WILL! What are you doing here?!

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Erica and I are pleased to announce that our first child was born on Saturday night. After nine months of referring to it as "Blueberry" , we now have a real name for him -- William Richard Yurasko. We are calling him Will. We didn't know it was a boy until yesterday when he was born.

The whole process began early Saturday morning and was over around 7:30 p.m., right on the due date. Baby and mom are both doing well and hope to coming home tomorrow.

Will's arrival has been quite exciting and I should have photos for family and friends up in my flickrstream tomorrow morning. We love him so much!

UPDATE: Photos are up for Family & Friends!

[flickr : Will! What are you doing here?!/slideshow]

Labels: Best of WWN, Family and Friends

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 10:05 PM | |

Congratulations. Having seen Will, I can attest that he is a fine looking young man. He has bluish gray eyes and looks like William except for his mom's ears and nose (which is much cuter.) Sarah and I are so happy for you and very glad to be an aunt and uncle respectively. We look forward to returning the favor soon.

# posted by  your brother : Sunday, June 01, 2008 10:43:00 PM  

Ryan Zimmerman is Mr. Walkoff

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Ryan Zimmerman sent a telegram to the baseball world this evening: "I am Mr. Walkoff." The fourth-year third baseman did with a ninth inning solo home run into the left field seats. His homer won the first game at Nationals Park for the home team. This may be even better than his Father's Day 2006 home run to beat the Yankees or July 4, 2006 homer to beat Florida.

I think they cheated us out of hearing "Bustin' Loose" though.

I will have more to say tomorrow, though possibly not until lunch. I'm tired and hoarse from yelling "Mr. Walkoff."

UPDATE 6:27 p.a. Monday morning Video of the homer, courtesy of Awful Announcing.

Labels: Best of WWN, Datelines, I Was There, Mr. Walkoff, Nats/MLB 2008

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 11:58 PM | |

Q&A: Jacqueline Dupree

Five years ago, Capitol Hill resident Jacqueline Dupree began chronicling the changes in Near Southeast on her Web site, jdland.com. In September 2004, the future of Near SE was dramatically changed when it was announced that the District of Columbia would fund a new ballpark for what would become the Washington Nationals. Since that time, "Near Southeast DC Redevelopment" has been the best source for ballpark construction news.

WFY: Opening Night is less than a week away. Will the ballpark be ready?

JD: There's no doubt that baseball will be played and Cracker Jack, hot dogs, and beer will be consumed on Opening Night. Every scintilla of the park won't be finished, but the showiest parts of the stadium--the field, the seating, and the exterior--appear to be ready to go. I'm sure Stan Kasten would want me to add, "there will be hiccups, but the team says it will be working hard to address them."

WFY: What about Metro?

JD: If you're asking whether the west entrance of the Navy Yard Metro station will be ready, the Magic 8 ball answer is that "signs point to yes." Whether the Metro system and the Green line are prepared to handle the coming onslaught, I'll be happy to answer that question on Monday morning.

WFY: Are you surprised that Nationals Park will open on time?

JD: Back when the lease agreement was approved in 2006, I thought there was no way it would open on time. But for the past year or so, what I've seen and heard gave me a fair amount of confidence that it would be ready.

WFY: In your view, has the media overreacted to the parking situation?

JD: Traffic stories = ratings. On the one hand, you've got people talking about the coming traffic catastrophe because so many people will be driving, and on the other other people talking about the coming Metro catastrophe because so many people will be taking the subway.

I have no doubt that the first month will see some horror stories on the parking, traffic, and transit fronts, and there will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth. Just like at FedEx field when it opened, and at RFK when baseball came back in 2005. And then people will start figuring out their special ways of getting to the ballpark, like parking at a Metro station, or parking downtown and catching a cab, or walking, or biking. (And, coming in 2009, water taxis!) I think it might actually end up being kind of cool that there are so many different ways to get there, rather than everyone piling in their cars and driving to huge parking lots.

WFY: What features of Nationals Park do you think will be most popular with fans?

JD: I can't speak to the baseball-related aspects of it (whether it's a hitters park, etc. etc.). But I'll tell you what bowled me over the most the first time I experienced them--the views from the tops of the ramp at South Capitol on the northwest side of the ballpark and the one at Potomac Avenue on the southeast. If you want your views of the Capitol, or the Washington Monument, or the Cathedral, or National Airport, or Poplar Point, or the Navy Yard, or the Anacostia River, or Southwest, you've got 'em. There's been so much yakking about how every seat in the ballpark doesn't have a pristine view of the Capitol Dome that people I think don't realize how many fabulous views there are from the ballpark's upper decks. And even the views directly to the north of the ballpark, as the buildings get finished, will have a "city lights" view that might even get a few people to stop bitching about the garages.

In a more mundane vein, I think the wide variety of food options will be a big hit. As will be the Strike Zone for kids. And the cupholders!

WFY: On the other hand, what will disappoint fans the most?

JD: That's hard for me to say, I think different people will have different expectations. The garages will be a sore point, I'm sure, though the team is trying hard to gussy them up. And yet, as people are complaining about them, I hope they'll stop to think what it might have been like to have two 12-story condo buildings right on the edge of the outfield like almost got approved, obscuring *all* views from the seats. Sure, you'd probably get to see people sitting on their sofas watching TV, but.....

WFY: Is Near SE essentially a construction zone with a new ballpark in the middle of it?

JD: Indeed. But I think there's something to be said for people coming to the neighborhood for the first time and seeing that there's a ton of work underway versus having a gleaming new ballpark with nothing else happening. It doesn't take as much of a leap of faith to imagine that within the next year or two, things will be different. But yes, you might get dusty! A sidewalk might be closed! Prepare accordingly!

