DCist

Go Home Already: Be Seeing You

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-11T19:22:27-05:00

Photo by M.V. Jantzen

Rock throwing is back in the headlines this evening. WJLA finds rocks flying in Southeast.
Silver Spring, Singular reports that the American Apparel had its window busted again.
Congratulations, University of Maryland students, you may continue to enjoy your pornography of choice.
A 60-year-old woman was hit and killed by a school bus driver in front of Bethesda Elementary School on Monday afternoon.
Happy the Hippo is apparently happier in his new home. Fine then Happy, we always thought you smelled bad anyway!

Shooting Victim Was the Brother of DeOnté Rawlings

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-11T18:05:39-05:00

The man who was shot and killed while trying to board a Metrobus near 14th and H Streets NE this morning was George Rawlings, the brother of DeOnté Rawlings, according to the Washington Post. DeOnté Rawlings was 14 when he was shot and killed by an off-duty police officer in 2007.

George Rawlings, 21, was killed today reportedly as he was leaving a funeral service for another young man, who was shot to death on Halloween. An attorney for the Rawlings family told the Post that George had been in hiding since the Halloween shooting, to which he was an apparent witness, because he knew he was being targeted. And there's this devastating quote from the attorney, Gregory Lattimore:

"When the thought of going to the police was mentioned, this is a situation where DeOnté was killed by the police . . . so how could [George] go to the police and expect them to legitimately try to help him? That was his thinking," Lattimore said.

D.C. police now say they are looking for three suspects in today's shooting.

Marissa Nadler & Alela Diane @ DC9

Francis Chung — 2009-11-11T16:15:00-05:00

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Critically-acclaimed singer-songwriters Marissa Nadler and Alela Diane showcased their considerable musical talents at DC9 on Tuesday night, captivating an attentive audience with intimately stripped-down sets of folk songs.

Hailing from the erstwhile gold rush town of Nevada City, CA (an apparent musical hotbed, it has also produced Joanna Newsom and Mariee Sioux), Diane alternated between a selection of songs off her latest release, To Be Still, as well as from her older records. Though she was joined on several songs by bassist Tom Bevitori, Diane carried much of the set alone on vocals and guitar, finger-picking intricate yet understated arpeggios that left ample room for her expressive vocals to take center-stage. On songs like "White As Diamonds," Diane's voice ranged expansively from country-tinged twang to bluesy lamentations to bluegrass-flavored near-yodels, as her songs vividly evoked Western landscapes and the stories of those who have inhabited them.

Featuring material from her current record, Little Hells, Nadler's headlining set was also a largely solo-acoustic affair, though she was accompanied at times by electric guitarist Carter Tanton of the band Tulsa. Despite her extensive experience as a touring musician, Nadler confessed to suffering from habitual stage fright, and her first several songs indeed sounded a bit tentative before she hit her stride with the mesmeric guitar drones and hauntingly beautiful mezzo-soprano vocals of "Dying Breed," from her 2007 album, Songs III: Bird on the Water.

Compared to Diane's more rustic and atavistic aesthetic, the music of the D.C.-born Boston resident songs displayed more contemporary dynamics and a palpably darker tone. Aptly described earlier this week here on DCist as "perpetually morose," Nadler cited a specific cause for Tuesday night's melancholia: she had apparently broken up with her boyfriend earlier in that day, which she told the audience immediately before launching into a plaintive rendition of "Oh, Lonesome Me," a Don Gibson song famously covered by Neil Young on After the Gold Rush. Nadler's disclosure lent an extra note of autobiographical urgency to the themes of love, loss, loneliness, and death that pervade her music, and her songs seemed rawer in emotional tenor from being stripped of their studio arrangements. Fittingly, Nadler's performance concluded with a cover of Jackson C. Frank's folk-classic, "Blues Run the Game," on which she was joined by tourmates Diane, Tanton, and Bevitori as she sang "Wherever I have played, the blues have run the game."

Tracy Morgan's D.C. New Year's Eve Show Canceled

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-11T15:24:05-05:00

A New Year's Eve concert to be hosted in D.C. by 30 Rock and SNL veteran comedian Tracy Morgan has been canceled, Live Nation spokesperson Robert Muller confirmed today. Tickets went on sale in October for the event, billed as the "New Year's Eve Countdown with Tracy Morgan," which was to have been held at the Warner Theatre. Live Nation promised more details on the cancellation later today, so we'll be sure to update with any details on how ticket holders may get refunds, etc., when we know more.

This Week in Jazz

Sriram Gopal — 2009-11-11T14:37:12-05:00

Thad Wilson

>> Guitarist Rodney Richardson leads a group tonight at Twins Jazz. His trio features Three Stars alum Will Rast and drummer Larry Ferguson. Call 202-234-0072 for set time and cover information.

>> Montserrat is a singer, based out of Brazil, who specializes in that country's bossa nova and bolero styles. She will be at Blues Alley tonight for 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets are $20 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.

>> In 1957, celebrated French film maker Louis Malle directed Ascenseur pour l'échafaud (Elevator to the Gallows), for which he commissioned Miles Davis to score the film. Three Stars alum Thad Wilson will recreate this experience on Thursday at HR-57, where his group will perform live with a screening of the film. 7 p.m. $10

>> Three Stars alum Will Rast will make another appearance on Thursday, leading his band, Funk Ark at Bohemian Caverns with special guest Elikeh. 8:30 p.m. $10

>> Pianist Joe Sample has spent four decades on the jazz scene, initially making his name as a member of the Jazz Crusaders. He'll bring his mix of jazz, blues, and gospel to Blues Alley for a four night stand beginning on Thursday. Tickets to the nightly 8 and 10 p.m. sets are $43 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.

>> Some of the area's best musicians, including pianist Eric Byrd, saxophonist Lyle Link, and bassist Bhagwan Khalsa team up on Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest to pay tribute to the great Ray Charles. 6 to 9 p.m. $5

>> Our pick on Friday has nothing to do with jazz, but lovers of rhythm take note. Yamato, a Japanese taiko drumming ensemble will be at Lisner at 8 p.m. A colorful and dramatic showcase of traditional drumming, their performances always impress. Tickets are $25-$45/$15 for students/alumni.

Lenny Robinson

>> Local drummer and Three Stars alum Lenny Robinson leads a quartet this Friday and Saturday at Bohemian Caverns. The ensemble will feature monster saxophonist Tim Green and special guest pianist Orrin Evans. Tickets to the 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. sets are $15.

>> Chuchito Valdés, son of legendary Cuban pianist Chucho Valdés, follows in his father's footsteps with a fiery and technical approach to Latin Jazz. A regular visitor to the District, Chuchito returns to HR-57 this Friday and Saturday. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. $20

>> Twins Jazz features local regular Louis Faife on Friday and Saturday. Tickets to the 8 and 10 p.m. sets are $15 + $12 minimum/surcharge.

>> Vibist Stefon Harris and his band, Blackout, have managed to strike a near perfect balance between improvisation and accessability. The group will be at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Gallery on Saturday (preview forthcoming). Tickets to the 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. sets are sold out, but it's worth contacting the box office for last minute availability.

