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Monday, September 30, 2013
We all know who's involved with the #Shutdown Showdown. The question is who's going to blink first? http://www.ClotureClub.com
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Sunday, September 29, 2013
With tonight's Breaking Bad finale, here is our recent post of the 17 ways you know you’ve become a Breaking Bad addict. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/09/know-youre-breaking-bad-addict/
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Saturday, September 28, 2013
Sounds like there will be a high chance of a government shutdown. This message is brought to you by Top Ramen. 10 for a $1 at your local grocery store.
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Friday, September 27, 2013
Don Jon, A Thoughtful Directorial Debut from Joseph Gordon-Levitt
There are few things that truly make title character Jon (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) happy in the new comedy Don Jon. Spending time with his bros, his family and at the gym are a few of the things the Catholic character enjoys. But when he's away from those three, Jon spends much of his time watching pornography. It seemingly pleases him in a way that his usual flings-- with the locals he meets at a nearby bar-- do not.
But early on in the story, he meets a girl named Barbara (Scarlett Johansson), who temporarily pushes him away from that mindset. Instead of meeting a new girl every weekend, he pursues Barbara asking all of his friends about her and slowly closing in. He eventually starts dating her but his desire for porn persists, despite Barbara’s obvious affection for him. He even needs the comfort of it after he’s slept with her.
Photo Credit: New York Daily News
This romance inevitably runs into road blocks when she discovers his affection for watching x-rated videos, at which point he argues that the bubbly romantic comedies she drones on about are a fantasy as well. He notes that she takes solace in fake and unrealistic stories so why can’t he do the same?
That focus on the media and the romanticization of fictional stories is one of the major themes in a story that often speaks to greater themes than its plot suggests. Writer/director Joseph Gordon-Levitt has attempted to craft a story here that is ambitious both in its ideas and in its overriding themes. He earnestly succeeds by crafting a relatable crew of characters that help further his ideas.
Photo Credit: The Daily Rotation
Jon’s father (played by an appealing Tony Danza), for instance, is obsessed with a different type of media. Throughout the family dinners hehosts with his wife Angela (Glenne Headly), he looks on at the television beyond the table to see what the latest football scores are. Jon’s sister Monica (Brie Larson) is meanwhile occupied as well as she spends her time texting. None of these people are paying attention to their surroundings or the real world.
They are lost in a fantasy and never satisfied being where they are.
As the story unfolds, Jon returns to school where he meets with an older woman named Esther (Julianne Moore), who has more experiences facing the heartbreak and the satisfaction of the real world than Jon has ever known. Her character, unsurprisingly, is the most-fleshed out one and ultimately the most powerful one in the script. In a story where people are driven by one type of media or another, she actually seems real.
Photo Credit: Slant Magazine
“Don Jon” has a few noble ambitions and ultimately succeeds at most of them. At times, some of the characters—like Barbara— seem one-dimensional but the ideas of the stories overshadow such flaws. The plot ultimately leads viewers on a story that includes some obvious characters while pushing a less-obvious theme.
It is truly however a great achievement for Joseph Gordon-Levitt to craft such a story— the first full-length feature he wrote and directed. Despite its flaws, it shows what a talent this young man is and I can’t wait to see what he does next.
My review: B+
Don Jon Trailer
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Headed to a new restaurant and want to order the best thing on the menu? Check out local website Best Thing on the Menu. They take the guesswork out of ordering. http://bit.ly/13XQMJP
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Thursday, September 26, 2013
The National Zoo releases new photos of baby giant panda, and she's soooo cute! https://twitter.com/NationalZoo/status/383329353796308992/photo/1
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In case you missed it, activist and U2 singer Bono recently did a spot-on impersonation of President Bill Clinton. Clinton retaliated last night with his own impersonation. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/09/bono-bill-clinton-bono/
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Bono does Bill, Clinton does Bono
Activist Bono did a good imitation of former President Clinton. Last night Clinton had the opportunity to retaliate on Piers Morgan with his own Bono impression.
