DCist

Remember When Snow Was Fun?

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-09T16:25:02-05:00

As we spot the first flurries of this latest storm front, it's easy to get down in the dumps. The threat of more snow has long since become tedious, and we'd just like to be able to walk down a non-icy sidewalk like a normal person, thankyouverymuch. In a seeming effort to remind us all that snow is supposed to be fun, Columbia Heights residents Jordan Gantz and Nathan Golon [full disclosure: Jordan and I were roommates in the same group house about four years ago] have produced this beautifully shot little music video depicting the city during last weekend's storm. Allow me to warn you: the soundtrack, a moody Vampire Weekend song, may very well make this a little too emo for some tastes. So proceed with some caution if you lack that particular sweet tooth, and turn down the volume if necessary.

Washington, DC Snow Storm from Es Video! on Vimeo.

Help Food & Friends Deliver Meals in Storm's Aftermath

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-09T15:50:55-05:00

Excellent local non-profit Food & Friends, which delivers meals to area residents living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses, has issued a call for help ~~next~~ this week, as the snow storm has hampered its ability to deliver meals to its clients. If you have a reliable vehicle, especially one with 4-wheel drive, please consider getting in touch with them and volunteering. Their message is below, more details here.

On Thursday, February 11th, Food & Friends needs 20 volunteers to deliver meals, especially those with 4-wheel-drive vehicles. Those without cars would be very much appreciated in the kitchen, and it would be great if they could come between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Volunteers may sign up to chenderson@foodandfriends.org. This information is also available on our website at www.foodandfriends.org/winterstorm2010. Without Food & Friends, our clients likely will not eat, so the help of the community is vital. Meals may be picked up from Food & Friends (219 Riggs Road, NE/Washington, DC) between 10 a.m. and 12 a.m., we will provide detailed delivery directions, and routes should take no more than 3 hours. For more information, prospective volunteers may call 202.841.5347.

Storm Downgraded Slightly to 7 to 14 Inches

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-09T15:05:49-05:00

The National Weather Service has just downgraded our Winter Storm Warning slightly to something closer to 7 to 14 inches, with a mix of snow and sleet likely to start things out early this evening. Winds are expected to get up to between 25 to 35 mph, with gusts over 45 mph possible.

Orestes: A Tragic Romp Keeps the Audience Off Balance

Missy Frederick — 2010-02-09T14:50:50-05:00

Twyford and Sullivan in Orestes: A Tragic Romp.

When talking Greek tragedy, the first description to come to mind usually isn't "zany." But Folger Theater's production of Orestes: A Tragic Romp manages to blend unexpected humor and melodrama into a bizarrely innovative package.

Anne Washburn's adaptation of the Euripides tale doesn't worry too much about acting as a literal translation. She's too busy binding the story's trajectories, from the fallout from Orestes' murder of his mother to a hastily-conceived kidnapping and murder plot, into a fast-paced telling that wraps up in an unlikely happy ending. Those familiar with the ancient tale will recognize its core pieces and themes, but the story's sarcastic, abrupt tone is something new.

The offbeat production is guided by Aaron Posner, who has wisely cast Holly Twyford in the role of Electra. As the infamous daughter of Agamemnon, Twyford is a twitchy, sardonic presence, spilling with contempt for her now-slain mother and fiercely protective of Orestes (Jay Sullivan). Lending his artistry to a handful of divergent parts is Chris Genebach, as at home in drag for the role of a pale, haughty Helen of Troy as he is the noble Pylades (whose devotion to Orestes has a Sam-to-Frodo kind of feel to it).

No Greek tragedy is complete without its chorus, and the one assembled here is a dynamic force. Marissa Molnar, Margo Seibert, Rebecca Hart, Lauren Culpepper and Rachel Zampelli often speak in unison, yet with harmonic contrast between their voices. Their lithe movements and clanging, belted incantations help keep the story pulsing.

Orestes's secret lies in its ability to zip its audience along, often to unexpected places. We're unsurprisingly moved by Electra's woeful recounting of her father's betrayal, yet can be thrown off base in a moment by her sarcastic asides. Before long, we're swept up into an almost asinine escape plot that just might work ... and suddenly, Apollo shows up, and everything's coming up roses for our tragic trio. If you don't mind a few curveballs, you're ready to settle in for Orestes.

Orestes: A Tragic Romp runs through March 7 at Folger Theater. Tickets are available online.

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D.C. Has 2nd Highest Snowfall of Any U.S. City This Season

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-09T14:29:35-05:00

We're coming for you next, Syracuse!

Chart from goldensnowglobe.com.

Is This Officially a Lost Week?

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-09T13:42:24-05:00

Photo by andertho

With the federal government still closed today and fresh flakes set to start falling any time now, it's looking increasingly like many area residents will end up with an entire week off. Politico is reporting that the House of Representatives has just canceled all votes for the remainder of the week. The Senate is still soldiering on for now, but we wouldn't be surprised if that changed later today.

The Office of Personnel Management will continue to make its decisions on a daily basis, as will most school districts, but we're having a hard time imagining much being able to reopen before the weekend. Tonight's snowstorm isn't expected to end until late in the day on Wednesday, not leaving much time for residents to dig back out again until well into Thursday. And with so much snow already on the ground, it's not hard to imagine many main roads still won't be passable on Friday morning. It all depends on the severity of tonight's storm.

Snow Emergency to Resume at 4 p.m.

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-09T13:03:37-05:00

Photo by The Skipping Hippy

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty announced at a press conference earlier this morning that a snow emergency will go into effect in the District at 4 p.m. this afternoon. As you've all learned by now, a snow emergency means that vehicles parked along snow emergency routes (download a list of those routes) will be ticketed and/or towed, and that taxi drivers are allowed to charge an extra 25 percent above normal rates.

Do make sure your car is moved off of snow emergency routes before 4 p.m.

