Miscellaneous

• Two staffers for Ward 1 D.C. Council member Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), David Vacca and Steve Hernandez, have been subpoenaed to appear next week before a federal grand jury in the ongoing taxicab bribery investigation. [D.C. Wire]
• An update on the ongoing Wilson Court Apartments/SOME real estate saga. "Why should you care? Because it's yet another entity that will not pay property taxes and add any sort of economical value to our community." [Barry Farm (Re)Mixed]
• Video from last weekend's Bluebrain boombox sound art experience in Dupont Circle. [The 42]

If kickball is simply too sporty for you, you've got two new ways to drink a whole lot and not feel guilty about it. The city's growing bocce league has announced that their fall season will take place indoors at the American Legion and Pour House on Capitol Hill. Instead of forcing participants to actually walk from the usual outdoor fields of play to the bar and then drink, the new arrangement -- on astroturf and with lighter balls -- will allow both to happen at once without the peskiness of Mother Nature or laws regulating public drinking to get in the way. Similarly, Frozen Tropics is reporting that a Skeeball tournament will be starting up at the H Street Country Club this Sunday, with a complete league set to kickoff this Winter. With only two Skeeball machines at the bar though, we have a hard time imagining this will be able to include a lot of people. more ›

Thanks to DCist Flickr contributor AnyaLogic for sending in this shot of actor Chloë Sevigny on the set of the HBO drama Big Love, which was spotted shooting exterior scenes for its fourth season around Washington, D.C.'s Union Station over the weekend. There's a lot of Big Love fans on the DCist staff, so we're as excited as anyone to find out more about the show's upcoming story lines in the District. All we know for sure is that a) Nicki and her recently discovered daughter from her first marriage, Cara Lynn, will come to Washington, and b) a lobbyist played by Sissy Spacek is somehow involved. The next season doesn't debut until January, so we'll either have to wait until then or pray for script leaks. more ›

Shanghaiist found out that somebody (possibly government related) is sending journalists in China targeted malware ridden emails, though we haven't figured out why yet.

The Detroit Lions have lost 19 straight games. Rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford, the first overall pick in last year's NFL draft, is on pace to throw 40 interceptions this season. They are the worst overall defense in the league after two games, allowing an average of 36 points per contest and nearly 400 yards. Yet, I believe they will very nearly end these dismal streaks before succumbing to a last second field goal: Washington Redskins 23, Detroit Lions 21. more ›

It's not exactly a holiday to get super worked up over when you live in the District, where the world's greatest empire holds its treasury, which is available for anyone to see for no cost. And many of the exciting fall shows haven't opened yet, meaning that the special exhibition schedule is light. Nevertheless, there are still a few hours of Free Museum Day left and a few spots in the District where that actually gets you something. more ›

Ah, metrofail. For many, it's part and parcel of living in the nation's capital. But what happens when Metro goes above and beyond the usual delays and crowded trains to actually lock people in a station after the system closes for the evening? Well, that's what happened in the wee hours of Friday morning, leaving a cadre of hard-workin' folks -- at least those who couldn't squeeze through the gates -- stuck in at the Van Dorn station after the station manager believed that the last train of the evening had come through. more ›

You don't need me to tell you that D.C. has a lot of history – monuments, old buildings, sites of treaties and meetings, plus all the museums and artifacts. That brings in a lot of tourists from all over. And sometimes from the future. more ›

Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement, is on Monday, with Kol Nidre prayers happening on Sunday at sundown. Last year, with the holiday falling in the middle of the week, DCist brought those heading to temple a guide for where to pack in the calories before the start of the fast. I followed my own advice and dined at Java Green, but aside from the friends I broke bread with, I didn’t notice any other diners that looked like they were there for a pre-fast meal. And my mock chicken wasn’t so filling. more ›

