Brad Pitt Has Your Secret Shit: Rolling DC

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/smithsonians-made-in-america-mandate-not-easy-to-achieve/2011/04/13/AFFA2RqD_story.html

the story says "Smithsonian gift shops generate about $9 million in annual revenue" but that has to be WAY off the mark, right?

The Smithsonian institutions received a total of 30 million visitors and that article says the average purchase is $3, so it averages out to 1 in 10 buying something. Which seems about right, considering I bet most people buy their Washington, DC tie-dyed shirts and Lincoln/Washington paraphernalia from street vendors.

someone should make a map showing how rapidly the prices street vendors charge go up as one approaches the mall

I found a story from a couple years ago that puts Smithsonian retail totals (including website) at $155 million in revenue and $27 million profit off that, which seems a lot more realistic. I'd be shocked if Air & Space alone did under $9 million a year. Maybe the Post story was just looking at one of the museums and got mixed up.

There aren't a lot of the hand painted KODAK signs on vendor trucks anymore, the awkward attempts at the logo with weird letter spacing and all were one of my favorite things to look at around the mall.

Speaking of the mall, I think read somewhere that the National Park Service is going to make the Smithsonian use a different section of the mall for the Folklife Fest this summer, because they no longer want the grass where the fest has been held for decades to be stomped on anymore.

all i know is i payed $5 for freeze dried ice cream at the air & space museum and i'd do it again in a second.

Does NOVA just not do bars? What the fuck. All I'm looking for is a little divey shithole where I can sip an adult beverage & maybe put a song on the jukebox, but everywhere I go seems like a refurbished Applebees with 27 TVs blasting ESPN variants at me. I literally spent an hour walking up and down Lee Highway just now, straight in and out of more than one place cause they were these apocalyptic clusterfucks full of wailing babies throwing mashed potatoes across the table at their parents, and now I have my goddamn laptop out at a Thai restaurant because at least I know I can get a good beer here even if they're gonna overcharge me for it.

Do I just not know where I should be going?

not sure how far out u live, but i would recommend galaxy hut in clarendon

i have heard of this!!! might investigate this tomorrow as thus far i have no friday planz

yeah, galaxy hut is pretty rad! the clarendon/courthouse area is kinda iffy honestly (my office is out there, not that i actually ever go in due to being on the road all the time), but whitlow's on wilson isn't bad either

hoos one of these nights i should introduce you to DAN'S CAFE

liking the sound of this!!

my co-workers want me to go out to Caribbean Breeze at Ballston tomorrow night. I'm running out of excuses not to go out with them but hoo boy.

omg don't do that to yourself!

oh god that sounds terrible on so many levels

"come on dude, it's 'South Beach Night'", they say.

lol

What is Caribbean Breeze? It sounds nice...relaxing, drinking ridiculous fruity drinks, feeling the breeze...

. . . in NORTHERN VIRGINIA, far from the coast.

I guess Rt. 1 traffic may generate a breeze?

hahaha. potomac swamp breeze iirc.

swamp goes well with mai thais afaik

there is a depressing happy hour at this place in l'enfant, vie de france. it's another not-great lunch place but even sadder when they're serving drinks

did discover that sports bar becomes v tolerable while wearing headphones

lol

1. John's Place in Fairfax City
2. Sunset Grille in Annandale
3. JV's in Falls Church

Saw this list of Virginia "dive bars" online here:
http://www.fairfaxunderground.com/forum/read/2/406775/406941.html

Numbers 2 & 3 are sometimes music clubs. I've been to the Sunset Grille that usually has bad blooz-rock bands but ocassional good ones on Thursdays; and JV's is a tiny place that also has roots rock music. These 2 places were once biker hangouts but are less so now I think. I have never heard of John's place.

Dan Snyder's lawsuit changing jurisdictions but still on...

http://www.tbd.com/articles/2011/04/daniel-snyder-lawsuit-no-settlement-in-sight-59500.html

Snyder says he didn't commit forgery although his company paid a fine for doing so...

friday is date night with the bowie baysox

# Two (2) Lower Reserved Seat Tickets! (Tickets regularly $14 each)
# Romantic Carousel Ride for 2 in Louie's Kids Park
# Beautiful Flower for your date
# Get a special photograph beneath the romantic archway & a commemorative Date Night at the Diamond Baysox Photo Mat!
# Post-Game Dates Base Run!
# Fun & Memories to last a lifetime!

awesome (says this Bowie High grad and baseball fan)although the gf would never go for it and yes those are some corny details ( the base run...)

http://artwhino.com/2011g40

This month-long artwhino byt art and music thing might be good

wau yeah i gotta do some of that

i'm hitting this up on sat w/some homies, artist's goofy name notwithstanding this looks kinda cool

http://irvinecontemporary.com/otherExhibitions.php?eventID=122

People at work are asking me if I have weekend plans and don't understand that when I say I am going out of town, I am going to Tyson's.

Mr. B and I decided TyCon is too far away to come back to the District after dinner, so we are going to sleep there.

Look out, NoVa.

So you're gonna sleep under a table at the convention room?

Is TyCon a convention or are you just going shopping ?

TyCon is Tyson's Corner. We're going to Michel Richard's joint at the Ritz and are sleeping there, presumably in an actual sleeping room.

Oh god do I sound like a total douchebag? The Mr. has tons of hotel points from when he travelled a lot for work. We've also overnighted at National Harbor!

I hear... not great tings about Michel at the Ritz.

Fiola, the new downtown restaurant from the chef who used to run Maestro in the Ritz space, is outstanding.

How was the food at the Ritz at Tyson's, Quincie?

It was OK, not outstanding, but we did have great seats in front of the open kitchen and had a very fun evening as voyeurs.

The Ritz bed *was* outstanding. Slept like a (somewhat drunk) baby.

Y'all wanna be at phillips after 5 tonight. Just sayin.

wish i was theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere

damn i completely forgot! sorry

ah goddamnit the Phillips is a block from my place but I'm in Rosslyn aargh

i am so tired. our singers were awesome. twice! i had 0 drinks and 0 gelatto. my job sucks.

gary williams to retire from maryland

Gah, sorry I missed it too, T.

I'm all o_O at I DIED being in Rosslyn!?!?!?!

hahahaha srsly

Anybody doing anything for the Kentucky Derby?

i wish! i had to turn down an invite to a party bc i have a work thing that night :(
but that's ok bc work thing is gonna be ridic and i get to wear a ball gown.
maybe i will make myself a mint julep when i get home. heard an npr bit on bourbon balls this AM. want!

there was a nice little feature in the express on bourbon today

wonder what the confluence is abt

x-post to Mookieproof-

Do you think the new U. of Md Athletic Director forced Gary out, or is the sudden decision to retire from coaching at 66 legit (while being some sort of assistant athletic director)?