Category Archives: Special Events

Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Win a Ticket to the DC RollerGirls Championship!

Photo courtesy of
‘Cherry Blossom Bombshell Victory. Washington, DC. April 2009.’
courtesy of ‘stuzehner’

Beloved WLDC readers, it is your lucky day! We have 2 tickets to give away to the upcoming Championship bout of roller derby. The match-up pits the DC DemonCats against the Cherry Blossom Bombshells on Saturday, May 9th, at the Armory. Doors open at 4, match begins at 5 p.m. 

How do you score yourself a sweet ticket to this madness? Answer below, in the comments, if you were a DC RollerGirl, what would your roller derby name be? An explanation of why it suits you afterward would be added fun.  For those unfamiliar with the sport might want to check out the league rosters for example names. Fun fact: there’s a national database of registered player aliases, and no two names and numbers can be the same. 

The top 2 names — as selected by the judicious WLDC staff — will win a ticket. We’ll announce the winners at the end of the week. Get crackin’!

Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Sample sale heaven is a place on earth?

Photo courtesy of
‘Colourful clothes’
courtesy of ‘Alicia Nijdam’

Zac Posen, Prada, Miss Sixty, Oh My! This Sunday, head over to Halo (1435 P St. NW) for a huge sample sale. Touting at least 70% off designer shoes, denim and clothing, Sample Sale Heaven is a must-stop-shop for the brand-name recessionista. (Word to the wise: mention Daily Candy and you can get in at noon.)

Entertainment, Fun & Games, People, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Meet The Belle Behind The Blog

Photo courtesy of
‘mannequins’
courtesy of ‘doyoubleedlikeme’

Are you a fashionista looking for something to do tonight? DC’s own Capitol Hill Style has partnered with London-chic brand Karen Millen to have a champagne and shopping night with a 15-percent-off discount at the Georgetown location.  Along with the discount, and drinks, you’ll also be able to get some coveted live fashion advice from Belle. I love it when the real world and the blogosphere intersect and you can meet and see the people behind the blog. (Just wait until WLDC throws an event. We’ve got some hotties on staff, that’s for sure.) If I weren’t already booked tonight, I’d be there in a heartbeat.

Fun & Games, Special Events, The Features
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DC Rollergirls: Kick-ass Fun

Photo courtesy of
‘Grand Slam. Washington, DC. April 2009.’
courtesy of ‘stuzehner’

The fans crowded closer to the action, whooping and applauding as the seconds ticked off. Three guys wearing backwards hats pumped their fists with their non-beer-holding hands. These two teams were competing for a shot at the championship and the crowd–raucous as almost any sports-loving group–was jacked up for the occasion. It wasn’t a Wizards game, nor was I among DC United Screaming Eagles. No, it was a bout of the much less widely followed but incredibly fun DC Roller Girls Roller Derby league. 

The  afternoon opened with an exhibition match between the DC DemonCats and visiting Breaker Babes of the Coal City Rollers league in Wilkes-Barre, P.A. It wasn’t much of a match-up — the DemonCats easily rolled over the  Breaker Babes. The initial bout provided an excellent opportunity, however, for me and other newcomers to the sport to get a better sense of what we were witnessing. 

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Food and Drink, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Earth Day For Foodies

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC01904.JPG’
courtesy of ‘lizkdc’

Looking for something to do this evening to celebrate Earth Day? There are a bunch of options, but the foodie one that tempts me is the official re-opening of Poste Modern Brassiere‘s patio “The Garden” with an Earth Day celebration benefiting FRESHFARM Market, the organization behind most of DC’s farmer’s markets.

With a $5 cover charge, you’ll get to snack on truffle frites and warm gougères, and sample the new summer menu of punches. Also in the drinks department, and keeping with the spirit of drinking locally for Earth Day, Poste will premiere its new, all-Virginia wine list. Vendors will be on hand to answer your wine questions. Cheese samples will be provided by neighboring Cowgirl Creamery.

I’m guessing with all this yummyness and fanfare, Poste will get pretty crowded tonight (unless it rains, party pooper, Mother Earth!). So I’d recommend getting there early. Poste is located in Chinatown at 555 8th Street, NW Washington, DC, 20004.

Music, Special Events
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Lots of Love for Lily Allen

Photo courtesy of
‘lily’
courtesy of ‘Jess J’

If Lily Allen was trying to get crowd to fall head-over-heels in love with her, I’m pretty sure it worked. Equal parts unapologetic, gracious and adorable, Allen wooed the packed 9:30 Club during her sold out show Friday night. 

Before Allen made her appearance, opener Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head— a high-energy collective of fresh-faced Seattle kids who easily could have been confused for an NYU hipster band–hit the stage. They bopped around to MGMT-esque electro-infused beats, clad in tight jeans and keds (only one member had an ironic mustache).