• More trickling out this evening on the Ted Loza arrest. He's already been placed on paid administrative leave, for starters. Then there's the question of Loza's involvement with three groups being mentioned in connection with the case: Prisma Communications, an Adams Morgan advertising and graphic design company; United Fleet Management, a firm that handles operations for small taxicab operators; and Fiesta D.C., the annual Latino street festival, for which Loza's wife worked. [all via City Desk]
• Management announced some brutal layoffs at CQ and Roll Call today. Hope you're all getting drunk tonight. [Fishbowl DC]
• Wow! It looks like scientists have made a major breakthrough in the search for an HIV vaccine. Very exciting stuff. [Newsweek]

• The Treasury Department is asking the D.C. Department of Transportation to change F Street between 14th and 15th streets NW from a two-way street to a one-way street due to security concerns, WTOP reports. At least they're not asking them to close it?
• Barry Farm (Re)Mixed highlights two parcels for sale near the Anacostia Metro station.
• An update on several new business currently moving into the Mt. Vernon Triangle area, courtesy The Triangle.

We were alerted by one of our Flickr photographers (the same one that testified on the Hill this afternoon regarding photographers' rights) that today we'll get a view of DCHenge (City Desk's Will Atwood Mitchell has been all over this as well). Without the awesome skyscrapers, it's not quite as magnificent (or well-known) as Manhattanhenge; nevertheless, take a gander at a direct view of the sunset tonight when it's in alignment with D.C.'s east-west streets (or in other words, most lettered streets). And if you happen to be driving on one of those streets, we hope you packed a good pair of sunglasses for the ride home. And someone take some photos, will you? This search is just sad. more ›

• More fresh D.C. Council business! The Council has passed emergency legislation that restores the lease between the city and the Southeast Tennis and Learning Center, setting up a direct confrontation between them and Mayor Fenty. And yes, Marion Barry abstained from the vote due to his former wife's involvement.
• Metro says they have "no specific information from intelligence sources that would lead us to believe there is a threat to our system at this time."
• Frozen Tropics calls out H Street corridor resident Bobby Pittman by name, accusing him of trying to sandbag the H Street Festival at the last minute and of generally opposing anything and everything that other residents might enjoy in the area. "It's one thing to want the laws enforced, and to want good neighbors (both admirable qualities and pursuits). But what you are doing is unacceptable in my opinion, and I hope that others who agree will tell you so to your face. I certainly intend to do so the next time I see you. Until then, Evil Eye to you Pittman."

The D.C. area's most vocal gay marriage opponent, Maryland's Bishop Harry Jackson, spoke to a crowd of social conservatives over the weekend at the annual Values Voter Summit, a convention that serves as a 'merger of mainstream Republican Party rhetoric and the priorities of "Christian right" activists.' Video of Jackson's speech is posted above, courtesy YouTube. more ›

Megabus and BoltBus are seemingly now the biggest players in the saturated and ever growing D.C.-NYC coach bus market. People may argue about which is better in terms of service, but when it comes to leaving early in the morning, Megabus is hands down the top choice. They’re the only carrier that offers pre-dawn options to New York, leaving from D.C. at 5:15 and 6:15 a.m. Just don’t try to show up for an early morning bus without a reservation. more ›

• Are ya ready for the long-awaited return of D.C. Council legislative action on Tuesday? First out the gate will be Chairman Vincent Gray's emergency ethics bill, D.C. Wire reports, which of course is a response to Ward 8 Council member Marion Barry's most recent drama. As for nailing down a formal censure process, Gray said "that will likely be forthcoming."
• Borderstan describes some vigilante justice meted out to a mugger on U Street on Saturday night. Don't try this at home, kids.
• We Love DC rightly wonders about a proposal that appears to try to limit new restaurant alcohol sales licenses on Bladensburg Rd. NE to chain restaurants of the Chili's or TGI Friday's variety. Do not want.