WFY: Will any of the upcoming neighborhood amenities (bars and restaurants, etc.) open during the 2008 season?

JD: Unless some bar or restaurant is going to go in the first floor of 20 M Street (the office building at Half and M completed last year), I doubt it. I suppose it could be possible that something could go in the ground floor of 100 M, the office building at First and M that's supposed to be completed in late summer, but it probably wouldn't be open before the season ends. But there's been no announcements that I've heard.

WFY: How cooperative have the Nationals been during the construction? What about developers? The District government?

JD: I've received pretty much all the cooperation I've asked for from all three of those groups, as well as from residents and other groups--though I try not to ask for very much so as not to be thought of as a pain in the ass. Certainly they see JDLand as a (cheap!) way to get their messages out. I think the only time I really stomped my feet and asked for something above-and-beyond was last fall, when the ballpark security perimeter took away access to First Street and Potomac Avenue and I asked to be allowed to continue to update my exterior photos every so often. But I pouted for about six weeks first.

I'm not a big fan of the "Look at all the big-shot contacts I have and all the names I can drop!" brand of blogging, so maybe my sticking to information aggregation along with a small amount of this-is-what-I've-seen-with-my-own-eyes has kept me in good stead. Plus, I think some of the folks in charge actually like looking at the before-and-after pictures and getting updates on other projects, too.

WFY: What has been most enjoyable and frustrating about chronicling the ballpark progress?

JD: I have to admit that the praise the site gets, and the reactions I get when I meet people who are familiar with the site, have been experiences I never would have expected. The story of this neighborhood seems to have captured a lot of interest, and I get to enjoy being the conduit. To be standing on a street corner and have people you've never met roll down their windows to say hi and complement what you do is the sort of experience everyone should be lucky enough to have in their life. Even when I get tired and cranky (which is often), I have a tremendous amount of pride and satisfaction with what this has all grown to.

On the flip side, there's little things that bug me--it's frustrating for me to watch a lot of the media reports in these last few weeks, with lots of errors or lots of skimming the surface of stuff that I've been covering so deeply for these past few years. And things like when columnists write "OMG! The Metro station isn't open!!!!" three weeks before Opening Day, as if that guarantees it won't be open in time. A lot of hyperbole and not a strong command of the facts. And the lack of patience amazes me--some people have grown to adulthood thinking that if something brand new has something wrong with it, that's just the way it's always going to be.

Then there's the people wanting to know happened to the baseball on top of the outfield restaurant. I can stop getting asked that question any time now.

WFY: Will the ballpark's completion be sort of like a tragedy of dreams come true for you?

JD: It's like how you discover some really cool underground band, and you spend years telling people about them, and then suddenly they're playing stadium shows and you get all whiny about how you knew about them first.

But, to be serious, without planning on it I stumbled into a pretty amazing project, and it's been a blast. To know there's a lot of people looking at my work and appreciating it, especially since it just kind of grew without any sort of grand plan, has been immensely satisfying. JDLand isn't going anywhere anytime soon, of course, but there will never be the interest in the rest of the neighborhood that there's been in the ballpark, so the wackiest part of the ride is about over.

WFY: What question do you get asked about the most?

JD: Beyond "are you the one who does that web site?" that I get when people see me taking pictures? Probably just asking me how I manage to keep the site running. These days, the answer is "barely." But it'll be back to normal soon.

WFY: What question do you wish people would ask?

JD: "How do you want me to cite JDLand.com in this news story I'm putting together for my major media corporation, since I used your site extensively to research the piece and I of course want to give you full credit for that?"

This is the one thing that makes me cranky above all else. In the blogosphere (for the most part), etiquette demands that if you get something from someone else, you hat tip. But I know for a fact that reporters in this town (and elsewhere) make heavy use of my site (and sometimes even tell me so in person), but you never know it from their work. If I started plagiarizing from news stories, you can be damn sure that I'd be hearing about it. But since I'm "just a blogger", they seem to feel that my site is free for the taking without any sort of acknowledgment. Recently one of my photos was published without credit or permission on the front page of an unnamed neighborhood newspaper, because the editor thought "it was in the public domain." I consider myself a journalist as much as any other journalist in this town, and I work as hard (probably harder) for my content as they work for theirs, but they don't always treat my work with the same level of respect they expect for their own. Because I'm "just a blogger."

WFY: Last year (correct me if I am wrong) you started writing a weekly Ballpark & Beyond column about the ballpark for The Post. Was that your idea or their idea? Will it continue after the ballpark is opened?

JD: The Post approached me in May 2007 with the idea of adapting my blog in the District Extra--since I work in the Newsroom Information Technology department, they probably felt more comfortable with "going bloggy" via my site than if I had been an outsider. I'm expecting the column to continue for a bit longer, though I think it will probably run less often. Which I'm fine with, because in some ways the column is a far more stressful part of my life than I expected it to be.

WFY: For the "techies" out there, what do you use for content management of the Near SE Redevelopment? What kind of camera and imaging software do you use?

JD: The easy answer first--the official JDLand camera since January 2006 has been a Canon Digital Rebel XT. I use Paint Shop Pro to handle the photos, though I don't do much with them other than resizing and some cropping and straightening when the camera gets too heavy and I end up holding it crooked.