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Food and Drink, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Whisky Me Away

"great scot!" by IntangibleArts, on Flickr

"great scot!" by IntangibleArts, on Flickr

PS7’s scored quite a coup when it nabbed top mixologist Gina Chersevani as its “head mixtress” back in January. One of my favorite places for drinks, its lounge lined with banquettes and windows is a great happy hour spot on any night.

But tonight is a special one for those of you who love Scotch whisky (is this redundant? I’m sure one of our clever readers can chime in, I can never figure out the whole whiskey/whisky/Scotch distinction) as PS7’s is featuring a scotch tasting for Balvenie, with Ms. Chersevani whipping up the whisky into delectable drinks and Balvenie’s “ambassador” Sam Simmons on hand to teach you all about the liquor the ancient Celts called “uisge beatha” – the water of life…

From 5:30-7:30pm you can sample their 12-Year Doublewood, 15-Year Single Barrel, and 17-Year Rum Cask scotches. Of course there will be noshes. And may I remind you that legally Scotch may not be bottled at under 40% alcoholic volume. So please, indulge in the nibbles while you sample and learn. It is only Tuesday, after all!

Arlington, Night Life, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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NoVa Outdoor Movie Nights

Photo courtesy of
‘some movie night in park in roslyn’
courtesy of ‘tvol’

The Monday evening movie screenings in Crystal City is going with the superhero theme for the Summer. The 2009 season will begin with the Spider-Man trilogy followed by movies featuring the Hulk, Superman, the X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and culminate with the Batman movies, including the last year’s blockbuster hit, Batman: The Dark Knight.

Crystal Screen can be seen every Monday evening at sundown starting May 4, 2009 through September 21, 2009 in the courtyard along S. Bell Street between 18th and 20th Streets, across from Arena Stage and the Crystal City Metro Station. Free garage parking is also available at designated Crystal City garages after 4:00 PM. Movies are held rain or shine, except in cases of severe, inclement weather.

Other NOVA BID’s are also in on the movie night thing, I’m personally planning on being a regular at the Friday night Rosslyn BID’s I Love the 80’s movie nights. Sixteen Candles at twilight with a picnic on a blanket? Yes, please! The Rosslyn screening is just two blocks from the Rosslyn Metro and parking is available across the street from Gateway Park at the Atlantic Parking Garage for $3 at 1901 and 1911 N. Ft. Myer Drive after 6 pm.

Entertainment, Food and Drink, Music, Night Life, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Rock the Casbah Embassy

Photo courtesy of
‘Yann Tiersen 27’
courtesy of ‘Shadowgate’

Last night’s US premiere of musician and composer, Yann Tiersen, marked the opening of the season of events hosted by the ‘La Maison Française‘ (or “The French House“) Franco-American cultural exchange at the French Embassy. They are scheduling event’s throughout the summer and vary their selections from music (jazz, folk, classical, and rock) to other performances (cabaret, opera, theater) and are held in a very intimate setting on the grounds. If the actual quality of the performance isn’t enough, remember, this is France, and a complimentary wine tasting ensued after the performance (I only wished for cheese and bread to follow!).

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Fun & Games, Life in the Capital, News, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Livestreaming the Egg Roll

Photo courtesy of
‘White House Easter Egg Roll’
courtesy of ‘dbking’

The White House is livestreaming everything from the Easter Egg Roll… including the chef’s cooking lessons from Top Chef Spike Mendelsohn, Art Smith of Art and Soul and Jose Andres of Zaytinya, et al. You can also catch other adorable things like DC United soccer players reading to kids (swoon) and Ziggy Marley on the music stage.

If you’ve got a specific star or act you’re following, you can check out the PDF schedule to see when you can catch the stream from your desk. It’ll be like you were really there. Except not.  Hello, Web 2.0 at the White House, we missed you…

Food and Drink, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Thai Restaurant Week

Photo courtesy of
‘Pad Thai with Shrimp’
courtesy of ‘mastermaq’

Today kicks off Thai Restaurant Week, folks. DC area Thai places are rallying with special menus, discounts and performances to celebrate Songkran, or Thai New Year, from April 13-19.

The DC restaurants participating are: Asia Nine; Bangkok Bistro; Bangkok Joes; Mai Thai; Tara Thai; Thaiphoon; and Thai Tanic. The Thai Embassy site has a full list of participating restaurants including plenty of places in the surrounding VA and MD ‘burbs too. The site also has a handy 10% off coupon that you should print out and take with you.

