so. The pair met through mutual friends a few weeks ago and now they’re hosting a unique Valentine’s Day themed bar event catered toward the opposite sex.

Guys go to bars. It’s that simple. Or at least that’s what Wiener and Marsh keep telling each other. “Guys go to bars, so if you put jewelry in the bar they’re more likely to buy it,” That is what spawned “Gin, Gents, & Gems.”

Continue reading →

Downtown, Food and Drink, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Try Barley Wine at AGAINN

Photo courtesy of
‘Barely Wine’
courtesy of ‘tswicegood’

When I profiled Elli Benchimol at AGAINN a few weeks ago, she mentioned a barley wine dinner was in the works. It’s now set for Monday, February 22 at 7pm. Reservations are required at $75 per person, which will get you four courses paired to this storied ale. The food alone sounds pretty tempting – Shallow Poached Loch Duart Salmon, Braised Hereford Beef Cheeks, Lincolnshire Poacher Cheddar Cheese, and Gianduja Chocolate Tart. Um, yes to rich deliciousness on a chilly night.

But wait, barley wine = ale? Indeed, this is one of those confusing situations like when vegetables are really fruit. Barley wine, also sometimes known as old ale, originated in nineteenth century England and can reach an alcohol strength of 8 to 12%. So it can be as strong as wine, but because it’s made from grain instead of fruit, it’s really an ale.

But don’t worry, Jeff Wells from DOPS Distributors (DC’s beer guru) will be on hand that night to help explain the pairings and the history of barley wine. Call AGAINN for reservations at 202.639.9830.

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.

Adventures, Downtown, Entertainment, Fun & Games, Special Events, The Features, We Love Arts
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National Geographic Live: February 2010

Photo courtesy National Geographic Society

Chimps of Goualougo; Photo courtesy National Geographic Society

The spring season of National Geographic Live – a series of dynamic lectures, concerts, films and more – kicks off next week.

This year, the National Geographic Society has graciously offered some event tickets to our readers. If you’re interested in winning a pair of tickets to any of the events below, simply remark in comments which two events – in preferred order – you’d like to attend. We’ll do a random drawing on Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 2nd) after 1pm and we’ll get the winners set up with their first (or second, if your first choice is full) selection. Keep in mind that tickets are for single events only, not multi-part series or showings, unless otherwise indicated. (The kung-fu film festival is an exception; you can win tickets for all three movies!)

Okay, enough about rules. Check out the February offerings after the jump. Continue reading →

Fun & Games, Night Life, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Dance Like Mike For Charity

Photo courtesy of
’15th Anniversary media photos’
courtesy of ‘coconut wireless’

Got the urge to bust a move this weekend? Project Create is throwing the “Rock With You” Dance Party at Darlington House Saturday featuring a night full of legendary tunes by Michael Jackson.

Proceeds go toward at-risk children in the DC area.

So lace up those dancin’ shoes, grab yourselves a sequined glove,  maybe some white patent leather shoes, and get ready to rock it like the smooth criminal you know you are.

Party starts at 7 p.m. and features drink deals all night after the $5 cover.

Tickets are still available.

Entertainment, History, Special Events, The Features, We Love Arts
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Celebrate Lincoln’s Birthday at Ford’s Theatre

Robert Parsons as Abraham Lincoln, Rick Foucheux as Stephen Douglas and Sarah Zimmerman as Adele Douglas in the Ford’s Theatre Society production of Norman Corwin’s The Rivalry, directed by Mark Ramont. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

Robert Parsons as Abraham Lincoln, Rick Foucheux as Stephen Douglas and Sarah Zimmerman as Adele Douglas in the Ford’s Theatre Society production of Norman Corwin’s The Rivalry, directed by Mark Ramont. Photo by T. Charles Erickson.

Ford’s Theatre Society and the National Park Service celebrates Abraham Lincoln’s birthday with special February programming. On February 5th, 12th, and 19th, Washington-area youth will present a selection of Lincoln’s greatest speeches as part of the Target Oratory Festival. On February 12th at 8:45 a.m., National Park Service Park Rangers will commemorate President Lincoln’s birthday with a Wreath-laying Ceremony on the historic steps of Ford’s Theatre. On February 13th, 15th, and 20th, visitors are invited to explore the many legends surrounding Abraham Lincoln’s life in Tales of the Lincoln with storyteller Jon Spelman.