As for the CMS, it's a complete home brew, all in Cold Fusion, and in some ways I'm as proud of the site's technology as I am of the content. The blog entries are in a database that I wrote both the front end and the RSS generator for. There's another table with information on each photo, which allows for the random photo display at the top of the home page and the Photo Archive application. The project pages are hybrid static and dynamic pages, with most of the "afters" generated by calls to the database. That way, I can upload photos to the site and auto-add records to the database, and the project pages immediately will show the new shots. The pages need some hands-on TLC every so often, but I don't have to open them and edit them everytime I upload a photo.

The complete batch of photos on my hard drive (of which there are *thousands* beyond what you see on the site) are also handled in a home-brew app. When I come home from taking photos, I pull up a page and start categorizing every shot, which I've sped up a lot lately thanks a big pile of javascript. I mark which intersection the photo shows, where I was standing, and what direction the photo was taken, and the code parses it into the database along with the timestamp from each photo's EXIF info. Then I can browse the photos by filling out a search form--i.e., show me all 2006 photos of the southwest corner First and N Street taken from the northeast corner. I then have some other scripts and shortcuts I've come up with to choose which photos I want to upload to the site, and then I run a batch process in Paint Shop Pro to resize them and save copies that I then FTP up to the site. Then I update the site database with the new images.

I don't think it's hyperbole to say that there's no way a site like this could be done by hand. It still pretty much takes me 4-6 hours to go take a big batch of photos, categorize and add them to the main database, choose which ones I want to post, and then upload them and update the site database. Though some of that, of course, is because there's so many dang projects to be taking pictures of right now. In time this will return to something less taxing.

WFY: What has been the most popular subject on Near SE Redevelopment based on site traffic?

JD: The easy answer, of course, is all the ballpark stuff. My traffic has doubled in the past month as the buildup to Opening Night has intensified. And yet, really, any time I post new photos of the neighborhood that people can compare to the "befores" on my site, I see a small spike in traffic. I have no doubt, though, that my statistics will return to more realistic levels after April.

WFY: Have you been able to recoup the cost the site via advertising?

JD: Yes, but please note that I'm not blogging from a beachside cabana on the Riviera. It's not very much at all, especially in comparison to what my hourly rate as a web application developer would be.

WFY: Do you have a ticket to Opening Night? Do you have an extra for me?

JD: Only if you want to split what I paid on StubHub, and then tell my husband he can't go.

WFY: I'm thinking about it. :)

Nationals Park, Jacqueline Dupree, Washington Nationals , Nats, dc

Labels: Best of WWN, Interviews, Nats/MLB 2008, The District

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 12:40 PM | |

Yes, great interview. You asked many questions I had about the site and the process. Kudos to Ms. Dupree as well for an ongoing job well done. I've always enjoyed the site.

# posted by  Tim : Tuesday, March 25, 2008 3:47:00 PM  

The real reason Starbucks is closed right now

Starbucks is closed right now (Seattle Times) so employees can "be trained in creating the perfect shot, steaming the milk and all the pieces that come together in a drink." Not just the local Starbucks, all Starbucks. Seems a little odd doesn't it? The truth is more disturbing:

Starbucks To Begin Sinister 'Phase Two' Of Operation - The Onion

Starbucks, closed, coffee

Labels: Best of WWN, Food and Drink, Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 5:51 PM | |

Restaurant Review: Parker's barbecue

WILSON, N.C. -- I took the advice of commenter Sean and John T. (who emailed me) and visited Parker's Barbecue last Friday. I enjoy Carolina-style barbecued pork and was eager to try some from an authentic Carolina restaurant.

Parker's is on the side of US 301 in an unassuming building. Upon entering the restaurant, diners may seat themselves. A server offers menus (smaller than a sheet of paper) with barbecue and fried chicken as the highlights. I ordered the barbecue plate with seasoned boiled potatoes and was quite pleased. The pork was moist and tender shoulder meat with a little bit of the browned meat from the outside mixed in. I enjoyed with by itself and with a little of the pepper sauce (similar to Tabasco, but not as strong) from the table. Since we were in the eastern part of the state, the pork doesn't have a tomato-based sauce like western North Carolina barbecue. It was also nice and lean with no chunks of fat mixed in, a welcome sign. The orange-colored, spicced boiled potatoes were also quite good, I'm going to have to start making them on occasion once I get a recipe. Erica enjoyed her barbecue sandwich and fries as well. We also ordered a hush puppies and corn stick plate; the hushpuppies were fine, but the oil overpowered the tasted of the fried corn sticks.

Overall, I was quite pleased with Parker's and would not hesitate to make the slight detour from I-95 again. Also, it is worth noting that Parker's does not accept credit cards, but does accept checks from Virginia. Our total came to less than $12, but we rounded up to $15 with tip.

Directions: From I-95, take exit 119B to US 117 SOUTH/US 264 EAST (and nominally, I-795 SOUTH). Stay on US 264 past US 117/I-795 split and take exit 43B, US 301 NORTH/Wilson. Parker's is on the left a couple of miles up US 301.



Photo taken from roadfood.com without permission because I forgot to get one of the building. Visit their review of Parker's too.

Labels: Best of WWN, Food and Drink, Travel

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 12:32 PM | |

How I might design this week's Sports Illustrated cover

DC Sports Chick notes that amazon.com has a special book on sale. Make sure to pay attention to the tags at the bottom.

Just in case amazon removes the page, I have uploaded a screengrab for posterity.

POINT OF CLARIFICATION: I believe the Giants won the game more than the Patriots lost it, but I couldn't resist putting that cover together last night.

Tom Brady, Sports Illustrated, Patriots, Super Bowl

Labels: Best of WWN, Redskins/NFL

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 11:20 PM | |

Did you see this?

