DCist

Out of Frame: A Prophet

Ian Buckwalter — 2010-03-12T16:55:17-05:00

The first thing we see is a birth. Jacques Audiard opens his sprawling, intimidating new film not with a biological birth, but with a birth of character. He opens using a technique he calls "La Mana Negra," in which he blacks out most of the screen except for one distinct image he wants to highlight, akin to the silent film technique of iris in/out, except that the area of Audiard's focal point is movable and amorphous, an organic, living lens.

In A Prophet, he applies the technique to the opening credits, and then to the introduction of Malik (Tahar Rahim), the young delinquent who has just arrived in prison to serve a six-year sentence for assaulting a cop. As the darkness around him gives way to light, the birth metaphor is subtle yet clear.

Moving through the opening scenes of the movie, it becomes even clearer: Malik's life before prison may as well be a figment of the imagination; he barely talks about it, and in his initial interviews with prison staff he is so reticent that he may as well be mute, an utterly blank slate. And while he does claim that he's innocent of the crime, Audiard's movie doesn't really care. Nearly all we need to know about this character is a function of these walls and bars, and Malik never brings it up again.

The film that follows is as ambitious a crime saga as Goodfellas or perhaps even The Godfather, but condensed into the few years of Malik's sentence. During this time, he not only matures from the scared, aimless 19-year-old he is on arrival, but becomes a character of formidable skill, and a criminal of remarkable cunning.

In the early days of his sentence, he is coerced by the Corsican mob that runs the prison from the inside to kill another prisoner; he's an Arab, as is their target, and they figure he's the only one who will be able to get close enough to do the job. He becomes an errand-boy for the Corsican head honcho, César (Niels Arestrup), and gradually gets into the old man's confidences, though he is never completely trusted: ethnic lines are never fully crossed in this world.

There is little that is common or expected in Audiard's film. First and foremost is Malik himself, an Arab hero in a French film culture that has very few. On top of that, the director uses slight fantastical touches in ways that should be completely out of place in a film that otherwise maintains a firm grounding in what seems like reality.

The title, for instance, isn't an abstraction: Malik has an undefined sixth sense, a tendency toward little prophecies. Yet what the film presents as potential premonition could just as well be luck or good sense. Audiard is skillful enough to leave the lines blurred, just as he does when Malik is frequently visited in his cell by the man he killed for the Corsicans. It could be a ghost, it could simply be his conscience. Audiard is content to insert him into the film without explanation.

The film may be guided by the director's masterful hand, but it hinges on a perfect performance by Tahar Rahim in the lead role. He inhabits Malik totally, from his practically unformed personality at the start to the meekness and barely controlled panic of his early days, giving way gradually to the hard stares and calm control he exhibits as he becomes a force to be reckoned with in the prison's social order.

A Prophet is that rare film that tries to do too much, yet carries the heavy load of its themes with ease. It could have been a polemic on the conditions in French prisons, a statement on the hardening of criminals behind bars, a look at France's thorny relationship with its large immigrant population, a meditation on morality and honor among thieves, or a comprehensive character study of an extraordinary personality. Any one of those would have provided more than enough foundation for a solid film with this material. But Audiard dreams big, and his movie is all of those things and more: unquestionably a classic crime film, because it transcends all of the conventions of the genre.

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A Prophet
Directed by Jacques Audiard
Written by Jacques Audiard & Thomas Bidegain, based on an original screenplay by Abdel Raouf Dafri & Nicolas Peufaillit
Starring Tahar Rahim, Niels Arestrup, and Adel Bencherif 
Running time: 149 minutes 
Rated R for strong violence, sexual content, nudity, language and drug material.
Opens today at E Street and Bethesda Row, Shirlington, and Cinema Arts.
View the trailer.

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Overheard in D.C.: Love and Marriage

Kriston Capps — 2010-03-12T16:03:29-05:00

Photo by Amberture

Woe to the same-sex couples of the District of Columbia! It is of course a wonderful thing that the city has recognized the legal right of any couple to marry if they so choose. But next up come the consequences: Queer wedding magazines. ABC marriage sitcoms. A new section on the Hallmark aisle. In-laws. Marriage is not all love and games and eternal enduring bond of matrimony. All too often, it's kinda cheesy.

Seeing all those joyous images of same-sex couples getting married in the District, their straight allies registered a very powerful message: Suckers! Now we are all in the same crazy mix together.

Overheard of the Week

Clyde's in Gallery Place on Friday night:

A gay couple is arguing.
Guy 1: "You never told me you cosplayed as Digimon!"
Guy 2: "That's because I wanted you to love me."

After the jump: Clueless cabbies, horny Texans, and the first stirrings of springtime tourist nonsense.

Is your name Mr. Smith?

On Columbia Road near Adams Morgan:

A cabbie calls to a pedestrian:
Cabbie: "Excuse me. Does this road go to Washington?"
Pedestrian: "Um, yeah. You are in Washington right now."
Cabbie: "Oh. Does this road go to Connecticut Ave.?"

------

You know, where everything is bigger.

In the bathroom line at Nellie's:

Guy 1: "So, where are you from?"
Guy 2: "Sexas."
Guy 1: "You mean Texas."
Guy 2: "Er, yeah, Texas."

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The last person who called him "pencil-y" was Cornwallis, and, well. ...

At the corner of 13th and E Streets NW:

Group of tourists: "Do you know where the monument is?"
Passerby: "Which monument?"
Tourist: "The pencil-y one."

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Romance blossoms at the Golden Corral

Friday night on the 54 bus:

Woman on cell phone: "Is she Christian? Does she have kids? Is she craaaazy? . . . Have fun tonight, and don't overeat."

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U.S. Department of Counting Stuff

Somewhere in a government office building:

A straight-faced federal employee: "The precursor activity to phase two is phase one."

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Liberté, égalité, Virginié

On the 42 bus:

A girl is telling a friend about her trip to Paris trip.
Girl: "The Champs-Élysées, I mean, you've seen it once and that's enough. It's just, like, all the stores. Like Tysons."

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Senate confirmation hearing talking points

At Woodley Park Metro station on Sunday:

A young tourist child is talking to a younger child.
Child: "When people have guns, they're not necessarily hunters."

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Crush hour

Dupont Circle Metro during afternoon rush:

Two professionals pass a couple making out on the escalator going down.
Professional #1: "They should outlaw PDA on the Metro during rush hour."
Professional #2: "Yeah, that should be left for non-peak hours."

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Thanks to This Week's Advertisers

tien mao — 2010-03-12T16:00:00-05:00

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

First Kick 2010, getting you ready for the coming DC United season with 4 tix and an autographed ball for just $110!
Shadowboxer, an opera base on the life of Joe Louis. World premiere April 17-25th.
Luna Negra Dance Theater, March 19th at the Music Center at Strathmore.
Critical Exposure, inviting you to visit its annual exhibit of compelling photographs taken by youth in its programs. "5 Years, 5000 Images," will be a retrospective celebrating our first half-decade of work!
American Apparel, with 8 stores in DC, you can look your best any time you want.
Kogod School of Business at American University, preparing you for the next step in life.
GroupOn, using collective buying power to bring you one ridiculous coupon each day.

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

Presented By:

2010-03-12T16:00:00-05:00

Metro Operator Fired Over Farragut North Derailment

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-12T15:21:17-05:00

The Metrorail operator who was involved in the pocket track derailment at the Farragut North station on Feb. 12 has been fired, WMATA officials announced today.

Metro declined to name the operator, but identified her as a woman who has been an employee with the transit agency since 1976, and a rail operator since April 1999. She was fired on March 11 "for failing to follow standard operating procedures," according to a statement.

Five Questions For: Here We Go Magic

Kyle Gustafson — 2010-03-12T15:12:29-05:00

One of the best shows I saw in 2009 was the Grizzly Bear gig at the 9:30 Club in June of last year. But not because of the headliners—because of the openers. Here We Go Magic were unknown to me then, but their technicolor, tripped-out forays into space pop really blew me away that night. The band didn't stay under the radar for long; Pitchfork and others bestowed glowing reviews on their self-titled album, an opening slot on a tour with the Walkmen followed as did a record deal with Secretly Canadian Records.

