DaveO

On 8/10/2014 at 12:46 AM, The Hersch said:

 

Maybe I should see this again. When I saw it new, I didn't think much of it. I can hardly remember it now, except for Sylvia Miles, whom I loved.

While I rarely see films for a second time this is one that is intriguing that I will watch it again.  Always sort of curious as to the time and place and wondering if that will change my perspective.  Thinking back to my comments above, we knicknamed the guy who was a ringer for the young Dustin Hoffman, Rizzo.   It was a nickname that stuck through his entire life, at least among virtually all friends from college, my family of origin and others.  A freaking effective knickname.  I suppose he liked it.  He never ever fought it.

Good luck to your family 

39 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

Now all Federer needs to do is beat Djokovic.

Glad I don't have any heart problems. 

So Sunday Federer has to take on still ANOTHER all time great--Djokovic.  OY

But wait-Djoker also has to take on an all TIME GREAT.

Looking forward to the match.

It does seem to take energy, devotion, and money to get the results one wants.  Money is a big issue.

I looked at the last election in Va from this past June.  I voted.  It was a "small election".  In Arlington, per this article, there are about 150,000 folks registered to vote  In the 2018 election about 71% or a little over 100,000 voted.  That also means about 50,000 didn't vote.  A big total who if motivated could have made a significant difference.

In the 2019 primary in June in Arlington these were the results:

Commonwealth Attorney : 26,200 total votes: 

Primary for member Va Senate:  A total of 20,000 votes

Member House of Delegates:  6600 votes  (must have been for a different part of the County as not on my ballot.  Source for the Above

I didn't know much about the candidates or issues but I researched somewhat and voted.  Of the 2 county wide elections they received 17 and 13% of the total electorate respectively.  Pretty pitiful.  Of course going back to 2018 that 71% was a record for a non presidential election.  (pretty good).

Of note with regard to the Commonwealth Attorney election George Soros' organization invested rather heavily into the election.  His group evidently invested heavily in elections of this sort around the nation.  It was very heavy--effectively a lot of $ per vote for his preferred candidate.  The winner's campaign outspent the loser's by a mega amount.

Now I haven't been involved in party partisan politics for decades.  (I take it there are or were members here who have been involved).  Decades ago I raised money for a friend and was involved with an old friend who was elected to Congress.  Some of what transpired afterwards disappointed me and I stopped being involved.

In any case the Soros backed candidate won by a relatively small amount of votes in a campaign that didn't have critical issues (as far as I was concerned) but was in an election that garnered the most votes and she won.  In any case there was a mammoth $900,000 raised for this campaign with Tafti raising in excess of $700,00 per this article. 

I still frankly don't understand the criticalness of the issue from the Soros stance, but what is obvious is that money is a big deal. 

Now back in the 1980's I guess I raised a "bit" of money, though I have no recollection of how much it was.  Again, money is a big deal.

I agree with @Steve R. that locals need to get enthused and earnest and raise a lot of money and have the bodies to register voters and vote for your candidates.  You do that on a local basis across the country and on a local basis gun supporters will lose.   And that would be a good thing IMHO.

6 hours ago, DonRocks said:

I have another one: ¨existential threat.¨

That is a term I enjoy and use.  Describe other ways you can describe “this will completely and utterly destroy” us

On 7/9/2019 at 8:22 AM, hopsing said:

I hope they will be expanding their menu soon.  I walked by last week but it was too hot/humid for spaghetti.  Looking forward to meatball and chicken parm heroes.  They just opened a few days ago.

Unfortunately they don't have hero's.  Just the pasta.  Had the chicken parm PASTA today.  Again--> excellent pasta and sauce.  Pretty damn good chicken parm.  Nice sized portion.

So I was sitting across from a couple with sandwiches from one location and beers from another location.  It was lunch.  Mixing and matching is certainly a plus.  The place was simply not crowded.  I sort of doubt it's going to be a hot lunch destination.  I suppose some of the stands will make it and some won't.  It appears the operators are anywhere from a small step to many steps above a typical food court.  Time will tell how well the overall location and its tenants will do. 

Right now I'm favorably disposed to al Volo, the Local Oyster and (of course) the ice cream. 

17 hours ago, bookluvingbabe said:

We picked Tapp’ed and the only good thing I can say is that they had a grapefruit radler.  And plenty of tvs.  They were slammed and unprepared for the volume.  Our food didn’t arrive until well into the second half and the steak sandwich and fries were ice cold.

I watched at Fireworks DC.   The bar and the table tops were crowded...not the restaurant.  Got up for a few minutes and some creep took my seat and pushed my stuff to the edge of the bar.

Didn't make a stink.  Found another seat.  The woman next to me was "reluctant' to let me sit there. ()&^%)  Okay.  Big deal.  Nice game.  Well played.  The Lavelle goal was a thing of beauty with a nice run up, a swerve to the defenders other side and a strong left footed boot into the corner.----> GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!!!   2-0. 

3 days later, saw a few minutes of the NYC ticker tape parade.  The celebrants are still celebrating, drinking, and being themselves.   Nice work, nice team.  So much talent.  and and btw:  Rose Lavelle plays locally.

