Tag Archives: washington dc

Adventures, All Politics is Local, Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed
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DDOT To Implement New Safety Rules For Pedicabs

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC_2432’
courtesy of ‘bhrome’

Under new rules proposed today by the DDOT, D.C. pedicabs will have to meet additional safety standards.  The new rules include requiring seatbelt usage for every passenger, establishing pedicab equipment requirements, mandating that pedicabs only operated  on public streets and in accordance with the “safe operation of bicycle regulations,” and prohibiting pedicab operators from parking or riding on a sidewalk, from riding while intoxicated, from parking in a restricted zone identified for other vehicles and from riding on any D.C. street with a posted speed limit of more than 30 mph.

Across the U.S. pedicabs are growing in popularity as are the number of accidents involving pedicabs.  It’s quite possible that these new rules may open the door for further regulations, such as pedicab licensing and mandatory insurance for all operators. The new rules are currently under public commentary and will likely be adopted in 30 days.

Business and Money, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed
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Get Your Greek/Turkish On

Photo courtesy of
‘Greek Salad’
courtesy of ‘christaki’

Starting April 30th, Dupont Circle will be getting a new Greek and Turkish restaurant. Agora will feature small plates prepared on the wood-fired oven and charcoal fired BBQ grill, and overseen by Turkish born Chef Rasit Gulsen, formerly of Nizam’s Restaurant in Vienna, VA.

The restaurants menu will feature Turkish and Greek fare reflecting owner, Latif Guler’s, heritage growing up in the small town of Foca, Turkey.  The restaurant will highlight wines and beer from the Mediterranean regions of Turkey and Greece, and will serve a nice selection of Ouzo, an anise-flavored spirit widely consumed in Greece.

The two-story, 170-seat restaurant located at 1527 17th Street, NW, (aka the “doomed” spot that was formerly Jack’s, Le Pigalle, Peppersm, etc.) has been transformed to a Mediterranean oasis by Brie Husted Architecture and features a collection photos that capture the everyday life of picturesque Foca. Other features an upstairs expansion complete with 48 seats that can be used for private dining and a sidewalk café that can accommodate 34 guests for both the lunch and dinner service.

Adventures, Entertainment, Fun & Games, Life in the Capital, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Georgetown’s French Market Kicks Off Today

image courtesy of www.georgetowndc.com

image courtesy of www.georgetowndc.com

Today and tomorrow, the Book Hill neighborhood of Georgetown (Wisconsin Avenue: P Street to Reservoir Road) is hosting the 7th Annual French Market from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

This quaint section of Wisconsin Avenue offers fantastic window shopping and perusing opportunities for the art galleries, boutiques, antique shops and cafes. Additionally, there will be discounts of up to 70% at over 30 Georgetown merchants, and features live entertainment, French food, and children’s activities.

Should you work/live in the area, the French Market is the perfect lunch/coffee break activity and should you live further away the market is the perfect reason to check out these cute, locally owned shops.

Business and Money, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed, The District, We Green DC
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DC Chef Talks Sustainable Seafood On CNN

Photo courtesy of
‘Anacostia Fish Market #34’
courtesy of ‘andertho’

Barton Seaver, executive chef at Northwest DC’s restaurant Blue Ridge appeared on CNN today to speak about the realities of seafood sustainability and ways that Americans, and the world for that matter, can make their menus more sustainable when it comes to seafood.

Seaver recommends switching out mainstream choices such as tuna, swordfish and salmon, which have been seriously over fished and over eaten, with smaller, plentiful species like mackerel, sardines, clams, catfish, oysters, and my personal favorite, anchovies. Another practical and healthy suggestion is for restaurant and home chefs to use more vegetables in their dishes. And with the DC farmers market season ready to kick into gear, it’s the perfect time to incorporate produce from local sources into our cooking.

These simple and implementable cooking choices, according to Seaver, can have a measurable impact on depleted fish populations and can help in comprehensive efforts of seafood sustainability.

Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club @ 9:30 Club 4/5/10

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
courtesy of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club rumbled into town on Monday night to subject a sold-out 9:30 Club to a shock and awesome display of rock-n-roll annihilation. Touring in support of their latest long-player, “Beat the Devil’s Tattoo“, BRMC embraced that album’s raw power style to play a set that was fast, loose, and loud. So loud that it often felt like the band was testing the audience’s commitment to BRMC’s maximum rock approach. The noise assault drove fans out in staggered waves through the set but left behind a sizable core of diehards to truly enjoy the display of sonic audacity and seemingly-effortless talent being unleashed on stage. Being a long-time BRMC fan, I was a bit shocked at the levels with which they could still manage to surprise and impress. After many years of watching Black Rebel Motorcycle Club perform, their Monday night, aural brainwashing made me feel like I was seeing the band for the first time all over again.

Continue reading →

Food and Drink, The DC 100, The Features
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DC Omni 100: #20 Pistachio Ice Cream

courtesy of flickr user StudioGabe

It’s time for another item on the DC Omnivore 100 list of the top one hundred foods every good omnivore should try at least once in their lives.

I’m a pistachio ice cream lover, but I haven’t always been. As a kid I was a Mint Chocolate Chip (MCC) ice cream party hack.  I subscribed to the theories that MCC had to have a vibrant green hue, was it the only green ice cream allowed, that pistachio was simply some sort of mutant flavored only eaten by weirdo adults and that I would never dare to taste pistachio ice cream because that would have been the ultimate slap in the face to MCC. I also had no idea what a pistachio nut was, because what 7 year old  has a distinguished enough palate to explore beyond peanuts–more likely peanut butter. As far as I was concerned almonds were pushing the nut frontier. However, now at the ripe age of 28, pistachio has become a regular to go at the ice cream parlor and lucky for me, it’s a regular offering at most establishments.

According to the interwebz, the creation of pistachio ice cream is attributed to James W. Parkinson of Philadelphia, who was the son of George and Eleanor Parkinson, a couple that made Philadelphia ice cream famous in  the nineteenth century. As a professionally trained chef, Mr. Parkinson was exposed to a widening variety of cooking techniques and international spices, from which he probably developed the idea to make a pistachio nut flavored ice cream.  And what a fantastic idea it was. Continue reading →

Adventures, Essential DC, History, Life in the Capital, The District, The Great Outdoors, Tourism
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Tourism: Dumbarton Oaks

Photo courtesy of
‘Stairs’
courtesy of ‘Amberture’

If you’re looking to escape from the Cherry Blossom hoards and find your own little piece of Washington DC for a few hours, the Dumbarton Oaks house, gardens and museum have your name on it.

In 1920, U.S. Foreign Service diplomat Robert Woods Bliss and his wife Mildred Barnes Bliss purchased a large portion of land and a 1801 Federal style house in the northern most section of Georgetown. The Blisses made significant architectural renovations and additions, such as the Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection (DORCL) structure, which includes the 1963 Phillip Johnson designed Pre-Columbian Pavillion.  And more recently DORCL has welcomed a new library in 2005 and an extensive renovation of the house and museum was completed in 2008.

The museum houses, amongst other things, the significant art collection amassed by the the Blisses during their State Department life overseas.  This includes two fascinating collections of Byzantine and Pre-Columbian art and artifacts, as well as displays of tapestries, sculptures, paintings, and furniture dating from the fifteenth to the eighteenth centuries, which can be seen in the Music Room.  Continue reading →

Adventures, Business and Money, Food and Drink, Life in the Capital, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Happy Hour

Photo courtesy of
‘mmm…free goo…’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

If you missed last week’s Free Cone Day don’t fret, because the Ben & Jerry’s in Georgetown is throwing ice cream happy hours from 4-7pm. The happy hour special is 3 scoops for a mere $3.  That’s an uber steal considering scoops normally go for $2-3 a pop.  With the fantastic sunny and warm weather predicted for the next few days, let’s trade up our HH beers for some HH Cherry Garcia.