>> An exceptional talent that blends Afro-beat, reggae, jazz, music from her native Cape Verde, Sara Tavares is winning over audiences the world over. The gifted young vocalist will be at Lisner on Saturday. Tickets to the 8 p.m. show are $25-$35/$15 for students/alumni.

>> Vocalist Karen Lovejoy leads her band, The Lovejoy Group, on Sunday at Twins Jazz. The band will celebrate the release of its album, Spellbound. Call 202-234-0072 for set time and cover information.

>> The Bossa Bistro & Lounge will also feature a jazz/film event, this one on Sunday. Trumpeter Herb Robertson will lead a band accompanying the silent films of Ana Isabel Ordonez. 8 p.m. Call 202-667-0088 for cover information.

>> The Cherry Poppin' Daddies were part of the Swingers-era revival of the late '90s. They'll play 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley on Monday. Tickets are $35 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.

>> Bohemian Caverns hosts an Israeli jazz series next week, with performances on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Visit the club's web site for more information.

>> Trumpeter Michael Thomas, a regular on the local scene, leads his quintet next Tuesday at UMD as part of the CSPAC's Take Five concert series. 5:30 p.m. Free

>> Chilean native Claudia Acuña made waves in New York's crowded jazz scene almost immediately after her move there in the mid-1990s. Since then, she has garnered an international reputation, performing at the world's top jazz clubs and festivals. She will be playing 8 and 10 p.m. sets at Blues Alley on Tuesday. Tickets are $22 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.

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Daytime Shooting on H Street NE

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-11T14:30:26-05:00

A man was shot multiple times earlier today while attempting to board a Metrobus near 14th and H Streets NE. D.C. Police are currently investigating the shooting, which took place just before noon.

Police described the victim's injuries as serious, but declined to provide much more information while officers were still searching for suspects. The Post reports that the bus in question was a westbound X2, and that it's being held at the scene for further investigation, but other X2 buses are running normally.

UPDATE: WUSA9 is reporting that the victim has died.

View Daytime shooting on H Street NE in a larger map

Arts Agenda

Heather Goss — 2009-11-11T13:50:47-05:00

See work in "Pacguy" by Kenny George at Flashpoint on Thursday.

We're still in the midst of FotoweekDC (visit their website for detailed listings of events, lectures and workshops), but there are also tons of other arts events going on this week. Here's a not-so-short and sweet calendar for you to plan your next few days of artiness.

Wednesday:

>> Well known local artist Jiha Moon opens her third solo show at Curator's Office. See the gorgeous paintings in An Exact Place from 6 to 8 p.m.

>> In the same building, visit the opening of Hemphill's Economies of Scale, featuring photographs from nearly 30 artists that focus on both the wide range of actual sizes, as well as the "economies of scale" in our environments. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

>> Take advantage of your last chance to hear Edward Burtynsky speak eloquently about both his photography and the industrial state of the world depicted in Oil at the Corcoran. 7 p.m.; $20.

Thursday:

>> Check out Pacguy, including the character's arcade game and all the associated "merchandise" included in Kenny George's study of consumerism and pop culture. Flashpoint, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. At 8:30 p.m. guests will get a free showing of Solas Nua's Disco Pigs in the Mead Theater.

>> Emmy-winning photographer Joshua Cogan is back at the Sixth and I Synagogue for Fotoweek. See his new work in Soundprints Vol. 1 at the opening reception, 7 p.m.

>> See some wild potraiture work at Pyramid Atlantic's opening of Portraiture 2.0, featuring work by Nicholas Pye & Sheila Pye, Victoria F. Gaitán and more. 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

>> Arizona-based photographer Christopher Colville "explores the themes of time as manifested in death and memory" in a show curated by Larissa Leclair and hosted by Insomniac Design. 1219 Blagden Alley (enter on M Street between 9th and 10th Streets NW). 6 to 9 p.m.

>> Support Critical Exposure's mission to teach D.C. schoolchildren the art of documentary photography at their annual fundraiser. The cocktail reception includes a silent auction of photographs by Pulitzer Prize winners and big local names, along with drinks and food. 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.; $75.

>> Listen to Yinka Shonibare talk about "politics, identity and cultural authenticity in a postcolonial world" at the Hirshhorn's "Meet the Artist" event at 7 p.m. The midcareer survey of his work opens at the National Museum of African Art next week.

Also: See D.C. photographer Phil Nesmeth give a demonstration of wet and dryplate photography techniques at Irvine Contemporary at 6:30 p.m.
Join Hamiltonian Gallery for a discussion with exhibited artists Anne Chan and Michael Dax Iacovone, moderated by renowned photographer Frank Day at 7 p.m.
SOVA on H Street NE will open an exhibit of portraits by Elizabeth Graeber and Laura Shema, featuring live paintings by the artists, music by Matthew Hemerlein, and drink specials. 7 to 11 p.m.
Target Gallery has a reception for Renee van der Stelt's work in Projections:Line on Land, 6 to 8 p.m.

"Untitled" by Victoria F. Gaitán on display at Pyramid Atlantic

Friday:

>> We told you a few weeks ago about Civilian Art Projects moving into the Warehouse Art Complex. We finally get to check out their new digs during the opening for their two new shows by Terri Weifenbach and Carole Wagner Greenwood. 7 to 9 p.m.

>> Washington Post art critic Paul Richard will discuss "Duchamp's Triad: Forty years of looking at art in Washington" at the Washington Studio School at 7 p.m. Free, but RSVP to 202.234.3030 or admin[at]washingtonstudioschool.org.

>> Join in on a two-day symposium on "African Art, Modernist Photography, and the Politics of Representation" at the Driskell Center at the University of Maryland (Friday) and The Phillips Collection (Saturday). Get the full schedule here (PDF). Free, but registration required for the Saturday program.

Saturday:

>> Head to the Corcoran for an all-afternoon lecture series for FotoweekDC featuring Ernesto Bazan (2 p.m.), Matthew Niederhauser (3 p.m.), and Lori Grinker and Chris Hondros (4 p.m.).

>> Get a head start on your shopping at the Holiday Fine Craft Show & Sale at the Lee Arts Center in Arlington, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

>> The Capital Hill Arts Workshop opens the all-media show Cityscapes with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m.

Sunday:

>> See experimental video by Marius Watz, Alberto Gaitan, Brandon Morse at Capital Skyline Hotel, presented by the Rubell Family Collection and Conner Contemporary. 6 to 8 p.m.

>> Get some new ideas about design during Mostly Modern's benefit for Martha's Table. A ticket includes home tours, entrance to the vendor fair at the Katzen Art Center, and the gala starting at 5 p.m. $85 This event has been canceled.