# posted by  DCSportsChick : Monday, February 04, 2008 8:21:00 AM  

Farewell, San Francisco

Nearly three weeks after the fact, over 600 photographs and a couple dozen blog posts later, I'm going to "say goodbye" to the city by the bay. We had a great trip out there and thank David for hosting us.

Be sure to check out Erica's [flickr : set from San Francisco/slideshow]

My entire San Francisco flickr collection

Labels: Best of WWN, Photography, San Francisco, Travel

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 12:05 PM | |

Absinthe now legal nationwide

Hearts Grow Fonder for Absinthe - ABC News

Decadence and debauchery. Mayhem and murder. Absinthe, the legendary drink and muse of the Moulin Rouge set, is now legal in the United States and making a comeback for the holidays.

Yesterday, hundreds were lined up in Alameda to buy some (MSNBC). I wonder if they knew that all they had to before was cross the bay to get some. Ha -- I was drinking it before it was cool!

Absinthe, liquor

Labels: Best of WWN, Food and Drink

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 8:15 AM | |

Post a Comment

America's original Irish coffee

SAN FRANCISCO-- Our host David mentioned that The Buena Vista, a pub near Fisherman's Wharf, claimed to the first place in America to serve Irish coffee. Since we had spent several hours in that area buying chocolate and taken photos of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge, America's first Irish coffee bar sounded like a great way to warm up. I'm not a big coffee drinker - Irish or otherwise -, but this experience may have converted me.

We wound up having dinner at The Buena Vista and were pleased with the food, the heater next to the table and especially our waitress who was very attentive and efficient. I had the fish and chips which were quite good, while Erica had Dungeness crab cakes. She noted that they were different than Maryland style in that they had red peppers and green vegetables mixed in. While she prefers the Maryland variety, she still enjoyed her meal. The pub is a popular happy hour hangout too, so it wasn't just tourists eating and drinking there.

The Buena Vista is the second bar that we have been to this year with a claim as the "first to serve" a specific cocktail. In June, we had mint juleps at the Round Robin bar in the Willard, downtown Washington D.C.

TheBuenaVista, Irish coffee, SF, San Francisco, California

Labels: Best of WWN, Food and Drink, History, San Francisco, Travel

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 12:25 PM | |

Absinthe Brasserie & Bar

SAN FRANCISCO -- For several years now, I have been intrigued by the liquor absinthe. The "green fairy" got a bad rap about a century ago that it is now only overcoming. Absinthe has been only been legal in a few states including New Jersey, New York and California in recent years, though dl004d recently said "the four government-approved absinthe blends will be legal in all states starting Dec. 21." That's great, but I wasn't about to wait another few days that I did not have to -- I read in the article, "Absinthe flows again, more stylish than ever," in USA Today that San Francisco's own Absinthe Brasserie & Bar would be selling the real thing before Dec. 21.

David and I sampled Lucid after our meal. We both elected to have with a a sugar cube and cold water, rather than any elaborate cocktail. We carefully poured the water over the cube before sampling it. I found the taste surprising, it was much subtler than I expected. The hints of licorice were just that; I was pleased. It was tasty and kind of fun, but at $13 a pop, I would not be terribly inclined to do it too often. Also, in case you were wondering, I didn't see music or hear colors.

For dinner, I ordered Grilled Estancia NY Strip steak, fries, mustard glaze, pistou butter. I wasn't crazy about the pistou butter, but the steak was excellent. Erica enjoyed Braised beef cheeks, smashed potatoes, baby turnips, baby carrots, English peas. Dave said the pork confit, braised red cabbage, Serrano ham, crispy mustard spätzle hit the spot. I recommend dining there, even if you are not interested in absinthe.

[flickr : my photos tagged with absinthe/slideshow]

Absinthe Brasserie & Bar, SF, SanFrancisco, California

Labels: Best of WWN, Food and Drink, Photography, San Francisco, Travel

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 12:51 PM | |

In-N-Out Luther Burger?

DALY CITY, Calif. -- Prior to this past weekend, neither Erica nor David were familiar with the "Luther Burger" (snopes), the gastronomical creation of a bacon cheeseburger with two Krispy Kreme donuts for a roll. The sandwich is said to have been created and enjoyed faithfully by the late Luther Vandross. Draw your own correlations between those sandwiches and Vandross's untimely passing. Upon seeing the sign pictured above, both Erica and David exclaimed "Luther burger!", as I had shared this information with them prior to our arrival at In-N-Out

We didn't go for broke stroke and make our own Luther burgers when we stopped at the Daly City In-N-Out Burger on the way to SFO Sunday night. However, Erica and I did enjoy our first trip to California's favorite fast food joint, as did David, who was already acquainted with In-N-Out.

I ordered a Double Double and fries. Due to my own preferences, I scraped off most of the sauce and skipped the tomato and lettuce, but in retrospect I should left the sauce on, it was tasty. The fries, which are fresh cut, were pretty good, though not on par with McDonald's. The meat was superior though and even a little pink inside. We also found the employees to be very polite and efficient. In-N-Out was the polar opposite of White Castle (which we visited this past October). In fact, In-N-Out is probably the best fast food joint that I have visited.



In-N-Out Burger, Krispy Kreme, Luther burger, fast food, Daly City, California

Labels: Best of WWN, Food and Drink, San Francisco, Travel

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 2:52 PM | |

I did out of habit and kind of regretted it.

# posted by  WFY : Monday, December 17, 2007 4:53:00 PM  

Dante Hicks calls out of our friend Tom (NSFW!)

THIS VIDEO IS NOT SAFE FOR WORK!

