DCist

You Think You've Got Problems

Aaron Morrissey — 2009-11-21T15:22:41-05:00

Even between the DPW fiasco, the WTOP/biking police escort kerfuffle, not being Superman, facing vital questions about crime, handling a significant legal tussle regarding policing strategies, dealing with his "all-purpose scandal-in-a-box" Sinclair Skinner, recognizing his struggles with the D.C. lottery contract, trying to rebuild OCTO after its bribery scandal, navigating the significant labor strife among teachers in our public schools, and drawing the general ire of the entire D.C. Council, it could always be worse for Adrian Fenty. After all, he could be Baltimore's Sheila Dixon, who finds herself balancing a busy Mayoral schedule with being a defendant on theft charges which could force her to leave the office. (Sorry, Baltimore, we're just looking for some perspective here.) Also on the bright side? Fenty's upcoming 39th birthday bash will feature a "a large cache of Wine, Beer & Soft Drinks." So he's got that going for him, which is nice.

D.C. United Icon Ben Olsen To Retire

Aaron Morrissey — 2009-11-21T14:45:36-05:00

Ben Olsen, seen here holding off Real Madrid's Kaka in an August 2009
friendly, will reportedly announce his retirement next week.
Photo by Kyle Gustafson / http://www.photokyle.com

Steve Goff had the big soccer news from RFK Stadium yesterday: D.C. United midfielder Ben Olsen will announce his retirement next week. Olsen, a tenacious midfielder who played in the World Cup for the United States men's national team in 2006, is about as Washingtonian an athlete as you'll ever find. After leaving the University of Virginia in 1998 for MLS, Olsen led United to a championship in his first season and again in 2004. He has been a fixture in the D.C. community -- choosing, unlike many D.C. sports stars, to actually live inside the District -- and has served as a mentor for many young United players.

Olsen's career had plenty of highlights, despite the fact that recurring ankle troubles -- the most serious of which occurred while Olsen was on loan at Nottingham Forest in 2000 -- cost him a considerably unfair portion of his prime, especially on the international stage. United fans certainly have plenty of memories to look back fondly on from his time in the Black-and-Red: his hat trick at RFK against New York in 2007, his man of the match performance in the 1999 MLS Cup final, or even his equalizer against New England early this year. Personally, my favorite memory of Ben Olsen was on a sweltering hot day in June 2008, when Olsen -- in but 15 minutes, his only action that season -- received an overwhelming reception from the nearly 36,000 fans who had come to the stadium that day to jeer David Beckham.

Anyone who follows United can tell you that Olsen was the consummate footballer. Always the heart and engine of the team, many players would never have recovered from missing 18 months of playing time, let alone making the rather large adaptation from a wide, speedy player to a gritty central one. In the end, this writer never watched Ben Olsen ever play a game as if it wasn't his last; that will be his lasting legacy. One hopes he will stay with the team in some capacity -- United could certainly do much, much worse in terms of a new assistant coach.

We'll miss ya out there, Benny.

Presented By:

2009-11-21T14:45:36-05:00

Saturday Last Child of Ungoliant Photo: November 21, 2009

Kriston Capps — 2009-11-21T14:15:42-05:00

New Moon? Yeah -- new spider moon. Death Eater philliefan99 captures this balls-out scary picture of Shelob-in-the-Sky. It's more terrifying than even the prospect of watching all seven million youtube responses to that New Moon rom-com, about the guy who can't stop sparkling and his goth girlfriend and I think a teen wolf. No, there isn't anything happening this weekend that's going to shake this picture from my head. Health-care reform? Blanche Lincoln's vote can't save you from a giant cosmic arachnid. Holy hell, but this picture is horrible.

Report: CCDC Split From UDC Is "Critical To Success"

Aaron Morrissey — 2009-11-21T12:54:40-05:00

An independent report commissioned by DC Appleseed and the Brookings Institution has concluded that it is "critical to the success and sustainability of" the new Community College of the District of Columbia to sever ties with the University of the District of Columbia. UDC, which has always had plenty of problems balancing the hefty costs of a four-year university and its open-enrollment-assisted reputation as a two-year college, split focus in August into the University and the Community College. Both operations still operate under UDC's administration.

The findings certainly don't shy away from its recommendation that CCDC make a clean break, suggesting the college seek out new relationships with more reliable suburban colleges in order to supplement the institution through its first formative years. The Post has the real stomach punch quote:

The 60-page report...pulls no punches, stating that UDC "has been troubled by a distrustful faculty, high administrative overhead, poorly maintained and outdated facilities, chronic mismanagement and internal dissension, and unacceptably low completion and graduation rates."

Ouch. For their part, UDC officials "said they agree with some of the findings," according to the Post, but they disagree that CCDC needs to break away in order to succeed. The full report, along with testimony from yesterday's D.C. Council round table on the recommendations, can be found here.

The Saturday Morning Post

Aaron Morrissey — 2009-11-21T11:05:10-05:00

Photo by Satirenoir.

Good morning, Washington. The Brookland-CUA Metrorail station was closed for about ninety minutes last night after another person intentionally placed themselves on the tracks in front of an oncoming train. Last night's incident pushes the number of suicides in Metrorail stations this year into double digits. WMATA says that at about 9:18 p.m., a man who had gone on to the tracks was struck by a Red Line train heading in the direction of Shady Grove, dying of his injuries. Trains were single tracking through the station for some time last night, but the area is now clear -- aside from the weekend's planned track work, of course.

Scanning the news this morning:

>> WaPo food critic Tom Seitsema pens "game plan, based on suggestions from industry insiders, for making the most of your meals away from home." His findings, in so many words: everyone, please stop acting like an ass.

>> For those who maintain eggnog, sweaters, and decorating parties as a December institution: Garden District at 1740 14th Street will be receiving their big shipment of fir trees, destined for tinsel and ornaments, on Sunday.

>> If you've ever watched the HGTV reality show Real Estate Intervention, you know that the whole thing is one big good cop/bad cop routine. The show specializes in yo-yoing the emotions of people who are looking to sell their home due to terrible financial circumstances and/or mismanagement, mostly through lectures from a tough-looking real estate adviser. If revealing all your major money issues, crying, and getting yelled at on cable television sounds like how you want to sell your home, well, HGTV wants to talk with you.

Goals But No Grit Means 3-2 Loss for Capitals

Elisabeth Meinecke — 2009-11-21T10:20:22-05:00

Young Capitals goalie Michal Neuvirth found himself looking into the back of his net one too
many times Friday night in a 3-2 loss. (AP Photo/Luis M. Alvarez)

The Washington Capitals scored first, but the Montreal Canadiens scored more and won 3-2 on Friday night at the Verizon Center.

The Caps' Eric Fehr netted the only goal of the first period for either team, but the Canadiens had twice as many shots on goal in the first, only the second time a Washington opponent has done that this year. Even Alex Ovechkin looked off his game, despite registering a huge crowd-pleasing hit in the opening period. Head coach Bruce Boudreau agreed.

"I didn't think we were ready at the start of the game," Boudreau said. "We were flat. I think we thought, 'Oh, we're the Washington Capitals, and we're gonna go out there and it's gonna be an easy win.' And there's no easy win in the National Hockey League."'

The first twenty minutes were very physical, ending with a five-minute fighting penalty on John Erskine and the Canadiens' Georges Laraque, and featuring a nifty hit by Brooks Laich which sent Roman Hamrlik flying into the Capitals bench. Apart from Erskine's penalty, the Capitals stayed out of the box for forty minutes. But the home team couldn't break their unfortunate penchant for drawing penalties in the third period: Mathieu Perreault got called for hooking, Brendan Morrison served time for diving, and finally, Laich got called for tripping.The Canadiens scored the game-winner while Laich was in the box.

"I'm not sure what happens to us," Fehr said when asked if the Caps have a third period penalty curse. "We had a pretty disciplined game in the first two periods, and somehow, someway we found ourselves in penalty trouble again. Hopefully, the curse will be gone soon."

Down 3-1 with two minutes left, the Caps were given one last chance to score when the Canadiens got called for hooking with less than two minutes left in the game. Brendan Morrison found the net -- and Mike Green got his second assist of the night -- but it was too little, too late.

Because of the battered Capitals lineup -- Mike Knuble, Alex Semin, Boyd Gordon, Quintin Laing, Milan Jurcina, and Shaone Morrisonn are all injured, and Jose Theodore's still not dressing for games -- there were several new faces on the ice for the Caps: center Jay Beagle, defenseman John Carlson, and goalie Michal Neuvirth. As if that list was not long enough, blue-liner Tom Poti suffered an upper body injury in the first and didn't return to start the second period. Boudreau says the Caps will probably call someone else up from Hershey to play tonight against Toronto, as it's questionable as to whether Jurcina or Morrisonn will be ready to come back.