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Ryan Zimmerman Reportedly Wins First Gold Glove

Aaron Morrissey — 2009-11-11T12:45:19-05:00

Congratulations appear to be in order for Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who -- if published internet reports are accurate -- will win his first Gold Glove when winners are officially announced later today. Zimmerman, whose defensive play at the hot corner in 2009 was one of the few real consistent highlights for the Nationals during a tumultous season, is reportedly one of four debutant winners this season. Zimmerman was the likely favorite for the award with last year's recipient, New York's David Wright, having an injury-plagued season, but the face of the Nationals did have competition from San Diego's Kevin Kouzmanoff for this year's honor. The official Gold Glove winners will be announced later today; and even though ESPN is busy wondering whether baseball's highest defensive honor really means anything, we feel confident stating that Nationals fans will take whatever positives they can get their paws on.

Photo of the Day: November 11, 2009

Samer Farha — 2009-11-11T12:15:58-05:00

Panography is a photography technique to take multiple images of a scene around a central point and then marry the resulting images by overlapping them with minimal touch up. It lets you explore the area being photographed more completely than a panorama, and provides for a cool effect.

DCist Flickr pool contributor m hoek added his own twist to the panograph by taking shots of the intersection of 17th and Q Streets NW over time. The resulting picture is a snapshot of four slices of time at the same place.

About Tonight

Kaysha Gurell — 2009-11-11T12:10:06-05:00

Photo by Fotomoe

MUSIC: Three Stars alum Flex Mathews is hosting a listening party for MF Doom's new album, Unexpected Guest. Joining him to supply the sounds will be DJ Underdog and NIck Da 1nda. Free, 6 p.m.

Richmond metal legends Lamb of God will tear through a headlining set with Darkest Hour, Periphery and This or the Apocalypse at the 9:30 Club. $35, 7 p.m.

New Orleans alt-rock quartet Mutemath is at the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue tonight. It's sold-out, but try Craig. As Tall As Lions open, 8 p.m.

MOVIE: The Avalon Theatre is screening Plastic People of the Universe, a terrific documentary that covers the legendary band's 30-year history as a rallying symbol of resistance against the communist state power in Czechoslovakia. 8 p.m.

The ongoing European Union Film Showcase at the AFI Silver offers Irish director Margaret Corkery's new film, Eamon, tonight at 7:05 p.m. This dark comedy tells the story of a six-year-old boy with an apparent Oedipus complex.

NextBus App Now Available for BlackBerry

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-11T11:20:06-05:00

The folks at NextBus have just released an application for the BlackBerry, available for $2.99 at this link. It appears to work somewhat similarly to the iPhone version, which we reviewed earlier this year. BlackBerry users, be sure to let us know how it works for you.

In other mobile real time bus arrival application news, Greater Greater Washington has a review of a new Circulator iPhone app, created by developer Yaogang Lian using OCTO's open data feed. That app costs $0.99, and attempts to improve upon the official Circulator app by offering bus arrival estimates and showing the physical location of Circulator buses on a GPS-enabled map.

Greet a Runner for Wounded Warriors

Rebecca Cooper — 2009-11-11T10:05:06-05:00

Arriving in D.C. today is Chris Cuddihy, a multiple marathon runner (and, full disclosure, a friend from my hometown) who set out Saturday to run from New York City to D.C. in order to raise money and awareness for Wounded Warriors, a group that provides services and programs to help the most seriously wounded returning soldiers and their families.

Chris will finish his mammoth run, which was forced to change into a bike ride after an injury on Sunday, at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial today around 1 p.m., where he'll be greeted by a small ceremony. You can donate to Chris's cause here, and, if you'd like to be there at the finish line to cheer him on, check his progress on Twitter @NYDCrun.

Morning Roundup: Remembering and Forgetting Edition

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-11T09:30:36-05:00

Photo by Kevin H.

Good morning, Washington, and welcome to one of those weird times when a federal holiday happens to fall on a Wednesday, leaving a good portion of the city with a day off smack in the middle of the week. Banks, schools and government agencies are all closed today, and the Metrorail system is running on a modified Saturday schedule. Even if you're at your desk this morning despite all this, think about finding a way to thank a veteran today. We'll have some suggestions on how to do that later this morning.

John Allen Muhammad is Dead: Convicted D.C. sniper John Allen Muhammad died at 9:11 p.m. last night, after receiving a cocktail of three lethal drugs from the state of Virginia. Sarah Abruzzese of the Washington Times and Josh White and Maria Glod of the Washington Post were all there to witness Muhammad's death, but Paul Duggan's essay remembering the terror that Muhammad and his accomplice wrought is the must-read. 'What did it teach us? A simple truth, says Caroline Namrow, a doctor who rushed to Walekar's aid Oct. 3 after bullet fragments tore through his heart at a Mobil in Aspen Hill, the third of five killings in 16 hours in Montgomery. "We're on this Earth for such a short time," Namrow says. "You never know when it's going to end."'

U.S. Secret Service Fatally Injures Pedestrian: Secret Service officers driving two different vehicles struck and killed a pedestrian on Suitland Parkway early Wednesday morning, the Post reports. The collision occurred at about 2:30 a.m. at the intersection of the parkway and Naylor Road, just inside the border of Prince George's County. Very few details are available on the nature of the crash this morning, and the name of the victim, an adult male, is still being withheld pending notification of his family.

Briefly Noted: Metro agrees to allow monitors on live tracks ... Twelve charged with stealing library books from Prince George's County ... Quicker economic rebound seen for D.C. area ... Md. Marine sergeant killed in Afghanistan.

This Day in DCist: Last year, Virginia state GOP Chair Jeff Frederick was putting his foot in his mouth.

Go Home Already: On the Move

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-10T18:45:47-05:00

Photo by KentonNgo

It's difficult to think of a convoluted scare story more tailor-made for local TV news than this one. If only the virus also killed your household pets and caused traffic delays that contributed to the delinquency of your teenage daughter.
D.C. is finally getting wheelchair-accessible taxis this month, via WaPo. Long, long overdue.
The headline says it all: "Diapers on the street -- Not cool."
Meant to mention this yesterday: best of luck to IMGoph as he shutters bloomingdale (for now) and takes up guest posting at Frozen Tropics. He also says he's at "work on establishing something new in trinidad soon," which we look forward to seeing.
Mayor Fenty reportedly promised the D.C. Council that he will replace Ximena Hartsock at DPR by Dec. 1.

Committee Approves Same-Sex Marriage Bill

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-10T16:14:02-05:00

The same-sex marriage bill currently before the D.C. Council passed its first formal hurdle today, as the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary voted to move the bill on to the full council for debate (see more at D.C. Wire). The committee approved the bill by a 4 to 1 vote; Council member Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7) was the lone dissenter. Before voting, the committee altered the bill's language to remove a provision that would have eliminated domestic partnerships, as well as broaden the religious exemption. With 10 co-sponsors, the bill is expected to pass the full council with no trouble at all. A full council vote is expected on Dec. 1.

