tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5288041773374028002012-01-04T01:14:22.527-05:00Exploring new social media technologies...at randomchesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.comBlogger1401100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-33256865818585693942010-12-31T19:27:00.018-05:002011-01-01T02:08:24.301-05:00

Great Falls is the location of a series of rapids on the Potomac River several miles west of Washington, DC, and the area is known for rock climbing and hiking trails. The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal runs on the Maryland side of the river, and the National Park Service maintains a park that runs the entire 184.5 mile length of the canal. At Great Falls you can take a mule-drawn canal boat ride,

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-40517903600270636572010-12-30T23:35:00.008-05:002011-01-01T01:02:40.606-05:00

In mid-October I went to the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historic Park's Great Falls location, just outside of Washington, DC, for one of my favorite kinds of trips -- one where I was able to combine my love of history, photography, and physical recreation. It was a gorgeous autumn day only a couple of weeks before the canal boats closed for the season, and I was able to take some great

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-63840330768818809242010-12-24T10:01:00.004-05:002010-12-24T10:01:00.330-05:00

In September I made a trip to Williamsburg, VA, the historic Colonial-era capital of Virginia. Three important sites are tucked onto this peninsula along a 23-mile parkway, forming the "Historic Triangle": Jamestown, the first successful English settlement in America; Yorktown, the decisive battlefield of the Revolutionary War; and Williamsburg, which has been renovated into a

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-14577027588585435012010-12-24T06:56:00.001-05:002010-12-24T06:56:00.356-05:00

I've had my iPad since May, and I still use it extensively every day. Sometimes I don't even turn my laptop on, and I've even taken some trips where I left my laptop at home and traveled with just the iPad. Here's a partial list of the apps I use on the iPad and what I'd like to see in the next iPad: My Favorite Apps 1. News: There simply isn't a better way to read news than the iPad.

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-63204735128593610092010-12-23T06:01:00.002-05:002010-12-24T22:17:06.790-05:00

Just before Halloween my sister's dog, a Mal-Shi (Shih Tzu-Maltese mix) named Zoey, had a litter of three puppies. My sister got Zoey about 2-1/2 years ago from a breeder in Missouri, because she wanted a small dog that would not shed and would be relatively hypoallergenic (her husband has allergies). This Fall she decided to breed Zoey with a Maltese and the resulting puppies were just

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-27157097559613491102010-12-21T18:39:00.023-05:002010-12-24T01:44:09.275-05:00

In the wee hours of this morning there was a total lunar eclipse, which was on the same day as the winter solstice (the day when the sun is the lowest in the northern skies, marking the beginning of winter). According to the Washington Post, these events hadn't coincided in almost 2,000 years, and on the spur of the moment I decided to try to capture pictures of the eclipse. I was ill-prepared

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-30143553769351771602010-08-30T20:21:00.019-04:002012-01-04T01:14:22.543-05:00

In a nutshell: After seeing his show and listening to his CD, I think Tyler Toliver is a singer and songwriter with rare talent, and if you get the chance you should go hear him play. Here are some pictures I took of one of his performances in Manassas, VA. Update: Tyler Toliver's music is now available on iTunes. ---A few weeks ago new country music artist Tyler Toliver jumped on stage at

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-85249125797770118392010-08-29T21:32:00.018-04:002010-09-04T18:21:11.846-04:00

Manassas, VA, just 30 miles from downtown Washington, DC, was the site of two very different major Civil War battles spaced a little more than a year apart. This past weekend was the 148th anniversary of the second of these battles, called Second Manassas. I went to Manassas on two different days to tour Manassas National Battlefield Park, see Civil War demonstrations, and walk around Manassas

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-66058048907950387302010-08-25T10:39:00.001-04:002010-08-25T10:46:13.202-04:00

I don't know why I haven't written more extensively about Victoria Gastro Pub in Columbia, MD, one of my favorite restaurants. Maybe it's because I often go on the spur of the moment, and with its dark interiors it's not easy to get good pictures there. This is a restaurant that has excellent food and a creative touch, with the small plates and appetizers particularly worthy of note. Located

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-72176486320543797542010-08-23T19:15:00.104-04:002011-01-03T23:45:46.100-05:00

I also visited the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History last month with my nieces. Located in the Fort Worth, TX Cultural District, this is an engaging museum that mostly focuses on getting kids to interact with science. It surprised me how much all of the kids seemed to enjoy digging for "fossils" (but then again, kids have always liked grubbing around in the dirt) and that we almost

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-66617154307618894382010-08-21T13:22:00.015-04:002010-08-23T22:22:03.530-04:00

I went to the Fort Worth Water Gardens while visiting my family in Texas last month. Tucked among the buildings of downtown Fort Worth, TX next to the Convention Center, this is a small "refreshing oasis" of trees and water fountains. The Active Pool Calling the signature feature, The Active Pool, a fountain is a major understatement. Designed in 1974 by architects Philip Johnson and John

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-90670079804881531832010-08-20T22:46:00.102-04:002010-08-22T14:17:27.347-04:00

I found the band Paramore via a duet by their lead singer, Hayley Williams, with the rapper B.o.B. on Airplanes. Much of their music is a little too hard rock for me, but I like the aggressive alt-rocker crushcrushcrush and the waltzing The Only Exception, a song about new hope for love in the face of cynicism and disappointment. ----- I ran across Halfway to Hazard's Countrified while looking

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-61864637877574395642010-08-19T22:07:00.006-04:002010-08-21T14:24:52.356-04:00

