DCist

Go Home Already: Welcome to the Dollhouse

Sommer Mathis — 2009-07-06T19:10:06-05:00

Photo by Matt.Dunn

WTOP reports that D.C. police had been investigating threats against Marion Barry made by the ex-husband of Donna Watts-Brighthaupt prior to his weekend arrest on stalking charges.
Actor Kal Penn officially started his job at the White House, and Reliable Source reports he's using his real name, Kalpen Modi, on the job. The Borderstan blog previously reported that he'd moved into an apartment in the area between Dupont and Logan Circles. Kal told reporters today that he's taking Metrobus to work. One of us! One of us!
City Desk breaks down the latest All Hands on Deck numbers.
SWDC Blog updates with new photos of the ongoing Arena Stage construction. Looking good!
PoP notes that Solly's finally has a new window in place after a taxi crashed into it back in February.
Via Richard Layman, Ward 6's Tommy Wells is hosting a community meeting on the continued weekend closure of 7th Street SE at Eastern Market. Be heard on Tuesday July, 7 at Tyler Elementary School (1001 G Street SE) from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Georgetown Restaurant Nathan's to Close After 40 Years

Sommer Mathis — 2009-07-06T18:05:27-05:00

Carol Joynt, right, interviews D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier at a Q&A Cafe at Nathan's. The Georgetown restaurant will close for good on July 12.

It was just a month ago that Carol Joynt, the owner of Georgetown institution Nathan's, sent out word that after months (years, really) of speculation, the restaurant had managed to secure a lease extension, and would, it seemed, therefore stay open. But in an email to patrons late today, Joynt announced that Nathan's will suddenly be closing its doors for good on July 12. Joynt writes:

Dear Friends,

After 40 years of serving millions of happy and loyal customers, and opening its doors 365 days of every year, Nathans will close at last call on Sunday, July 12. This ends an era of delicious, interesting and often outrageous moments at what Zagat called "the quintessential Georgetown saloon."

We hope over the next week you will find the time to come in and enjoy a last drink and meal with us. We wish we could give it away, but economic reality is that we need your dollars. Also, if I may, I urge you to please be generous with the staff.

With a heavy heart and much gratitude,

Carol Joynt

So what happened? You can actually read all about it, from Joynt's perspective, on her web site, where she maintains a sort-of blog she calls Swimming in Quicksand.

For those unfamiliar with Joynt's story, she's actually a print and broadcast journalism veteran who inherited the restaurant from her late husband, J. Howard Joynt III, when he died suddenly in 1997. The story of why Nathan's is closing begins then, Joynt writes: "I inherited Nathans along with a mountain of debt, an IRS fraud case and a really tough lease. But then I didn't know much about anything at the beginning, except I wished to sell the place as fast as possible and escape with my life."

Getting out quickly wasn't to be, it turned out, but under Joynt's control, the restaurant found some new relevance by hosting the weekly Q&A Cafe, a lunch-included salon that offered Washingtonians a chance to sit in an intimate space with a well known newsmaker or politico while Joynt interviewed them.

On her blog, Joynt tells a story of not making enough money to afford the rent since back in 2001, going through a long battle with the building owners, eventually renegotiating, but then still coming up short.

"Basically, I looked at the future and did not see a way for us to make it without defaulting on the lease extension," Joynt said in an email.

Takoma Metro to Continue to Close at 10 p.m.

Sommer Mathis — 2009-07-06T17:29:47-05:00

WMATA says we should continue to expect the Takoma Metro station to close early, at 10 p.m., both tonight and Tuesday night. They've been issuing these warnings piece-meal as decisions are made, only giving us the status for the next couple of days at a time. Tuesday could be the last night of early closings due to the ongoing Red Line Crash investigation, or we could see another advisory on Tuesday for the rest of the week. We'll keep you posted.

DCist's July Theater Preview

Missy Frederick — 2009-07-06T17:07:44-05:00

It's July in D.C., and you know what that means -- you'll have your fill of festivals and musicals to choose from (if not necessarily much else) in the theater world. Here's what's on the horizon.

Prepare yourself -- you're about to be inundated with mini-reviews. The Capital Fringe Festival kicks off Thursday, and we've got a team of critics to bring you the highlights and low lights. Chris Klimek already got a glimpse of what's to come. (July 9).

If Fringe isn't your bag, there's always the Source Festival, which we gave you a rundown about last month -- the event continues through July 12.

And let's not forget the Hip Hop Theatre Festival which wraps up this Saturday.

As for those musicals? Olney has a new production of Ain't Misbehaving (July 8). The national tour of the innovative Spring Awakening is stopping at the Kennedy Center (July 7). And Wolf Trap brings you a production of the classic, 42nd St. (July 17).

Also this month:

Journeymen's entrant into the Fringe Festival is It's Not Easy Being Green (July 10).
Forum closes its season with dark play or stories for boys (July 11).
Second City stops at Woolly Mammoth with its show Barack Stars (July 14).
Studio Theatre has Fucking A on its SecondStage. (July 15).
Firebelly Productions offers its take on Hamlet (July 16).
Keegan goes crazy for One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (Jul 19).
Rorschach continues its condensed season with Dead City (July 19).
End your month with some Albee as American Century does Seascape (July 30).

Still Playing: Olney's The Glass Menagerie runs through July 12; July 19 is your last chance for Theater J's own take on The Seagull, Studio's production of Radio Golf, Olney's The Millionairess and Rorschach's twist-turning Brainpeople; Take the thrill ride that is Shakespeare Theatre's King Lear through July 26; Kennedy Center's star-fueled production of The Color Purple and Toby's take on Oklahoma! run into August.

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Weekly Music Agenda

Graham Hough-Cornwell — 2009-07-06T16:49:53-05:00

Wilco play at Wolftrap on Wednesday night with Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band.

MONDAY
>> Those revered veterans of indie rock, Sonic Youth, begin their two-night stand at the 9:30 Club tonight. They're on the road in support of their sixteenth studio album, The Eternal, just released on Matador last month. And while the Yoof may be the elder statesmen on the scene these days and that once-raw noise seems just a tad more sterile, their late-period catalog has shown remarkable consistency, guaranteeing at least one or two gems per release. 'Course, their 9:30 shows have been sold out for a good while now. Maybe some luck here? Doors 7 p.m., with openers Endless Boogie.

>> From Raleigh, NC come Bowerbirds -- no strangers to the District -- a delightfully quirky folk group to the Black Cat ~~Mainstage~~ Backstage. Their Hymns for a Dark Horse garnered very strong reviews when it came out two years back, and their newest one, Upper Air, actually sees release tomorrow -- a perfect opportunity to get a sneak preview of the disc, both live and on record. Mark Charles Heidinger -- aka Vandaveer -- joins them, and will hopefully be previewing some tunes from his upcoming LP, Divide and Conquer, out in August. Megafaun will be performing as well. Doors at 8 p.m., $12.

>> The weather's beautiful, and over at Fort Reno they'll be serving up Go Home Robot, Seamonsters, and Power Pirate. Free, 7:15 p.m.

>> Something of a quiet week around here, but Monday's actually kinda loaded. If you routinely take your roots tunes a little looser and more off the cuff than what the Black Cat has on offer (see above), then The Federal Reserve Collective hits the Iota Club and Cafe in Arlington with its First Mondays series. $5, Doors at 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY
>> In hindsight, it was kinda funny when the indie rock cognoscenti derisively labeled Wilco's Yankee Hotel Foxtrot -- surely their most difficult album up to that date -- as "dad rock." Little did they know how relaxed and comfortable the band could be, or exactly how much Steely Dan leader Jeff Tweedy was ingesting at the time. Sky Blue Sky, though, was a grower, and some of its prettier guitar passages sit well next to their undeniable fan favorites. Their latest, Wilco (The Album) may set the watermark for all-time rock self-awareness; rarely (never?) has a band used the self-title so sarcastically. The music within continues in the vein of Sky Blue Sky -- assured, pretty, occasionally kinda funny even. A set outside at Wolftrap with these guys? I can think of few better ways to spend a nice mid-summer evening. Conor Oberst and his Mystic Valley Band should provide a pretty damn good reason to get there a little early with your (alcohol welcome!) picnic spread. Tickets start at $32 for the lawn, $38 inside. 8 p.m.

>> Ever since the Japandroids' lead single, "Young Hearts Spark Fire", snuck its way onto my iPod and into my warm, fuzz-loving heart, this show has been bookmarked on my calendar. Then one of the two dudes in the band -- and yes, all that ruckus is just two guys -- fell ill and the show was postponed. But they're back, coming to the intimate confines of DC9 in what is surely the sleeper show of the week. Eight bucks? Yes, please. With Slim Twig and Tennis System. Show at 9 p.m.

>> Anyone else think the new wave revival would fade as quickly as it started? The same bands that were all over the place four years ago may be a little less prominent these days, but the heavy synths and treated vocals seem to be here to stay. Bryan Scary and the Shredding Tears carry plenty of new wave influence without really beating you over the head with it, and they return to Washington, this time to play the Rock and Roll Hotel. Joining them will be newcomers Torches, including members of local faves the Cassettes and Travis Morrison and the Hellfighters. Doors at 8 p.m. $10.