Boudreau said Carlson played with a lot of poise in his first game, and that Neuvirth kept the Caps in the game between the posts.

"[Neuvirth] did what a starting pitcher's supposed to do, keep you in the game -- and we didn't take advantage of it," Boudreau said. "[Carlson]'s shots from the point were accurate. He's going to be a good player in this league for a long time."

Fehr added that despite all the new faces, he feels the team is adapting to the lineup shuffle.

"I feel like we're adjusting pretty well," Fehr said. "We got guys going in, filling in the holes. We had a lot of chances tonight, we just weren't lucky to get a few more."

Boudreau, however, had a different way of putting it in his press conference -- he said his team wasn't willing to get the dirty goals this time around and get those second shots.

"We weren't paying the price," Boudreau said. "I didn't think we wanted it hard enough."

]]>

D.C. Insurance Dept. Denies Birth Control Coverage Meddling

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-20T18:20:18-05:00

The blog RH Reality Check posted an item yesterday alleging that Gennet Purcell, the District of Columbia's relatively new insurance commissioner, had surreptitiously conspired to make it possible for D.C. women to lose their birth control coverage. But the Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, the agency Purcell runs, has since emphatically denied the story.

Here's what RH Reality Check reporter Amie Newman wrote on Thursday:

Under Purcell's watch, private insurance companies operating in Washington DC are now allowed to opt out of covering contraception in individual plans. This coverage is considered "non-mandatory" by the insurance commissioner and some women are finding their birth control coverage suddenly dropped.

A petition has been started, on twitter, to raise awareness and grab the commissioner's attention that allowing insurance coverage of birth control to become non-mandatory for those not in a group plan is unacceptable. You can sign here.

The City Paper's Sexist blog also picked up the story, and as a woman who currently pays for my own individual, non-group health insurance plan, you can bet this author was personally very concerned. But DISB spokesperson Michelle Phipps-Evans assures DCist this is "just an untrue story."

Here's the full statement from Phipps-Evans:

"The Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking (DISB) has not made any changes in its position regarding contraceptive coverage in individual health insurance under Commissioner Gennet Purcell or prior to Commissioner Purcell's appointment.

In fact, mandated coverages for insurance are not at the discretion of the insurance commissioner, but rather mandated coverages are those that are required by D.C. law. Contraceptive coverage is not now, nor has it ever been, a mandated coverage in D.C. DISB has researched its recent consumer complaint history and found no complaints about individual health insurance not covering contraception. It is surveying insurance companies writing individual health insurance in the District of Columbia and, while responses are still coming in, has found that there are individual plans available in D.C. that provide contraceptive coverage."

This individually insured District woman can tell you that the Carefirst Blue Cross individual HMO plan definitely covers birth control pills, and has for the last five years without interruption. Care to crowd source on other individual plans?

Northeast Post Office Branch Spared From Closure List

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-20T17:45:15-05:00

The U.S. Postal Service today released yet another revised list of possible branch closures, and one D.C. office has been trimmed. The Northeast branch, located at 1563 Maryland Ave. NE, will stay. In Maryland, two other branches were also spared: the Friendship Heights branch, and the Silver Spring Center branch. The total list is now at only 241 post offices still under review nationwide, down from almost 3,300 at the beginning of the process.

That leaves eight D.C. branches remaining on the potential closure list:

*Columbia Heights Finance, 3321 Georgia Ave. NW
*Fort Davis, 3842 Pennsylvania Ave. SE
*LeDroit Park, 416 Florida Ave. NW
*Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave. SW
*Navy Annex
*Petworth, 4211 9th St. NW
*Randle, 2306 Prout St. SE
*Woodridge, 2211 Rhode Island Ave. NE

No final decisions have been made, but the Postal Service expects to start closing selected branches in early 2010.

Overheard in D.C.: Careful What You Wish For

Andrew Wiseman — 2009-11-20T16:50:10-05:00

Photo by chesapeakelover

It can be fun to think about things you'd like in an ideal mate. But sometimes, things sound better than they actually are.

Overheard of the Week

At Asylum, Thursday night:

Female Waitress: "For some reason I have wings coming out my ass tonight!"
Male Bartender: "That would be a real selling point for chicks. Dude, if you could shit out buffalo wings, I'd marry you."

After the jump, musical instruments, salad, the winner of last weeks' contest, and more.

Hear anything funny/weird/insane? Send it to us and be the envy of your friends and coworkers! overheardindc(at)gmail(dot)com

------

GS stands for Genius Services

In a Federal office building:

Man shouts over the cube wall: "Jack?"
Guy responds: "Yeah?"
Man: "You in?"
Jack: "Uh..."

------

Who doesn't? Caesar, Cobb...

Tuesday on Colesville Rd. near East-West Hwy:

One mid-20s woman following another out of an apartment building: "I like to toss salads!!!"

They stop in their tracks as the first woman turns, surprised. They silently stare for 3-4 seconds before breaking into hysterical laughter.

------

Great way to start the day

Friday morning on the S2 bus:

A man in his 30s looking a bit rough is speaking to an apprehensive woman dressed in work clothes. He earlier asked if she was married and if the ring she wore was to throw men off.

Man: "So you going to one of those 9-5 work things?"
Woman: "Yes."
Man: "I am glad I don't have one of those."
A few minutes pass.
Man: "I am doing the walk of shame."

------

With his eyes?

At the Barnes & Noble in Bethesda:

One 20-something woman to another: "I mean, ethically, he just sees the way an animal sees."

------

Flutes, however, are assholes

At the Kennedy Center:

As the 5-minute standing ovation dies down after Joshua Bell's performance of "Symphonie Espagnole":

Guy: "Alright. Maybe I don't hate the violin."

------

H1N1 has some strange symptoms

8 a.m. Tuesday morning in Farragut Square:

Middle-aged man on his mobile phone: "I've had at least three incidents this year when I have sneezed and buttons flew off of my shirt... it's no good."

------

Nicest wife ever? Or most passive-aggressive?

On the 90 bus on U Street:

Woman on cell phone: "This is your wife calling. I'm just calling to tell you your former wife, Miss Amy, is on her way up so you better get your clothes on. "

------

Thanks, Dr. Cheech!

At Vermont and L at 12:30 p.m.:

Young woman on cell phone: "...instead of going to rehab she's working at a pot farm instead..."

------

And finally, the contest winner from last week's overheard!

bikerate with "Blue's Clues sex party." Honorable mentions go to Little Donny and cannonsky.

]]>

Out of Frame: Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

Ian Buckwalter — 2009-11-20T16:25:02-05:00

Baby did a bad, bad thing: Lieutenant McDonagh (Nicolas Cage) during a reflective moment in the midst of his usual drinking, leching, and lying.

It's difficult to enter into Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans expecting a comedy. That's despite a title more ridiculous and unwieldy than even a CSI spin-off would accept, and a trailer that features star Nicolas Cage waxing rhapsodic on his lucky crack pipe, and instructing some henchmen to shoot a dead body again, because the victim's "soul is still dancing." This has to be meant for laughs, right? The lingering expectation of a gritty drama lies mostly in this film's status as an ostensible remake of Abel Ferrara's 1992 cult favorite, the Harvey Keitel tour-de-force Bad Lieutenant, and in Herzog's reputation for dark and sober dramas about outsized obsessive personalities.

But Herzog has been dabbling in comedy for years now, from the silly mockumentary Incident at Loch Ness to his deadpan turn as "The German" in The Grand. That he's finally directing a movie that plays for laughs isn't as out of left field as it might seeam. Also, his Bad Lieutenant can't properly be called a remake of Ferrara's. It can barely be called a re-imagining, taking from its predecessor only the very general concept of a homicide lieutenant with a weakness for nearly every vice imaginable, seeking redemption as he looks to solve a heinous crime against innocents.

From there, Herzog and screenwriter William M. Finkelstein make an entirely different movie, using New Orleans in the early post-Katrina months as the backdrop for a story of drug abuse, gambling, drinking, corruption, and crime, the majority of which is perpetrated by Cage's Lieutenant McDonagh. Cage hasn't spent this much time playing out altered states since Leaving Las Vegas, as he spends the bulk of the movie drunk, or high on cocaine, heroin, or the prescription drugs he takes for the debilitating back injury he suffers at the start of the movie — an injury which serves as the excuse for his downward spiral, and as an opportunity for Cage to lurch around like a hunchback for most of the film.

