DC Disrespected....Again

We know that DC is not a state. But does salt have to rubbed in the wound even when DC residents are trying to find work? dcgal was filling out online application to be an independent contractor for firm that operates nationwide. When entering her address, she dutifully clicked the state drop-down menu. DC wasn't listed. She scrolled further, thinking it must listed as Washington DC. Nope. DC, the capital of the United States, wasn't on the list. DC and its residents forgotten and disrespected again.

So she has sent an e-mail to the company to ask if Washington DC residents are eligible to apply.

What's your favorite DC restaurant?

Recently, Josh asked dcgal for great places to eat around DC. Once upon a time dcgal got out to the restaurants, but life happens and she's not able to do that much anymore. Back when she went out, these are the restaurants that she liked.

Lebanese Taverna
Kanlaya Thai Cuisine
Etete Restaurant (Ethiopian)
Zorba's Cafe (Greek)

So to those of you who eat out in DC, post a comment with your favorite DC restaurants.

Save The Date! Great Brookland Yard Sale

Great Brookland Yard Sale
Saturday, May 7th

Mr. Douglass Comes to Washington

Since February is Black History Month, we're honoring prominent African-Americans who had ties to Washington DC.

In 1872, Frederick Douglass moved to Washington DC. Originally, he and his family lived on A Street on Capitol Hill. He later purchased an estate that he renamed Cedar Hill in Southeast Washington. During his residence in Washington, Douglass held several important posts, including Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia and U.S. Marshal of the District of Columbia.


Framed Frederick Douglass Portrait

Adult Double Dutch Session Begins

Free sessions begin
Friday, February 18, 2011

Jump Into some fun!

Five weeks of Adult Double Dutch sessions will take place on Fridays from 6:30 - 7:30p.m. at the Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20017, near the Brookland-CUA Metro on the red line.

The program is designed for adults, but all ages are welcome. Bring a doctor's note or be prepared to sign a waiver and come ready to have fun!

Price: FREE

African-American Sacred Music Festival at Kennedy Center

Joyous Sounds: Gospel Across America is an African-American Sacred Musical Festival to be held at the Kennedy Center from April 17th to 25th. Of special note are the Community Hymn Sing on April 19th and the National Symphony Orchestra Concert on April 24th. The festival's featured artists include Take Six, Richard Smallwood and Kirk Franklin. Some performances are free.

Learn more.

New DC T-shirts and Gifts

On our newest DC T-shirts, mini DC flags make up a pattern on the letters DC. These miniature versions of the Washington DC flag are red on a white background. Available on t-shirts, mugs, water bottles, stickers, bags & more. From Best of Washington DC T-shirts and Gifts.


DC Flag Print White T-shirt

Hot Places for a Cool Wallet in DC this Summer

You may have heard the adage that DC shuts down in July and August. Not so! Whether you're vacationing in Washington DC or staycationing to save cash, there are lots of fun places to go. To add to the fun, entrance is free to these hot spots. (Some of the listed activities have a nominal fee.) Read on and learn where in Washington DC you can go horse back riding, rent a paddle boat or see a great blue heron.

Rock Creek Park is where locals have picnics and family gatherings. While Rock Creek is the park's most notable feature, also there are several wonderful hiking and biking trails. And you can go for a horse back ride during a guided horse tour. Of course, if you bring your own horse, remember to stay on the bridled trails!
Rock Creek Park Nature Center
5200 Glover Road NW
Washington DC

Bordering downtown DC, the Tidal Basin is an inlet of the Potomac River. It's home to the Jefferson Memorial and the FDR memorial. The Tidal Basin is also where the cherry trees of Cherry Blossom Festival fame are planted. In addition to those attractions, you can rent a paddle boat or take a leisurely stroll here.

Located on the banks of the Anacostia River, visit Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens for the waterlilies and lotus blossoms. Known also as a spot for birding, you may see great blue herons, marsh wrens, mallards, or Canada geese. For hikers, don't miss the .7 mile boardwalk trail that leads to the marsh.
Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens
1550 Anacostia Avenue, NE
Washington DC

DC DMV Ends In-Person Registration Renewal

Effective Monday July 13, DC DMV is ending in-person registration renewal. Citizens will have to renew their registration online or by mail. Learn more here.

DC Fab

We just heard about DC Fab! at www.thefabempire.com, an info-tainment Web site dedicated to several cities across the U.S. including DC.

Top 10 Places to Visit in Washington DC

Looking for some places to go while you or out-of-town guests are in DC? Check our travel guide Top 10 Places to Visit in Washington DC. It includes where in Washington DC you can go horse back riding, rent a paddle boat, or see a great blue heron.

Bid for Same-sex Marriage in DC may come next week

During this busy holiday season, you may have missed this article in the Washington Times on the District government's effort to legalize same-sex marriage. According to the Times, a majority of the DC City Council and the mayor support same-sex marriage. Therefore, if proposed a same-sex marriage measure would likely pass. Other sources have said the Council may be planning to act as early as next week on January 6 2009. Considering all of the issues that challenge our wonderful city, such as crime and troubled public schools, is this how we want our leaders spending their time and our tax dollars? Do a majority of the people of the District of Columbia support gay marriage?