The Independence Day celebration in Washington, DC is always a big event, as you might expect in the nation's capital. Numerous events are held in and around the National Mall, including a parade, the Smithsonian's Folklife Festival, musical entertainment, and fireworks. I went into DC last month with the intent of sampling all of these events and taking pictures of the fireworks. I only lasted

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-11757391168062798502010-08-14T19:21:00.027-04:002010-08-23T23:33:46.217-04:00

I went to see country artist Richie Fields at the Howard County Fair on Friday night. I've heard Richie play at Cancun Cantina and other local venues, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to take some photographs of a dynamic entertainer. The Fields Family Richie gave a terrific performance, and as a bonus he had two of his seven kids join him on stage at different points. His teenage

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-65809851581227559472010-08-14T09:00:00.033-04:002010-08-20T01:45:53.254-04:00

One of the entertainment acts this year at the Howard County (Md.) Fair was King Street Bluegrass Band, an Alexandria, VA based quartet that plays Bluegrass as well as Country and Classic Rock. The band takes its name from King Street in Old Town Alexandria, where they first started playing together. Here's a video of them playing the Johnson Mountain Boys' bluegrass tune "Don't You Call My

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-43806074585463552212010-08-13T15:38:00.027-04:002010-08-21T14:41:42.813-04:00

I went to the Howard County (Md.) County Fair last Sunday to take some pictures. Howard County is an interesting juxtaposition of a suburban eastern third (Columbia/Ellicott City was just named #2 on Money's list of Best Places to Live for small cities) with a largely rural western section, where zoning has preserved agricultural land (and, to be honest, McMansions). The HoCo Fairgrounds are

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-54861915516250237502010-06-27T08:01:00.035-04:002010-07-09T01:13:59.968-04:00

Update (6/30/10): I contacted Danielle, the line dance instructor at Ned Devine's, and she graciously corrected the name and steps for me. The actual name of the dance is "Refried Dreams" (which I've fixed in the title and below) and the step sheet is available on her web site, linedance4you.com. A bunch of folks who usually dance at Ned Devine's in Centreville, VA were at Cancun Cantina this

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-79565514760114693252010-06-13T14:35:00.003-04:002010-07-09T01:14:36.369-04:00

Here's a line dance that is done at Cancun Cantina West in Hagerstown, MD that I call Fast As You because it's the only song I've ever seen it danced to. It seems to be a twist on The Hitchhiker but what makes it cool is the way they slap the floor in front and behind. It's particularly impressive when it's being done by 40-50 dancers. In this video a lot of the dancers are clearly learning

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-18355947585223593762010-06-01T00:09:00.022-04:002010-06-01T01:42:20.893-04:00

Dear Mom, Sorry that I haven't written in a while. You see, I've been too busy using my new iPad. Yes, I know I said I wasn't exactly sure what I'd do with it. And I know I said it seemed a little too heavy when I tried it in the Apple Store while I was waiting for mine to ship. But you know what? This device is something you just have to experience to understand how addictive it is. Once it's

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-33605659894725356882010-04-29T23:44:00.010-04:002010-05-03T20:59:32.923-04:00

I like this video of Crazy Legs, a pretty cool line dance that's usually done to the club mix version of Cotton Eye Joe by Swedish hip-hop country band Rednex. I'm not sure where the video was taken, but the dancers are all competition caliber. Their moves are smooth but also executed crisply, and some of them add jumps and flourishes. This is an unusually vigorous way to do this line dance.

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-52043164119614874492010-04-25T23:07:00.012-04:002010-04-26T21:42:28.126-04:00

In January I spent a few hours walking around the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. Established in 1845 and steeped in history and tradition, the USNA is a beautiful campus even in the middle of winter thanks largely to a concerted effort to replace the early wooden structures with stately granite buildings in the early part of the 20th Century. As one of the three primary Service Academies,

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-92030488896154779822010-04-21T10:47:00.010-04:002010-05-04T22:05:33.697-04:00

A new 5-piece country band from Pittsburgh called The Stickers was playing at Cancun Cantina West in Hagerstown, MD a few weeks ago. Surprisingly, they sounded better on their original numbers than many of the cover songs. The lead singer has a pleasant baritone voice and the band members displayed some flair and dynamism, shifting around on the stage to engage the audience. The band's

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-48404136796715377442010-04-19T12:02:00.001-04:002010-04-19T12:02:00.695-04:00

Rasika, a restaurant in Washington DC offering the "flavors of India", has such an exalted reputation that I was surprised to find that it largely met my expectations. I don't eat Indian food frequently, and most of what I've had in the past consists of curried, stewed meats and vegetables. What I liked about Rasika is that while the main entrees were in this style, they offered many

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-79815513039859558592010-04-18T12:33:00.006-04:002010-04-26T02:48:42.194-04:00

As I emerged from the Archives/Navy Memorial Metro Station on Pennsylvania Avenue in downtown Washington DC on a bright, warm spring day I was greeted by the brassy sounds of a band playing patriotic airs. I unexpectedly found myself in a sea of both khaki and black-and-white uniforms, and the music was coming from a US Navy band. I had to stop to find out what event had brought them there.