McDonagh becomes more and more unhinged as the movie progresses, as he owes more and more money to his bookie (the wonderfully slimy Brad Dourif), as his prostitute girlfriend (Eva Mendes) gets in trouble with organized criminals, and he fails to make sufficient progress in solving the murder of a family of Senagalese immigrants whose father was involved in the drug trade. Cage, who has made a career in recent years out of his scene-chewing excess, is given free reign by Herzog to play it as over the top as he wants; the result is a performance as deliriously nutso as his manic turn in Wild at Heart. Herzog, no stranger to bringing out the inner maniac in his leading men after so many films with Klaus Kinski, allows Cage to dance right up to the edge of self-mockery, and then tumble right on over.

McDonagh is a parody of not just Cage's own acting in recent years, but a gaudy exaggeration of every bad-cop cliché out there. He carries a massive hand cannon of a revolver tucked constantly front and center in his pants. He nonchalantly steals drugs from club kids and coerces them into sex to avoid arrest. In one particularly memorable scene, he berates an elderly woman in a wheelchair and cuts off the air supply from her oxygen tank. As things move along, he becomes less a parody and more a bizarre cartoon, having hallucinations of iguanas that aren't there, turning up hidden behind doors using an electric razor as he begins impromptu interrogations, and occasionally affecting a nasally accent that almost sounds like an impression of Edward G. Robinson.

Cage is darkly hilarious, but the problem for Herzog is that it's difficult to make a parody of bad movies without, to some extent, making a bad movie. For a director who usually carries a keen and hypnotic visual sense, Bad Lieutenant is visually flat. As comfortable as the director is in expressing the menace of jungles and wilderness, he seems a little lost in the urban jungle of New Orleans, and the film never really uses its post-Katrina setting to the effect one might expect. There's some of Herzog's usual love-hate commentary on American culture here, but much of it is lost amid the lurid insanity. Ultimately, Bad Lieutenant is pretty smart as satire, but may be forgettable as cinema. While it lasts, though, it's funny as hell.

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans opens today at E Street, Bethesda Row, and Shirlington.
View the trailer.

]]>

Thanks to This Week's Advertisers

tien mao — 2009-11-20T16:00:00-05:00

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on DCist.

Ballroom with a Twist, a new production with dancers from So You Think You Can Dance and Dancing with the Stars, tonight and tomorrow at the Music Center at Strathmore.
John Mayer, find tickets for his Battle Studies tour with the AMEX early on sale.
GroupOn, using collective buying power to bring you one ridiculous coupon each day.
American Apparel, with 8 stores in DC, you can look your best after dark.

If you're interested in advertising on DCist or any other site in our network, check out our online mediakit.

Same-Sex Marriage Foes Have Few Options on Hill

Martin Austermuhle — 2009-11-20T15:30:23-05:00

Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Ut.)

With the D.C. Council's same-sex marriage bill scheduled for a December 1 vote and a petition to put the issue on the ballot denied, opponents of same-sex marriage might finally have to live up to a threat they've been making in recent months: to take the issue to Congress.

But a hearing on the Hill this week on legislation that could grant the District more budgetary and legislative autonomy showed that even if opponent take their complaints to Congress, they're unlikely to get far. Chief District foe Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Ut.) was one of two Republicans at the hearing, and even he admitted that there exists little chance of derailing the legislation once it comes to Congress for its mandatory 30-day review period. "Democrats have the House and the Senate and the presidency," Chaffetz told the Post. "I'm going to try to fight back, but procedurally, they've got us pretty well wrapped up."

Today, DC Vote added its voice to the debate, pleading with same-sex marriage opponents not to take their complaints to Congress. In a statement, Executive Director Ilir Zherka said, "We know that our opponents in the Congress will use every chance they get, including a D.C. law providing for marriage equality, to restrict the rights of D.C. residents. We promise to fight that congressional intrusion. We ask that D.C. residents on both sides of the marriage equality debate refrain from taking this fight to Capitol Hill. Let's stand in solidarity in support of democracy for D.C."

So far, these sorts of arguments have rung hollow with adamant same-sex marriage opponents, who remain angry about what they call a violation of their voting rights for being denied a popular vote on the issue. But even if they organize to petition Congress, conservatives will not likely be able to marshal the votes to stop the District from legalizing same-sex marriage next year.

Out and About: Weekend Picks

Kaysha Gurell — 2009-11-20T15:18:01-05:00

Photo by army.arch

FRIDAY

MOVIE: The National Portrait Gallery is showing free Western movies by John Ford this weekend. Tonight's movie is Fort Apache, starring John Wayne, Henry Fonda, and Shirley Temple, at 7 p.m. For more of our movie highlights, make sure to consult this week's Popcorn & Candy column.

MUSIC: Former Three Star artist Wayna is performing with Tabi Bonney at Zanzibar. $TBA, 8 p.m.

Fans of New Jersey's The Wrens have been taunted and teased throughout the years with well documented stretches of inactivity. The band's been promising new material for some time and are in town to warm up for its 20th anniversary shows in Hoboken later this year. Poor But Sexy start off the festivities. $15, 9 p.m.

Japan's raucous, insane geniuses, Melt Banana, are at the Rock and Roll Hotel, with The Deserts of Maine, Sugar Dunes and Abiku. $15, 9 p.m.

CLASSICAL: The Haydn Trio Eisenstadt will give a free concert with soprano Lorna Anderson and tenor Jamie MacDougall at the Library of Congress. 8 p.m.

FOOD & DRINK: Did you miss out on the Beaujolais Nouveau parties earlier this week? Well the Alliance Francaise is hosting their own Beaujolais Nouveau Wine & Cheese Party tonight, plus even more cheese: Jerry "The Piano Man" Roman will start the evening by leading some singalongs of standard French hits. Later, DJ Hervé will spin electronic mixes of house music and French covers. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., $25 for members, $35 for non-members.

SATURDAY:

SHOPPING: National Geographic is having its big Preholiday Warehouse Sale sale at the D.C. Armory, where they'll be offering 25-90 percent off books, apparel, and gift items. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., both Saturday and Sunday.

ART: And yet more National Geographic, this time the opening of the Terra Cotta Warriors show this weekend at the National Geographic Museum. Over 100 artifacts are on display from the 2000-year-old sculpted army that guarded China's First Emperor from any dangers as he entered the afterlife. Tickets are $12 (adult) and sold by date and 30 minute blocks; purchase them here. And you can find even more art events in our Arts Agenda.

JAZZ: One of the last surviving members of Miles Davis's Birth of the Cool ensemble, Lee Konitz, will perform 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. sets on at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater. Check out our full preview here. Tickets are $35.

MUSIC: "The Greatest Hip Hop Cover Story Ever Told" attempts to offer a look at the world of hip-hop over the past 30 years. The cast of the two nights, two shows Dance Place performance include numerous locals acts, including: Asheru, Tabi Bonney, Hueman Prophets, Maimouna Youssef, XO, Gods’Illa, Syn the Villian, Head Roc, Rosetta Stoned, Tony Moon, The Package, Fatso, Bomani Armah, Mahoganee, Enoch the 7th Prophet, Natural Mystics, Ardamus and Flex Mathews. $20-$50 in advance/$30 at the door, Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 4 p.m.

Head over to Comet Ping Pong for a record release party celebrating local indie rockers The Jet Age's new release, in "love." Free, 10:30 p.m.

SUNDAY:

MUSIC: The latest concept from Jon Spencer (he of the Blues Explosion) comes to DC9 tonight. Heavy Trash is heavily influenced by rockabilly, with plenty of Spencer's particular brand of weirdness. Elliott Brood opens. 9 p.m., $12.

]]>

Former Blade Staffers Launch 'DC Agenda'

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-20T13:45:54-05:00

From the ashes of the Washington Blade, DC Agenda has risen. The staff of the suddenly shuttered LGBT publication has managed to put together a new web site and "a modest, early iteration" of a print edition, both out today, less than a week after they all lost their jobs. From their introductory message:

The former staff of the Washington Blade remains united and DC Agenda represents our effort at continuing the important mission and work of the Blade. It will grow and evolve to include a much larger and more diverse group of voices. But the core of the Washington Blade’s work remains unchanged. We will cover Congress, the White House, the LGBT rights movement, the D.C. marriage fight, local hate crimes and other political issues important to the LGBT residents of the city.

It’s been a tough week for us, but we are buoyed by the outpouring of support from people all over the city and beyond. We welcome and need your help and will respond to each offer as soon as possible. Thank you to all who have pledged to stick with us, especially our advertisers. Please visit savetheblade.com for updated information on DC Agenda or to make a gift to support the new venture.