Pigeons, their forthcoming album, is due out in June and the band are currently on tour road testing their new material on their way to SXSW in Austin. You can catch them Saturday at the Rock and Roll Hotel with April Smith & The Great Picture Show and Glass Ghost. Guitarist Micheal Bloch took some time to answer our questions on the new album and trying to get his head around this whole Twitter thing that the kids are doing these days.

1) The advance of the album I received had the artists listed as Luke Temple and the album name as Here We Go Magic. Is it safe to assume that this album started out as a solo thing and evolved into more of a band thing? If so, what brought about that change?

Luke's solo thing was kind of a band thing billed as a solo thing. Then he made a record that was a solo thing imagined as a band thing, which then became a band thing, and was billed as a band thing. And now we've just finished a band record that is a band thing imagined as a band thing and billed as a band thing, and that's what people at the show on Saturday will see and hear -- the band thing. Luke is one of the best songwriters out there, easily. He writes amazing songs that we arrange as a band and it all goes towards being a total band thing. That's where all the fun is.

2) I actually saw you in concert before I heard the album, and I was struck at the differences between your live sound (big, bright and beautiful) and your recorded sound (lo-fi and somewhat subdued). Is that difference by design or something that came from the band and having more musicians involved in performing the songs?

The album was made very spontaneously and creatively, Luke following his own curiosity and using the tools he had at his disposal, which happened to be a 4-track and a microphone in a bedroom with neighbors. The band plays spontaneously and creatively and follows its own curiosities and enjoyments, and everyone plays the instruments they know how to play and do what they know how to do. Yes, results probably sound different. The spirit is the same.

3) The band recently signed to Secretly Canadian and will be releasing a new album in the fall. Are you going to re-record any old material for the forthcoming release or will it be all new material?

All new material, all born of five people living together in a house.

4) I see the band has a Twitter account. What's your approach to social media? A fun thing or necessary evil?

We always forget to tweet. So much pressure. I'm so impressed by people who can just tweet all day. We got 11 new followers today. I know that because I checked it yesterday and I checked it today. I didn't tweet though, either day, even seeing that there were 11 new people there waiting. I just don't know what to say to them. And then sometimes people tweet @ (ie.. "AT") us, and say things that I don't understand what they are talking about, and they use the # sign ... it's all very stressful, and I am hoping it will become easier as the boredom of the American highway system overtakes us.

5) The band has five shows scheduled for SXSW next week. Any SXSW survival tips for people heading down to Austin for the first time?

Ahem... six shows. You just don't know about the sixth show yet (because we don't know about it yet). It will be a miracle if we find all of those shows. Last year an Indian spirit man actually took our hand and guided us to all of our shows. The best advice I have is to find that man. Don't ask him blunt questions... just relax yourself and let him lead you.

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Here We Go Magic perform Saturday at the Rock and Roll Hotel with April Smith & The Great Picture Show and Glass Ghost. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. And click here to download the band's new song, "Collector."

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Coolidge High Names Woman to Head Football Coach Position

Amanda Mattos — 2010-03-12T15:01:53-05:00

Photo by Michael Starghill

The Washington Post reported earlier this week that Natalie Randolph, a former wide receivers coach at H.D. Woodson High School in the District and wide receiver for the D.C. Divas, has been formally named to the head coaching position at Calvin Coolidge Senior High School in Northwest. The AP notes that today's press conference officially announcing her hire was "the kind of attention usually reserved for the Washington Redskins," delayed nearly two hours so that Mayor Fenty could attend.

Randolph is not the first woman to be named to the head football coaching position at a D.C. public school. In 1985, Wanda Oates was hired as head coach at Ballou — a position she held for one day before she was removed as a result of complaints from other coaches. So assuming Randolph is still employed on Monday and gets the opportunity to carry out her job next season, this is still a big moment for gender equality in local sports. Randolph is believed to be the only female head football coach in the entire country.

Apart from her coaching background, Randolph is also a 29-year-old science teacher who has been at Coolidge for the past two years. She graduated from Sidwell Friends in 1998, ran track at the University of Virginia, and went on to play for five seasons in the now-defunct women's professional football league. For two years, she was an assistant coach at H.D. Woodson, but hasn't coached during the two years she's been at Coolidge. The head coach who hired her at Woodson cast a vote of confidence in her abilities ("She can do it... She's a no-nonsense kind of coach. She's a disciplinarian... she takes on any challenge you put in front of her."), while another (unnamed) coach provided a more predictable response ("All I know is, I don't want to be the first one to lose to her. That's going to be wild."). The team, at least, appears to be welcoming its new leader. Players were among the crowd cheering Randolph on as Mayor Fenty proclaimed today "Natalie Randolph Day" in the District.

The Coolidge Colts were 39-36 over the past seven years under their previous coach. The school's administration was reportedly not happy with the team's recent performance, as well as the behavior and academic achievement of the players. Workouts begin in May, and practices for next season kick off in August. You can view a slide show of today's press conference here.

Reports: Top Chef Coming to D.C.

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-12T13:31:35-05:00

Yesterday, we linked to a blog post over at metrocurean reporting a rumor that Bravo's popular culinary competition, Top Chef, would likely be heading to D.C. soon to film its next season. And now today, the Washington Post's Joe Yonan is saying the same thing.

Both of those stories are citing unnamed sources, and as the Washington Business Journal reports, Bravo has not yet announced its Season 7 location, and has declined to confirm the rumor. This also isn't the first time we've heard this rumor.

Still, with two well connected D.C. food writers feeling comfortable enough with their sources to share the news, the odds appear to be fairly good. Until we can get official confirmation, we anxiously await our first Padma sighting.

Alicia Mazzara contributed to this story.

D.C. Beset on All Sides By Extreme Wealth

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-12T13:05:13-05:00

By DCist Contributor Brett Widness

For the most part, Forbes' latest billionaire list is a who's who of New York's hedge fund managers and the West Coast's tech giants, with a few oil barons and other old-money types sprinkled in for good measure. But the D.C. area is actually home to two of the 25 richest Americans, and six of the 10 richest counties.

Forbes did not provide pictures of Forest Mars, Jr. or John Mars, but does list their hometowns as McLean and Arlington, respectively. Each man is said to have a net worth of $11 billion, but both being well into their 70s, you probably won't see them crashing Rhino Bar with the Real World D.C. cast anytime soon. There were 12 other D.C.-based billionaires on the larger list, including Nationals owner Ted Lerner and Redskins owner Dan Snyder.

As for the richest counties, Loudoun County and Fairfax County had the highest median incomes in the country, with Fairfax City and Arlington County also making the top 10. Montgomery County clocked in at number 10, falling from number eight in 2008, fueling ongoing speculation that Maryland is losing some of its appeal to high-net worth individuals -- although Howard County, Md., had the third highest-median income. Even Alexandria and Prince William County appear in the top 25.

Keep in mind, for Loudoun and Howard counties, you're only looking at roughly 300,000 people per county, so if half of the households of those two counties are doctors, lawyers, lobbyists and bureaucrats, many of whom are going to be married and have two incomes, that sounds about right. Fairfax and Montgomery counties, meanwhile, have closer to 1 million people each.

Photo of the Day: March 12, 2010

Kelly Rand — 2010-03-12T12:05:17-05:00

This blizzard of buttons is the type of weather we can get behind. It's colorful, fun and inside - where the real precipitation isn't. You too can enjoy this installation, like stephentward, along with the visual and performance art of 500 other artists throughout March during G40: The Summit. EXIF.

The Weekly Feed: Monster Fruit Edition

Alicia Mazzara — 2010-03-12T11:33:44-05:00

Pomelos: like a grapefruit, but bigger and better.

Dish of the week: Pomelo

In the last few weeks, you may have noticed gigantic, greenish yellow citrus fruits popping up in the grocery store. Often mistaken for a giant grapefruit, pomelos are actually the largest fruit in the citrus family and can grow up to a whopping 12 inches in diameter. Their color and flavor is similar, notably because grapefruits are descended from a pomelo crossed with an orange. Pomelos are sweeter than grapefruit, though, and much more fragrant.