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Last weekend was a record setter; four ranked teams each scored at least 70 points on Saturday, as the top 25 treated schools from the Sun Belt and the FCS to an old fashioned beat down. Here's your NCAA Week 5 by Michael Lewan. Shout outs to OU Capital Club - DC Sooners and Crystal City Sports Pub http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/09/ncaa-football-week-5-cupcakes/
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Virginia’s Gubernatorial Debate
I am a hard-core political junkie, but I have a deep, dark secret. I don’t like debates. At best it’s kabuki theater, at worst it’s an extended press conference. One rarely learns anything new and most memorable zingers happen in presidential debates. But, my boss was given two tickets, so off we went.
First, this report is on style over substance and general musings from someone who’s spent over a decade on the campaign trail. If you want the nuts and bolts or cheer leading yes-men, there are news outlets and campaign websites I’m sure y’all have already perused.
The first observation was actually from the pre-game reception, a very nice, but not lavish affair in the lobby of the McLean headquarters of Capital One, one of the main sponsors of the event. As I looked around the room full of businesspeople and politicians, Republicans and Democrats I saw something most Americans believe is deader than the Dodo bird: Congeniality and politeness among those with vastly divergent political views. People were kind and courteous with each other, mingling and chatting. It’s one thing I firmly believe sets Virginia apart from many places. We know how to leave the battle on the field.
Virginia’s Gubernatorial Debate
And now, on to the debate. I will say this – I give both candidates a solid C+. I give their respective debate prep teams a D…possibly a D-. McAuliffe made one major gaffe and Cuccinelli made several minor bobbles, but on the whole, they stayed true to their campaign talking points and no one went seriously off the rails. But, that’s where I fault the prep. And this is one reason I don’t give debates much weight. Candidates are prepped within an inch of their lives and memorize answers and talking points to the degree that you could call them at 3 a.m. and ask them a question and they’ll spit out the “right answer.” But the goal of the moderator is to introduce new themes, shake up the routine stump speech and ask the unexpected question.
Chuck Todd and the NBC team did a good job with questions. He asked some unique questions and gave both candidates ample opportunities to answer the negative critiques of the other campaign. He offered opportunities for each to elaborate on direct mail slogans and 30-second political ads. Neither fully took advantage.
The question I feel both sides completely let slide by – an opportunity to turn perceived weaknesses into strengths – was to address the negative ads against them and explain why the ads are wrong or misleading.
What I want is the Aaron Sorkin-esque candidate who hears the question and actually answers it. Answers it fully, yet crisp and quick with passion and personality. Both McAuliffe and Cuccinelli made me feel I was at a business meeting on a Tuesday. Personality was limited and restrained, passion was feigned or absent and there was not one crisp answer from either side. There was no KO punch or witty quip. Not one memorable moment in the whole hour. Which, actually, is fairly consistent with this whole campaign. And the reason Sarvis is siphoning off independents and disgruntled Republicans. There is nothing to latch onto. No “yes we can!” No “thousand points of light.” And definitely no “it’s a new day in America.”
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Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Maybe you've been here for 10+ years, or just a new addition to the mixing bowl. Our team collectively put together a list of 16 DC Life hacks: How-to MacGyver the District. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/09/16-dc-life-hacks-how-to-macgyver-the-district/
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16 DC Life Hacks: How-to MacGyver the District
Food and Drink
Iron Horse in Chinatown has a great selection of beers but they don’t serve food. Problem right? Absolutely NOT. By DC law, you are allowed to bring in your own food. This also applies to other bars that don't have kitchens, like the Boardroom in Dupont.
Did you know that you could order a bottle of wine at a restaurant, have 1 glass, and have the restaurant cork it to bring home?
Put ScoutMob on your smart phone. It's like Groupon & LivingSocial, but it's free discounts. Most places are 50%!
There are multiple opportunities in D.C. to get free food and drinks. Frequently visit websites like ours, Gregslist, and WAPO's Going out Guide to know where to go for events, receptions, and more.