Non-profit job search web site Idealist.org is hosting a Graduate Degree Fair for the Public Good tonight at the Washington Convention Center. Prospective graduate students will have the opportunity to meet with graduate admissions representatives and attend a free information session offering advice on graduate degree options for people who are looking to make a difference. The event runs from 5 to 8 p.m., and registration is free. A list of participating graduate programs can be found here. more ›

Have you signed up to participate in Car Free Day yet? The big day is tomorrow, but as of this writing only 4,759 people have pledged to reduce or eliminate their car use for one day, well short of the 5,445 the event logged last year. You can find the Car Free Day online pledge form here. And don't forget that from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., F Street NW between 7th and 8th will play host to the big Car Free Day celebration, which will feature, among other things, a free outdoor yoga class from Yoga District at 1:30 p.m., a lesson on bicycle repair at noon, and a special bonus for Penn Quarter office workers: the Fojol Bros., the Spy Diner sidewalk food cart, and On the Fly will all be at the event to sell tasty food cart lunches to all comers. more ›

• LAist reported that the MagLev train from Anaheim to Las Vegas is more "it will happen" than "wishful thinking"--but Republicans still think it's "wasteful spending."
• Gothamist had a crazy week: First Kanye disses Taylor, then the city health department suggests banning smoking in parks and beaches...and then a local news anchor said, "Keep fucking that chicken."
• Torontoist interviewed Dan Zinman, a man aiming to offer the province of Alberta—sorry, that'll soon be Colberta—to Stephen Colbert.

Breaking news, football fans: Albert Haynesworth had a big lunch yesterday and then took a nap. He was both hungry and, then, tired. more ›

Autumnal Equinox more ›

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

Ah, "gentlemens' clubs." Some try pretty hard to be classy and fail wholly, while others don't try at all and are still pretty gross. It seems like they're either depressing or the home of The Hangover-type stories, and sometimes both. But occasionally, they're the site of true romance. Classy romance. more ›

• WTOP is identifying today's Metro fatality as a student at Bell Multicultural High School, and offers an eyewitness account that the teen was "involved in a game of chicken," which calls into question initial reports that he placed himself on the tracks intentionally.
• A lot of DCPS parents are apparently unaware that the city is offering free day care at Parks & Recreation facilities during upcoming teacher in-service days.
• A new TV show is in the works from How I Met Your Mother's Greg Malins and, for real, Arianna Huffington, focusing on three freshmen Congressmembers who all live in the same group house in D.C. Said house sure to be some stunningly huge, beautiful house that looks nothing like any group houses available in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Head over to why.i.hate.dc for a photo and update on the 22 ghost bikes that were placed all around the intersection of Connecticut and R NW a week ago. Looks like someone decided to let activist Legba Carrefour know they aren't fond of his bikes.

All of the remaining ghost bikes near Connecticut and R have been piled up at two locations, outside of the Cosi and at the site of the original ghost bike. It's a mess, and the pile near the Cosi is blocking the crosswalk. It appears as though some of the bikes that had been locked are in the pile or missing, as well. It's unclear who may have done this, but I would imagine DPW will be removing the bikes very soon given the state of the street. I urge Legba Carrefour or the Washington Area Bicyclist Association to clean this up as soon as possible. This is no longer a tribute to Alice Swanson or bicycle safety.

more ›

It's always seemed to me that Washington has a disproportionate number of residents who self-identify as libertarians. Perhaps it's just the nature of our politically-focused city, or the location of the Cato Institute, the Competitive Enterprise Institute, et al and the subsequent deployment of so many Koch fellows here, but I've never met more libertarians in one city than I have in D.C. As such, I've always been surprised by the lack of an active D.C. Libertarian Party on the local politics front over the last several years. Even the small-in-number D.C. Republicans have an organized local party and a small staff, not to mention that the national Libertarian Party is headquartered right here in the Watergate. Turns out, D.C. resident Peter Orvetti is trying to change all that. Orvetti is spearheading a rebirth of a local chapter of the Libertarian Party. He's started a blog and a Facebook group dedicated to the endeavor, and has already convened the reborn party's first meeting. more ›

• In news that has no doubt absorbed several productive hours of your day, known jackass Kanye West was declared (.
• No innuendo about it: Expect long delays along South Capitol Street near Firth Sterling Avenue in Anacostia, where the D.C. Department of Transportation is installing tracks for the much-hyped streetcar system through the end of the month.
• Good news for District drivers: No more annual safety inspections. Bad news for everybody else?

