Brad Pitt Has Your Secret Shit: Rolling DC

no energy to do anything right now.. none. I went for a pretty long walk earlier when it was still about 85-90 and muggy outside and now I feel just completely drained, which is odd - must be the weather. i am sorry because i've recently been uh, saved from the trouble of dramatically resigning from my job (layoffs!), so it's not like i have to be up early.

watching CNN now but there's not much new news at this hour.

Sorry about your news daria.

oh, thanks. it's OK, i wanted to leave, was only a matter of time really.

good grief jakarta

This weather is balls, but unfortunately it is just normal for this time of year, after the reprieve of the last few weeks.

Today was my last full time day at my job. wooooooooo! What's up, stack of unread starting-you-own-business books at the end of my desk...

So I've been by the GAYLORD NATION at "nat'l harbour" a couple of times now, and I've been by the new ATF HQ a few times as well, and I think Maryland REALLY has to go ahead and legalize gambling, because they are sitting on AC Jr. a boat ride from old town, and not even slots to speak of, while the employer of hunter age 7's dad apparently purchased 1/4th of a ballpark just to prove Kenneth Arrow wrong, and having lost the bet, turned the result into offices.

they may as well, it goes on all over the state anyhow. was totally unaware that this thing existed, what is it, oxon hill?

I went to the dueling piano bar there.

you can cab to national harbor for a lot less than you'd think, and if you plan an exit strategy involving the water taxi to alexandria, you get to catch a nap between drunkenings. we did it backwards while the parents were in town, but I'm not losing any sleep.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&view=map&q=Waterfront+St+%26+Waterman+Passage,+Fort+Washington,+Prince+George%27s,+Maryland+20745

lol dirt

dueling piano bar?!

Yea, Bobby Mckeys, Fritz Hahn wrote about it in the Post. They take requests from the crowd and sing them (and if someone shows up later and requests the same song, they'll sing it again.). I think I will stick with old soul groups at Lamont's in Pomonkey, Maryland (not too far away from National Harbor) but it might be worth it once.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/profile/bobby-mckeys-dueling-piano-bar,1154537/critic-review.html

it is totally worth it if you want the opportunity to be like O_o

Not sure how they're working out all the code issues w/ the diner - it it possible to get a building relocated from another state grandfathered? What about accessibility/emergency egress path requirements? I have enough trouble getting regular construction to meet the latest codes so it's hard to imagine how an old diner will.

― sussing out the Slick Hustler (I DIED), Thursday, May 21, 2009 10:39 AM (1 month ago) Bookmark

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2009/07/14/capital-city-diner-hopes-to-open-for-service-in-september/

Most of the DCRA comments are in, says co-owner Matt Ashburn, and so far the biggest change comes from the folks in plumbing, who want Cap City to add two handicapped-accessible bathrooms.

The only problem with that, Ashburn figures, is that the vintage 1940s-era diner has only about 560 square feet — total. The two bathrooms would take up about 70 square feet alone. “That’s a large chunk of our restaurant, and we can’t do that,” Ashburn says.

I would just like to point out that I have been OTM in this thread.

May that knowledge help you establish your own business...

In more mundane foodie news...Obama in DelRay (Alexandria)

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2009/06/24/dairy-godmothers-owner-doesnt-want-the-obama-bump-that-rays-hell-burger-got/

Oops, that was back in June. The blog post is just getting more comments

two bathrooms? i mean i know this shit probably isn't up for discussion but...really?

Separate men's and women's accessible restrooms required for new construction or substantial renovation of a business serving the public with an occupancy of over 15 persons. That's building code nationwide. Some places choose not to enforce it. DC isn't one of them.

I spend a lot of my time getting new projects to meet code and dealing with getting them through the code review office, so I don't have much sympathy for business owners who are too naive, stupid, or shady to follow building regulations.

Observation: Staying home and not drinking (well, not very much) has not been very satisfactory.

Theory: It's worth trying going out and drinking. If anyone wants to join me I'll be at the Black Cat's Red Room after 9pm.

Related question: Is anyone else planning on going to Run For Cover this Saturday night at the Cat?

Might be up for Run For Cover if you decide to go...

today i was on the metro and we got delayed at dalston because we were going to cross the presidential motorcade

do you mean ballston

really needed that nasal-passage-destroying humidity this weekend. And the Nationals weren't home, so they bused us to Camden Yards -- at 5pm on a Friday, 10 mph much of the way. I got to my seat in time for the game's fourth batter.

isn't the orange line underground at ballston?