The news comes just as WTOP is reporting some disconcerting news: apparently a full 25 percent of the District's snow plows have broken down in one way or another over the past week, and the city is having trouble getting replacement parts. That's really bad news. We're also staring down the possibility of a serious salt shortage, though more salt is reportedly on its way to the city.

Photo of the Day: February 9, 2010

James Calder — 2010-02-09T12:25:53-05:00

Considering the general theme of the DCist Flickr pool these days, it was hard to resist the temptation to change the title of our daily pic pick to Snowto of the Day. But this epic scene, shot by gdudg in front of the imposing World Bank building, inspired us to stay classy. (EXIF)

USPS Doing its Best to Deliver Despite Heavy Snow

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-09T12:01:44-05:00

Photo by Dan_DC

The U.S. Postal Service resumed mail delivery in the D.C. metro area on Monday, managing to deliver to approximately 80 percent of customers, USPS spokesperson Deborah Yackley said. Regular mail delivery was suspended on Saturday due to the snowstorm.

Staffing and access issues accounted for the cases where mail was not delivered on Monday, and some of those problems continue today. On Monday, local USPS was operating with only 70 percent of its usual staff, as some workers were unable to report to work due to travel conditions, Yackley said. Six retail post office locations were closed Monday due to the staff shortage. Most retail units are open today, with the exception of those located inside federal government buildings and the Northwest and Randle stations.

If you didn't get mail yesterday, it may also have been because your letter carrier simply couldn't safely reach your house. If mailboxes are completely blocked off by snow or conditions appear to be dangerous, letter carriers are instructed not to deliver.

Presented By:

2010-02-09T12:01:44-05:00

D.C. Launches Government Accountability Web Site

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-09T11:25:38-05:00

While you're waiting out the next round of snow, take some time to check out TrackDC, a brand new government accountability web site launched by the District on Monday. It's being billed as a place to find "numerous reports and datasets that allow site visitors to track government performance." DCist hasn't had a lot of time to sift through the data yet, but Clay Johnson at the Sunlight Foundation is very impressed.

Both substance wise and technically, it out-atheletes the White House's Open Government dashboard.

A uniform interface for every agency allows visitors to see in-depth statistics about the agency. Per-agency, context specific performance indicators, and whether or not they're being met are there. How context-specific? On the Department of Transportation's dashboard, we can see that 97.1% of reported potholes are filled within 48 hours. That 55% of sidewalks are in good or excellent condition, and that the stat for "Cost Per Mile of Street Repaving" is N/A, giving the agency a little warning flag.

Looks like this could be a great resource for local gov watchdogs. We'll certainly be fiddling around with it this week.

Snowmageddon from Space

Heather Goss — 2010-02-09T10:50:55-05:00

NASA image courtesy MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC

After seeing this incredible image in December, we kept our eyes peeled for photography from NASA's Earth Observatory of last weekend's snowstorm, and weren't disappointed. The Terra satellite, which just celebrated ten years in space recording climate change, took this image on Sunday with the onboard Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). The snow really highlights the topography around the Appalachian Mountains. NASA has been working models of today's coming storm to compile a projection of what the region will look like tomorrow, seen here. It's nice to know we're doing our part in the Mid-Atlantic to provide lots of data for NASA's Natural Disasters page.

This Week In Hip-Hop

W Jacarl Melton — 2010-02-09T10:32:33-05:00

Tuesday:
>> "The Beat Clash" this week at Bohemian Caverns will feature the talents of Rock Mikey, Gordo Brega, T.E.F.L.O.N., Madam Madon, Tae Barz, Yung Reek and DJ Monae. $10, 9 p.m.

Thursday:
>> Making their second D.C. appearance in the past several months, Atlanta's Goodie Mob will be at the 9:30 Club with B.o.B. $27.50, 7 p.m.

>> With 30 years in the business under her belt, Angie Stone has had a diverse career but is best known as a vocalist whose sound hearkens back to the 1970s. She'll be performing at the Birchmere. $59.50, 7:30 p.m.

>> There's no need for an introduction because Al Green is a soul legend. He'll be joined at Constitution Hall tonight and Friday by more legends, The Whispers. $70 (Thursday)/$75 (Friday), 8 p.m.

Friday:
>> They aren't top billing for the show but it's worth noting that northern California duo Zion I will be at the 9:30 Club along with headliner Rebelution and Jah Works. $17.50, 7 p.m.

>> Along with Masters at Work partner Kenny Dope, Grammy-winner Louie Vega (pictured) has become one of the most highly regarded house music producers of all-time. He'll bring his Afro-Latin influenced sounds and musical selections to Liv in support of the release of his wife Anané's new album, Ananéworld. $20-$25 in advance, 9 p.m.

Saturday:
>> DJ Eurok will hold court at Eighteenth Street Lounge for the evening. $TBA, 9:30 p.m.

>> Single folks know Valentine's Day Weekend isn't friendly to their lot. So, why not hang out with other people of your ilk? Tabaq will be the venue for the Suite 202 Sessions where the uncoupled can gather and get to meet other people of their status. DJs Jahsonic, Stylus and Phaze will provide the sounds for the occasion. Free but RSVP, 10 p.m.

Sunday:
>> Vinyl lovers have something to celebrate on Valentine's Day. The D.C. Record Fair will take up shop at the Black Cat with special DJ sets by Bluebrain, Geologist, Kid Congo Powers, Eric Hilton, Ian MacKaye and Rob. $2, 12-6 p.m.

>> Probably best known for her hit "I Know," Dionne Farris will be taking part in a celebration and viewing of the 1997 film, Love Jones, which featured her song, "Hopeless." The performance and viewing takes place at Liv. $15 in advance, 3 p.m.

>> For all the lovers, Constitution Hall will host Lalah Hathaway, Rahsaan Patterson, Three Star alumna Wayna and Gordon Chambers for a night of solid R&B. $65, 7 p.m.

>> Married couple and R&B group Kindred the Family Soul are probably a fitting close to this day. They'll be at Bravo! Bravo! along with Be'la Dona and The All Star Project featuring Earl Vincent. $45-$55 in advance, 8 p.m.