THURSDAY
>> We don't hear from Bellflur enough these days. The area's resident Radiohead acolytes bring a healthy dose of weird to their twist on modern rock; as our own Valerie Paschall wrote a while back, "They'll rock out like they've found a way to reinterpret The Bends so that it fills every nook of a room." Plus, on Thursday, they're teaming with fellow Three Stars alums The Moderate. Vox Pop joins in on the fun too; doors at 9 p.m., $10.

>> If the weather holds, you'll be in for a nice night up at Fort Reno, with the always inspiring Imperial China and FFFever, who are gaining more buzz than we can even keep up with. As always, it starts promptly at 7:15 p.m.

FRIDAY
>> D.C. favorites The Dance Party nearly always bring a great crowd when they play around town, and they've loaded Friday night's bill with fellow (and recent) Three Stars alums Ra Ra Rasputin, as well as NYC's Tigercity (recently named as one to watch by Rolling Stone, for whatever that's worth) and catchy local popsters Casper Bangs. Doors at 8 p.m., $15.

>> Handsome Furs have never really been my thing — always preferred Dan Boeckner's more direct stuff with Wolf Parade. With Furs, Boeckner and his wife, Alexei Perry, join up to create synthy, dark songs quite different from the usual hubby-wife indie duos (a la Dean and Britta or The Rosebuds). Their latest, Face Control, got all kinds of great press when it came out — see for yourself this week at the Black Cat. With Dri and The Cinnamon Band. Doors at 9 p.m., $12.

The Handsome Furs, on tour in support of their new album Face Control, hit the Black Cat on Friday night.

>> Change of pace from some of the usual indie rock offerings as the great Roseanne Cash — Johnny's daughter — stops through Alexandria to play the Birchmere. Tickets are unfortunately very sold out, and, oddly enough, no tickets on Craigs List for sale. Perhaps she skews towards a pre-Craig demographic. Doors at 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY
>> Saturday's big show is the first ever at Nationals Park, and they've made it a big one. Elton John and Billy Joel reunite — they've toured together several times in the recent past — for a blockbuster show. Rumor has it that if they sell more than 35k seats for the show, the franchise will pressure Manny Acta into giving Joel a platoon in rightfield for the remainder of the season. Tickets start at $102. Incredible, especially when you see the seating chart. 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY
>> DC9 continues with another installment of its singer-songwriter night, The Nine. Justin Trawick's pet project features some of D.C.'s better musicians and should be well worth the $8 ticket. Doors at 8 p.m.

>> I wouldn't normally group Def Leppard and Poison with Cheap Trick, perhaps thee essential power pop band of the last 35 years, and also certainly one of its goofiest. The other two certainly have plenty of fans though, and there's probably some overlap in that demographic with Cheap Trick masterpieces "Surrender" and "Dream Police" (to name a few). How they got on this bill, however, is another story, though the answer is probably no stranger than the answer to how James Iha and one of the Hanson brothers recently hooked up with Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos to form Tinted Windows. This whole strange mess gets together at Nissan Pavilion on Sunday. Lawn seats start at $25. 7 p.m.

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So Far, Most Recent Barry Arrest Seems Unlikely to Add Up

Sommer Mathis — 2009-07-06T16:05:11-05:00

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcwashington.com/video.

We've joked in the past about how no jail can hold Marion "Mayor for Life" Barry, but so far this latest brush with the law for the current Ward 8 D.C. Council member does appear unlikely to come to anything beyond more embarrassing headlines.

Before today's fairly humdrum press conference with Barry's attorney, Fred Cooke (Barry himself did not say a word, and Cooke gave a more or less boilerplate denial: "It is our hope that a careful review of the facts and circumstances by the Office of the United States Attorney will lead that office to conclude that no charges should be formally filed or lodged against Mr. Barry," he said. See the video above, courtesy NBCwashington.com, for more), we knew that the alleged victim, Donna Watts-Brighthaupt, had already said that she doesn't plan on pressing charges. Watts-Brighthaupt did release a somewhat rambling public statement indicating she is irritated with Barry and resents the way his spokesperson portrayed her at Sunday's press conference, but mostly she just seems to be after an apology from Barry for having her ex-husband tossed out of the John A. Wilson Building during a recent event held at city hall.

It is hard, however, to make sense of Watts-Brighthaupt's repeated denials that Barry stalked her with this passage from her statement:

I have in my possession detailed accounts; evidence filled and factually based colorful presentation style addressed binders ready for release. It was hastily put together with the goal of further weakening Marion’s credibility in an attempt to strengthen mine. After consulting with my family and concerned friends, I’ve now decided this isn’t the battle to choose. My primary focus is on my health, my finances, and most importantly the sanity and safety of my girls.

So maybe he did stalk her, but she's not going to pursue it? Then what of this statement, which she gave to the City Paper: "He does not stalk," she says. "He does what I allow him to do." It's all a little murky, to say the least.

Beyond even that though, the D.C. Criminal Code offers some guidance on whether the stalking charges, which by all accounts stemmed from a traffic stop during which Barry may or may not have been following Watts-Brighthaupt and her husband, would hold up. From DC ST § 22-404 (emphasis ours):

(b) Any person who on more than one occasion engages in conduct with the intent to cause emotional distress to another person or places another person in reasonable fear of death or bodily injury by willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly following or harassing that person, or who, without a legal purpose, willfully, maliciously, and repeatedly follows or harasses another person, is guilty of the crime of stalking and shall be fined not more than $500 or be imprisoned not more than 12 months, or both. Constitutionally protected activity, such as conduct by a party to a labor dispute in furtherance of labor or management objectives in that dispute, is not included within the meaning of this definition.

The highlighted sections show that in order for a prosecutor to pursue stalking charges, there would have to be evidence that Barry had done something like this to Watts-Brighthaupt more than once. Some emails uncovered by City Desk reveal that Barry and Watts-Brighthaupt's relationship was evidently rocky (he allegedly threw her out of his Denver hotel room and canceled her plane ticket? That's just mean!), but unless she changes her mind and decides to provide prosecutors with those binders she claims to have, or some kind of an account of multiple incidents of stalking behavior, this one ain't likely to stick.

Arlington County Police Release Apple Store Gunman Video

Sommer Mathis — 2009-07-06T15:05:51-05:00

Arlington County Police released this YouTube video over the weekend showing the suspect responsible for Friday's armed robbery and shooting at the Clarendon Apple Store. The video doesn't show a particularly clear shot of the suspect's face, but does offer at least a basic description to work with (and it doesn't show the actual shooting, in case you were worried about watching it -- the suspect can merely be seen entering the store, holding a gun to the victim, and then they walk out of view of the camera). Below is the info included with the video.

At approximately 10:15 a.m. on July 3, 2009, an unknown man rang the doorbell at the service entrance to the Apple Store in the 2700 block of Clarendon Boulevard. An employee walked to the back of the store to answer the door. A short time later, another employee heard a gunshot. The victim, a 26 year old female, was found suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the right shoulder. The suspect had already fled the area on foot. The victim was transported to an area hospital where she remains in serious but stable condition.

Anyone who has information about this shooting or the identity of the suspect is asked to call the Arlington County Police Department Tip Line at 703 228-4242 or Detective Alan Lowrey at 703 228-4199 or Detective Michael Austin at 703 228-4241. Det. Lowrey can also be reached via email at Alowrey@arlingtonva.us and Det. Austin can be reached at Mausti@arlingtonva.us.

Witnesses can also call Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers offers a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest. Callers to Crime Solvers do not have to give their names and do not need to testify in court.

Review Period Ends Tonight For Marriage Recognition Bill

Shauna Miller — 2009-07-06T14:40:58-05:00

As City Desk noted last week, D.C. will recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions starting 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, barring any last-ditch appeal today. That’s when the clock runs out on the 30-day congressional review of the marriage recognition bill passed in May by the D.C. Council and signed by Mayor Fenty. The Board of Elections and Ethics recently rejected an attempt led by Maryland Bishop Harry Jackson to put the bill up for a referendum, a decision upheld by Superior Court Judge Judith Retchin.

After Tuesday, same sex marriages performed in other states and countries will be legally recognized in the District. The possibility of a ballot initiative similar to California's Proposition 8 being brought to overturn the law remains open.

“There have been legally married gay and lesbian couples in D.C. for several years, but until this moment those marriages went unrecognized by the city," said Michael Crawford, co-chair of D.C. for Marriage, a grassroots outreach group that recently gathered 130 signatures from local clergy members in support of marriage equality. "Now these couples are able to celebrate their marriages and have them recognized as valid in the District. This is a wonderful step forward in ensuring that all families in the District are treated equally under the law."

Assuming nothing happens to delay the implementation of the law between now and midnight, what do married same sex couples need to do to get recognized by the District? Nothing, really. If you have a valid marriage license from another jurisdiction, you are automatically legally married as far as the District is concerned. But if you or someone you know is planning any kind of second wedding celebration tonight or tomorrow, be sure to send in your photos (and invites!) to tips@dcist.com.

Nats Roundup: Hey Now, You're An All-Star

Charles Gray — 2009-07-06T12:48:41-05:00

Photo by laura padgett.

Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has been named to the 2009 National League All-Star team. Every team gets an All-Star, and Ryan Zimmerman is the Nationals'. As the face of the franchise, Zimmerman is the perfect representative for the Nationals: much like the team, he is both hitting better than last year and has a lot more errors. Fans still have the chance to vote shortstop Cristian Guzman into the final National League All-Star slot.

The Nats went 2-4 last week, and are 24-55 overall, which may seem like last place in the whole league to the casual observer. But upon closer inspection, one finds that the Arizona Diamondbacks are farther out of first place in their division than the Nats, and four games closer to being eliminated from the playoffs. The other good news for the Nats is that they don't have to lose to Florida for a whole month.

The Future
In the past week, the Nats have traded Lastings Milledge and sent Elijah Dukes to the minors. These moves have left many wondering what is in store for the team, particularly with the trade deadline approaching. Some, like commenter ryan2499, think that interim GM Mike Rizzo is sending a message that the Nats are a team where "you have to perform and prove yourself at the major league level to have a job." Others, such as Washington Post columnist Tom Boswell, think that these moves mean that the Nats are getting ready to blow up the team, which GM Rizzo denies. The Washington Times' Mark Zuckerman thinks that the team is just looking to improve its character.

It will be interesting to see what happens over the next month as the deadline approaches. Under former general manager Jim Bowden, the Nationals were often expected to be more active around the deadline, but more often than not, nothing happened. Bowden was accused of wanting too much for the players he had on the block, and thus deals didn't get done. Will Rizzo be more realistic? As the interim GM, does he even have the authority to make a move? Put another way: why has the team, after five months, not named Rizzo the permanent general manager -- or hired another one?

While the Nats are certainly a horrible baseball team, that doesn't mean that they don't have desirable parts. First baseman Nick Johnson is the focus of many trade scenarios. He's a patient hitter who gets on base a lot, has a good glove at first, and becomes a free agent after this season. Boston is frequently mentioned as a future home for Johnson.

Dunn
Adam Dunn hit his 300th career home run against the Braves on Saturday, making him one of 13 players to achieve this feat before the age of 30. Dunn's 22 home runs this year tie him for fourth in the National League. He was brought to Washington to provide offense, and he certainly hasn't disappointed: aside from home runs, he is sixth with 59 RBIs, 11th with a .545 slugging, and fourth in the league with 12.7 at bats per home run. He has also become a leader in the clubhouse, and seems to enjoy being in Washington. So, congratulations Adam.

Game of the Week: This week's "game" of the week is on July 9, when the Nationals will finish their May 5 game against the Astros. That day, rain postponed the game in the 11th inning with the score tied at 10. The make-up will begin with the Nationals at bat with a runner on first and one out. Although it's technically a home game for the Nats, the affair will be finished in Houston, beginning one hour before the regularly scheduled game against the Astros.

Briefly Noted: Nationals Pride compares John Lannan and a young Greg Maddux...The racing presidents pay tribute to Michael Jackson...The Nats have signed half of their draft picks...Jesus Colome has been designated for assignment...British rockers Keane are Nats Fans.

Meaningless Statistic of the Week: Adam Dunn is leading the Major League in Runs Created [(H+BB+HBP-CS-GIDP) x (TB+.26[BB-IBB+HBP]+.52[SH+SF+SB])] / (AB+BB+HBP+SH+SF) per 27 outs by a left handed left fielder under the age of 30, with 7.87.

Photo of the Day: July 6, 2009

Meaghan Gay — 2009-07-06T12:40:11-05:00

We hope you get a chance to check out our slideshow of photos from the Fourth. Gdudg's photo, taken during Jazz in the Garden at the National Gallery of Art, is a subtle celebration of the holiday weekend. The bright red of the sculpture against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds creates an abstract version of the American flag.

Talk to Me, Baby

Lynne Venart — 2009-07-06T11:33:24-05:00

Jean Shin, Unraveling (detail), 2006-2009, Sweaters collected from Asian American art communities in New York, Houston, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Honolulu and Washington, D.C.

DCist's guide to lectures and discussions in the D.C. area

Lectures are back in full swing this week, with a number of art talks, from Greek architecture and the Venice Biennale to conservation and printmaking.

Monday:
>> Harper's editor Bill Wasik claims to be the anonymous originator of the 2003 rush of flash mobs in NYC. In his book And Then There’s This, "Wasik explores the Internet’s power to foster stories that spread fast and fade quickly." Meet him at Politics and Prose at 7 p.m. and hear this former stand-up comedian explain his experiments with pop culture, viral media and psychology.

>> Or, at 7:30 p.m., head to the Bailey's Crossroads Borders for a book event with Brad Thor and his novel The Apostle, in which "Homeland Security operative Scot Harvath must find the kidnapped daughter of a politically connected family in the terrorist frontier of Afghanistan."

Tuesday:
>> The American Art Museum welcomes artist Jean Shin this evening at 6 p.m. for a discussion with curator Joanna Marsh and conservator Hugh Shockey. Free.

Wednesday:
>> The National Press Club is holding a book event with South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint (R). He will be discussing his book, Saving Freedom, which "explores the historical failures of socialism and argues that socialistic policies have incrementally worked their way into all areas of American life to create a dependency on big government." Free.

Thursday:
>> You may want to get to the Hirshhorn early for tonight's 7 p.m. event with curator Kristen Hileman and the WaPo's chief art critic Blake Gopnik in the third level Lerner Room. They'll be discussing this year's Venice Biennale as well as "the difference between a curator's and a critic's way of looking at art." Free.

>> Or, head to the Freer instead for Charles V and Suleyman the Magnificent: Rulers of Colliding Worlds at 6:45 p.m. Historian James Reston Jr. will recount the conflict between "the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and the Turkish sultan Suleyman the Magnificent ... [whose] battle for Europe ended the Renaissance, began the Reformation, and brought Islam to the gates of Vienna." $25.

Saturday:
>> Get a tour of nature's patterns at the Corcoran this morning from 10:30 a.m. to noon, then join others in the printmaking studio to create your own Nature Prints. $12.

>> Head over to the National Building Museum from 1 to 2:30 p.m. for the first in their Three Movements in Architecture lecture series. Today, architect Warren Cox will discuss the Greek Revival movement. $20.

>> Today's 2:30 p.m. Inside Media event at the Newseum features NPR ombudsman Alicia Shepard, who as NPR's public representative "straddles the line between the news gatherers and news consumers, explaining NPR to listeners, and listeners to NPR."

>> Politics and Prose hosts author Ron Soodalter reading from his book The Slave Next Door at 6 p.m. The book discusses human trafficking and slavery, and "issue[s] a call to action against exploitative labor, whether of undocumented workers in the U.S. or political prisoners in China."

Next Monday:
>> Grab $15 and head to the Corcoran at 7 p.m. tonight for Creating Characters: An Illustrative Evening with illustrator Mary GrandPre, best known for her work on Harry Potter and Antz.

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Voting Rights Roundup: Independence Day Edition

Martin Austermuhle — 2009-07-06T11:25:41-05:00

Photo by christaki

As we return from the Fourth of July weekend, many of us are still recovering from celebrating America's independence and a system of representative government that guarantees that each and every citizen can have a voice in the policies and decisions that affect their lives. But of course, no Independence Day is free from irony for District residents -- while one of the rallying cries of the movement for independence from Britain was a lack of representation (while being taxed, no less), the 600,000 or so of us in D.C. still live with that reality, some two centuries later. Somewhere, the Brits are smirking.

Plotkin Calls Out Norton: D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton is about as close a political institution as you get in this town. In office since 1991, Norton is rarely challenged come election time, much less is she confronted on her leadership of the D.C. voting rights movement on the Hill. On Sunday, WTOP Political Analyst and voting rights agitator Mark Plotkin took Norton to task in a Post op-ed for her role in the recent demise of legislation that would have granted the city a voting seat in the House. "Since the bill passed in the Senate this year, Norton has had more than ample time to move the bill in the House. Instead...she has been consistently inconsistent. One day ready to go, the next day timorous. She is acting not like a 'warrior on the Hill' but rather a conventional politician who can't and won't act. For Norton, the status quo is far more acceptable than pushing ahead into possible opposition," he writes.

I may not agree with his argument that the legislation needs to be passed whether or not a gun amendment is attached, but I do appreciate his finger wagging of an otherwise untouchable local pol. (Could we expect anything less from a guy who got booted from the White House two year ago and called President Obama an "ingrate"?) A rising chorus of criticism against Norton could signal an additional split in an already fractious local coalition fighting for D.C. voting rights.

The Gun Amendment That Never Goes Away: Thought that amendment stripping the District of its gun laws would have gone away by now? Yeah, so did we. But today DC Vote is warning that the amendment may be slipped into an appropriations bill for the District that is being marked up in the House tomorrow. "There is a real possibility that the NRA will attempt to add a gun amendment to D.C. appropriations," said Ilir Zherka, DC Vote's Executive Director. "We're doing everything in our power to thwart these attacks on the District." Historically, the D.C. Appropriations Bill -- where Congress gives back the District's tax dollars -- has been used to make political points and impose unwanted programs on the city, so seeing the gun amendment thrown in there for good measure wouldn't be much of a shock.

Caps Make Big Jump In Franchise Rankings

Aaron Morrissey — 2009-07-06T10:58:10-05:00

While perusing the local sports headlines this weekend, it dawned on us: the Washington Capitals might be the only thing that's saving this town from a potentially large major-league sports coma.

