That’s right, kids, it’s a gorgeous day out. The kind we get all too precious few of as DC makes the transition between “cold and gloomy” to “humid and sweltering.”

So why are you sitting in front of a computer reading this? Get up! Go outside! Open the sunroof! Occupy a sidewalk table at your favorite restaurant! Go to the zoo!

But don’t stay here when you could be taking advantage of this.

Omg awesome outside

Originally uploaded by tiffany bridge

So, D.C.’s in a tizzy with the Papal visit this week, and all the supposed traffic tie-ups it’s supposed to bring. This afternoon, a cadre of D.C. police and crowd control specialists (aka “barricade men”) lined Pennsylvania Avenue with aluminum corrals. Supposedly tomorrow will pale in snarly comparison with Thursday for the 10am Papal mass at the new National’s Stadium (are we ever gonna really name this correctly?). I’ve luckily got a nice vantage point for the procession, but I’m really in it to see which Popemobile he’ll be riding in (there are several variations, including several variations of Fiat’s…). I caught this peloton of D.C. police burning 1 inch rubber down the street this afternoon. If only all law enforcement was this eco-friendly… but I’d like to see them take the place of the USPS team some day in the Tour de France (which is also coming up soon too)

D.C. Police Police Peloton

Originally uploaded by webjedi

Though it’s a bit too chilly today, by midweek, we’ll be into perfect sidewalk cafe weather. I remember many a night spent on the patio either at Boulevard Woodgrill in Clarendon, or at Four Courts in Courthouse, or down on I St at the Bottom Line after work.

There are a ton of great places in DC for drinks on the patio when the weather’s nice and the sun is shining, and everyone’s got a favorite. I know Wayan is addicted to Fox & Hounds, and that I’ve certainly enjoyed a long happy hour after work at Elephant & Castle, and of course there’s the roof deck of pretty much every place in Adams Morgan, or the places in Georgetown that have the pull-back walls to let the air flow in when it’s nice.

Do your friends a solid, though, and tell us where to be this week when it’s nice here below in the comments.

Street in San Juan, Puerto Rico (LOC) — Originally uploaded by The Library of Congress

I started to write some quick notes about the ways the Caps could still make it into the playoffs, but the added complication of division leads automatically getting the first three seeds made it too much of a headache and I deleted it all. So lemmie try again.

The Caps are in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference. Currently the Carolina Hurricanes are leasing the SE div with 90 points and we’re behind them with 88. Were we were to win 2 out of the remaining 3 games and they lose all three of theirs then we’d be tied up with 90 points.

Point ties are settled by looking at comparative games played (which would be the same), then number of wins (ditto), then.. well, let me quote the HHL page on the matter:

The greater number of points earned in games between the tied clubs. If two clubs are tied, and have not played an equal number of home games against each other, points earned in the first game played in the city that had the extra game shall not be included. If more than two clubs are tied, the higher percentage of available points earned in games among those clubs, and not including any “odd” games, shall be used to determine the standing.

Clear as mud.

Now, that’s not the only way for us to make it into the playoffs – eight total teams make it in, with the top 3 seeds being the division leads. And in fact, those three aren’t necessarily the best. Carolina, currently holding that #3 seed spot, is actually eighth in game points, behind Philly and Boston. Which is our other shot at a berth – if either of those teams loses their remaining three games (a real possibility for poor Philly, who is facing the top-ranked Penguins TWICE) while we win our next three that would tie us for game points, allowing us to bypass them on number of wins.

What a damned headache.

Annoyed, courtesy of Fenchurch!

When the weather finally decides to settle on its current state (70, sunny) then we all know it’s time for some sitting outside, and for the drinking of some tasty, tasty Bell’s Oberon. This tap was visible at the Boulevard Woodgrill in Clarendon today when I stopped in for a late lunch.

Soon enough, it’ll be time to sit outside with round after round of this summertime favorite.

Bring on the sunshine!!

Summers coming: Oberon back on tap — Originally uploaded by tbridge

Have you ever been to the George Washington Masonic Memorial? You can get a tour that takes you to the top and from the observation deck you can practically see Europe. Great views. Heck of a building, too, and great displays. Definitely go check it out sometime.

I was just there last week for a meeting and afterward, as I made my way along the platform at the King Street Metro stop, I noticed a gentleman smiling at me as he walked toward me. I returned the friendly gesture, figuring perhaps I just didn’t recognize him – perhaps an old friend or a business acquaintance?

