Windy DC

These blinds show how much my office is swaying in the wind. The walls are constantly creaking very loudly and they've never done this in the 4+ years I've worked here. While I am not generally afraid of heights or wind, this is legitimately freaking me out. I hope this mobile video post comes through...

Goodbye Bohemian Caverns Mural

I came home to find two men repairing the badly weathered wall behind the Bohemian Caverns. They appear to be covering the old brick with a layer of concrete. I asked if the mural would be repainted, but they didn't speak English. Using my rough Spanish, I determined they didn't really know if it would be replaced. Click here for a pic of the damaged mural before repair.

I will miss my historic view if they don't bring it back!

Lonely

I am apparently the only person going to work today. The U Street Metro station is completely abandoned with nobody waiting for a train in either direction.

I'd bleed for you two...

Fun holiday times!

We might be the only people left in the city, but there are no complaints! We be making friends at Cobalt's bear happy hour looking thin, young, and cute!

Sweater Head

T2 thinks the sweater head mannequin is scary but she jumped right up on the opportunity to pose with it! I had to visit Macy's to do a little clearance shopping and exchange some gifts. Time for some weekend drinking with the 3 other people left in the district this holiday weekend!

Name My Nephew

Please comment on this post with first & middle name suggestions. Lets help Steve & Lisa name the baby! This is pic was taken this morning with 127 days to go!

Good Christian Panties With a Godly Cotton Panel

It is Sunday morning and I have nothing to do but listen to Cynthia and Cynthia bitch so I've barricaded myself into the guest room in search of YouTube church. This will do...

Happy Holidays!

I predict fun times with friends and family and will follow with a holiday road trip summary. I decided at the last minute not only to decorate, but also to throw a "Leftover Party" on Christmas day. We will be partying with the people "left over" in the city. Since our U Street trailer is so petite, it is best suited for gatherings of this size and most everyone I know has escaped, or will be going out of the District for the holiday.

So...this week:

• I dined with friends at ThaiTanic on my day off (Wednesday.) I haven't previously been to this restaurant and found the food to be unbelievably delicious. The Bangcock Sunset was tasty too. We had an enjoyable discussion of the decor. RJ speculates the Angel dolls hanging from the ceiling represent the victims who went down with the ship...
  
• The Prince of Petworth praised Solly's Tavern with a profile on my friend, the one and only John 'Solly' Solomon!
• There was drama on 11th Street Tuesday morning; just a few blocks South of U Street, a gay man was shot and killed walking home from places where you might find many of my friends on any given night. Scary.
• Last Saturday, while we peacefully cocktailed with peeps at Ulah Bistro, an 18 year old girl stabbed someone in the U Street Metro just a few steps away from us. This is yet another reason to keep underage people out of the bars...nice work Republic (formerly Republic Gardens) at bringing inexperienced and immature bar kids into my neighborhood.

The Beyonce Experience Truck on U St.

The ladies of leisure are lunching on a day off. Something tells me this one had a different kind of 'Bouncy' experience last night!

The Alternative Reindeere

Sighted in Shreve, Ohio...Rudolph and eight tiny John Deere prepare for Santa

Happy Birthday!

When Grandpa chooses the restaurant for his birthday, you drive a long way to eat at Perkins. Surprisingly, they served up a delicious breakfast and it was so cheap I would almost consider it free. There have been many a DC brunches where the gratuity alone surpassed the entire bill for our party of 6.

Grandpa is 63 today, but he swears he's only in his late 50s. There is certainly a theme of age denial in this family! I rarely get home for his birthday being so close to the holidays so it is a very special treat for all of us.

Sometimes...

...when nobody else is dancing the dentist just has to work it out on the floor

editor's note (Fri AM): apparently The District just can't stay in for a quiet night...at least he went to bed in time to get up for a productive work day!

The Falls!

I had no idea the actual falls were under the hotel! Beautiful!

No falls in The Falls

My Aunt Katie canceled our dinner and ice skating plans in Cuyahoga Falls due to a little confusion with the dates. I thought about going alone but it is FREAZING here. The rink is tiny and filled with children going in all directions anyway. I decided to dine in the hotel and will turn in early. The plan is to catch her next time around.

