photo credit: sexyfitsum, from the Metroblogging DC pool

“Grime! In DC!”

Shortly before midnight Sunday night, that was the Twitter my boyfriend posted. About two hours later, as we were getting ready to leave Jimmy Valentines Lonely Hearts Club, he posted again.

“My hair is full of ceiling debris shaken loose by bass.” High praise, indeed.

While grime actually comprised only a small portion of the set performed by SF/UK based dj BreakBeatBuddha (I will forgive the silly, silly name only this once) - which also included plenty of dubstep, and noisy, distorted, sometimes glitchy, party music - it was still a bit of a surprise to hear the British sub-genre played in a DC club

The Dive and Lie Wrecked night - presented as the final event in a weekend-long “mini-festival” called Forward - actually followed through on the claim that the generally enthusiastic audience would get a variety of styles, unlike many a DC club night where one can generally expect to hear 90% drum and bass, even at nights like Modern’s which puts dubstep right on the flyer.

In addition to BreakBeatBuddha, the popular Baltimore dj Joe Nice was on the bill, and was really the name that drew us up to the club in the first place. While we have never actually seen him live, he is most cited as one of the first American djs to become keen on the developments in the English scene in recent years, and bringing those styles more to the mainstream.

Credit is certainly due to the 88 DC promotion group for throwing the event. They have earned some success for their recurring and one-off events around town, and hopefully will keep putting on nights like this one.

Having been to their monthly X at BeBar initially only because a friend was performing (the whole “art happening” thing was off-putting to me, I will admit), I found myself pleasantly surprised and have gone back. It is less of a dance-oriented event, to be sure, but that is alright - and it certainly seems to be just fine with the slightly-older crowd it seems to attract, who are as interested in seeing interesting things on the walls and chatting with friends as they are in the music.

Jimmy Valentines is a delightful place in itself. No sign on the door, and on a quiet block, so it gives off just a whiff of exclusivity, even if it really is no speakeasy at all. The smallish, long room is painted and lit all in rosy red, making the faces of the patrons glow attractively.

We were pretty surprised by the quality of the system for a room of its size, which was clear and intense. It was strong enough to jostle a few chunks plaster out of the ceiling, which fell on to Craig’s head and the bar area, and for hours after leaving the club I had such a ringing in my ears that I think I may finally have lost some hearing.

Having never been there prior, I did not really know what to expect from the crowd. It was somewhat more mixed in terms of age and “style” than I might have expected, seeming to skew from collegey to late-30s, with several groups coming in suits to mingle with the heads in hood-up-hoodies and the like. I should point out, though, that Jimmy Valentines is principally a bar and was, last night at least, decidedly not all-ages. The woman working the door was clearly quite serious about ID-taking, and even scolded me for still carrying my vertical minor’s license even though I have been of age for some time (it still has a year before it expires!) because they are easier to forge.

All of the staff seemed to be girls, in fact, which was kind of intriguing, including perhaps the coolest security-type I have seen lately, with her mohawk and DC pride tattoo. She was clearly a total sweetie if you were cool, but I suspect could turn bad-ass if things got rowdy. One of the bartenders was among the prettiest I have ever seen mixing drinks, and I genuinely pitied her when some low-life in a plaid shirt was clearly putting the sleaze on her, thinking that she probably gets that a lot.

In short: I think Jimmy Valentines is now my third-favorite bar in town. Good music, super-cool space, a beer selection that, while short, still finds room for Brooklyn, Delirium, and Youngs, mixed-drinks served with bendy-straws with paper decorations, and some cool kids. Awesome.

In DC!

Jonny Goldstein’s
heart-shaped pancake

Yep, this is it, folks. If you haven’t bought a gift by now, probably you are scrambling and sweating or else are simply single and glad to not have to scramble and sweat. Don’t forget the meaning of this day, though. The whole idea is to show your love, not to empty your wallet.

Forget the cards, chocolates, flowers, sassy cats, stuffed animals and gift cards to your favorite after-church sex goods store. All that stuff is old hat. If you want to look sincere, you are going to have to be sincere and really put forth effort. Here is my list of Valentine’s Day gifts to capture the heart of that special person in your life.