We haven't yet been able to find any of the print editions placed around town, but today's first online stories offer up reporting on Dignity USA, a gay Catholic group that is urging the D.C. government not to back down to the threats of Catholic Charities over the same-sex marriage issue, a few local Thanksgiving volunteer opportunities, and news about a U.S. House committee vote to approve legislation "that would benefit the partners of LGBT federal workers," among other items.

Best of luck to the DC Agenda as they get on their feet.

UPDATE: @DCAgenda has been tweeting the locations where you can find a copy of the print edition, so head over there if you'd like to pick one up.

The Weekly Feed: Experimentation Edition

Jamie R. Liu — 2009-11-20T12:31:59-05:00

Photo by NatalieMaynor

Dish of the Week: Sweet potato casserole

Thanksgiving... foodie holiday... blah blah blah. But of course, it is my favorite holiday, not just because of the food, but because of the focus on family. My mother is a fantastic cook. She makes the best scallion pancakes. Her technique is so flawless that family members can tell the difference between the pancakes she rolls out and the ones my aunts roll.

But sometimes my mom likes to "experiment." Now there's experimentation within reason, substituting brown sugar for white sugar, adding a touch of almond extract to a dessert that doesn't call for it. And then there's her special brand of experimentation. She's done fun things like adding hazelnut coffee syrup to chicken stir fry, and dried cranberries in sushi rolls. (We were lucky we got away without that same sushi featuring large chunks of walnuts.)

So what does this have to do with sweet potatoes? As you might have guessed, my mom is not one for "recipes" and tends to wing making sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving. That usually meant additions like orange juice, and lots of burned marshmallows. It also meant that I grew up hating sweet potatoes. Though we all know they're really just a vehicle for toasted marshmallows.

Luckily, I've discovered a recipe from my sister's mother-in-law that I love. It eschews the usual marshmallows for a streusel-like pecan topping. And the half cup of butter helps.

Share with us your favorite Thanksgiving dishes, "experiments" and disasters with us in the comments.

Sweet Potato Casserole
29 oz Canned Sweet Potatoes, Mashed
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 Cup Butter, Melted
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Topping:
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Flour
4 Tbsp Butter, Melted
1/8 tsp Allspice
1/8 tsp Cinnamon
1 Cup Chopped Pecans

1. Mix yams, sugar and salt. Add 1/2 cup butter and vanilla blending well. Pour into greased 1 1/2 qt baking dish.
2. Mix brown sugar, flour, butter, allspice, cinnamon and pecans. Spread over yam mixture.
3. Bake 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until the top is a golden brown.

Small Bites
RIS real soon
The long touted RIS from Ris Lacoste that's been anticipated for the past several years is coming much closer to fruition. According to Zagat, the restaurant should open by November 30. Check the restaurant's Twitter for more updated details.

Cupcakes Moving In
Just when we thought maybe the cupcakes would slow down, we're seeing even more in town. First up is food truck Curbside Cupcake, which is making one last stop before Thanksgiving at Capitol South. You can follow their future whereabouts on Twitter.

Also New York's Crumbs Bake Shop will be getting in on the D.C. action with shops planned for Georgetown, Cleveland Park, Foggy Bottom, Rockville, Clarendon and Reston. Though this seems like just one more newcomer, a perusal of the web site shows a much larger variety of flavor options than any existing D.C. cupcakeries, including flavors like caramel apple, chocolate pecan pie, and cookie dough. [via WBJ]

DC Diner
Tom Sietsema reports that DC Diner, from Jessie Yan and Vanessa Lim, will be taking over the old Cleveland Park McDonald's space. Even though the main focus will be on traditional American breakfast foods, they say they'll also offer some pan-Asian foods as well. Dim sum-type items please!!

Cup O' Sushi
Everyone mourned the demise of the reasonably priced Sushi Taro lunch specials. But now Kaz Sushi is bringing back affordable lunch sushi starting November 23 through New Year's Eve. For $12 you can choose from the Cup Sushi option of three miniature cups of sushi with California, spicy tuna, salmon tartare, tuna tartare, crunch eel, spicy scallop or seaweed salad toppings. If sushi isn't your thing, you can opt for Hot Pot of miso with pork, daikon radish, carrot, sweet potato, ginger and scallions or the Hot Pot of chicken with tofu, shitake mushrooms, spinach, scallions, glass noodles with ponzu sauce, also $12.

]]>

Photo of the Day: November 20, 2009

Kelly Rand — 2009-11-20T12:09:16-05:00

Be prepared for the DCist Flickr Pool to be infiltrated by an invading army. These Terra Cotta Warriors have started their advance at National Geographic and scouts have already been spotted in the Pool, like this one by erin m. EXIF.

You can find more Terra Cotta Warriors on display now through March 2010 at the National Geographic Museum. See over 100 artifacts from the 2000-year-old sculpted army that guarded China's First Emperor from any dangers as he entered the afterlife. Tickets are $12 (adult), sold by date and 30 minute blocks, and can be purchased online.

D.C. Unemployment Rate Reaches 11.9 Percent

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-20T10:45:22-05:00

The unemployment rate for the District of Columbia jumped to 11.9 percent in the month of October, its highest level since the current recession began, according to figures released today by the Department of Employment Services. That number marks an increase over the previous month, September, which saw an unemployment rate of 11.4 percent. The national unemployment rate for October was 10.2 percent. Today's news comes paired with an estimate that the District actually added 10,200 jobs in October, despite the increase in unemployment figures. A news release from DOES explains these diverging trends as being due to an increase in the District's labor force, with no change in the number of employed people.

DCist Preview: Lee Konitz @ Kennedy Center

Sriram Gopal — 2009-11-20T09:45:43-05:00

Feeling the limitations of the jazz combo format that was prevalent in the late 1940s, Miles Davis assembled a nonet to play music that allowed for more orchestration and color, while still maintaining the improvisational elements of that era's be-bop sound. With orchestrations from the great arranger Gil Evans, as well as band members Gerry Mulligan and John Lewis, the band performed briefly in the fall of 1948. But it wasn't until 1949 that the group entered the studio to record what would become Birth of the Cool, a seminal recording that kicked off a movement that became known as "cool jazz."

Among this group of talented musicians was alto saxophonist Lee Konitz, who will be performing on Saturday at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater. Just in his early 20s at the time, Konitz was chosen for the Cool band because of his distinctive sound, in a period when most alto players were trying to emulate Charlie Parker. His warm tone and fluid style not only made him an appropriate choice for Davis's band, but also allowed him to become one of the great exponents of the cool jazz movement. Over the subsequent 60 years, Konitz has maintained a high level of musicianship, recording dozens of albums as a leader and earning the title of Jazz Master from the National Endowment for the Arts.

"I stay fresh by trying to to find another angle and juxtaposition in the music," Konitz told DCist during a recent interview. "Here I am after all these years, and I can still play a different version of 'All the Things You Are.'"

Konitz does not have a full time group, but rather plays with different ensembles from city to city–an approach which he says keeps things interesting for him.

"I don't choose to spend time rehearsing," said Konitz. "It's kind of not a show, so much as an opportunity to experience guys playing together and sounding fresh in the process."

Konitz also mixes things up by consistently surrounding himself with young voices. He performs regularly in New York with up-and-coming pianist Dan Tepfer, and for Saturday's performance, he will be performing with Minsarah, an impressive trio comprised of German pianist Florian Weber, Israeli drummer Ziv Ravitz, and D.C. area native Jeff Denson on bass.

Konitz, who is now 82 years-old, canceled several performances this year due to medical reasons, but shows no signs of slowing down over the next several months. He has booked shows through next spring, which include performing Birth of the Cool with a Dutch big band, and residencies at New York's top clubs with the likes of pianist Brad Mehldau and drummer Paul Motian.

With such an impressive career, it is no surprise that Konitz is taking some time to look back and reflect on his accomplishments.

"I've been listening to my own music a lot lately," he said. "I'm enjoying experiencing it away from playing it."

Lee Konitz and Minsarah will perform 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. sets on Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater. Tickets are $35.

]]>

Presented By:

2009-11-20T09:45:43-05:00

Affidavit: Former Taxi Commissioner Linked to Bribery Scheme

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-20T09:20:29-05:00

Photo by Samer Farha

Federal authorities believe former D.C. Taxicab Commission chairman Causton Toney participated in a long-running bribery scheme while he held that position from 2005-2007, the Washington Post reports this morning. A recently unsealed affidavit lays out the FBI's suspicions against Toney, who has not been charged with any crime, but whose home was raided in October.

The links between Toney and the bribery allegations stem from the same D.C. taxicab industry investigation that already snagged Ted Loza and 30 some odd taxi drivers.

Authorities have not indicated why they raided Toney's house Oct. 2. He does business with Syume but is not named in the indictment. In the newly unsealed court papers, an FBI agent says that wiretaps and other recorded conversations link the former taxi commissioner to the conspiracy.