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-47084042659596088402010-04-15T22:00:00.019-04:002010-04-16T11:20:45.655-04:00

The version of the Red High Heels line dance as done at Cancun Cantina in Hanover, MD is a little different than the one choreographed by Moses Bourassa and Barbara Frechette, which is what you find if you do a search on the Internet.I think what's danced at The Cantina is a simplified adaptation of this "official" version, because the way the kick-ball-changes at the beginning of the dance

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-83417163132893280302010-04-11T21:07:00.014-04:002010-04-18T21:48:30.319-04:00

The Harters: Family. Love. Harmony. Unique songwriting and harmonies combine to make The Harters' debut EP Family. Love. Harmony. stand out from everything else in country music. This family trio from Arizona has an unusually emotional singing style that somehow simultaneously invokes folk, country, and pop music. Jenny and Why I Cry are the most conventional of the five songs here, but my

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-51960701575783790972010-04-08T00:11:00.006-04:002010-04-18T17:01:55.519-04:00

I went to the 2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC last week to see the cherry trees at peak bloom. Though there are various events and performances during this two-week span, I just walked around taking pictures, though I did participate in some of the free, engaging park ranger tours at the Jefferson and FDR Memorials.The 3000 cherry trees were originally donated from Japan in

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-57755001690144507112010-04-07T22:56:00.014-04:002010-04-18T17:02:47.978-04:00

I went to the Apple Store today to look at the iPad, since I have a 3G version on order that won't ship till the end of the month (though by coincidence, my Apple-designed case also arrived today via FedEx). For the most part, I found the iPad to be as described in the many reviews since its release last week: fast, easy to use, and with a beautiful screen.But I finally understood what people

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-44895808775804798412010-02-23T23:57:00.013-05:002011-04-12T22:47:51.279-04:00

A few years ago a friend introduced me to An Loi, a restaurant that serves Vietnamese pho and grilled meats in Columbia, MD. Ironically, this was about a month before I stopped working near there, but I try to drop in every few months for lunch or dinner. The pho is really good, served with a side plate of fresh bean sprouts, lime, peppers, and basil leaves which can be added to the piping hot

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-68377586465105269872010-02-08T23:39:00.007-05:002010-02-09T00:18:54.452-05:00

I think I’m going to buy an iPad -- but it’s going to be a leap of faith.When it comes to Apple products, I’m not exactly unbiased. I’m an Apple shareholder and have been using a Mac for almost 20 years.At the same time, I’m not usually an early adopter. The only product I’ve ever gotten as soon as it was announced was the iPod, because it fixed everything I hated about my old MP3 players and I

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-81490611601904849192009-06-26T23:54:00.009-04:002009-06-27T10:00:36.124-04:00

The central grassy area on the National Mall in Washington DC, ringed by the various Smithsonian museums and monument and normally empty, is filled with tents right now as the Smithsonian sponsors its annual free Folklife Festival.Each year the Smithsonian Institution picks some cultures from around the world to showcase, with the focus this year on three distinctly different cultures: Wales (or

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-21624742062809173782009-06-25T22:50:00.005-04:002009-06-25T23:16:07.274-04:00

I ran into Washington DC for some sightseeing on Wednesday and I decided to try CF Folks, a small eatery that is only open at lunchtime on weekdays. This quirky place near Dupont Circle serves soup, sandwiches, and salads on its regular menu, but is best known for its daily specials that draw inspiration from different ethnic cuisines each day.Influences For Each DayThe weekly rotation is

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-685762555716406412009-06-23T23:58:00.007-04:002010-07-22T16:02:47.898-04:00

Update (7/22/10): Marathon Deli typically closes for a couple of weeks each summer so the owners can take a vacation. This year it will be closed 7/23/10 - 8/2/10. After buying some accessories for my new camera, I wound up at Marathon Deli in College Park, MD next to the University of Maryland campus, one of my favorite spots for gyros. Then afterwards I took a quick walk around the campus to

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-33721044139409487382009-06-22T00:53:00.023-04:002009-08-17T21:26:48.270-04:00

I'm expecting my sister to visit me with my nieces in a couple of weeks, so I've started scouting locations in Washington DC. The twins at 10 years of age are getting interested in museums, and if there's one thing Washington does well it's museums -- world-class facilities that are almost all free of charge.With that said, I've learned from bitter (or at least disconcerting) experience that kids

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-22275479022323685532009-06-19T13:07:00.014-04:002009-06-22T03:23:10.386-04:00

My new 32GB iPhone 3GS, which I ordered on-line 10 days ago, arrived at my doorstep at high noon via UPS. I signed for the box, opened the iPhone and connected it to my MacBook. Activation only took 5 minutes.I then started the process of restoring the new phone from the back-up of my old iPhone on iTunes, a process that took 40 minutes. The new 3GS then restarted, but after that the lengthy

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-30100321162433114202009-06-14T22:09:00.017-04:002009-06-18T00:08:35.490-04:00

I love Pixar's movies for their focus upon the stories, and their craftsmanship and attention to detail. I finally saw their latest release, Up, this weekend, and I found it to be one of their warmest and funniest movies, one I'd rank just behind the Toy Story movies along with The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Monsters Inc., and Finding Nemo.Last summer's Wall-E, while a tour-de-force technically

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-29905414885284539582009-06-12T07:23:00.001-04:002009-06-14T19:20:02.653-04:00

Every now and then a product comes along that, although it fills just a small niche in the grand scheme of things, works so much better than anything else that it has a greatness of its own.Band-Aid Activ Flex bandages fit into that category.Simply put, while they're a little bit pricey, they're well worth it because they don't just work better than regular bandages, they do things those bandages

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-43235581113991430832009-06-09T21:18:00.014-04:002009-06-14T19:37:36.798-04:00

When it comes to dining in Portland, the city seems to have a relatively large number of good places to eat, and I was most interested in finding places with local character.I tried a couple of local brewpubs, a "haunted" pizzeria, the airport outlet of a place that claims to be a Portland institution, went to a fine-dining Andean restaurant, and finally did a drive-by of a doughnut shop.Quick

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-27770639500782202332009-06-08T20:03:00.029-04:002009-06-15T02:54:46.195-04:00