Top Five Alternative Valentine’s Day Gifts

• Homemade Meal - be a regular Jonny Goldstein and cook your sweetie a nice meal. It comes from the heart, is romantic and is a great way to share something special and homemade in private, rather than going out to show off to other couples.
• Gift Certificate to a Book Store - What better way is there to show your affection than by offering to stimulate your lover’s mind? Better yet, go with him/her to pick out a special book.
• At-Home Poetry Reading - Share the beauty of poetry with your loved one. Just because Rod Stewart couldn’t “quote you no Dickens, Shelley or Keats” doesn’t mean you shouldn’t seek it out and delight in the perfect proportions of poetry.
• Take a Drive - On your way somewhere for the evening? Enjoy the lights of downtown. Heck, even cross the river and see the lights of Georgetown and Foggy Bottom on the river. One of the most majestic river sights, in my opinion, is on the Key Bridge, where you can look over and see the Kennedy Center glimmering on the water and the Washington Monument in the background.
• Just be Together - What better way is there to create romance than simply being together, minds in the present moment? Enjoy each other. Talk and listen. Spend less time doing and more time just being.

What are your plans? How will you show your love today? Or do you observe this holiday at all?

Saint Anthony of Padua
(patron saint of barren women)

You may have heard that I am a fan of local painter Dana Ellyn (evidenced by this and this and this). It’s true. Dare I say, I think her art is pretty incredible - both personal and political, giving social commentary and unique insights into current events.

I just got her most recent email newsletter and learned that she will be at the same show Matt Sesow will be at this evening. Here’s what she wrote:

“DC Greenheart Exhibit”: is an exhibition of new paintings, drawings, and photographs by 19 local artists priced at $500 or less. Art will showcase environmental awareness with a touch of Valentines Day inspiration. 10% of all sale proceeds will benefit www.earthecho.org in support of saving our planet.

The opening night party is free to attend but please RSVP to:
rsvp@taurusdev.com

Lofts 11
8th Floor Penthouse
1125 11th st. NW
Washington DC 20001

Go check out her art and Matt’s, contribute to a worthy cause and have a great time. Remember - tell them the friendly folks at Metroblogging DC sent you.

Local artist Matt Sesow has a few exciting events going on this weekend. If you are not familiar with Matt’s work, definitely go to his web site and get a feel for it. Much of his work is raw, like the texture of rough-cut wood, and full of emotion. Although at first his paintings may appear to be less carefully crafted than some other artists’ work, closer inspection shows that his hand is very deliberate, creating works that say something about society and his personal life.

So here is what Matt has in store for tonight:

This Friday night, I’ll be at the opening reception for the ‘greenheart’ exhibit here in DC. I found a mention of it on a blog website, from “the drop” website:
One night only, Lofts 11 presents “DC Greenheart Exhibit”, featuring works from 19 Artists… An exhibition of new painting, drawings, and photographs priced at $500 or less. Art will showcase Environmental Awareness with a touch of Valentines Day inspiration. 10% of all sale proceeds will benefit earthecho.org in support of saving our water planet. Opening reception with artists….
Date: Friday - February 1, 2008
Time: Reception: 7:00pm-10:00pm
Location: Lofts Eleven 8th floor Penthouse, 1125 11th Street, NW
RSVP to rsvp@taurusdev.com

And then for Saturday:

I’m going to host an open studio this SATURDAY (Feb. 2nd) from 12 noon until 6pm. I’ll have the usual bevy of refreshments and stacks of paintings for you to peruse. There are a few “31 Days in July” 2007 paintings left as well as a nice number of recent gems that beg to be seen.

No rsvp needed, just show up, bring friends. (1851 Columbia Rd, NW #603)

A map to my place is at: http://www.sesow.com/map.htm feel free to phone 202.319.1459 if you need additional directions, etc.
Please contact me at sesow@sesow.com if you want to schedule a
special private visit.

Wanna show your clock-stopping hottie that you’re in tune with women on Valentines Day? That you understand and appreciate how she can be both feminine and breadwinning?

Then check out Films on the Hill showing of Annie Oakley, the 1935 tale of the sharpshooter from the Ozarks who joins Buffalo Bill’s legendary wild west show, becoming its main attraction.