Pomelos are native to South East Asia, where they are commonly eaten as a dessert, but they haven't really caught on in the U.S. (perhaps because no one's associated them with a fad diet). Growing up, I remember eating pomelos from the local Asian supermarket. They were probably imported from Thailand, but today pomelos are grown in Florida and California and can be found at major chain grocery stores.

Perhaps the most unique thing about pomelos (apart from their colossal size) is their thick, spongy skin. This presents a particular challenge when eating the fruit. The pith is also incredibly bitter, making it necessary to peel away every last bit before consuming the juicy segments. There are a surprising number of instructional YouTube videos that highlight the fine art of pomelo peeling.

Eating a pomelo is kind of like eating a whole crab--you've got to get your hands dirty. It's a bit of work, to be sure, but it's also messy, delicious fun. If this week's weather is any indication, spring has finally arrived, which means that pomelo season is nearing its close. Hit up the store and grab yourself one before it's too late.

Small Bites

Mmm, expired crab cakes
The Examiner ran a front page story Thursday on some local restaurants recently cited for health code violations, including some big names like Georgia Brown's, Rasika, and Brabo. Some of the citations are enough to make a person never want to eat out again (cooking with open sores?!), while others seem fairly trifling. Perhaps it's just best to not think about what goes on behind kitchen doors.

March openings
Wine bars are quickly threatening to overtake frozen yogurt and cupcakes as the most played-out D.C. dining trend. This week, Dickson Wine Bar on U Street had their soft opening and Ezme Turkish restaurant and wine bar began service on Wednesday in Dupont Circle.

If wine isn't your thing, the much anticipated H Street NE outpost of Dangerously Delicious Pies is set to open ~~today~~ next Friday, and Filter Coffeehouse in Dupont will start serving coffee, espresso, and tea on Saturday.

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Metro Urges Riders Using Smart Phones to Stay Away From Doors

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-12T10:55:25-05:00

Metro Transit Police say they are well aware of the uptick in thefts of electronic devices like iPods and smart phones on the Metrorail system. Reports of such robberies went way up in 2009, with 894, compared to 581 in 2008. This year, there were 122 reported robberies on the Metro system in January alone.

In an effort to stem the tide of robberies, transit police have released an online video and a list of tips to help riders avoid putting themselves in a situation where they might be more likely to be a victim.

"These types of crimes are often crimes of opportunity," says Metro Transit Police Acting Chief Jeri Lee.

Among their recommendations:

Always be alert of your surroundings and the people around you.
Carry electronic devices in a pocket or a place where it is not easily seen or easy to reach.
Keep the volume of your music player at a low to moderate level so that you can hear what’s going on around you.
When using an electronic device, avoid sitting or standing near doors of rail cars or buses.
Report any suspicious activity to a Metro employee or call the Metro Transit Police at 202-962-2121.

Three Injured in Collision with Firetruck

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-12T10:27:21-05:00

Three people were injured in a large traffic collision at 14th Street and Constitution Avenue NW this morning. The intersection has since reopened, but the crash, which involved a D.C. firetruck along with two civilian vehicles, caused major traffic delays throughout the area for well over an hour.

D.C. Fire/EMS spokesperson Pete Piringer said the firetruck was on its way to George Washington University Hospital when it got into a crash with the two other vehicles.

No firefighters were injured in the collision, but three individuals were transported to a nearby hospital, one of them in serious condition, Piringer said.

Red Line Train Derailed in Rail Yard Wednesday

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-12T10:05:19-05:00

Photo by Bullneck

Yet another Metro train derailment occurred Wednesday, this time at low speed in a rail yard with no passengers on board, the Examiner reports.

Thankfully, no one was injured. WMATA told the paper it looks like human error may have been to blame in this case, as the operator apparently ran a red signal at an interlocking in the rail yard. Three people involved in the incident, two operators on the train and a rail yard worker stationed at the relevant interlocking device, were given drug and alcohol tests and put on paid administrative leave, according to the Examiner.

By all accounts, a relatively minor incident. But this paragraph is nonetheless troubling:

Transit officials did not release news of the incident to the public. The Examiner learned of it from two Metro employees who asked not to be named.

This revelation comes on the same day that the WMATA board is digesting a new report from transit consultant David Gunn, delivered Thursday behind closed doors. While the full report has not been released to the public, a summary shows that one of the key recommendations made by Gunn to get Metro's house in order is to communicate more openly and candidly about safety issues with the public.

Morning Roundup: Remember When Edition

Martin Austermuhle — 2010-03-12T09:00:00-05:00

Photo by crisbirch

...there was a big stink about a D.C. police officer pulling a gun at a snowball fight? Well, as the case winds down and reports emerge that Det. Michael Baylor will face a 10-day suspension, various people have come to Baylor's defense, including the Examiner's Harry Jaffe. In a column today, Jaffe argues that Police Chief Cathy Lanier is throwing a good cop under the bus for not having done anything wrong. Jaffe argues that Baylor did nothing wrong, writing, "He radioed dispatchers about the crowd. He got out and radioed for scout cars. He did draw his weapon but kept it at his side. He paced. Snowballers nailed him in the head. When uniformed cops arrived, he holstered his weapon." Of course, Jaffe seems to miss a key point -- Baylor did not identify himself, making him just some guy with a gun at an otherwise innocent snowball fight. Either way, as the case winds down and the weather warms, we'll be first to warn against any impromptu summertime water gun fights. No, really, that would just be dumb.

More on the Fenty Fundraising Machine: The Post brings more details of Mayor Adrian Fenty's now historic $3.9 million haul for his 2010 re-election campaign, one which no challenger is even close to matching. It looks like Fenty has continued bringing in money from outside the city, drawing contributions from hip-hop producer Irv Gotti and wine critic Pierre-Antoine Rovani. (Sommer detailed his other contributors from a late January finance report.) In other races, only Ward 5 seems to be heating up, with two challengers to Council member Harry Thomas taking in modest sums.

Local Failing Schools Eligible for Federal Funds: The Examiner brings word of 25 area schools that are eligible for federal stimulus funds because they're doing so badly. Anacostia, Eastern, Spingarn and Dunbar were listed amongst the District's worst schools, while Maryland added 14 schools in the suburbs around the District -- all in Prince George's County. Virginia listed Alexandria's T.C. Williams High School, even though relative to the District's worst public schools, it's doing pretty well. At T.C. Williams, only 84 percent of students were proficient in reading and 77 percent in math, while at D.C.'s Spingarn only 17 percent were proficient in reading and 15 percent in math.

Pointless Mention of Federal Building in a Headline Award Goes To... The Examiner, for "A casino 14 miles from the White House?" The paper reports that the Maryland State Senate is considering legislation that would allow a casino to be added to the Rosecroft Raceway in Fort Washington. To the headline writer, the fact that the site would be within 14 miles of the White House seems to add some important context; to us, it's just another pointless mention of a federal building in a story that has little to do with the federal building in question. Did you know that there's a strip club within a mile of the White House? Yep. Does it matter? Nope.

Briefly Noted: Maryland booze lobby pushes to nix tax increase ... A Times Square for the District? ... Answers sought in case of missing Maryland man ... D.C. to spend more than $400 million on SE building ... Former D.C. hospital packed with homeless families.

On This Day in DCist: On this day last year, same-sex marriage advocates began their outreach strategy as part of the fight to legalize the practice in the District. In 2008, a bunch of D.C. bands headed to South by Southwest.

