The ***OFFICIAL*** Washington, DC thread (3 Viewers)

[tom22406]

Capital Weather Gang @capitalweather ·

Tornado warning includes Arlington, Alexandria, and portions of southeast and central DC until 1pm.

Stay safe if you are near here!

 

[Swing 51]

So EVD has arrived in NOVA. Nice "knowing" you guys.

http://www.arlnow.com/2014/10/17/developing-ebola-scare-at-the-pentagon/

 

[roarlions]

If anyone is interested in going to the CONCACAF women's world cup qualifying matches at RFK on Tues. the 21st, I have a pair of tickets to sell cheap. Send me a PM if interested.

 

[Mr. Ected]

NIH last night, Pentagon today. It's surrounding us!!!

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

So EVD has arrived in NOVA. Nice "knowing" you guys.

http://www.arlnow.com/2014/10/17/developing-ebola-scare-at-the-pentagon/

James Moron • 7 hours agoGod help us if they dispatch hazmat crews every time someone publicly pukes in Clarendon on the November 1st pub crawl.

 

[dgreen]

@MartinDiCaro: To the surprise of no one, the woman who fell ill in Arlington today does NOT have Ebola virus.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Perks of having the Ebola Czar in the area already.

 

[TobiasFunke]

Nice writeup in the NY Times about the new trend of top quality restaurants in DC's residential neighborhoods. link

 

[dgreen]

So this is probably as good a time/place as any to list my best DC-Metro Area Pizzerias for anyone who's interested. FWIW, I prefer Neapolitan-style pizza:

1. Pupatella - http://www.pupatella.com/

2. Menomale - http://menomale.us/about/

3. Pizzaria Orso - http://www.pizzeriaorso.com/

4. 2 Amy's - http://development.ginatolentino.com/2amys/?page_id=10

5. Pizza CS - see link above

6. Mia's - http://miaspizzasbethesda.com/

Went to Orso for the first time last Friday. Wife really enjoyed her ravioli, but my pizza was just meh. I didn't think it came close to Pupatella or 2 Amy's, or even Seventh Hill which I went to once a few years ago.

 

[dgreen]

There's a Wallops Island rocket launch in about 30 minutes.

 

[dgreen]

There's a Wallops Island rocket launch in about 30 minutes.

Like a minute from launch, they abort. Apparently there's a boat off shore nearby who I guess isn't supposed to be there. Sounded like maybe rescheduled for tomorrow around the same time.

 

[Mr. Ected]

Quote from NASA

"Launch has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 6:22:38 p.m. EDT. The launch window is about 10 minutes long."

 

[Swing 51]

Snow flurries possible this weekend. Today the high could push 80. Wacky stuff!

 

[Don Quixote]

On a non-sports note, this taxi protest of Uber (involving honking horns for two hours (and counting) outside offices near Freedom Plaza) is making me never want to take a DC taxi again.

JFC. Again. I can't wait until my office moves out of this location.

 

[fatguyinalittlecoat]

On a non-sports note, this taxi protest of Uber (involving honking horns for two hours (and counting) outside offices near Freedom Plaza) is making me never want to take a DC taxi again.

JFC. Again. I can't wait until my office moves out of this location.

Yes, most annoying protest ever.

We must work only a few blocks away from each other.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

On a non-sports note, this taxi protest of Uber (involving honking horns for two hours (and counting) outside offices near Freedom Plaza) is making me never want to take a DC taxi again.

JFC. Again. I can't wait until my office moves out of this location.

Yes, most annoying protest ever.

We must work only a few blocks away from each other.

DQ is where I used to work. Right across from Freedom Plaza. When I was there, they tried to break the Thriller dance record there.

 

[Don Quixote]

On a non-sports note, this taxi protest of Uber (involving honking horns for two hours (and counting) outside offices near Freedom Plaza) is making me never want to take a DC taxi again.

JFC. Again. I can't wait until my office moves out of this location.

Yes, most annoying protest ever.

We must work only a few blocks away from each other.

We must be. I work above Elephant & Castle.

 

[dgreen]

Quote from NASA

"Launch has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 28, at 6:22:38 p.m. EDT. The launch window is about 10 minutes long."

I'm usually somewhere around EFC or WFC stations around that time. Wonder if I can catch a glimpse from the train. I'll have to try to remember to get a seat facing backwards.

 

[humpback]

WTF?!?

ETA- Replaying launch explosion on CNN right now.