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.

All Politics is Local, Business and Money, Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed, The District
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FEMA To Redraw DC Flood Maps

Photo courtesy of
‘Potomac River Floods Washington Harbour’
courtesy of ‘brownpau’

Yesterday, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced , they’d be revising flood maps for Washington, D.C. over the next six months.  Per FEMA’s flood map database, the most recent DC flood maps are from 1985, so I’d say DC is in good need of some updating.

The maps help local officials and residents identify known flood risks, and assist in making insurance and development decisions. Maps are updated, per Congressional guidance and direction, to provide communities with solid information on how to mitigate and insure against the risks posed by floods.

DC home and business owners who purchase flood insurance should talk with their local insurance agent to discuss how revised flood maps may affect their options and rates. More information on flood insurance is available at www.floodsmart.gov.

The Daily Feed
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Chain Bridge To Close Friday Evening Until Monday Morning

Photo courtesy of
‘Chain Bridge’
courtesy of ‘NCinDC’

Starting Friday, March 26 at 8pm and weather permitting, Chain Bridge will be closed to all traffic (this includes pedestrians and bikes, and traffic from both the DC and Arlington side) until Monday, March 29 at 5am.  The weekend work hopes to continue the reconstruction work already begun on the bridge deck, approaches and structural steel beams. Crews will be pouring new approach slabs, replacing expansion joints, installing a catcher beam system and upgrading streetlights on the bridge.

Canal Road traffic will not be affected, but motorists will not be able to turn onto Chain Bridge. DDOT advises motorists to use alternate routes and river crossings including the American Legion, Key, Roosevelt , Memorial and 14th Street Bridges.

The proposed 8 month long repair work started in June 2009 and was supposed to be completed this past January.  Unfortunately, the Snowpocalypse, SnOMG, Snoverkill, etc. are to blame for a derailed schedule and, therefore, the weekend work. DDOT now anticipates all of the lanes on the bridge will reopen by May 31.  Additional work beneath the bridge is scheduled to continue through August 2010.

The Daily Feed
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A Property Update…

Photo courtesy of
‘C&O at twilight’
courtesy of ‘brownpau’

In January 2012 (although these dates are never quite as fluid as they yearn to be) Georgetown will become home to a new and ultra exclusive hotel.  Capella Hotels and Resorts, which currently have six properties across the world and are slated to add five more -including the DC property,  will be redeveloping the old American Trial Lawyers Association building at 1050 31st Street NW, which borders the historic C&O Canal.  The Capella Georgetown will feature 48 guest rooms and suites, a restaurant, lounge, executive boardroom, rooftop pool and bar, and full-service spa.

From the look of the 5-story rendering, the plans for the hotel’s design looks like it will fit right in with its surrounding landscape.  I just wonder if The Capella Georgetown will get the interior right.  No more extravagantly ornate details, dated color-schemes, or uber-modern finishes please!

An architect and designer have not yet been selected for the project.

Read more about this property update and see the rendering in the Washington Business Journal.

The Daily Feed
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C&O Canal Lock Broken Through, Flooding Feared


Photo by palkynebtab

As this morning’s photos and reports indicate, there is some serious flooding going on throughout the DC area.

In Georgetown, the C&O tow path has been closed and buildings and residencies that line the C&O Canal are in peril because an upstream lock has broken through. But according the National Park Service another lock remains in place to hold the water back. Should the second lock fail, then there is a potential for a flood surge along the banks of the historic canal.

Obviously, the main concern is for pedestrian and human safety, but in addition some commercial buildings, such as The Foundry Building, have already started taking flooding precautions by deploying sandbags to their lower level areas.

The Daily Feed
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How Much Is That Doggie In The Window?