Competition with ever rising rental rates, plus ever rising other costs must be the bane of restaurants everywhere.  I've been to Mad Fox several times over the 9 years since they have opened.  Not enough to get a sense of diminishing traffic over the years, though of recent they seemed to be doing fine--(but I'm not the one doing the books).  Clearly there has been an increasing number of breweries in Northern Va, plus additional restaurants in Falls Church.  OTOH there have been a growing number of "high rises" in Falls Church. 

Geez, I have to think the glorious spacious Harris Teeter just 4 blocks down the road with a wine and beer bar, and an ample eat in section hits the competitive landscape as much as any restaurant in the area.

No website.  (Not surprising--they seem relatively naive to modern American habits).  As to the type of Ramen I agree with Genevieve their pork ramen is quite tasty, which one--hmm  I don't know.

A sample of their menu pulled off of their yelp page

And a little more info from Arlnow

Oh man.  6 weeks following the mass murder of 12 innocent people the Virginia legislature abruptly cancelled an emergency session called by the governor to specifically deal with gun legislation.  Both the upper and lower houses have narrow GOP majorities.  Very narrow.  The abrupt cancellation stunned Dems and the Governor. 

There were supporters of both sides of the debate in Richmond.  Gun supporters were carrying.   The cancellation of the emergency session, after about 90 minutes really didn't give supporters time to raise their voices.

Come this November there will be another state wide election.  In the last election Dems picked up 15 seats, narrowing the vote in both houses, but there remain narrow GOP majorities in both houses.  Again the cancellation was a surprise to both the Governor and the Dems.

It is really the time to get out the vote and change the composition of the state legislature

3 hours ago, hopsing said:

 Looking forward to meatball and chicken parm heroes. 

So am I.  Really enjoyed the spaghetti and meatballs I had the first visit.  Terrific pasta.  I'll have to bring their pasta home.  Sauce was very good.  I guess a variation on marinara.  Meatballs were soft and tasty.  All around quite good.  I've been looking for a place like this for a long time. 

Well Tony Kornheiser announced that he and his team is closing Chatter (formerly known as Chadwick's and then Chad's.  Okay, so back in the day when it was Chadwick's or Chad's I hosted many a drink there (along with some eating). 

Probably just as well.  The one time I was there, (referenced above) the food was pretty poor, the bartender was mediocre, but Kornheiser was fun to speak with.   Not nearly enough to keep a restaurant open.

While virtually only watching the US women, (with a smattering of seeing other teams play) this was a terrific tournament.  The women play with skill and power.  Their command of the team game is incredibly impressive.  Their individual skills are formidable.  (watch the Rose Lavelle goal)   

Alternatively watch this Alex Morgan goal

The Lavelle goal was one of many many plays of remarkable skill.  I do believe in the face of improved competition this team was the best of those I've seen with excellent skills across all players.  Bravo to the players and their coach.   E.Q.U.A.L.    P.A.Y.

Cucina al Volo in Ballston Quarter currently has among the best traditional pasta in that part of Northern Va.

The spaghetti and meatballs features their excellent home made pasta a spicy tasty sauce and excellent meatballs.  My Italian food /comfort food fetish is satisfied.  

With the off-season free agency season moving forward the Wiz have revealed themselves as among the clear bottom fishers.   This is one pathetic team.   They are encumbered with the worst contract in the NBA.  Their spending is encumbered with two max level salaries and some bloated ones.  Their "max max" "star" is out for the season with bad leg injuries.   He'll never justify it. 

They really need a complete house cleaning.  Get rid of everyone and start over.   They traded Otto Porter and they just lost the big forward and are unlikely to resign Jabari Parker.  They lost Sato and signed two PG's who are 6 foot and shorter.  They just lost Ariza and Jeff Green.  

The team is simply pathetic.  Start over.  And then probably start over again.  

What is amazing is that there well could be teams worse than them (looking at you, Charlotte).

A possible suggestion:  Doghouse Bier Garten in the Triangle in Bethesda.  It is lively, featuring "dogs", sausages, and beer and other drinks.  Been there once.  I would return.  My "dog" was tasty, a kielbasa, with a variety of toppings including chili I enjoyed.  

Of course I'm not sure if this would work for your family, (with son) but it is worth investigating.  

1 hour ago, jandres374 said:

Closing confirmed.
https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/food/article/21075955/dean-gold-to-retire-and-close-dinos-grotto-ending-a-14year-run-as-a-restaurateur

From this sometimes patron:  that stinks (#%**}€.  Well I do hope it is better for health.

8 hours ago, Kibbee Nayee said:

I don't know why these restaurants are treated as separate entities. The only things that are really different are the names.

Try to order a salad without sun-dried cranberries. I know, I've asked. Sorry, that's the way it comes. I say I don't like gummy bears or ju-ju-bes in my salad, and I'm told I can pick them out. Try to figure out what a short-smoked salmon is. Every GARG restaurant has it on the menu. Jambalaya pasta? I prefer my jambalaya with rice. Drunken rib-eye? It's prepared in salt-forward sludge masquerading as marinade.