The rumors were right, and today Apple opened its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) by announcing that a new iPhone 3G-S will go on sale on June 19th (the "S" stands for "speed"), while cutting the price of the current 3G model in half.It's a pretty significant upgrade, and I've already started plotting how I'll replace ordered a replacement for my less than 1 year old iPhone 3G. While all

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-77457037205453526112009-06-07T00:54:00.004-04:002009-06-11T22:42:18.255-04:00

Last month I made my first trip to Portland, Oregon in years. With more time and mobility on this trip, I found the time to go country dancing at a couple of interesting clubs and along the way, I unexpectedly ran into an old friend.The ClubsIn researching country dance clubs on the Internet prior to my trip, I found four clubs listed, all within a half hour of central Portland:Bushwhackers (8200

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-68049981920894088182009-06-06T00:49:00.005-04:002009-06-09T23:56:10.891-04:00

I used Apple's iMovie on my MacBook to create my first video ever, using some stills and a short grainy video I took at Multnomah Falls, OR, part of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area just east of Portland.Making The VideoIt took me a few hours because I had absolutely no clue what I was doing.Importing the video was simple enough as iPhoto simply pulled it in from my camera just like

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-38561376061725951732009-06-05T01:01:00.017-04:002010-05-04T21:50:21.784-04:00

I spent a few days in Portland, Oregon in May and came away with an appreciation for the city. Though I like living in a fast-paced area like Washington DC, the city of Portland and its environs have a charming character and are nestled in still-significant swaths of forest. The journey over the bridges across the Williamette River at times reminded me of Pittsburgh. Pittock Mansion I started by

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-70645257402603349112009-06-04T09:32:00.003-04:002009-06-15T03:26:20.222-04:00

I finally got around to refinancing my mortgage this past month. I didn't search around too much; rates are historically low and as long as the rate was roughly in line with my expectations, I was more concerned about making the process as painless as possible.Countrywide/Bank of AmericaMy mortgage had been sold to Countrywide (which has since been bought out by Bank of America) so I decided to

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-28162113314473906062009-06-03T05:12:00.001-04:002009-06-03T23:46:04.561-04:00

I went to a going-away luncheon at Carolina's Tex-Mex in Baltimore, MD for a friend from Puerto Rico who's moving to Florida. I was a little skeptical because I couldn't find a web site or menu on-line, and I've been almost universally disappointed by all of the restaurants claiming to have Tex-Mex in this area.But, while the "Tex-Mex" part is a misnomer, the food was delicious. The cuisine is

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-11616600606404911352009-06-02T00:06:00.003-04:002009-06-03T05:37:46.838-04:00

I've been pretty busy for the past few months but hopefully I'll be able to start posting regularly again. Here's the music I've been listening to lately.Wanted by Jessie James [video]Life In A Northern Town by Little Big TownEvangeline by Little Big TownUndone by Dean BrodyI Can't Let You Go by Sarah LenoreIt's A Girl Thing by Jesse LeeBobbi With An "I" by Phil Vassar99 Things by Kate

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-25319780787293177302009-06-01T02:14:00.015-04:002009-12-26T17:11:17.668-05:00

As an experiment, I decided to create a public on-line Google calendar that consolidates the band schedules for the three major Country (C&W) dancing clubs in the DC-MD-VA area (Washington D.C. and its suburbs):Cancun Cantina (CC), 7501 Old Telegraph Rd, Hanover, MD 21076 [schedule]Cancun Cantina West (CCW), 901 Dual Highway, Hagerstown, MD 21740 [schedule]Nick's Night Club (N), 642 S. Pickett

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-89815616826234422692009-03-22T05:08:00.018-04:002010-05-14T10:34:08.297-04:00

It's not surprising that a country band would call itself "Mason Dixon." But it is confusing when two such bands play on successive weekends at the same venue. I went to Cancun Cantina West in Hagerstown, MD for the first time in 2 years this Saturday. North of Mason Dixon (aka NOMaD) played there the previous weekend, so when I saw that this week's schedule called for Mason Dixon I assumed it

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-80137599641325567392009-03-21T12:49:00.015-04:002009-04-04T18:25:48.287-04:00

I discovered this month's music in an eclectic fashion, but mostly from exploring the Genius recommendations in iTunes.Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go) - GarbageI'm Not Over - Carolina LiarI Need To Know - Marc AnthonySaturday Night - Aaron CarterShut Up And Let Me Go - The Ting TingsWhy Don't You And I - Santana and Chad KroegerThis month I decided to split out the country songs since they typically

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-49114623897538976032009-03-21T10:03:00.017-04:002010-09-02T13:27:37.916-04:00

I went to Nick's Nightclub in Alexandria, VA last night to see The John Luskey Band, a country act I hadn't heard before. After a shaky start they proved to be pretty good. I decided to go see the band after listening to some samples of their music on their web site. (They also have played at WMZQ Fest the last couple of years.) But I was afraid it was going to be a long night when on their

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-68345272662681419672009-03-16T23:39:00.020-04:002009-03-17T10:03:26.366-04:00

The Apple iPhone 3G is a great device, but its two biggest weaknesses by far are the camera (which performs poorly in anything except brightly-lit conditions) and the way it sucks down power, especially when you're using the Maps function with GPS location.So I've learned to manage power carefully. It's not a problem on an ordinary day, but when I'm traveling, or going into Washington DC, it's

