Washingtonians of the Year

Washingtonian is taking nominations for the best of the beltway.

Leslie Milk:  Help Us Find Washingtonians of the Year

For more than 30 years, the Washingtonian of the Year awards have been the highest honor our community bestows on the people who make this a better place. The Washingtonian is looking for the 2010 Washingtonians of the Year. If you know of someone who is helping to build a better city and region, help us recognize his or her contribution. Please send us any information you think might be helpful, and include your name and phone number or e-mail address. Winners will be featured in the January 2011 issue of The Washingtonian and honored at a luncheon at the Willard InterContinental hotel.

Send or e-mail letters of nomination by September 30 to:

Washingtonians of the Year, The Washingtonian, 1828 L Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20046

Or email woy@washingtonian.com

Tea Party T-Shirts For the “Grossly Misinformed”

A new internet website just popped up and they’re selling t-shirts just in time for fall.

The Tea Party might have a quasi-mainstream official platform, but it also seems to be a magnet for far right loonies, angry racists, borderline psychotics and those that are simply grossly misinformed.

These shirts are for those fringe nutjobs that make the Tea Party rallies so much fun to read about.

Check out the shirts here.

h/t Lazy Hazy’s Wife

Hostage Situation at Discovery Communications Building

Welcome to the wired world: Hostage Taking 2.0

Here’s a link to the gunman’s manifesto. That link is farked, try this one.

Live streaming [Fox 5 News]

And here’s a picture snapped by an employee:

UPDATE: The photo is a picture of a plainclothes officer – not the gunman.

UPDATE: Follow the Washingtonian’s Twitter feed for breaking news on this.

Meghan McCain Explains the Difference Between Being Fired and Being “Asked to Leave”

Meghan McCain recently sat down with GMA’s George Stephanopoulos, where she was asked about being fired by her father’s presidential campaign.

Meghan quickly clarifies: “I wasn’t fired, I was asked to leave and not come back.”

Ah.  Totally different.

Pregnant Demons Having Tea with Glenn Beck

…perhaps that should be the name of our next rock band. [byt]

big h/t to Brightest Young Things

If I Ruled The World #NAS

I’d eat at Ben’s Chili Bowl everyday.

FamousDC Jim Billimoria

Roll Call’s photographer superstar Tom Williams snapped Jim Billimoria at the top of the Rotunda.

FamousDC September

George Alafoginis
Carly Baker
Freddy Barnes
Brendan Buck
Catalina Cabal
Liam Donovan
Natalie Grantham
Bettina Inclan
Alexa Marrero
Jesse Thomas

When Fantasy Football and the Iraq War Collide

Rick Klein

will be drafting fantasy FB while Tweeting Obama Iraq speech. if I draft David Petraeus, please excuse me in advance.

Knock, Knock. Who’s There? Roy Blunt’s Talented Intern

Senate hopeful Roy Blunt has a very talented intern. So talented in fact, that he’s one viral video away from headlining his own show in Branson, MO. [pay raise]

Continued proof that interning on a campaign isn’t just about licking stamps and stuffing envelopes.

Famously Goatworthy: Armey of 34

Dick Armey on whether or not he’d ever run for president:

“Oh, no, no, no, no. I’ve got 34 goats that depend on me daily. I couldn’t be away that long.”

h/t EAndersen

Bipartisan Fish Story

Reeled in from Mike Allen’s Playbook:

THE BIPARTISAN ADVENTURES of the DNC communications director and Boehner’s new-media director — @woodhouseb: “With @nickschaper. Were fishing the mouth of the Chester tearing them up. Headed home and ran out of gas. Waiting now for tow boat us. … @nickschaper and I got back across the bay at around 10:30. Never like to be stranded on the water – but this wasn’t a bad night for it.”

Happy Monday Morning

Did you take a private jet to Las Vegas and get arrested for cocaine possession? [Paris Hilton]

Do you think John Mayer could take Ryan Grim? [full of sh*t]

“OMG, there are so many of them here …” [Journolist]

Happy Monday.

Let’s rock this week.

Meg Whitman Keeping Up With the Kardashians

Meg Whitman expands the Republican celebrity base beyond the typical Stephen Baldwin, Brooks and Dunne, and Ben Stein by hanging out with Bruce and Kris Jenner…better known as the heads of E!’s “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” household.

No word if Bruce’s son, Brody, or Kris’ daughter, Kim, made an appearance.

Friday’s Photo of the Day [Caption Anyone?]

