Washington D.C. Metblogs » dc_william

National Chili Day = free Hard Times

dc_william — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 15:17:35 +0000

WTOP passed along some very important news this morning — today is National Chili Day! To celebrate, Hard Times Cafe is giving out free bowls of chili. They have locations throughout suburban Virginia and Maryland.

If you’ve got a creepy commercial, you’ve got a brand identity

dc_william — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:37:47 +0000

Here is an old TV ad for the Saionitz & Kirk law firm that used to run all day long in between Lincoln Tech and Jhoon Rhee spots.

I recalled it being even creepier — there may have been a longer, more ominous version.

Caps sign Ovechkin to record contract

dc_william — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 12:07:29 +0000

Last night the Washington Capitals signed Alex Ovechkin to a whopping 13 year, $124 million contract., the richest in D.C. sports history. The contract also a remarkable leap of faith by Caps owner Ted Leonsis (2006 Q&A) in not only Ovechkin, but Washington fans and the NHL in general.

On Frozen Blog led the way with yesterday’s coverage, collaborating with Sovietsky Sports (Google warns “This site may harm your computer.” but I think it is okay) to break the news. Details about how it happened are now available. Good work guys!

Green fairy available in D.C.

dc_william — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:26:47 +0000

Now that absinthe is legal nationwide (as of Dec. 21), distribution in D.C. has begun. My friend Joe at Ace Beverage in NW says his store now sells Lucid for $69.99. He mentioned that if you tell him that William F. Yurasko sent you he’ll see about working up a 10% discount.

Absinthe has quite a reputation, but if you are expecting to see music and hear colors, you’ll be disappointed. At least, I didn’t when I tried some in San Francisco last month. I was impatient and went where it was already legal, beating the national legalization by six days.

Don’t bother with Spamalot

dc_william — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:07:14 +0000

About a year and a half ago, my wife and I attended a performance of Spamalot, the Eric Idle musical based on the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail, at the National Theatre. It returns to Washington in December, but take my advice and don’t bother seeing it.

I fairly had high expectations for Spamalot, I figured it would make me laugh until I hurt or bore me to sleep — nothing in between. Neither of those things happened, it was decidedly in the middle. Instead of being atrocious or hysterical, it was merely amusing. The jokes and pacing were clearly written for an audience that was unaccustomed to Python, so the sheer absurdity is lost.

For the uninitiated, the story has King Arthur recruiting knights to join his roundtable and go find the holy grail. Along the way there are incidents and accidents that result in singing and silliness. There are plenty of nods to Broadway, seemingly a requirement for any stage comedy, and a rousing performance of “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life” which was actually from the movie Life of Brian. Otherwise, the show is just mildly entertaining.

Instead of dropping $40 or more a ticket, my recommendation is to go and rent Monty Python and the Holy Grail and the even better Life of Brian if you are looking for a Python fix.

Giiiiiiiiinnnnnn, tooooonnnnnnic, squeeze of lime

dc_william — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 18:46:05 +0000

Are you concerned about scurvy or malaria this summer? I know I am.

Do you find that beer, wine or soda are not quite refreshing enough when you are sitting on your deck or patio after a day in the sun? Don’t be embarrassed, it happens to me too.

Do you wish there was way to address all of these concerns at once? Of course you do!

Thankfully, there is solution and it is called a gin and tonic. Many of you already know this answer, but I fear you don’t know the full glory of this cocktail. Most if not all gin and tonics I have ever ordered at a bar have been mediocre or just plain bad because of poor ingredients. By following the recipe below, you can realize the pefect gin and tonic this summer.

First things first, what is the most important ingredient in a gin and tonic? If said gin, you are incorrect. In fact, gin may be the third or fourth most important ingredient because a great gin and tonic starts with the tonic. Inferior or warm tonic (like many bars use) or club soda will ruin a gin and tonic faster than anything. To avoid this, I use Schweppes tonic water exclusively. If I don’t have any, don’t bother making a gin and tonic until you get some and refrigerate it because no other tonic water comes close. Schweppes stands alone at the top because of its excellent carbonation — tiny bubbles instead of big ones. Buy it in little glass bottles (if you can find them) because they are superior to the big plastic ones because the chill and carbonization is retained. The extra cost is worth it.