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-52719427237127135962009-03-15T14:07:00.022-04:002011-01-03T23:46:30.925-05:00

aka Dallas for Kids Part 3Our final stop last Sunday in Dallas was the Museum of Nature and Science at Fair Park, the Texas State Fairgrounds. This turned out to be much better than I expected, and I wish we had allocated more than 2 hours for the visit.They've combined two neighboring museums, The Museum of Natural History and The Science Place, both opened more than 60 years ago.The Science

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-53632227501070661632009-03-13T23:55:00.016-04:002011-01-03T23:46:30.927-05:00

aka Dallas For Kids Part 2My nieces wanted to go to the aquarium, the zoo, and some museums while I was visiting Dallas last weekend. At 10 years of age, they're actively interested in learning things now, but on this trip I only had one day free for these activities.So on Sunday we went to the Dallas World Aquarium (DWA) as well as two combined museums in Fair Park (the Texas State Fairgrounds),

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-87783093506931867202009-03-12T11:58:00.009-04:002009-03-15T14:30:10.833-04:00

I was in Dallas last weekend for a surprise birthday party for my sister, but it was also one of the regular trips I make there to see my nieces, who just turned 10. I usually try to do some fun things with them and on this trip the list included:Amazing Jake's (a family entertainment mega-complex)Want To Be A Rock Star? (a singing competition they were entered in)Riding scootersDallas World

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-5160815157645419032009-03-11T22:47:00.005-04:002009-03-11T23:13:51.698-04:00

I was visiting my family in Dallas this past weekend, when the Daylight Savings Time "spring forward" occurred. Monday was the day that I flew out so I set my alarm early in order to see my 10 year old nieces before they went to school.When I woke up it was so quiet that I first thought I had miscalculated and missed everyone. But walking out of the guest bedroom I could see my nieces still in

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-27493432649111951612009-03-07T01:02:00.014-05:002009-04-25T18:44:03.111-04:00

I lost the large-size earbud on my Aliph Jawbone Noise Assassin ($130) bluetooth headset that I use with my iPhone, so I went to the Jawbone web site to order some replacements.(As noted before, the fit is critical to the performance of the Noise Assassin. When it works, it's the best headset for clarity and noise suppression.But if the voice sensor isn't touching your face, it sounds like you're

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-70476853810257023382009-03-04T14:06:00.014-05:002009-03-17T23:41:13.900-04:00

Amazon made the Kindle for iPhone (free) reader available on the iTunes App Store today. While the app itself is still rudimentary, it has a clever method of automatically tracking bookmarks across devices and marks a sea-change in the electronic books market.With the release of the first of what Amazon promises will be many Kindle readers for smartphones (and in a way that is complementary to

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-68948707557237759942009-03-03T22:04:00.022-05:002009-06-15T03:50:12.493-04:00

There are 5 days left in Howard County Restaurant Week.Go. To. Bistro. Blanc.I knew that last week was Restaurant Week in Howard County, where I live about halfway between the beltways in central Maryland, but I was too swamped to try some of the special offerings from the local participating restaurants.On the spur of the moment, I decided to return tonight to Bistro Blanc in Glenelg, MD where I

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-14739722878797612162009-03-03T01:48:00.015-05:002009-03-03T23:10:49.848-05:00

I used my annual press pass at the Newseum in Washington DC to tour some of the exhibits I hadn't seen on my previous visit there: G-Men and Journalists (a collection of FBI artifacts) and Manhunt (about the hunt for Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth).While neither exhibit is worth a special trip to the Newseum, they are both slickly produced and worthy additions to the overall experience. Of

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-70479089642901797432009-03-01T23:49:00.025-05:002009-03-02T03:54:48.334-05:00

Last week I also ate at Palena in the Cleveland Park neighborhood of Washington DC, and it immediately became a new favorite with its subtly inventive cuisine, which delighted me with many small surprises.Palena was founded by two former 1980's era White House chefs, Frank Ruta and Ann Amernick, and though pastry chef Amernick has retired, the food is still stellar. Co-owner Ruta won the James

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-70677929989528510042009-02-28T02:53:00.015-05:002009-03-02T20:52:31.275-05:00

Since I was in downtown Washington DC to attend an event at the Newseum this week, I took advantage of the opportunity to have lunch nearby at Michel Richard's Central, a less formal bistro that is the companion to his high-end French restaurant Citronelle.I found Central to be very good but perhaps a little too well-mannered in its casual French-American fare. I enjoyed my meal but didn't find

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-53434081425108617882009-02-27T01:47:00.017-05:002009-03-02T21:10:02.163-05:00

I went back to The Newseum in Washington DC today for a discussion of a new book, The Great Decision by Cliff Sloan and David McKean, about the seminal 1803 US Supreme Court case Marbury vs. Madison that established the judiciary as the final interpreter of the US Constitution.The celebrity speaker was Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, but he really did little more than introduce the topic

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-59748045313968533402009-02-19T06:18:00.022-05:002009-02-28T18:30:53.718-05:00

Back That Thing Up - Justin Moore [video]Small Town USA - Justin MooreThat Dude - The High DecibelsGettin' You Home - Chris YoungWerewolves of London - Warren ZevonEveryone's At It - Lily AllenAnyone But You - JewelJump Around - House of PainRed Light - David NailBrighter Days - Jimmy WayneThe heartfelt nature of Small Town USA, Justin Moore's twangy ode to his small hometown of Poyen, AR (pop.

