Parklife DC

Sports Park: THEALUMRUN Comes to DC, 3/29/15

Around Town

Jeremy Bailey

-

February 10, 2015

Sports Park: THEALUMRUN Comes to DC, 3/29/15

THEALUMRUN™ is coming to DC at the end of March.

The first road race specifically focused on university alumni and college sports fans, THEALUMRUN will hold its inaugural event in DC on March 29, 2015.

Participants can choose from a 5K or a 10K race. In addition, there will be a 1K future alumni fun run for children.

After the race, runners can enjoy live music, a wellness village with group fitness options, a spa tent and much more.

Craig Dixon, co-founder of THEALUMRUN, chats with ParkLife DC:

ParkLife DC: Why did you choose DC for the first THEALUMRUN?

Craig: The other founders and I are from the DC area, this is our backyard. DC also attracts huge numbers of college grads, with a broad cross-section of people that love their schools.

ParkLife DC: Where else will you host this racing events?

Craig: We are planning for eight cities in 2015, including Richmond and Virginia Beach in Virginia, Philadelphia and even one on the West Coast in Portland, OR.

ParkLife DC: What does it mean in the event bio to ‘raise money for their University’?

Craig: Each participant has the opportunity to make a donation to their school’s Annual Fund or to their local scholarship fund. Many alumni chapters in DC have scholarship funds for local students to attend their university, including my alma mater, William & Mary.

ParkLife DC: How do the School Teams work?

Craig: Anyone can race, with or without a team, and any group can form a team. We encourage alumni chapters to form a team for their members, or multiple teams. Teams will receive shirts in their school colors. Team members can run either the 5K or the 10K.

In addition, there will be a Reunion Party on the Friday before the race and a day of service on the Saturday, in support of a local DC charity, which we are finalizing now.

ParkLife DC: I notice that you’re tracking school participation and fundraising on the website, is there any prize for being the top school in any category?

Craig: It’s meant to be fun and for schools to have bragging rights.

ParkLife DC: What should an alumni chapter do if they want to participate?

Craig: Help spread the word. Get their members to run. Help generate volunteer support for the day of service. Put it on your calendar or share via your Facebook page or Twitter account. We can also provide a template for sharing key points.

You can register here.

There is also a Flash Sale (20% discount) until February 15th. (Use Promo Code: TAR20)

THEALUMRUN 5 and 10K Race
Freedom Plaza
Sunday, March 29
$35 for 5K
$40 for 10K
Reunion Party, Friday, March 27
Day of Service, Saturday, March 28

Music Park: Priests @ Black Cat — 2/7/15

Live Review

Mickey McCarter

-

February 9, 2015

0

Music Park: Priests @ Black Cat — 2/7/15

Gideon Jaguar and Katie Greer do the rock.

Katie Greer’s voice is half kitten purr and half jet engine roar.

Priests took to the stage as an opener for Parquet Courts in a sold-out show at the Black Cat Saturday night, and they blasted out of the gate so rambunctiously, you could be forgiven for forgetting everything that followed them.

Katie and company opened with “New” from their EP Bodies and Control and Money and Power, released in June 2014. The song has all of two lines really — and they are about the sensation of things being “new” when you’re a kid.

But the lyrics matter less in this case than how they are delivered. Katie’s growl grows more powerful as the song goes on while Daniele Daniele pounds away on the drums behind her, yelping out a high-pitched refrain behind her bandmate’s lower register. Taylor Mulitz completes the rhythm section with some deft handling of bass.

Continue

Sports Park: Capitals Weekly Report Card – 2/2-2/8/15

Around Town

Parklifer

-

February 9, 2015

0

Sports Park: Capitals Weekly Report Card – 2/2-2/8/15

Weekly Record: 3-1 (6 pts)
Overall: 28-16-10 (66 pts)
+9 pt advantage for playoff spot
The Caps beat the defending champs, the Kings, 4-0! That’s one way to get their mojo back.

Then they beat the Senators. That’s an A+ for winning against Canada.

But after a three game winning streak, they slipped against the Flyers to close out the week.

Still a good effort.

Results

February 3, 2015: Kings at Capitals – WIN (4-0)

February 5, 2015: Capitals at Senators – WIN (2-1)

February 6, 2015: Ducks at Capitals – WIN (3-2 OT)

February 8, 2015: Flyers at Capitals – LOSS (1-3)

Feb. 2-8 Weekly Report Card: B+
Report Card Archive

Music Park: Laura Tsaggaris @ 9:30 Club — 2/4/15

Live Review

Mickey McCarter

-

February 5, 2015

1

Music Park: Laura Tsaggaris @ 9:30 Club — 2/4/15

Justin Jones affectionately calls her “L.T.”