I think so.

I believe it comes up for air starting at EFC so if he was heading westbound that kind of makes sense

restaurant week and the annual discussion of whether one should skip it because restaurants taking part allegedly do hurried, watered down meals this week has begun...

skip it, especially since it went up to $35.

Is Rosa Mexicanos any good?

barbecue

this weekend is the last one before we go to scotland and then summer's over on labor day

Rosa Mexicano sucks

Is there any great Mexican food in this area? Fans of California and Texas Mexican food always seem to say there is not anything here that compares (I have never eaten Cali or Texas Mexican so I do not know). I tried that place on Kenilworth Avenue near the Surf Club in Hyattsville/Bladensburg (whose name I have just forgotten) and it was good but not great.

re: restaurant week

I managed to have a nice meal at Ceiba last night (satisfying portions and not rushed at all).

There are always good new mexican places popping up/closing in Baldensburg, I haven't been there in a while. Not easy without a car.

Lou, the group that owns Ceiba does a good job with Restaurant Week generally. There are several places that do well, but especially this year it seems like almost all those places have great deals that run during normal times, too, when it will be less crowded and you may be getting a better effort from the kitchen/servers. Not that good experiences aren't possible during Restaurant Week, the odds just aren't great.

That said, the $20 lunches can be a great deal.

Ceiba's normal happy hour promotions are pretty great...

Happy Hour Specials

$5 Signature Cocktails

11:30am - Close

Monday - Mojitos (Cuba)
Tuesday - Caipirinhas (Brazil)
Wednesday - Pisco Sours (Peru)
Thursday - Sangrias (Spain)
Friday - House Margaritas (Mexico)
EVERYDAY - Dark and Stormy (Carribean)
*Available Throughout the Restuarant*

Monday – Saturday
3pm - 6pm & 9:30pm - Close

$5 Signature Cocktails (Listed Above)
and Half-Priced Bar Food Menu!!!
*Served in the Bar & Lounge Only*

Complimentary Bocaditos

Monday – Friday
4pm - 7pm & 9:30pm - 11pm
*Served in the Bar & Lounge Only*

(Happy Hour specials not available on holidays)

Their mojitos were excellent. :)

Got in line at 5:15 Friday for the 6 p.m. giveaway of free Shakespeare at the Harman tickets for the 8 p.m. show. Alas, that wasn't early enough as they ran out of tickets about 30 people ahead of me (and hundreds behind me). Since they moved this from the Carter Barron it's harder to get tickets it appears.

their website says the line starts forming 4 hours before showtime (2 hours before tickets are handed out). pity. was thinking of trying to go.

An employee told those of us in line that on weeknights if you get there by 5, you can "usually" get in. I think the Harman holds less seats than Carter Barron plus season ticket holders get priority and the downtown location is more accessible than Carter Barron, thus it is tough to get in.

So now we have Dan Brown's DC (via the Masons) and separately a more contemporary lobbyist DC complete with a map and a floorplan of Ristorante Tosca on F Street---

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/19/AR2009091902559.html

See the Secret Service guys at Old Ebbitt Grill (convenient to the White House); the administration's youngsters at Oya; low-level Hill staffers at Tortilla Coast; the older society crowd at Cafe Milano (Dick Cheney and his SUV entourage stopped by for a private-room meal and a bottle of the good stuff earlier this month); and so on. Few places in town, though, seem to have been embraced with such distilled dedication as by the lobbyists nesting at Tosca.

Is there any great Mexican food in this area?

Most of the "Mexican" food in the DC area is in fact made by (and for) Salvadoreans. People on Chowhound and like boards talk of stalking taco trucks in hopes of finding food like you supposedly can get in any LA hole in the wall.

Went on one of the free Walk DC events yesterday, along the waterfront. Good to finally locate the fish market. Guide wasn't all that though.

Bad Sunday night syndrome. Anybody interested in a drink around Dupont?

You ok?

Yeah, I'm ok thanks - I should have just posted to the Sunday night sad thread!

does DC ever FAP?

We haven't in ages. We probably should.

Up for it. Any interest in this w/e?

gonna be in town next weekend for a wedding, but i dunno if i'll have fap time

So I'm never gonna FAP again
Guilty feet have got no rhythm. . .