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-21174726115176164282009-02-15T23:10:00.004-05:002009-02-16T02:55:06.952-05:00

I had no idea that Whole Foods Market is a cult phenomenon. The first time I ducked into the store, it was simply because it was near my Albuquerque, NM hotel and I needed to pick up some fluids to drink (the dry air and altitude there dehydrate me quickly).I was surprised to see that the grocery seemed to specialize in organic foods and had many unusual products. By the end of the week I was

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-57106903345430492182009-02-12T20:24:00.001-05:002009-02-13T00:48:28.332-05:00

I told my friend Tom that he's now my official automotive consultant. Acting on another tip from him, when my "Check Engine" light came on I went to Advance Auto Parts in Columbia, MD to borrow their car code reader to diagnose the problem.Car CodesAdvance lets you use their car code reader if you leave your driver's license at the counter. The unit they have is the Actron CP9175 OBD-II

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-81384076135988789822009-02-09T12:08:00.003-05:002009-02-13T01:03:22.372-05:00

Acting on a tip from Chowhound.com, I went to the new Harris Teeter grocery store in Columbia, MD to get some North Carolina-style pulled pork barbecue from Brookwood Farms of Siler City, NC.Oddly enough, I've never stopped in North Carolina long enough to eat there, so I can't vouch for the authenticity of this product as a representative of NC-style barbecue.But I can say is it's the best

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-84705018070039890892009-02-05T07:17:00.003-05:002009-02-05T07:17:01.901-05:00

A while back somebody put a dent about the size of a basketball in the right rear quarter panel of my car. On the recommendation of my friend Tom, I got a quote from Auto Body Images in Laurel, MD (or maybe it's officially Jessup, MD) and then took advantage of a short trip to minimize my downtime without a car.I used the night drop service to leave the car early in the morning, then picked it up

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-69152203131168746452009-02-03T07:10:00.002-05:002009-02-03T07:10:00.202-05:00

This is just one of those shots from the "I'm easily amused" category:The lead goose had found something interesting in the median and was parked there with its bill buried in the grass. The rest of the gang was lined up patiently in line...but unfortunately, strung out across the road.After several minutes I finally drove slowly to the right and the geese there gave way. But as I looked back,

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-18527587102239930182009-01-30T07:28:00.005-05:002009-02-05T01:01:30.544-05:00

Terminal D at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Airport is relatively new, opening in 2005, and so much resembles a huge stainless steel-and-glass shopping mall with modern artwork that the airport gates seem almost an afterthought.On the return leg of my trip to Austin, I had a long layover at DFW so I got the chance to eat at Cousin's Barbecue, a small Ft. Worth chain that's opened up an outlet at Gate

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-47955828325204947932009-01-29T22:05:00.016-05:002009-02-14T07:49:08.708-05:00

I flew quickly in and out of Austin, TX this week, where I had a chance to try a couple of local restaurants: a new location of The Salt Lick, a well-known pit barbecue establishment, and Chuy's, an Austin-based Tex-Mex chain with about a dozen locations in Texas. Both are worth trying if you want to get a little local Texas flavor.Since I was in the north part of town, I went to the Round Rock

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-28364286093297387662009-01-28T18:03:00.005-05:002009-03-02T21:06:12.449-05:00

I was excited to see that I have a seat for an event next month at The Newseum in Washington, DC, a "conversation" with Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens about Marbury vs. Madison on February 26th.I mean, to me it's just incredibly cool to be in a live audience watching one of the nine US Supreme Court Justices discuss the 1803 decision that established the Court's role in interpreting the

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-2636986578328563362009-01-27T23:01:00.000-05:002009-01-27T23:01:01.363-05:00

The Belkin Earbud Clip ($15 or less) is one of those small, clever, but cheap products that solves a problem everyone has: namely, how to keep your iPod or iPhone earbuds tangle-free and neatly stored.The issue became more acute for me after getting my iPhone 3G because not only did I need to access my earbuds more frequently, but they lacked the little slider that holds the earbuds together on

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-62983227522142296952009-01-26T09:13:00.003-05:002009-02-16T03:56:14.857-05:00

Oddly, though I mostly listen to country music, this is the first list that's been predominantly country. My current playlist:4ever - The Veronicas [video]The Way I Are - Timbaland vs NephewCowgirls Don't Cry - Brooks & DunnLast Call - Lee Ann WomackIt Won't Be Like This For Long - Darius RuckerForever - John Michael MontgomeryAn Empty Glass - Gary StewartLay It All On You - Wade BowenWhat I

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-14477359581420727712009-01-23T18:23:00.004-05:002009-06-14T20:24:54.343-04:00

I talked two people into opening up Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) this week, which as far as I'm concerned are money in your pocket. Normally our Open Season (when you can start or change contributions to an FSA) ends in early December, but for some reason they've extended the deadline to the end of this month.FSAs were established in a federal law that allows your employer the option of

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-45903894041099160862009-01-21T19:00:00.021-05:002009-06-24T00:00:08.519-04:00

Barbecue is both nearly universal and intensely personal. I think there's something primal in our affection for smoked, charred meat, spanning as it does people of all cultures and races.My tin-pot theory is that it's partially an evolutionary adaptation: that people who liked the taste of meat roasted over a fire survived more readily in ancient times because they were less likely to get ill

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-18405298459738799582009-01-19T20:17:00.012-05:002009-01-22T02:18:47.892-05:00

Just in time for the Inauguration tomorrow, the Baltimore-Washington region got a light coating of snow today. If it doesn't snow again Tuesday, the ceremonies may actually benefit because the temperature is appreciably warmer than the bone-chilling cold this past weekend.The frozen precipitation was enough to cause the salt trucks to hit the roads -- though not enough to cause a run on milk,

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-74125134342159892992009-01-19T01:48:00.026-05:002009-01-19T04:38:19.686-05:00

