Friday, February 22, 2013
The DC mayor wants to reduce commuter trips by 50 percent as part of making the capital the nation's "healthiest, greenest and most livable city."
Mayor Vincent Gray seeks to make Washington, DC, the nation’s “healthiest, greenest and most livable city” by 2032, according to a plan cited in a recent Washington Post article. The “Sustainable D.C.” plan details a number of policies that would improve the way that residents, commuters and visitors experience and travel across DC. The plan would focus primarily on buildings and transportation, and would require new buildings to generate energy equivalent to their usage. Government offices would receive their power from wind farms. The plan also would reduce vehicular traffic dramatically—with the city ultimately having 50 percent of commuter trips by public transportation and 25 percent by bicycle or foot. Additionally, the plan would …
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
New study ranks cities based on jobs and economic growth.
The Washington, DC, area ranked No. 5 in the Milken Institute's annual "Best-Performing Cities" index for 2012. That's up from No. 17 in 2011. The Milken Institute, a think tank located in Santa Monica, CA, bases its rankings on how well metropolitan areas do at creating and sustaining jobs. The top five cities in the 2012 report are: Milken compiles the ratings based on nine metrics: The first five factors carry double the weight of the last four in Milken's ranking system. The DC area's ranking has been somewhat of a roller coaster over the past decade, placing No. 19 in 2003, No. 11 in 2004, No. 7 in 2005, then falling out of the Top 20 until ranking No. 6 in 2010, then falling to No. 17 in 2011. Its high ranking of No. 5 in 2012 was…
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
See where Washington, DC, ranks on the New York Times annual list of places to visit.
The New York Times has released its list of the top 46 places to visit in 2013 worldwide, and sitting among tropical getaways and exotic locals is Washington, DC—but the reason DC makes the list might surprise you. The area’s food scene, not its world-class museums, place DC at No. 44 on The Times' list. “A new food scene to welcome a renewed administration,” reads the title on DC’s listing. After years of snarky restaurant competition between the cultural capital of the United States and the country’s actual capital city, has an olive branch been extended? Times writer Ann Mah points out several DC establishments, including Northeast’s new Union Market, Mike Isabella’s Italian restaurant Graffito, H Street’s Toki Underground and Dupont …
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Historic photos depict presidential oaths from bygone times.
President Barack Obama's second inauguration ceremony and celebration Jan. 21 will be a far cry from the inauguration of our first president, George Washington. That ceremony was held April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York City, where the federal government was headquartered at the time. Washington made the shortest inauguration speech on record—133 words and less than two minutes long—at his second swearing-in, in Philadelphia. One thing all presidential inauguration swearing-in ceremonies have in common, though, are these words: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States…
Friday, January 11, 2013
Maryland and Virginia are "balanced," according to a new study.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Ben Gross
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Friday, January 11
Since 1993, Atlas Van Lines has compiled and released data on interstate moves from the previous calendar year. In 2012, Washington, DC, saw the highest percentage of inbound migration for the seventh consecutive year, according to a recent Business Insider article. The study found that 63 percent of Washington, DC, moves were inbound, just ahead of North Dakota at 61 percent and North Carolina at 60 percent. In fact, Washington, DC, has seen the most inbound moves over the last 10 years—68 percent, well ahead of Alaska, which was 61 percent and New Mexico at 58 percent. Conversely, Wyoming and Nebraska saw 59 percent outbound migration in 2012, with New York third at 58 percent. Over the past decade, New York and New Jersey saw a 59 …
Friday, October 19, 2012
Maryland ranks 47th in beer consumption in the U.S.
"I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer," Abraham Lincoln said. Apparently, people in the tri-state area do not track with the 17th president of the United States, and select other beverages to meet national crises. Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia all rank in the bottom third of annual shipment and consumption of beer, according to a study from the Beer Institute, quoted by the Washington Business Journal. Since 2003, the Beer Institute has been tracking “Shipments of Malt Beverages and Per Capita Consumption by State” for persons 21 years and older across all 50 U.S. states and the District of …
Thursday, August 30, 2012
This fall season Silver Spring residents can enjoy compelling films and live concerts in November.
National Geographic Live is back and will be filled with plenty of events to choose from. Beginning Sept. 14 and running through December, National Geographic will host world-renowned photographers, travel writers, scholars, and Nobel Prize winners. All programs will take place in the Grosvenor Auditorium at 1600 M St. NW, Washington, DC (unless otherwise noted). BIRDS OF PARADISE: EXTREME, BIZARRE, EXTRAORDINARY Thursday, Nov. 1 at 7:30 pm ADVENTURES IN THE TREETOPS Saturday, Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. Adults: $16 /Children 12 & under: $12 Event & exhibit Adults: $20/ Children 12 & under: $16 Purchase tickets on filmfestdc.org. PAINTED BODIES OF AFRICA Thursday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. This exhibit explores the art of using the skin as a canvas, a …
Monday, August 27, 2012
This fall season, enjoy compelling films and live concerts in September.
National Geographic Live is back this fall with discussions and talks on everything from travel to music and exotic food. Beginning Sept. 14, National Geographic will host world-renowned photographers, travel writers, scholars, and Nobel Prize winners in events open to the public. All programs will take place in the Grosvenor Auditorium at 1600 M St. NW, Washington, DC (unless otherwise noted). 1001 INVENTIONS: THE ENDURING LEGACY OF MUSLIM CIVILIZATION Friday, Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. $20 THE ARAB TABLE Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7 p.m. $60 tasting/ tasting & exhibit $65 THE LONGEST WAY HOME: ONE MAN’S QUEST FOR THE COURAGE TO SETTLE DOWN Friday, Sept. 21 at 7:30 p.m. NG member: $18/ 3-pt series: $51 Public: $20/3-pt series: $57 ALL ROADS FILM …
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Maryland drivers account for over 37 percent of overdue DC traffic tickets, which can be paid, without penalty, starting Aug. 1.
Of the $245.7 million owed to Washington, DC, in the form of overdue traffic tickets, Maryland drivers owe 37.6 percent, according to Lucinda Babers, director of the District's Department of Motor Vehicles. The overdue tickets include parking tickets, citations for moving violations and photo-enforcement tickets issued before January 1, 2010. But Marylanders will soon have a chance to pay off their tickets—which collectively total over $92 million—without paying any penalties. Yesterday, Mayor Vincent Gray announced a ticket amnesty program starting Aug. 1 that will allow delinquent ticket holders to pay up, fine-free. The amnesty will last through Jan. 27, 2012. It's the first ticket amnesty program offered by the District in 10 years. “…
Jenni Pompi
11:51 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
I always tell folks how lucky I am to live in such close proximity to great food and great culture in DC. more ›