Go Home Already: What Are the Odds

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-11T18:50:44-05:00

Photo by M.V. Jantzen

"Statistical odds suggest Washingtonians alive today may never experience another 10 days of weather comparable to February 1-10, 2010." [Capital Weather Gang]
Is Michael A. Brown not living up to his duties as an alternate WMATA board member? For the record, his predecessor, Marion Barry, didn't show up to many meetings, either. [Greater Greater Washington]
The death of a toddler who had been treated by D.C. paramedics only hours before she died is now being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department. [WTOP]
In case you needed more evidence that Tony Kornheiser is a cranky old dude, today he (hopefully jokingly) encouraged his listeners to run down cyclists with their vehicles. [The WashCycle]
More Top Chef in D.C. rumors, this time that filming will start really really soon. We'll be keeping an eye on it. [metrocurean]

Presented By:

2010-03-11T18:50:44-05:00

Harry Reid's Wife & Daughter Injured in Collision

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-11T18:22:41-05:00

Here's the statement from Jon Summers, spokesman for Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.):

"Senator Reid's wife, Landra, and daughter, Lana, were involved in an accident earlier today. They are being treated at a Washington-area hospital. While driving on a Washington, DC highway, their vehicle was rear-ended by a semi-truck. Mrs. Reid has a broken nose, broken back and broken neck. Lana has a neck injury and facial lacerations. Both Mrs. Reid and Lana are conscious, can feel their extremities, and according to doctors their injuries are non-life threatening. Senator Reid has been to the hospital and appreciates the support he and his family are receiving from Nevadans and his colleagues in the Senate."

~~We still don't have any information on where this crash occurred~~. MORE: The Post reports the crash took place on I-95, "near Exit 166 at the Fairfax County Parkway, about 14 miles south of the District."

Virginia State Police now say that an Ohio man has been charged in the crash, which occurred at about 1:10 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-95.

Landra and Lana Reid were rear-ended by Alan W. Snader, 59, who was driving a tractor-trailer, police said. The impact then forced the Reids' vehicle into another SUV in front of them, which in turn struck another vehicle in the adjacent lane. In total, five people were injured and transported by ambulance to Fairfax Inova Hospital. All of the injuries are considered to be not life threatening. Snader was not injured.

We're told Landra Reid is still listed in serious condition, but Lana should be released from the hospital tonight. The Senate Majority leader had been back at the Capitol for a 5 p.m. health-care reform meeting, but he has since left the Capitol again to return to the hospital.

Fenty Hands Over Nats Tix to Council (Thank God)

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-11T17:23:32-05:00

Photo by philliefan99

Some good news out of the John A. Wilson Building today. The Post's Nikita Stewart got hold of a letter penned by City Administrator Neil Albert to D.C. Council Chairman Vincent Gray, which just so happened to accompany the delivery of the Council's full allotment of Nationals tickets.

What does this mean? Why, it means none of us will have to read a bunch of news stories this year about how Mayor Adrian Fenty is being strangely petty and delaying giving the Council their tickets, seemingly just in an effort to piss them off. Three cheers all around for this rational (at last) decision.

Still No Serious Challengers to Fenty

Martin Austermuhle — 2010-03-11T16:39:23-05:00

Putting aside this latest, ludicrous development, it's basically crickets out there when it comes to the District mayoral race. According to the most recent financial reports submitted to the Office of Campaign Finance, Mayor Adrian Fenty's got $3.3 million sitting in the bank (with a campaign total so far of $3.9 million). His two declared challengers, Leo Alexander and Sulaimon Brown, have just $2,628.84 combined -- Brown has $27.84 of that, Alexander the remainder. Even adding three zeros to the end of that wouldn't get them within half-a-million of Fenty's current bankroll. Of course, well-funded candidates have been known to be beat by scrappy underdogs, but so far no one underdog is attracting much citywide attention -- much less any excitement. If this isn't a big kick in the ass that someone serious needs to step up -- lest the actual election be a mere formality -- we don't know what is.

Carlos Allen Reportedly Pondering a Mayoral Run

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-11T16:01:55-05:00

Oh dear sweet lord. Politico's Kiki Ryan reports that fliers advertising a possible mayoral run by alleged White House crasher Carlos Allen are popping up around town.

Allen's attorney, A. Scott Bolden, confirmed on Wednesday afternoon that it is "an accurate document."

Allen tells POLITICO his campaign is in an “exploratory” phase: “I want to see what people are saying and go from there,” he said.

Hilarious. Well, DCist commenters, you heard 'im. Allen, the same guy who continued to claim he was invited to the White House state dinner even though he pretty clearly wasn't, the same guy who runs a really lame looking magazine and a mysterious party house in Mt. Pleasant but is otherwise a total unknown, would like to find out what people are saying about the possibility of him running for mayor. We see no other responsible course of action but to oblige him.

We'll get the ball rolling. Kindly note that Allen's image on this flier has been superimposed over ... the U.S. Capitol. We could see choosing the White House, since that's the building he's lately most associated with. We could see choosing the John A. Wilson Building, since that's actually where the D.C. mayor, you know, works. But the Capitol? That's about as bold a graphic non sequitur as we've run across in a long time.

Switch to Daylight Saving Time Will Affect Metro Service

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-11T15:22:40-05:00

Daylight Saving Time begins this weekend, bringing with it the glorious bounty that is an extra hour of sunlight in the evenings. But don't forget that when the clocks move ahead one hour at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 14, it will suddenly be 3 a.m., and the Metrorail system (not to mention most D.C. bars) will close.

Popcorn & Candy: The Need for Speed

Ian Buckwalter — 2010-03-11T14:45:46-05:00

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

AFI Festivals, Retrospectives, and Special Events

There's enough great material on tap at the AFI in the coming week to practically fill an entire column, so we're just going to pack it all in one blurb. For singular screenings, we'll start tomorrow night with a SILVERDOCS sponsored local premiere of the new White Stripes documentary, Under Great White Northern Lights, which documents the band's tour through every province of Canada at the end of 2007. On Saturday, the theater's brief sports cinema series continues with the underseen 1969 ski racing film, Downhill Racer, featuring Robert Redford as a brash American skier looking to prove himself to the Europeans, his own team, his family, and pretty much anyone he runs across. This film includes some thrilling point-of-view downhill footage that is made all the more impressive when you consider how heavy the '60s era equipment the cameraman had to carry while bombing down the hill was.

There's also one festival and two retrospectives getting underway this week, starting tonight with the New African Films Festival, which screens nine films from the continent in the next five days. Then there's Archival Gotham, which has four New York-centric features and a series of shorts over the next week, including the silent East Side, West Side, which will be accompanied by live music, and Taxi Driver. Also opening over the weekend is a collection of five British film noirs, starting with the Graham Greene adaptation Brighton Rock, and concluding with The Third Man.

View the trailers for Downhill Racer, Under Great White Northern Lights, and a clip from Brighton Rock.
See the AFI web site for schedules and showtimes.

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Opera in Cinema

The Atlas Performing Arts Center is making a return to film screenings with a two month-long series in conjunction with the national Opera in Cinema program, which allows U.S. audiences to see some of the best European operas on a big screen. (Don't search for the D.C. screenings on the national web site; they haven't been updated there.) There are 10 programs in the series, starting this weekend with a performance of Verdi's La Traviata from Teatro alla Scala.

Every Wednesday and Saturday from this week through the middle of May at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, with a different opera program every week. $20 per program, or $160 for a series subscription.

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Prodigal Sons

Filmmaker Kimberly Reed set out to make a documentary about her 20th high school reunion, and the reaction of her classmates to the fact that they last time most of them had seen her, she was the popular quarterback of the football team, and male. How peers assimilate the new status of transgendered individuals may have been her starting point, but the film became a far different animal when she attempted to smooth over her relationship with her estranged — and somewhat mentally incapacitated — older brother. That's where things really take a strange turn, as her brother has just found out that he is the biological grandson of Orson Welles and Rita Hayworth, and is invited to Croatia to meet with Welles' longtime companion, Oja Kodar. Add into the mix Kimberly's younger brother Todd, who is gay, and you have a documentary about discovering, coming to terms with, and accepting identities of all sorts, whether sexual, gender, or genealogical.

View the trailer.
Opens tomorrow at E Street.

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The Story of Hilda Stern Cohen

This is a rather unique movie going experience that combines not just a screening, but also live storytelling and music, all to celebrate the life and work of Hilda Stern Cohen, a poet and Holocaust survivor who passed on her stories to Gail Rosen, so that Rosen could continue telling them after she died. In the film, Rosen tells Cohen's stories in the locations where they occurred, traveling to Germany, Austria, and Poland. The program also includes live readings of some stories, as well as of Cohen's poems, some of which are also set to music.

View the a clip from the film.
Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Goethe-Institut. $6. The film has its world premiere the day before, just up the road at the Baltimore Jewish Film Festival.

