August 2009

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Dog Park at New Hampshire and S St. to Open Thursday at 4:00 PM

August 31, 2009 in Spotted around the Circle | No comments

DSC00445As I was walking around this weekend I passed by the new dog park the city is constructing at the triangle where New Hampshire, S St., and 17th St meet.  But it didn’t look under construction, it looked completely finished.  So today I called Jack Evans’s office to get the scoop.  As it turns out, it is finished, and there will be a ribbon cutting and “leash cutting” this Thursday at 4:00 PM.  The park looks great!  For reasons beyond my control I do not have a dog, but I may hang out here a little bit anyway to live vicariously through all the happy dog owners.  

Oh, and in case you were wondering, the people park on New Hampshire and T St. also opens Thursday.  More photos of the soon-to-be-open parks after the jump.

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Blago Book Due Out Sept. 8th

August 30, 2009 in Blago Condo | No comments

513u6dhguQL._SS500_Oh boy.  As I’ve written here before, I used to live in Rod and Patti Blagojevich’s Dupont Circle condo.  My emails with Patti regarding landlord/tenant issues have somehow landed me on the list she has been using to publicize Rod’s new book, due out Sept. 8.  According to an email I got today, the book will present “the truth behind the political scandal that continues to rock the nation.”  Rod will be on quite a publicity tour, including the View and the Daily Show, so if you thought he had begun to recede from the spotlight you were wrong. 

In other Blago news, there has been no movement on their condo at 18th and S.  The price is still listed at the reduced $524,900 Maybe after all the book proceeds roll in they will accept a lower offer?

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Ghost Bike Taken Down at Connecticut and R St.

August 29, 2009 in Spotted around the Circle | 1 comment

DSC00444The city removed the ghost bike on Connecticut and R St dedicated to Alice Swanson, a cyclist killed in that intersection in July of 2008.  According to some notes at the scene, the mayor unexpectedly ordered the city to remove the bike on Thursday.  I suppose these things can’t stay up forever, but I was struck by Swanson’s death a year ago (she was only 22 and had just graduated from college) and I thought it was a nice memorial.  I’m a little sad to see that it’s gone.

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New Installment of Maira Kalman’s “And the Pursuit of Happiness”

August 28, 2009 in Art | 1 comment

07The New York Times posted a new installment of Maira Kalman’s “And the Pursuit of Happiness” today.  I am nuts about Maira Kalman!  If you haven’t been following the series, Maira Kalman is an artist and writer who has been producing a monthly blog of illustrated works about American democracy for the Times.  She also has a series of children’s books and design objects, and has done illustrations for a number of other publications.  (According to the Times, even for Strunk and White’s Elements of Style.)   

The first installment was about her visit to D.C. for Obama’s inauguration, and she has done subsequent works about Monticello, the Supreme Court, and Benjamin Franklin.  The new piece is about immigration, and the history of how people got to the United States in general.  She even manages to make an office in the Department of Homeland Security look lovely!  I especially like the last line of the piece:  ”Happy to be here.”  

08There are beautiful illustrations of  scenes from around D.C.  Above, the Supreme Court.  (I love how she says Ruth Bader Ginsburg has taken Jane Austen’s place as her “imaginary best friend forever”!  That’s saying something, in my book.)  On the right, a portrait of a museum guard at the National Gallery.  Kalman writes that she has “perfect red eyebrows.”  I think she got the uniform exactly right.  

Of course, I’ve been on to Maira Kalman for years, ever since I stumbled upon the quirky series of paper products she designed for kate spade.  I still have one of the greeting cards, featuring this lovely lady:

DSC00436Check out the series.  If not for the inspiring content, then at least for the fantastic and colorful D.C. scenes.

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Dupont Circle Plant Thief?

August 27, 2009 in Spotted around the Circle | 1 comment

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                              I saw this sign outside a basement apartment on the corner of Florida and R St  yesterday.  Sad!  I lived in a basement apartment for a while, and I milked every inch of outdoor space I could get my hands on.  Plant Thief, whoever you are, return those chives!