Google Providing Free WiFi at BWI for the Holidays

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-10T15:55:02-05:00

Google announced today that it will provide free wireless internet access at 47 U.S. airports and on all Virgin America flights for the holiday season. Starting now through January 15, anyone should be able to log on to free Google WiFi at BWI, which is the only local airport included in the program. You can find the complete list of participating airports here. Naturally, Google says it plans to use the free service as a means to advertise its products, like iGoogle and Google Chrome, to potential new customers. Still, paying that extra $9.99 for a day pass for internet access at most local airports is a huge drag, so until every airport starts offering it for free, all the time, we'll take what we can get.

D.C. Homicides Still 25 Percent Below Last Year

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-10T15:30:08-05:00

Despite another fatal shooting in Northeast last night, it's worth noting that with less than two months left to go in 2009, the District has recorded 123 homicides all year long, according to D.C. police crime data. That figure continues to reflect a 25 percent decrease in the number of homicides compared to this time last year, when there were already 164 homicides on the books. By all accounts, the Metropolitan Police Department has also seen an improvement in homicide arrests this year.

We've given Chief Cathy Lanier a hard time for daring to predict that the city would see fewer than 100 homicides this year, a benchmark which of course we've long since passed. But the 25 percent decrease in homicides has remained consistent throughout most of the year, which is a significant improvement.

WTOP Report Provokes Anger Among Area Cyclists

Martin Austermuhle — 2009-11-10T13:25:46-05:00

Law-breaking, wasting public funds and an elected official who's increasingly unpopular -- the story had everything you would want in an exposé. So when WTOP's Mark Segraves reported Monday that D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty used a police escort and clogged up area roads on his daily bike ride, everyone jumped on it. Including us.

But in the ensuing rancor, local cyclists were left seething at what they perceived as a hit-job not on Fenty, but on them. A regional cycling email list jumped to life as a number of cyclists criticized the WTOP report for being needlessly biased against them and for not proving that Fenty and his group actually caused any traffic tie-ups, as Segraves claimed. And while many agreed that it looked bad for Fenty to ride with a police escort and have his bikes transported to and from races in an official vehicle, many felt that the report didn't live up to its billing.

In direct conversations and in a discussion on the email list of the Mid-Atlantic Bicycle Racing Association, a number of area cyclists pointed out that while Fenty should not have been riding on the Clara Barton Parkway as he's seen doing, little else displayed in the WTOP video was notably dangerous or illegal.

In one segment of the video, Segraves shows a car honking its horn at Fenty's group as they rode two-abreast on MacArthur Boulevard in Maryland -- which is legal. (The annoyed driver, on the other hand, illegally passed them on a double yellow line.) In two other segments, Segraves claims that Fenty is blowing through red lights, but, as cyclist Brian Hennessey points out, "Fenty doesn't actually go through a single red light. His police escort does."

Some cyclists also noted that for the "several months" that WTOP tailed Fenty on his rides (which have never been much of a secret), the cited examples of law-breaking or disrupting area traffic are somewhat thin. (Segraves also admits he shot segments of the video while himself driving an automobile, which is arguably more dangerous.)

Mark Plotz, a Program Manager for the National Center for Bicycling and Walking, agreed that while Fenty shouldn't use an official vehicle to get his bike to and from races, the traffic angle in the WTOP story didn't seem justified. "He is riding at mid-day, when traffic volume is lowest. If they weren't rolling lights and signs, traffic would be tied up even longer," he pointed out. (WashCycle has some additional thoughts worth reading.)

And it wasn't just the article's message that provoked snickers amongst many cyclists, but so too the messenger. "The target demographic for WTOP is the commuter crowd, most of whom are married to their automobile-centric lifestyle and who rue the fact that bicycles share 'their' road space," said Rudi Riet, who leads rides with local cyclists. "This story just adds fuel to the fire."

Plotz also criticized WTOP's perceived bias against cyclists. "WTOP is throwing red meat to its audience with this bicycling story. It's audience is listening to WTOP while in their cars, driving to and from work. Whenever it does a story on bicycling or pedestrians, the tenor of the article is rarely unbiased, and the hateful comments the readers make are astonishing. WTOP's audience has the windshield perspective on the streets," he said.

Ironically, the WTOP story and the ensuing furor it has caused may end up causing more danger on area roads, not less. One local racer who attended a popular noon ride at Hains Point today complained that his group was chased by a media truck.

"Almost got killed by a truck chasing and filming the noon pack at Hains," the cyclist wrote. "WTF? The local news media has got to drop this shit with Fenty. There were only like 2 dc velo [Fenty's team] riders in the group anyways."

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Tuition Increase Proposed for UDC School of Law

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-10T13:20:48-05:00

The Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia are proposing a tuition increase at the David A. Clarke School of Law for the 2010-2011 school year. The proposed increase would see residents paying $4,425 per semester, and $8,850 per semester for non-residents. Currently, UDC law students pay $3,675 per semester, and non-residents $7,350.

UDC undergraduates already had their tuition raised earlier this year. The school's board of trustee's has also been under scrutiny of late, as the Post has reported, with Mayor Adrian Fenty squaring off against D.C. Council Chair Vincent Gray in an attempt to see who can put off filling up to 10 now vacant seats on the 15-member board the longest. The only reason the board is able to carry out any actions at all right now is because the D.C. Council voted to permit them to do their work with a reduced membership.

About Tonight

Kaysha Gurell — 2009-11-10T12:45:17-05:00

Photo by dr_kim_veis [''o ]

MUSIC: D.C.'s own Title Tracks are at the Black Cat's Backstage tonight, opening for Brooklyn's Bryan Scary & the Shredding Tears. The Black Hollies, out of New Jersey, also play. $10, 8:30 p.m.

MOVIE: The Smithsonian Anacostia Museum is screening Midnight Ramble, a documentary that tells the story of Oscar Micheaux, one of the rare independent black filmmakers who was active prior to the 1940s. 7 p.m., free.

ART: Among tonight's FotoweekDC events, we recommend the opening at the WPA curated by award-winning photojournalist Jim Hubbard (6 p.m.), a lecture by Sam Abell about his 30-year career for National Geographic and as an artist and teacher at the U.S. Navy Memorial (6:30 p.m.), and projections for NightGallery at Crystal City (5:30 to 10:30 p.m.) and Rosslyn (6 to 11 p.m.).

READING: Writer and former sex worker David Henry Sterry will be at the 5th and K Busboys and Poets tonight to share his and his wife’s experience of running a weekly writers' workshop for sex workers. Sterry, author of Hos, Hookers, Call Girls, and Rent Boys: Professionals Writing on Life, Love, Money, and Sex, will be joined by other contributors to the anthology, including young women participating in the first ever National Summit of Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth. Free, 6:30 p.m.

The Hidden Cameras @ Rock and Roll Hotel

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-10T12:25:22-05:00

Image courtesy the Hidden Cameras

By DCist Contributor Dan White

The rise of Canada's indie music scene over the past decade has been formidable, to say the least. But its Achilles heel has been the tendency of some of its leading acts to take themselves a bit too seriously at times. Even the best pop music is still just ... pop music, and the Wagnerian sturm und drang of elements of the Montreal scene can get downright exhausting at times.

