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I took the plunge…

After using Yelp as a viable resource for the past few years, I realized it was time for me to contribute. Am I addicted? Not yet, though I’m thoroughly impressed with the site. These guys really know how to build community! To check out my reviews on Yelp, click here.

Question: For all you other bloggers out there that Yelp and blog, do you ever cut and paste reviews from your site to Yelp? Or is that redundant and/or unethical? Not sure what the protocol is with UGC sites…

Weekend To-Do’s

Temps are dropping a good 10+ degrees this weekend, but thunderstorms are likely. Umbrella in tow, here are some ideas to keep you away from your TV and couch (e.g. Season 2 of the Wire, which is getting so good!):

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* Friday

7 p.m.: Conclude DC Beer Week with reduced tickets to tonight’s game, Nationals vs. Milwaukee Brewers. Actually, if you act soon, you can get one of the 1000, one-dollar tickets to tonight’s game, which go on sale at noon at the box office.

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* Saturday

10 a.m.: This is the second-to-last Free Summer Saturday at the Corcoran, and we’ve yet to take advantage. P and I plan to venture down the road for the William Eggleston exhibit that I’ve been reading a lot about. Admission is normally $10, so take heed. (pictured right)

1 p.m.: Trunk show, anyone? Head up to the National Zoo today to watch vets caring for Asian elephants: baths, X-rays, and physical exams included.

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* Sunday

11 a.m.-10 p.m.: It’s the Arlington County Fair! Time to stuff our jowls with corn dogs and cotton candy, then vomit it all up on the Tilt-o-Whirl. Who’s game?

Oven Proof?

Mostly everybody knows about this imminent, just-a-few-doors-down move, but I called today to get a few more details. They will be moving in “the next few weeks,” (she was very vague), and when they do, both outposts will be closed for 1-2 days. My fears were confirmed when I asked about the oven. “No, we’re not taking it with us.”  They’ve installed a new one, which seems obvious considering the size of these beasts, but I had to ask.

Does an oven matter? Anthony Mangieri seems to think so. (I’ve posted his video below.) Clearly, Tony’s a bit obsessive, but maybe it is all about the oven. Call me crazy, but I think Paradiso’s P-street location serves a better pizza than their Georgetown outpost. Will this new oven churn out the to-die-for crusts that P and I often crave??? I’m worried.

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Weekend To-Do’s

Save for today’s severe thunderstorm watch, it looks like this bearable weather is going to last yet another weekend, so try to keep it out-of-doors. Some ideas:

* Friday

8:30 p.m.: Tonight I’ll be juju-ing with King Sunny Ade at the 9:30 Club. Wikipedia calls this Nigerian juju master the Bob Marley of Africa. We shall see…  I hadn’t heard about him until yesterday, but this video has me excited. Tickets are still available for tonight’s show:

* Saturday

8 a.m.: Get thee a Zip Car and head to the mountains or the prairies or the bay, because EVERY single National Park in the U.S. is free today and tomorrow. This could be an excellent chance to see the wild horses at Assateague Island National Seashore or to hike Old Rag in the Shenandoah National Park. Click here for a list of other National Parks in the area.

10 a.m.-noon and 3 p.m.-5 p.m.: Head to Hains Point to lend a helping hand at the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project. After a shower and a quick nap, attend the volunteer party at 3 p.m. at Hard Rock Cafe for free wine and appetizers.

* Sunday

6 p.m.-7 p.m.:  I’m not exactly sure what to make of SyncroSwim, but I want to go. The hour-long event—held at the Capitol Skyline Hotel—is essentially a series of 3-4 minute syncronised swimming routines, judged by a line-up of randoms, like Good Stuff’s Spike. It’s put on by WPA (Washington Project for the Arts) and it looks like there will be some sort of accompanying experimental video. Hmm. Sounds pleasantly odd to me. See you there?

Weekend To-Do’s

Today’s list is short and sweet, mainly because the most exciting thing going on this weekend is the Capital Fringe Festival. You could keep yourself busy all weekend with that alone, but I’ve offered two other things to do for those of you crazy people that aren’t in love with theater.

* Friday

9:30 p.m. Kick off your weekend with a play or two at the Capital Fringe Festival. The fest started yesterday and runs through July 26. I’ll be attending several, including Riding the Bull, which premiers tonight at 9:30. See you there!

* Saturday

6 p.m.-10 p.m.: Help Alexandria celebrate is 260th birthday with its annual music and firework show in Old Town. I went a few years ago and had a great time. Note: I happened to love the fact that there were hundreds of kids running around (yay, children do exist in this city!), but it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Beer and food stands abound. [tip: Examiner]

* Sunday

2 p.m.: Sunday’s nice weather calls for a first drink at the brand new W Hotel POV Roof Terrace. The pictures on their site have me so excited I can hardly stand it.

Weekend To-Do’s

My, my! What a weekend we have in store! There are way too many things in my what’s-worth-it sieve. The only solution, as I see it, is to leave your desk right now and start your weekend early. So….

* Friday

11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.: Head down to the mall for a little culture at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. This year’s festival welcomes Wales, which means you can expect a Glamorgan sausage or two. The festival runs through Sunday. In addition to Cymru, this year’s festival also celebrates African-American storytelling traditions and the music of Latin America. !Ay Caramba!