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Green Zone

Matt Damon stars, Paul Greengrass directs, and the plot is an international political thriller. This is the new Bourne movie, right? Not quite. Greengrass and Damon team up once again for a piece of smart, frenetic action, this time casting the actor as an army officer in Iraq searching for WMDs. Spoiler alert: he doesn't find any. The seeming wild goose chase of his search causes him to begin questioning U.S. policy in Iraq. The story is based on the non-fiction book, Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq's Green Zone by Washington Post National Editor Rajiv Chandrasekaran, which was sharply critical of U.S. reconstruction efforts. Considering Greengrass' tendency to wear his politics on his sleeve as well, one can bet that there will be some trenchant commentary on U.S. policy alongside the bullets and bombs.

View the trailer.
Opens tomorrow at a number of theaters throughout the area.

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Also opening tomorrow is A Prophet, one of the also-rans for last weekend's Best Foreign Film Oscar (though in my opinion, better than the winner). Jacques Audiard's crime epic follows the rise to power and self-determination of a young, illiterate convict from his initial incarceration to release. We'll have a full-length review tomorrow, as it opens at E Street and Bethesda Row, Shirlington, and Cinema Arts.

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Daytime Shooting Near Shaw Metro Station

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-11T14:25:19-05:00

An adult male was shot at about 2 p.m. this afternoon in the vicinity of the Shaw/Howard Univ. Metro station.

The victim was found by first responders near the intersection of 7th and L Streets NW, but witnesses said the shooting may have occurred farther north, closer to 8th and R Streets NW.

D.C. Fire/EMS spokesperson Pete Piringer confirmed that the victim had suffered a gunshot wound and was being transported to a nearby hospital, but the extent of the victim's injuries is still unknown. At least six or seven shots rang out at the time of the shooting.

Police were on the lookout for one or possibly two suspects who fled on foot in the area. We'll update when we know more.

Ansel Adams Murals Installed at Dept. of the Interior

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-11T14:17:04-05:00

The Big Room at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, photograph by Ansel Adams courtesy the Department of the Interior.

Cool news for Ansel Adams fans here in D.C.: the U.S. Department of the Interior has installed 26 never-before displayed photographic murals taken by the famed American photographer. The images are now on display on the first and second floors of the department's headquarters, located at 1849 C Street NW.

The murals were originally commissioned back in 1941, specifically for display inside the Interior building, by then-Interior Secretary Harold Ickes. But when World War II broke out, the department abruptly canceled the project and never installed the photographs. Current Secretary Ken Salazar later decided to complete the project, and unveiled them at a reception Wednesday night.

Some of the iconic sites depicted in the murals include the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Saguaro National Monument and the Boulder Dam. You can view all 26 of the images here.

D.C. hasn't exactly been suffering for a lack of Ansel Adams exhibits of late. The Corcoran hosted a large solo exhibition in 2007, and the American Art Museum paired Adams' work with Georgia O'Keefe's in 2008.

Emerge Exposed Panel Discussion Next Tuesday

Heather Goss — 2010-03-11T12:35:40-05:00

While you can still stroll through the DCist Exposed Photography Show anytime during Long View Gallery's regular hours until March 21, we still have one more big event before the show closes. Pink Line Project's fantastic Emerge Exposed: Photography for the Emerging Collector panel discussion is back for its third year, featuring three great people from the local art community who will discuss that other side of the art exhibit: purchasing a piece for your very own. Art buying can be a confusing, intimidating task if you've never done it before, so the panel will give you tips and ideas and be available for all your questions, including information about framing, image quality, and heck, how do you even know what you like enough to actually take home with you?

Join us next Tuesday, March 16 at 7 p.m. to listen to George Hemphill, owner of the eponymous fine art gallery on 14th Street NW and board member of FotoweekDC (he also represents one of my absolute favorite photographers, Hiroshi Sugimoto), Leena Jayaswal, Associate Professor at American University and head of the school's photography concentration, and Max Hirshfeld, a locally based, acclaimed photographer. Philippa Hughes from the Pink Line Project will moderate. Buy your tickets for $8 in advance or $10 at the door. This event has sold out the last two years, so we recommend grabbing a ticket soon!

Photo of the Day: March 11, 2010

Andrew Chriss — 2010-03-11T12:05:48-05:00

The shot is a bit unsteady, the ripples in the water evoke an analog over-the-air signal, and the lighting is murky. But misterbeck's fisherman captures the serenity of casting a line into our region's waterways, hoping for the perfect catch (that you'll hopefully throw back and rigorously wash your hands after touching). EXIF.

Police Searching for Escaped Prisoner

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-11T11:57:01-05:00

D.C. Police are searching for an inmate who managed to escape while he was being transported to United Medical Center Thursday morning.

The prisoner, Terrence Moore, was inside a transport van when he kicked open the doors ~~and fled on foot~~, still wearing a prison jumpsuit ~~and restraints~~. The escape took place around 9 a.m. just outside the hospital center in Southeast.

Moore is described as a 28-year-old black male, 5'10", approximately 200 lbs, with braids in his hair.

UPDATE:Police have since revised their earlier statements that Moore fled on foot and that he was still wearing restraints when he escaped. Authorities now say Moore was somehow able to get out of his handcuffs, and that after he escaped the truck, he jumped into a burgundy colored Cadillac, bearing D.C. license plate CX3623. They also now say the prison jumpsuit Moore was wearing was a two-piece and was navy in color. Previously, police described Moore's prison clothing as either red or orange.

Anyone who sees Moore or the car he took is asked to call 911.

Conan O'Brien Tour to Stop in D.C. on June 8

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-11T11:05:28-05:00

Twitter is absolutely freaking out right now about Conan O'Brien's just announced "The Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour," which will indeed be stopping in Washington, D.C., on June 8 at DAR Constitution Hall. Billed as "a night of music, comedy, hugging, and the occasional awkward silence," we're envisioning a sort of Conan Unplugged extravaganza, with sketches, performances and surely some special celebrity guests. In other words: yes, please.

Tickets to the show range from $39.50 to $79.50, plus the inevitable Ticketmaster fees, which, despite our deep and abiding love for Coco, strikes us as a bit steep for a guy who just got paid $40 million not to work for nine months. Hopefully he's sharing all that loot, and bringing along for the ride, his now outta work TV crew.

UPDATE: Indeed! It appears Conan won't be taking a dime of the tour's proceeds, which will instead go toward simply employing the bulk of his former Tonight Show staff. We're sorry we ever doubted you, Coco.

Presented By:

2010-03-11T11:05:28-05:00

The Real World D.C.: The Morning After, Pts. 10 & 11

Martin Austermuhle — 2010-03-11T10:50:43-05:00

I know, I know -- we missed last week's episode of The Real World D(upont) C(ircle). But to make it up to fans of the show and the faithful readers of our re-caps (all 17 of you), this week's installment covers not one, but two episodes. Yes, friends, I ran a reality show marathon last night, and as a consequence today I'm dehydrated, cranky and chafing. (If you want an Ironman experience, read all of our past re-caps and then this one. In one sitting. I dare you.)

After the jump, in full bullet-point glory, the roommates give Ty an ultimatum, Andrew gets a girlfriend and Erika plays a sad, lonely song about her time in D.C. And of course, no episode would be complete without...Wicked Liquid.

Andrew down! Andrew down! Ty drunkenly pushed him off the front porch.

The roommates run down to check on Andrew, who seems to have landed on his head and side.

They're grabbing his head as they ask if he's OK. Really, did no one take even a basic First Aid class? You never grab someone's head if you think they landed on it!

They take him inside and Callie calls 911. "Do not move him," says dispatcher. Well, a little late to not do that.

Pretty much everyone is pissed at Ty, especially Emily. She's yelling.

EMS shows up, and they take Andrew away on a stretcher with his neck in a brace.

Josh is totally gonna write a song with Wicked Liquid about this. It's gonna be a hot jam.

Emily is upset, and she keeps referring to Andrew as "panda." Butterstick would not approve.

Andrew goes to GW Hospital, is let out the next morning with a neck brace. His discharge papers say that nothing was wrong with him, spare the "Acute Alcohol Intoxication."

House meeting to deal with Ty. Will he stay, or will he go?