>> DJs Nitekrawler, Jay Malls and Jason Perlmutter show love for soul 45s for "Dynamite" at Jimmy Valentine's Lonely Hearts Club. The trio will celebrate the D.C. Record Fair's wrap up with a strictly vinyl set. Free, 10 p.m.

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Passengers Evacuated at Smithsonian Metro

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-09T09:45:42-05:00

Photo by katieharbath

A six-car Blue Line train made contact with a communications wire that was hanging from the track bed as it came into the Smithsonian Metro station earlier this morning, forcing the evacuation of passengers from the train, Metro spokesperson Ron Holzer said.

The incident caused smoke conditions inside the station, but no fire. The D.C. Fire/EMS department was on the scene assisting with evacuation procedures, and power to the train was cut as a safety precaution. No injuries have been reported.

Expect further delays in the area on both the Blue and Orange Lines for the time being, as Metro will be single tracking trains between Federal Center and Federal Triangle until the incident is cleared.

Morning Roundup: Say it Ain't Snow Edition

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-09T09:10:18-05:00

Photo by Schiek

Good morning, Washington. First things first, an update to last night's limited Metro service announcement: since we posted that first batch of information late Monday, WMATA has managed to clear 10 additional above-ground stations, and the entire length of the Red Line is now operational. That leaves only the Blue Line that is operating a partial route, from Franconia-Springfield to Stadium-Armory. The planned frequency of trains has also improved somewhat, with the transit agency now predicting 20-minute intervals and maximum speeds of 35 miles per hour.

Now we'll just have to wait and see if eight more inches of snow accumulate today and tomorrow. That's still looking likely, with 10 to 20 inches predicted starting sometime in the mid-afternoon today.

Bad News of the Non-Snow Variety: Mayor Adrian Fenty has ordered about $100 million slashed from the city's budget, the Examiner reports. "The D.C. Public Schools, Child and Family Services Agency, Metropolitan Police Department, and Fire and Emergency Medical Services were spared, but most other agencies were hit hard." The move comes on the heels of recent projections of $200 million in "spending pressures," which is mostly made up of overtime expenses, but now certainly includes unexpected snow removal costs. OK, so maybe this wasn't totally non-snow related.

Yeah, Don't Run a Generator Inside Your House: Some solid advice from the Washington Post this morning: did you know that running a portable generator inside your house could easily kill you? Well hopefully you did, but we can't say the same for the families featured in this piece, who were trying to wait out the region's ongoing power outages but instead gave themselves rather serious cases of carbon monoxide poisoning. If you or someone you know still doesn't have power before today's storm starts, just make sure they find some other shelter, and leave the generators be.

Briefly Noted: Thousands still without power ... Some grocery store shelves already empty ahead of the next storm ... GSA set to announce new federal cafeteria contracts ... McDonnell directing more education money to N.Va..

This Day in DCist: Last year, prosecutors were once again seeking jail time for Marion Barry.

Limited Metrorail Service Tuesday Will Include Some, But Not All, Above Ground Stations

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-08T19:59:20-05:00

And here's the word from WMATA: limited Metrorail service will see the Yellow, Green and Orange Lines back to full service on Tuesday, while the Red and Blue Lines will remain at partial service.

The Red Line will travel in two sections, from Medical Center to Union Station and Glenmont to Forest Glen, and the Blue Line will be only between Franconia-Springfield and Stadium-Armory. That leaves a total of 15 stations that will remain closed Tuesday.

The rail system will open at its regular 5 a.m. start time, with a combination of six- and eight-car trains that will operate at 30-minute intervals and travel at maximum speeds of 35 miles per hour.

Limited Metrobus service will start at 5 a.m. Check the full list of Metrobuses running on Tuesday below the jump.

MetroAccess will operate between 8 a.m. and noon Tuesday only for customers traveling to crucial medical appointments, like for chemotherapy or dialysis.

Of course, all of this slightly increased service may come to crashing halt relatively quickly on Tuesday night as the next round of snow accumulates.

Metrobus Routes for Tuesday, Feb. 9

District of Columbia
31 (Friendship Heights to Foggy Bottom-GWU)
32 and 36 (Friendship Heights to Potomac Ave)
34 (Archives to Branch Ave)
52 and 54 (From 14th Street and Colorado Ave to L'Enfant Plaza)
64 (Fort Totten to Georgia Ave-Petworth)
70 (Silver Spring to Canal and P Street, SW)
71 (Silver Spring to Archives) will terminate at Canal and P Street, SW
79 (Silver Spring to Archives)
80 (Fort Totten to Gallery Pl-Chinatown)
82 (Rhode Island Ave to Gallery Pl-Chinatown)
P6 (Anacostia to Eckington)
S4 (Silver Spring to Federal Triangle)
U8 (Capitol Heights to Benning Heights)
X2 (Minnesota Ave to Union Station)
V7 line (Deanwood to Potomac Ave)

Maryland
J2 (Bethesda to Silver Spring)
P12 (Eastover to Addison Road), bypassing United Medical Center
Q2 (Silver Spring to Wheaton)
Y5, Y7 and Y8 (Wheaton to Liesure World)
Z8 and Z9 (Silver Spring to Briggs Chaney Road Park and Ride

Virginia
1C (Fair Oaks to Dunn Loring)
2C (Washington Boulevard to Vienna)
16 line (Pentagon to Baileys Crossroads)
28A (Alexandria to Tysons Corner), bypassing Seven Corners and Southern Towers

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Federal Govt. Closed Tuesday

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-08T19:06:08-05:00

That's the official word from OPM as of 7 p.m. tonight. Still waiting on word from WMATA.

Snowmaggedon 1.0 in Time Lapse

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-08T18:15:59-05:00

That poor little teddy bear didn't stand a chance.