For those who don't have the luxury of owning a car to go grocery shopping, one way to make it easier to haul your loot home is to attach a Carabiner (with grip)
through your bag handles to carry multiple bags at once without losing a finger.
On the top floor of the National Portrait Gallery lies a small room with free tea and coffee. Good for those looking to hydrate in the Chinatown area.
TransportationSetup your metro card for auto-reload. The first time you barely make the train because you didn't need to reload your card, you'll thank us.
If your Metro card is broken or you have run out of money on it (see rule 4), take the bus. You can pay with cash or a lot of times the bus driver will let you slide and ride for free. DC bus drivers seemed to be trained to wave you through to keep the bus on time and to get you safely seated before they pull away from the bus stop. Don’t abuse it. Side note: Get a BusTrackDC app.
You can opt to walk through a metro station on a hot or freezing cold day (especially from one end of Chinatown to the other, 7th and H to 9th and G on a DC summer day can feel like a marathon). Is it worth roughly $2 in turnstyle fees to stop sweating before a big meeting or staying warm during the cold months? We think so.
You can absolutely negotiate flat rate fares with cabbies late at night, as long as you come to an agreement before they start the meter. One of our contributors admitted to successfully bartering 3 cigarettes and $6 for a ride to Virginia. Mileage may vary.
Never pay full price for a new Capital Bikeshare or Car2Go account. There's always a free code plus extra mileage.
Never ever use K st, M st or NY Ave in rush hour. Especially when you’re in a cab.
EntertainmentTo save money on purchasing a movie ticket at the Regal Cinema in Chinatown, spend $7.50 pre-tax at California Tortilla across the street and buy a movie ticket voucher from them for $7.00. Now you'll have dinner and a movie for the same price as a regular ticket.
There's a free shuttle bus between Kennedy Center and Foggy Bottom metro. The Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center has a variety of free shows every single day at 6pm.
Mostly everyone is gone in August and December. This is the perfect time to finally get a resorvation at that new restaurant and actually finish that "to-do list" of museums or monuments to visit.
All monuments are better at night.
We hope you liked our DC life hacks. Feel free to comment below some of your own and share on Twitter and Facebook!
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Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Missing: A set of WMATA Metro security keys. Seems someone's been playing Grand Theft Auto V. http://www.wtop.com/139/3462532/Metro-steps-up-security-after-keys-stolen
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“Everything we want is on the other side of fear” – George Addair
What a simple phrase and a powerful message. Unfortunately I have found fear to be the number one reason and barrier preventing people from reaching their true potential and purpose. These illogical fears that we carry with us are mostly learned in our childhood and can cause us to fear the past, present, future, and ourselves.
When you were a child, did you ever climb on anything that was available? Do you recall what it felt like jumping from platform to platform without fear? Also, do you remember scraping your knees and not caring about the bleeding because you didn't know any different? When someone finally stopped you out of concern that you would get hurt or overreacted to a little blood and dirt is when you cried. We didn't know what was wrong but they were upset; therefore it must be bad, so we were taught to be afraid! We are not born with fear; sadly, we learn it from others and make it part of our story.
We also learn the fear of embarrassment. When I was a ten year old, I was asked to read aloud in front of twenty-five classmates. I mispronounced several words so badly that the loud thunder of laughter scarred me. It took me years to recover so that I would volunteer to read aloud in front of others.
But beyond the scraped knees and the public speaking, we see that the real fear is that of being exposed. As I’ve mentioned in this space, we can take the next step in our personal growth when we reveal our vulnerability. But that can be difficult as we’ve learned to fear failure, risk-taking, and leaving our comfort zone. This fear of the unknown can rob us of our destiny.
Someone once defined hell as a dark room with a full-length mirror with the image of what we could have become if only we had not been afraid to take the invitations offered in life. Fear can paralyze us from not taking that next step. We get so concerned over appearances that we wait for the perfect time and outcome before we act and risk embarrassment. We fail to grow because we fail to understand that embarrassment is not a fact but a negative emotion based on language and thoughts that we use with self-talk. It is so important for us to be right and perfect that we procrastinate and actually risk not reaching our purpose in life.