For a while there, it felt like 2001.Or more precisely, the 2000-2001 National Football League playoffs, when the Baltimore Ravens rode a dominating, Ray Lewis-led defense to victory in their first and only Super Bowl.Unfortunately, despite a gritty performance by the Ravens defense, the Steelers pulled out a hard-hitting 23-14 win that was much closer than the score suggests. On the 200th

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-80852080107163224512009-01-18T06:01:00.001-05:002009-01-18T06:01:01.161-05:00

10 years ago I'd never heard of Lyme Disease. But in the past couple of years, at least 10 people I know have been diagnosed with the potentially life-threatening illness.Marylanders are particularly susceptible to Lyme Disease because as the disease has spread down the Northeast Corridor, deer ticks that are the primary carrier have found a ready host in the exploding deer population in the

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-53585109707545452062009-01-13T22:47:00.020-05:002009-06-15T02:30:34.582-04:00

I was intrigued when I read that Mark Dixon, the chef at the new restaurant Bistro Blanc in the "wilds" of Glenelg, MD, had previously been chef at two well-regarded Columbia establishments, Iron Bridge Wine Company and Cafe de Paris.I stopped at Bistro Blanc for lunch last week, and despite a few minor misses there were enough sparks of excellence that I went back for dinner. I ordered a little

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-55851790646817186812009-01-12T06:22:00.003-05:002009-06-14T02:35:13.143-04:00

Cancun Cantina in Hanover, MD was pretty fun this weekend, as the crowds have really rebounded since the new year and the band was fairly good. Derryl Perry (misspelled Terry on the web site) is a Nashville-based act with Texas roots near my hometown.The MusicTheir Saturday performance was much better than the previous evening mainly because they made some adjustments to their mixing board to

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-51860744699755559172009-01-11T06:19:00.021-05:002009-05-29T02:09:55.341-04:00

The third location of Maiwand Kabob, an Afghan kabob restaurant, opened this weekend near Arundel Mills Mall in Hanover, MD, just south of BWI Airport. They were supposed to start up in August but were delayed by changes requested by the county and the fire marshall.I think people have been waiting for this place to open, as even without any advertising it was packed with a steady stream of

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-7719362930496295892009-01-10T05:25:00.013-05:002009-02-28T05:33:05.447-05:00

The other major thing I did last Monday was to visit the Newseum in Washington DC. As the name implies, it's a news museum, but it's also dedicated to the First Amendment of the US Constitution: freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and the press.In a town where world-class museums, monuments, and landmark buildings (literally a stone's throw away) are often free to the public, the

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-59643254108422196892009-01-09T23:08:00.010-05:002009-01-09T23:08:01.017-05:00

I went duckpin bowling yesterday for the first time since I was about 9 years old.My office sponsored a "Bowlerama" on our own time in lieu of a Christmas party this year, and I think it was more fun than milling around aimlessly at a traditional party. We bowled in five teams and chowed down on some truly awful bowling alley pizza, chicken strips, and onion rings.Duckpin uses smaller balls and

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-86775622829587067042009-01-08T21:48:00.006-05:002009-01-10T02:22:46.180-05:00

I had dinner the other night at Matchbox in Washington DC's Chinatown, a cozy space known for its pizzas and mini burgers. The restaurant's tables have its namesake matchboxes inlaid into the tables, and the interior is a beautifully eclectic fusion of polished wood, metal, and exposed brick.I'm told the Chinese writing on the front of Matchbox means "Traditional" in Simplified Chinese.About

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-46129753907567114762009-01-07T18:24:00.017-05:002009-01-11T04:07:03.210-05:00

On Monday I had an early lunch at Greek Deli & Catering in Washington DC, a carryout-only counter wedged into a small space just south of Dupont Circle, where I also had a staredown with some birds.Run by Greek-born owner Kostas Fostieris and his family, the place is known for its gyros and other Greek food, with customers supposedly lined up out the door at lunchtime and the food gone by

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-54852423323635615082009-01-06T17:19:00.045-05:002009-01-19T21:44:41.531-05:00

Washington DC is starting to prepare for the Inauguration in 2 weeks, and I found on a trip into the city Monday that all along the parade route workers were busy building the stands, pruning trees, painting, and cleaning.It was a good day to be in the District, because the city was relatively empty despite the return of the workforce and the day was somewhat balmy for early January, overcast but

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-78560349374352854502009-01-04T06:12:00.015-05:002009-01-14T23:33:59.976-05:00

Ben's Chili Bowl in the U Street Corridor of Washington DC is an institution in the District, famed for the "half-smokes" endorsed by entertainer Bill Cosby (and maybe Barack Obama, who DC restauranteurs are hoping will spark a renaissance in the local dining scene).Though it may sound like I drove an hour for a hot dog, a half-smoke is actually more like a kielbasa, with strongly spiced,

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-7347940025461195972009-01-03T18:14:00.027-05:002010-07-13T20:45:27.578-04:00

Update (7/13/10): My Noise Assassin was working well but I bought the new Jawbone Icon because it addressed my issues. It now has a separate slider switch that means you won't accidentally turn it on or off, and they even added a lot of voiceover functions that are pretty useful (such as an audible notification when your battery is running low). I lost the Bluetooth wireless earpiece that I use

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-77561219515998757752009-01-03T02:30:00.027-05:002010-08-31T16:27:43.285-04:00

Tandem, the country band at Cancun Cantina in Hanover, MD this week, has been coming there for a couple of years. A few months ago they added a new female fiddle player who's really taken them up a notch. You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band Not only should every country band be required to have a fiddle, but though Tandem's newest band member is a petite lady she has a "big" voice. The first