D.C. Public Schools Will Be Closed Tuesday

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-08T17:38:15-05:00

No flip-flopping this time! With another serious snow storm bearing down on the city, D.C. Public Schools have gone ahead and canceled school for Tuesday.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2010: All DC Public Schools will be closed. All administrative offices will open on time.

Also closed Tuesday: Montgomery County Schools, Prince George's County Schools, Fairfax County Schools, and Arlington Public Schools.

And Now, 10-20 Inches

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-08T17:23:59-05:00

It's been upgraded to a Warning, kiddos, and it's 10 to 20 inches starting at noon on Tuesday. Heaven help us.

Weekly Music Agenda

Valerie Paschall — 2010-02-08T16:22:50-05:00

MONDAY

>> DCist is hearing about shows being canceled left and right. Now we also have word of a rescheduled show. Hip-hop and funk powerhouse Galactic’s Saturday show at the 9:30 Club has been moved to tonight. All tickets bought for that date will be honored. 7 p.m. $25.

>> Galaxy Hut was open for pretty much the duration of the snowstorm, so local outfit Hey Arbore ought to be playing there as planned tonight. Whether the Jews & Catholics from North Carolina will make it is anyone’s guess. 9 p.m. $5.

>> Clarendon seems to be ground zero for any sort of musical event happening tonight. Three Stars and Unbuckled alums Deleted Scenes will be playing at Iota with Oblio. 8:30 p.m. $10.

TUESDAY

>> Phish bandleader and Andrew Wiseman look-a-like Trey Anastasio has already sold out the 9:30 Club show on Tuesday. Being from Vermont, he’ll at least know what to do in the looming snowstorm. 7 p.m. Consult Craig.

>> Local singer-songwriter Andy Zipf (whom DCist interviewed way back when) will be stopping by the Black Cat. 8:30 p.m. $10.

>> Brooklyn-based folk outfit Inlets will be joining the locals in City Folk at DC9 for an acoustic guitar–filled evening. 8:30 p.m. $8.

WEDNESDAY

>> If “Ladies Night” connoted awesome women musicians rather than trashy drink specials, I’d dare say it'd be an event like the party that the Black Cat's throwing. Park The Van Records’s Pepi Ginsberg will be joined by the always upbeat Olivia Mancini and Velocity Girl’s heir apparent, Pash. Note about Three Stars alums Pash: this will be their final show, since lead singer Merideth Munoz is leaving DC. Boo. 8:30 p.m. $10.

>> Now for the sold-out show portion of our Weekly Music Agenda. British pop duo La Roux who takes their cues as much from sleek and sexy 80s pop as from electronic sources. They'll be at the 9:30 Club. 7 p.m. Surely Craig has something.

>> San Diego footstompers and hootenanny starters in the Delta Spirit sold out DC9, but don’t worry: If Craigslist searches come up empty, know that they play herehere approximately every month. 9 p.m. Sold out.

Photo by Shervin Lainez

THURSDAY

>> Soulful siren Angie Stone can fill a room with her pipes and she’ll be doing so at the Birchmere 7:30 p.m. $59.50

>> Do blues legends B.B. King & Buddy Guy really need an introduction? Methinks not. They are playing at DAR Constitution Hall. 8 p.m. $70.

>> For an act that gained notoriety for being reclusive and never touring, theCapstan Shafts are sure making up for lost time. This is the second time that Pollard-esque songwriter Dean Wells and his hired guns will hit the District in as many months (with a third date coming up in March.) This time, he’ll be at the Velvet Lounge. 9 p.m. $8. 21+.

>> Three Stars alums Title Tracks will be celebrating the release of their first LP, It Was Easy, at Black Cat. They'll be joined by Gary B & The Notions and spazzy Hardly Art signees Pretty & Nice who seem to be on a mission to play with every touring band in DC. 8 p.m. $10.

>> The original members of Goodie Mob (yes, Cee-lo, T-Mo, Big Gipp and Khujo) will be reuniting for a night at the 9:30 Club. Don’t even pretend like you’re not excited. 7 p.m. $27.50

FRIDAY

>> The legendary Al Green will be spending the first of two nights at DAR Constitution Hall. 8 p.m. $70.

>> The second legend hitting DC this weekend is Wanda Jackson. The rock pioneer (who was also romantically linked to Elvis Presley) will be at the Black Cat. 9 p.m. $20.

>> Our vote for most intriguing show of the night goes to 2 Skinnee J’s, who sill be playing an acoustic set (!) at, wait for it, the Birchmere. The band that built up cult-like notoriety for their bizarre costumes, dueling literate and quirky MC’s, and plentiful use of the keytar will be doing a rare acoustic "Tell All Brawl" including Q&A. Should be interesting. 7:30 p.m. $25.

SATURDAY

>> Like a more emotive and less feedback-drenched version of their countrymen in The Twilight Sad, Scotland's We Were Promised Jetpacks will bring the intensity to the Rock and Roll Hotel. Typefighter and Bad Veins will be opening. 9:30 p.m. $12 in advance, $14 day of show.

>>Second Saturdays at the Black Cat will play host to a couple of lesser-known-but-still-fantastic bands, Suns of Guns and Dark Sea Dream. 8 p.m. $8.

SUNDAY

>> Nearly every venue in the city is playing host to The Next Big Thing, in which young punks will get to show why they're worth moving from "up-and-coming" to "established." DC9, Rock and Roll Hotel and the 9:30 Club will open at 11 a.m. and even the Velvet Lounge will briefly be all-ages when it opens its doors at 1 p.m. $15 everywhere.

>> We Fought the Big One will be continuing its series which brings post-punk, experimental and generally interesting acts to the Velvet Lounge. This time around, they'll be hosting The Beets, Beach Fossil, and Christmas Island. 9 p.m. $8.

