It's National Chili Day!

WTOP passed along some very important news this morning -- today is National Chili Day! To celebrate, Hard Times Cafe is giving out free bowls of chili. They have locations throughout suburban Virginia and Maryland. They will have a D.C. location in Nationals Park too.^*

I'll see if I can get more details at lunch time.

UPDATED 6:55 p.m.: I went to the Old Town Hard Times to get my free chili. It turns out you have to make a purchase to get the free chili. Not a big deal, since you want something to drink with chili anyway. I had a Hard Times draft root beer with a bowl of Texas chili. Not bad for under $3 total. I was disappointed with the slow service though, it took several minutes for the bartender to acknowledge me. Had I not been getting a mostly free meal, I would have been out of there.

^*I still need to comment on the recently announced ballpark food offerings. I'll get to that soon.

National Chili Day, Hard Times Cafe, Now where are my chili boots?

Labels: BeltwayLand, Food and Drink, Maryland, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 6:55 PM | |

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The Awakening's move

A Head Start for National Harbor - The Post
District Treasure Goes to Pr. George's Development
More about the move of The Awakening moving to National Harbor with some details about that project. There is also a video:



PREVIOUSLY:

[flickr : The Awakening set/slideshow]

From 02.19.2008: The Awakening
From 02.14.2008: Awakening moving next week
From 10.18.2007: Grounds for Sculpture

The Awakening, sculpture, J. Seward Johnson, dc, Hains Point, East Potomac Park, National Harbor

Labels: Arts and Culture, BeltwayLand, Maryland, The District

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posted by WFY @ 12:25 PM | |

Awakening moving next week

D.C. Giant to Be Unearthed Next Week for New Digs - The Post
After residing in East Potomac Park since 1980, "The Awakening" will be dug up and moved to National Harbor starting next Wednesday. The J. Seward Johnson sculpture was owned by the Sculpture Foundation and loaned to the National Park Service until it was sold last year to the developer building National Harbor in P.G. County.

I'm really going to miss seeing "The Awakening" when I bicycle around Hains Point. I will have to stop by this weekend and get some final photographs of it.

H/T: WTOP

UPDATE 02.20.2007:

The Awakening -- I stopped by Hains Point yesterday to take photographs before the move to National Harbor.

[flickr : The Awakening set/slideshow]
The Awakening, sculpture, East Potomac Park, Hains Point, D.C.

Labels: Arts and Culture, BeltwayLand, Maryland, The District

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posted by WFY @ 6:18 AM | |

Potomac vs. Chesapeake

With Virginia, The District and Maryland all having primaries on the same Tuesday, I have heard a few different ways to describe this event. Some media outlets are calling it "Potomac Primary" after the river that separates the two states and the District while other outlets are calling it the "Chesapeake Primary" after the bay that both states, but not the District, share.

Here is a very informal survey of what media outlets are calling the day:

Potomac Primary The Post The Wash. Times The Sun Times-Dispatch Post-Gazette WTTG USA Today Post-Gazette CNN FOX News Reuters The Times NPR CBS News NBC News Agence France-Presse

Chesapeake Primary WTOP WUSA WJLA

It isn't even close, it just may seem that way because of broadcast using Chesapeake. According to Google News (at 7:30 p.m. last night), Chesapeake Primary has "about 310" results, while a search for "Potomac Primary" returns "about 695."

Neither the Associated Press or The (Annapolis) Capital seem to be using either term.

Potomac Primary, Chesapeake Primary, politics, Virginia, D.C., Maryland

Labels: BeltwayLand, Maryland, Media, The District, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 5:56 AM | |

Overcharging drivers is E-Z

Having a hard time with E-ZPass - The Sun
The Maryland Transportation Authority has overcharged some drivers who use E-ZPass on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and/or the Ft. McHenry Tunnel. If you have used either of those crossings, check your statement.

Maryland Transportation Authority, E-ZPass, I-95, Ft. McHenry Tunnel, Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Maryland

Labels: Maryland, Transportation

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posted by WFY @ 12:04 PM | |

Is the Purple Line in trouble too?

Dulles Rail Problems With FTA Worry Md. - The Post
With the FTA showing reluctance to fund Virginia's Silver Line, Maryland officials are concerned that mass transit projects like the Purple Line won't be funded either.

As for the Silver Line, proposed to connect West Falls Church to Ashburn, it isn't dead yet, according to Dr. Gridlock's Get There blog.