Ty apologizes, Andrew accepts it and says everything's cool. So house meeting over? Not by a long shot.

Callie is worried, Ashley disappointed, Josh thinks there are two Ty's, Erika doesn't trust him.

He needs to seek help or stop drinking. Emily will make the final call -- will Ty have to leave the house?

Andrew starts defending Ty: "If anyone should stay, it should be him," roars Andrew in some weird half-grunt, half-scream. Must be panda-speak.

Ty promises not to get drunk in the house anymore. Ha! Loophole. He only said he wouldn't drink in the house. Nicely played, sir.

Ty goes for an interview with the Caps. He looks sharp.

Ty is wearing a tie. Get it? Funny, right? Whatever -- there's another episode-and-a-half of slapstick comedy coming your way.

The Caps want to penetrate the Baltimore market, and since Ty is from there, who better for the job? I'll tell you who -- Jimmy McNulty, that's who. Or Stringer Bell. Maybe Bunk, or Bubbles. Yeah, I've watched The Wire. I know Baltimore.

The roomies head to another pool party at the Capitol Skyline Hotel, but Ty awkwardly sits around drinking nothing but Red Bull. So instead of being drunk, he's hyperactive. Awesome.

William, Andrew's younger brother, comes to visit. It's the sexual predator and his mini-me.

Wicked Liquid is rehearsing in the house.

They all head out on the town again, and -- gasp! -- Ty has a drink. Ashley catches him, but doesn't much care. Emily, on the other hand, is not happy.

She reminds of the house meeting, he plays dumb. Ty claims there's a difference between how he drank then and how he drinks now. Time elapsed between the two? About 36 hours. People sure change fast, huh?

After another night out, Ty and Emily have a fight about Ty's drinking. He denies ever having said he wouldn't drink anymore.

Oh right, like there aren't 15 cameras recording every move in the house that couldn't be consulted on the spot to see what was really said.

Emily says that if he drinks again, he's out of the house.

Now Andrew and Emily fight. Andrew is defending Ty. Emily should know not to fight with pandas. They might look cuddly, but they eat people.

OK, so I've noticed bottles of Sweet Leaf Iced-Tea everywhere in the house. Clever product placement, or did the producers make a run to Costco and comeback with nothing but 96-packs of the stuff?

Phew! We're halfway through this, people. Stretch your legs, get a sip of water and buckle down for what's to come.

Andrew, the sexual predator panda, meets a woman named Andrea at a bar.
She comes to the house, they hang out, but she doesn't stay over.
The roomies head off to RFK for a D.C. United game, with matching United jerseys to boot! Our own Kyle Gustafson actually spotted this going down at the time.
Erika isn't having a good time. She's pouting. :-(
And no, they're not sitting with the real D.C. United fans, who would likely perform a ritual mass sacrifice and offer the dismembered bodies of the roommates to the soccer gods as plea for a victorious season.
Back at home, Erika is still sad, and she plays some sad songs on the piano. :-(
Andrew is getting ready for a date with Andrea. "All I'm good for is multiple orgasms," he says. "It's my lot in life."
Andrew and Andrea go to Bodega on M Street. They make out right outside of the restaurant.
MTV commercial -- "Only three episodes of The Real World D.C. left!" Believe it or not, I'm a little bummed. It's like Stockholm Syndrome here, and I've come to enjoy my Wednesday nights with my reality TV captors.
No, I'm totally kidding. MTV could have fake blown-up the house after episode two and I would have been happy.
Andrew and Andrea are in the hot tub, and she admits that she was once married.
The roommates want to know if Andrew and Andrea are boyfriend-girlfriend. "Is panda getting tamed?" asks Emily.
Double entendre of the day: Andrew says he should break it off "before it gets infected."
Andrew admits that his Mom cheated on his Dad, and that's why he can't get close to women.
Erika, Callie and Ashley head to Busboys and Poets for a night out. A singer/songwriter is performing, and Erika totally wants to be her.
Andrew is sick, so Andrea comes over with a care package for him.
Erika finds out she might have a job opportunity at NPR covering music. :-)
Andrea is over again, and Andrew calls her his girlfriend.
He's wearing a D.C. kickball shirt. How appropriate.
More cutesy shots of Andrew and Andrea.
"Stalker, I get that a lot," admits Andrew.
Andrew jokes about them finding a place together, and Andrea gets a little annoyed. She tells Mike she's falling fast for Andrew.
Interesting aside -- Andrea actually auditioned to be on the D.C. cast. Do you think she's being sincere? Was she a plant by the producers? We report, you decide. (Oh screw it, I totally think she was planted.)
Callie goes to the East Potomac Park pool to take pictures for the Washington Blade. Erika is jealous and sad. :-(
NPR turns Erika down. She's sadder than before. :-(
Andrew is still torn over whether he's really into Andrea as his girlfriend or not. "Any guy that has a girlfriend has betrayed the race of man," he says.
Andrea is doing a night with her girls, so Andrew hits the town with Josh and Ty.
Andrew plays wingman to Josh and his beast, and they bring a girl home from the bar.
They go into the confessional together. Andrea comes over. Drama! :-O
Andrea finds out the other girl is over, but waits upstairs. The other girl talks smack on Andrea, but Andrew goes upstairs to see her.
They work things out, and Andrew calls Andrea his girlfriend. <3
Hey, what the heck happened with the betraying the race of men speech? I broke up with my girlfriend after hearing that and now you change your mind? Traitor.
Erika is still sad, and she says she wants to leave the house. (This would be the second time she's threatened to bail.)
Callie gets mad at Erika, telling her that she's not trying and that she's taking their friendship for granted. >:-(
Damn, Callie's a good motivational speaker. Erika changes her mind, and I feel emboldened to lose weight, learn to play the guitar and follow my dreams of opening a small French bistro called "Je Ne Sais Quail" in the Bay Area.
"No one is scripting us, no one is telling us what to do," says Callie, one of eight people who signed a contract telling them where to live and where they should go out, not to mention having producers greasing the skids for plum internships that the rest of us could only have wished for at that age. Yeah, you guys are free as birds, Callie.
Erika decides to stay. :-)

That's it. Over the last two hours my emotions have been toyed with, Andrew convinced me to break up with my girlfriend and Callie moved me to quit my job. What a night.

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Morning Roundup: Where There's Smoke Edition

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-11T10:15:48-05:00

Photo by ep_jhu

Good morning, Washington. I'm no lawyer, but I have to guess that this country's system of government doesn't really allow states to simply opt out of whatever federal legislation they don't feel like complying with. Virginia has become the first state to see its legislature pass a bill that would ban the federal health insurance mandate in the commonwealth, and Gov. Bob McDonnell has naturally pledged to sign it. Casting aside the fact that Congress still hasn't managed to take a final vote on health-care reform, individual mandate or not, this move by Virginia seems unlikely to hold up over the long term, and will instead merely force an endless series of expensive lawsuits. Any constitutional scholars out there in the commentariat care to weigh in on this one?

Fenty OK's Two Smoking Exemptions: It's official, both the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick dinner and Fight Night will be allowed to offer guests the chance to smoke cigars indoors, now that Mayor Fenty has signed off on the bill, as the Post reports. Fenty, who had been a vocal proponent of the city's smoking ban, is taking just a small amount of heat for going along with the proposal, which was spearheaded by his close ally, Jack Evans (D-Ward 2).

EMS Crew Disciplined Over Failure to Take Woman to Hospital: The EMS crew involved in the Kimberly Kelsey case has been disciplined for failing to take Kelsey to the hospital after she called 911 complaining of having trouble breathing on December 22, WUSA9's Dave Statter reports. No word exactly what punishment the crew received, but Statter also reports that just like in the case of the toddler who died last month, no patient care report was filled out on the initial response.

Briefly Noted: Capitol Hill's Tyler Elementary School field has become a battleground between dog owners and youth athletic groups ... Total marriage license applications in the first week that same-sex couples could apply: 466. A normal week? Maybe 50. ... Alexandria man's death in Va. hospital being investigated as homicide ... Prince George's police officer, 27, dies after car crash

This Day in DCist: In 2009, the Dorchester Market was forced to close, and in 2008, a couple of Hollywood movies were being filmed around town.