In contrast, the Hidden Cameras' Saturday night show at the Rock and Roll Hotel was a refreshing gust of unpretentious whimsy from Quebec's Ontario-based cousins. Primarily the project of lead singer Joel Gibb, the Cameras have developed a reputation over the past decade in Canada for over the top, theatrically goofy stage performances, replete with (among other extra-musical accoutrement) go-go dancers, strippers, and chorus singers.

This tour has taken them further afield from their longstanding fan base cities (this was their first time in D.C.), meaning smaller venues and a paired down live act comprised of only musicians. Still, the stage was packed with people on Saturday, especially as elements of openers Gentleman Reg (a project of longstanding Cameras collaborator Reg Vermue) rotated on and off stage constantly throughout the show.

Given this reputation for ridiculous showmanship, the Cameras' set began with appropriately absurd aplomb: they ascended the darkened stage wearing druid cloaks straight out of Spinal Tap, accompanied by melodramatic synth riffs. The set consisted of a large number of songs from their latest album, including an early performance of "In the NA," a frenetic pop song that is equal parts Belle and Sebastian, the Talking Heads, and Brendan Benson. As the show progressed, Gibb & co. drew on earlier, more acoustically driven tunes as well. One of the best was a catchy, raucous rendition of "Steal All You Can Motherfucker," from their debut album, Ecce Homo.

As the show progressed, the band's roots in 1960s pop sensibilities consistently shone through: xylophones and major key harmonic vocals were a standard through the night, and the cheerful, feel-good tone definitely matched the broader mood on stage; one got the sense that this band is in many ways also a large, well-functioning, healthy family. At points, Gibb would ask different band members from Gentleman Reg to the stage, like a kind father beckoning the kids to dinner. By the end of the set, the relatively small RNR stage was packed with upwards of a dozen people, banging out the encore with a pleasant cacophony of tambourines, xylophones, keys, strings, and drums. Additionally impressive was the musical depth of each player, with a near constant rotation of every member between guitar, bass, drums, and keys.

All in all, a must see for anyone in the mood for a sing-along for 'grown-ups' the next time they're in town.

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Photo of the Day: November 10, 2009

Samer Farha — 2009-11-10T12:02:50-05:00

Waiting for paint to dry can be quite a boring endeavor, but someone decided they didn't need to wait to add their own "artistic flair" to this freshly painted wall. User * Chris D captured the tagging and the cool colors. (EXIF)

This Week In Hip-Hop

W Jacarl Melton — 2009-11-10T10:45:19-05:00

Rakim is at the Black Cat on Sunday.

Wednesday:
>> Even though MF Doom is about as likely to show up to the listening party as he is to one of his own shows, this album release party should be worth checking. Hosted by Three Stars alum Flex Mathews, Lounge of 3 (1013 U Street NW) will play host to a listening party for Doom's Unexpected Guest album. Joining him to supply the sounds will be DJ Underdog and NIck Da 1nda. Free, 6 p.m.

Friday:
>> A frequent visitor to the District, songstress Teedra Moses returns for a performance tonight at Liv. $18 in advance, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday:
>> Before Cee-Lo broke out with his Gnarls Barkley project, he was part of one of Atlanta's premier hip-hop groups, Goodie Mob. The four man group is back together and stopping by The Scene for two shows. They'll be joined by a legend in his own right, Houston rapper Scarface. $35 in advance, doors open at 6 p.m. & 10:30 p.m.

>> Nigerian/German singer Nneka is making waves in Europe and venturing across the Atlantic to Jammin' Java in Vienna where she'll be joined by local group, See-I. $10 in advance, 10 p.m.

Sunday:
>> When hip-hop know-it-alls compile a list of the best emcees of all-time, it typically goes: #1 Rakim, #2 everyone else. The "God MC,"Rakim (pictured), is on the verge of releasing his latest album, The Seventh Seal. Also on the bill at the Black Cat is Kanye West associate Rhymefest and DJ P-Funk. $20, 7:30 p.m.

Burger-pocalypse at BGR

Jamie R. Liu — 2009-11-10T10:24:29-05:00

What does BGR stand for? Though it could easily be booger, in this case it's burger, which is what you'll get for free if you go to a local BGR The Burger Joint today with the letters "inked" on any body part. And yes, they can just be written on your hand with a ballpoint pen.

Today from 11 a.m. to noon, walk in with your BGR "tattoo" and you will receive a free burger or veggie burger. If it's not too crowded, be sure to try out their hand cut fries. Locations include the new restaurant at Dupont Circle, plus Alexandria and Bethesda.

D.C. Area Pedestrian Safety Could Be Worse

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-10T10:15:56-05:00

Photo by rosiedawn

The authors (and dare we say, the readers) of this web site often get pretty exercised over pedestrian and cyclist safety issues, especially when so many of these kinds of accidents seem to involve city bus drivers. But a new study of relative pedestrian safety finds that D.C. is actually one of the safer cities in the country to be traveling through without an automobile. According to Transportation for America, a transportation advocacy group, walking in Washington is less dangerous than in 31 other metro areas in the U.S.

The rankings (you can read the whole report here) make some basic sense: at the top half of the list are cities like Orlando, Houston, Atlanta, Las Vegas and Phoenix – cities that were built to a car scale, where hardly anyone walks. East Coast cities that were designed before the automobile, like D.C., Philadelphia, New York and Boston, are all in the bottom half of the list. D.C. did come in at #32, however, making it ranked as somewhat less safe than most other eastern U.S. cities. The only other East Coast city that ranked worse than D.C. was Baltimore, coming at #29.

Goodbye Fixie, Hello Tweed!

Martin Austermuhle — 2009-11-10T09:45:22-05:00

When in late September the Post all but announced the death of the fixed-gear bicycle fad with a 1,700-word primer on single-speeds, we wondered what would come next. Now we've got our answer -- the Tweed Ride.

Last week, the District's first ever Tweed Ride was announced. Scheduled for Sunday, November 15, the ride will see cyclists ditch the spandex and carbon frames and instead don foppish early-1900s era apparel while atop vintage cruisers. The ride follows the lead of similar events in London and San Francisco.

As a proud Lycra warrior, I won't take offense to the purpose of the Tweed Ride, which is largely to give cycling something of a stylish flair. (The UK-based Tweed Cycling Club sums it up as such: "Style not speed. Elegance not exertion.") For as the infamous BikeSnobNYC has observed, "If someone is too self-conscious to wear lycra they're certainly not going to be any more comfortable with looking like they're on the way home from a Grover Cleveland rally." It's for a good cause, too, and it's bound to be fun to watch. (Our friends at Project Beltway are very excited.) Yes, we performance-conscious cyclists do have a sense of humor.

The ride kicks off at 11 a.m. at H and 8th streets NE and will end at Marvin at 14th and U Streets NW. Don't know what to wear or what to ride? Check this out.