Long story short -- every year, my friends Tom and Wiley head to Jersey for Kevin Smith's Vulgarthon. After day two of the 2006 Vulgarthon, Tom went back to the room to sleep instead of going to the after party. When Wiley met Brian O'Halloran, best known as Dante from Clerks, he mentioned what Tom was doing. O'Halloran was not amused and Wiley got it on video. After over 1½ years, they finally got the video up. I'm looking forward to watching this when I get home.

Tom promises a rebuttal.

Vulgarthon, Brian O'Halloran, KevinSmith, ViewAskew, NJ

Labels: Beano Cook, Beano Watch, Best of WWN, Family and Friends, Movies, New Jersey, Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 12:01 PM | |

That was hilarious! Awesome!

Props to Wiley for being able to hold the camera upright while laughing hysterically.

# posted by  TMBC : Friday, November 09, 2007 1:16:00 PM  

Cheesy victory

Not that Penn State football needs anything else to make it interesting, but the occasional friendly wager sure is fun. Recently, for the second year in a row, dl004d and I bet foodstuffs on the outcome of the game. Last year he won a box of grilled stickies, but this year I got my revenge and was rewarded mild cheddar cheese shaped like the state of Wisconsin.

Thank you dl004d and Grand Mariner (his wife, who actually bought the cheese in Wisconsin and brought it back), we enjoyed it during the first half of Penn State's victory over Indiana.

Labels: Best of WWN, Food and Drink, PSU Football 2007, Wagers

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 12:32 PM | |

William & Erica go to White Castle

EATONTOWN, N.J. -- When my brother was getting married this past July, the topic of White Castle hamburgers came up once or twice. It seems one of my uncles was noted for having eaten them by the sack back in the day. There was also some discussion about where the term "sliders." I can't forget reading about deep fried sliders either, although I probably wish I could. We never did find out why they are called sliders, but on Saturday we finally ate at a White Castle.

We stopped at the Eatontown location on Route 35, just south of the Monmouth Mall. We actually missed it on the first pass and had to turn around at the Route 36 circle. No big deal. We pulled in hungry, but not expecting too much. My brother, who had also never been to White Castle, had gone earlier in the day at a different location and advised us of being disappointed. We didn't have high expectations anyway, but were so hungry it really didn't matter.

Despite a short line, we waited a few minutes to order. We wound getting the #3 (with cheese), 10 sliders with two orders of french fries and two drinks. As we sat in the booth waiting for our number to be called, someone in hte next booth over was humming "Dancing in the Dark" which was kind of amusing. After about a ten minute wait that seemed needlessly long, we were ready to dig in.



We had to wait a minute or two to start because those sliders were quite hot. The fries were at a more reasonable temperature and I had a few. The verdict on them -- dry and starchy, not real great. As for the burger, after putting on a whole packet of ketchup and removing the pickles (sacrilege?) I took a big bite.



My reaction -- this is okay. The meat was awfully gray and of quality less than most fast food burger joints. The rolls were just right though and the cheese tasty enough. They weren't good or bad, just kind of bland. Had it not been for all that ketchup, I probably wouldn't have gotten through all five. If I hadn't have gone without protein for the most of the day, I certainly wouldn't have eaten all of them.



In the end, my overall take on White Castle and its sliders is "meh." I won't specifically seek White Castle out, but I won't avoid it either. I guess I have to see Harold & Kumar (IMDB) now.

White Castle, sliders, NJ

Labels: Best of WWN, Food and Drink, New Jersey, Travel

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 6:13 AM | |

Post a Comment

Q&A: P.J. Maierhofer

Now in her third season as Blue Sapphire, the featured twirler of the Touch of Blue, Pamela Jo Maierhofer continues the proud legacy of twirling at Penn State. Recently, PJ took the time to answer a few questions, sent during three-a-days, for William World News.

WFY: When did you realize that you wanted to be the Blue Sapphire?

PJ: I was in 4th grade and a friend of ours was a Penn State Majorette and so we came to see her at a game… and I remember looking out there and going, "Mom! Mom! Who is THAT??" And I remember her explaining to me that that was the Blue Sapphire. I looked at her and told my Mom that that was going to be me someday (and she laughed) …BUT here I am :)

WFY: Is your routine integrated are your routines with the rest of Touch of Blue?

PJ: The Jettes and I have separate routines obviously, considering there are 12 of them and 1 of me. They synchronize all that they do which is a totally different and impressive skill that was never my forte. I was definitely a much stronger twirler twirling individually… I would have a really hard time doing what they do. From time to time we will twirl together and I really enjoy that.

WFY: How scary is it to twirl burning batons? (nota bene: sadly, the audio is NSFW)

PJ: Fire baton? Ha - It's awesome… it just adds another element to the crazy adrenaline rush I already get. It's not scary, when I was young, my Mom made me try it and as a result I never developed a fear that a first time older athlete would more than likely have. I rather like the challenge it brings.

WFY: What is your favorite part of a football Saturday?

PJ: EVERYTHING! Ha Ha, I think if I had to pick I would say my favorite part of Saturday game day is walking towards the stadium after we perform in BJC at Tail great. As a band we "march" over and sing the Singing Lion…. And as we get closer to the stadium, people up above that are already in the stadium start leaning out over the edges and cheering… and everyone starts coming towards Beaver Stadium…it makes me feel like at Penn State, you don't just go to college and get an education and graduate, you become a Penn Stater and Beaver Stadium is where all the past and present Penn Staters unite….it's kinda like home.

WFY: Is there a rule that Blue Sapphires have to have the middle name "Jo"?