>> Okay, so, it’s not technically a show, but just look at who the Record Fair at the Black Cat is bringing into DJ this Valentine's Day vinyl lovefest:

12–1 p.m.: Bluebrain
1–2 p.m.: Geologist (from Animal Collective)
2–3 p.m.: Kid Congo Powers (from The Cramps and The Gun Club)
3–4 p.m.: Eric Hilton (from Thievery Corporation)
4–5 p.m.: Ian MacKaye (like you don't know who he is)
5–6 p.m.: Rob Pierangeli (from Casper Bangs)
Holy crap. The folks at Som Records, DC Soul Recordings and The Vinyl District deserve extra chocolate this year.

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Rep. John Murtha Dies at 77

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-08T15:38:47-05:00

Our thoughts are with the family, friends, staff and colleagues of Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), who passed away today at Virginia Hospital Center after suffering complications from gallbladder surgery. He was 77.

Murtha was a decorated Vietnam War veteran who rose to prominence in Congress by earning a reputation as the "King of Pork," a nickname bestowed upon him due to his ability to expertly funnel earmarks to his home district. More recently, Murtha became a crucial symbol of the antiwar movement when the well-known hawk announced he was in favor of withdrawing troops from Iraq in 2005.

Why Caps Fans Are Happy

Elisabeth Meinecke — 2010-02-08T15:14:20-05:00

Right now, your average Capitals fans is as happy as a lobbyist with a wad of cash to spend. Their team is riding the best winning streak in franchise history. Alex Ovechkin is crashing every NHL goalie's party and leading the league in goals, points, and plus-minus, with his teammates cracking the top five in two of those categories.

You can connect the dots back to when owner Ted Leonsis, then a 28-year-old millionaire, was sitting on a plane and told it may crash in 35 minutes. He made a list of 101 things he would do to find happiness if he got off the plane alive. One of them was own a sports franchise.

Leonsis retells the story of his day of reckoning in his new book, The Business of Happiness, in which he lays out the principles he's followed to success, and, well, happiness. Even though the book isn't about the Caps per se (though they inevitably come up), it's a good place to start if you're curious about the psyche behind one of the most successful sports franchises in recent D.C. history.

"When you write a book, you put yourself out there," Leonsis told DCist during a recent interview. He said his daughter told him after reading it, "It really is you, and there's so many sentences and concepts and words I've heard from you a million times."

Like so much in Leonsis' life, the plan for happiness he's applied to building the Caps franchise (which he talks about in the book) has proved to have the Midas touch, down to rebuilding relations with the AHL affiliate Hershey Bears, whose success right now is perhaps the only thing showing the Caps up.

"On the happiness side, this has been very conscious," Leonsis said. "That's why I felt confident to write the book. The success of the Washington Capitals does not come from just luck ... there really was a plan that was articulated before it happened."

And the more you read about Leonsis' ideas of how to find happiness and how those make you successful, the more you realize how perfect Alex Ovechkin is for an owner who believes in giving back and building a community.

When you mention this to Leonsis, he reflects back to before the Great 8 had ever skated a shift for the Capitals: the day they drafted him.

"We had a little party, and we told all our draft picks to be there at 5 o'clock," Leonsis said. "And he showed up there at 4:45 and he greeted people at the door, with a big smile on his face, eating cantaloupes like you couldn't believe, and he just was inhaling life.

"I remember talking to (General Manager) George McPhee, and I said, 'If this kid can play up to half of his charisma and the way he approaches things, we're going to have one of the greatest players ever.'"

Of course, with a thriving roster and franchise comes a colorful fan base. So when Leonsis sees fans like the Capstronaut and invites said fan to the owner's box, does that invitation come from Leonsis' sense of community?

"Yeah -- it also came from my sense of, 'Who is this guy?'" Leonsis chuckled. "Certainly, it gave him a little bit more legitimacy."

Though Leonsis is easily one of the most accessible owners in pro sports (does Dan Snyder even know what a blog is?), he actually expects his more public persona with the team to fade as the Caps continue building their success.

"For the most part, owners should be in the background," Leonsis said. "The more successful we've gotten, the more I've retreated into the background. All the accolades should go to the players, to the coach, to the general manager."

In the meantime, you'll find Leonsis on the book circuit. He'll read from and sign copies of The Business of Happiness at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue on Feb. 24.

(Full disclosure: In addition to being a DCist sports contributor, Elisabeth Meinecke is a news producer at humanevents.com, which is owned by Eagle Publishing. Eagle Publishing also owns Regnery Press, the publisher of The Business of Happiness).

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Sweet Metrorail Slideshow

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-08T14:45:36-05:00

Apart from obsessing about snow, we've lost a good chunk of time today playing with David Alpert's neato slideshow depicting the evolution of the Metrorail system over time. Mr. Greater Greater Washington was clearly keeping busy during the Snowmaggedon, and if you're even remotely geeky about transit, you should check it out.

Don't fail to take note of the "future" maps at the end, which depict possible major service cuts looming as WMATA gears up to confront a $189 million budget shortfall for FY2011. Watch as the Yellow Line extension disappears on weekdays, then the Yellow Line itself nearly altogether on weekends.

The slideshow appears at the same time that the Coalition for Smarter Growth is pushing an online petition urging elected officials to fully fund the Metro system.

Updated Forecast: In Excess of 8" of Snow, Plus Wind

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-08T13:40:09-05:00

Photo by Cycle the Ghost Round

Dear readers, I know you want us to quit telling you how it's never gonna stop snowing, but we can't control the National Weather Service (or the weather). The latest Winter Storm Watch is calling for a potential of more than 8 inches of snow, with "a good likelihood" of more than 10 inches. The timing is still roughly the same: it'll start sometime Tuesday afternoon and continue through Wednesday afternoon.

The worst part? As Capital Weather Gang writes, "Though this storm will not have the same amount of moisture as Snowmageddon, models suggest a deeper storm (i.e. more intense meteorologically) which will pose a significant risk of high winds and additional power outages." Charming.

In case you missed me on Kojo just now, both Pepco President Thomas Graham and Dominion Virginia Power's Joe Woomer told us they are hard at work restoring power, but it won't all be fixed by tonight, meaning some residents could well be in store for several more days of outages if this turns out to be bad. Not to mention, this increased accumulation prediction puts us right in the crosshairs of WMATA's policy of keeping trains limited to underground stations once snow levels reach above 8 inches. The transit system could well end up just getting full service back before they have to shut 'er down again.