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-69662455456082616032008-12-30T22:40:00.010-05:002009-06-14T02:35:47.753-04:00

I went to Nick's last weekend specifically to hear a new band, Double Cross. I couldn't find a web site but decided to give them a chance and I'm glad I did.They were very polished and professional and had two things going for them that makes them stand out: a fiddle player and multiple (four? I couldn't always tell who was singing) good lead vocalists, which is rare at the local level.Otherwise

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-66032093498374751792008-12-30T01:27:00.016-05:002008-12-31T04:29:21.616-05:00

I've wanted to try Ethiopian food for some time, so tonight I went to Dukem Ethiopian Restaurant (pronounced DOOKem) in Baltimore. This is the second location of a well-known Ethiopian restaurant in Washington DC.It was good but different -- Ethiopian food is served without utensils, and you use injera bread to scoop it up into your mouth.About DukemWashington DC has about 200,000 Ethiopian

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-41414274717823320152008-12-28T23:27:00.028-05:002009-06-14T20:25:35.051-04:00

There's been a spate of interesting Apple news this week:iTunes App Sales Surge Over ChristmasMacRumors points out that Apple's iTunes App Store saw a huge jump in downloads over Christmas, with some developers of apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch seeing their sales go up by 3-4 times.At the same time, according to Net Applications there was a marked increase around Christmas in web visits

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-37944886385738159322008-12-28T22:15:00.009-05:002009-06-11T01:17:34.918-04:00

I ate at Ray's the Classics in Silver Spring, MD a couple of times this past month. Though they serve their gourmet burgers in the bar, I wanted to try their steaks. The verdict: very good steaks at a pretty good price.About Ray's the ClassicsRay's the Classics (RTC) opened up in Silver Spring in 2006 as a complement to Ray's the Steaks (RTS) in Arlington, VA, which has a reputation as the best

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-10914701895581901522008-12-26T22:48:00.019-05:002008-12-28T08:26:05.230-05:00

The number of iPhone apps has now reached 10,000 and every couple of weeks it's like getting a new iPhone. Some more of the interesting recent apps:1. Although it has many competitors, The Weather Channel's (free) app is the best of the bunch and everything a weather tracking application should be: fast, detailed, and easy to use. Everything from daily/hourly/10-day forecasts to radar maps and

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-38325868358457842902008-12-22T00:44:00.033-05:002009-02-08T17:45:50.152-05:00

Amazon's Kindle electronic book reader is the hot gift this Christmas (selling for hundreds over list), sparked by a recommendation by Oprah Winfrey in October. Although I'm a voracious reader, the device has never appealed to me despite an enthusiastic recommendation by a friend.But I recently came back from a trip without having cracked open either of the two paperbacks I'd brought along with

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-11445351122652003312008-12-21T05:21:00.023-05:002010-09-23T23:44:20.921-04:00

On Saturday I also made it back to Nick's for country dancing. Within 30 minutes of my arrival, two people came up and told me, "You must have gotten lost on the way to Cancun Cantina." I think that means I'm in a rut. I go to Cancun Cantina at least twice a week, so I decided to take a break and visit some of the other dance venues in the area. While Nick's is small (as can be seen in the

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-9897507492926930572008-12-21T04:13:00.011-05:002009-01-04T05:00:59.083-05:00

I made it back to 2Amys Neapolitan Pizzeria in Washington DC on Saturday. I had a fairly large meal since I wanted to try several things and I had missed lunch that day.This is a neat place because while they serve delicious gourmet pizzas, they're also very kid-friendly, as is evident from the table in the front window bay:The FoodI had their bruschetta, a Pizza Marinara (tomato, garlic, and

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-10994101099667309072008-12-19T20:09:00.022-05:002009-01-01T22:34:29.936-05:00

Yesterday I rode Metro to one of the newest Smithsonian museums in Washington DC, the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), which opened in 2004 on the National Mall just across from the US Capitol Building.NMAI is a little different than most of the other Smithsonians, in that it has the active participation of many of the Indian tribes in creating the exhibits and sponsoring cultural

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-1933472005523572722008-12-19T18:53:00.011-05:002009-01-01T22:27:56.905-05:00

I had lunch Thursday at Brasserie Beck, Chef Robert Wiedmaier's Belgian-French bistro in Washington DC. Wiedmaier, who has a Belgian father and American mother and grew up in Germany, also owns the French restaurant Marcel's (the restaurants are named after his sons).The FoodAlthough I knew that Brasserie Beck is known for its mussels and Belgian frites, I wanted to try some dishes that were a

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-89825344432065801292008-12-17T23:35:00.009-05:002009-01-01T03:46:19.427-05:00

What I'm listening to this month:Gives You Hell - The All-American RejectsThe Sun Ain't Shining No More - The Asteroids Galaxy TourAround the Bend - The Asteroids Galaxy TourOne More Goodbye - Randy Rogers BandFeel This - Bethany Joy Galeotti (featuring Enation)You Had Me At My Best - Wade BowenThe Anthem - Pitbull (featuring Lil Jon)What Kinda Gone - Chris CagleIf Today Was Your Last Day -

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-528804177337402800.post-88359433247063707302008-12-16T23:36:00.017-05:002009-01-07T00:49:42.913-05:00

A co-worker mentioned today that he was thinking of taking his sons into Washington DC to see the Presidential Inauguration on January 20th. As much as I'd like to witness such an historic event, if the estimates of up to 4 million attendees are in the right ballpark (even though there are only 240,000 formal tickets), it will be absolutely crazy downtown.For perspective, consider these numbers:

chesapeake aghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02070878097625702556noreply@blogger.com0