“What are you, some sort of college Republican?” The question was straight out of left field. Here I was at a postwork Happy Hour, trying to get to the bar for another Yuengling. What could have made a random stranger assume my political views? I asked my “new friend” this very question and he replied “You’re wearing a f*****g American flag pin. Only Republicans do that.” This short exchange, to me, encapsulates a much larger…

From DCist food contributor Adam Bailey Having It Out on the Wednesday Food Pages Wands raised! Food-world wizards David Hagedorn (most recently of David Greggory) and Phyllis Richman (revered Washington Post food critic from 1967 to 2000) ignited the pages of the Post’s food section yesterday with a healthy debate about running a restaurant, diner expectations and stolen napkin rings. Expelliarmus! DCist thinks both should put their pens down and take a couple breaths. Mr….

Attention all you political scientist groupies (we know you’re out there!): head over to the Wardman Park Marriott with your cameras and copies of the latest Nation or National Review right away. Because on a weekend where, traditionally, most involved in politics take off for one last weekend away from Swamp City, 6000+ political scientists from the worlds of academia, media, and government are descending on Woodley Park for the annual convention of the American…

From DCist Food contributor Adam Bailey As you know, the many tentacles of DCist pay no heed to political boundaries. Even Western Ave. at the fair District’s northwest edge can’t contain us. That’s why we’re looking forward to the 16th annual Taste of Bethesda. ToB is Saturday, October 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Woodmont Triangle in conjunction with the annual Best of Bethesda Day (or, as DCist prefers, Besthesday), so mark your…

Please welcome the newest DCist food contributor, Adam Bailey DCist has fond memories of chalkboards, small tables, and walls covered with primary colors from our kindergarten days decades ago. What would conjure those feelings again, so many years later? A classroom? Maybe a carton of milk and a midday nap? No; Pesce, one of D.C.’s best deals for great fish. While the ingredients for the food here may be elementary, the final results are definitely…

Please welcome DCist’s latest food contributor, Melissa McCart Finding W Domku among liquor stores and takeout joints is only half the adventure in a visit to Kera Carpenter’s Scandinavian & Eastern European restaurant. The rest is exploring the range of food and drink options from those regions in this Petworth gem. Despite the name — W Domku means “in the little house” in Polish — opening this restaurant has been a quite a journey for…

When DCist theorized that Mt. Vernon Square was ripe for hotel development last month, we realized we were stating the obvious. And an article that appeared yesterday on real estate website GlobeSt.com confirmed what many knew was coming: the effort to secure space for a hotel serving the new Convention Center has begun. The Washington Convention Center Authority has purchased a half-acre at 901 Massachusetts Ave. NW, including the offices of the United Association of…

DCist is hearing unsubstantiated reports Capitol Hill institution the Capitol Lounge suffered from a serious fire last night. We are currently attempting to get a hold of the D.C. Fire Department for confirmation, and will alert DCist readers with the full story when it becomes available. If readers have further information, please leave them in the comments. UPDATE: Thanks to the commenters, who note that NBC4 is confirming the fire. The station reports that the…

Wondering about the Next Kliman After yesterday’s news that Todd Kliman was leaving the City Paper, we got to wondering about who his eventual replacement would be. Kliman — like many food writers — did not get the position from any formal “food writing” training, but from a love of writing and food. In a prior life, he was one of Howard University’s coolest professors, and it took him a year to finally land a…

Just two days after the announcement that Garrett Graff was joining the Washingtonian as Editor-at-Large, it has been announced that Todd Kliman, award-winning food writer for the Washington City Paper, has been named Dining Editor for the city’s monthly glossy. According to Don Rockwell, Kliman will hav[e] editorial control over the upcoming Best 100 Restaurants and Cheap Eats issues. Thomas Head and Cynthia Hacinli will remain at the Washingtonian and work with Todd, who will…