There is another form of being right that is also dangerous. Many of us believe that we are right in most things and those who disagree must be wrong. We are so afraid of challenging our rightness that we are seldom open to knowing what we don't know. Instead of running towards our fear with curiosity, we lock our brain, heart, and our very being in a small room, close the shades, and lock the door. We get uneasy with anything getting too close that might challenge us. This thinking would have us believing the world was flat and the sun revolved around the earth.
In order to escape our fears we must first begin by understanding where they started. When was the first time you were told to fear or you misinterpreted an action and generalized it as so negative that it became an illogical fear? Finding the cause and then shaking hands with it is a start as is sharing your thinking and being vulnerable allows others to share theirs as you realize that you are not alone.
Fear of learning outside of our comfort zone is different. Get in the practice of challenging at least once a year what you think you know and believe. Listen to other opinions and face differences with curiosity. If you are afraid to do this, then you have a real problem and one day your small house of security and control may come tumbling down.
During my most recent haircut, my stylist and I were talking about fear and risks. She recently moved from a salon in Georgetown after many years of success and security. She doesn't like risk and fears it; therefore, the first thing she did was to research all the salons in the Georgetown area to lower the risk. She listed what she and her clients wanted and what the other salons offered. After a few weeks of research, she selected one and made a choice. She said once the choice is made, she goes forward and accepts mistakes and differences as part of the transition. No drama and no blaming result in a much faster recovery!
Fear can be the number one reason why we build barriers to reach our destiny in life. We are perfect as we are born to do the thing (s) that we were created to do. We do not need to be changed or fixed, just think differently. To do this, we need to erase the fears that build the barriers. It would be awesome to anticipate that mirror with joy rather than to fear it with anxious anticipation.
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It's caption Tuesday! With 6 days left til Obamacare and the possible government shutdown, what do you suppose Obama's thinking in this photo?
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Monday, September 23, 2013
Red Bull’s Flugtag DC Flies High
10 thousand people gathered at the National Harbor for National Red Bull Flugtag day to watch homemade planes take 30 foot dives into the Potomac River. The first Flugtag to make it to our nation's capial, the event was part of a five-city nationwide party to celebrate man’s dream to fly as the birds do. 29 Home Grown Teams Reign at National Red Bull Flugtag in DC.
Red Bull Flugtag, which means “flying day”in German, is a competition that dares both the brave and the brainy to design, build and pilot homemade flying machines in hopes of achieving human-powered flight. Distance only comprised one third of the overall team scores, with creativity and showmanship also being judged by a panel of local and celebrity judges.
With colorful costumes, like lumberjacks from Vermont, and creative crafts, like a spicy chicken wing from Buffalo, NY, teams from all across the Northeast brought their local pride as well as fans to the event. Coming in second place was New York Red Bulls soccer fanatic fan club Viking Army SC, followed by video game enthusiasts team Duck Hunt from Virginia whose wild duck craft placed third. But it was crowd favorite Made in ‘Murica from McGaheysville, VA whose “screamin’eagle“craft and American pride secured the People’s Choice Award with the most votes.
Washington DC Flugtag Winner
We certainly enjoyed our time at Flugtag. An impressive showing of participants and entertainment. We sure hope to see Red Bull bring back Flugtag to Washington Harbor, instead of Baltimore, next year!
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In celebration of harvest season, the endlessly innovative Zaytinya is hosting its third annual Grape Festival. We were fortunate to be invited to the celebration and blown away by the head chef Michael Costa's creations. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/09/zaytinyas-grape-festival/
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We have 20+ tickets to give away for Wednesday's screening of the new Dreamworks movie, The Fifth Estate, in Bethesda. Want to go? Enter below! Winners will be notified tomorrow afternoon. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/09/giveaway-the-fifth-estate-movie-screening/
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Giveaway: The Fifth Estate Movie Screening
A dramatic thriller based on real events, THE FIFTH ESTATE reveals Julian Assange's quest to expose the deceptions and corruptions of power that turned an Internet upstart into the 21st century's most fiercely debated organization.