This was spotted on Roger Ebert’s Journal. [great captions below]

Possible captions:

Have you seen this man? If so, NO YOU DIDN’T, back to you Nancy.

“Now, let’s check in with Dallas Raines on the weather in Guatemala, where I’m moving. Dallas?”

“Witnesses say the suspect looks dashing in a suit and red tie.”

Police warn citizens that the suspect could be hiding in plain sight.

Got a good caption? Email us at FamousDC@gmail.com

How Not to Get Elected [Video]

This was destined to be a train wreck the moment the camera turned on.

When you have to read notes in order to get your name right during an interview, your chances of getting elected skyrocket.

Closing Bell: Website of the Day

If the past is a foreign country, this is your passport. [How to be a Retronaut]

h/t M. Hazy

Bill and Hillary Shake Their Tailfeathers [Photo]

We’re told it was mildly uncomfortable for everybody watching.  [We think it's terrific]

On the eve of former president Bill Clinton’s 64th birthday, Bill and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton rocked-it-baby-all-night long under the tent at the annual “Summer” party hosted by Brooke and Dan Neidich at their estate in East Hampton’s private Georgica Association. The community was once the summer retreat of New England ministers, academics, and their families — and is still the last, best (albeit unaffordable) relic of the small township that once was East Hampton.

The party blazed on until 6 a.m.

Obama Tips the Scales [Photo]

Everyone can enjoy a sense of humor.

Famously Quoteworthy: Nikki Schwab Dreams About Bristol

Some people dream of Jeannie, others dream about Bristol Palin …

“Had a dream about Bristol Palin last night. She lived in my closet with baby Tripp and asked me to get her a rum and coke.” She adds, “This is when you know your job has consumed your life…” – The Washington Examiner’s Yeas & Nays gossip writer Nikki Schwab on Twitter.

Nikki clearly works too hard, but at least the dream wasn’t about Levi.  He lives in her other closet.

h/t FishbowlDC

Dirty Sexy Politics

Who is about to release their new book entitled: Dirty Sexy Politics?

A. Mike Huckabee
B. John Ensign
C. Meghan McCain
D. Roger Clemens

We’ll give you a hint: ______ doesn’t shy away from serious issues and raucous humor.

Find out here.

Your WTF of the Week: And It’s Only Monday

This won’t be topped:

Minneapolis will pay $165,000 to zombies
The Minneapolis city attorney’s office has decided to pay seven zombies and their attorney $165,000.

At the time of their arrest, the Zombies had no IDs.

Things Escalated Quickly

Really?

Too much.

h/t Treacher

And the FamousDC Photo Contest Winner Is…

…”The Waiting Game” by Jim Billimoria.

Congrats to everyone who entered, especially our other two finalists.

Famously Quoteworthy: Question of the Day

Smart questions deserve front page real estate:

Jason Cabel Roe: If Roger Clemens can get indicted for misleading congress, why can’t congress be indicted for misleading everyone?

h/t Swank

The Geosocial Universe @JESS3

The fine folks at JESS3 have been working to accurately depict the size of the key players in the geo / social space.

They released this earlier today:

Rantworthy: R.I.P. Tune Inn

Something on your mind? Need to Rant? Email famousdc@gmail.com

Tune Inn joins DC reality television craze, crushing hearts more than their mozzarella sticks

The successful opening of Chef Spike’s tourist-beloved We the Pizza and the Silk Road-length lines outside Georgetown Cupcake have proven that television celebrity can add cold hard cash to District businesses’ bottom lines in the otherwise unforgiving summer heat.

But one legendary Capitol Hill dive bar may have just eaten its own scrapple.

The Tune Inn, holder of the oldest liquor license in Washington, D.C. and celebrated for its gritty pretentiousness, recently re-branded itself after Food Network personality Guy Fieri following his April visit for the show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.”

Menus, once crinkled and historied as a two dollar bill from your grandfather, now feature Fieri’s cartoon face recommending approved dishes of along with photos of him posing with staff and serving customers. The restaurant’s logo itself if now overlapped with a seal announcing that Fieri certifies these once hallowed walls as an “official dive.”

A giant poster of Fieri lurks outside of the bathrooms with an indignity that has made some regulars wish the urinals were relocated slightly below his trademark bleached blonde hair.

The move seems to contradict the image what one Yelp reviewer described as “a warm-welcomed refuge from the hectic, wannabe ‘trendiness’ of several other late night establishments in D.C.”