In November 2007, Toney told Syume in a phone call that he had talked to Swain and that Swain had told him that he "wants us to keep pushing ahead . . . to get this thing done so -- I'm going to do that," the affidavit says. The agent wrote that Toney's comments are a "possible reference to completing their scheme."

Morning Roundup: Change Edition

Martin Austermuhle — 2009-11-20T08:33:40-05:00

Photo by andertho

As we come to the end of a week where the District dealt with the death of another child -- this time it was nine-year-old Oscar Fuentes in Columbia Heights -- there doesn't seem to be much to say about a city that while significantly better than it was a decade ago still suffers from stubborn crime and violence. Post Metro columnist Petula Dvorak today proves that point with a column that can be summed up as such -- Columbia Heights has come a long way, but it still has a ways to go. It's not really groundbreaking reading, and it doesn't offer any real solutions. (Thankfully, she carefully toes around the issue of race, avoiding the minefield that is pretty much any discussion on gentrification.) But it does make the case again that Columbia Heights has become a microcosm of the District as a whole, an area that has changed dramatically in some ways while remaining exactly the same in others.

Council Seeks Compromise With Church: Last week members of the D.C. Council were expressing annoyance at the Archdiocese of Washington, which had said that sure-to-pass same-sex marriage legislation would force them to stop providing charitable services in the city. This week, a compromise may be on the horizon. The Post reports that council members Phil Mendelson (D-At Large) and David Catania (I-At Large) have asked the Archdiocese to follow the lead of Georgetown University and the church in San Francisco, both of which offer benefits to same-sex couples by allowing employees to have add one domiciled resident -- irrespective of gender -- as a beneficiary. Church officials haven't yet said much, but what little they are saying doesn't hint that they're too keen on the proposal.

Virginia Restaurants Prepare for Smoke-Free Future: With December 1 fast approaching, Virginia restaurants are readying themselves for the smoking ban that few thought would ever become a reality. The Examiner reports that health officials are traveling across the state to make sure restaurants comply, but are finding that many already do. Some 66 percent of restaurants in the commonwealth -- many of them in Northern Virginia -- went smoke-free before the ban was passed, and since then the number has risen to 73 percent. The ban allows restaurants to wall off a separate room for smokers, and outdoors spaces remain legal for lighting up. Violations of the law would cost a mere $25.

More Controversy Over Mayoral Exercise Habits: When he was first elected, District residents seemed to marvel at Mayor Adrian Fenty's exercise habits. Now they complain about them whenever they can. According to NBC4, there has been a recent brush-up over lane configuration at the newly renovated Wilson Aquatic Center, with parents arguing that lanes are not set up for the school team's practices and instead for those who train for triathlons. Like the mayor. OK, so it's not exactly Bicyclingate, but an interesting read no less.

Briefly Noted: Nickles says Gray home repairs were kosher ... AOL ~~trims~~ hacks workforce ... Jogger in Takoma Park sexually assaulted ... Kaine asked to restore voting rights for felons.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2008, Robert Wone's three roommates were indicted on conspiracy charges and Metro announced commemorative SmarTrip cards for Barack Obama's inauguration. In 2007, the Supreme Court announced it would hear the case that became the momentous Heller D.C. gun ban decision.

Arrest Made in Brightwood Liquor Store Slaying

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-20T08:01:53-05:00

Rufina Hernandez

One of two suspects sought in the Nov. 7 killing of shopkeeper Rufina Hernandez has been arrested, D.C. police announced last night. Andres Lopez, 45, of no fixed address was taken into custody without incident on Thursday afternoon near 4th and Kennedy Streets NW, only about five blocks from La Casa de Morata liquor store. Hernandez was shot and killed that Saturday night during the course of a robbery. Two suspects are believed to have entered the store and demanded money, a request with which Hernandez complied, but one of the suspects shot her anyway. D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier declined to indicate whether Lopez is believed to be the shooter, but reiterated that the search for the second suspect continues. "We look forward to getting help from the community," Lanier said. "There is still work to do."

Go Home Already: What Lies Beneath

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-19T19:15:04-05:00

Photo by m hoek

BREAKING now: an arrest has been made in the Nov. 7 slaying of liquor store owner Rufina Hernandez, D.C. police are saying. More on this to come after a 7:30 p.m. news conference. [WJLA/ABC7]
The U.S. Postal service has declared its own War on Christmas: they are dropping the popular national program where volunteers in North Pole, Alaska open and respond to letters addressed to Santa. The decision comes amid fears of the possibility of pedophile infiltration in the program. [AP via NPR]
Charlene Lugar, the wife of Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) was arrested last night by the Fairfax County Police Department for driving while intoxicated and a hit-and-run. Looks like she hit a parked car. No one was injured. [USAToday]
A lawsuit filed by developer The JBG Cos. designed to halt the groundbreaking of the Convention Center Hotel will be allowed to proceed: "Although the judge has not issued an injunction — an order that would block construction — the suit appears to have succeeded in stalling the project." [Washington Business Journal]
The grim discovery of a body inside a PG County trash compactor gets so much grimmer: the body was that of a homeless man who had been sleeping in a dumpster when he was picked up and compacted by a recycling truck. [Washington Post]

New Whole Foods to Open Up Exactly Where it is Needed Least

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-19T18:50:34-05:00

Photo by Maryland Route 5

Gotta concur with DCmud's sarcasm in reporting this piece of news concerning an expected ribbon cutting next year for a new Whole Foods at the Shops at Wisconsin Place development, located at the Chevy Chase/Friendship Heights nexus.

While the Bethesda-Chevy Chase corridor may seem like a scripted stage setting for the Whole Foods phenomenon, Chevy Chasers have until now had to drive all the way down to Tenley for their organic Gruyere, or eke by (gasp) on Giant or TJ's foodstuffs.

Ruth Samuelson made a handy little map over at Housing Complex to illustrate the point: this actually makes the third Whole Foods location on Wisconsin Avenue, all clustered relatively close to one another. Surely some other neighborhood, like say, Capitol Hill, could use a spot to buy organic arugula sooner than this one. Then again, my feelings on the "Fetishism of Whole Foods" are well established, so it's probably wise not to get too worked up about it.

Popcorn & Candy: Unfinished Business

Ian Buckwalter — 2009-11-19T16:50:49-05:00

DCist's highly subjective and hardly comprehensive guide to the most interesting movies playing around town in the coming week.

Henri-Georges Clouzot's Inferno

Lost in La Mancha proved that documentaries about aborted films could be compelling films in their own right. Failure is magnified when there are millions of dollars — and million-dollar egos — on the line, so it's no wonder that the drama of dashed filmmaking makes for compelling viewing. In that spirit comes Serge Bromberg and Ruxandra Medrea's look into the collapsed production of Henri-Georges Clouzot's L'Enfer (The Inferno). Clouzot had made his name before and after the war as a solid director of French thrillers, the so-called "French Hitchcock." But by the early 60s, his work was seen as old-fashioned, as his generation of filmmakers quickly fell out of favor with the rise of the New Wave. Clouzot felt he could make a thoroughly modern film as well, and set out to break new ground with a story about a jealous hotelier and his young wife. The director was given a blank check by Columbia pictures, who were eager to cash in on the "New Wave" craze, and if they could do it with an established director, even better. But the shoot quickly spiraled out of control and was scrapped after only a few weeks. Clouzot would live for another 13 years, but only completed one more film. Bromber and Medrea managed to get access to all of the film Clouzot did manage to shoot, and show much of that footage to show what might have been, as they tell the story of everything that went wrong during the making of the film.

View the (NSFW) trailer.
Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 7:45 p.m. at the AFI as part of the European Union Film Showcase.

---

Reel Portraits: John Ford's Frontier

One of the most prolific directors in film history, John Ford directed 140 movies, including over 60 silent movies during the first 11 years of his career alone. He pretty much defined the look of the American Western, bringing to life the dusty and exotic vistas of parts of the country many Americans had never seen with their own eyes. And few actor-director teams have been as fruitful as the director's work with John Wayne, with whom Ford collaborated on over two dozen projects, including the director's landmark "Cavalry Trilogy," two-thirds of which is screening at the Portrait Gallery this weekend. The first two legs of the informal trilogy are represented here, in Fort Apache and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon; in both, Wayne portrays a cavalry officer at western outposts. The Gallery skips over part three, Rio Grande, in favor of another Ford/Wayne matchup, and perhaps the director's greatest Western, The Searchers, a dark examination of racism and revenge, in which Duke plays a Civil War vet on a lengthy search for a niece kidnapped by Indians.