Photo courtesy of
‘O Solo Mio’
courtesy of ‘wickenden’

While chewing on your socks and snatching that piece of ham off the counter top is bad behavior by your pooch, I don’t think it can get much worse than what happen to DC jewelry shop owners Robert Rosin and George Kaufmann.

According to the Associated Press,  a diamond dealer stopped by the pair’s shop last week to show Rosin and Kaufmann a $20,000, three-plus carat rock.  Upon presenting the diamond to Rosin and Kaufmann, the dealer mistakenly and clumsily dropped the jewel and it was quickly gobbled up by Soli, Kaufmann’s dog.

After a call to the vet, the only solution was to carefully monitor Soli and sort through all of his doo-doos with a fine tooth comb.  Three days later, Kaufmann hit the jackpot and the diamond was back in the dealer’s hands. Question is: Will the  final owner ever know the doggy intestinal journey their gem has been on?

The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: Georgia O’Keeffe Abstraction

Black Door with Red, 1954.

Black Door with Red, 1954.  Oil on Canvas, 48 x 48 in. Chrysler Museum of Art, Norfolk, Virginia.  Bequest of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 89.63 (CR1271). Copyright, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York.

“Objective painting is not good painting unless it is good in the abstract sense.” – Georgia O’Keeffe, 1976

When discussing abstract art of the 20th-century, the likes of Kandinsky and Matisse are often the works that most easily come to mind.  However, the newest exhibition at The Phillips Collection – Georgia O’Keeffe: Abstraction – suggests the need for a potential addition among the abstract ‘authority’.

Continue reading →

The Features
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Behind the Design: Blue Duck Tavern

Photo courtesy of
‘Rocking Chairs – Blue Duck Tavern’
courtesy of ‘prettylovelythings’

Author’s Note:  So often we move through space too quickly – trying to get from one place to the next, without ever taking the time to stop and look around.  Behind the Design is a new series that hopes to encourage an appreciation for the places we forget to take a moment and truly experience.

Located in the West End and tucked within the Park Hyatt, Blue Duck Tavern has become a staple among the DC foodie scene.  With a farm-to-table menu that includes a variety of delights – even worthy of a Presidential date night, Blue Duck Tavern deems to be deserving of all its food-related accolades.  However, often taking a back seat to the well-deserving menu is the other half of this award-winning duo:  Blue Duck Tavern’s interior. 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 →

Fun & Games, Life in the Capital, News, The Daily Feed
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Pimp Your Peeps: 2010 Peeps Contest

Photo courtesy of
‘sugar overload’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Unless you paid special attention to this weekend’s Washington Post magazine, you probably missed the opening of the 2010 Peeps Diorama Contest. This will be the contest’s 4th year, and I can’t wait to see all of this year’s entries.

If you’re interested in entering, the first step is to brainstorm ideas and come up with a historic, current, or future occurrence and/or a pop culture related concept. You know an idea that is comprehensible by more than just you and your tight knit group of friends.

Then construct your diorama, keeping to the shoebox sized regulations, snap two high-resolution JPEG photos and send them to peeps@washpost.com by Monday, March 1, at 11:59 p.m. Continue reading →

Adventures, Entertainment, Life in the Capital, Night Life, Special Events, The Daily Feed
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United For Haiti Fundraiser

Photo courtesy of
‘Dining Room Interior, Policy’
courtesy of ‘Jenn Larsen’

If you’re looking for a place to have your Thursday night out, and honestly who on a Wednesday afternoon isn’t thinking about non-work related activities, then definitely check out United For Haiti Fundraiser to benefit Partners in Health (PIH) taking place at Policy.

Starting at 7:30pm, your $25 donation will help aide PIH’s efforts in Haiti, get you entry into one of coolest restaurants/lounges in DC, provide complimentary liquor drinks until 9:30pm and have DJ spinning good beats until the wee hours.

A good cause, good food, good drinks, good friends, what a great way to start the weekend.