We have 20+ tickets to give away for next Wednesday's screening of the new Dreamworks movie, The Fifth Estate, in Bethesda. Want to go? Enter below!
Wednesday, Sept 25
7:00 PM
Landmark Bethesda Row
7235 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD
Enter below!
Bonus points will be given to those who also tweet out!
The Fifth Estate Movie Trailer
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Photo of the Week – Flugtag
Today, twenty-nine teams from across the northeast attempted flight from a 24-foot high platform before landing with a splash in the Potomac River at National Red Bull Flugtag DC. As part of a national day celebrating flight, waterfront destination National Harbor hosted the first of five simultaneous events with others taking place in Miami, Chicago, Dallas and Long Beach, Calif. The rain didn’t deter 10,000 ticketed spectators from cheering on rural Pennsylvanian farming team, Harvest Bureau, as they took home first prize but nationally, history was made in Long Beach where the new Red Bull Flugtag world record was set with a flight of 258 feet—shattering the previous 2012 German record of 229 feet.
Duck Hunt, in action!
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Sunday, September 22, 2013
FLO Sips and Sounds Event
There have been a lot of recent celebrity additions to the wine world from all backgrounds; sports, acting, music etc. The common theme there is none of those backgrounds involve something rather important in the wine industry and that would be WINE! Whether its Brad and Angelina buying a wine estate in Provence or former NFL Coach Dick Vermeil launching his own line of wines, celebrities have taken notice of the industry and are likely here to stay. Some stay out of the way of their wine makers and produce great wines, Coppola comes right to mind. Whereas I would steer you clear of many others, the NASCAR owner Richard Childress and his NC wine venture would be a good example of that. So needless to say, I am skeptical when I learn of new non-wine folks jumping into the wine world. When I received the invitation to the FLO Sips and Sounds event showcasing the music and wine of DC native and Jazz Musician, Marcus Johnson, my skeptic nature again prevailed. But upon speaking with Marcus, learning more about his approach to wine and more importantly trying his Chardonnay and Red Blend, the skeptic in me was put to rest, and rightfully so.
FLO is an acronym meaning for the love of, and this is Johnson’s approach to wine, music and life- do what you love and enjoy your life, make it an experience. Johnson wants fun, approachable and enjoyable wines that please a variety of palates at affordable prices. With that charge in mind, Johnson sets his St. Helena, CA based wine maker to work and the resulting bottlings achieve precisely what Johnson wants.
The 2011 FLO Chardonnay is 100% Chardonnay from Monterey. Note, the previous vintage, which was made at Tararra winery in Loudon County, include small amounts of Viognier. The 2011 is made in a classic California style meaning very fruit forward with oak. It is aged in stainless steel and the oak comes from the addition of oak chips as opposed to aged in oak barrels. This relatively light usage of oak and small percentage (25%) of malolactic fermentation allows for the natural fruit flavors to come through. I got the oak and some granny smith apple on the nose and some up front tart apple and citrus on the palate with a touch of floral and a little stone fruit. It showed nice balance with a medium body and light acidity that worked nicely with its 13% alcohol by volume. This is a what you see is what you get kind of wine, meaning everything is up front and you don’t have a lot of layers to sort through on the finish of the wine. It would go excellent with barbequed chicken, sharp cheddar or creamy brie. It’s a very nice, easy drinking and enjoyable Chardonnay and it becomes even more attractive with its $10.99 price tag.