Morning Roundup: Turn, Turn, Turn Edition

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-10T09:30:13-05:00

Photo by jagosaurus

Good morning, Washington. Looks like the stunning, unseasonably warm weather we've been enjoying for the last few days will soon be coming to an end. The remnants of Ida are moving in our direction, and while the Capital Weather Gang says we'll miss out on most of the heavy rains, we will be getting clouds, scattered showers, and cooler temperatures into tomorrow. Guess we can't complain -- it is November, after all.

Metro, Metro, Metro Lots of Metro news this morning, starting off with this Post story on how two U.S. Senators are calling for an investigation into potential safety lapses at the transit agency. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) made their proclamations in the wake of a Post investigation that found that WMATA was routinely blocking the Tri-State Oversight Committee from obtaining information from Metro about safety issues. One allegation was that safety monitors were being denied access to inspect active train tracks, though a Metro spokesperson later told the paper that was a "misimpression" -- monitors have always been allowed to approach the live tracks, just as long as they have passed a safety class and are accompanied by safety escorts, according to Metro. The Examiner, meanwhile, says the committee and the agency are working things out on their own, noting that Metro and local officials claim they didn't know that the Tri-State Oversight Committee existed before the Red Line crash.

In other Metro news, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689 has filed suit in an attempt to force WMATA to give its employees their three percent pay raises.

Sniper Execution Expected at 9 p.m. With yesterday's Supreme Court decision, the people of Virginia are set to execute John Allen Muhammad tonight by lethal injection. We've seen most every kind of story on the lead up to Muhammad's execution, but here's a new one, from WTTG/FOX5: an interview with former Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose, who you'll recognize from his many appearances on the news during the sniper crisis.

Briefly Noted: Two shot, one killed in Northeast shooting ... Three charged in Maryland hate crimes ... Car crashes into apartment building in Southeast ... EPA releases tough-sounding draft strategy for restoring the Chesapeake Bay.

This Day in DCist: In 2008, we looked at why voter turnout didn't break any records in the region, and in 2006, we were stuck in the dark on who the Nationals would hire to be their new manager. Phew, glad that turned out well!

Go Home Already: Just Around the Corner

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-09T18:30:33-05:00

Photo by Kevin H.

This seemed inevitable: DCPS CFO Noah Wepman was fired on Friday, according to sources. Wepman was made to look a fool by the D.C. Council after they grilled him at a hearing on the recent D.C. Schools RIFs, to the point where he admitted withholding budget numbers from the legislative body. [WTOP]
A bicyclist was struck and killed Saturday morning by a Bladensburg police officer, authorities only announce today. "The cyclist, who police have not identified, was pulling onto Annapolis Road from the Bladen Plaza Shopping Center about 2 a.m. when he crossed the path of a Bladensburg police officer headed west, police said. The front right section of the cruiser hit the cyclist, and he was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police said." [WaPo]
Potential new owners for the Maples, a historic mansion on Capitol Hill, weren't able to put together the funds they needed in time to make the purchase, and now PETA is looking at the property. [The Hill is Home]
Businesses along Bonifant Road in Silver Spring are worried that the proposed Purple Line will block automobile access to their storefronts. [Silver Spring Penguin]
Dave Stroup profiles mayoral candidate Leo Alexander, writes, "There is more to Alexander's campaign" than being against illegal immigration. [District Daily]
Bruce Johnson profiles the Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church, site of many tragic funerals for young people in the last year, most recently that of 19-year-old shooting victim Aaron Brice. [WUSA]

Anacostia Streetcar Track Work Causing New Traffic Pattern

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-09T17:45:46-05:00

Photo by bossa67

Just as work to lay down tracks for the H Street NE streetcar line disrupted traffic in August, the District of Columbia Department of Transportation is warning drivers that the ongoing installation of streetcar tracks for the Anacostia Line will change traffic patterns at the intersection of South Capitol Street and Firth Sterling Avenue for the next couple of weeks.

New restrictions at the intersection began at 9:30 a.m. this morning, and will last until on or about Friday, November 20. From the advisory:

Traffic from the Naval Annex on Defense Boulevard will be prohibited from turning right onto southbound South Capitol Street from Defense Boulevard. All outbound traffic from the Naval Annex to southbound South Capitol Street will be directed to take the following detour:

*Go through the intersection on Firth Sterling Avenue, SE *Turn Left on Barry Road *Right on Firth Sterling Avenue *Left to go south on South Capitol Street

The detour is approximately ½ mile in length.

Additional work will continue on South Capitol Street and Firth Sterling Avenue until mid-January. All motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes to avoid delays, including I-295 North to Suitland Parkway to South Capitol Street SE; Malcolm X Avenue SE to Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue to W Street to 13th Street to I-295 North; South Capitol Street SE to Suitland Parkway to I-295 South; or I-295 to 11th Street Bridge to Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue to South Capitol Street.

More on Dr. Dremo's Potential Return

Andrew Wiseman — 2009-11-09T17:22:59-05:00

On Saturday we posted about Dr. Dremo's, the much-beloved and missed Arlington bar that closed in January 2008 -- they were looking for investors for a potential new location in Clarendon. Since then, a few others folks picked up on the story: you can read interviews with owner Andrew Stewart by blogger Tom Cizauskas and our own Missy Frederick in the Washington Biz Journal.

Stewart, whose father Bill opened Dremo's predecessor Bardo's, says he's identified a location "within 1000 feet of the Clarendon Metro." It's a 2,400 square foot space with room for an expansion up to 4,500 square feet, plus 3,000 to 4,000 square feet of outdoor seating. The old location of Dr. Dremo's had about 8,000 square feet. Stewart said he hopes to open in the space in spring of 2010.

For those worried that the old spot's quirky atmosphere would be lost, Stewart writes in a prospectus that "It is our intent to recreate Dr Dremo's in many facets as the previous location." He also told Frederick he still has the copper tabletops from the old location, as well as many signs and booths, although some of the merchandise, including the 1000-pound totem pole that was sitting out front, were sold at auction.

The prospectus says the place will only serve beer and wine, but no hard liquor, to avoid having to deal with any percentage of food vs. alcohol sales rules. They would still offer burritos, sandwiches and other eats that can be heated and served quickly. Similar to the old Dremo's wall of beer taps, new Dremo's would have 25 to 36 taps of beer, with Stewart emphasizing that many will be hard-to-find beers. Hopefully they'll include the weird ones from the old joint, like the chocolate donut beer.

For those interested in investing, there's a $10,000 minimum, with an understanding that it would be paid back over 2 years. Email newdremos(at)gmail(dot)com if you're interested.

Weekly Music Agenda

Mehan Jayasuriya — 2009-11-09T16:38:51-05:00

Max Tundra (Thursday at the Black Cat) | Photo by Mehan Jayasuriya

MONDAY
>> Made famous by their star turn in the 2007 film Once, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, better known as the Swell Season, have been charming audiences around the world with their trans-European folk fusion ever since. Tonight they'll stop by the 9:30 Club with Doveman. Sold out, 7 p.m.