Also, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority took issue with the FTA's suggestion (WTOP) that it couldn't handle building the Silver Line.

Metro, WMATA, Silver Line,Mass Transit, subway, Tyson's Corner, FTA, MWAA, Dulles Airport, Purple Line

Labels: BeltwayLand, Maryland, Metro, Silver Line, Transportation, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 5:58 AM | |

Yay! I pay lower taxes

Post columnist Marc Fisher breaks down the tax burdens of the BeltwayLand jurisdictions in today's Raw Fisher post. My city, Alexandria, is the lowest listed. Would it surprise you that Montgomery County is the highest? At least they have something to show for it, unlike PG County which isn't far behind its western neighbor. The District comes in third, while Fairfax County is the highest in Virginia. Arlington is fifth highest/second lowest.

Of course the downside of being the lowest taxed could be "Now Accredited" (What, they weren't before?!) signs hanging on elementary schools in Alexandria, but truth be told, money probably isn't the only issue there.

Virginia, Maryland, D.C., taxes

Labels: BeltwayLand, Maryland, The District, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 12:04 PM | |

Places I went in 2007

Generally speaking, I had to either spend the night or sit down for a meal somewhere for it to qualify.

Alexandria, Va.
Annapolis, Md.
Arlington, Va.
Avalon, NJ
Bellefonte, Penna.
Daly City, Calif.
Eatontown, N.J.
Edison, N.J.
Hamilton, N.J.
Harrisburg, Penna.
Lake Harmony, Penna.
Lemoyne, Penna.
Lewistown, Penna.
McLean, Va.
Mill Valley, Calif.
Morristown, N.J.
Mount Vernon, Va.
Philadelphia, Penna.
Potomac, Md.
Princeton, N.J.
Reedsville, Penna.
San Francisco, Calif.
Ship Bottom, N.J.
Spray Beach, N.J.
Springfield, Penna.
State College, Penna.
Stone Harbor, N.J.
Virginia Beach, Va.
Vienna, Va.
Washington, D.C.

Northern-most point: Blakeslee, Penna.
Southern-most point: Virginia Beach, Va.
Western-most point: San Francisco, Calif. (by car, Bedford, Pa.)
Eastern-most point: Bay Head, N.J.

I doubt I'll get any further west this year, but I hope to get further north, east and south. Hopefully, New York and Boston can make it back on the list too.

Labels: Maryland, New Jersey, Northeast Corridor, Pennsylvania, San Francisco, The District, Travel, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 12:06 PM | |

It was the closest White Castle between Brick and Edison. We had a memorial service to attend to that day.

# posted by  WFY : Sunday, January 06, 2008 4:35:00 PM  

50 years of the Harbor Tunnel

Harbor Tunnel marks 50th anniversary - The Sun
The Baltimore Harbor Tunnel is approaching its semicentennial. When I was a kid, it was a traffic nightmare, but once the Ft. McHenry Tunnel (I-95) opened in 1985, the Harbor Tunnel became a good alternate route.

Other notes:

• I can't remember it before it was I-895, but I do remember all the non-MUTCD signs that only got replaced about ten years ago.
  
  
• The Harbor Tunnel Thruway had unusual exit numbering schemes -- sequential starting after the tunnel headed northbound; mileage-based from the northern terminus southbound)
  
  
• There used to be a Colt 45 brewery near the interchange with the Baltimore Beltway (I-695). It later became a Washington Flour facility.
  
  
• I also remember the Segram's 7 advertisement that was on a brick building near the highway
  
  
• The speed limit should be at least 55 MPH throughout the non-tunnel sections and maybe 60 MPH in the stretches without exits.
  
  
• Steve Anderson has a good history at dcroads.net

Harbor Tunnel, Baltimore, 50th Anniversary

Labels: History, Maryland, Northeast Corridor, Transportation

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posted by WFY @ 12:05 PM | |

Ugliest I-95 sign

PERRYVILLE, Md. -- Right after paying the one-way $5 toll for the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway there is this awful I-95 sign:

This is easiest the ugliest shield on a mainline big green sign^* I have ever seen on I-95. It is almost as if the Maryland Transportation Authority, administrator of the toll road, is saying "we're charging you an arm and a leg, but are going to put up ugly signs, just because we can."

^*I'm excluding the odd shields on the old school variable rotating signs on the N.J. Turnpike spurs though.