Stay tuned.

Photo of the Day: February 8, 2010

Meaghan Gay — 2010-02-08T12:45:26-05:00

Wow! Our contributing photographers are amazing. They have been out all weekend taking photos of the snomgasm, and our flickr pool is full of great shots. They are more reliable in poor weather than the Post Office! Take this photo from Nivad for example, he has risked life, limb, and camera to get a great shot of the Dupont Circle snowball fight. Great work photogs, now if I could only get you all to come shovel my street...

Presented By:

2010-02-08T12:45:26-05:00

Listen to DCist on WAMU at Noon

Heather Goss — 2010-02-08T11:30:55-05:00

Our intrepid Editor-in-Chief, Sommer Mathis, is making her way from DCist HQ up to Tenleytown right now to sit down with Kojo Nnamdi at noon today. They'll discuss the "digging out" efforts going on around town to recover from the weekend's snow dump and how to prepare for the additional five inches we'll be getting Tuesday. She'll be joined by DDOT Director Gabe Klein, Pepco President Thomas Graham, and Isiah Leggett from Montgomery County. Tune into 88.5 FM or listen online.

There's Politics Even in Snow Removal, It Seems

Martin Austermuhle — 2010-02-08T11:10:55-05:00

Mayor Adrian Fenty's cleared street in Crestwood

It's an awkward truism of urban politics that a snowstorm can be the undoing of an elected official. Take too long to get the snowed cleared off the roads -- like Marion Barry in 1987 when the city struggled for a week after a snowstorm, which he missed because he was in California at the Super Bowl -- and you're an out-of-touch executive leading an inefficient government. Respond quickly -- like Mayor Adrian Fenty was credited for doing after the December ~~2010~~ 2009 storm -- and people will applaud.

Of course, not everyone is equally happy or angry after a big storm. Some neighborhood streets gets cleared before others, and for those who live on uncleared streets, there's often a nefarious reason that they've been ignored. After December's storm, District resident Denise Wiktor wrote to the bi-weekly online newsletter themail to air her grievances with what she saw as a plowing and salting operation that prioritized based on income instead of need. "The disparity between how the rich and rest of us are treated by DPW is obvious," she wrote, citing a comparison between streets in Mt. Pleasant and Georgetown.

Yesterday, Michael Cover, a resident of the Crestwood neighborhood -- home to Mayor Fenty -- wrote an email to his local listserv abour road-clearing. Titled "Why am I not surprised?", he wrote, "that the street in front of the mayor's house is clear down to the pavement while mine (and most of Crestwood) has not seen a plow or salt since yesterday morning." An attached picture showed a nicely cleared residential road, an anomaly that appeared soon after the storm had ended.

Given that the majority of the District's residents don't personally like Fenty and that he's regularly accused of being aloof and arrogant, the image would seem to provide evidence of the city's chief executive using public resources for his own convenience. And in the scheme of urban snow-removal poiticking, that's bad. But a fellow neighbor saw differently, responding, "Since the Mayor is our elected leader, elected to take care of city problems, it seems reasonable to enable him to move about freely."

I'd have to agree. I spent plenty of time over the weekend watching local news, and it seemed like Fenty was at every snow-related press conference he could find. It's amusing that we've grown to expect that our mayor be out and about as storms hit, as if he's actually manning a front-end loader or sprinkling salt on your sidewalk. There's apparently a measure of confidence in seeing the District's mayor "on top" of things, even if that only means that he's out there telling TV cameras that every snowplow the city has in working order are on city streets.

How have you seen snow removal operations proceeding? On a bike ride around the city yesterday, I was surprised to see good progress on main arteries, even though many neighborhood streets remained untouched. That being said, a convoy of plows treated Kenyon Street in Mt. Pleasant on Saturday morning, and I generally saw plows out and about over the course of the weekend. How's your neighborhood faring? Does Fenty get a thumbs up or a thumbs down, or is it too early to tell?

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Poll: How Did You Travel Today?

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-08T10:23:24-05:00

For those of you who managed to get into work today, we're curious, what was your mode of transportation? And if it differed significantly from your usual method, feel free to note the relevant switch in the comments.

If you went to work this morning, how did you get there?(online surveys)

Cashing in on the Snowmaggedon

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-08T10:08:50-05:00

At least one local entrepreneur is trying to make some money off of this weekend's record snow fall. A commemorative "I survived Snowmaggedon '10" T-shirt can be yours for only $24!

Before you protest the exorbitant price, we duly note that the seller promises a portion of every sale will be donated to SOME (So Others Might Eat), a worthy local non-profit.

The shirts come in blue, and are available in a full array of adult and youth sizes.

Are these the new uniforms for D.C.'s upstart snowball fight league?

Another Winter Storm Watch for Tuesday & Wednesday

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-08T09:45:23-05:00

Photo by jim_malone

Mother Nature thinks we are bad people. That's the only justification we can think of for the latest from the National Weather Service: a Winter Storm Watch is in effect starting Tuesday afternoon through to Wednesday afternoon.

So far, this newest storm is only threatening to drop about five inches of snow on us, though as we've all learned by now, these predictions are subject to change. It's amusing to think that during any other winter in recent memory, the threat of five inches would have sent the region into a panic all by itself. This year? We laugh at your five inches.

Still, any additional accumulation on top of what we're already dealing with is going to take a heavy toll on the metro area no matter how you slice it. Jurisdictions are simply running out of places to put the stuff, and it's yet unclear whether roads that are still covered with an inch or two of packed ice will be able to get cleared down to the pavement before the next round starts.