If you aren't in favor of same-sex marriage becoming law in Washington DC, please let your councilmember know. Here's their contact information:

Council Offices
Vincent C. Gray, Council Chairman
Suite: 504
vgray@dccouncil.us
Tel: (202) 724-8032
Fax: (202) 724-8085

David A. Catania, Councilmember (At-Large)
Suite: 110
dcatania@dccouncil.us
Tel: (202) 724-7772
Fax: (202) 724-8087

Phil Mendelson, Councilmember (At-Large)
Suite: 402
pmendelson@dccouncil.us
Tel: (202) 724-8064
Fax: (202) 724-8099

Kwame R. Brown, Councilmember (At-Large)
Suite: 506
kbrown@dccouncil.us
Tel: (202) 724-8174
Fax: (202) 724-8156

Jim Graham, Councilmember (Ward 1)
Suite: 105
jgraham@dccouncil.us
Tel: (202) 724-8181
Fax: (202) 724-8109

Jack Evans, Councilmember (Ward 2)
Suite: 106
jackevans@dccouncil.us
Tel: (202) 724-8058
Fax: (202) 727-8023

Mary M. Cheh, Councilmember (Ward 3)
Suite: 108
mcheh@dccouncil.us
Tel: (202) 724-8062
Fax: (202) 724-8118

Muriel Bowser, Councilmember (Ward 4)
Suite: 406
mbowser@dccouncil.us
Tel: (202) 724-8052
Fax: (202) 741-0908

Harry Thomas, Jr., Councilmember (Ward 5)
Suite: 107
hthomas@dccouncil.us
Tel: (202) 724-8028
Fax: (202) 724-8076

Tommy Wells, Councilmember (Ward 6)
Suite: 408
twells@dccouncil.us
Tel: (202) 724-8072
Fax: (202) 724-8054

Yvette M. Alexander, Councilmember (Ward 7)
Suite: 400
yalexander@dccouncil.us
Tel: (202) 724-8068
Fax: (202) 741-0911

Marion Barry, Councilmember (Ward 8)
Suite: 102
mbarry@dccouncil.us
Tel: (202) 724-8045
Fax: (202) 724-8055

New: Black Hoodies and Sweatshirts

Best of Washington DC T-shirts and Gifts now has black hoodies and black sweatshirts. We've also added zip hoodies for men and for women.

Shop DC Tax Free

The District of Columbia will offer its second 2008 Sales Tax Holiday beginning at 12:01 am Friday, November 28, through midnight Sunday, December 7. The Sales Tax holiday grants an exemption from the 5.75 percent sales tax for clothes, shoes, and accessory items. To qualify, each item must cost $100 or less.

The sales tax exemption will apply to each eligible item, no matter how many items are on the bill.

Sales Tax Holiday
Clothes (clothing) Any article of apparel for humans, including pants, shirts and blouses, dresses, coats, jackets, belts, hats, undergarments, and multiple-piece garments sold as a set, if $100 or less.
Shoes All footwear, except skis, swim fins, roller blades, and roller-skates.
Accessory Items
Jewelry, non-prescription eyeglasses, watches, watchbands, handbags, handkerchiefs, umbrellas, gloves, scarves, ties, headbands, hats, belts and belt buckles, and other traditional accessory items.

For additional tax information, please call (202) 727-4TAX (4829).

Cheap Gas in DC

At 9AM today we filled our gas tank for $3.30/gallon at Lowest Price (9th & V Streets NE). The gas station is across the street from the Brentwood post office and a block away from the Brentwood Giant/Home Depot complex. Post a comment if you've found a good gasoline deal in the Washington DC metro area.

East of the River: Continuity and Change

East of the River: Continuity and Change is the Anacostia Museum's current exhibition. It focuses on life in the communities east of the Anacostia River. To learn more, visit the museum's website. The exhibition continues through November 9, 2008.

Great Brookland Yard Sale is April 19

We're not sponsors but announce this event as a public service.

Announcing the Great Brookland Yard Sale, April 19, 2008

Come to Brookland on April 19, 2008 for the Great Brookland Yard Sale. Households throughout the Brookland neighborhood have joined together to hold yard sales on that Saturday between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. In addition to the individual yard sales, St. Anthony of Padua’s Church on 12th Street NE will be participating as well, with a yard sale in the church’s parking lot.

In joining together for the Great Yard sale, Brooklanders are inviting people from all over the Washington metro area to come to Brookland for a day of fun and great bargains. Andrew Fortin, an organizer of the event said, “With all of these yard sales going on at once, there’s no telling what treasures you’ll find! And, at the same time, we also want to showcase Brookland as a great D.C. neighborhood with a lot to offer.”

Yard sale organizers have posted a blog (brooklandblog.blogspot.com) with complete information on the Great Brookland Yard Sale, including a map of the area with participating homes highlighted, and information on some of the items that will be for sale. This information will be updated frequently as the sale approaches.

For more information contact Andrew S. Fortin at Fortinandrew@hotmail.com

2008 DC Voting Rights March

Celebrate DC Emancipation Day at the DC Voting Rights March

Where:	Gather at Freedom Plaza march down Pennsylvania Avenue, NW & to the Capitol Building
When:	DC Emancipation Day, Wednesday, April 16 2:30 PM — Rally at Freedom Plaza Metro: Metro Center (Red, Blue & Orange lines) 3:00 PM — March down Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, to the Capitol Building Metro: Federal Center SW (Blue & Orange lines)
What:	The Largest DC Voting Rights March & Rally
Why:	NOW is the time to make a difference!

DC Vote Gets New Digs

On Monday, January 28 DC Vote will be opening a new, larger office space.

Starting, Monday, January 28, 2008, DC Vote's address is:
2000 P Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036

Phone numbers and Web site remain the same:
202.462.6000
202.462.7001 fax
www.dcvote.org

Best of Washington DC T-shirts and Gifts offers this information as a public service. We are not an official partner of DC Vote.

Register Now for DC Presidential Primary

Washington DC's Presidential Preference Primary
Deadline to Register to Vote – January 14, 2008
Election Day – February 12, 2008

If you're a DC resident who needs to register to vote in time for the presidential primary, hurry. You have until Monday, January 14 to register.

Today Register to Vote Bumper Sticker