Labels: Maryland, Transportation

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posted by WFY @ 12:01 PM | |

Best foliage of the season -- I-95?

CECIL COUNTY, Md. -- Drought has made this autumn a disappointing one for foliage in Northern Virginia and even on the roads to Penn State. I was a bit surprised to see the best colors of the season along I-95 between Baltimore and Delaware. Granted, it has been a long time since I traveled this stretch during this part of fall, but I never remembered it being so good. I'm sure in sunlight it was bordering on spectacular.

foliage, Interstate 95, Maryland

Labels: Maryland, Northeast Corridor, Travel

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posted by WFY @ 6:03 AM | |

Get well Fatso!

The throwback - The Sun
Recently, a reporter watched a recent Ravens game with all-time great, Art Donovan. The Bronx born former Colt is one of my favorites of old NFL Films. Unfortunately, he was been hospitalized recently:

"Broke my femur on a cruise with my wife, in Italy," he said. "I'd walked back to my cabin after dinner with half a plate of spaghetti when I leaned in to open the door. Turns out it was already open so I fell flat on my face like something from the Keystone Kops.

"They drove me to an American hospital in Rome, 3 1/2 hours away. Road must've had 15,000 potholes. I almost bounced out of the ambulance.

"At the hospital, when they lifted me into the bed they put my head halfway through the wall and knocked me out. So I said, 'Don't touch me. If I'm going to die, it'll be in the United States, not in the Middle East somewhere.' "

A week later, Donovan was flown home to Baltimore for surgery. He said he would have kissed the ground if he could have.

"I swear to God, I was so happy as we neared the airport that I didn't care if we crashed, as long as it was on American soil."

I can never get enough of him, he's great.

Art Donovan, Baltimore

Labels: Maryland, Redskins/NFL

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posted by WFY @ 12:04 PM | |

Pearlstein on Nats gala in P.G.: So what?

STEVEN PEARLSTEIN - A Broader View of Home-Field Advantage - The Post
Using the recent controversy over the Nationals holding their Dream Gala at National Harbor in Maryland, Pearlstein argues that borders really don't matter much anymore:

Let's start with a simple but profound reality: There is no longer any such thing as the District's economy, or the Prince George's economy, or the Fairfax economy. There is only a regional economy, with a regional housing market, a regional labor market and regional retail markets. Our economic lives no longer respect the political boundaries set down 300 years ago.

Furthermore, he notes a larger regional cooperation is on the way:

As it happens, District Mayor Adrian Fenty, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, with the prodding of several business leaders, are quietly working on their own regional economic development strategy. Although still taking shape, the idea behind the Chesapeake Crescent is that the area from Baltimore to Richmond is fast becoming a single regional economy, and that collaboration in areas such as the environment, transportation, technology transfer and worker training could catalyze that process.

Very interesting. I'll bet Hampton Roads wants in too.

Back on the subject of the Nationals and the District, a Post editorial suggests that everybody Play Nice and work together as partners. Why this seemingly hasn't occurred to either the District or the Nationals is beyond me.

Labels: BeltwayLand, Maryland, Nats/MLB 2007, The District, Virginia

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posted by WFY @ 5:46 AM | |

You know it is a tough night when 51 saves are not enough

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- We hadn't seen the Penn State hockey club, generally known as the Icers, in about five years, so when we found out they were going to be nearby, we made sure to see them. Last weekend, they played a Friday and Saturday series with Navy, winning both games. We caught the Saturday night match-up at McMullen Arena. [flickr set: Icers: Penn State at Navy]

Penn State got off to a strong start, scoring the first goal early. Surprisingly, Navy responded soon after, but the tie didn't last long. Penn State netted another goal and went into the break up 2-1. Most telling was the Icers 17 shots to the Middies six.

The second period would be more of the same as the faster Icers dominated with speed and precision passing. In the third period, the Icers scored their final two goals while shorthanded. In total they had 57 shots on the night, while Navy had a respectable 30.

The Icers are ranked #3 in ACHA Division I. By the way, in May I spoke with someone close to the program and asked about getting a new hockey arena built which would be necessary for the Icers to move up to varsity, Big11Ten/NCAA competition. He or she said there is a lead gift for construction, but the university is holding off on big new construction projects for a while. Someday...

Icers show discipline during weekend domination - The Collegian

Penn State hockey, Icers, ACHA

Labels: Maryland, PSU Sports

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posted by WFY @ 5:54 AM | |