It is debatable whether the ice, which should be fresh, the lime (I like cutting it when I make the drink, not before), or gin is the next most important ingredient. I’ve had good gin and tonics made with rail gin and bad gin and tonics made with good gin.

After years of tinkering my method, I have come up with what I believe is the best way to make a gin and tonic. You’ll need the following:

gin (I usually use Gordon’s or Beefeater)

tonic (Schweppes, chilled)

lime

ice

glass or cup (I’m partial to Solo cold cups)

Start off buy cutting about 1/8 of the lime into a wedge. Squeeze the lime into the cup and then rub the it the rim and drop in the bottom.

Pour about two fingers of gin into the cup.

Feel free to add another wedge if you really like lime or don’t have a real juicy one.

Add ice — I typically go with 8-10 pieces from my icemaker, but used about six when I used trays. Make sure there isn’t too much ice, you need room for tonic.

Empty bottle into cup slowly.

Stir and enjoy a scurvy and malaria free summer! Drink responsibly!

Cheers!

This entry was originally posted on William World News

The Search for Schweppes

dc_william — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:06:19 +0000

After a day out in the sun, a good gin and tonic is pretty refreshing. Since the next excellent gin and tonic I have at a bar will be the first, I have to rely on my own handiwork. I’m fine with that, especially since I can do it at home for much cheaper. However, there is a catch — finding the right tonic water.

Over the years I have come to the conclusion that the only tonic water worth drinking is Schweppes, ideally from chilled 10 oz. glass bottles. The trouble is few supermarkets stock it in appropriate quantities in my preferred container if they stock it at all. Last week I searched in vain through 3 Giants, 3 Harris Teeters and 1 Magruder’s in Alexandria/Arlington without any success. Some stores were sold out of the six packs, while others clearly didn’t stock it. Giving up, I talked to a friend of mine at Ace Beverages in NW about my dilemma and he assured me that he could set aside a case. That solved the problem, though it required an out-of-the-way drive, though I was happy to give him the business.

Anyhow, I finally found some Schweppes six packs at the Safeway on N. Van Dorn Street too, so I should be in good shape until I go down the Shore later in the summer with six six-packs. Still, I can’t help but wonder why it is so hard to find Schweppes in the six-packs. These supermarkets are dropping the ball by not stocking more of it in favor of the decidedly inferior Canada Dry tonic water.

Coming Friday: A gin and tonic how-to

Free Doughnut Day…

dc_william — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 19:12:08 +0000

…at participating Krispy Kreme locations which presumably includethe Dupont Circle, Rockville and Alexandria stores.

No cannonball for Fenty

dc_william — Thu, 31 May 2007 13:54:16 +0000

One of the more amusing aspects of Mayor Anthony Williams eight year tenure as mayor was his annual ceremonial cannonball to open D.C. pools every summer. According to City Desk, a CityPaper blog, freshman mayor Adrian Fenty doesn’t plan on keeping the tradition.

The official opening is scheduled for June 25. And he isn’t ruling out a cannonball for the kick off–so long as the diver is a member of the media. “I was going to [dive],” Fenty told the radio audience of WAMU-FM’s The D.C. Politics Hour With Kojo and Jonetta on May 25. “but [WRC-TV reporter] Tom Sherwood actually says he’s going to do it.”

While I have no doubt that many area politicians would be quite happy to “help” Sherwood into the pool, it isn’t the same. Sherwood isn’t sure he is going to do it either:

Not so fast, Sherwood shoots back. “I would do it, but someone would have to offer up some cash,” he says. “For $5,000, I’ll do it.”

Sherwood isn’t contemplating a lucrative new career in professional athletics. But he does want his dive to produce something more than a good laugh. “I will ask the person to donate the money to a charity of my choosing,” he says. “Everything has a price.”

C’mon on Mr. Mayor, take the plunge!

When the odds are sayin’ you’ll never win

dc_william — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:42:45 +0000

According to Tom, our slumping Nationals played “Heart” from Damn Yankees during the 7th inning. I have been an advocate for making this song a Nats tradition, but it seems to be played infrequently thus far.

Let it be noted the Nationals came back from a five run deficit to win in the bottom of the 9th for their first victory of the season.