Think about it: both the Nationals and Wizards are stuck in place, wallowing in the depths of their respective league's basements -- and neither appear to be going anywhere fast. Even the Redskins, beloved as they are, seem more concerned with trying to suck all the fun out of the gameday experience than actually improving a team who's had all of three playoff appearances in the last ten seasons.

But the Caps had a magnificent season, both on and off the ice: they finished near the top of the conference, had an epic playoff series (in the process fostering an intense rivalry which could help bring the league back to prominence), and provided us ample opportunities to watch, listen to, and read about Alexander Ovechkin, who's slowly becoming "the guy" -- at least, athletically -- here in Washington.

So it should come as no surprise that the Capitals skyrocketed 39 places to sixth place in ESPN's Ultimate Franchise Standings. The Standings are a measure of every North American sports franchise in the four major sports on a number of different metrics, including coaching and players, the stadium experience, and affordability. The Caps' report card is about as good as it gets: the franchise scores high marks for the gameday experience (hockey spirit squads, woo!), their players (thanks Ovie!), and their ownership (the bearded blogger himself, Ted Leonsis).

Frankly, had the Caps they made it past Sidney Crosby and the Penguins in last season's conference semifinals, they might have challenged the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the title of America's best sports franchise. The weakest link in the Caps' dossier is "Title Track" -- a measure of how close the franchise is to winning a championship -- in which they only ranked 47th of 122 teams.

Alright, so, it's hardly an airtight ranking system. But consider this: surveying the Washingtonian sports landscape, the Capitals finished more than 80 places ahead of the Redskins (#92), the Nats (#97) and the Wizards (#98). That's a mighty large (and fairly depressing) margin.

So what's your take, sports fans -- are the Capitals, as ESPN suggests, the clear class of the D.C. sporting atmosphere?

Morning Roundup: Barry Stalking, Inmates Walking Edition

Tom Lee — 2009-07-06T08:30:00-05:00

Photo by schmiddi

Good morning, Washington. Here's hoping you had a pleasant holiday weekend — I certainly did, ultimately finding a spot that didn't have a good sight-line for the national fireworks, but which provided a first-class view of the smaller-scale pyrotechnics rising from seemingly every residential block in the city. Where did you go to watch the fireworks?

Barry to Address Media: As you might recall, the mayor-for-life's busy churchgoing schedule has so far prevented him from publicly addressing his weekend arrest for stalking a former girlfriend. The Post has a good account of what's known about the incident, although the article doesn't contain any surprises other than the arresting officer not knowing who Barry was. Barry is expected to hold a press conference with his lawyer at 10 a.m., at which time we'll presumably hear more about his side of the story. Check back with us later this morning to see whether the Ward 8 councilmember feels that yet another woman has set him up.

More Escapes at New Beginnings: The District's new youth detention facility continues to suffer from breakouts. The Post reports that six youths escaped on Sunday. They were quickly found and taken back into custody, but the incident is another black mark on the security of the intentionally un-prison-like facility, which experienced an escape as soon as it opened. Guards are apparently complaining that various design and construction practices make New Beginnings insecure; officials managing the facility continue to make improvements.

Break-in Apparently Foiled in Mt. Pleasant: Details are still sketchy, but last night we began receiving a few tweets indicating that Mt. Pleasant was playing host to a police helicopter and a conspicuous arrest. The early, unconfirmed word is that a break-in attempt by a group of men was foiled, but that not all of the suspects were immediately apprehended. We'll update as we hear more.

Briefly Noted: At least four shot in Southeast on Sunday, including a 10 year-old girl... Higher tolls are leading to less Dulles Toll Road traffic, but higher revenues... 13 year-old boy missing after going to watch fireworks on the Mall... Post examines personal history of accused Holocaust Museum shooter...

This Day In DCist: One year ago it was a weekend day and not much was happening. But two years ago Bloomingdale's Big Bear Cafe opened, and the city suffered another panda pseudopregnancy.

Last Night's Action: It's His Tourney, and He'll Win If He Wants To

Aaron Morrissey — 2009-07-05T23:55:38-05:00

Tiger Woods celebrates after winning the AT&T National golf tournament
at Congressional Country Club, Sunday, July 5, 2009, in Bethesda, Md.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass).

Tiger Wins AT&T National: Although an incredibly strong round by Hunter Mahan -- an eight-under 62, tying the course record that had been set by third-place finisher Anthony Kim on Thursday -- held the end result temporarily in question at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, there just wasn't any way that Tiger Woods was going to lose the tournament that bears his name. A picture-perfect iron shot on the 18th wrapped up the tournament for Woods, whose third win of the season nets him a million bucks (which he's funneling into his foundation) and a shiny silver replica of the Capitol. Here's your final scoreboard.
Nationals 5, Braves 3: The Nationals closed out their Independence Weekend with a win, thanks to the efforts of newly-acquired center fielder Nyjer Morgan and starter Scott Olsen. Morgan had a fantastic overall game: three hits, two doubles, a run scored and one batted in, speed to burn, and two great defensive plays: a catch top of the sixth which saved extra bases and an aggressive dive and throw which nailed Martin Prado at second in the seventh. Olsen (2-4) missed pitching his first big league complete game by one out, scattering eight hits. Olsen even went two-for-three at the dish with a perfect sacrifice bunt and a RBI to boot. The home team was in charge all afternoon, and had one of their better defensive efforts this year. Of course, the Nats made it interesting -- the Braves sent seven batters come to the plate in the ninth, and had the go-ahead run at the plate, but Mike MacDougal finally coaxed Brian McCann to groundout, earning his fifth save of the season. The Nats now head off on a long road trip, stopping in Denver and Houston before the All-Star break.
Sol 1, Freedom 0: Elsewhere in Montgomery County, the Freedom conceded a late strike from Brazilian master Marta and fell at the hands of WPS-best Los Angeles in a tightly contested game at the Soccerplex in Germantown.

Week Around the Ists

Sommer Mathis — 2009-07-05T22:40:38-05:00

Courtesy: Jason Wagner

Gothamist followed the story of a woman who claimed a police officer manhandled her—punching her and grabbing her breasts—because she had taken her pug out of its carrier. There were numerous, some differing witness accounts and the police are investigating the allegations.

Seattlest owned up to its darkest, most claustrophobic fear--getting trapped in a badly maintained hellevator.

SFist wondered why some Bay Area residents feared the high speed rail system, which would whisk people from downtown San Francisco to downtown Los Angeles in two hours.

Phillyist was disappointed but unsurprised when the makers of Trojan condoms named Philly amongst the least-sexed cities in the States.

Chicagoist checked out the annual Pride Parade, which celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Torontoist didn't just get to watch their city's Pride Parade (or people-watch after it)—they got to march in it, snapping photos as they want.

LAist found that there is no better way to represent your 'hood than by sporting an area code t-shirt--818, 213, 310, 323 & 562 in the hizzouse!

Londonist wondered if the candid spectacle of a backpacker sniffing his own underwear constitutes entertainment.

(Grandpa) Bostonist criticized the fixie phenomenon and white trash parties, inviting the wrath of hipsters citywide.

DCist spoke to the sad owners of a dog who they suspected had been stolen while tied up outside a local Whole Foods, which, it turns out, made their commenters surprisingly angry.

Click Click: The Fourth

Kriston Capps — 2009-07-05T19:57:44-05:00

]]>

The District: Hands down the best place on the planet to celebrate the Fourth. This writer spent the holiday eating and drinking too much with half the neighborhood before climbing on the roof to watch a 360-degree panoramic fireworks show from all across the city. No doubt, your holiday was pretty similar. Here are some photos of some things you might have missed if you didn't brave the Mall for the official celebration -- plus some summertime looks for kicks.

Fire in Columbia Heights

Kriston Capps — 2009-07-05T16:16:31-05:00

DCist is receiving reports of a fire on Irving Street near Columbia Road NW, near the Highland Park Residential Building. A staffer at Commonwealth Gastro Pub, which is housed in the building, said that an HVAC unit had caught fire. One correspondent said that he was forced to divert from his route down Irving due to all the smoke from the fire, which drew several firetrucks. Emergency officials evacuated the Highland Park building and its restaurants (including Commonwealth and Pete's Apizza). Staff at both expected that they would reopen before the start of the evening.

You Know Something? He Did Say Well A Lot!

Aaron Morrissey — 2009-07-05T14:30:56-05:00

You'll have to forgive us for only getting around to this juicy piece of non-news today, but it appears as if Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Board chairman H.R. Crawford might have suggested that he had heard from a friend's friend on the Hill about some rumors that people maybe perhaps were thinking about removing Ronald Reagan's name from its current place preceding the words "National Airport." Well, why doesn't he just call the Gipper a communist while he's at it! But seriously, those of you looking for a fast-track to lobotomization should go right ahead and read the large amount of comments left on the Examiner "report," but we'll sum it up here for you: the right-wingers don't like it, the left-wingers seem apathetic, and the whole thing turns into a ridiculous pissing contest between Obamans and Reaganites about health care. (I think.) No word on whether or not the Chairman has even considered renaming the airport "Rappin' Ronnie Reagan National Airport," which seems like the perfect compromise to this editor.

