GOLDEN EARRINGS IN THE SHAPE of eagles beckon from a display case. A framed replica of the Declaration of Independence (with accompanying quill) hangs from a wall. A woven scene of U.S. Capitol on a blanket, dubbed the "Capitol Comforter," lies neatly folded in a corner. It's American patriot heaven. And that's just what's in one of the Capitol Visitor Center's two gift shops.
The 580,000 square-foot facility, which opened to the public yesterday, is dazzling. As visitors descend two escalators to the central Emancipation Hall, the underground level's sparkling marble grandeur is offset by a bright glass ceiling showcasing views of the Capitol dome. An indoor replica of the dome's Statue of Freedom — an exhibit focal point — is a commanding presence in itself, but it's not the only statue that will catch your eye. There are 24 state statues speckled throughout the center, and while all pay tribute to significant Americans, don't expect them all to be made of the same ole white marble.
Colorado's John L. "Jack" Swigert Jr. replica has the Apollo 13 astronaut rocking a replica NASA suit and holding a space helmet, while Wyoming's bronze depiction of Chief Washakie features the Shoshone tribe spokesman in feathered headdress, a spear in his right hand and peace pipe in his left.
The Emancipation Hall is just a taste of what the center has to offer. The real gems are just beyond the Statue of Freedom in the center's Exhibition Hall.
Continue Reading "A Capitol Improvement: Capitol Visitor Center Opens" »
BY DAY, ANGELITA THOMAS is a professional stage manager for theater companies around town. But at night, she's "fresh meat."
That's what the DC Rollergirls, the city's only roller derby league, call newbie skaters hoping to join their ranks on the track.
Miniskirted women skating at top speed, screaming and shoving each other in an effort to advance at all costs? Yep, that's roller derby. Rules keep the game from being super-violent, but jutting hips and shoulders make it plenty physical.
Continue Reading "Ladies of Wreck and Roll: D.C. Rollergirls" »
WE'VE ALL GOT OUR HOLIDAY TRADITIONS. For some, it might be watching Frank Capra's "It's a Wonderful Life" on Christmas Eve for, oh, the 27th time — while stuffing our bellies full of homemade cranberry meatballs and empanadas. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't try fitting in something new this season — between your caroling practice and sugar cookie gorging, of course.
Add a little Nordic to your noel on Tuesday by stopping the 12th Annual Norwegian Christmas at Union Station. Bring a gift for the Toys for Tots campaign and feel free to let your inner child marvel at one of the world's largest model train exhibits, which will be unveiled at 9 a.m.
Make sure to pop by at 6 p.m., though, for the lighting of a 32-foot tall Christmas tree in the station's main hall. Too good to be true? Sorry, no lutefisk will be served.
» Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE; Tue., Nov 25, free; 202-333-6000. (Union Station)
Photo by Robert A. Reeder/The Washington Post
THIS WEEK IS supposed to be, according to the occasionally accurate weather reports, warmer than last week. Of course, when we've started to think of 45 degrees as balmy, it's definitely time to move to the Bahamas. But no matter. It's also supposed to be rainy, so here's a collection of happy hours so close to each other that you can scamper back and forth between showers.
Before the rain starts, head to the rooftop of Local 16, which is a bar that feels like a house party. The patio has half-priced munchies and $4 cocktails, beer and wine from 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Down the block is the Chi-Cha Lounge, where you can, well, lounge on their couches and partake of half-priced hookahs — and empanadas and appetizers. Don't forget the $4 wine, sangria and cocktails, or the $3 beers.
Continue Reading "16th and U Is the Place to Be: Happy Hours Galore" »
YOU KNOW THE ADAGE: You are what you eat. If that's the case for our economy-stricken wallets, it might seem like a lot of cheap Big Macs and Chipotle Burritos are in our collective future.
But it turns out we needn't sacrifice our palates. Online reservations site OpenTable (Opentable.com) has launched a nationwide "Appetite Stimulus Plan" this Monday through Friday, with restaurants dishing up $24 tasty lunches and $35 dinner specials.
Think of it as Restaurant Week … on a budget.
"We're hoping this is going to stimulate people to come out," says Matisse owner Fritz Siegfried. "It would be nice if it works!" His Tenleytown cafe is one of 160 D.C.-area establishments participating in the event. A sample of what he'll offer includes a midday organic salad followed by corn-crusted calamari and freshwater trout with lemon caper sauce, or an evening mango sorbet with grilled mangos after a filet mignon dinner.
Renowned D.C. restaurants are also plating delectable dishes. Dinner at Jaleo includes the choice of four tantalizing tapas — endives with goat cheese, oranges and almonds to seared monkfish — and homemade dessert.