View the trailers for Fort Apache, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and The Searchers.
Fort Apache screens tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the National Portrait Gallery, with a double feature of She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and The Searchers on Saturday at 2 and 5 p.m. respectively. Free.

---

Blood Freak

While it appears that Eli Roth's Thanksgiving — which started as a joke trailer in the Tarantino/Rodriguez double shot Grindhouse — may actually become a reality, until that actually comes to pass, Blood Freak still stands as the closest thing there is to a Thanksgiving-themed horror movie. It's a tenuous connection, since all this classic bit of hilariously awful grindhouse gore has in common with the holiday is turkey, and lots of it. A cautionary tale about the dangers of drug abuse and of animal husbandry as practiced by the criminally insane, Blood Freak is surely the finest film ever made involving a drug-dealer-killing man-turkey hybrid. Forget tofurkey, and forget turducken. Beware the mankey. Or tur-man. We're still working out what to call it. In either case, this befowled biker wants you to say no to drugs, and isn't afraid to take a circular saw to your leg to make sure you get the message.

View the trailer.
Tuesday at 8 p.m. at The Warehouse. Free, $2 donation suggested.

---

Herzsprung

The Goethe-Institute's Wende Flicks series has been showcasing work by East German filmmakers from just before the fall of the Berlin Wall into the first years of unification. This week's selection comes from director Helke Misselwitz, who first received notice as the director of a documentary about women during the final years of the German Democratic Republic. In the early years of a unified Germany, she looks at a similar subject, through a narrative rather than a documentary lens. In Herzsprung, she creates a story about a young single mother in a small town who is a victim of the sharp rise in unemployment that plagued the former East Germany after unification. Misselwitz merges the economic commentary with a love story, as her protagonist falls in love with a young man ethnically different enough to cause the rest of the town to take notice.

Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Goethe-Institut. $6.

---

Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

If you've watched the trailers for Werner Herzog's Bad Lieutenant — ostensibly (but not really) a remake of the Abel Ferrara cult classic from 1992 — you're probably thinking this looks like a pretty awful cop movie, and yet another in a lengthening line of awful over-the-top performances by Nicolas Cage. You'd be partly right on both counts. Bad Lieutenant is rather bad, but mostly because in making a satire of stereotypical bad cop movies, Herzog had to go a little native to get his point across. Similarly, Cage's performance, as a New Orleans cop with a taste for drugs, drink, gambling, and rape in the line of duty, seems like a hyper-aware parody of his own scene-chewing excess. The actor makes his own case for the notion that the line between a great bizarre Cage performance (Wild at Heart) and an awful bizarre Cage performance (The Wicker Man) might not be quite as distinct as we'd like to think. The film's distributors seem reluctant to admit that this is fully intended to be a comedy, but it is. Herzog picks an easy target in mocking the worst tendencies of the rogue cop genre, so sometimes it can come across as slightly mean spirited, but it's such a crazy, weirdly hilarious ride that it doesn't really matter.

View the trailer.
Opens tomorrow at E Street, Bethesda Row, and Shirlington.

]]>

Jack Evans Hops Aboard a SmartBike at Bike Lane Unveiling

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-19T15:15:23-05:00

Image courtesy DDOT

We've been following the work on the new 15th Street NW contraflow bike lane for a while now, and today the District Department of Transportation and Mayor Fenty hosted a little ceremony to announce its formal completion. But we have to thank IMGoph for tweeting to point out that one of the images DDOT sent around from the ribbon cutting features Ward 2 Council member Jack Evans (D) aboard one of the city's SmartBikes. We're used to seeing the likes of Fenty and famed cycling enthusiast Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) on bikes, but Jack Evans? He looks about as comfortable as a bear on ice skates. Click through to DDOT's Facebook page to scroll through the rest of their images from today's event. DDOT Director Gabe Klein also joined Fenty and Evans for their little ride.

Metro to Delay SmartBenefits Changes

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-19T15:02:51-05:00

Photo by Mr. T in DC

As Metro General Manager John Catoe alluded to recently in one of his weekly online chats, WMATA has decided to go ahead and delay implementing those confusing changes to SmartBenefits we've been hearing so much about, as iMetro reports (hat tip to GGW).

Last night at the budget forum, John Catoe addressed this issue. The conversion of the Smartbenefits program to the new IRS-compliant system has been delayed. An extra year was given for WMATA to come up with a better solution than what was proposed (the three purse system). So rest assured that the SmartBenefits system will remain in its current state at least through the year of 2010. Catoe informed us that this decision was reached on Tuesday, November 17th.

The change to the program that had been raising the most eyebrows was a provision that required unused benefits to be returned to the employer at the end of each month, regardless of whether the employee was contributing their own pre-tax salary to it. So, look for this to get worked out over the course of the next year.

About Tonight

Kaysha Gurell — 2009-11-19T13:59:50-05:00

Photo by M.V. Jantzen

CLASSICAL: Berlin's Vogler Quartet will perform a concert of music with Jewish folk connections this evening in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. All of this music was performed by or composed for the St. Petersburg-based Zimro clarinet sextet, including Profokiev's Overture on Hebrew Themes. Tickets are available for a slight discount ($25 instead of $32) if you mention Promotion Code 45484 when you order your tickets, either online or at the box office. 7:30 p.m.

MUSIC: Or head to the 9:30 Club to catch '90s alt-rock heroes The Jesus Lizard with Noveller opening, $25, 7 p.m.

ART: The Nevin Kelly Gallery opens their second "zeitgeist" exhibit tonight with a free opening reception from 6 - 9 p.m. Curators Ellyn Weiss and Sondra N. Arkin worked with 14 local artists to create new work based on what they believe are today's most important issues, whether they be political, cultural, environmental or otherwise. Responses from the public, collected via their website and Twitter, are also incorporated.

SHOPPING: Tonight is the 14th and U Streets NW corridor's Third Thursdays in MidCity, where dozens of shops in the neighborhood are staying open until 9 p.m. to offer special deals amid a party atmosphere, along with collecting donations for Martha's Table.

PERFORMANCE: Capital Fringe presents Fall Fringe now through November 22. Catch Terrorism of Everyday Life starring Ed Hamel, winner of the 2009 Capital Fringe Directors' Award, The Shop at Fort Fringe. 10 p.m. for $20, $15 with your '09 Fringe Button, or get a Fall Fringe pass for $30 and save $25 on all three shows on offer.

José Andrés is GQ's Chef of the Year

Jamie R. Liu — 2009-11-19T13:18:55-05:00

With the opening of The Bazaar in Los Angeles and his Made in Spain cooking show on PBS, José Andrés has been busy building a name for himself on the national scene. All of this culminated today in him being named GQ's Chef of the Year. This article highlights tapas selections that you can find at his D.C. restaurants, including Jaleo, Zaytinya, and Minibar. With Blue Ridge chef Barton Seaver's Chef of the Year award from Esquire, D.C. is really coming out on top this year. Now about that Chef of the Year cage match...

Detective: Former D.C. Police Chief Ordered Pershing Park Arrests

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-19T13:10:18-05:00

If you haven't been following the step-by-step progress of the ongoing Pershing Park case (that's the 2002 mass arrests of some 400 protesters by D.C. police, still playing out in endless legal wrangling), you might have missed the big development that surfaced Wednesday. City Paper's Jason Cherkis has been all over this story for ... forever, and yesterday he reported that a new affidavit from veteran D.C. Police Det. Paul Hustler points the finger directly at former D.C. Police Chief Charles Ramsey as having ordered the arrests himself. This is a big deal, because Ramsey has consistently maintained in hearings and depositions related to this case that he did not order the arrests. This is the quote from Hustler's affidavit:

"As I walked closer, about five or six feet away from them, I heard Chief Ramsey say, 'We're going to lock them up and teach them a lesson.'"

The Post and the Examiner also ran stories on this today, so see them for more. It's clear that Hustler's testimony could raise serious questions about whether Ramsey committed perjury.

Charles Ramsey is currently Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department.

Photo of the Day: November 19, 2009

Andrew Chriss — 2009-11-19T12:30:26-05:00

Where's a privacy advocate when you need one? First, we can't make out in public. Now, a man can't even take an upright nap on a bench in Malcolm X Park without being captured by Flickr user gerdaindc and her like-minded voyeurs. EXIF.

Pet Worth: This Month's Highly Adoptable Animals

Meaghan Gay — 2009-11-19T11:50:31-05:00

]]>

Last month, we launched our first collaboration with the Washington Humane Society and highlighted a handful of dogs that needed to find a home. The WHS's goal to "increase adoption, decrease the number of animals in need, and teach responsible pet ownership" is one that we truly believe in, and we're happy to report that two of the dogs we featured in October, Tancho and Nina, found homes!! Nina's new owner saw our photos and knew that she was the right dog for their family. She now lives with a family of five, two young children, two adults and another pit bull who is Nina's new best friend. Sumi, the beautiful and smart Akita mix is still at the shelter waiting to be sprung. Kate was diagnosed with heart worms and has been moved to the Washington Animal Rescue League to recover. She will be up for adoption again once she gets better.