I’m a huge fan of Bangkok Joe’s at Georgetown’s waterfront. It is always affordable and delicious. I’ve heard good things about Thaiphoon, but the rest of them are a mystery to me – I’m hoping someone will add some handy advice in the comments about the best place to go (hint hint!).  Try something other than the obligatory pad thai…

Downtown, Entertainment, Night Life, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Countdown to Yuri’s Night

Trixie Little and the Evil Hate Monkey, courtesy of "Out of This World Party"

Trixie Little and the Evil Hate Monkey, courtesy of "Out of This World Party"

I don’t know about you, but I am chomping at the bit for the weekend. Maybe it’s spring fever that makes me in the mood for something totally different and out of this world. So, I’ll be heading to the aptly named “Out of this World Party” at the Warehouse Saturday night for their Countdown to Yuri’s Night extravaganza. I don’t see how I can resist the call of a party celebrating man’s first space flight with crazy smart burlesque by the divine Trixie Little and Evil Hate Monkey – let alone free massages, $4 Stoli drinks, weird science fair, and an alien egg hunt.

Burlesque shows at 9pm and 11pm in the large theater, band Atomic Mosquitoes (they have a theremin!) in the smaller theater, and a gallery show with DJs upstairs til 2am. Oh, and a Celestial Costume Contest! Did I mention this sounds like a super insane night? $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Now where did I put my silver space boots?

Food and Drink, Foodie Roundup, Special Events
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Foodie Round-Up: Easter Brunch Edition

Photo courtesy of
‘IMG_2068.jpg’
courtesy of ‘thebittenword.com’

I’m not sure if anyone has noticed but I’m fast becoming a brunch aficionado. Brunch is so trendy, so spring, so social – in short:  brunch is so now. (Wow, I just sounded very fashion-magazine-y. Forgive me!)  My new-found obsession with all things brunch is simultaneously wonderful and horrifying. Wonderful because nothing says joy quite like reading “brioche stuffed french toast with chocolate drizzle and bacon” on a menu. And horrifying because brunch is preventing me from fully enacting Operation Hot Summer Bod 2009.  But so it goes – the rough life of a food blogger. So hard to be me, you should probs pull out the mini-violin now.

Anyways, where was I? Oh yes, brunch.  No holiday quite screams brunch like Easter. Easter, my friends,  is perfect for brunch. You think Easter (in the nonreligious sense, really) and you think eggs, chocolate, bright colors and summer whites. All these things translate gracefully into brunch. In my world, this is a math equation that winds up with Easter = amazing!  So as my gift to you this holiday, I’ll do what I do best – a foodie round-up, Easter-brunch style. So… all the brunch that is fit to eat in the District on Easter Sunday. Continue reading →

Entertainment, Essential DC, Fun & Games, Life in the Capital, Music, Special Events, The District, We Love Arts, WMATA
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We Love Arts: Cherry Blast

I think we can all agree that one of the reasons “we love DC” is the arrival of spring each year when our city is transformed from a bleak, gray land of zombies into a cheery land of fresh-faced partiers.  The harsh winter weather is behind us, the cherry blossoms are beginning to bloom, girls swap their jeans for skirts, and it’s time to start planning how you’ll enjoy every waking minute before the sweltering heat invades our city.

What better way to celebrate the disappearance of winter than checking out the National Cherry Blossom Festival?  While it officially started on March 28th, it runs until April 12th and is packed full of fun things to do, ranging from blossom tours to photo safaris to wicked awesome Japanese-themed art fashion anime parties.  Say what?  That’s right, on Friday the Pink Line Project kicks into gear again to throw a party that is sure to be the highlight of this year’s festival.  Enter stage left: Cherry Blast.

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Entertainment, Fun & Games, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Pillow Fight Saturday

courtesy of flickr user Nivad

courtesy of flickr user Nivad

Left wondering what to do with those old, deflated pillows?

Problem solved: At 2PM on the National Mall in front of the Smithsonian Castle or at 3PM in Dupont Circle, show up with a CONCEALED SOFT pillow – in a bag, backpack or something similar and act completely nonchalant.  Wait for the crowd to gather and when you hear the signal it’s on!

Hooray! It’s International Pillow Fight Day, part of The Urban Playground Movement, whose goal is to organize free, fun, all age appropriate, non-commercial public events all over the world. DC’s pillow fights are being “organized” by DC Defenestrators.

Pillow fighting etiquette dictates:

-Soft pillows only! I don’t like to use a simple pillow, my favorite to play are Beckham Hotel Collection Pillows.

-Swing lightly, many people will be swinging at once.

-Do not swing at people without pillows or with cameras.

-Remove glasses beforehand!

-The event is free and appropriate for all ages.

-Wait until the signal to begin.