The Chardonnay was a classic California style and is contrasted nicely by the FLO Red Blend. The Red stylistically bucks many California norms, and presents as a young, expressive and vibrant red wine. While it did have the youthful “tightness” of a wine with good structure that should age well for several years, its fruit was more subtle and delicate in an almost old world style. The blend of merlot, cabernet and petite sirah balances nicely with equal parts fruit, tannin and spice. The nose showed nice cooking spice from its time in oak and was complimented nicely by some black cherry. Those expressive aromas turned into similar flavors on the palate with some blackberry and chocolate, especially on its smooth, long finish. The tannin combined with the 13.5% alcohol gives it some intensity, but doesn’t overpower the fruit and spice notes. Again, at $10.99, this is a great buy and would be an excellent party wine that would please almost any palate and could be pared with anything from Mexican to Asian flavors.
photo credit: www.jazztonic.com
With extremely wallet friendly price tags and a national distribution, FLO wines are more than approachable. Both the Chardonnay and the Red are well made, fruit forward and flavorful with nothing off or unbalanced about them. I enjoyed both, and could easily see the fun that Johnson has with, and emphasizes in, these wines. They are lifestyle wines; creative in a bit of an improvisational style similar to Johnson’s outstanding jazz, which he was kind enough to showcase with his wines at H Street’s, The Elroy. Get a bottle of each, put on your favorite music and enjoy – that’s what Johnson would like you to do, and these wines make it incredibly easy to do so!
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Friday, September 20, 2013
Check out our love letter to THE WIZARD OF OZ, which is re-releasing to IMAX theaters for ONE WEEK ONLY starting today! Don't miss the 12 GIF-heavy observations/confessions we have about the movie! What are your favorite moments from the film? http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/09/see-wizard-oz-confessions-dorothy-gale-fangirl/
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We're all anticipating the series finale next week of AMC's Breaking Bad. In Heisenberg's honor, we’ve put together a list of the 17 ways you know you’ve become a Breaking Bad addict: #15 - You want a flip phone again, just so you can break it in half. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/09/know-youre-breaking-bad-addict/
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Newton’s Noodles Come to Downtown DC
There’s a new mini-trend afoot in DC dining this season: successful restaurants from the perimeter (think Silver Spring, or Bethesda) marking territory downtown. Try Googling Mandalay, or Bar Charley.
The latest? Monday’s opening of Newton’s Noodles, the fast-casual spin-off of Bethesda’s popular Newton’s Table. While the Table’s menu ranges from steak to herbed cheese puffs to gin cocktails, it’s chef Dennis Friedman’s invention of “Fuzu Noodles” that gets to debut downtown. Health freaks: stand down – these are not to be confused with Kuzu (or Kudzu) noodles. The rest of you: rejoice. Fuzu is a variation on Pad Thai, which features rice noodles; customers get to select their protein (shrimp, scallops, chicken, tofu, beef), vegetables (ranging from carrots to broccoli) and level of spiciness.
Newton’s Noodles opened for a sneak peak on Wednesday, and will celebrate its Grand Opening starting at 10am on Monday, September 23.
The Fuzu staff, which have been in training the last few weeks, were a blaze of action in their “How Do You Fuzu?” shirts.
Would I eat this for lunch? While Fuzu might never make an appearance in a respectable Asian restaurant, it’s fresh, customizable and tasty (and in their words, “the perfect balance of salty and sweet with a touch of heat”). So, yes.
Let’s get a little closer. YES.
While they will not have a liquor license, they will have amazing Maine Root sodas on tap, which is almost better news than beer. Get the Ginger Brew to go, take it back to your office, and add a little something from that rum bottle you’ve got in the bottom drawer. Assuming you stash good rum in your desk (unlikely, I know), this will be a vastly superior Dark & Stormy to what you’ll get in most DC bars.
Fuzu will be made-to-order in three minutes, but the store will have free wifi so freelancers can camp out (don’t let them see your rum bottle). Prices are in the $9-$12 range, with sides (think spring rolls, wontons) priced at $4-$9.
Newton’s Noodles, 1129 20th St NW, Washington DC; www.newtonsnoodles.com ; nearest metro Farragut North, Foggy Bottom.