This month, we have more dogs, plus some of their much anticipated feline friends.

Copper
Copper is a 6-year-old Golden Retriever and Chow mix. He is a very relaxed dog who likes walks and affection. Copper was a stray and came to the shelter very skinny, but has since put on weight and is now a healthy boy. Copper would make a great family pet and is good with other dogs, but not cats. This dog will hang by your side and want lots of love. Copper's eyes show how kind and sweet he is.

Champ
Looking at beautiful Champ, a Shepherd and Akita mix, you would never know that he came from an abusive situation. Champ will listen and sit patiently, and likes to be praised. His history of abuse has led Champ to be a bit nervous, and he doesn't like to share his food, so he will require an owner who can understand his fears. Champ is dog friendly, so he can be in a home with another dog, but not with cats. At only 2 and a half years-old, Champ is still very energetic, but he is past the puppy wiggles stage.

Honey
Honey made a long journey to D.C. She's originally from California, and came cross country with her previous owner, who turned to WHS when they could not find a place to live that would allow dogs. Honey's personality is a little bit puppy, and a little bit surfer cool. She is 6 years-old, but very energetic. She's great with kids, and will be friends with a cat on a case by case basis. She also loves her fellow dogs. Honey is a Pit Bull mix, and I am convinced that the mix is partially meerkat. Honey does a trick where she will sit on her back legs like a meerkat and reach her front paws in the air. It is almost as adorable as she is.

Destiny
The last little dog has a big name, Destiny. Destiny is a 10-year-old Jack Russell terrier, a breed that often lives until the upper teens in years. Destiny lived with a family her whole life, but was given to the Humane Society after their daughter moved out and Destiny became stressed by the separation. Despite a few white hairs, Destiny behaves like a much younger dog. She will be a great lap dog at times, but she also likes to play. She can be nervous around other dogs, but will be OK once she meets and adjusts to them. Destiny needs an owner who can manage her nervousness, and then she will be a great family pet.

Dr. Beau
Dr. Beau is a 1-year-old cat whose previous owner was a hoarder. Once Dr. Beau gets comfortable in a situation, all he wants to do is play. He came in with another cat who was adopted, so Dr. Beau is looking for a new buddy. A home with another cat would be ideal.

Kodiak
Kodiak is a 1 and a half year-old who loves getting rubbed. Kodiak likes people, cats and dogs. He is a big love bug. Kodiak is an indoor-only cat who likes to use a scratching post. He's already litterbox trained, so he is ready to be part of a family.

Butch
Our last cat is Butch, who is just over a year old. Butch likes dogs, but not other cats, so he needs a home where he is the only kitty. Butch is not a lap cat; he likes to play and be boisterous. He is also litterbox trained and uses a scratching post.

If you are interested in adopting any of the animals featured, please contact the Washington Humane Society.
All of these dogs are located at the Georgia Avenue shelter:
7319 Georgia Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20012
tel: 202-723-5730

If you want to help but cannot adopt an animal, you can donate to the Washington Humane Society. A $150 donation will cover the average cost of an animal's stay, and help WHS complete their goal of finding a good home for every animal. If funds are tight and you would like to donate some of your time, you can volunteer with the animals at one of the shelters. Lastly, you can also check the list of goods that are on the shelter wish list and to see what you may be able to donate.

Transit Stop 'Safety Zones' Could Blanket the City

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-19T11:15:06-05:00

Here's an interesting bill currently before the D.C. Council, courtesy the Examiner's Michael Neibauer: Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Ward 5) and Michael A. Brown (I-At large) have introduced legislation that would establish 50-foot "safety zones" around any District of Columbia transit stop. The idea here is that any crime committed inside one of the "safety zones" would carry additional penalties and even extra jail time, sort of like how if you commit a traffic violation inside a construction zone, the amount of your ticket doubles (in this case, it would be 1.5 times the maximum fine and 50 percent more jail time). The proposed zones would of course encompass all D.C. Metrorail stations, but they would also include every one of the roughly 3,500 bus stops in the city, which, if you picture it, would cover a really substantial portion of the city. Think this is a good idea?

Sarah Palin Announces D.C. Area Book Tour Stop

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-19T10:42:46-05:00

In the off chance you aren't friends with Sarah Palin on Facebook, let it be noted that the former Alaska governor/VP candidate/attention starved loon/media juggernaut announced last night that she will indeed be making a stop in the D.C. area on her book tour. This may come as a shock, but it turns out she's not planning on promoting Going Rogue at Politics & Prose. In fact, she won't be at a bookstore at all. Instead, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Dec. 5, she'll be out at the BJ's at 13053 Fair Lakes Shopping Center in Fairfax, presumably so she can rub elbows with the "real Americans" who buy in bulk. Mark your calendars!

Click Click: Public Enemy Rolls Through Town

Martin Locraft — 2009-11-19T10:14:49-05:00

]]>

Public Enemy came to D.C. Wednesday on a mission–not to fight the power, but rather to use the band's influence to fight youth homelessness in the District and the rest of the country. The evening began at the Sasha Bruce House, where Chuck D, Flavor Flav and the rest of the iconic hip-hop group toured the facility and hosted a pre-Thanksgiving dinner for more than 30 homeless youths.

Following the dinner, the members of Public Enemy took to the streets themselves, playing a few of their hits on the back of a flatbed truck as it made its way through George Washington University's campus en route to Lisner Auditorium, where the band was scheduled to put on a charity-driven concert (all ticket proceeds went directly to the Sasha Bruce House).

While the show itself was an opportunity for the band to showcase its legendary performances, it was clear from the onset that the evening's goal was to put a spotlight on National Homeless Youth Awareness month. Flavor Flav, never the shy one with a mic in hand, continuously urged those gathered outside Lisner to purchase a ticket and support the cause.

Presented By:

2009-11-19T10:14:49-05:00

Morning Roundup: Deals and Steals Edition

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-19T09:51:26-05:00

Photo by M.V. Jantzen

Good morning, D.C. With Thanksgiving now just a week away, the local media are breaking out the chestnuts: yep, you guessed it, it's time to start panicking about holiday travel. The first thing you do when you want to freak out about getting home for Thanksgiving is call the AAA spokesperson. That guy is always going to give you a great, terrifying quote about how bad traffic is gonna be this year. So after checking all the local news outlets on this one, what are we to conclude? Traveling next week is going to be annoying, just like every year. But if you're interested in the specific predictions, it looks like train and automobile travel might be up slightly over last year, while air travel may go down a bit. Good luck to you all!

Day Two of the 'Vince Gray Under Fire' Show: Let's see how the D.C. Council Chair is handling himself in the wake of the multiple allegations he faced on Wednesday. First, it looks like being somewhat contrite about his use of Council stationary to raise funds for the local Democratic party has paid off: the Washington Post declined to follow up on its story about Gray's letter to Comcast today (the Examiner does offer a second day wrap-up story of their own, though.)

But Gray has no such luck with the Washington Times, in which Jeffrey Anderson follows up on his original story this morning to report that even a spokesperson for developer William C. Smith & Co. has to admit that the company "would not ordinarily provide construction management services for minor repairs" of the sort they did for Gray. And while Gray insisted on News Channel 8's NewsTalk on Wednesday that the work was merely incidental to a larger architectural development project, the same Smith & Co. spokesperson cast some doubt on that claim, in addition to agreeing that even if that were the case, the work done on Gray's house was still unusual for them. Now, much to his credit, Gray did offer up the actual invoices to the press, which Mike DeBonis has posted on City Desk for your perusal. Does it seem like Gray got a deal?

Anti-Gay Marriage Group Files Suit: Totally expected, but Bishop Harry Jackson and conservative legal outfit Alliance Defense Fund have gone ahead and filed a lawsuit in D.C. Superior Court to try to force a ballot measure on same-sex marriage, as the Post reports. "In the 15-page filing, Jackson and his seven co-petitioners argue that the city's ordinances gives residents the same lawmaking power as the council, except for appropriations." Tellingly, the end of the Post story focuses on how even conservative members of Congress like Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Ut.) have to admit they aren't likely going to be able to stop D.C. from legalizing gay marriage.

Briefly Noted: Metro seeks OK for trip already under way ... Pedestrian fatally struck in Silver Spring ... Computer glitch causes East Coast flight delays ... Commercial real estate vacancy rates continue to look grim.

