Navy Yard on Lockdown — A large-scale emergency response shut down Navy Yard earlier this morning following unconfirmed reports of an active shooter or shooters in the area. [HillNow]
Guess who’s back, back again? — The Cuban Government will reopen its embassy at 2630 16th Street NW on July 20. [NBC]
Money, money, money — Minimum wage rose to $10.50 an hour yesterday, making it the highest minimum wage in the nation. The pay rate will rise again next year — per a law signed into affect by former mayor Vince Gray — to $11.50 an hour, but activists are saying that’s still not enough. [DCist]
Plan A — A new art gallery will move into the former Gallery Plan B space on 14th Street NW. [Borderstan]
Four reasons you should head to Nationals Park. (Scott Leibowitz)
From Scott Leibowitz. Find Scott on Twitter @Lebodome. Email him at scott[AT]borderstan.com.
I have put it off as long as I could. For two months now, I have dumped everything and anything Washington Nationals into the links section of my column, hoping that this current season would start to resemble the previous ones. I figured I was making the safe bet and not getting excited about a team which only a few short years ago couldn’t even spell their own team name correctly.
Maybe I was just bitter about DC stealing away a team from the great city of Montreal (I wonder if anyone in Canada noticed). Quite frankly, I just wasn’t ready for a DC sports team to put all the pieces together and actually put out a great product.
I am not about to declare that they are gonna win the World Series, but after years of patience and building, this team is ready to not only compete, but more importantly, to be a contender. The on-the-field product is worth the ticket price.
Well Borderstan, I was wrong. So wrong, that I feel we should all ignite, unleash, let loose or whatever you want… your NATITUDE! At a recent stint at the batting cages, between rounds with some friends, we were discussing whether it was worth the time, effort and money to see a Nats game now — or is it a just a fad.
So as you think to yourself this summer, “Hey, should I go to that Nats game Saturday afternoon,” here is a list of rebuttals for all your doubts.
Why You Should Go to a Nats Game
Ick, it’s at the Navy Yard: No, it’s not now NW DC. But in 10 years this place is gonna explode with all the investment in bars and apartment buildings they are putting up. Think Georgetown waterfront area, without all the snooty Georgetown locals wondering if you took the Metro there. The stadium is right on the Metro Green Line, it’s very scenic and the stadium is right next to the Metro stop.
Baseball is Pricey: All major sporting events are pricey these days. This complaint is totally valid as stadium food and drink are pretty steep (think $7 beer). Don’t worry, though. Right outside the stadium are a half-a-dozen makeshift bars that open hours before the game. Expect normal prices, ample cornhole games and an outside relaxed bar environment. In terms of tickets, there are plenty of decent ones in the $20 range.
THEY ARE GOOD NOW: I am not making this up. The Nats have got hitting, defense and some awesome pitching. I am not about to declare that they are gonna go all the way, but after years of patience and building, this team is ready to not only compete, but more importantly, to be a contender. The on-the-field product is worth the ticket price.
Presidents Race: Of all the goofy stadium traditions in baseball, I just can’t seem to get enough of the Presidents Race. I hope that one day poor Teddy (as in President Theodore Roosevelt) will win. I was lucky enough two weeks ago (when I went to the Yankees-Nats game that went 14 innings) to see two races, because the game was so long. Despite having a mini-cycle, Teddy came in last both times.
I understand some people just don’t like baseball or have the patience or attention to sit and watch a 3-hour game that moves a bit slow. But expand your horizons, drink a few beers and watch four presidents with huge heads run around a baseball field (also, the baseball is good too).
What’s in the Hopper?
Lebron and the Miami Heat won. Big woop. The guy is mega talented. Call me when the NBA resembles quality basketball again and not just a 2-on-2 street game.
Links! Links! Ice Cold Links!
- “That’s a clown question bro”. DC finally has a saying of its own.
- Wimbledon is currently on, so wear your all whites and enjoy classy tennis.
- What DC sports league should I join? Props to Washington City Paper for a great graph.
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Could the Nats get a slugger in 2012 to fill those empty seats? (Luis Gomez, “Baseball Season”)
From Scott Leibowitz. Find Scott on Twitter @Lebodome. Email him at [email protected].
Oh, New Year’s. The hype of a birthday party but with the results usually reserved for hometown reunions; too much to drink in unfamiliar places with tons of strangers. That aside, I had a wonderful new years break all over Route I-95 from Camden, New Jersey to NYC and Boston — and was thankful that it fell on a weekend giving us a short week back to the grind.
But, as the weather turns frigid (it’s snowing as I write this), what can we look forward to next year? What can DC hope to accomplish in 20-dozen?
Make Navy Yard Matter
I mean this in two ways. First, there is a rumor floating around (and these things do change often), that monster slugger Prince Fielder is in talks with the Nationals. This is a game changer for a team that showed signs of life last year, and is desperately seeking a bat to help them compete with the Phillies. This would automatically give the Nats a serious attendance boost in 2012, and a shot at the NL East (okay, maybe not, but I know I’d go just to watch Prince).
Second, even though the area around Navy Yard is getting better, we have to keep up the momentum. Hopefully soon, developers and nightlife investors will be able to patch together some fun bars and good restaurants in that area. Then we can replace Georgetown’s waterfront and M street areas with a spot more Metro accessible.
Don’t Let Bikers Run DC (But Do Use BikeShare)
I am somewhat ambivalent to the biking cause in DC, as some of you may recall from a previous column — I still think bike lanes could be a great place for joggers. (As for utilizing bike lane lanes, DC politicians do it with their cars.) However, I do recommend using Capital Bikeshare more when it gets warmer. This is a pretty amazing and still under-utilized piece of infrastructure in DC. Biking is a great alternative to get to more places in the city without a car — and without depending on the inconsistent subway and bus system.
If You Want to See Winners, Go Caps!
The Caps are the best team in DC, hockey or otherwise. The Redskins did their predictable late season swan dive while lying about fan attendance. The Wizards have yet to win a game (I will be attending their Friday game vs. the Knicks, review to come). The Caps may have to fight hard for a playoff spot, but their fans are passionate and their games are always exciting. Even nosebleed seats are great and right on the red line so “Rock the Red,” as they say.
Vote for Barack Obama Again
Way better than whatever Iowa decides.
Of course there are more, but it’s a start to what I think should make a 2012 great (that and we need a diner in Borderstan, a real 24-hour diner). Hope everyone had a great New Year celebration, finished strong in their fantasy leagues (for me, two 4th Place finishes and one 10th Place, not great), and starts off the year well in all ways.
Thought of the Week
NFL Playoffs start Saturday. Can’t Wait.