Morning Roundup: After the Snowfall Edition

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-08T09:05:02-05:00

Photo by cmoaknd

Good morning, Washington. If you're reading this at your desk this morning, count yourself among the sorry souls who still had to report to work today despite the thick layer of treacherous frozen water still coating the city. Even DCPS students got the day off today, and those poor kids never get weather-related breaks. Well, if you didn't end up getting a snow day today, don't fret. You'll get another chance tomorrow. Sigh.

Speaking of Tuesday's Forecast: Upon surveying current conditions and then taking a look at the latest weather map, the Examiner's Bill Myers concludes we all have snow fatigue. Yeah, granted. But what we really want to know is what to call this next round of winter storms. One reader this morning suggested "snow gotta be f*****g kidding me," which seems like it's on the right track.

Hero of the Snowmageddon? The Pizza Man: The Washington Post's Christian Davenport kinda wins the morning with this report on one brave guy who decided to go ahead and try to deliver pizzas on Super Snowl Sunday. You gotta feel bad for all the delivery places that count on making big stacks of money during the Super Bowl, only to be foiled by two feet of snow. Todd Wiss of Radius Pizza in Mount Pleasant, we salute you.

Briefly Noted: Dulles Airport reopens this morning, while BWI has one runway going and DCA remains closed for now ... Thousands still without power in Montgomery County ... Advice for today is still to stay home if you can.

This Day in DCist: In 2008, members of Congress were debating the District's gun laws, and in 2007, newly minted D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier spoke with residents in Logan Circle.

Week Around the Ists

Sommer Mathis — 2010-02-08T08:15:24-05:00

Photo by James Calder.

DCist is busy digging out of the great Snowmaggedon of 2010.

Londonist discovered an alpine ski lodge, some abstract art, a treasure-trove of antiques and several tube-carriage offices, all in the unlikely setting of East London's rooftops and alleyways.

Gothamist was amazed when a Best Buy shopper was arrested for using valid gift cards. Oh, and when a 12-year-old was arrested for doodling on her desk. Oh, and when a 9-year-old was almost suspended for a Lego-sized toy gun. Oh, and when ?uestlove wondered about NBC's Black History Month cafeteria menu.

Phillyist reported from the Miss'd America pageant in Atlantic City, former home of the Miss America pageant.

Torontoist has been interviewing the members of the Kids in the Hall one by one by one, now that the much-loved comedy troupe is back on TV with a new mini-series, Death Comes to Town.

Shanghaiist got shoved into overcrowded subways by new professional subway shovers.

Bostonist toyed around with a naked Scott Brown action figure.

LAist was exited to announce that a light rail line and route connecting Santa Monica to Downtown had finally been approved.

Chicagoist followed PETA's battle to get the controversial "Lobster Zone" game removed from a local bar (PETA won).

Seattlest checked out the strange case of a photographer sued for taking a picture of Seattle public art.

SFist recoiled at senate candidate Carly Fiorina new campaign attack ad, which features swine, sheep and furries.

Houstonist focused a spotlight on the local music scene.

Last Night's Action: How Sweet It Is

Aaron Morrissey — 2010-02-08T00:26:22-05:00

Capitals 5, Penguins 4 (OT): It's quite possible that this was the biggest regular season NHL game in years -- a nationally-televised matinee on Super Bowl Sunday, featuring the two (three, if you include Evgeni Malkin) best players in the game and the defending champs versus the hottest team in the world. And the Capitals won, scoring four unanswered goals to push their winning streak to 14 straight. A game like this deserves a few toasts. Shall we?

Here's to Alexander Ovechkin. Not only did the best player in the National Hockey League score a hat trick (shockingly, the Capitals' first all year) and win the duel against Sidney Crosby (who scored twice, and admittedly looked really, really good at times), but he generally just looked unstoppable, especially as the game went on. He even broke the goal cam! Ovie, as any good captain will, tipped his hand to the fans, saying, "the crowd was just pushing us in the third. It was sick."

Speaking of which, here's to yesterday's rabid mass in the stands -- based on the volume at the Verizon Center, we can hardly wait to see what kind of sound is produced in the playoffs. Rock the red, indeed.

Here's to Mike Knuble. One of our favorite gritty forwards poked in the game winning goal, but we really appreciated how he immediately went after Pittsburgh's Craig Adams after Adams gave Ovechkin a head-first introduction to the boards in the first period. Knuble was assessed an instigator and misconduct penalties -- but to us, it was nothing more than a teammate making sure that the Pens weren't going to get free runs at his captain's head. It's hardly surprising that when a consummate pro like Knuble scores a goal this season, the Caps are 15-1-1.

But why limit ourselves to toasting members of the home team? For instance, here's to NBC color man Mike Milbury's, ahem, journalistic integrity. The taste of your "Crosby made Ovechkin his daddy" comments after the first period wasn't so good coming back up as it was going out, eh?

Finally, here's to our old friend, Pens blueliner Brooks Orpik. You can feel free to call Alex Semin a "baby" for taking a high stick to the face all you want, Brooksie; but the only baby I hear is the one blaming his team's loss on the refs' overtime penalty call, even after they absolutely gifted his team a power play late in the third period -- one they failed to convert on.

Oh, and here's to doing this all over again on March 24.

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Snow Orleans? New Snowrleans? SNOLA?

Kriston Capps — 2010-02-07T22:03:48-05:00

Woo Super Bowl! That was a football game.

Now, back to All Snow All the Time. If you are a District government worker and you're only just trying to decide whether to show up for work on time tomorrow or have another beer, then have one for your correspondent at DCist, because District government offices are opening an hour later tomorrow. Most DMV schools are closed, so teachers should start pulling the pins on those New Orleans hand grenades now.

For those wondering how they will trudge to work despite severely limited Metro service, I suggest thinking about something else. Something like: people having fun in the snow!

DCist Wintery Editor Andrew Wiseman captured two videos of people greeting the snowpocalypse. The first shows scenes from the Official Malcolm X Park Snowball Fight.

This video features people risking death on the hill at 13th Street NW:

Psychopaths, all of them.