Over at his blog, D.C. Council member Kwame Brown is pimping the new fall classes available from the city's Workforce Development Program. These are free job training classes available to D.C. adults, most of which start later this month. You can download a list of classes and registration materials from the CCDC web site. The types of classes offered include carpentry, pre-apprenticeship construction, hospitality industry, computer basics, medical billing, Spanish in the workplace, and more. To apply, residents need first to take a screening test to determine reading and mathematics levels. Testing is available Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 p.m. at the Hospitality Public Charter High School at Roosevelt High School (13th and Upshur St. NW) or PR Harris (4600 Livingston Rd. SE) Monday - Thursday at 1 p.m. or 5 p.m. more ›

For as long as I can remember, syndicated episodes of The Simpsons have aired at 7 p.m. on FOX 5. And what a perfect time for America's longest-running TV comedy. At 6 you might still be at work, and at 8 you're ready for prime-time shows. But at 7 o'clock, it's time for re-runs of any of the show's 441 episodes. No longer, it seems. As of Monday, September 21, WTTG-FOX 5 is pushing its syndicated episodes of The Simpsons to the 11:30 p.m. time slot. Seinfeld will move up a half-hour to 7 p.m., while re-runs of The Office will debut in the 7:30 p.m. opening. Don't get me wrong -- that's a fine hour of TV. But dumping one of America's best cartoon shows to the nether regions of TV viewing times? That's simply criminal. How about a compromise we can all agree on? Push TMZ to 11:30 -- or just cancel it, I don't care -- and give The Simpsons the 6:30 slot. Just don't force me to stay up late to get my fix. (NB: New episodes of the The Simpsons will still air at 8 p.m on Sundays). more ›

• The Examiner reports that the House unanimously agreed last week to let the District draft its own version of the Hatch Act, which could theoretically free up ANC commissioners from rules that force them to resign their seats before they start campaigning for another office.
• From the upcoming Robert Wone conspiracy trial: The BLT reports that D.C. Superior Court Judge Frederick Weisberg is skeptical of prosecutors' arguments that Wone was injected with a paralytic drug before he was killed, citing a lack of hard evidence.
• Attention pie lovers: Frozen Tropics says that the owners of the soon to open Dangerously Delicious Pies on H Street will offer lifetime discounts to anyone who gets a tattoo of the company's logo, which is a pie with crossbones. Our question is: how big does the logo have to be?
• A homeless man was found dead near the Bethesda Metro station this morning, via WaPo.

By DCist Contributor Lauren Evans more ›

The following post is from our advertiser, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

Another annual Adams Morgan Day celebration and street fair come and gone. Here's the best of our Flickr and staff contributor photos from Sunday's crowded 18th Street affair. How was the food this year? more ›

• Chicagoist scoped out the spectacle, the crowds, and the madness surrounding Oprah's 24th season premiere, which shut down a stretch of the famed Magnificent Mile (aka Michigan Ave) and sent some residents and city officials into a tizzy.
• Gothamist had mixed feelings about a video showing a would-be bicycle thief getting a serious beatdown from the bike's owner and his friends—the lesson is: Do not steal bikes, bro!
• DCist captured images of the 22 "ghost bikes," bicycles that are painted white as a memorial to cyclists who have been killed while riding, that were placed by an activist around the same intersection where a previous "ghost bike" was recently removed by the city.

We may have all warmed up Thursday night with an overtime win by Danny Boy's favorite cash cow, The Pittsburgh Steelers, but our local professional football club kicks off today against the hated New York Giants. Jim Zorn's bunch travels to the Meadowlands today -- not just a place, but a state of mind -- for the late 4:15 kickoff against the reigning division champs. more ›

by DCist contributor Brett Gellman more ›

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

Taking a kid to get a haircut can be easy ("What do you want?" "I dunno, same thing") or it be can an awful ordeal. Here's to moms and dads who are patient when junior wants a mohawk or a rat-tail or something like that. more ›