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Thursday, September 19, 2013
Join us as we support local bands Big Country Express, the funky fresh The B Side Shuffle and soulful dance machines The Ambitions tomorrow night at the Rock And Roll Hotel -- 8pm! http://www.clotureclub.com/ai1ec_event/locally-grown-fresh-ass-rock/?instance_id=
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Here's your NCAA Football breakdown for week 4. Serious question: Do you think Nick Saban could run for the Senate? Shout-outs to: Rhino Bar and Pumphouse and The DC Aggies. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/09/ncaa-football-week-4-senator-saban/
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Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Like most who've made it big in show business, writer/director turned aspiring politico, Brent Roske is no exception and he's looking to be the next Representative for California's 33rd District. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/09/henry-waxman-has-competition-brent-roske/
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Henry Waxman Has Competition, Brent Roske
The Santa Monica Freeway veins across Los Angeles County and chokes with bustle. Trickling in from Baldwin Hills, Prius hybrids, as brilliant as candied apples, pulse along its golden passage with kaleidoscopic effect. Painted primer grey and fanged with rust, tired old beaters wheeze out of Crenshaw into its knots of traffic and grumble. Caravans of caterers, convoys of craftsmen, office types, crammed into carpools throng to it like fire ants to a vine of dark licorice. Most snake their way into places like Culver City, "The Heart of Screenland," as it's known, penetrating into that throb called show business, where they are eventually absorbed. There is one man however, heading in an opposite direction.
Like most Angelenos who've made it big in show business, writer/director turned aspiring politico, Brent Roske is no exception; he isn't a Golden State native, and he's looking to go bigger. U.S. Congress bigger, as in he wants to be the next Representative for California's 33rd District.
At age 39, Roske vibes flash; the literal opposite of his opponent, the nearly four decade long incumbent, Congressman Henry Waxman. "He's going to be stepping down sooner than later," writes Roske in comments emailed to Cloture Club for this story, "and the people of this district are going to have to think about what's next when that happens."
Like something flung from the imaginings of a screenwriter however, Roske's campaign seems a bit quixotic. Showcasing what he calls his, "2 for 1" idea, Roske doesn't seem as intent on unseating Waxman as much as he just wants him to slide over for a year while the congressman teaches him the job, "I'm the only one in the country willing to be mentored by his predecessor," says Roske. While many political pundits would argue that there's a reason for that, Roske remains enthusiastically devout, "Sharing the job with your predecessor would create bi-partisan bridges and help take away the adversarial nature of Congress, which is why I'm running."
Oddly enough, Waxman himself, according to recent statements he made in Roll Call, hasn't entirely ruled out the proposal. He even commends Roske on it for its novelty, but then hedges, citing he might foresee some "workability issues" with it. "I think Henry is more amenable to the idea than he lets on," says Roske. Asked to elaborate on the congressman's remarks, Waxman's office did not wish to comment on this story.
Courtesy Brent Roske
As creator of, "Chasing the Hill," a tightly wrought, web based political drama with cult status, Roske's got plenty of profile. With no shortage of political heavyweights like Terry McAuliffe and former Governor Ed Rendell flocking to his project, Roske's juiced too, and apparently, between the world of professional politics and Hollywood, it flows in both directions. "If you go to Representative Waxman's website, he doesn't even have the entertainment industry mentioned under 'District Issues," says Roske, dinging Waxman, proving that it isn't all wine and roses between the two. "How can you 'represent' almost half a million Angelenos and not mention the entertainment industry?" he says.
Not strictly a Left Coast thinker, Roske is fiscally hawkish and socially liberal, "It's my cash and my body," he says. Dishing out other tangy rejoinders like, "If you give a man a fish, he stops printing resumes," Roske gives good quote too.
Running as an Independent, Roske is a native Minnesotan with a strong self reliant strain, "I joined the workforce at 15 at Burger King and have been working ever since," he says. As his campaign's centerpiece, is the issue of runaway productions, films which get made elsewhere on the cheap. "Los Angeles is the film capital of the world and I'd like it to stay that way," he says. Conceding that enticing productions to stay in California is largely a matter for state legislators and city officials, Roske's industry expertise is unmatched, "I've been a writer/director here for 15 years managing budgets and crews in the real world. I represent this district and am ready to serve as our next Congressman," he says.