PJ: Very Funny, I actually read your blog on this topic. It is strictly coincidence. My Mom's name is Pam and my Dad's name is Joe…so I was born Pamela Jo…. And the day I left the hospital I became a PJ :)

WFY: Do you know your predecessor, Bobbie Jo Solomon well?

PJ: Bobbie is an amazing girl. I've known her for a long long long long time and she was someone that I will someday owe a great deal of gratitude to because I spent the majority of my twirling career looking up to her. She is an awesome athlete. She twirled on a team with my older sister when I was little and so that's how I met her… and have admired her ever since.

WFY: Why does the Blue Sapphire always wear a white uniform?

PJ: It's just a way for her to stand out a little bit from the rest of the band and auxiliary. This year, my new costume has a little more blue than my last did, but it is still mainly white.

WFY: How do you and the other members of Touch of Blue keep from getting hypothermia during the latter part of the season?

PJ: Hahaha…. The band actually has these awesome cloak kind of coats that we wrap around us until we get ready for halftime and they keep us super warm. Plus, when you love Penn State and twirling as much as we do… you know that you have a job to go do and nothing is going to stop you. We wear lots of layers and when it is show time…we go :)

WFY: Football players often grumble about two-a-days during fall practice. How many times do you practice during the run up to the season?

PJ: We actually just finished our band camp which consisted of three, 3 hour sessions each day for 4 days straight. However, I twirl competitively so I train on average at least 2 hours a day during competition season. Right now, we have practice as a band 2 hours every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and 2½ hours on Tuesday

WFY: The video "Meet the New Blue Sapphire" has been viewed nearly 3,900 times on YouTube. Other than performing, how involved were you in the production of the video?

PJ: Well, Matt Fallabel the videographer for the Blue Band produced that video as part of our end of the year DVD. My transition from 11th grade to college and also my journey to create my own version of Blue Sapphire took some hard work. Matt and I became friends via band practice and he got to know me pretty well. Although a few of the things he targeted in the video were things we talked about, he did all of that on his own… trying to express to people who I was, so needless to say it was pretty effective.

WFY: Does the first song ("Brazil" by Django Reinhardt) in that video get stuck in your head like it does mine?

PJ: Haha I honestly don't watch it that much – that'd be kinda weird.. lol

WFY: Can we look forward to more videos like that in the future?

PJ: Hopefully :)

WFY: Over the years there has been a great deal said about teams playing on artificial turf but I never hear about what the half time performers think. What are your feelings on artificial turf?

PJ: My high school in Altoona had Astro and it was just different. Personally, twirling in Beaver Stadium is like twirling in Heaven and I find it perfect, but a good performer can adjust to any situation.

WFY: Which was a better bowl trip, Miami or Tampa Bay?

PJ: While Miami was really neat, I loved Tampa. We, the Blue Band, were so much more a part of the whole bowl production at the Outback bowl than we were at the Orange…and it just really made for an amazing trip, despite the rain!

WFY: What are the best and worst away games you have been too so far? Do you go to all the road games?

PJ: Michigan in 2005 nearly broke my heart…. Not gonna lie!

WFY: What halftime show was your favorite thus far?

PJ: Last year we did a show from the Broadway show The Wiz… and it was super cool. I got to wear baton shoes that we painted red and glittered to be like Dorothy's red slippers… I was loving it ;)

WFY: In 2005, you and the Blue Band were the toast of the fashion world, but in 2006, there were no appearances at fashion shows or in the glossy magazines. What are you doing to bounce back after a season that included no performances during New York Fashion Week?

PJ: They told us right off the bat that that was a rare occasion… and probably one of the most amazing experiences of my life as well. We took tons of pictures and made lots of memories.

WFY: Please finish this song lyric "When we stood at childhood's gate..."

PJ: I know I know…Shapeless in the hands of fate – not funnnnnyy! :)

WFY: Which Penn State song is your favorite?

PJ: Definitely the singing lion and Lion Special

WFY: Do "Touch of Blue" alumni give you a hard time, "back in my day, we had to practice out in the snow (barefoot) from August through November," for having it so easy now that there is a Blue Band building?

PJ: No they are really cool, I mean, I think I would be jealous, too if I came back and saw what we have now, but they are really nice.

WFY: The Nittany Lion mascot is also a student in the college of communications; do you have any classes with him?

PJ: He is actually a year above me, but he and I are good friends.

WFY: In 2006, you endorsed a ticket for the USG election, but I don't recall you repeating that last year. Did the dissolution of USG have anything to do with your silence?

PJ: I was actually at practice that night and a friend of mine who was helping Nick and Pat's campaign asked if I would be willing to do an endorsement….it was kind of awkward, but I'd do anything to help a friend.

WFY: Which part of your major are you focusing on more, advertising or public relations?

PJ: Definitely PR – with a minor in Business. I love love love people….and so PR is basically communicating to people and reading situations and thinking quick…and so far I love my major.

WFY: One of the most popular searches on William World News is "Les Halles pronunciation." How do you pronounce the name of this popular Washington D.C. restaurant?

PJ: Seriously?

WFY: In my experience, people who choose to use initials for their name are generally mischievous. Would that be an accurate assessment of you?

PJ: I've honestly never heard that connection before, but no I am definitely not really mischievous. I ended with a 3.93 GPA last semester, received an academic scholarship, I take school almost as serious as my twirling.

WFY: Okay, one final question -- what will Penn State's record be this season?