Ask the Tune Inn’s servers why the establishment re-branded from the unpretentious Capitol Hill watering hole where Congressmen sit in booths beside known vagrants in a mutual pursuit of a taste of home to a tourist-baiting trend based around one appearance by the winner of the “Next Food Network Star” show, and they seem perplexed themselves.

Once popularly known for walls covered in taxidermy animals, now the atmosphere is defined by the endorsement of a television personality who many current patrons would not have asked the opinion of in the first place.

Will Fieri’s endorsement lead to wrap-around lines of patrons waiting for ice cold cans of Natural Bohemian beer and scrapple hamburgers? How the change will affect the establishment’s regular clientele is yet to be determined, as the Tune Inn’s episode in “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” airs Sept. 16.

Politico Gods Shine Favor on Meredith Shiner

Meredith Shiner:

Today is the day the @politico gods are coming down and granting me a new BlackBerry. I have been waiting for this day forever.

Erin McPike’s Real Clear Politics

Congrats to Erin on her new gig with Real Clear Politics. Her first story showed up today.

Real Clear Politics: Portman Fine-Tunes Message in Key Senate Race

VT Senate Candidate Spoofs Old Spice Commercial [Video]

OUT OF OFFICE REPLY: FamousDC will be out of the office until November 3.  If you need anything, please look for us in Vermont.

h/t @SuperDelicious

Nationals Protestors #Nats

h/t DCist

Photo Contest: Enter Today

FamousDC is sponsoring the “Dog Days of Summer,” so in the spirit of record-breaking summer temperatures, send us your favorite summer pic and enter to win a FamousDC mug.  [no, the photos do not need to feature dogs]

Our last contest, which took place during Snowmageddon, enjoyed tons of entries and thousands of votes.

We’ll be accepting pictures via email, twitter or Facebook for the next few days. [deadline is this Wednesday, August 18]

Did you bring your pet into work? Did your neighbor’s tree fall on his house? Can you see a rainbow touching the top of the Capitol? Get out your cameras Washingtonians!

Below are a few of the several entries we’ve received thus far.  Can you do better?

Congrats to Marc Ambinder

Marc Ambinder: After November, I’ll be joining National Journal as White House correspondent. A little less blogging, a lot more reporting. Very excited.

VandeHarris vs. Justin Smith

Have the Rex Ryan pep talks on Hard Knocks fired up the Politico folks?

Playbook put on its big boy pants and spent the weekend jacking people up.

On Sunday Playbook ran an advertisement (with no sponsor attribution to parent company Albritton) to pop Comcast and NBC:

** ADVERTISEMENT: A vast army of lobbyists is pushing hard to rush through the largest media merger in American history. The Comcast/NBC monopoly would present serious problems for local news in communities across our country. Washington’s decision makers must take the necessary time to carefully review this controversial merger to protect the public interest. **

And on Saturday, Playbook took a sly shot at Justin Smith’s huge hires at The Atlantic by calling the 153-year-old magazine “Atlantico”

Saturday’s Playbook:

LATEST FROM ATLANTICO – Ron Fournier: “I’m pleased to announce two more additions to our soon-to-be unified newsroom: Sue Davis of the Wall Street Journal and Fawn Johnson of the Dow Jones Newswires/Wall Street Journal. Sue will be one of two Congressional Correspondents for the National Journal Group, writing for the website and our print publications. She comes to National Journal Group from The Wall Street Journal, where she is the lead writer for the popular political blog, ‘Washington Wire.’ … Fawn Johnson will be General Assignment Correspondent, covering a range of issues including transportation and education. Johnson comes to National Journal from Dow Jones Newswires and the Wall Street Journal, where she covered financial regulation and telecommunications.  This is a homecoming for both of our new colleagues. Earlier in her career, Fawn reported on health care, labor and immigration for CongressDaily. Sue previously worked for CongressDaily, covering the House, Senate, and campaign finance beats. Her first stint at National Journal Group began in the research department of the Almanac of American Politics. Please join me in welcoming them back.”

Get your popcorn.