What Snow? WTU Takes Credit for Closing DCPS Monday

Rachael Brown — 2010-02-07T21:27:06-05:00

In an email sent Sunday evening, Washington Teachers' Union President George Parker congratulated union members on having the D.C. public schools closed on Monday. Making no mention of potential factors like, oh, a record snowstorm, a barely functioning Metro system, or the closing of federal offices, Parker suggested that shuttered schools count as a union victory. As he told members, "Your calls to the office of the Mayor and Chancellor expressing your disagreement and outrage has [sic] resulted in success!"

Full email below the jump:

WTU Members,

I have just received notification from Chancellor Rhee that all DC Public Schools will be closed on tomorrow. Thank you for supporting the WTU in our efforts to have the Mayor and Chancellor close DC Public Schools on tomorrow. Your calls to the office of the Mayor and Chancellor expressing your disagreement and outrage has resulted in success! Please read the DCPS Communication below.

In Solidarity
George Parker

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Never Get Schooled Again

Kriston Capps — 2010-02-07T20:56:38-05:00

Photo by Tony DeFilippo

In another late-breaking administrative announcement, D.C. Public Schools says that all D.C. public schools will in fact close tomorrow. Earlier this evening, DCPS had said that schools would open 2 hours late and administrative offices would open 1 hour late, prompting quick criticism. Now, schools will open 0 hours at all on Monday (though admin offices will still open).

Schools in Montgomery County will be closed Monday and Tuesday. Prince George's schools will be closed tomorrow. Schools will be closed in Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William Counties on Monday. Loudoun County is giving its kids two days off.

At this point, it's looking like the only thing that will be open on Monday is the District government. However, Mayor Adrian Fenty has announced that D.C. government offices will open an hour later tomorrow morning. Have another beer, bureaucrats, and enjoy the rest of the fourth quarter!

Talkin' 'Bout My Transportation

Kriston Capps — 2010-02-07T20:32:20-05:00

Photo by thisisbossi

Metro has at last decided that above-ground Metro stations will remain closed on Monday. Underground service will also be limited, with trains running only every 24 to 30 minutes.

Fewer than two dozen Metrobus lines will be running on Monday, and those that are running will be keeping to snow emergency routes, at least at the start of the day. Check the list to see whether your favorite bus line is up and running tomorrow.

Metro (and this DCist writer) recommend consulting NextBus to determine when buses are arriving. The Circulator also is among the buses running on Monday, and it's in fact free to ride tomorrow, though it may be running less frequently than normal. There will be no MetroAccess service at all.

UPDATE: Metro hours are taking a hit from the snow, too. Metrorail service starts at 7 a.m. tomorrow, and what Metrobus lines are running will run from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Kwame Brown, Everybody Else Urges Fenty To Close D.C. Tomorrow

Kriston Capps — 2010-02-07T19:35:49-05:00

Nearly two quarters through the Super Bowl, no one has any idea yet whether Metro buses will be running or whether above-ground Metro stations will be open -- except for the Circulator, which the District Department of Transportation says will be up and running and free (!) to boot. Despite the late hour and lack of clear plans for getting around the city tomorrow, Mayor Adrian Fenty seems to want to keep the District government open for business tomorrow. At-Large Councilmember Kwame Brown seems to think this is a bad idea.

In a press release today, Brown -- who told Kojo Nnamdi earlier this week that he would seriously consider mounting a campaign to challenge Mayor Fenty -- urged the Mayor to shut down city government tomorrow. From the release: "I have received updates from all over the city of residents that have just begun to dig themselves out from the Blizzard of 2010. I have also received reports that most of the city’s sidewalks are impassable, forcing many residents to venture out on foot to walk in the streets."

That they are! But some of those residents who keep updating Brown should have told him that no one's calling it the Blizzard of 2010. That isn't even a pun!

Councilmember Brown further reiterated that District residents haven't had time enough to dig themselves out from underneath the snow. With the status of Metro still uncertain, it's certainly looking like getting downtown tomorrow will pose a significant challenge. Brown says: "With predictions of more snow to come and Metro operating at reduced capacity, the Councilmember strongly urges Mayor Fenty to reconsider any attempts to open the government before giving residents adequate time to dig themselves and their neighbors out from this historic snow event."

With yet another snowpocalypse looming, why go to work ever again?

Photo by william couch

Oh My God What Is an Ice Dam

Kriston Capps — 2010-02-07T18:52:38-05:00

This is one of the more terrifying images to emerge from the snowstorm: the dread ice dam. I am not entirely sure what an ice dam does, but it sounds fraking cold. Residents of the District whose homes feature dormers could be prey to the ice dam. Before you panic, you may want to determine whether your home has a dormer. (Which is not a student subleasing a room.) If your home in fact has a dormer, it is important to insulate your dormer and install gutter heating cables. Barring that, it is key to begin panicking.

Snow-Motion Replay

Kriston Capps — 2010-02-07T18:11:37-05:00

Photo by philliefan99

That's right, I said it, snow motion. You see, we are getting more snow on Tuesday. Plus the Super Bowl is about to come on, and professional football sometimes features slow-motion replays. So it's not slow motion, it's snow motion!

Alright: maybe I deserve one of these. But it doesn't change the fact that the DMV area is facing back-to-back snowpocalypses. The Capital Weather Gang notes that we're on track for the snowiest winter in a century. And in fact, this snowstorm could push us over the edge. If we get even one more inch of snow on Tuesday afternoon, this will be the second-snowiest winter in recent memory. It doesn't sound terribly likely -- 4 to 8 inches is what the CWG is predicting -- but if the District gets another 9 inches of snow, it will have seen more snow than in the terrifying blizzard of 1898–99. That record was made so long ago, they didn't even have hashtag puns!

But take heart, District of Columbia. The Office of Personnel Management has announced that the federal government and the many, many employees who adhere to its schedule do not have to come into work on Monday. The federal government is closed tomorrow, and OPM kindly announced the fact just in time for variously employed fans of the Colts, Saints, and alcohol to get hammered. Go OPM!