This Day in DCist: Last year, we offered up our recipe for deep fried pumpkin pies, and the year before that, we got our first look at Office of Tax and Revenue embezzler Harriette Walters.

Go Home Already: Between the Lines

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-18T19:15:32-05:00

Photo by owash

D.C. Council Chair Vincent Gray appeared on News Channel 8's NewsTalk with Bruce DePuyt this afternoon to respond to some of the ethics questions raised in two different news stories today.
Voting rights activist Nikolas Schiller got asked to remove his tri-cornered hat, part of his standard Colonial costume garb at pro-D.C. events, at today's Congressional hearing on District autonomy, WAMU reports.
Via We Love DC, looks like Top Chef's Richard Blais plans to bring his Flip Burger concept to D.C.'s Chinatown.
More bike lane news: 5th Street NW is getting a new bike lane between the 1100 and 1700 blocks, via CCCA.
First Lady Michelle Obama was at Alexandria's Hollin Meadows Elementary today to tour the school's vegetable garden, WTTG/FOX5 reports.
Chico Harlan, who famously told Washingtonian magazine that he hates sports, is stepping down from the Washington Post's Nationals beat in order to cover ... anything else, apparently. So the Post is looking for a new Nats writer, and Fishbowl DC has the memo.

Meet Former Blade Staffers Tonight @ Hard Rock Cafe

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-18T16:42:05-05:00

The folks who were all abruptly laid off from the Washington Blade earlier this week are meeting tonight from 6-8 p.m. at the Hard Rock Cafe (11th and E Streets NW), where they hope to greet loyal readers and/or potential investors & volunteers who want to help them get a brand new newspaper off the ground. Read more about what they're up to at SavetheBlade.com, and stop by to join them for a drink tonight. The former Blade staffers changed the name of their Twitter feed today to @DCAgenda, so it looks like they might already have an official name for the new venture at this point.

First Look: The Passenger

Jamie R. Liu — 2009-11-18T15:40:22-05:00

]]>

A bar patron's ability to develop a relationship with his bartender will invariably dictate a better imbibing experience, whether it's at a fancy cocktail place or the local dive bar. That is perhaps what makes the name of the much anticipated new bar from brothers Tom and Derek Brown, The Passenger, particularly apt. Going back to a time when travel wasn't about being corralled through metal detectors like cattle, The Passenger, which opens tonight at 5 p.m., is trying to put some first class luxury and leisure in your drinking journey. This is apparent throughout the decor, which features church pews, intricate wrought iron tables, and the building's original floors.

This is not a race to the finish with a simple two-ingredient gin and tonic or rum and coke. The expectation (though who knows what it will be like when the joint is actually busy) is for you to relax and have a complex cocktail that is crafted to your specifications. This experience will also extend to the back, the Columbia Room, a separate reservations-only 20-seat bar that will be served by Derek Brown. It is still undergoing construction, with the hope that it will open sometime in January. The private room is meant to ensure an unhurried evening that isn't necessarily guaranteed in the main bar.

There is no cocktail menu at the Passenger, so when ordering one, you'll be asked to specify a base liquor and further detail on whether you like a drier or sweeter drink. This is the part where it's important to develop that relationship with your bartender and have a real conversation. It will enable you the opportunity to learn more about what you prefer, and to learn about new things. You may discover that you like vermouth; the dry, rouge and blanc Dolin vermouths are highly quaffable on their own.

For non-cocktail lovers, there is a solid list of wines and beers (four on draft plus an eclectic offering of cans). If you come hungry, food is simple: olives, roasted almonds, beef jerky, and Route 11 chips are available for the slightly peckish, and if you want something a bit more substantial, there are paninis, half smokes and kimchi dogs (take care on that last one, it's spicy acidity isn't for everyone). Both the dogs and jerky come from Nathan Anda's Red Apron Charcuterie.

In addition to Tom Brown working the front bar, expect to see Bourbon Steak's Jamie McBain picking up a few shifts. Both have unique mixing styles and you may decide you prefer one to the other. But that really ensures there's something for everybody.

The Passenger
1021 7th St. NW
Washington, DC, 20001
(202) 393-0220

Metro: Mt. Vernon Square or Gallery Place/Chinatown
Mon - Thurs: 5 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.
Fri - Sat: 5 p.m. - 2:30 a.m.
Sun: 5 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.

About Tonight

Kaysha Gurell — 2009-11-18T15:15:13-05:00

Photo by billadler

MUSIC: One of the most important groups in hip-hop history, Public Enemy, will be at GW's Lisner Auditorium tonight. Tickets are $25 for the 8 p.m. show, but don't forget you can also catch Chuck D, Flavor Flav and the gang performing live on a moving flat-bed truck (map of the route here) starting at 7:45 p.m. Also, concert attendees who bring a new or lightly used coat to donate will be upgraded to VIP.

Fleet Foxes' singer J. Tillman performs solo tonight along with the like-mindedPearly Gate Music at the 9:30 Club. $15, 6 p.m.

Béla Fleck & The Flecktones perform at Strathmore tonight, featuring Victor Lemonte Wooten, Futureman and Howard Levy, 8 p.m., $25-$58.

FOOD & DRINK: Le Beaujolais nouveau est arrivé! Among your young wine drinking options this evening is the Brightest Young Things Breathless Beaujolais Nouveau party at 1905, and of course the traditional Bistro du Coin blowout. Both parties will get started in the post-dinner hours and offer free wine at midnight.

ART: The Corcoran College of Art + Design's new student work is being showcased at the Renaissance M Street Hotel tonight, accompanied with a free wine and cheese tasting over hors d’oeuvres by Chef John Therres. Reception runs 6 - 8 p.m.

The D.C. Commission on Arts and Humanities pairs up with Long View Gallery for another installment of their successful Art Salon series. Starting tonight at 7 p.m., see Poetry in Motion, which pairs local poets with video artists. Free but RSVP to dccahevents[at]gmail.com.

Album Review: Zo! - ...just visiting too

W Jacarl Melton — 2009-11-18T14:50:44-05:00

Last year we ran a Three Stars feature on Silver Spring-based Zo!, aka Lorenzo Ferguson, and by all accounts, he hasn't had a slow moment since then. Zo! played a role in The Foreign Exchange's acclaimed Leave It All Behind album and has toured with the group extensively. Not to mention, he's been working on his own LP, SunStorm, which will be released early next year. In the meantime, Zo!'s laced us with a pre-Thanksgiving morsel in ...just visiting too, a free EP that's out this month.

...just visting too follows the mold set by its vinyl-only 2006 predecessor, ...just visiting: take classic tunes and polish them up a little. Included on the seven-track EP are covers of songs made famous by the likes of Bobby Caldwell, Quincy Jones and the Jones Girls. Leading off is D.C.'s own Yahzarah lending her vocal prowess to "Perfect Angel." Considering Minnie Ripperton probably had the most distinct and beautiful voice of her generation, Yahzarah does her darnedest to come close and does an admirable job. Zo! stays true to the Stevie Wonder composition, replicating almost every keyboard stroke and bass strum in this grown-up lullaby.

When a 19-year-old no-name calling himself Prince released his 1978 debut, For You, "Crazy You" wasn't even released as a single, but the simple ballad has found new life in later years. Zo! departs from the original recording by adding some soft piano/keyboard improv on a track that is otherwise dominated by acoustic guitar. Oh, and instead of Prince, Howard alumna Sy Smith fills the Purple One's high heels. Zo!'s take doesn't deviate from the airy-ness of the '78 version, but what made the original "Crazy You" unique was that it by contemporary standards, was stripped down to the bare minimum in terms of instrumentation. This update isn't as naked as its forerunner, it still manages to create the same feeling.

The standout recording is Darien Brockington's interpretation of the Isley Brothers' "The Highways Of My Life (Pts. 1 & 2)." D-Brock has been a rising star vocalist on Foreign Exchange's two albums and, once again, reminds us that he's one of the most underrated singers around. The interaction between Brockington and Zo!'s playing are perfectly complimentary. D-Brock effortlessly rolls down the musical road that's been constructed for him, stepping on the gas to get over the inclines and gliding down the dips. All the elements make the track an audio goody that can be enjoyed multiple times.

Even with so many fantastic voices gracing this album, Zo! is still the star. With the exception of "Highways," he plays every instrument, and managed to strike the right chord on ...just visiting too between paying homage to great musical arrangements of the past while creating enough space to create something that's his own. And in the process, he's likely to have a few people going back to give the original versions another, or maybe a first, listening.

Zo! will be the special guest at "Refuge" with DJ Stylus at Tabaq tonight. Free, 9 p.m.