When People Stop Being Polite, and Start Impersonating Park Police

Kriston Capps — 2009-07-05T13:35:11-05:00

Photo by Daniel.Techie {PEBKAC} @ 127.0.0.1.

D.C. is just too real for the Real World. There's too much media, too much cynicism, and too many celebrities -- legit and bullshit alike -- in the District for its people to take these interlopers seriously. People move here to make their names -- but not for doing nothing. Laziness isn't a value the District exactly celebrates. (Except for maybe today. Today is a good day for being lazy. Lazy, or absolutely incapacitated by a hangover.)

That said, there isn't anything wrong with doing nothing and hoping to be admired for it. I'd say that people in my generation have a soft spot for the cast of The Real World: San Francisco -- in fact, I'd say that those characters deserve about the same level of regard as the Real World D.C. folks deserve contempt. Those original Real World cast members were better characters than the celebrity douchebags that have filled the ranks of Real World/Road Rules shark-jumping contests since, but that isn't it. In its original iteration, The Real World featured people who were willingly committing themselves to the panopticon.

That just isn't a novel selling point any more. After the waves of social media and digital technology and journal software that have crashed since the first days that people stopped being polite and started being real, everything has gotten real. People don't even watch television on TVs any more. The District isn't moving in with these folks in a house on Dupont Circle on Sundays at 11 p.m. or whatever -- they're moving in with us, in real time.

So it's just not a surprise that the cast finds D.C. rude (sit on it, MTV). And, if this anonymous account is to be believed, it's also not a shock that the producers are completely unable to deal:

The security officer claimed he worked for an agency he clearly did not. He also should not have reached towards his back pocket and threatened us. Additionally, he made a homophobic comment. When I told him he was not a park policeman, he told me just because I was walking with a girl this did not mean I was straight. As I am gay this statement was true, but it was clearly intended to demean me and make me feel inferior. I asked him why he was making a homophobic comment, but he responded by continuing to insist that we leave the area.

The Real World works when its characters are able to perform publicly in front a national audience while living privately among the locals. But the show that we're is interested in watching is the taping -- watching this obnoxious, indignant tumor settle uncomfortably into our system. WUSA9 gets it right in a story about MTV cameras being irritated by local news cameras: "The city is watching every move."

DCist Commenters Featured On Artomatic Wall

Aaron Morrissey — 2009-07-05T11:30:54-05:00

We'd be remiss if we didn't mention this before Artomatic closes: our arts and managing editor Heather Goss took a quick photo of the above wall by Sarah Bever, which prominently features a few select members of the DCist commentariat. The top of the wall depicts this comment by stmove from our post about the announcement of this year's Artomatic dates and location. (Yes, there is actually a jar on the wall. Well played, Ms. Bever.) The comments that follow are located on the bottom right side of the wall. The wall is located in space 6-06 -- but Artomatic closes up shop for the year today, so if you want to catch a look, better get down there quick.

We always knew that you guys were pieces of work -- but art? Well, color us proud.

WaPo Publisher Offers Apology To Readers

Aaron Morrissey — 2009-07-05T10:51:43-05:00

Photo by dharmabumx.

Calling it "a planned new venture that went off track," Washington Post Publisher and CEO Katharine Weymouth apologized to readers today after it was revealed that the newspaper had been planning to trade access to journalists and government officials for cash in the form of "Post Salon" dinner events. The salons, widely lambasted as yet another hit to the Washingtonian paper of record's integrity, were canceled mere hours after the plan was exposed by Politico reporter Mike Allen.

Although Weymouth still can't let go of the fact that "the flier was not approved by me or newsroom editors," -- what difference does that make now? -- the Publisher seemed apologetic enough:

As publisher it is my job to ensure that we adhere to standards that are consistent with our integrity as a news organization. Last week, I let you, and the organization, down.
[...]

We all make mistakes and hope to be forgiven for them. I apologize to our readers for the mistakes I made in this case.

Weymouth did not, however, completely close the door on similar -- but assumedly non-pay-for-play -- events:

While I do believe there is a legitimate way to hold such events, to the extent that we hold events in the future, large or small, we will review the guidelines for them with The Post's top editors and make sure those guidelines are strictly followed. Further, any conferences or similar events The Post sponsors will be on the record.

The last few months have certainly been turbulent ones for the Post. In addition to this journalistic indiscretion and the depressing economic state of the newspaper industry, the paper has been on the defensive about misinformation in its opinion pages and their messy handling of unwanted blog commenters, among other issues.

So what say you, Washington? Are you satisfied with Weymouth's mea culpa -- or have the Post's recent transgressions led you to irreparably doubt your hometown paper?

Marion Barry Arrested On Stalking Charges

Aaron Morrissey — 2009-07-05T09:35:44-05:00

Marion Barry was arrested last night, after a woman flagged down a Park Police officer in Anacostia Park, claiming that the Ward 8 Councilman had been stalking her. The former Mayor was released after being processed at central lockup, but will need to make a court date at some point to face the charges.

According to the Park Police, the woman, who was in another car, "indicated there was some sort of discussion, dispute, angst" with Barry, and after a review of the situation, an officer from New York found appropriate cause to arrest Barry. Barry's spokeswoman claimed that the Councilman was simply "enjoying his 4th of July holiday."

City Paper's Mike DeBonis has the complete run-down of the details to date. Of course, all eyes will be on the Mayor-for-Life if and when he decides to comment on the arrest -- we'll keep you updated as more information about the mysterious exchange between Barry and the woman emerges.

UPDATE [1:30 p.m.]: Barry will address the media at 2 p.m. this afternoon, according to NBCWashington.com. Keep it tuned here for more updates as Barry's statement is released.

The City Paper reports that sources are claiming that the woman who flagged down the Park Police was Donna Watts, whom Barry has been dating for some time. WTOP managed to get Barry spokesperson Natalie Williams to comment -- she claims that the stalking charges are "baseless."

Additionally, Williams told WTOP that "the woman and Barry are friends and had lunch earlier in the day" and that Barry is considering "the charges a betrayal."

UPDATE [3:40 p.m.]: More details are now coming in from the press conference with Barry spokesperson Natalie Williams. Barry did not attend because he has been attending church all day. According to Williams, Barry felt that Watts knew "exactly what she was doing." Williams also indicated that Watts has accused Barry of stalking her in the past, but was adamant that every meeting she had with Barry was consentual. Barry has helped Watts financially in the past.

The Councilman, along with his attorney, is scheduled to speak to the media at a press conference tomorrow morning at the Wilson Building at 10 a.m. Barry's preliminary hearing on the charges has been set for July 9. Of course, the main question that everyone will be asking is how these charges will affect Barry's probation, stemming from his numerous tax troubles -- a question whose answers will certainly shake out as his court date approaches.

Go Grill or Drink Beer or Blow Something Up Already

Kriston Capps — 2009-07-04T14:20:04-05:00

Photo by Matt.Dunn

It's the Fourth of July and news stories on the ground are about as light as Union Jack flags. Granted, Sarah Palin left folks with a real humdinger to consider over the beer cooler this weekend, considerably upping the ante in the absurd-Republican-governor-presser sweepstakes. Switching from self congratulation by way of sports analogy to bitter renunciations of her enemies, she sounded downright Nixonian, as one friend observed.

Elsewhere in the news, the headlines from the District are nearly as WTF:

>> How do you say Creigh Deeds's name? How could the answer be anything other than "crawdads"?
>> This violinist made a violin out of a baseball bat! That's so America. America, and a little bit Austria.
>> Tomato flu, suck.
>> "Dumpster Diver Snoozes, Gets Hauled to Landfill" -- no improving on that. Freedom's just another word for freegan hauled to the landfill.

There's never going to be a more appropriate day to expand upon today's news in DC barbecue: Washington Business Journal reporter and DCist theater critic Missy Frederick reports that Chelsea-based Hill Country is opening a second location in the District. And I'll tell you what -- it's not bad. Must've gone by the weekend it opened in Chelsea, and I definitely detected the theme -- the Two Towers of Texas, Austin and Lockhart, easily my favorite eating destinations in the Lone Star State, or the world. The only question that still sits with me is: Why offer "lean" and "moist" brisket? What does that even mean? Fans of Texas barbecue know that brisket is slow-smoked with an inch-thick layer of fat on top; it is as God intended it to be. Does "lean" mean that they (God forbid) trim the fat before smoking? I can only assume that it means a half-pound portion instead of a full pound. In any event, this Fourth means freedom, liberty, fireworks -- but next year we get all that with a side of Elgin sausage.

Saturday Pesda in the Park Photo: July 4, 2009

Kriston Capps — 2009-07-04T13:15:49-05:00

Did you know that "Bethesda" is a meaningful word in Wales? This surprised me when I visited the Smithsonian Folklife Festival yesterday, both because I had no idea that Bethesda had any culture at all and because the Welsh language doesn't seem to use any vowels. Even better than a claim to cultural relevance -- a nickname. The Welsh have a name for Bethesda, the small town at the mouth of the River Ogwen: Pesda. That's cute! McGhee Street Photography gets down Pesda style.

Could Stephen Strasburg Choose Japan Over Washington?

Aaron Morrissey — 2009-07-04T12:15:02-05:00

Stephen Strasburg

Perhaps I should reword that question.