We wanted to extend our hearty congratulations to Prince of Petworth, aka Dan Silverman, who announced on his site last night that he has quit his day job in order to devote himself full-time to neighborhood blogging. Dan's been talking about making this move for a long time, so it's great to hear that his dream is finally coming true. As a 2+ year veteran of the Guild of Professional Bloggers, I can tell you that Dan is about to join an elite group of individuals who find themselves spending a preposterously high percentage of their time searching for coffee shops with reliable wireless internet, and far less time worrying about showering or putting on pants. Way to live the dream, Dan! more ›

• "... enjoy every jump at RFK to the fullest, because you never know when the ground might shift beneath you. Also, because you might die." [D.C. Sports Bog]
• "Philadelphia is playing Washington on October 26th. Every time Michael Vick is tackled during the game, Main Line Animal Rescue will donate 5 bags of dog food to your local animal shelter." [Philly.com]
• "Washington is about to be Dan Browned." [WaPo]

Mike Tunison made a minor blogosphere -- and mainstream media -- storm last year when the Washington Post fired him after he posted a photo which revealed his real identity on his infamous NFL blog, Kissing Suzy Kolber. (His posts there, and on other sites, had been written under a pseudonym.) Seemingly unfazed -- maybe even liberated -- Tunison's since taken KSK to new, often hilarious, occasionally offensive, and surprisingly insightful heights. He's also just published his first book, The Football Fan's Manifesto, which is part rallying cry, part vicious skewering of the real America's game, professional football. In the Manifesto, no one is safe: not the slimeball owners (cough cough), not baseball fans, not even your beloved star running back. From birth to death, it's a detailed guide to becoming an insane, unbalanced, possibly even sociopathic football fan. more ›

• We're off to make ourselves pretty for our little 5th anniversary staff party, but enjoy your regularly scheduled GHA, just a tad early!
• And Now, Anacostia covers the big groundbreaking for the new Department of Homeland Security and Coast Guard HQs at the West Campus of St. Elizabeths.
• City Desk reports that the start of the city's annual tax-delinquent property sale has been temporarily halted by a judge thanks to a lawsuit filed against the city by Aeon Financial LLC.

Tuesday, Sept. 22 will mark this year's Car Free Day, and organizers in the D.C. Metro area are hoping to exceed the number of pledges they get from last year's total number of participants, which came in at 5,445. more ›

It was five years ago this week that a small band of bloggers came together to officially launch a little web site called DCist.com, and a lot has changed since then. We've grown from a scrappy half-dozen or so writers to over 45 regular contributors and photographers. We've hired our first full-time employee, and later brought on weekend editors. And we've seen our amazing readership (and of course, the commentariat) consistently grow to where we find ourselves today: the most well-read local news blog in Washington. And for that, we thank you. Profusely. more ›

• How's your Terrible Traffic Tuesday treating you, anyway? Is this AAA-invented occurrence for real, or overblown?
• Why.i.hate.dc reports that DDOT installed a sign warning drivers to yield to cyclists in the spot where Alice Swanson's ghost bike was recently removed by the city.
• WAMU reports that D.C. Council Chair Vince Gray still hasn't ruled out running against Adrian Fenty for mayor next year. But where's the "Draft Vince" web site to prove it?

When you run into a 13-foot tall heart in the District this month, the Colombian government would like you to think happier thoughts about its country. more ›

Photo by Andrew Louis/Torontoist


• Torontoist covered the aftermath of a horrifying cyclist-car confrontation—between a bike courier named Darcy Allan Sheppard and Ontario's former Attorney General Michael Bryant—that left Sheppard dead: they covered a mass memorial and mass ride for Sheppard that brought out hundreds of mourning cyclists, as well as tried to think about what change would be necessary to help prevent anything like it from happening again.
• Chicagoist played tourist in its own city by spending half an hour on the famed Michigan Ave (with magical results) and then scoped out the crumbling architecture of Gary and East Chicago, Indiana towns that stand in the shadow of Chicago.
• DCist asked whether the design of a new public library by famed British architect David Adjaye was ugly or not.