The $1 ATM

I am thrilled to be feeling better and mobile blogging. We hit the street in an attempt to eliminate the caged feeling and catch up on Toya's travel adventures. Tonight's discovery was this new freestanding ATM between the Madjet Restaurant and Solly's Tavern on U Street. I'm curious to see how long before it is ripped away and intrigued by the advertisement claiming it disburses in amounts starting at $1. How much in bank fees for a single dollar withdrawal?

DC's Abominable Water

Today's Gay List Daily prompted a little research on our tap water quality. The most recent reference (August) from Andy Dehart, Director of biological programs at the National Aquarium, said, "D.C. water is abominable. It cannot sustain life..." Apparently they use DC tap water to fill the tanks, but put it through an extensive purification process first. We are supposed to drink it?

I've never been to the National Aquarium and don't even know where it is...perhaps something for the "to do" list. I'm assuming it isn't a world class aquarium since I haven't heard a single friend talk about it in 4+ years in DC. I just realized I passed the four year mark! I moved to DC on December 5, 2004! Perhaps I'll have to wait for January to officially celebrate since I was stuck in corporate housing until closing on my condo in the city. As much as we judge the B&Ts, I best not try and count my first 2 mos across the river as actual time in the District! I digress...

Earlier in the year, Sustain Lane ranked DC's tap water as endangered. It is apparently worse than both Cleveland and Detroit. I know they have the Great Lakes next door, but the Nation's Capital should be able to set an example. Last year, the EWG wrote about high levels of toxic chlorination byproducts in our water and recommended carbon filtration.

I guess the solution is either to go on using my Brita filter or to buy $14/bottle Christian Lacroix limited edition Evian as suggested by Gay List Daily. Who buys limited edition bottled water? It IS fabulously ridiculous.

Anticipating Toya!

Toya left for mad adventures in Central and South America back in August. I can't believe she's been gone so long, but she is scheduled to return 'home' tonight! This was her final going away pic as we documented her trudging down 11th Street with enough gear to last her 3+ mos. in the wild. I don't know how she did it! I'm anxious to hear what is next on her global agenda!

We're excited to have her stay with us over the holidays. Thankfully, we had time to clean the house from top to bottom over the last few days in preparation for her arrival. I guess being on sickness lockdown does have some nice side effects. No money rolled out the door this weekend and the house is sparkly. There are only a few more things to do after work today and it will be finished!

Unfortunately, we did make the painful decision to forgo holiday decorations this year. With all the pending travel, and the hassle to get them out of storage, it just doesn't make sense. Thankfully, Steve & Lisa have offered to let me 'share' their tree during our visit as long as I bring along at least one ornament. Done and done.

44 Days 'til 44th President!

I am looking forward to the free Let Freedom Ring concert featuring Aretha Franklin at the Kennedy Center. I discovered this while researching things for my family and friends to do in DC on Inauguration Weekend. Market Watch published a Destination DC press release featuring 44 things to do until the 44th President is inaugurated 44 days from today. Check it out! Oh yes...and 143 days 'till Baby H!

In case you missed it, Loretta Lynn's concert at the 9:30 Club has received positive reviews on the street. Sister Disco reports how our mutual friend was disappointed there were so many gays and not enough hard core country straight boys for him to look at while Rita Jean couldn't get past the tour bus without blogging...I recovered at home with a bad movie, but finally got a chance to watch MTV's Britney: For The Record . Timmy thought it would never end...and then I watched the fan feedback special. There are three TVs up in this trailer; he had options, but I think secretly enjoyed it.

Jason Dottley Sucks?

I don't understand my fascination with Jason Dottley, but I owe no explanation for this position. He, however, may need to explain this series of photos from Mavrixonline.com. Is it a penis substitute? Is he trying to be a candy kid? He isn't dressed like he's coming from a rave? Is it an ecstasy reference? WTF? Perhaps it was just to get silly people like me to look...Click the thumbnail for the full article and all the pics.