Could super agent Scott Boras choose Japan over Washington for phenom Stephen Strasburg?

It's on the table, according to a report from Washington Post sports writer Dave Sheinin. Shenin offers up this tidy piece of reportage about how Boras is trying to blow up the whole damn Major League system. I mean, again:

Even before talks began with the Washington Nationals, who made Strasburg the first overall pick June 9, Boras was dropping hints privately that he is preparing to explore a new frontier in his ongoing draft-busting crusade: Japan.
Such a ploy, were Boras to go in that direction, could involve a variety of issues, from the complex relationship between Major League Baseball and Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball, the residency requirements of both countries and, of course, the Major League Rules.

If anything, the Nationals won't be getting any help in this scenario from Major League Baseball, who really don't seem to mind either way that the notorious agent for a pitcher who may be the next coming of Nolan Ryan is, for all intents and purposes, holding up the Nationals for ransom:

"Our view is simple: Until [Strasburg] signs a professional contract within our system, he is eligible for our draft and remains subject to our draft," said Rob Manfred, MLB's executive vice president for labor relations. "He can play wherever he wants. But if he doesn't sign with Washington, he goes back into the draft, and if he doesn't sign with that team [in 2010], he goes back in again."

Gee, thanks guys.

Strasburg -- who's been hyped so much that I'm almost waiting for him to collapse in upon himself in some kind of baseball supernova which would drag every attendee and player in the stadium into a black hole, never to be seen again -- would probably be foolish to sign in Japan, where contracts for rookie players are incredibly restrictive, often times requiring nine-year terms.

Additionally, as Sheinin notes, no one can be really sure whether the any team in Japan would want Strasburg. After all, most are still smarting over MLB teams' newfound tendencies to pluck Japanese players by just throwing insane amounts of cash at them -- of course, it doesn't help that the transfer system between the two counties nearly requires an advanced degree in economics to understand. The whole "using the country's baseball league as a tool to make some 20-year-old a few million dollars richer" thing isn't settling very well with the Japanese either.

Because really, who would have thought that using a whole country for leverage would be such an issue?

Of course, this whole situation would be rendered moot if the Nationals decide to just pony up the cash to sign the ex-San Diego State phenom. But if you're longing to see Strasburg in a Nats uniform this fall, it's likely time to temper the expectations a bit. Until then, someone might want to get this kid a copy of Mr. Baseball.

Alexandria Man Dies From H1N1 Complications

Kriston Capps — 2009-07-04T11:45:38-05:00

ABC7 reports the distressing news that David Twomey, a 27-year-old Alexandria resident who worked in public affairs for the EPA and federal courts, died this week from complications related to several infections, including swine flu. As the Washington Post mentioned before his identity was released, Twomey is the second person in the Commonwealth of Virginia to die after contracting swine flu. There have been no deaths in the District. Next up, health officials will try to track these deaths and the spread of the virus. Although summer isn't flu season, wash your hands frequently and take other precautions.

The Saga Of Molly Continues

Aaron Morrissey — 2009-07-04T11:04:34-05:00

251 comments later, and it appears as if closure in the case of Molly is getting closer. Molly's owners obtained surveillance photos from the Cleveland Park Petco, depicting a woman with the missing Vizsla, who was taken from in front of the Whole Foods at 14th and P on Monday night. According to Craigslist updates, Molly was seen at the pet supply store at 3505 Connecticut Avenue "[o]ne time on (6/29) Monday evening at 9pm and again this evening at 5pm." Additionally, the manager of the store "remembers the woman because she pissed her off and that she definitely appears to be a bit crazy....Petco has been authorized to hold onto Molly the next time they show up!!!" If you believe that you've seen Molly around Cleveland Park, her owners ask that you email them to take a look at the surveillance photos to see if you know the woman. [Ed. note: Many thanks to one of Molly's owners, who clarified via email that no one is sure whether the woman who was with Molly at Petco was her abductor; instead, she is simply the last person the dog has been seen with.]

The Saturday Morning Post

Aaron Morrissey — 2009-07-04T09:50:32-05:00

Photo by Synapped

Happy Fourth of July, Washington. As you might imagine, we're all looking forward to celebrating American independence by eating charred food, kicking back with a cold beer near a pool, and, of course, watching things blow up. Due to the incredible effort involved in participating in such strenuous activities, DCist will be operating on a slightly reduced schedule today.

Remember: festivities on the Mall -- if you dare to brave the crowds -- begin at 10 a.m., including the Independence Day parade on Independence Avenue at noon, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival all day, lots of music starting at 6, and of course, fireworks around 9:30. (Check out our suggestions for alternate firework viewing locations.) Those crazy enough to be driving anywhere near there will want to take note of the extensive road closures which will make getting anywhere via car a nightmare. And, of course, enjoy in moderation and stay safe out there -- as usual, the Washington Regional Alcohol Program will be offering free cab rides throughout the region this evening.

If, though, for reasons passing understanding, you're stuck in front of a monitor on this absolutely glorious Independence Day, here's a few items of interest to start your day:

>> In the Post, Lena Sun examines the possible answers to six important questions about last week's Metro crash.

>> Yesterday, a jury convicted Melvin Jackson Jr. in the 1983 rape and murder of a French woman who was visiting her daughter in Glover Park. The case was solved after DNA evidence collected from the scene -- which had been simply sitting in a box in a police warehouse until 2004 -- was matched to Jackson's DNA profile with the FBI.

>> The Takoma Park Metro station will be open all day today after closing early last night to allow continued investigative work at the Metro crash site. The station will also close early tomorrow night.

Overheard in D.C.: Bartenders

Andrew Wiseman — 2009-07-03T16:01:58-05:00

Photo by me.o

Bartenders have an interesting job -- it's one of the few jobs where it's basically accepted to be grumpy sometimes (or all the time, at some bars). People have to wait for them, because they want their booze. They're frequently opinionated. Sometimes, they have a point.

Overheard of the Week

At Murphy's Grand Irish Pub in Old Town:

A waitress takes the order of a table.

Waitress to table: "What can I get for you guys?"
Table orders Harp, a water, Sam Adams, Bud Light.
Waitress to bartender: "Hey, I need a Harp, a Sam Adams and a Bud Light."
Bartender mutters to himself: "Bud Light? Who the fuck orders a Bud Light?!"

After the jump, kids, romance, and other stuff.

Send in your overheards! overheardindc(at)gmail(dot)com

------

And this one street goes to Pennsylvania!

Flustered elderly tourist couple at 19th and M NW:

Husband: "North! We need to walk north!"
Wife: "Every street sign points towards Northwest! Northwest, northwest, northwest, northwest. I don't get it!"

------

Ooooh, yeahh

In the office:

Engineer on the phone: "When you do take it out, take it out slowly so that when it starts vibrating you can tighten it back up."

------

Mom 1, Kid 0

At the H&M store in White Flint:

Small boy holding up a necklace: "But Mom, it says MEN's accessory!"
Mom: "Well, you are not a man."

------

Stereotypes are fun

At the Spy Museum:

In a display case showing examples of spy disguises there is a turban and thick beard.

10-year-old boy: "Hey Mom, look. Isn't that what the bad guys look like?"
Everyone around them rolls eyes and glares at mom.

------

Sexy!

On a hot and crowded Red line train during rush hour:

Girl to friend: "We have to get off at the next stop! My weave is going to melt out."

------

This date is going AWESOME!

Walking down King Street in Old Town Alexandria:

A woman walking is with her boyfriend/husband.

Woman: "So, did you go back to see your little French whore again?"

------

The endless car vs pedestrian struggle

Outside Booeymongers in Georgetown:

A driver on a cell phone fails to stop at the stop sign before turning, almost hitting a pedestrian. The pedestrian slaps the back seat window.

Driver: "I didn't even hit you! Don't assault my car...bitch!"
Onlooker: "I don't think you can assault a car."

------

Maybe?

On U Street, Sunday night:

A man in his 30s is talking, presumably to himself: "I'm just going to come out and say it. I'm a lesbian."

------

Where are we again??

At the Small Mammal House at the Zoo a few Sundays ago:

Teenage girl #1: "Look, there's a mouse in this cage!"
Teenage girl #2: "Do you think it just got in there, or is it food for something?"

]]>

Thanks to This Week's Advertisers

tien mao — 2009-07-03T16:00:00-05:00

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

2009 Source Festival, featuring 10-minute plays, one-act plays and more (!!) through July 12th.
Sounds in the Square, with concerts on Thursdays in June and July in Farragut Square Park.
GroupOn, using collective buying power to bring you one ridiculous coupon each day.
American Apparel, with 8 stores in DC, you can look your best after dark.

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

A Vivid Shade of The Color Purple

Ian Buckwalter — 2009-07-03T15:45:31-05:00

Photo: Paul Kolnik

It's summer, which means it's time for glossy, eye-popping, multi-million dollar blockbusters. And those aren't just limited to movie screens. The touring production of the wildly popular, multiple Tony-nominated musical adaptation of Alice Walker's now-classic novel The Color Purple is in D.C. for the next month, and is just as jaw-dropping a spectacle as anything Hollywood has in store.

