Maureen Andary of The Sweater Set
@ Fort Reno
Q:What's your song for summer?
A:"Our song about summer love. The lyrics are 'Oh, you're just for fun, don't you know. I only want you for summer months.'"
SATURDAY: Every year, space geeks get jazzed about Yuri's Night, which honors cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. Gagarin was the first human to venture into space, and for this, we thank him! We also thank him because it encourages the space geeks to throw a darn fine party at Goddard Space Center that even the less space-fanatical among us can enjoy.
This year, the festivities include activities, adult beverages and a performance by indie-pop favorites Middle Distance Runner, all in a futuristic, clubby atmosphere.
Other alluring facts: Galactic attire is encouraged and there's a shuttle over from the Greenbelt Metro.
» NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Visitor Center, Icesat Road, Greenbelt; Sat., April 4, 8 p.m.-1 a.m., $10-$20; Dc.yurisnight.net. (Greenbelt)
Photo courtesy Middle Distance Runner
WHETHER THE KID in your life with a spaceship fetish is 5 or 50, they'll love you to infinity and beyond for taking them to NASA's Launchfest Open House this Saturday.
As Goddard Space Flight Center prepares for its busiest year yet, it invites the public to learn more about its projects, employees, advancements in technology and its dedication to green science. Along with all this knowledge, food and entertainment will also be available.
» NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, 8800 Greenbelt Rd., Greenbelt; Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m., free, photo identification required. 301-286-6397. (Greenbelt)
Photo courtesy of NASA
WITH NEGOTIATIONS TO BUILD a stadium for D.C. United in the District stalled, officials in the Old Line State have taken a big first step that could lead the team to move to the Maryland suburbs. As The Post's Ovetta Wiggins reports, the Maryland Stadium Authority has decided to spend $75,000 to study a potential relocation's economic impact and tax benefits.
Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson initially pressed the stadium authority to help the county steal the team from the District. Writes Wiggins:
United has shown interest in two locations in College Park. But David Byrd, deputy chief administrative officer for the county, said Johnson wants the team to build a stadium near the Metro stations in New Carrollton or Greenbelt, where it could anchor a mixed-used development.Talks between United and D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty to build a new soccer stadium at Poplar Point broke down last summer.
Continue Reading "Md. Looks at Impact of Relocating D.C. United" »
TWO TEENAGERS have been arrested and charges are pending against another in connection with a Tuesday night carjacking at the Greenbelt Metrorail station.
According to the Metro Transit Police, a female customer was attacked by two males aged 15 and 16 at around 10 p.m. as she was getting into her car, which was parked at the station. An alert went out, and three hours later, Metro Transit Police spotted the stolen car at the Southern Avenue station. A car chase ensued and the teens crashed into a wooded area off Suitland Parkway, police said.
According to a Metro statement on the arrests:
Police believe the 15-year-old was dropped off at home in time to meet a curfew and the 16-year-old driver picked up another teenage friend before the crash. The friend was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Transit Police arrested the 15-year-old boy [on Wednesday] in connection with the carjacking.The 16-year-old driver was charged Wednesday with felony carjacking while the 15-year-old was charged with being a passenger in a stolen vehicle. Charges are pending against the third teen.
GREENBELT OR NEW CARROLLTON could be potential new homes for D.C. United, which is looking to build a new stadium. As discussions broke down this summer between D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and the Major League Soccer franchise for a new stadium at Poplar Point in Anacostia, United officials began looking across the Maryland border for a potential new home.
As The Post's Rosalind S. Helderman reports preliminary discussions have started, and United owner Victor MacFarlane has expressed interest in New Carrollton and Greenbelt, sites the team had considered a few years ago.
Why those sites? They're both Metrorail accessible and have room for mixed-used development with a stadium as its anchor, which is what United was looking for with the Poplar Point site. Additionally, Prince George's County has a large Latino population, which forms a critical foundation for the team's fan base.
All this comes at a time when District officials are trying to figure out what to do with RFK Stadium — United's current home and until recently, home to the Nationals — which will move into a new stadium in Near Southeast in the spring. As The Post's David Nakamura reports, the D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission, which operates the facility, is looking for $2.5 million in public money, to cover a budget shortfall, "largely the result of the Nationals' ending their annual $2 million rent payment at RFK ...."
» "Would They Call It P.G. United?" [WaPo]
» "Drain Feared As Nationals Leave RFK" [WaPo]
Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post
Metro Boosts Service for Thanksgiving Travel
Map It:
Greenbelt L'Enfant Plaza National Airport Rosslyn
HEADED TO A LOCAL AIRPORT in the coming days for dreaded Thanksgiving travel? At least one portion of your journey might not be as difficult as you think it'll be.