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Update: New Dupont Pizzeria Paradiso Opening Saturday

August 26, 2009 in DC Dining, New! | No comments

DSC00436Good news!  After some delay, the new Dupont location of Pizzeria Paradiso, at 2003 P St., will open on Friday Saturday.  The new location is only a block from the old one and will be able to seat over 100 people.  This is a welcome upgrade from the previous space, which was small and a bit uncomfortable while waiting for a table.  The question now is, what will we get in the spot Paradiso is vacating?

Updated on 8/27:  The folks at Paradiso inform me that they needed one more day.  They will open on Saturday, not Friday as originally posted.

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Dupont’s Best Short Running Route

August 26, 2009 in Fitness and Spas | No comments

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Dupont Circle is a challenging place to get in a satisfying short run.  By “short run” I mean 3-5 miles, the type of run that could easily be squeezed in before or after work.  Go north from the Circle, and it’s uphill the whole way.  Go south or east, especially during the week, and it’s stop and start due to traffic.  The Mall and the C&O Canal are great places to run, but they’re better for longer distances since it eats up mileage just getting there (and coming back).  

The solution?  The route through Georgetown charted above.  It starts at Dupont Circle, goes across the Q St. bridge and through Georgetown along R St., around and back to the Circle.  As pictured it’s 3.8 miles, but it’s easy to tack on a little extra.  The run is beautiful!  Much of it is shaded, and the route goes right by Montrose Park and Dumbarton Oaks.  The far west end of the route runs along an old Georgetown University practice track, so if you’re feeling especially ambitious you can sprint a few laps.  (No idea of whether this is actually allowed.  I’ve done it and no one’s said anything, so . . . .)  Also on the route are beautiful old houses, including that of former WaPo publisher Katherine Graham.  There are a few hills, interspersed with some nice rest.  You can see other information about this run (including elevation) and map other routes at Map My Run.

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Oh Happy (Birth)day!

August 24, 2009 in DC Dining | No comments

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Happy day indeed!  I was so excited to see this post on DCist today.  Hello Cupcake is giving away free cupcakes tomorrow to celebrate their first birthday.  I recommend the Lucy or the Peanut Butter Blossom, but really you can’t go wrong.  The Hello Cupcake Original is pictured here, also delicious.

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Today’s Farmers’ Market

August 23, 2009 in Farmers' Markets | No comments

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Today’s Dupont farmers’ market settled a long-running debate I’ve been having with myself, namely whether it is better to go early (less crowds, my pick of the produce) or late (end-of-market pricing).  Going late is the clear winner.  Today I was there at 12:45, only 15 minutes before the market closes, and got half-priced raspberries and peaches.  They are ripe and ready to eat, so the vendors were pushing to sell them before the market closed.  Also, the vendors frequently replenish the produce and other goods from their trucks, so it isn’t true that arriving early gives you your pick of the best stuff.  

This end-of-market pricing may be more prevalent in the summer, though, as fall/winter produce like kale and butternut squash tends to keep longer.  I’ll test this in the coming months.  As for today, here was my take:

Spelt bread from Atwaters

Peaches and string beans from Spring Valley Orchard Farm

Blackberries from Black Rock Orchard

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Hidden Restaurant Week Deals

August 23, 2009 in DC Dining | No comments

920065_vi_en_un_restaurantRestaurant Week starts tomorrow!  You can view the participating restaurants and make reservations here.  But there are a few other great restaurant deals right now that you should know about:   

1789 in Georgetown is not participating in Restaurant Week this year.  But!  They have a “Sizzling Summer Offer” now through Sept. 17th, three courses for $40.  Check it out here.

Every Sunday, Cashion’s Eat Place in Adams Morgan does “Pass the Plate for Two.”  It’s a four course, fixed menu, family style meal for two for $80.  See more details and the menu here.  Cashion’s is also doing a Blue Crab on the Patio event, with Maryland blue crabs and local corn on the cob, on August 30th from 3 pm until 10 pm.  Unclear on the cost of this, but it looks fun.  

Dino in Cleveland Park is participating in Restaurant Week.  But they go above and beyond the Restaurant Week call of duty by throwing in a lot of extras to make the meal an even better deal.  First, they do not offer a limited, set menu.  Their entire menu is available (and it’s huge).  Second, they throw in complementary crostini before the meal and free grappa or limoncello after the meal.  Third, it’s been going since August 1st and ends on Sept. 13th.  Yay, Dino!    

You can view a full list of eateries extending Restaurant Week here.

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