Not that Hollywood doesn't play its part here. The musical is as much an adaptation of Steven Spielberg's 1985 film as Walker's novel, taking its cues from that movie for what plot points to cut, de-emphasize, or change. The result is, even moreso than the film, a brief overview of the novel, Cliff Notes set to music. And no wonder: the story covers 40 years in the life of Celie Harris, a poor African American girl born into poverty, grown into incestuously-conceived teen pregnancy, and sold to an abusive husband, before finally finding herself and her power in middle age. This epic sweep, with multiple storylines taking place on two continents, must be condensed to fewer than three hours. And being that we have millions of dollars in production costs to recoup for those gorgeous sets, and the hugely talented cast of actors, singers, and dancers, the raw, rough, and at sometimes shocking events of the source material need to be cleaned and buffed for a little greater audience appeal.

As a result, fans of the book may find themselves disappointed at what's missing, and even more at the lack of time to reflect on events that the book provides. As the lights dim in the Kennedy Center Opera House, every person there is strapped onto the nose of a rocket and hurtled headlong through those 40 years. If your attention slips, or you miss a lyric, you may find yourself a little lost. Even in a survey of the material, there's a lot of story points to hit, and the plot speeds along fast and furious. The ride is so thrilling, it's easy to forget what's been left behind. It's disappeared in the rearview before you can even glance back, so best just to keep eyes forward and let the production rush at you.

It's easy to do. The cast is without a single weak leak, starting at the top with American Idol-alum Fantasia Barrino in the role of Celie. Barrino boasts a powerful and distinctive voice, which is mostly kept hidden through the film's first act, as Celie is meek and restrained, and the singer's vocal performance reflects her character's withdrawn personality. As she gradually grows empowered through the second act, though, she's allowed to unleash fully that instrument in some truly show-stopping numbers. Even more of a joy to watch, though, is Felicia Fields as Sofia, the brash, brassy wife of Celie's step-son Harpo. The role is made for scene-stealing, and Fields takes full advantage, just as Oprah Winfrey did in the film version. Her "Hell No!", a defiant number that foreshadows the trouble that phrase will eventually get her into, is the show's highpoint, distilling the attitude and humor that typify some of the show's best moments into a single crowd-pleasing song.

Similarly, the sets are beautifully constructed, evoking the earthy feel of rural Georgia with weathered wood, twisted roots, and Spanish Moss-hung tree canopies. These sets reach down into the earth just as surely as Celie casts her voice and her prayers to the heavens. Scenes change and years pass fluidly as facades and rooms glide on and off stage in a carefully choreographed dance that is subtle and effortless. Such is also the case with the actual dance choreography, whether it's dirty dancing in a raucous juke-joint or a more modern and impressionistic imagination sequence of African tribespeople as Celie reads through the letters her sister sends back from her missionary work.

The Color Purple succeeds at just what it sets out to do: carry us on a breakneck emotional ride through the life of a poor African American woman who finds richness in her life despite a laundry list of adversities. The songs are distinctive and tuneful, a blend of R&B, jazz, blues, and gospel that, while unmistakably modern, are never too far from the source material to seem out of place. And, just like a summer blockbuster, it gives audiences exactly what they want: a non stop thrill ride that makes nearly three hours pass effortlessly, and emotion high enough to bring out the tissues for tears of happiness as the music swells and the curtain comes down.

The Color Purple is at the Kennedy Center Opera House until August 9. Tickets are $25-$95.

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So Tweet, Tweet, Tweet For The Home Team

Aaron Morrissey — 2009-07-03T15:38:50-05:00

In order to get a better idea of "what it's like to be at the game," the Post's online sports department is testing out a Nationals Park Twitter mashup during this weekend's home series against the Braves. If you want to participate, you can hashtag your tweets from the game with #natswp and #[section number] -- now, your report that "the guy next to me is really scarfing those nachos, gross #natswp #404" can be spread even farther around the interwebs! It's an interesting idea, to be sure, but the commenters on the Nationals Journal post which announced the project offer up some legitimate questions, ones this writer was also thinking about. What if the system was overloaded with rival tweets or notes from people who aren't even at the ballpark? How many people in attendance even know what Twitter is or how to use it? What about the fact that we're willing to bet that less than 140 characters is hardly enough to truly describe the hardball ineptitude that could be on display? Finally: is there really anything to gain from this? We'll see -- until the Post makes a decision to go live with the mashup on a consistent basis or not, you can check out the aggregate here.

Red Line Trains Back Up to Speed

Sommer Mathis — 2009-07-03T12:43:41-05:00

Red Line trains returned to full speed this morning for the first time since last week's fatal crash. With the exception of when trains are passing through the crash site, between the Takoma and Fort Totten stations, The Post reports that Red Line trains can now go as fast as 59 mph, after having been kept at 35 mph for the last week. Metrorail and Metrobus are operating on a modified Saturday schedule today.

Out and About: Weekend Picks

Sommer Mathis — 2009-07-03T12:25:47-05:00

Photo by Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie

FRIDAY:

>> Not working today? Suit up and head over to the Skyline Pool at the Capitol Skyline Hotel for their Adult Swim Party. It's $10 at the door for pool access from noon to 8 p.m.

>> It's First Friday in Dupont Circle tonight. Head to Hillyer for the opening of Six in the Mix, an exhibit of D.C. and Baltimore artists. For a $5 donation you'll get food, refreshments, and music from DJ Deep Sang. 6 to 9 p.m. Studio Gallery and Foundry Gallery will also have openings.

>> Don't miss our film picks of the week, including a special 50th anniversary screening of François Truffaut's French New Wave classic The 400 Blows, with a special introduction by Cahiers du cinema editor Jean-Philippe Tessé. At the AFI Silver, 7 p.m. Also Sunday at 5:20 p.m.

>> Relatively new local indie outfit Frau Eva, whose folk-influenced sound relies on intricate arrangements of rarely used instruments, celebrates the release of an EP tonight at the Velvet Lounge. 10 p.m., $8, 21+.

>> Tonight's Blisspop-hosted D.C. Summer Extravaganza at the 9:30 Club looks like a solid way to ring in Independence Day. DJs Tittsworth, Nadastrom, Will Eastman, Bobby Jae & Ken Lazee, and Dmerit are banding together for an all-star, all-ages dance night that only costs $10. 9 p.m.

>> DJ Nitekrawler celebrates the first anniversary of the excellent "Moneytown" soul and R&B dance night at Dahlak (1771 U Street NW) with special guest Chris “Iceburg” Burgan. Free, 10 p.m.

SATURDAY:

>> The annual Independence Day organ recital at Washington National Cathedral will feature the cathedral's organists, Scott Dettra and Christopher Jacobson. 11 a.m.

>> It's the last weekend of Artomatic, so if you still haven't made it down there, make a point to do so. Things close earlier tonight, at 10:30 p.m., for the holiday, and wrap up completely on Sunday.

>> Duh, you're looking for a place to watch the fireworks! Should you choose to brave the crowds on the National Mall, we highly recommend walking or getting their by bike - WABA will once again be hosting a free bike valet service. For those who go by Metro, note that the Smithsonian station will be open this year, unlike previous years. The Capitol Fourth concert starts at 8 p.m., with the fireworks scheduled to start sometime after 9:30 p.m. Always good for alternative viewing spots: Cardozo High School, the Key Bridge, the Iwo Jima Memorial in Rosslyn, Washington National Cathedral, the plaza at the Kennedy Center, Gravelly Point, and the top of Malcolm X Park. Or, start calling your friends with roof access.

>> Fort Knox Five highlight a July 4th show with DJ Regal, All Good Funk Alliance, Asheru and Mustafa Akbar at the Black Cat. $10, 10 p.m.

SUNDAY:

>> The legendary Gladys Knight is at Wolf Trap. She'll be Pip-less, but she'll surely be bringing the hits like "Midnight Train to Georgia" and "Heard It Through the Grapevine." 8 p.m., $45 in house, $25 lawn.

>> Memphis punk Jay Reatard brings his onstage antics and short, loud songs to the Black Cat. 8 p.m., $12.

Photo of the Day: July 3, 2009

Heather Goss — 2009-07-03T12:20:53-05:00

*Toshio* took this shot of the Smithsonian Castle peeking out behind the Folklife Festival, continuing down on the Mall through the rest of the weekend from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a few performances that begin around 5 and 6 p.m to round out the day. You can see the full daily schedule for the three exhibits, Wales, Giving Voice: The Power of Words in African American Culture, and Las Américas: Un Mundo Musical online here.

DCist Preview: 2009 Gold Cup

Graham Hough-Cornwell — 2009-07-03T12:00:13-05:00

The CONCACAF Gold Cup kicks off today, but the tournament hits D.C. next Wednesday when the US plays Honduras as part of a double-header.

The CONCACAF Gold Cup -- the bi-annual soccer tournament for the championship of North and Central America and the Caribbean -- kicks off Friday, but the festivities will roll through the District next week when RFK Stadium hosts a first round double-header on Wednesday, July 8. The United States, fresh off their tremendous Confederations Cup run, will feature in the nightcap against Honduras, while Haiti and Grenada will duke it out in the early 7 p.m. match. Tickets are available here. After last week, you might be at least nominally familiar with the U.S. team, but probably lack a bit of knowledge about the others. We're one step ahead of you: here is the official DCist guide to the 2009 Gold Cup.