Last Night's Action: A Healthy Rotation

Aaron Morrissey — 2010-03-11T00:00:06-05:00

Tomas Fleischmann (R): What, me worry? (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Capitals 4, Hurricanes 3 (OT): For the second game in a row, the Capitals blew a 2-0 lead. But this time, they pulled it out in overtime, the first time in the last four extra session matches they've got the full two points. Jose Theodore, despite letting in three goals, made many key saves, including a stop on a penalty shot in the first period. Mike Green added a pair of power-play tallies, and Alex Semin scored his 31st goal of the season. The game-winner came from Tomas Fleischmann, his 19th goal of the year -- no tiny haul. But Flash -- who didn't play in Monday's 4-3 loss to Dallas -- suddenly finds himself a man fighting for a roster spot on a team full of offensive weapons. "If the circumstances weren't what they are, he wouldn't be sitting out," head coach Bruce Boudreau said of Fleischmann. "We'll keep rotating guys in and out of the lineup. The players don't like it, but they understand it." Fleischmann scored 14 of his goals in his first 25 games this season, but only five in his last 30. The natural reaction is feel bad for Fleischmann, who's certainly been a fine servant for this team this season. But if you take the angle that an even rotation could recharge the batteries heading into the playoffs, it certainly is much easier to understand, probably even for those who have to share time.

Exhibition Roundup: United win rather impressively on the road in Mexico, Nationals lose 6-4 against St. Louis to push their spring record, including split-squad games, to 0-8.

Go Home Already: On the Edge

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-10T18:02:03-05:00

Photo by zanyasan

Over at City Desk, Jason Cherkis visits D.C. General, which is now the city's biggest shelter for homeless families. What he found is not pretty, "a near chaotic place overcrowded with families and their belongings spilling from trash bags. One described some of the private rooms as replete with trash and clothes, and pot being smoked at the building's entrance. Rainda Brown, 34, complains about the mold in the stairwell, and says that the heat does not work in the private room she shares with her daughter. They've had to double up on blankets at night."
Vox Populi covers Mayor Fenty's presser on the city's successful (after a fashion) attempt to shut down late night carryout Philly Pizza in Georgetown. ...'"his podium positioned near where tipsy freshman used to sit down to enjoy their pizza with ranch, Fenty congratulated ANC Commissioners Bill Starrels and Ed Solomon for their work to "shut down a nuisance business … causing havoc in the community."'
Via the Washington Business Journal, Postmaster General John Potter told Bloomberg Radio today that having mail delivered only three days a week, as some consultants had suggested, was out of the question.
The Atlantic's Joshua Green finds evidence that Eric Massa has a history of "unwanted advances" going back to his days in the Navy. Two words you never wanted to see side by side but will nevertheless not be able to erase from your mind: "Massa Massages."
Tommy Wells tweets that an ALDI grocery store will be moving into the Hechinger Mall on Benning Road NE by November.
Weird random crime in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, as a woman unknown to her assailants allegedly tried to snatch and grab two children from a stroller Monday evening, the Post reports. The suspect was arrested a short time later.

Norton Still Hoping to Bring Voting Rights Bill to the Floor

Martin Austermuhle — 2010-03-10T17:05:08-05:00

Photo by Laura Padgett

Despite increasingly long odds, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton says she is still trying to push the D.C. House Voting Rights Act through Congress.

Norton recently told WAMU that she's at this very minute working with the House Rules Committee to finally bring the legislation to a vote. "We are close to the point where we will be taking this bill to the floor. We're working on odds and ends of the kind you always have to put to bed before a bill goes to the floor," she's quoted as saying.

The legislation was tabled last June when the Democratic leadership couldn't find a way to remove a GOP-led amendment that would have gutted the District's gun laws. The Senate passed the bill, gun amendment and all, last February. That amendment, which has ever since plagued efforts to push the measure forward, divided city officials and pundits last year, with Mayor Adrian Fenty and WTOP Political Analyst Mark Plotkin arguing that the city should just accept it and deal with it later, while others, Norton included, continued pushing for a clean bill. As recently as late January, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said he still didn't see a way forward on the bill due to this lack of consensus.

So has anything changed, or is Norton merely trying to pretend like there's finally been a breakthrough? Even DC Vote, which loudly advocated for the bill for years, seems to be unsure. The organization is planning an advocacy day for April 16, to coincide with D.C. Emancipation Day, but they're not yet able to say whether they'll be stumping for the voting rights bill or for a number of other bills dealing with legislative and budgetary autonomy that are floating around on the Hill.

In somewhat related news, the D.C. Council's Special Committee on Statehood and Self-Determination decided this week to scrap plans for a National Statehood Day on April 16 and instead focus their efforts on celebrating the 148th year since Abraham Lincoln freed slaves in the District, nine months before he did so in the rest of the country.

Album Review: Title Tracks -- It Was Easy

Valerie Paschall — 2010-03-10T16:25:48-05:00

It Was Easy is probably the best title John Davis could have settled on for the debut recording from his newest project, Title Tracks. The album is a quick listen, full of breezy, light-hearted pop songs that recall the tempo, attitude and 1960s/70s influence of his most recent band, Georgie James. It also seems to describe the effortlessness with which these songs were written. Neither his skill in creating hooks nor his use of Ted Leo-esque guitar riffs (like the one that opens the album) come as much of a surprise to those who have been following his music for the past ten years.

The biggest problem with It Was Easy is that while it's an album full of uptempo melodies, too many of the songs don't command immediate attention. Songs like opener "Every Little Bit Hurts" and "Steady Love" are plenty hummable, but it's only upon multiple listens that most of the other tracks, like "Piles of Paper" and "Hello There," start to reveal their haunting key changes and beautifully crafted harmonies. Then there are songs like "At Fifteen" and the title track, which very nearly die on the vine. On the whole, It Was Easy needs several listens to appreciate fully, but even longtime fans of Davis could give up before they get there.

Still, those nuances are there if you take the time to look. The saxophone part in "No, Girl" and some infectious bass lines add depth to the guitar driven record. Davis also deviates from expectations with songs like his cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Tougher than the Rest," which sounds almost alt-country. And anyone who has missed Davis' drumming since 2005 will be glad to know that several impressive drum fills are tucked in here and there.

This album marks Davis establishing his point of view as a solo artist, and It Was Easy's hook-heavy fare (along with some creative swearing) indicates Davis may well have the chops to be the heir apparent to A.C. Newman (even as live Title Tracks shows in the past year have hinted at more of a Buzzcocks sound). But it's the surprises on this album that show that we still haven't learned all we have to know about the musical direction of John Davis.

Google Maps Adds Bicycle Directions

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-10T15:24:24-05:00

Google today unveiled its long-awaited bicycle directions feature for Google Maps.

To access Google's suggested bike routes, choose "Bicycling" from the pull-down menu in your directions results. Google says the tool prioritizes bike trails and bike lanes, while avoiding steep hills and busy intersections. Mapping results also offer a layer of designated bike trails and lanes, shown in green.

Here's just one example of bicycle directions results vs. driving results for the same trip via Google:

In regular car-based driving directions from the Tidal Basin to Roosevelt Island, Google suggests taking Ohio Drive to I-395, then exiting on to the George Washington Parkway.

But in the bicycle results, it puts you on to the Mt. Vernon Trail.

Other cycling route map generators already exist, like Ride the City, but it's certainly nice to be able to quickly compare bike vs. car vs. walking within Google Maps. That said, Google's new feature is still in Beta, and reviewers like Rob Pegoraro at the Post are already finding problem areas, like the omission of 15th Street's new contraflow bike lane. If you notice a bike lane or trail missing from the map, you can tell Google about it via this form.

Gay Couple to Get Married at Ben & Jerry's in Georgetown

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-10T14:15:35-05:00

First Hello Cupcake, and now Ben & Jerry's joins the list of dessert purveyors helping D.C. gay couples celebrate their newly granted marriage freedoms.