If she questions the suggestion, recite this quote from Barbara Stanwyck, who starred as Ms. Okaley:

“Modern women could learn a great deal from Annie Oakley. She was a woman of all ages, deeply feminine in spite of her shooting ability–which she developed to support her family.”

Annie Oakley
7:00 pm @ Films on the Hill
Capitol Hill Arts Workshop
545 7th Street SE

Photo by DC Metroblogger

This is the florist at 14th and I Streets today.

See all those rose boxes? He is ready for your Valentines flower needs.

I count at least 28 dozen roses in that stack and I bet there are more inside.

Question is: with the impending snow hysteria tomorrow, will there be anyone downtown needing flowers?

DC Metro-ites, sing, rejoice and be, um, plastered on Valentines Day. The venerable DC beer institution (and Guinness World Record holder), The Brickskeller, is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary in 2007, and has scheduled a year full of great beer events.

Culminating next week is the annual “Craft Brewed Strong Ale” tasting, on February 14th and 15th at RFD (Regional Food & Drink - also managed by the Alexander family). This is quick on the heels of last month’s “Lovefest” with Russian River (CA) and Allagash (ME) breweries at the Brickskeller’s upstairs tap-room. Call 202-289-2030 for tickets, they do sell out fast, as this is one of the annual highlights of the “beer tastings“. Support craft brewing and regional brewers such as Capitol City, Sweetwater Tavern, The D.C. Chophouse and others by trying something out of the ordinary with your sweetheart.

Also on “tap” this year for “The Brick” is a series of lectures and tastings about the Philosophy on Tap series in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution entitled - “What Is the Nature of the Mind?”. Also, “The Beer Hunter”, Michael Jackson is set to return for a fundraiser for Parkinson’s Disease (which he, himself, just revealed he has been battling) later this spring. If you think a Budweiser, Miller or Coors is all there is to beer (really, they are NOT beer), I highly recommend trying something out of the ordinary with your sweetheart this Valentines Day. (and at the very least, with a batch of strong ales [> 9% abv], you can forget about the evening’s events if they go south!)

Another reason, besides 1/4″ of snow, to take some time off work, for those of you who are opposed to taxation without representation. (meanwhile, shame on Montgomery country, unnecessary ginormous SUV capital of the universe, to close all schools for 1/2″ of snow.)

Dear fellow citizens of the last continental colony,

Next Thursday (2/15/07) if you have any extra love for DC left in you from Valentines Day, take one-third of a
day off work to lobby for one-third representation in Congress with DC Vote’s “Congress Day” Come and tell Congress what it’s like to live in America when you are forced to sit at the back of the bus of Democracy!

Congress Day 2007

Join DC Vote, our coalition partners, Mayor Adrian Fenty, Chairman Vincent Gray, elected officials and
other citizen advocates as we educate members of Congress to support DC voting rights.

Where: Cannon Caucus Room, (Room 345)
Cannon House Office Building
Independence & New Jersey Ave., SE
(Closest Metro Stop: Capitol South)

When: Thursday, February 15, 2007
- 8:30 AM: Meet for continental breakfast
- 9:00 AM: Welcoming remarks from Mayor Fenty, Chairman
Gray and others
- 9:30 AM-Noon: Congressional visits

Please RSVP by e-mail to congressday@dcvote.org with your contact information including a telephone number.
If you have questions, please call Eugene D. Kinlow at 202.462.6000 x13 or http://www.dcvote.org

Is it me, or are we approaching the open sexuality that Europe and the rest of the world has had for centuries? I found these hanging near the checkout counter at the CVS next to the White House. I know it’s harmless plastic, but when will we see, among the rest of the Valentines Day shtick, cat-o-nine tails, leather and other ‘naughty bits’ for sale next to the overpriced candy and cards. I’m all for playfulness (and not being a prude), but will they sell it with a coupon for Astroglide?

For you semi-old farts out there (like me), Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks will be appearing at the Barns at Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA (maps: Yahoo!, Google) this Wednesday, the 15th at 8:00 PM. If your sweetheart is a fan, that’s close enough. Virginia is for lovers, right?

Via upcoming.org DC.

Tags: venue, virginia, valentines