>> Quirky Australian singer-songwriter and former Decoder Ring vocalist Lenka will perform at the Rock and Roll Hotel tonight. Even if you've never heard her name, you've likely heard her 2008 hit "The Show," which made its way into numerous commercials and movies. With Colin Smith and Danni Rosner, $15, 8 p.m.

TUESDAY
>> If you're looking for your weekly dose of insular bedroom-pop, look no further than perpetually morose singer-songwriter Marissa Nadler, whose ethereal compositions simultaneously evoke Mazzy Star and Eastern European folk. At DC9 with Alela Diane, $8 in advance/$10 at the door, 9 p.m.

>> From Q and not U to Georgie James, John Davis has a pretty respectable track record going, as far as D.C. musicians go. Will Title Tracks, his sunny, '70s AM pop outfit, prove that the third time is indeed the charm? Find out tonight at the Black Cat's Backstage. With Bryan Scary & the Shredding Tears and the Black Hollies, $10, 8:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY
>> At this point, Bob Dylan fans have to take what they can get. If you're lucky, he'll dust off an old gem, shake a leg or launch into an unlikely cover (Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," anyone?). If you're unlucky, he'll plow though a set of unrecognizable reworkings, mumbling the lyrics unintelligibly under his breath. Still, the man is a bona fide legend and given that he just released an album of Christmas carols, you might even get to hear a gravel-throated rendition of "Silver Bells". 'Tis the season, after all. At the Patriot Center, $57.50, 8 p.m.

>> If you threw up in your mouth a little just thinking about Dylan singing Christmas carols, you might want to head over to the 9:30 Club for a chaser. Richmond metal legends Lamb of God will tear through a headlining set with Darkest Hour, Periphery and This or the Apocalypse in tow. $35, 7 p.m.

THURSDAY
>> The last time that theatrical English electro-popper Max Tundra rolled through town, we found that his "knack for both pop songcraft and experimental flourish" resulted in "a disarming combination, especially when coupled with [his] confident stage presence". See him at DC9 tonight with Deastro, $10, 9 p.m.

>> In the mood for some slick, radio-friendly emo-pop? Or do you just enjoy the sound of 10,000 tweenage girls screaming in unison? Either way, the Patriot Center has you covered tonight, with the All American Rejects and Taking Back Sunday. $35 (with discounts for GMU faculty and staff), 8 p.m.

Cold Cave (Friday at the Rock and Roll Hotel | Photo by Jayme Thornton

FRIDAY
>> Slumberland Records might now be based in California but the storied twee-pop label traces its roots back to the D.C. scene. Come celebrate Slumberland's 20th anniversary at the Black Cat, with a showcase that features a sampling of the label's current roster, including sets by Crystal Stilts, Brown Recluse and Pants Yell! $13 in advance/$15 at the door, 8:30 p.m.

>> You might not expect a band fronted by former American Nightmare/Give up the Ghost frontman Wesley Eisold and Xiu Xiu alum Caralee McElroy to sound like vintage Factory Records but Cold Cave has the late Joy Division/early New Order sound down pat. For a night of dark yet dancable synth-pop, head over to the Rock and Roll Hotel, $10, 8:30 p.m.

SATURDAY
>> Halloween might have passed but if you still have a hankering for some the spooky stuff, you'll want to head down to DC9, where London goth-punks Gallows will be playing with like-minded acts the Scare and the Mostly Dead. $15 in advance/$18 at the door, 7 p.m.

>> The Black Cat's "Second Saturdays" local music showcase continues with a Backstage CD release party for the latest album from indie-poppers Olivia Mancini & the Mates. With Stripmall Ballads, $8, 8 p.m.

SUNDAY
>> Does Rakim really need an introduction at this point? Probably not. But here's one anyway: he's easily one of the most influential, skilled and revered emcees in the history of hip-hop. And tonight, you'll get to see him in the intimate confines of the Black Cat. With Rhymefest, $20 in advance/$25 at the door, 8 p.m.

>> The trend of bands playing classic albums in their entirety is showing no signs of slowing down — this month alone, Washington has already been treated to a live rendition of Born to Run, with Doolittle soon to follow. If that's not enough for you, head down to the 9:30 Club, where pioneering synth-pop weirdos DEVO will play their 1978 debut album Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! in full. With JP Inc., $45, 7 p.m.

>> London act the xx are perhaps the most buzzed-about band to emerge from the CMJ class of 2009 — they played so many showcases at CMJ, in fact, that they had to take a break from touring afterward. Come see what all the fuss is about at DC9 tonight. With Jon Hopkins, Sold out, 9 p.m.

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Marion Barry Filming a Reality TV Show Pilot

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-09T16:24:40-05:00

Congress Heights on the Rise had the scoop Sunday morning: former D.C. mayor and current Ward 8 Council member Marion Barry is currently filming a pilot for a reality television series. No joke.

No word yet on when the show would make its way to TV or on what network, but folks are telling The Advoc8te they have seen the film crews trailing Barry about town and that members of his staff have confirmed that they are in fact filming a pilot for Barry's reality show. No idea yet on what the focus of the reality show will be, but if in fact true, The Advoc8te isn't really all that surprised. Wasn't it just the next illogical progression for the ultimate showman - his own reality series?

Barry Chief of Staff Bernadette Tolson confirmed for DCist that the pilot is in fact happening, though she claimed not to know the names of the producers behind it (seems pretty hard to believe that Barry's top aide wouldn't have the details, but given this is the Mayor for Life we're talking about, we suppose anything's possible).

We'll be aggressively updating this story as we learn more.

Same-Sex Marriage Already Basically Legal in D.C.?

Martin Austermuhle — 2009-11-09T16:10:06-05:00

The D.C. Council's Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary may have just spent two long days hearing public testimony on the same-sex marriage bill for no good reason. A draft report coming out of the committee and currently being circulated to the rest of the council argues that marriage equality already exists in the city, and a law legalizing it isn't much more than a formality.

"In recognizing same-sex marriage in the District, Bill 18-482 does not redefine any concept in the law (indeed, the Committee maintains same-sex marriage is already permitted under District law), as nowhere in our Code is the institution of marriage reserved to opposite-sex couples," reads the report. "Rather, Bill 18-482 removes the custom, or practice, that marriage is only between a man and a woman. This simple legislative act puts in the law what is already in the law: that the right of marriage applies fully to all in the District."

In a process described as "prolonged and incremental," the draft report cites a number of laws and initiatives dating back to 1992 that replaced gender-specific language in the D.C. Code and established domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. It also states that the factors relied upon by the D.C. Superior Court in 1995 ruling prohibiting same-sex marriage in the city have been "methodically, and purposefully, reversed by the Council or have become obsolete through societal and cultural changes." In short, same-sex couples in the District currently enjoy all the legal rights of marriage, and the legislation currently before the D.C. Council will merely establish that fact as law and custom.

For as big a fight as same-sex marriage has been in other parts of the country, the District's approach to legalizing it seems methodical and anticlimactic to an extreme. The symbolism of it of course matters, but the committee appears to have decided that the right of same-sex couples to marry in D.C. already exists -- it just hasn't ever been referred to as "marriage."