There's no real difference in these restaurants, even down to the deafening din that characterizes the ambience.

Why do we even break them out separately in the Dining Guide, while clumping all of the Clyde's restaurants together?

Hah.  All above is true.  BTW:  I like the training and service.  Staff there does a great job.  Staff with high grade individual skills do better.   Great training.  Other employers covet the training GAR gives to employees.  I don't blame them.  Training is very hit or miss per establishment. 

52 minutes ago, Rieux said:

"Ray's Hell-Burger Is Closed" on popville.com

Oh man.  Tis the end of Michael Landrum's great big juicy flavorful burgers, let alone steaks. 

So where are the alternatives??   I happen to like the Wellington, found in at least most of the local stores.  The juiciness is a function of its toppings and the beef flavor is there.  What others do a similar job?

Comfort food at this restaurant remains excellent.  A friend and I were there Sunday/ with some all day HH specials.  We had beer, fried olives over bread, bruschetta, a mhargarita pizza, lasagna, cappuccinos.  It was tail end of lunch.  Our choices included a healthy array of deals off of HH.  The place was slow but service was awake.

The pizza and lasagna were terrific.  Fried olives over bread was a bit like bruschetta, with the two of us, digging the pits out of olives and placing it on the bread.   Oooomph.   Tasty but too much work, while we were toiling away on the beers.

It remains a great place for region wide comfort food.  More power to them.

An old friend of mine, whom I grew up with and knew from Jr High on, Larry Burdett, passed away either on the evening of June 19 or in the early morning hours of June 20; June 20 being his birthday.  The explosion of grief among family and friends is enormous.  Larry was the nicest most sincere fellow, moved back to our home town after college and lived there his entire life.  He passed away at the house his grandfather built in the 1930's; a house he grew up in.  Like his father he was a member of the local volunteer fire department and grew to become chief, serving 3 times in total (a position that rotates every year). 

We grew friendlier in the last few years.  Larry was a prolific FB user, and a prolific friend of many combining the two gave him over 750 FB friends.  On that basis the grief is enormous.  Due to FB we grew friendlier, he being an original member of groups associated with our home town, me having joined later on.

Larry opined on a variety of topics including politics where our perspectives were pretty similar.  His political posts were unique in that his friends from all political persuasions joined in.  For those that join in political arguments on the web it was completely unique.  I used to ask him if it was okay to rant--he approved.  He started asking me about people we grew up with, ones whose perspectives were on the opposite of ours.  We grew friendlier.   I saw him last Autumn.  It was a real pleasure--we were the essence of old friends, even as we hadn't been close in school. 

He is receiving an amazing outpouring of web love.  For a very "common man" he was remarkably loved.

See ya Larry.  Enjoy your bourbon and watching U of Kentucky up in heaven with your folks and other departed friends.  Hopefully there is a fire department there and you and your dad can ride the trucks to help out victims. 

16 hours ago, funkyfood said:

The Arlnow story undersells who the owners, Hac and Di Dang, were as poker players.  Not just any "big during the poker boom" players, they are two of the top 10-20 online poker players ever, crushing the highest and toughest games in the world for years before mostly retiring after making millions and millions of dollars.

EDIT: As an example, Di Dang is estimated by an online poker tracker to have won $7,411,127 (yes, that's profit) over his career.

The above is very interesting.  I enjoyed the restaurant and will return.  It's fun, obviously most fun in a large group.  I suppose I have yet to find that which I like the most. 

There was "something" about the staff; casually dressed, but seemingly enjoying themselves and one another.

Its difficult to find articles about restaurants and/or owners.  Here is another, written in summer 2012 (before the business slacked during its first winter)  Story.

They set their regular hours:

Open Wednesday- Monday; closed Tuesday:  Open for lunch and dinner

3 hours ago, DanCole42 said:

I'll be at a conference at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park tomorrow (near Woodley, Clevelend Park, Adams Morgan, etc.) and have an insanely long 4 hour block for lunch. Any recommendations for a long, possibly three martini lunch?

I'd Uber back and forth to 2Amy's.   Besides the food in the joint they also make good cocktails.

Stopped by at Chasin Tails twice in the last month.   I agree with the posts from 2012 that suggest this is a fun place.   Both of my meals and that of at least one companion's were fine.  I would certainly return, preferably with a large group, wherein we can partake of everyone's order.

I had the gumbo, which was enjoyably spicy on one visit and steamed (in a bag, medium heat,) mussels while my companion had the steamed shrimp.  We shared.  I'd get the shrimp the next time or get two bags and skip the mussels.

Certainly an enjoyable place.  One detriment is parking.  The place got busy on a weekend.  Its a street and section with limited parking, though if you are willing to walk there is ample enough parking a few blocks away.

It also appears the restaurant group is expanding.   They opened a 2nd Chasin Tails, have two places in Tysons and will be opening a "food hall" of sorts in Downtown Rosslyn, next to Nando's Peri Peri in the near future.  Interesting article on the group via Arlnow from 2015.   They almost failed but put a lot of work into it to turn it around in the first year.