Famous Friday [Round Up]

Happy Friday the 13th, Charlie Rangel filibustered the House, Andrew Sullivan likes to do druwings, thank you for teaching prostitutes to handle their booze, this calls for a leg kick, Chuck’s tired, Desiree Rogers got a new gig, Chinese prostitutes benefit from your pay check, photo entries are rolling in,  we love the Tune Inn, Erick Erickson vs. Michael Steele rumors continue to churn, Rick Klein will love this link, check this out Frates, wish Brad Dayspring good luck in the Jungle this weekend, Calvin & Hobbes database, Justin Smith making BIG moves: Sue Davis & Fawn Johnson are heading to National Journal, we would love to play for Rex Ryan, why celebrities should move to DC, Maegan Carberry would like to thank Eric Kuhn & Jessy Tolkan (hosts), Shana Glickfield, George Alafoginis, Megan Rollins, Kristin Soltis, Eric Zoberman, Blaise Nutter, Sara Haile Mariam and others who braved a torrential downpour, flooding and power outages to celebrate her 30th birthday last night!, Chris Paulitz brokered a cowpool between Stuart Roy, Shannon Flaherty and Blain Rethmeier on Facebook, and congrats to Jaclyn and Kevin Madden on their new baby boy.

Fitness Friday by @sarahstanley

If you were affected by the MASSIVE thunderstorm yesterday, otherwise know as #demonWeather you were not alone! The safest (and quickest) way to get to your destination was to run, walk, crawl or row your way there. In fact you may have needed a flashlight it was so dark! I was tempted to write about “Training in the Dark”

Part of living a healthy life is to make sure you are getting vitamins and minerals in your body needs in order to function. Three major ones are D, and B complex, Calcium. Each of these play a critical role in helping you fight illness, fatigue and stress.

Vitamin D. Technically its not a vitamin. But we all call it Vitamin D, so for the sake of this post we will stick w/ what people know. People typically know that Vitamin D comes from the Sun (beach anyone?) and milk, and assume they are getting enough. But most of us don’t spend hours in the sun nor do we drink 50 glasses of milk- A DAY. A lack of Vitamin D has been linked to heart disease, stroke, hypertension, autoimmune diseases, diabetes, depression, chronic pain, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness, muscle wasting, birth defects, periodontal disease, and more.The best way is to get a blood test to see if you are deficient.

B Complex. This is also known as Stress B Complex, because Vitamin B is more then just one B. It is B1, B2, B3, etc. B complex helps manage stress. It also helps support and increase metabolism, maintain healthy skin and muscle tone, support the immune & nervous system. Stay away from processed foods (that would mean cupcakes:)). Eat whole wheat pasta, potatoes, peppers, beans, turkey and tune. B12 is not found in a vegan diet, so make sure you take a supplement

Calcium. This is another important mineral to make sure you get in your diet. You don’t just need Calcium for strong bones and healthy teeth, but to ensure proper functioning of muscles and nerves. Did you know it even helps your blood clot? Beside the usual suspects like milk, cheese and yogurt, try eating broccoli, kale, okra (this is one of my favorite veggies!!!) and even nuts.

So thanks to the storms, this weekend should be cooler. Which means there is no reason not to get out and sweat outdoors! Try kayaking on the Potomac. Ride your bike on the Mount Vernon Trail. Do yoga with a friend on the Mall (and because we live in DC we know that doesn’t mean the shopping mall:)). Get up and be active!

Have a great weekend! And take your vitamins like Sarah told you to

Sarah Stanley is a sarcastic ultra marathoner who enjoys running, yoga and dreaming of visiting Australia. Follow her on Twitter @sarahstanley or visit www.sarahstanleyinspired.com

Not the Onion: Your Tax Dollars Spent Training Prostitutes to Drink Responsibly

Just when you think that the wastefulness of the U.S. government couldn’t get any worse, according to this video, the US spent $2.6 million training American Chinese prostitutes to drink responsibly.

Rule #34 When Running For Congress

Never post commentary on a website called the Dirty Scottsdale using Brock Landers as your alias. [Boogie Nights]

[Ben Quayle] The son of former Vice President Dan Quayle and an Arizona Republican candidate for Congress admitted Tuesday night that he did, in fact, post comments on DirtyScottsdale.com, a website devoted to chronicling the trashy side of the Scottsdale nightclub scene.

Quayle’s response:

“This is four years ago,” Quayle replied. “This is hilarious this is being brought up. … This is a smear. This is a smear on me from a smear website being pushed by a smear campaign.”

Translation: His comments, which will likely surface any minute, are probably not family friendly.

UPDATE: Separated at Birth: Ben Quayle and Alton from Clueless

Closing Bell: Gramps?

Here’s to hoping you had a well-balanced Wednesday afternoon.

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