Twice a year, as the vernal and autumnal equinoxes come upon us, nightwatchers in the D.C. area get a special treat when the full Moon's orbit brings it up behind the Capitol building, in line with the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and Iwo Jima Memorial. Usually this occasion occurs in concert with the Harvest Moon, the name of the full Moon that occurs closest to the autumnal equinox, which happens on September 22 this year; however, this time around, the closest full Moon actually occurs after the equinox. Nevertheless, it's September's Moon that gives us the spectacular line up, so this year our photographers met up near the Washington Monument last night to view the Corn Moon rise behind the Capitol. Check out the gallery above for their spectacular shots. Although the official full Moon was Friday, you should still get a pretty great view tonight, -- you might consider the Mall if you were looking for a romantic moon-lit walk with your partner. more ›

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

The Metro is not always a chatty place, though moreso than the New York subway, probably. People prefer to sit in their orange (or red, or blue) seats, reading the newspaper or listening to music or zoning out. Some folks will discuss how many stops they have to go, while others will make small talk about work. But hey, being polite to strangers is cool, right? more ›

• D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier says she is cracking down on officers who use their cell phones while driving. "We were just having a difficult time getting compliance." [WTOP]
• A new report puts D.C. at #4 on a list of American cities with the worst traffic. That's frankly a little better than we thought we'd do. [Washington Business Journal]
• The man who was shot by Prince George's County police in Southeast D.C. yesterday has been identified as Theodore Blandford, 51 of Lothian. He died from his injuries last night, and was suspected of killing his wife, Sheena Blandford, 50, and her cousin, Cheryl Timmons, 55, of Pasadena, earlier Wednesday morning. [WaPo]

It's day two of the Washington Post raking the Redskins and their ticket office over the coals. When the paper ran a front page feature on “The Toughest Ticket in Town” yesterday, there was no indication that readers were being treated to an investigative series. We got the story, we got the Redskins' lawyer responding by saying that the Post needs "to sell newspapers, and God love 'em, circulation is down," and we were ready to move on, still loving—or loathing—the burgundy and gold as we see fit. more ›

• RNC Chairman Michael Steele addressed a group of Howard University students last night, with, how shall we say, kinda mixed-up results. [Washington Independent]
• Another church once again getting heat from residents over their vacants: Vermont Baptist Church near Logan Circle has also apparently been cited by the city for failure to maintain its vacant property and for removing historic features from a home without permission. [WJLA]
• WMATA board members are miffed they were out of the loop on the Labor Day Weekend Metro station closures. [WaPo]

Those of you most interested in the Post's Redskins ticketing exposé have no doubt already read the article and vented your bile, but it's probably worth taking a moment to explain to everyone else just why this is so irritating. The short version: the team's much-vaunted waiting list for season tickets may be recognized as a sham, but to preserve the illusion, *someone* in the 'Skins sales office entered into quiet arrangements to unload hard-to-sell premium tickets in bundles with more sought-after lower bowl seats, bypassing the long line of fans who'd be happy to buy those seats. The counterparties to these deals? Your friends and mine: the men and women of the secondary ticket market, aka scalpers-with-websites, aka the goddamn scum of the earth. more ›

• The National Capitol Planning Commission will soon start installing security ramps, instead of barriers, around the Washington Monument Lincoln Memorial, which will supposedly look much nicer. [WTOP]
• More than 3,500 emergency calls were made for D.C. police to respond to DCPS schools during the 2007-08 school year. [Examiner]
• Another Mt. Pleasant business bites the dust: RIP, Burritos Fast. We will miss your fast burritos. [Prince of Petworth]

Via JDLand, we find this YouTube video a resident made of an incessant beeping noise emanating from the general direction of the Department of Public Works equipment staging area at 900 New Jersey Ave SE. According to the Capitol Riverfront BID, that site is eventually set to be redeveloped into housing, but in the meantime, the resident who made this video says the beeping has been going on for at least two weeks. We're checking with DPW to see if they know anything about it. That would drive me absolutely bonkers if it was happening right by my house. more ›