8 p.m. and 11 p.m.: Those who heeded my advice last weekend, purchased tickets for this week’s Source Festival. How was it? Do you love me now? For those who’ve procrastinated, there are still tickets available ($18 each) for tonight’s two performances of the 10-minute plays.

* Saturday

10 a.m.-6 p.m.: Eastern Market Re-Opens with an all-day street party (!!!), as if the market lunch wasn’t enough to get you there in the first place…

11 a.m.-8 p.m.: The annual Extravaganza Parade (pictured above), as part of the DC Caribbean Carnival, starts at Georgia and Missouri avenues at 11:00 a.m. and terminates at the international marketplace in Banneker Recreation Park, where you can stuff yourself with jerk chicken and dance away your worries till sunset. I’ve yet to go to this annual event, but I will be there this year!

* Sunday

11 a.m.-7:30 p.m.: I’ll be helping a friend move, but for those of you that need evermore outdoor festivities, try the National Capital BBQ. The $10 tickets include lots of free pig.

Photo by IntangibleArts via Flickr.

Weekend To-Do’s

Here’s my weekly weekend-y list. Not included, but a must: Buy tickets to next week’s Source festival, my favorite theater event of the year. The 10-minute plays are fabulous, but tickets can sell out fast.

* Friday

All day/night: While our country’s best film festival takes place in my great state of UTAH, film buffs seem to also love SILVERDOCS, DC’s documentary film festival. Tickets are still available for many of the shows tonight and through the weekend. Mag junkies should check out September Issue, a documentary on Anna Wintour and Vogue.

* Saturday

2 p.m.-6 p.m.: Satiate your hops and hog cravings at the Beer, Bourbon, and BBQ Festival at the National Harbor. If I go, I’ll avoid the World BBQ Bean Eating Championships, just in case one of the contestants gets a little, eh, overwhelmed. Tickets are $35, and include all beer, bourbon, and BBQ tastings. [tip: Young and Hungry]

4 p.m.: Those looking for something a bit calmer should try meditating in Lafayette Park. Take a Breath DC is sponsoring a 3000-person group meditation event in front of the White House to build a “violence free, stress free America.” If deep breathing doesn’t excite you, there’s always the chance Michelle and Barack may join the session. [tip: About.com]

* Sunday

1 p.m.-4 p.m.: Take a tour of a solar home in Bethesda, and learn how to green your own. This isn’t all that applicable for me and my renter’s status, but I really want to see this. [tip: We Love DC]

I’m still flitting about in San Fran, but my other reporter (code name P) was on the ground this weekend in D.C. to snap these shots. Talk about salt in the wound….

Weekend To-Do’s

As I type this, I’m at 33,951 feet, traveling 536 mph, with 1017 miles to go until we land in San Francisco. While this Virgin America travel (with WiFi and drinks-on-call) have me smiling from ear to ear, I’m very sad I’ll be gone for one of my favorite D.C. events: the Capital Pride Parade. If you haven’t been, it’s an absolute must. Rain or shine, get yourself to 17th street on Sat. night to watch the throngs of proud gays (and their parents and children), march in one of the most inspirational parades I’ve seen. Bring your rainbow flag!

Here’s some other stuff to occupy you while I stuff my maw with sourdough:

* Friday

8:30 p.m. DCist alerts us that one of their favorite jazz musicians, Thad Wilson, will perform this Friday and Saturday at Bohemian Caverns, as a tribute to Louis Armstrong. Tickets to the 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. shows are $15.

* Saturday

6:30 p.m.: Gay Pride parade begins P and 23rd Streets, NW, and ends hours later at 14th and N. Expect to see lots of mardi-gras beads and free condoms being distributed. Again, this is a must, must, must.

* Sunday

noon: Crash our neighborhood’s newest coffee shop, Mid City Caffé. Located on 14th and Corcoran, grab a latte on its opening day, then search for treasures in Miss Pixie’s. Sounds like the ideal lazy Sunday activity to me! [tip: Prince of Petworth]

Weekend To Do’s

Assuming this freaking rain stops eventually (!!!!), get out of your Netflix dens and do something active this weekend. Weather forecasters predict sun on both days, so there’s no excuse. Without further ado, here’s your weekend list:

* Friday

All day: Get your freeloading off to a caloric start! Pick up a free donut at Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts all day long. You must buy a drink at DD to get your treat for free; no strings attached at KK.

5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.: Attend a book-signing reception with Barbara Fairchild (editor-in-chief of Bon Appetit) at sweetgreen. For $35, you’ll get her book, a signature, some salad, and a job. Start drafting your elevator pitch!

* Saturday

10 a.m.-4 p.m.: Take advantage of free admission to our neighborhood museums during the annual Dupont Kalorama Museums Consortium’s Weekend Walk. My heart’s set on a visit to the Anderson House, with its oppulent interior (pictured), and Fondo del Sol, for its Latin American art.

* Sunday

noon-6 p.m.: Hang out with Good Stuff’s Spike Mendelsohn at Capitol Skyline Hotel’s weekly Spike’d Sunday pool party. For the $10 cover charge, you get a burger and access to the pool. [tip: GOG]