Metro has announced it will be increasing its transit offerings in anticipation of larger holiday crowds before and after Thanksgiving.
That means more Blue and Yellow Line trains serving the Reagan National Airport station on Sunday. Also, there'll be increased service on Wednesday and Sunday on two express Metrobus routes: the Dulles Airport/5A route from the Rosslyn and L'Enfant Plaza stations and the BWI/B30 route from the Greenbelt station. On Thursday, Metrorail and Metrobus will run on a Sunday schedule.
» "Metro to Operate Extra Trains and Buses During Thanksgiving Week in Anticipation of Travel to Local Airports" [WMATA]
» EARLIER: "Thanksgiving Air Travel Crunch in Full Swing" [Free Ride/Express]
TRACK WORK and rail car testing will lead to delays on the Red, Orange and Green lines this weekend. Here's what to expect:
» ORANGE LINE: This is where you'll find the heaviest of the weekend's work. From 10 p.m. Friday until midnight Sunday, trains will share the same track between Vienna and West Falls Church. Alternating trains will turn around at West Falls Church rather than proceeding to Vienna, so keep an eye on your train's final destination. Metro warns customers to add 30 minutes to their travel time.
» RED LINE: Track maintenance between Grosvenor and Medical Center could cause delays of up to 15 minutes, with trains in both directions sharing the same track. The work's scheduled to take place between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
» GREEN LINE: New railcar testing between Greenbelt and College Park will force trains in both directions to share one track from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. Add 10-15 minutes to your travel time.
» "Weekend Track Maintenance and Rail Car Testing to Affect Metro's Red, Orange and Green Lines" [WMATA]
You Can Drink Near Van Dorn St., But Not Cheverly
Map It: Cheverly Dunn Loring East Falls Church Federal Center SW Fort Totten Greenbelt
THREE MEN IN LONDON recently completed a liver-quivering task: a pub crawl featuring stops at all 275 stations on the British capital's Underground rail network. That's not 275 stations in one trip, mind you — it took place over five years. It's still quite the feat, though. And too many pints to count...
Since our Metrorail only has 86 stations, it'd be much easier to do a D.C. subway pub crawl, right? Not exactly. While stations like Gallery Place-Chinatown, Clarendon and Bethesda have plenty of options to choose from, there are some stations that aren't known for being hubs of nightlife — they're better places to park a car than to throw back a pint.
So we used our very own Metro Links mapping tool to see whether there are drinks to be had near some of Metro's outlying stations.
» VAN DORN STREET: Yes, sort of, but you have to walk over the CSX tracks to Pickett Street. Options include Shenandoah Brewing Company (you make your own beer) and Nick's Nightclub ("a well-known spot for county music and line dancing").
» CHEVERLY: No.
» GREENBELT: No, but wait a few years.
» EAST FALLS CHURCH: Well, sort of. You just have to walk 10-15 minutes into Falls Church.
» FORT TOTTEN: An emphatic no.
» DUNN LORING-MERRIFIELD: Yes! There's a Shark Club billiards location nearby. Who knew?
» FEDERAL CENTER SW: Yes. The hotel bar at the Holiday Inn called 21st Amendment Bar & Grill. (We've actually been there. It's the crown jewel of the neighborhood.)
» "Five-Year Pub Crawl Tours Entire Tube" [This Is Local London via Londonist]
» "MetroLinks" [Express]
RED AND GREEN LINE passengers should plan ahead when taking Metrorail this weekend. With track maintenance scheduled for the Red Line in Montgomery County and railcar testing scheduled for the Green Line in Prince George's County, trains will share a single track in the following locations at the following times:
» RED LINE: Expect a 15-minute delay between the Grosvenor-Strathmore and Medical Center Metrorail stations. (7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday)
» GREEN LINE: Give yourself an extra 10 to 15 minutes when travelling between the Greenbelt and College Park stations from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
» "Weekend Track Maintenance and Rail Car Testing to Affect Metro's Red and Green Lines" [WMATA]
SEVERAL METRORAIL LINES WILL experience delays this weekend for scheduled track maintenance. Only the Orange Line will escape scheduled delays. Trains will run share a single track in the following locations:
» RED LINE: Expect a 15-minute delay when traveling between the Grosvenor and Medical Center stations. (7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday)
» BLUE AND YELLOW LINES: There will be delays of up to 30 minutes between the Van Dorn Street, King Street and Braddock Road stations. (10 p.m. Friday to 10 a.m. Saturday; 10 p.m. Saturday to 10 a.m., Sunday)
» GREEN LINE: Give yourself an extra 15 minutes when traveling between the Greenbelt and College Park stations from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
» "Weekend Track Maintenance and Rail Car Testing to Affect Metro's Red, Blue, Yellow and Green Lines" [WMATA]
Addison Road