Washington D.C. Metblogs » dc_mikek

Get Thee to STOMP

dc_mikek — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 16:21:58 +0000

I almost hate to put this entry in “theatre” because that doesn’t really convey what going to see STOMP is really all about. It’s slightly more chaotic than that. My better half and I had the opportunity to go last night and came away wondering, “who *wouldn’t* like that?”

It’s loud, it’s emotional, it’s absolutely brilliant. And it’s only showing at the Warner Theater for two weeks - you can get tickets here.

Wishing a President Farewell

dc_mikek — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 15:08:41 +0000

Along with thousands of well-wishers, I stood on the corner of 20th and Eye Street and watched the funeral procession for President Ford from the Capitol Building to the National Cathedral. Hundreds of police officers standing at attention, taking their last opportunity to salute our 38th President. While they passed at a good pace, and the procession had come and gone in just a couple minutes - it’s the kind of thing that makes you grateful to live in DC.

Ghost Town

dc_mikek — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 18:40:48 +0000

Ah, the delight of an easy commute into the city. The day before Thanksgiving, the day after Christmas, you know the drill. But here in DC - we probably get more respites from awful traffic than most cities, because we get Congressional recesses. When the government shuts down for a day - be it from the holidays or a work stoppage in Congress - it’s nice to see the city slow down a bit and let down its hair. How about you - how much better was your drive in this morning?

Question for Metrobloggers: private dining in DC?

dc_mikek — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 03:15:54 +0000

This question has come up several times for me over the past year, and again recently: if you want to host a private dinner in DC, where do you call? A couple requirements:

“Banquet rooms” that hold large numbers (min. 20 ppl) don’t count.
“Private” demands privacy. For instance, the alcove at the Oval Room with a curtain that can be drawn doesn’t count.
It would be nice to identify a couple at different price points. It tends to be easy if you’re looking at spending $70-$100/person, but who’s got that kind of scratch?

If enough spots are identified - it’d be great to create a reference list for the future. You may only need one such venue per year, but it can be a total pain if there’s no good place to look if you’re not a professional meeting planner. Speaking of which - I did find this list (pdf) but it tends to cater to the catering customer.

What’s the zone map look like?

dc_mikek — Sat, 22 Jul 2006 20:11:55 +0000

“Cabbie, we’ve been through this before. I want the most direct route this time. No skirting around Venus.”

Not exactly your typical commute or jaunt across town, a Virginia company is set to offer private space flights. It’ll only cost you $20 million to get up there. Even cooler? When you get there, imagine this - “hey, wait a minute - I need to go stretch my legs.”

Yep - for another $15 million, you get a spacewalk.

Scratch that trip to AC

dc_mikek — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 14:45:58 +0000

Well - the unthinkable has happened. The twelve casinos in Atlantic City have shut their doors for the first time in 28 years (how much would it suck to be down a few hundred bucks when they escort you out?). As a result of a budget fight in Trenton, the state inspectors have been ordered to stay home. Considering the disagreement between the governor and the legislature is over the need for increased tax revenues - the shuttering of the casinos seems a bit strange. Sort of like declaring your support for more funding for firefighters and proving your committment by burning down your own garage.

Patriotism isn’t complicated

dc_mikek — Tue, 04 Jul 2006 18:08:14 +0000

Tom’s entry below has a lot of points I could agree with - and more that I’d like to argue over beer about. But today I’d like to share a slightly different perspective.

A few days ago, I had the chance to share a cab with someone who had worked at a high level in the Reagan White House. I asked him about his contact with the President in what he called the sunset of his life. And while he hadn’t seen Reagan in some time, he would from time to time get a phone call from Nancy, sharing a story or piece of news about the President.

One particular call this gentleman received is appropriate today.

As Reagan would sit with Nancy through the day, he would often nod off for a few minutes. One day, after being asleep in a chair for about 10 minutes, he woke with a start - a bit disoriented and confused. He looked at Nancy next to him and didn’t say, “hello” or anything of the sort. He simply smiled wide and said, “I love America.”

And in the throes of a disease that steals memory, reason, political agendas - when all that was stripped away, the most important thing the President was left with was a deep and abiding - inherently optimistic and positive love for his country. And that is the best kind of patriotism I can imagine.

There she is…Miss Arlington Virginia.

dc_mikek — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 13:56:17 +0000

On Saturday, Adrianna Sgarlata was crowned “Miss ~~Arlington~~ Virginia”. Sgarlata is a graduate student at George Mason University (music), and ran on a platform of “behaving respectfully and valuing others.” Personally, I think she could have just run on those eyes. More of Adrianna here.

UPDATE: Note to self: enroll in a reading comprehension course. Sglarlata *was* Miss Arlington and won the Miss Virginia pageant.

So much for hybrids in HOV

dc_mikek — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 13:06:35 +0000

I’ve long been on record as preferring HOT (toll) lanes to HOV (occupancy) lanes - but putting that aside - one thing that struck me was how hard the traffic gods had pushed for special treatment for hybrid vehicles, by giving them a pass to the HOV lanes. (In fact, a good friend who commutes from Chantilly to Crystal City bought one just to save 30 minutes each way)

Well - looks like that’s coming to an end. “Starting July 1st, hybrids purchased after June 30th will not be exempt from car pool rules on Interstates 95 and 395.” And current hybrid owners get to keep using the lanes till next year.

Marriage hits DC Metblogs

dc_mikek — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 13:58:56 +0000

Well, they went and got hitched. Tom and Tiff, that is. A perfect couple. No really, they are. Anyone who spends thirty seven seconds with the two of them realizes that they are they ones for each other. And a very nice wedding day it was. Beautiful weather, nice ceremony, a reception filled with friends old and new - couldn’t have been better. Congratulations, you two. If any metbloggers that actually had a camera with them were in attendence, pictures would be a boon.