And the alt-country crooner recalled playing with her over the years, getting their respective starts at the Grog and Tankard (formerly 2408 Wisconsin Ave NW, DC) in Glover Park.

“We’ve both come a long way,” Justin said Wednesday night at the 9:30 Club. She in question is DC singer-songwriter Laura Tsaggaris.

For her part, Laura is a hard-charging, dedicated musician whose perseverance pays off in a number of rock-and-roll songs that are at turns a little bit country, a little bit folk or a little bit blues. Her joint show with Justin Wednesday was billed as Laura Tsaggaris vs. Justin Jones and the B-Sides, but it was honestly a mutual musician’s concert of admiration.

Continue

Food Park: Try a Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout and a Doughnut @ GBD, 2/4/15

Jeremy Bailey

-

February 4, 2015

0

Food Park: Try a Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout and a Doughnut @ GBD, 2/4/15

Tonight at GBD (1323 Connecticut Ave NW). A Flying Dog Brewhouse Rarity!

A full glass of Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout by Flying Dog and a Cinnamon Glazed Brioche doughnut all can be had for $7.

‘…a jalapeño-infused dark chocolate sold at Flying Dog’s local co-op, this brew combines sweet spice and roasted chocolate aromas, followed by flavors of dark chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon and a lingering chili finish.’

Umm, yes?

GBD will also have a few other Flying Dog beers on draft:

Flying Dog Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout
Flying Dog Kujo (Nitro)
Flying Dog Doppelbock
Flying Dog The Truth
Flying Dog Bloodline

Mexican Hot Chocolate Stout with a Cinnamon Glazed Brioche doughnut
@GBD
Wednesday, February 4
5-11pm
$7

Don’t Miss: Laura Tsaggaris and Justin Jones & The B-Sides @ 9:30 Club, 2/4/15

Live Review

Mickey McCarter

-

February 3, 2015

0

Don’t Miss: Laura Tsaggaris and Justin Jones & The B-Sides @ 9:30 Club, 2/4/15

Americana singer-songwriter Laura Tsaggaris takes to the stage at the 9:30 Club (815 V St. NW, DC) Wednesday, Feb. 4, in a co-headlining show with Justin Jones & The B-Sides.

With the show, Laura will mark the release of her fifth CD, Live at the Atlas. The live album was recorded over the weekend of Friday, Sept. 26, and Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Atlas Performing Arts Center (1333 H St. NE, DC). It features 16 songs from her previous CDs, rearranged acoustically in the footsteps of some of Laura’s favorite live albums (like Nirvana: Unplugged and Ani Difranco: Living in Clip).

Live at Atlas features songs like Laura’s “Dig” from her 2013 album, Everyman.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-3Elk_j_jY]

Laura self-publishes her music through her own DC label Overtime Records, and Live at Atlas was supported by a successful Indiegogo campaign that raised more than $20,000. This is a great chance to see what all of the buzz is about and to catch up with Justin Jones at the same time.

Tickets are available online and at the door.

Laura Tsaggaris
Justin Jones & The B-Sides
9:30 Club
Wednesday, Feb. 4
Doors @7pm
$20
All ages

Don’t Miss: DC Craft Beer Festival: Spring Seasonals @ Washington Convention Center, 5/9/15

Jeremy Bailey

-

February 2, 2015

1

Don’t Miss: DC Craft Beer Festival: Spring Seasonals @ Washington Convention Center, 5/9/15

3/17 Update: The next edition of the DC Craft Beer Festival has been postponed until May 9. The full statement from the organizers today:

“Due to unforeseen circumstances, we’ve had to change the date of our festival to Saturday, May 9. All previously purchased tickets will be honored, or refunds will be available through Friday to guests that cannot attend at the new date. We are truly sorry for the last minute nature of the date change. We know it is little consolation but the change was unavoidable. Major logistical obstacles, that did not previously exist, just now presented themselves. These obstacles would have resulted in unacceptably long wait times for beer replenishment and lines at tasting stations. As attendee experience is of paramount importance to us this is unacceptable. The only solution is to move to our previous space, Hall D. Mountains were moved by the Convention Center in order to open the space for us…unfortunately it had to be May 9. This is unfortunate but we had absolutely no choice. For over three years we have been committed to presenting the best craft beer festivals, across the country, in multiple cities and without issues such as this. This stalwart commitment is the only reason for the change. We humbly ask for your understanding and continued patronage if not at this event, at the many others to come in the future.”