Anyway, as we walked toward each other he started talking about how nice my tie was, asking where I got it and going on about the quality and design.

“My wife got it for me,” I explained. “You can’t trust me with matters of fashion.” The man laughed and went on his way, but not before marveling again at how nice it was.

I find it quite refreshing to be somewhere people would stop someone for a brief conversation and to share such warmth. The last time I had that happen was when I visited my brother back home in Raleigh last year.

When was the last time you slowed down to talk with someone for a few minutes, just to exchange pleasantries? It seems like it’s about time to do it again, don’t you think? More civility, less rudeness – that’s what this area needs.

Photo: George Washington Masonic Memorial Originally uploaded by carlweaver

But hey, I’ll take what we can get. My picture here from early February has just gone up at the excellent “Blog” of “Unnecessary” quotation marks. Sadly this is not the only time our fair area has appeared on this blog, as unnecessary quotation marks are pretty much an epidemic all over the land. Some other gems that a quick search on the term “DC” turns up there are a terrifying sign from a Quiznos, another that looks to me like the Crystal City Underground advertising a “specialty”a gem from the book fair. Have you seen any good ones?

Jonny Goldstein has a great line-up tonight. From his web site:

Join us as we talk art, design, web 2.0, branding, business, and love in the age of the interwebs with Jesse Thomas and Leslie Bradshaw.

Just one glimpse at the collage above by Jesse, and you will realize he does not look at the world the way you and I do. And that’s a good thing.

Jesse, or jessesaves as he is known on twitter, is one of those people who combines artistic talent, curiosity, the web, and entrepreneurial instincts to connect to the world in interesting ways. If you live in DC, you probably have seen his artwork on the Busboys and Poets website, in galleries around town, or on a skateboard. He’s also a part owner and creator of allfacebook.com and socialtimes.com with Nick O’Neill. When he’s not in DC creating, Jesse bounces around the globe looking for design inspiration: for example He will be travelling to China with AIGA on a design expedition in May. To find out more about the phenomenon that is Jesse Thomas, check out this article.

His partner in crime, Leslie Bradshaw rocks in her own right. A former producer for the alway entertaining McLaughlin Group TV show, “She currently She currently balances dual roles as a full time Public Affairs Community Manager for New Media Strategies, as well as the President and Operational Director of JESS3.” And special bonus: Leslie spent some of her formative years in Junction City, just miles from where Jonny grew up.

When: 9PM EST, March 26, 2008

Who: Jesse Thomas and Leslie Bradshaw, Jonny Goldstein, Scott Stead, and you.

What: It’s not just an interactive web TV talk show, it’s a Par-tay.

Where: jonnyspartay.com

Photo: pwning my boss’s office while he is out sick Originally uploaded by jonny goldstein

It’s nice to know that in this post 911 world we’re so well protected here in Washington, aka “terrorist target numero uno”. First, CNN reports that we have air marshals on less than 1% of all U.S. flights and now we read that Mr. Michael Gorbey, the samurai sword, shotgun-slinging suspect, had an explosive device in his truck that has taken the Capitol Police three weeks to find. Three. Weeks. Sure, they “used a robotic camera to look inside the vehicle and a powerful water hose to destroy suspicious items inside”, but they completely missed a device “made of a can of gunpowder taped to a box of shotgun shells and a bottle with buckshot or BB pellets”. Maybe they thought it was some new beverage brought to us by the makers of Vitamin Water?

Seriously. Seriously? It’s not like they have many terrorists and criminals walking in their front door, consuming their time and causing them to take shortcuts and their work performance to suffer. They’re usually just patrolling the grounds and telling photographers like me, “Sorry you can’t use a tripod on the Capitol grounds.” Good job fellas. If the fate of the Capitol and the people who work inside rests on your shoulders, it’s no wonder most members of congress never show up to vote.

…chances are it belongs to this Philadelphia-bound US Air 757 that dropped it somewhere over Anne Arundel or Prince George’s County on Saturday. The piece itself isn’t all that big, just 17.5 square inches, but it still might’ve wrecked things but good. So, give US Air a call if it plowed your garden a bit.

Just don’t take them up on any offer for free airfare, if there are parts falling off their planes, I know I wouldn’t want any part of it.

US Airways 757 — Originally uploaded by So Cal Metro