 

[nittanylion]

So this is probably as good a time/place as any to list my best DC-Metro Area Pizzerias for anyone who's interested. FWIW, I prefer Neapolitan-style pizza:

1. Pupatella - http://www.pupatella.com/

2. Menomale - http://menomale.us/about/

3. Pizzaria Orso - http://www.pizzeriaorso.com/

4. 2 Amy's - http://development.ginatolentino.com/2amys/?page_id=10

5. Pizza CS - see link above

6. Mia's - http://miaspizzasbethesda.com/

Went to Orso for the first time last Friday. Wife really enjoyed her ravioli, but my pizza was just meh. I didn't think it came close to Pupatella or 2 Amy's, or even Seventh Hill which I went to once a few years ago.

Aaagh, you went before I had a chance to update this list...the Chef who put Orso on the map, my pal Will Artley, left the restaurant on Monday, October 20th, and until I go back and personally try it, it's off my list. It would take a very talented toque to replicate what Will was doing there...

...the silver lining is that since I last posted here, I have been to Frankly...Pizza! in Kensington at least a half-dozen times, and after moving 2 Amy's up to the #3 spot vacated by Orso, F...P! is entering the list at #4, ahead of CS and Mia's.

(HULK) was absolutely right about this, it's excellent and you guys have to go check it out: http://www.franklypizza.com/ ... note: closed Mondays.

 

[(HULK)]

FYI, my wife prefers Pizza CS to Franklys, but I prefer Franklys. CS is more traditional and Frank is doing his own spin, which I appreciate a bit more. Makes it more unique. My wife, she spent a lot of time in Italy, and I think she's just after the familiarity of it.

Oh, and nlion, try the homemade cream soda if you haven't yet. Awesome.

 

[VA703]

damn pizza cs yelp pictures look real good I might have to make the trip

 

[JZilla]

On the subject of pizza, that Mellow Mushroom in Adams Morgan is horrible

 

[VA703]

On the subject of pizza, that Mellow Mushroom in Adams Morgan is horrible

there is one in Herndon now and ive heard the same.

 

[JZilla]

They're pretty great down south

 

[Don Quixote]

They're pretty great down south

I liked the one in Charlotte that I've been to (but maybe that was just the influence of the Hop, Drop, and Roll's).

 

[TobiasFunke]

If you're curious about the city's recent history or if you grew up around here, check out the WETA documentary Washington in the 80s. A nice trip down memory lane. Good mix of politics, music, sports, etc. Obviously there's a lot of Marion Barry, if you want to remember what made him so fascinating. Includes the second-greatest Barry quote of all time: "Outside of the killings, DC has one of the lowest crime rates in the country."

 

[tom22406]

Here we go(for some of you)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/wp/2014/11/24/wednesday-winter-storm-a-little-wet-snow-favored-inside-beltway-increasing-amounts-north-and-west/

3:15 p.m. update: The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch for Frederick, Carroll, northern Baltimore and Harford counties in Maryland, and Loudoun and northern Fauquier counties in Virginia, as well as points west, Wednesday and Wednesday night for the potential for at least 5 inches of snow.

Writes the National Weather Service: Roads may become snow covered and slippery…including interstates 81…70…83…66 and 64. This may have a significant impact on holiday travel plans for wednesday. Heavy amounts of wet snow may cause downed trees that lead to an enhanced threat for power outages.

 

[The_Man]

As I mentioned in the Wiz thread, I'm taking a couple of teenage boys to the game tomorrow. Where should we grab dinner before? Ella's, District of Pi, anywhere else?

Thanks!

 

[dgreen]

If you're curious about the city's recent history or if you grew up around here, check out the WETA documentary Washington in the 80s. A nice trip down memory lane. Good mix of politics, music, sports, etc. Obviously there's a lot of Marion Barry, if you want to remember what made him so fascinating. Includes the second-greatest Barry quote of all time: "Outside of the killings, DC has one of the lowest crime rates in the country."

Thanks. Looks like there is also episodes for the 60s and 70s.

 

[tdog]

As I mentioned in the Wiz thread, I'm taking a couple of teenage boys to the game tomorrow. Where should we grab dinner before? Ella's, District of Pi, anywhere else?

Thanks!

I like PI a lot more than Ellas for pizza. Hill Country BBQ would also be a hit with teenagers I would think.

 

[dgreen]

As I mentioned in the Wiz thread, I'm taking a couple of teenage boys to the game tomorrow. Where should we grab dinner before? Ella's, District of Pi, anywhere else?

Thanks!

Matchbox?

 

[dgreen]

Oh I see you're taking a Chinese exchange student. So obviously a tour of Chinatown is a must.

 

[Don Quixote]

As I mentioned in the Wiz thread, I'm taking a couple of teenage boys to the game tomorrow. Where should we grab dinner before? Ella's, District of Pi, anywhere else?

Thanks!

I like PI a lot more than Ellas for pizza. Hill Country BBQ would also be a hit with teenagers I would think.

Yeah, but I guess it depends if St. Louis style pizza is up their alley.