United States
If ESPN hasn't convinced you that this American team is ready for the world stage, then you're either a cold, hard cynic or have been asleep for two weeks. After shocking Spain 2-0 in the Confederations Cup semifinals last week, the world-beater Yanks nearly went one better -- taking an early 2-0 lead on Brazil, before running out of steam and falling 3-2 in the final. It was arguably the first time in a long time that our supposed "best players" -- Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey -- looked the part, and the team's commitment in the defensive third is better than it has been for a decade. This American Gold Cup squad is a different one, however, featuring a mostly MLS-based team with a lot of international greenhorns. One of those will be D.C. United's own Santino Quaranta, who returns to the national team after a long and difficult absence. Quaranta's club form this year has been superb, and he should get a look even with several established attackers ahead of him in the pecking order. Perhaps the sentimentalist in coach Bob Bradley will see fit to give Santino a run on his home turf when the U.S. takes on Honduras next week at RFK. Regardless, the U.S. was boosted by a CONCACAF ruling that will allow the team to bring an extra seven players to help combat the fatigue of their lengthy Confederations Cup run in South Africa last week. Among those named are striker Jozy Altidore and midfielder Ricardo Clark, who both logged serious minutes throughout the South African campaign.

What to expect: Anything less than an appearance in the final will be considered a disappointment. Even without many key players, this team has the depth to compete against this level of competition. But watch out for Honduras -- they could pip the Americans and claim first spot in the group, especially after they gave the States a scare less than one month ago.

Why a neutral should root for them: A moot point. One suspects few, if any, neutrals will be rooting for the Americans. Fortunately, we're the ones hosting the tournament, so it should be less of an issue.

Haiti
Seen as something of a johnny-come-lately by qualifying for the tournament after Cuba -- who has a raft of players defect after each trip to the U.S. -- dropped out, Haitian expectations are predictably low. This is their fourth trip to the Cup, and they even picked up two credible draws with Costa Rica and Guadeloupe in the previous tournament. They've got a little footballing history of their own: Haiti is one of only three Caribbean nations to ever qualify for the World Cup (1974, an era known as the "Golden Age" of Haitian soccer) and recently lifted the 2007 Caribbean Cup. The vast majority of the squad plays professionally in Haiti, but there's a smattering of guys on the squad playing for jerkwater clubs all over the place. Leonel Saint-Preux and Jean Alexandre both make their living stateside (with USL-1's Minnesota Thunder and MLS's Real Salt Lake, respectively), while defender Judelin Aveska plays with storied Argentine side Independiente.

What to expect: The second round would be a shock result. If they can keep it close with Honduras and dispatch Grenada (Haiti, ironically enough, is known as "Les Grenadiers") in their second game, they could catch the U.S. fielding a second-tier squad and sneak a draw. That would probably be enough to see them into the next round -- a major success.

Why a neutral should root for them: Humanitarian reasons.

Grenada
D.C. United fans get a healthy dose of one Grenadian each season in the form of New England Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph. Once among MLS's top players, the tough-tackling Joseph has started to wear down and his passing isn't what it once was. Still, he's a player who routinely inspires the Revs to great things -- if Grenada are to do anything at all, he will be the man pulling the strings. Joseph will look to keep the supply lines open to Blackburn Rovers wrecking ball forward Jason Roberts. Roberts is strong in the air and regularly muscles his way past the best defenders in England and has scored 12 goals in 22 games for his country. Grenada will be playing in their first ever Gold Cup.

What to expect: The Spice Boyz (we couldn't make that up) will head home early. The two best third-place squads after group play make the knockout stages, and, as with Haiti, this would be a rousing success. But they have two bona-fide stars, the kind of game-changers that could snatch a positive result against Honduras.

Why a neutral should root for them: You work for Penzey's and see tremendous cross-marketing potential for the Boyz.

Honduras
Plenty of political turmoil back home, but it might just give this Honduras team the impetus it needs to make a serious run at the Gold Cup. The Americans barely squeaked past Los Catrachos in their previous World Cup qualifier, and there is plenty of firepower for this side to win Group B and make a run to the final. MLS fans will recognize their captain, Amado Guevara, from his time with numerous clubs; EPL fans are no doubt familiar with the midfield exploits of Tottenham's Wilson Palacios. Formerly of Wigan Athletic where up-and-coming defender Maynor Figueroa currently plies his trade, Palacios will try to supply Mexican-based striker Carlos Pavon, who struck an impressive early goal against the U.S. last month.

What to expect: A deep run. With the States' fielding a below-strength roster, the Hondurans will hope to boost confidence for their surging World Cup qualifying bid and are perfectly capable of beating the Americans. Expect them to at least make the semifinals.

Why a neutral should root for them: You have a serious hankering for some catrachitas.

Other Gold Cup Notes of Interest:
D.C. United Dejan Jakovic is having something of a breakout season, and it has earned him a spot on the Canadian team. Canada struggled mightily in World Cup qualifying and couldn't even make it to the hexagonal round, but there is enough talent there to repeat their semifinal run in the 2007 Gold Cup. The Canucks face El Salvador, red-hot Costa Rica, and Jamaica in Group A. ... Reeling Mexico got the gift of the draw in Group C, where they'll have minnows Guadeloupe, Panama, and Nicaragua. The seven-time Gold Cup champs have a relatively new coach in Javier Aguirre who will try desperately to get this team back in gear after a stuttering start to their World Cup qualifying campaign, which currently has El Tri on the outside looking in. ... For whatever reason, organizers decided to use 13 stadiums to host a 12-team tournament. This means the U.S. plays in Seattle, D.C., and Boston in the first round. The final will be played July 26 in the Jersey Meadowlands, the surface of which will be mercifully switched to natural grass just for the final.

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Armed Robbery at the Clarendon Apple Store

Sommer Mathis — 2009-07-03T11:14:24-05:00

Image courtesy a DCist reader

Planning on using your day off to make a stop at the Genius Bar or finally pick up that new iPhone? Might want to head to Pentagon City, instead. NBC4 is reporting some kind of armed robbery occurred at the Apple Store in Clarendon, located in the 2700 block of Clarendon Boulevard, this morning, though details are still scant. At least one person is reported to have been injured. We'll update when we hear more.

One source tells us that a robber or robbers entered the store through the back of the store and shot an Apple Store employee in the shoulder. The employee's injury is not believed to be life threatening.

UPDATE: The Post has a story up now: a 26-year-old female Apple Store employee was shot in wounded in the shoulder.

Missing Children Found

Sommer Mathis — 2009-07-03T10:25:34-05:00

The three young children whom police were searching for Thursday have been found, WJLA reports. The kids, 4-year-old Keith Dwayne Gray Jr., 2-year-old Mykia Aliyah Gray and 5-month-old Keyon Deone Gray, were reportedly found at the Columbia Heights Community Center at 14th and Girard Streets NW on Thursday evening, and were then taken to a hospital for observation. The adult family member who was supposed to be watching them, 48-year-old Toilynn Braxton, has reportedly been arrested - WJLA says she was wanted on an outstanding warrant after she failed to appear in court this week, and could face more charges stemming from this incident.

Spend a Creepy Evening with Rorschach's Brainpeople

Missy Frederick — 2009-07-03T09:35:48-05:00

The cast of Brainpeople (Rorschach Theatre).

When a woman offers two strangers $20,000 to dine with her for an evening, there's naturally got to be a catch. But in Jose Rivera's Brainpeople, being given a thoughtful, intimate staging by Rorschach Theatre Company, none of the cliche scenarios and hypotheticals that may have popped into the mind apply to what's about to happen to this trio of women from disparate, if equally desperate backgrounds.

Our host for the evening is Mayannah (Regina Aquino), a statuesque, wild-eyed heiress who has hired Rosemary (Monalisa Arias) and Ani (Amanda Thickpenny) as her companions for the night. It's clear from her first few lines that Rosemary has brought more than one guest with her for the evening (per the play's title), while Ani's own demons are bottled up a little more deeply - at least at first. There's more mystery to Mayannah as well, and it goes beyond exactly what meat is being used in those kabobs she's serving.

Rivera's a contemplative, poetic playwright who clearly has found his way into the Rorschach company's heart - the company first introduced audiences to him with 2007's References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot. He's a talky writer, too, and his words here fly by so quickly, and on so many different tangents, it's easy to feel like one's missing some of his nuances.

But while Brainpeople starts off a little sluggish, it quickly falls into a satisfying rhythm as the three women begin to open up to each other. Mystical circumstances fit comfortably into the mechanisms of Brainpeople and happen so naturally that questioning their probability doesn't really come into play.

Watching Arias' violent personality swings accounts for much of Brainpeople's tension, and the actress proves quite the heavyweight juggling the contrasting roles. Thickpenny's performance is by contrast admirably restrained but wholly convincing. She connects almost hypnotically with the self-possessed Aquino, whose composure always seems on the verge of collapsing as the night's events wear on.

Rorschach is limited to a tiny classroom space (finding it's a journey in itself) within Georgetown's Davis Performing Arts Center complex to stage Brainpeople, but it doesn't take much more than a spare, gothic set to transport the audience to Mayannah's mansion. And once we've gotten there, the magnetism of these three women is comfort (and discomfort) enough to get us through the evening.

Brainpeople runs through July 19 at the Davis Theatre Lab. Tickets are available online.

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