Visitors can tour the recently renovated Ford’s Theatre Museum and experience an interpretive program about the events that led up to and include the assassination of President Lincoln. Visitors can also visit the Petersen House (the “House Where Lincoln Died”), dependent upon schedule. Through February 14th, check out a performance of “The Rivalry,” which explores the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates. And to further enhance the visitor experience, park rangers and volunteers will be dressed in Civil War-era period clothing throughout the month of February.

Continue reading →

Food and Drink, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Meat Week in DC

Photo courtesy of
‘Meat Case’
courtesy of ‘easement’

Um, no. That is not a thinly veiled reference to… whatever you were thinking it was a thinly veiled reference to. (PSH, you thought I was going to fill in that blank? No way. I am an adult. And mature. And stuff. At least that’s what I tell my Mom.) Anyways, Meat Week. I found out about this via Twitter (which is where ALL the good information is these days) – so hat tip to Capital Spice for being awesome with all the details.

So what is meat week? A celebration of DC carnivores, basically, where you just eat a ton of meat and feel fat, happy and protein’d. Restaurants like Red Hot ‘n Blue, Rocklands and Pork Barrel BBQ are site to meat-lovers dinners, and you better be there. The dudes from Pork Barrel BBQ are putting together a buffet (of meat!) on Wednesday, February 3rd, from 5-9 p.m. at Mango Mike’s in Alexandria. (Mango Mikes is the brother restaurant of Pork Barrel’s upcoming joint, don’t be thrown off by the tropical name.) The southern-style menu sounds redonkulous, with ribs and cornbread and other delectables.

For a full schedule of events, check out Capital Spice’s round-up and the full schedule is available at the Meat Week web site (no, for real, there is an official site for this). There are no fussy prix-fixe menus at any of the places hosting meat week, so order however much you want and dig in. So, forks up. Let’s go.

Fun & Games, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Washington Auto Show Opens At Convention Center

Photo courtesy of
‘Lines and Circles’
courtesy of ‘CowCopTim’

The Walter E. Washington Convention Center opened its doors to the annual Washington Auto Show today.

This year’s show features 700 new vehicles from over 42 domestic and import automakers including the newest sports cars, green cars and high-tech rides. NBC Washington’s got a nice slide show preview up of the spread, just in case you want to check out the goods before dropping a few dollars for the real thing.

The show runs every day through Sunday and is open during the following hours:

Wed. January 27, 2010 – 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Thur. January 28, 2010 – 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Fri. January 29, 2010 – 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sat. January 30, 2010 – 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sun. January 31, 2010 – 10:00 am – 7:00 pm

Tickets are still available.

Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Nationals Kick-Off Winter Caravan Today

Photo courtesy of
‘Nationals Park Ticket Window’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

The Washington Nationals kick-off their four-day Winter Caravan tour of the DC area today. Events include an afternoon meeting with fans at two public locations in Northern Virginia.

The first stop of the day is 11 a.m. visit to Unity Health Care’s Southwest Heath Center. The players will greet staff and patients at the clinic while delivering waiting room books donated by The Heart of America Foundation.

Autographs will be signed at the Hard Times Cafe in Arlington starting at 1 p.m. followed by a trip to the Build-A-Bear at Tyson’s Corner for a chance to bond with some of the team’s younger fan base from 6 to 7 p.m.

Fans can expect to see MASN Analyst Rob Dibble, Nationals Prospects Danny Espinosa and Drew Storen, Manager Jim Riggleman,  and Pitcher Ryan Speier.

Here are the addresses of all the locations just in case you want to stop by and don’t have time to Google it:

South West Health Center
850 Delaware Avenue, SW
Washington, DC

Build-A-Bear Workshop
Tyson’s Corner
8026 Tyson’s Corner Center
Suite H3U
McLean, VA

Hard Times Cafe
3028 Wilson Blvd
Arlington, VA

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 →