The bill is expected to be marked up on Tuesday, with a full council vote planned for December 1.

Thao and the Get Down Stay Down @ Black Cat

Valerie Paschall — 2009-11-09T16:01:01-05:00

This isn’t the first time that Thao Nguyen has sold out the Black Cat. It’s actually become an expectation, like death and taxes, that the young guitarist from Falls Church, VA and her awkwardly named band will bring the crowds and start a party. Party seems an unlikely description of a show by a band who specializes in rather harsh tunes about heartbreak and loss. But Thao’s feisty presence and quickness to invite others onstage elicited a celebratory homecoming atmosphere.

The Portland Cello Project gave an interesting prelude to the festivities. The collective of five cellists sat in a round and performed everything from original folk-laden compositions and classical numbers to renditions of songs by Pantera and Britney Spears. They even brought additional musicians onstage, like guitarist Justin Power (who also contributed to the Portland Cello Project album) and delved into audience participation. Adam Thompson of the Get Down Stay Down judged the audience on how well they sang along to PCP’s rendition of "Hey Ya!". Using the Pitchfork scoring system, Thompson decided that the audience got a 7.1, which probably eliminates D.C. from "Best New Audience" consideration.

]]> But the level of audience enthusiasm rose steadily during Thao's set. Her lyrics have always been touched with vitriol, and songs like "Body" find her smoky voice sounding even more disillusioned and biting. Her guitar gave out a bit of a rootsy twang, but the songs never slowed down enough to wallow in that heartbreak. She stomped her cowboy boots and swung her head and guitar as she sang lines like, "Did he hurt you in a new way?" as if daring the men whom she sang of to dampen her fire.

For all the depressing lyrical content, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down threw what Thao referred to as "the best homecoming dance ever." They repeatedly brought out members of their opening act to participate in drumming and maraca shaking, most notably during their final number, a tribute to Thao's mother. Thao seemingly even held her own participation contest, saying that the winners would get to come onstage and make an acceptance speech. Only after the winners took the stage did the audience realize that the "contest" was a front for one of their friends to propose to his girlfriend.

For all the nuance and meaning in the songs of the Get Down Stay Down, the line to which their live show most closely ascribes is "We don't dive, we cannonball." If they continue to cannonball into D.C. the way they did Friday night, they will continue to sell out the Black Cat every time.

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WTOP: Fenty Using Police Escort for Cycling Team Rides

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-09T15:25:48-05:00

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty's obsession with physical fitness may be about to get him into trouble with his constituents. It seems that when he's out training with his cycling team, D.C. Velo, the mayor has been using a large motorcycle police escort that allow him to both flaunt traffic regulations and tie up traffic, WTOP's Mark Segraves is reporting. WTOP spotted Fenty and his team as they "rode on parkways where bikes aren't permitted, ran red lights and stop signs and created traffic backups wherever they went." These rides reportedly occur during weekday business hours, and there's evidence that they are responsible for a large amount of police overtime hours spent doing nothing but waiting for the mayor to show up for his ride. Plus, there's video!

Best part of the story? This narrative about Fenty spotting the WTOP news crew and attempting to dodge them:

Last month, Fenty spotted WTOP with a video camera as he rode along Rock Creek Parkway. Minutes late, as Fenty and his teammates rode along the parkway, the mayor darted across the road and onto the bike path, where he dismissed the police escort and took off through the woods.

A few days later, when WTOP caught up with the mayor and his bike team again, they had moved their training ride to Bethesda, where more than 20 cyclists - along with a D.C. Police escort - tied up traffic along Goldsboro Road, MacArthur Boulevard and other major roadways.

Supreme Court Denies Sniper's Request to Stay Execution

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-09T15:10:30-05:00

The U.S. Supreme Court has denied convicted D.C. Sniper John Allen Muhammad's request to stay his execution. Barring any unforeseen intervention, the decision means that Muhammad will be put to death by the state of Virginia at 9 p.m. on Tuesday night. The Post notes that Justices John Paul Stevens, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor all objected to the speed at which the high court made its decision, writing that they "allowed Virginia to truncate our deliberative process on a matter." The court sped up its normal review process after Virginia scheduled Muhammad's execution for Tuesday.

'Trun' on to the 15th Street Contraflow Bike Lane

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-09T14:30:50-05:00

DDOT workers were out putting the finishing touches on the contraflow bike lane on 15th Street NW today, installing the permanent plastic pylons that separate the line of parked cars from the new sidewalk-adjacent bike lane.

But it looks like there are still a few wrinkles to get ironed out with the signage. DCist spotted this pretty large "typo" today:

After we snapped this photo, we noticed Greater Greater Washington had spotted another spelling mistake on the lane over the weekend, but we didn't see the "YEILD" spelling on our walk of the entire lane today, so it's possible that one's been fixed already.

About Tonight

Kaysha Gurell — 2009-11-09T13:30:48-05:00

Photo by Tony DeFilippo

ART: Fotoweek DC festival opened last Friday and continues all week. Tonight we recommend a discussion on digital storytelling hosted by National Geographic and NPR (6:30 p.m.) and an opening reception at Carriage House, featuring work by some of the best fashion photographers in the city (at 7 p.m.) You can also stop by Local 16 every night this week after 5 p.m. to mingle with photographers and festival organizers, enjoy drink specials and watch photo projections.

READING: James Loewen, author of Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong, will read from and sign copies of his book tonight at the the 14th Street Busboys and Poets. 6:30 p.m.

MOVIE: The Goethe Institut is screening Jana and Jan, Helmut Dziuba's 1992 film about a man who gets sent to a reformatory as he tries to escape to West Germany, only to meet his future wife there just as 1990 begins. Part of the Wende Flicks: Last Films from East Germany series, 6:30 p.m., $6.

MUSIC: Nice little local line-up at Black Cat Backstage tonight: Mobius Strip sound a bit like the love child of They Might Be Giants and Sleater-Kinney, while Petworth returns from a months-long hiatus with a new bassist and the promise of a fuller sound. 9 p.m., $8.

D.C. Foster Kids Are in Need of Christmas Presents

Sommer Mathis — 2009-11-09T12:55:19-05:00

Photo by erin m

Susie Cambria, via her excellent Budget & Policy Corner blog, reminds us that there are 900 D.C. foster children who are hoping to get Christmas presents this holiday season, and the Child and Family Services Agency needs D.C. residents to help. If you're able to purchase a few gifts for some needy local foster kids this year, you can find more details on this flier. Just tell CFSA how many children you can buy gifts for, and they'll give you the age, gender and sizes for each child. Delivery dates for gifts for specific kids are Dec. 7 & 8, while general toy donations can be dropped off on Dec. 14 or 15. Also on the flier are details on how to put together a Thanksgiving dinner basket for a CFSA family.

Photo of the Day: November 9, 2009

Meaghan Gay — 2009-11-09T12:30:13-05:00

Sometimes it's the most simple photograph that catches your eye and steals your attention. This photo from every.seven is exactly that: simply beautiful.