Last month, mall stabbings were the rage in the area. Are shootings going to be the new black? A man was shot near Fair Oaks Mall around 5:00 this morning. I don’t think I’m going shopping anywhere in VA any time soon.

Yes, Columbia Heights now has an option besides little bodegas and Mt Pleasant can upgrade past Best Way. The new Tivoli Giant is swank. Row upon row of tasty treats in great presentation greats the visitor, and unlike the various Safeway’s, the Soviet Safeway being the worst, one you purchase goods, you can actually checkout in less time than it took to fill your cart. Nice.

To top it off, like the Spanish Safeway, you can buy cases of beer with your Pop Tarts and hot dogs. Upgrading to real bling bling, it also has Styrofoam coolers and wanna-be baby Webbers to fully outfit your weekend BBQ.

Now if they can only fix the dangerous, annoying, and illegal driveway that takes up the whole front sidewalk, installing a bike rack and shady seating, al la Whole Foods, it would be perfection. The interim solution is a joke so be sober on exit or ya might get smashed by a SUV, spilling your super-fine box o’ wine.

Apparently, while the Nats were gone on their road trip, someone engaged in a brazen daylight burglary spree at RFK stadium:

A security videotape captured four men entering the RFK lots in a black Dodge Ram extended cab truck at about 1:15 p.m. Monday and breaking into 11 vehicles, said D.C. Police Inspector Andy Solberg.

They came back on Wednesday and jacked Marlon Byrd’s Escalade, as well, taken his car and damaging a few other players’ cars. The players are, of course, quite furious about the whole thing, and The Post couldn’t print Byrd’s reaction in its expletive-laden entirety. Not that I blame them in the slightest.

And people are saying car theft isn’t a problem in DC? Get real!

Redskins safety Sean Taylor has been charged with a felony count of aggravated assault with a firearm and a misdemeanor count of battery. This stems from a fight in Miami on June 1st, when he was apparently trying to get back ATVs that he says were stolen from him. He’s pleading not guilty, and his trial starts in September. If Taylor is convicted, he faces a three-year sentence. Too bad the trial will be in Florida, or I might get to proofread the transcripts at my job.

Looking at my calendar for this weekend, I am shocked at how packed it is with things to do for free or for cheap in the DC area…

Friday:
Choralis’ Summer Festival Concert at The Falls Church, featuring the Bach Magnificat, and the Mozart Requiem. Concert starts at 8 and is the culmonation of the weeklong festival series that helps youth get involved in choral music. Tickets start at $20.

Saturday:
Farmer’s Market in Courthouse: I have basil in my garden, I must get tomatoes and cheese for some excellent caprese, and since it’s going to be hot, some sorbet.

The DC Flickr Gallery Showing at El Tamarindo in Northwest will feature photographer by local photographers showing their works as part of a neat show. 7pm to 1am at El Tamarindo on Georgia Ave.

Sunday:
Folk Life Festival on the Mall. I’ve done photo books from the last few years’ festivals, and I hope this year will be just as photogenic. None of the last few years have been half as good as the Silk Road was the year it was here. That was a truly amazing sight to behold.

Barbeque Battle on Penn Ave. That’s right, the National Pork Championship is on the line this weekend at the Barbecue Battle. Last year’s winner, Smoked Encounters of the Third Swine, has a title to defend, after all. I’m all for grilled meat in public places, man, this is just my kind of thing. Tickets are $10, and proceeds benefit the Metropolitan Police Boys and Girls clubs.

What are you doing this weekend? Whatever it is, please remember to drink lots of water, because it’s gonna be HOT!

Office drones of downtown DC – unite! Get outside now!

I just returned from an early lunch and it’s an amazingly gorgeous day – warm, breezy, perfect. I escaped my drab cube and splurged on sushi, taking it over to one of my favorite downtown spots, Pershing Park.

Sitting in the shade next to the bizarre block of a waterfall is pure bliss. When there’s a strong breeze a lovely cooling spritz of water touches you gently. Ahhh…. nice.

I love that park. At 11:45am there was no one there but an occasional confused tourist (”who the heck is Pershing?”), a little girl in a candy-colored sundress feeding chips to the ducks, and a suit smoking a pipe. Let’s not forget the dragonflies skimming the water. The pond changes color throughout the season (it’s even an ice rink in the winter), and is now rather like pea soup. Some might find that algae taint gross, but I love its emerald intensity. Just wait until the lilac trees surrounding the water bloom and their hot pink petals fall in, making retro prep hues.

I was soooo relaxed… sushi shock…. gentle breeze….
birds tweeting…. Damn the office!! Why did I have to come back??

Hey, it’s a Friday afternoon, summer in DC –
why not skip out early today?
Who’s with me?!?

Well, the final score of the game at RFK yesterday was 19-11 in favor of the Majority party. The Washington Post has some video interviews from the game last night, although, I’m not sure why they’re using Aluminum bats instead of wooden bats. That seems to me to be as unAmerican as dislike of Apple Pie or Freedom.

RFK looks largely empty, which is a shame, because really, what better way to see that Congress must be up to no good than to see that they’re using the wrong kind of bats to play the game.

In addition to the video from the Washington Post, someone sent me a link to a set of photos from the game that were tagged on flickr. Enjoy!

Just so you know, DC is on its way to being a “torture free zone“, as part of a campaign by Council Members Ambrose (Ward 6) and Patterson (Ward 3):

The resolution says the threat or use of torture is a violation of several international treaties, the U.S. Constitution and “our commitment to the rule of law as a protector of the integrity and dignity of the human person.”

Right. DC is going to add its significant legislative clout to the anti-torture laws already on the books as part of the Constitution, Geneva Convention, and US Federal Law.

Between the smoking ban and this, I have to wonder…

Is the City Council out of things to do? I mean, it seems like the Council could be advocating for DC Statehood, or maybe working on those absolutely atrocious test scores in the schools, or the poverty problem that is rampant in DC.

But no, instead of dealing with local issues, they’re declaring DC a torture free zone.

Perhaps they should tell that to Redskins Management.

That’s right, fresh off our first batch of Cheetah cubs, the second litter of cheetah cubs are now on display at the National Zoo, beginning Saturday at 11am until 1pm, then everyday thereafter from 8a to 10a, and 11a to 1p.

In addition, the awkward teenage cheetahs are running around at the agility course at the zoo, at speeds up to 40 miles per hour. No idea if they’re talking about sex, or Wayan’s favorite, the post-breakup Germany. But if you find out, let us know.

It’s summer in DC, which means your family is coming into town & you have to entertain them. While the museums on the Mall will busy them for a bit, after a while you’ll need more than directions to the Hirshorn to keep them outta the house.

Here’s a few suggests from my own family-fun odyssey in DC keeping my folks happy.

1. Nuttin like Kickball on the National Mall
2. For the adventurous – Tuesday Drag Queen Bingo at Chaos
3. A summer picnic with all your friends too
4. Listening to Ft. Reno summer concerts
5. Watching Screen on the Green
6. Cheering for their favorite Triathlete
7. Renting a rowboat at Fletcher’s Boat House
8. Flip cupping with grandma
9. Showing them the sights in Bike DC
10. And my fav; people watching in Dupont Circle

Got any suggestions to add?