The last time I participated in a DC Craft Beer Festival at the Washington Convention Center, it was for their Winter Harvest session. Where many of the beers have a high ABV (8-11%). I overly enjoyed my fair share of winter and pumpkin ales.

Forget the cold. Now it’s time to think about Spring. Two seasonal beers each will be on tap from more than 75 breweries.

Local breweries, like Atlas Brew Works, 3 Stars, Denizens and Port City will be represented.

Maybe Atlas will tap their 1500 South Cap Lager (sold at Nats Park) or even introduce a new beer. We can hope.

Of the food vendors, one to look out for is Mason Dixie Biscuit Co., whom recently opened a stand at Union Market. They will provide much needed biscuits to soak up the suds so you can keep going strong. Try Benton’s bacon, egg and cheese.

Don’t miss the fun!

Tickets are available online.

DC Craft Beer Festival: Spring Seasonals
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Two times @2-4:30 pm and @7-9:30 pm (add 1 hour for VIP)
$49.95 ($65 VIP)
21+

Sports Park: Capitals Weekly Report Card – 1/26/15-2/1/15

Around Town

Parklifer

-

February 2, 2015

0

Sports Park: Capitals Weekly Report Card – 1/26/15-2/1/15

Weekly Record: 1-3 (3 pts)

Overall: 25-15-10 (60 pts)
+8 pt advantage for playoff spot

Anytime the Capitals beat an actual Canadian team (like say, Montreal) at Canada’s own sport (no, not Maple Sugaring), that deserves a perfect A+ grade.

It makes zero difference that 13 of the Capitals’ players are from Canada, including both goalies.

Well, that didn’t happen. The Caps lost in overtime, 1-0, to the Canadiens on Saturday, and then lost another heartbreaker on Sunday to the Blues, pretty much ensuring the worst way to start the 2nd half of the season. Silver lining, they did get one point for the OT loss.

There’s always next week.

Results

January 27, 2015: Capitals at Blue Jackets – LOSS (3-4)

January 28, 2015: Penguins at Capitals – WIN (4-0)

January 31, 2015: Capitals at Canadiens – LOSS (0-1 OT)

February 1, 2015: Blues at Capitals – LOSS (3-4)

Jan. 26- Feb. 1 Weekly Report Card: D+

Music Park: Zola Jesus @ Black Cat — 1/29/15

Live Review

Mickey McCarter

-

January 30, 2015

0

Music Park: Zola Jesus @ Black Cat — 1/29/15

Zola Jesus (Photo by Santiago Felipe)

A little over halfway through her performance at the Black Cat on Thursday, the petite Nika Roza Danilova climbed a mountain of speakers to her left and lounged upon the very top of them like a cat watching down from somewhere high as she continued to sing.

The song she was singing was “Lawless,” which starts as a slowly drifting number marked by its percussion until it erupts into a soaring chorus about making it on your own.

Of course Ms. Danilova is better known as Zola Jesus, she typically quickly and rather inaccurately labeled “goth” or “gloompop,” and of course she’s known for having a good stage presence. But seeing is believing, and Zola Jesus throws herself, literally, into her songs as she sweeps across the stage, disappears into an interpretive dance or climbs speakers to sit, cat-like, along the ceiling.

Continue

Don’t Miss: Zola Jesus @ Black Cat, 1/29/15

Live Review

Mickey McCarter

-

January 29, 2015

0

Don’t Miss: Zola Jesus @ Black Cat, 1/29/15

Late last year, Zola Jesus released her fifth studio album, Taiga, and did so on perhaps my favorite record label ever — London’s Mute Records.

Tonight she brings the tour in support of the album to the Black Cat, and tickets are still available.

In a press statement, Zola Jesus said of the record: “I used to be very scared of failure, of the responsibility of doing the one thing I knew I was born to do. This record was made in an effort to try to make the most massive record I could, shunning all fear and any sense of smallness I ever once had.”

To record the album, she retired to the isolation of Vashon Island in the Puget Sound. The album’s name similarly comes from the Northwoods, or taiga, encompassing where she grew up in Wisconsin. At first listen, the new album sounds orchestral, haunting and thunderous all at the same time.

As reported by Noisey, Zola Jesus hasn’t been afraid to be different, as usual, on this tour. In Brooklyn on Jan. 26, while performing at Saint Vitus, she took her show out onto the street and into the snow. Watch a video of her performing “Nail” from Taiga in the snow below.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTCTgZjLPis]

L.A. musician Deradoorian opens for Zola Jesus. Tickets are available online and at the door.

Zola Jesus
w/ Deradoorian
Black Cat
Thursday, Jan. 29
Doors @8pm
$17
All ages