Keith Spangler and Andreas Vellios plan to exchange vows inside the Georgetown Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop on Thursday. Rev. Lance Orndorff will officiate the ceremony, but the couple will also be celebrating with the actual Jerry -- Jerry Greenfield, the co-founder of Ben & Jerry's -- who plans to be in attendance to offer a toast and say a few words about his company's history of promoting social justice.

After the wedding ceremony, Spangler and Vellios will welcome family and friends to share in their happiness, and enjoy, what else, some ice cream cake. We assume it'll be made with the Hubby Hubby flavor.

Local marriage equality champion D.C. Council member David Catania and Freedom to Marry director Michael Crawford, who have both been attending a veritable marathon of same-sex unions this week, will also be on hand for a few congratulatory remarks.

Arts Agenda

Heather Goss — 2010-03-10T13:30:06-05:00

Image of "Attachment" by Amy Lin, courtesy Addison/Ripley Fine Art

If you missed the big bash for the DCist Exposed Photography Show opening last Saturday, see it without the crowds at Long View Gallery Wednesdays though Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays, 12 to 6 p.m. through March 21. The Pink Line Project will hold their popular panel discussion, Emerge Exposed, featuring tips and ideas for new art buyers, at the gallery next Tuesday at 7 p.m. Get tickets in advance for $8.

>> Amy Lin is the artist-about-town this month. You can see her manic, yet flowy dot drawings at the ongoing On/Off the Grid at Irvine Contemporary, and this weekend you can see even more in her solo show, Kinetics, opening at Addison/Ripley Fine Art. Reception Saturday, 5 to 7 p.m.

>> Catch a screening of the 1922 vampire classic Nosferatu, with a live score by the Thad Wilson Group, at the Reynolds Center McEvoy Auditorium on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Free, but it's sure to fill up so arrive early.

>> Celebrate Honfleur Gallery's third anniversary this Friday by attending the opening reception for Three, featuring the abstract paintings of three local artists. On the second level, see John K. Lawson's portraits in Now and Then. Around the corner from Honfleur, The Gallery at Vivid Solutions opens an exhibit of large format photographs in La Femme da Vine. Both receptions start at 7 p.m.

>> The Hirshhorn opens ColorForms this Thursday, celebrating the use and development of color in art over the last 60 years. See the work in the lower level galleries. And it must be spring, because tickets are on sale for the first Hirshhorn After Hours of the year. Get 'em quick, this event always sells out. April 9, $18.

>> The Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery discovers how your visual and olfactory senses work together in Scents & Medical Sensibility, using paintings along with aromatic oils. Opening Thursday, 6 to 8 p.m.

>> Head north on the Red Line on Friday for the monthly Bethesda Art Walk, 6 to 9 p.m. Definitely make a stop at Fraser Gallery for the opening of the 9th Annual International Photography Competition. Gallery Neptune opens an exhibit featuring Freya Grand

>> The DC Commission on Art and the Humanities will hold their monthly Art Salon at the Historical Society of Washington this Thursday, 7 to 9 p.m., featuring performances by Dolores Kendrick, Holly Bass, and The Saartjie Project and artwork by Soloman Wondimu and Dr. Floyd Coleman. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. sharp, RSVP to dccahevents@gmail.com.

>> Figure out what Project 4 means by "revealing idiosyncrasies of the artist's mind...fantastical realms arise in conjunction with existing curiosities and tension" at the opening reception for The Fantastical, a group show featuring five artists, on Saturday, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

>> The National Geographic Museum opens Sacred Waters on Saturday, featuring John Stanmeyer's photographs from around the world, showing the "many ways different cultures relate spiritually to water."

>> The Art League is one of the launch sites for the state-wide Minds Wide Open: Virginia Celebrates Women in the Arts. Stop by Thursday after 6:30 p.m. for presentations by Torpedo Factory women artists, exhibits and dance performances, and more.

>> At the Freer Gallery, visit one of the only Buddhist shrine rooms in the country starting Saturday, featuring the unique and ornate work of Tibetan artists.

>> Every second Thursday of the month, Hillyer features V.O.I.C.E.S, an event to raise funds and awareness for grassroots organizations in Africa that support youth empowerment, development and leadership through the arts. Stop by between 6 and 8:30 p.m. for music, performances, food and more. $5.

>> See CityDance perform Catalyst in their U.S. season finale this weekend. Saturday, 8 p.m. and Sunday, 4 p.m.

Art Notes:

Join Civilian Art Projects tonight for a reading by the Al-Mutanabbi Street Coalition, including Reading Lolita in Tehran author Azar Nafisi. 7:30 p.m.
The big G40 event continues in Crystal City all month. See this week's events here.
Habatat Galleries in Tyson's Corner has an opening Thursday, 7 to 9 p.m.
Washington Studio School near Dupont has an opening for a graduation exhibit by student Sally Levie. Friday, 6 to 8 p.m.
Gallery Plan B has an opening for Persona Grata this Saturday, 6 to 8 p.m.
The Adam Lister Gallery opens Unforgettable on Friday, 6 to 9 p.m.
Head to the Kreeger Museum for the first of a two-part lecture on cubism, Thursday, 6:30 to 8 p.m. The second is on March 25.

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D.C. Unemployment Holds at 12.0 Percent in January

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-10T13:20:28-05:00

January unemployment figures are out today, and D.C.'s Department of Employment Services puts the District's number at 12.0 percent. That's up ever so slightly -- 0.1 percentage points -- over December, as DOES now says the previous month saw an 11.9 percent jobless rate. But note that December's figure has been revised since it was first reported. Initially, December appeared to have marked a new record, with 12.1 percent of the city's population unemployed. The revised figure instead puts December on par with October 2009.

Nationally, January's unemployment rate was 9.7 percent, compared to 10.0 percent in December.

Suspicious Package at 18th & K

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-10T13:08:21-05:00

Police, fire and hazmat crews responded at about 12:50 p.m. to a report of a suspicious package that was delivered to an office at 1850 K Street NW.

Early reports indicate the package was sent to the offices of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, located on the sixth floor of the building. That office has been evacuated, but no word yet on whether the rest of the building will also be cleared.

We'll update as we learn more.

2:22 p.m. D.C. Fire/EMS tweets that this scene has been cleared with no hazard found.

View 1850 K St NW in a larger map

Photo of the Day: March 10, 2010

Samer Farha — 2010-03-10T12:00:10-05:00

Spring is definitely in the air, but it's still on the cool side. That didn't stop this gentleman from having a seat outside at Eastern Market to enjoy a brief respite from the grey and cold. JeffreyBo caught him, scarf and all, sitting and taking it all in. (EXIF)

Presented By:

2010-03-10T12:00:10-05:00

Speed Restrictions Contributing to Metro Delays

Sommer Mathis — 2010-03-10T11:48:40-05:00

Photo by Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie

The standard spiel from WMATA for the past eight months has been that the switch to manual operation after the June 22 Red Line crash has been the source of nearly all rider woes since then. Jerky stops and starts? It's the manual operation. Longer headways between trains? Related to manual operation. Overcrowded train cars when they do come? Metro is just less efficient in manual operation.

The Examiner's Kytja Weir today takes a closer look at Metro performance over the past eight months, and finds there's actually another factor that's also to blame: self-imposed speed restrictions. Ever wonder why your train seems to slow down to a crawl in certain parts of the tunnel, only to speed back up again shortly thereafter? Turns out there are dozens of spots in the Metrorail system where speed restrictions have been imposed lately, according to an internal Metro report Weir got her hands on.

Some operators say manual operations are being used as an excuse for a broader trend of increasingly bad track problems -- many of them found after the crash when a track circuit failed to show a train stopped on the tracks.

The number of speed restrictions varies, as does the length of time it takes to solve the underlying problem on the aging system. Metro said it had 36 speed restrictions Tuesday, down from the 59 listed on the Feb. 16 internal report.

This just rings as undeniably true for regular Metro riders. As Interim General Manager Richard Sarles prepares to take charge of the troubled transit agency, he's confronted with a system that's rapidly deteriorating, no longer providing reliable service, and under fire for poor safety controls. Whether Sarles will even have time to attempt to strike a balance between keeping safety a number one priority and getting the trains running smoothly again remains to be seen, but it will be a key measure of the success or failure of whomever ends up in the job in the long term.