-The event is more fun with feathers. I logged onto the DC Defenestrators facebook page for the event and they’ve updated their last pillow fight rule: + *CHANGE* you are responsible for your own feathers! – California had a pillow fight that required $10,000 to clean up from the city. If you leak any feathers, you are responsible for cleaning them up. We want this to be fun for everyone, don’t be d**ks that make a mess and leave.

All Politics is Local, Special Events, The Features
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Premiere: Inside Guantanamo

Photo courtesy of
‘Obama: Shut Down Guantanamo’
courtesy of ‘mike.benedetti’

Mentioning Guantanamo Bay incites different reactions in different people, but almost everyone has a passionate take on the issue. One of President Obama’s first actions when he took office was to sign a bill to close Guantanamo within a year, so this couldn’t have been a better time for National Geographic’s Explorer: Inside Guantanamo. I went to the world premiere screening of the film and panel discussion this past Tuesday, which was very exciting and informative– it’s events like this that make me glad to be in DC.

The event started with a huge reception with lots of food, drink, and mingling. According to one of the people I talked to, that kind of thing is very unusual for National Geographic’s screenings, but they must have pulled out all the stops for high-level guests from Congress, the administration, the military, and even Fox News Sunday’s Chris Wallace, who moderated the panel. Continue reading →

Special Events, The Features
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Scribblings: Terry Crowdy

Photo courtesy of
‘2007-07-28 08-04 Paris, Normandie 0687 Arromanches les Bains, Mulberry Harbour’
courtesy of ‘Allie_Caulfield’

Tomorrow (April 1) at noon is another author debriefing at the International Spy Museum, this time featuring Terry Crowdy as he discusses his new book, Deceiving Hitler: The Masterman Memorandum.

As Britain entered its second winter of World War II, nightly German blitzes rained fire on its cities and the threat of invasion had not yet passed. Britain stood very much alone. Yet wartime recruit and Oxford University professor, J.C. Masterman, had the confidence and foresight to predict a time when the tables could be turned against the Nazis. Since the outbreak of war, the British Security Service MI5 had been collecting a group of double agents. The Germans appeared to trust these spies and pressed them for more information. This presented an enormous challenge for MI5: how to preserve the credibility of their doubles without giving away vital war secrets? In a secret memorandum of 1940, Masterman presented an amazing solution. Crowdy’s new book reveals the content of the now-declassified memorandum and explores to what extent the Allies were able to realize Masterman’s plan to pull off an elaborate hoax on Hitler.

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People, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Terps Tearful on Exit

Photo courtesy of
‘toliver’
courtesy of ‘caciadoodl’

As the other Maryland players lined up to shake hands with Louisville, senior star duo Kristi Toliver and Marissa Coleman sat on the bench, overcome by tears. Their college careers and quest for a second NCAA title in their tenure had just come to an end at the hands of the Cardinals, 77-60 defeat. 

Louisville’s Angel McCoughtry, who calls Baltimore home, posted 21 points and 13 boards in the contest and claimed the outstanding player award for the region. For their efforts, Louisville receives the dubious award of being matched up (most likely, game is tonight at 7 p.m.) with far-and-away-favorite UConn in Final Four play on April 5. Good luck with that one…

Entertainment, Music, Special Events, The Features
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Wynton Marsalis jazzes up the Kennedy Center

Photo courtesy of
‘Sketches of Gill Evans’
courtesy of ‘vitelone’

The affection was clearly mutual:  hundreds of arts advocates stood on their feet, applauding wildly for a full ten minutes. Jazz virtuoso Wynton Marsalis, flanked by a five-man band, stood staring back at them, tears streaming down his face. He has just spent an hour weaving the tale of music, art and American cultural identity, rendering all present effectively speechless. 

Last night at the Kennedy Center, Marsalis gave the Nancy Hanks Lecture, the evening component of the 22nd annual Arts Advocacy Day, organized by Americans for the Arts. The lecture was established to honor Nancy Hanks, former President of Americans for the Arts and chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, and has featured many of the bright lights of the arts, including Maya Angelou, Dr. Billy Taylor and Robert Redford. 

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All Politics is Local, Essential DC, Fun & Games, Life in the Capital, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Kite Festival In Pictures

Photo courtesy of
‘Flying a Kite’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’

It may have been a gray and drizzly Saturday, but that didn’t stop Inspiration DC‘s Rebecca and I from heading out to take pictures of the Smithsonian Kite Festival on the Mall.

Packed with kids of all ages, flying kites of every variety, the turn out was more than I expected. Even with the grey sky, the kites dotting the air made the mall festive and full of life. To live vicariously through us (and the WLDC flickerattzi), click on through. Continue reading →