PJ: Well, Michigan should be a very big turning point in our season. Depending on how that goes should have a large influence on the outcome of the rest of the season… I don't like to jinx things – I just say my prayers the night before the game…and remember why the sky is Blue and White. :)

P.J. Maierhofer, blue sapphire, Blue Band, Touch of Blue,PennState

Labels: Best of WWN, Blue Band, Interviews, PSU/Happy Valley, Video

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 12:02 PM | |

Happy Goose Day

Every year Mifflin Co., Penna. residents celebrate Michaelmas or St. Michael's Day in their own unique way -- Goose Day. Erica, a native of those parts, has decided that we will observe the tradition this year. Erica adds:

The belief is that if you eat roast goose on Goose Day, you will have good financial luck in the coming year, and by Goose Day Next you will be $1,000.00 richer.

I'm all for that, but I wonder when that number was decided. Has Goose Day adjusted for inflation? Is that gross or net?

More to come.

Labels: Best of WWN, Family and Friends, Food and Drink

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 7:45 AM | |

"The white seats are for the balls I hit up there. The yellow ones are for all the times I struck out."

On Saturday, Erica and I went to the Frank Howard Maker's Mark appearance at Pearson's in Glover Park [Flickr Photoset]. We had a great time listening to Hondo's stories about his playing days, taking some photographs and getting a few things signed. Some recollections:

• Howard was extremely fond of Ted Williams. When Williams came to D.C. to manage the Senators he convinced Howard to take a strike and despite some skepticsm, it worked incredibly well. Howard's walks increased by nearly doubled in 1969 and were up even more in 1970.
  
  
• Playing winter ball in latin America "was like going to college again" because he got to experience another culture, eat different food and learn another language. He also indicated how much he respected Latin American ballplayers.
  
  
• Howard hit into a triple play in his final MLB at-bat -- a sign his time was up.
  
  
• Somebody had Howard sign a photo of one of the white seats which I thought was brilliant.
  
  
• I wish I had brought some of the Yankees yearbooks I have from the late sixties when he was a "Visiting Star" as well as the early 1990s when he was a coach with the Bronx Bombers.
  
  
• The Maker's rep told us about a cocktail made with Diet Peach Snapple, Maker's and one other ingrediant. We can't remember what it is though.
  
  
• Washington is a good town for whiskey sales.
  
  
• Kentucky is no longer the top state for Maker's sales.
  
  
• I thought it was great that the Marker's bottles were being dipped in blue wax at the store and picked one up. I wish they had smaller bottles available so I could keep one as a souviner. I'm not going to buy 1.5 L and not open it...
  
  
• We ran into MissChatter, who shot video of the event.
  
  
  
  
• Screech's Best Friend from Nats320 also introduced himself. He was sporting a vintage Howard "9" jersey.
  
  
• I wound up with a signed ROY photo, a signed Jim Beam ball and a signed bottle of Maker's.

Thanks to Joe at Nationals Power for making this event known to the Natmosphere. Also, an even bigger thanks to Erica for enthusiastically delaying previous plans so we could attend this event.

Labels: BeltwayLand, Best of WWN, Food and Drink, Nats/MLB 2007, Photography, The District

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 12:55 PM | |

Rating area chili dogs

There are only a few hours left in National Hot Dog Month 2007, so I thought I would finally get around to comparing Washington D.C. area chili dogs. I think I alluded to this post as far back as last fall, but it was only recently that I got around to visiting all the establishments I intended to profile.

For the purposes of comparison, I ordered the same thing at each of these places, a chili dog with onions.

Ben's Chili Bowl - $3.45
For nearly 50 years this hole in the wall has served D.C.'s U Street, surviving the 1968 riots and the Green Line construction. Bill Cosby makes it a point to stop here when he is in town. Politicians make Ben's a regular campaign stop too.

The frankfurter probably comes in at about 1/4 lb. and is served on a steamed roll with Cincinnati style chili which is spicy and saucy, but not terribly meaty. It has more kick than your average store-brand dog. I enjoy them here, but find that the roll tends to get soggy and I'm not big on Cincy chilly, which works better on a half-smoke.

Other notes: The fries are generally tasteless and limp. The dining area can get awfully humid. The location is great though, just across the street from the U Street Metro. Its worth the trip to see an old school District institution and to get a half-smoke, but not so much the chili dog.

Vienna Inn - under $2
Since 1960 The Vienna Inn has been serving chili dogs and cold, frosty draft Budweiser. I have been going there for years.

A chili dog at the Inn goes for a mere $1.50 or $1.75, I cannot remember specifically. They are so cheap because the dogs are really small, barely the length of the bun. The quality of the dog isn't super, but it is tasty in part because it is cooked in Bud. The chili is spicy with finely ground beef. It isn't too saucy, so there is meat in every bite. The dogs go down easy, so it isn't unheard of to eat several of them in a sitting.

Other notes: The original owner, the late Mike Abraham, called The Vienna Inn just a "crummy beer joint" and in a lot of ways he was right. Since the place changed hands the windows and doors have been upgraded (probably brought up to code) and the waitresses are not nearly as surly. The service is still not fantastic, but that is part of the experience. The fries are shoestring with spices on them and are quite good.

Hard Times Cafe - $6.79
A local chain of chili joints with locations in Old Town, Clarendon, and elswhere. They have been around as far back as I can remember.

Of all the places surveyed, Hard Times has the highest quality ingredients. The all beef dogs are big at 1/4 lb. and they have Texas chili. There is a Cincinnati style as well.

Other notes: Tasty fries come with a chili dog. The interior of the Old Town location is rustic looking with lots of wood, an appropriate ambiance for a chili joint.

Weenie Beanie (no Web site) - around $2
Weenie Beanie was once a local chain, but only one remains.

