January 8, 2007
The Weekly Feed: Little Cat Feed Edition
Tom Chats It Up
Fishbowl DC decided it was high time to figure out what was lurking underneath Postie Tom Sietsema's mysterious fisog. Though they were unable to get him to reveal his disguises, they did show us a side of Tom we may not have seen before. For instance, did you know that he likes the letter "T" best, buys his coffee from a San Francisco roaster (we're guessing either Blue Bottle or Peerless), and has a tie fetish? He describes G.I. Joe as having a "Mona Lisa smile" and a "sense of humor," which probably suits him well when he volunteers to read for third-graders.
The interview is worth a look; it's far more interesting than Mark Halperin's (who can't live without Pert), but not as interesting as Greta van Susteren's (who wants to work on Animal Planet, and has "Hello Dolly" as her cell phone ring). It's also good to know that Tom could find time to give you home design tips while wading through his daily e-mail, since his bathroom is painted "Coastal Fog," which falls between "Yosemite Sand" and "Big Bend Beige." Had it been me, I would have gone with "Shenandoah Taupe," Tom. Either that or "Martinsburg Black Lung."
Gridskipper Rates the Power Spots
Now that the Democrats have taken control on Capitol Hill, they're changing the rules willy-nilly so the lobbyists in town will have the appearance of less influence. One such change is that lobbyists can no longer take Members of Congress or their staffers out to meals. Sorry, starving staffers. Oh wait! They can still take them out to lunch as long as it's for a fundraiser, and not a policy matter. Way to take the high road, Pelosi.
Anyway, Gawker Media's traveling jones, Gridskipper, drops a list of power-lunch spots on us just as lobbyists are frantically cutting checks to hand over while they're talking about their appropriations request. Included in the list of top power eateries are Old Ebbitt Grille, The Oval Room, Signatures (which is now D'Acqua, see below), the Capital Grille, Cafe Milano, The Palm, The Monocle, the Four Seasons, The Prime Rib, and—curiously—Union Pub. Generally not a bad list, though not too many Members are making the trek for a leisurely meal at the Four Seasons or The Prime Rib. Missing from this list are Johnny's Half Shell, Bistro Bis, and Charlie Palmer Steak, all of which make the list on location alone. Though not power lunch spots, they also left off the places you'd be able to nab the staff who run the show, like Neb's Coffee on 2nd and D Streets NE, Tortilla Coast, the whole string of House-side bars, and Sonoma. If you're looking for a brush with power, or want to personally thank Bob Casey for deposing Rick Santorum, just wander the basements of the Hill office buildings; you'll be amazed how many Congressmen get their own coffee at the Starbucks in Longworth.
Small Bites
Restaurant Week Reminder
It's Restaurant Week again Washington, and the list of restaurants is longer than ever. You still have time to make reservations for the 20.07 lunch or 30.07 dinner. Start dialing!
Burrito Deathmatch!
Jay over at DCFud lets us in on the battle of the K Street Burrito stands, one of the few worthwhile food cart options in Washington. These two burrito carts both have pretty good fare, just as good as any of your chain options, but I think the vegetarian-only cart on 15th and K (Pedro and Vinny's) takes the tortilla. Man, those bean and cheese burritos are fantastic. Check out the reviews from Don Rockwell, Metblogs, Burrito Blog, and the sundressed overheard-ees from our own stable.
Penn Quarter Changes Underway
Tom dishes about the opening of D'Acqua in the old Signatures space alongside the Navy Memorial. By focusing on fish and other sea fruits instead of catering to erstwhile pre-felons, I hope D'Acqua can overcome the curse of its space at 801 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. With Francesco Ricchi (formerly of I Ricchi and Cesco Trattoria) and Enzo Febbraro (Cafe Milano) at the helm, it shouldn't be too hard. Check them out this week for Restaurant Week if you're curious.
Fog photo from brownpau.
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Now that the Democrats have taken control on Capitol Hill, they're changing the rules willy-nilly so the lobbyists in town will have the appearance of less influence.
Oh, how cynical! You should move to Wyoming and write a manifesto!
Let me guess: you haven't a clue what the lobbying reform bill contains. Thought so.
Um, Adam is a lobbyist and knows what he's talking about. Maybe you can find a sense of humor.
IBC, looks like I touched a nerve, there. The item on the House rules was just a way to introduce the paragraph, not a exegesis of H Res 6. In seriousness, I think the rules are a step in the right direction, but aren't nearly stringent enough, but I'm not that concerned about them.
As for cynicism, you must be new to D.C. Welcome!
Um, I wasn't speaking to the humorlessness of his snarky, knee-jerk characterization ("changing the rules willy-nilly" purely for the sake of "appearance"; "way to take the high road"), although it's no funnier than what you hear on right-wing talk radio every day from Limbaugh, or any one of a number of demagoguing jackasses who make a living lambasting "them Fat Cats in Warshington".
Here's another take on the recent rules changes:
Under the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the House in a single day approved some of the most critical new ethics rules changes seen in a decade. Lobbyists, and organizations that employ them, are now banned from giving gifts of any value to members of Congress and their staff; prohibited from arranging or paying for congressional travel, except for one-day trips to make a speech or attend a conference; and barred from flying on private corporate jets for campaign purposes, personal trips and travel connected to official duties. Further, the growing wave of earmarks in appropriations and tax bills must be identified with a specific congressional sponsor.
Nearly all of these reforms were rebuked by the House and the Senate last year. Following the November elections, the same reforms were adopted by a near-unanimous vote of 430-to-1, with Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) as the lone dissenting vote.
(http://www.cleanupwashington.org/lobbying)
Granted, this is from the Public Citizen website--a notorious front organization for the DLC--and in no way more credible than Adam: An Actual Real Life Lobbyist Who Likes To Eat Tasty Food.
Um, I wasn't speaking to the humorlessness of his snarky, knee-jerk characterization ("changing the rules willy-nilly" purely for the sake of "appearance"; "way to take the high road"), although it's no funnier than what you hear on right-wing talk radio every day from Limbaugh, or any one of a number of demagoguing jackasses who make a living lambasting "them Fat Cats in Warshington".
Here's another take on the recent rules changes:
Under the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), the House in a single day approved some of the most critical new ethics rules changes seen in a decade. Lobbyists, and organizations that employ them, are now banned from giving gifts of any value to members of Congress and their staff; prohibited from arranging or paying for congressional travel, except for one-day trips to make a speech or attend a conference; and barred from flying on private corporate jets for campaign purposes, personal trips and travel connected to official duties. Further, the growing wave of earmarks in appropriations and tax bills must be identified with a specific congressional sponsor.
Nearly all of these reforms were rebuked by the House and the Senate last year. Following the November elections, the same reforms were adopted by a near-unanimous vote of 430-to-1, with Rep. Dan Burton (R-Ind.) as the lone dissenting vote.
(http://www.cleanupwashington.org/lobbying)
Granted, this is from the Public Citizen website--a notorious front organization for the DLC--and in no way more credible than Adam: An Actual Real Life Lobbyist Who Likes To Eat Tasty Food.
Adam, no. I think I've been here too long. Sorry about that last preposition. Re-reading it, I realize it sounds sharper than intended. For what it's worth, I like tasty food, too.