Shake Shack is another option.

 

[dgreen]

Since we like to talk pizza...

Centreville has entered the Neapolitan scene. Ciao Osteria opened earlier this year, but I just heard about it a few days ago. It's a full Italian restaurant with some Neapolitan pizzas, VPN certified. Not on the level of Pupatella, but still really good and much closer to me. A little more expensive than Pupatella.

nittany, are you familiar with executive chef Antonio Di Nicola?

 

[Don Quixote]

Almost as important as pizza, DCBeer's guide on Where to Buy Beer

 

[dgreen]

@dcsportsbog: Washington, Cincinnati, Columbus and Winnipeg made up the saddest sports list http://t.co/pkm7Ho6rTK http://t.co/bmZijfIEzj

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Welcome to DC. Where it's very important to keep everything open when there's an inch of 20-degree powder that turns to ice the minute a car drives on it, but close everything when we're getting "two inches" of big flakes that melt on contact with the road.

 

[Mr. Ected]

In Loudoun Co (VA) we have a new superintendent, and he is getting abused on FB because school is open. He may or may not even be the one with the final say on closings.

 

[dgreen]

Is it too much to ask that trucks be out there doing something? I just drove 35 miles (in both VA and MD) and didn't see a single truck. Meanwhile, you can't even see where the lanes are on these little back roads like 495. It wasn't a horrible drive in this morning for me - and I shouldn't complain too much since this is my first day working since 12/18 - but hills were definitely getting tricky and it sounded like there were problems in many areas.

Fairfax County schools are still open on-time. A middle schooler in my neighborhood has apparently been on his bus for 90 minutes. Word is a lot of buses, likely including my kids' bus, are sitting on the side of the roads because are everywhere blocking lanes. So stupid.

 

[Swing 51]

In Loudoun Co (VA) we have a new superintendent, and he is getting abused on FB because school is open. He may or may not even be the one with the final say on closings.

Arlington Co blew it too. Should have delayed at minimum. These guys have tough calls to make and we're here to second guess. I also have no kids to worry about.

 

[dgreen]

Wife called our elementary school and they said all the buses are stuck.

I agree with Swing that these can be tough calls and it's easy to second guess, but I do wonder what the process is to make such a decision.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Given the pre-dawn timing of the snow there was really no reason not to go 2-hour delay to buy some time. But generally agree they've got a tough job -- forecasting snow in DC is pretty much impossible and these guys are damned if they close and damned if they don't. They're going to be wrong a lot no matter what happens.

Roads out my way are a mess.

 

[(HULK)]

MoCo did it right. 2 hour delay... watch and observe, then shut it down when it was clear that its still snowing and that the roads are a mess.

 

[MattFancy]

MoCo did it right. 2 hour delay... watch and observe, then shut it down when it was clear that its still snowing and that the roads are a mess.

I don't understand why more school systems don't know that just about every time it snows. It just makes so much more sense than sending the buses out there in the middle of the mess and then turning them around to send the kids home an hour after they've been at school.

 

[thecatch]

This is my 8th winter in Arlington and that was the most dangerous commute into DC I've had in all that time. There have been worse weather days, sure, but usually everything is closed. Just a mess.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

This is my 8th winter in Arlington and that was the most dangerous commute into DC I've had in all that time. There have been worse weather days, sure, but usually everything is closed. Just a mess.

That storm we got four or five years ago -- where it went from clear roads to dumping down snow and completely covered roads in less than 30 minutes right as rush hour hit is the one I remember. It took my boss something like 6 hours to get from the Mall to Annandale. People spent the night on the GW Parkway. Roads everywhere were completely blocked.

My son's bus didn't come at all today. No notice, just didn't show.

 

[tom22406]

Very light dusting here(didn't start until an hour ago).Schools delayed 2 hours.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

btw... the snow removal budget for ALL of NoVA is $33m this year. Compared to $18m for the city of Boston. On a per-mile basis I bet that's 5-10% of their total (WAG -- not to be used for wagering). Worth remembering the next time you here someone from a big northern snow city ##### about snow removal/drivers/roads here.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Wife called our elementary school and they said all the buses are stuck.

I agree with Swing that these can be tough calls and it's easy to second guess, but I do wonder what the process is to make such a decision.

My uncle was involved in the Capital Weather Gang's forecast (which was largely right except it tracked the bands a bit North of where they fell). Anyway, I follow his Facebook conversations with all the other DC area forecasters and apparently VDOT is using a new forecasting service that blew the storm. So no roads were pretreated in Virginia.

Clippers are really tough to forecast and people #####ed when roads were pre-treated for bust storms last year. But at the very least VDOT should have been communicating with the school systems. The forecasts that predicted the snow all said it would make for a nasty commute.