Perhaps you'd prefer duck confit (Cafe Atlantico)? Or the choices of three Latin appetizers, a taco and dessert (Oyamel)? Indebleu's got caper-crusted diver scallops and coconut milk-poached halibut. And Panache is offering risotto with lamb and pan seared rockfish.
This is hardly a complete list of what's available — consider it a smidgen to whet your appetite.
Continue Reading "A Bailout You Can Eat: Appetite Stimulus Plan" »
OUR ORIGINAL IDEA for this piece was to find a Washingtonian haunt where you could look out from a window or rooftop and literally raise a glass in a toast to the White House as a sign of welcome to our new prez-elect, who's back in town today to meet with President Bush. But alas, the Hotel Washington and its Sky Bar Lounge are no more (the hotel will be reborn as a Hotel W in August 2009).
And while the Hay-Adams has rooftop viewing for private events, someone manning the hotel's indoor — and non-White House overlooking — Off the Record bar told us you can't just grab a scotch and wander up there. "You'll have to call the manager and then he has to call the White House to tell the Secret Service you'll be up there for five minutes." Right. Doing shots near the White House is one thing, getting shot at near it isn't quite as fun.
Instead of toasting the White House, though, here's were you can get toasted near it and subsequently stumble the few blocks to it if you're so inclined.
Slurping oysters at the Old Ebbitt Grill is a Washington tradition, but if you pop in their raw bar from 3-6 p.m. you can order up a dozen oysters on the halfshell at half price (the cost is normally $22).
Looking for something less chewy and more meaty? Bite in to half-price burgers at The Bottom Line until 8 p.m., and wash them down with a $3.50 Sunset Wheat ale, $2.50 Coors or $3 glass of house wine until close. The Exchange is serving up burgers too -- anything you want on 'em for $5 until 7 p.m. -- as well as $2 Bud Lights and rail drinks until close.
Continue Reading "Happy Hour: Toasting the President-Elect" »
THE NEW WAY TO SUPPORT OUR troops? Play against them in a real-time video match-up.
On the eve of Tuesday's Veterans Day holiday, GameStop is hosting a tournament at its Fashion Centre at Pentagon City location (1100 S. Hayes St., Arlington; 703-415-3535) in which D.C.-area Average Joes can square off against G.I. Joes stationed in Fort Drum, N.Y.
The battleground of choice? Xbox Live's "Call of Duty: World at War," a day prior to its official release. Gameplay lasts from 9-11 p.m., with by a developer meet-and-greet at 10 p.m. and prizes awarded at 11:30 p.m.
» Game Stop, 1100 S. Hayes St., Arlington; 703-415-3535. (Pentagon City)
Photo courtesy of GameStop
WE ALL NEED a place to watch the debates. Sure, your living room will do, but you live in the beating heart of the political world and don't you want to be surrounded by like-minded, smart Washingtonians who can laugh at the little jokes you make? Of course you do. That's why debate-watching parties exist at places like Busboys and Poets.
Here's the problem, though: last Thursday, I went to Busboys and Poets around 7:30 to watch the 9 p.m. vice presidential debate. They'd scheduled a concert that let out around 9 for the same room in which they were holding the debate party, and telling people that to get a good seat for the debate they'd have to buy a ticket to the concert. Some would call it clever marketing. I call it bull ... puckey. It was also, at 7:30, impossible to get a table before 9 p.m., according to the hostess.
In conclusion, get there early or stick to your living room couch.
» Busboys and Poets, 2021 14th St. NW; Tue., Oct. 7, 9 p.m., free; 202-387-7638. (U St.-Cardozo)
Photo by Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images
IF YOU LIVE in the District, you might notice that while Alexandria and other D.C. suburbs seem to be bursting with festivals, the city itself gets a little shafted. I've seen you try to shrug it off. "We've got the Smithsonian," you sniff, "Why would we need some silly festival?"
You need hide your feelings no more! Wines of Argentina is sponsoring (for the zillionth year in a row) the Arts on Foot festival. Penn Quarter will become a maelstrom of local art and food, with an outdoor festival and booths and tastings from D.C. restaurants and oh, you've never seen such a show! Grab your significant other, your dog or your copy of "Eat Pray Love" and go walk around. We'll show all those Virginia suburbs how the big boys do neighborhood festivals. We'll show 'em all!
» Penn Quarter, centered at 7th and F streets NW; Sat., Sept. 13, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., free; 202-626-0011. (Gallery Place)
Photo by Olivia Boinet/The Washington Post
YOU'VE SEEN WALK SIGNS. You've seen Don't Walk signs. But this digital display at the corner of Wilson Boulevard and Nash Street in Arlington makes a much more emphatic point.
This picture was taken on Friday, so it's entirely possible some eagle-eyed public servant has already popped in a couple of extra Lite Brite bulbs to make this Don't Walk hand a little less blunt in its advice. Maybe this is part of a county strategy to cut down on jaywalkers?
Addison Road