I finally hit Weenie Beanie, a tiny little store at the end of the W&OD trail in Shirlington recently. The dogs are normal sized and cooked split before being filled with chili and onions. This works well as it really lets the different ingredients combine while you are eating. The chili isn't very meaty though and the serving wouldn't be called generous, but it is still tasty.

Other notes: One of the tracks on Foo Fighters first album is named "Weenie Beanie," allegedly a tribute to this tiny take-out place. There is a day labor site right next to Weenie Beanie. Half-smokes are also popular, but I haven't tried one there yet.

It is tough to decide between the Vienna Inn and Hard Times for my favorite. While Hard Times is higher quality, the Vienna Inn has a sentimental advantages. I would put Weenie Beanie over Ben's because I am not very enthusiastic about Cincinnati chili.

Someday, I'll do a similar entry about half-smokes.

chili dogs, hot dogs, DC, Virginia

Labels: BeltwayLand, Best of WWN, Food and Drink, The District, Virginia

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 8:28 PM | |

Post a Comment

Oh great, Sen. Clay is playing bartender again

Last month, dl004d mentioned that he had visited the Old San Juan, Puerto Rico bar that invented in the pina coloda. That reminded that Henry Clay (Whig-Kentucky) introduced the mint julep to Washington (and thus the world outside of Kentucky) at the Willard Hotel. I had been meaning to there for some time as a tribute to one of my favorite historical figures, not too mention my favorite refreshments. Several weeks ago, Erica and I, along with our visiting friend Wiley and his girlfriend Ashley, stopped by the Willard's Round Robin bar after a attending the Smithsonian Folklife festival.

Just visiting the Willard Hotel is fun because it is such a marvelous building, inside and out. The Round Robin itself is beautiful bar tasteful charactetures of famous guests as well and a black marble bar. There are also tasteful chairs, probably made out of cherry, and tables on the outside of the circular bar.


Once we seated ourselves, we each ordered a mint julep. The second bartender (whose name I wish I could recall) made the drinks with Maker's Mark, mint, and sugar. I don't recall if he used branch water (spring water) like the recipe says. I was surprised to see that he put mint in the glass before adding the ice too. There was also a lemon wedge included, which I had not seen with a mint julep previously. Thankfully, it was not squeezed out.



We all enjoyed our mint juleps, though I would have preferred it without the mint in inside because it overpowered the Maker's Mark a little if my straw was all the way to the bottom. I wouldn't have minded another one, but at $14 each, that would have been a too steep. I am not complaining though, since the Round Robin is an elegant place to enjoy a cocktail and conversation. The bartender shared some stories about the Round Robin that were quite interesting and "worth the price of admission." He also let me sample some Bulleit Bourbon on the house. I enjoyed it and may add it to my collection. I certainly enjoyed it more than the Wild Turkey Rare I ordered after my mint julep. At 108.2 proof, the alcohol in Rare Breed overpowers the taste -- I much prefer the smooth Wild Turkey 101.

While the Senator Clay's mint julep recipe is not my favorite, I enjoyed the history and ambiance of the Round Robin enough to want to return. I will certainly do so in the near future.

Labels: BeltwayLand, Best of WWN, Food and Drink, History, The District

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 12:52 PM | |

The Kwik-E-Mart is real... D'oh!

BLADENSBURG, Md. -- ON Saturday, I made my maiden voyage to the town of Bladensburg, Md. to shop at "Kwik-E-Mart" (Flickr stream). Fritz (nee MC Hamme) came along with me. In anticiption of the The Simpsons Movie in a few weeks, Fox and 7-Eleven join forces to re-branded 11 locations nationwide to look like Springfield's leading convenience store.

• I bought a six pack of Buzz cola, 2 boxes of Krusty O's (one is a wedding present for my brother, I wasn't going to stiff him), a blue (vanilla) Squishee and a pink donut. The total came to over $15. I don't think anything was marked up.
  
  
• The parking lot and store were full of losers people with cameras. They are probably making a fortune from this promotion.
  
  
• Prior to Saturday, I had probably consumed no more than two Slurpees ever and the last one would have been during Reagan's presidency -- probably his first term. After having about half of my blue Squishee, I remembered why.

• Sprinkles are overrated on donuts.
  

• I haven't tried a Buzz cola yet -- I may do it today. I'll let you know how it tastes.
  
  
• There wasn't any Duff for sale or Col. Kwik-E-Mart's Real Kentucky Bourbon proving Marc Fisher is right about Maryland being a nanny state.
  
  
• I missed Jasper in the freezer.
  
  
• I have no idea why Bladensburg was chosen as the D.C. area location instead of someplace in the District, NoVa, or Montgomery County. At least we got one though, unlike other deserving metropolises like Boston and Philadelphia. I guess this makes up for not getting Moonites in the District.
  
  
• The specific location is 4199 Kenilworth Avenue (the right side of MD 201 NORTH) not far north of Annapolis Road (MD 450)
  
  
• Even a corporation owned by someone as repugnant as Rupert Murdoch can do something right occasionally.
  
  
• There were five guys with custom Honda's parked side by side who asked Fritz to take their photograph. I don't get the whole customizing car thing, but it seemed to make them happy.
  
  
• Note: Most of the photos in the Flickr stream are actually in focus.

Fritz blogged about it as well, make sure you go there too.


Kwik-E-Mart, The Simpsons, 7-Eleven, Maryland, Bladensburg

Labels: BeltwayLand, Best of WWN, Datelines, Food and Drink, Maryland, Photography

SHARE: Facebook | Del.icio.us | Digg | Technorati | Blinklist | Furl | Newsvine | Reddit it!

posted by WFY @ 12:12 PM | |