With a picture on his website of himself with Senator Al Franken's arm draped over him, Roske epitomizes the essence of California politics, merging "This Town" theatrics with Westside cool. Nowhere is this surreal quality more evidenced than on the set of his breakout hit series, "Chasing The Hill," "We're going to film a scene where Governor Gray Davis is teaching David Hasselhoff how to be a better Governor," says Roske, adding, "David Hasselhoff is awesome." And with that, perhaps no truer words have ever found their way into print.
Brent Roske
Website | Facebook | Twitter
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Tuesday, September 17, 2013
You think we can get ever convince the WMATA to do this with their escalators? Walk Left, Stand Right.
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It's Caption Tuesday! Give this photo of FLOTUS Michelle Obama and the kids a caption! It looks like the baby took the First Lady's glue.
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Dirty Dozen Brass Band at the Hamilton
New Orleans came to town last Thursday night as the Dirty Dozen Brass Band took control of the stage at the Hamilton.
The band, who have been playing together for longer than three decades now, are made up of veteran musicians who know their way around any horn you can throw at them. Their sound is decidedly New Orleans - a combination of old school jazz and new school Caribbean influences.
The Hamilton cleared out the tables that normally sit in front of the stage, creating a dance floor that lay empty for about 3 songs. Lead singer and trumpeter Gregory Davis stopped the music and bellowed at the crowd to stand up. The three-quarters full venue complied with Davis' request and all of a sudden a NOLA dance party broke out.
Over the next hour and half the band ran through originals and a handful of the mandatory brass band covers (see: when the saints go marching in). Umbrellas were spotted on the dance floor and a second line broke out momentarily, looping around the half circle.
It is no surprise that the Dirty Dozen were able to bring the crowd to their feet and happily dancing for so long. There is something refreshing and innocent about New Orleans jazz that connects with even the most ignorant music fan. The driving beats combined with a sousaphone bass line bring a jovial warmth to the room.
What it leads to is a beautiful confluence of awkward dancers - people who regardless of age or race decide that they can no longer pretend to look cool and just have to get down to the beat.
The dancefloor at Hamilton was home to many of those awkward dancers, myself included, largely thanks to the skilled guidance of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.
Once upon a time, the Dirty Dozen revolutionized New Orlean's jazz by incorporating funk into the sound. On Thursday night they more than lived up to their reputation as concertgoers went home with smiles on their faces and quite possibly some sore calves the next morning.
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Monday, September 16, 2013
Lets chalk this up as things not to do today: Throw firecrackers at the White House fence. http://dcist.com/2013/09/photos_man_arrested_for_throwing_fi.php (Photo credit: Michael Kandel)
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For our friends celebrating Congressional Black Caucus week, here is our unofficial listing of events. #CBC13 http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/09/congressional-black-caucus-events-2013/
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Congressional Black Caucus Events 2013
Here is a list of events that were shared with us. Want your event added? Send them to us! If you enjoyed this post, share with your friends!
| Time: | Location/Address: | Contact/RSVP: | Description: |
| 12:00pm-4:00pm | St. Gregory Hotel M Street Bar and Grill (2033 M Street NW) | http://desiretoaspirecbc.eventbrite.com/ | Honoring Janaye Ingram, David Johns, Natalie Cofield, Mikael Moore, Ashley Etienne and Jaime Harrison. |
| 1:00pm-3:00pm | Skybar Rooftop at the Beacon Hotel (1615 Rhode Island Avenue NW) | rsvp@thefabempire.com | Honorary Hosts Chasseny Lewis, RaShawn Mitchell, Stephanie Young and Alonzo Washington. |
| 6:30pm-8:00pm | Bar 201 (201 Massachusetts Avenue NE) | Private Event; Must register to RSVP using Event Code tca013 at tcapr.com | TCA PR Annual Social Mixer and pre Congressional Black Caucus Cocktail event hosted by Ivy K Pendleton. Get ahead of the game for Congressional Black Caucus Events 2013. |
| 6:30pm-8:30pm | Lost Society 2001 14th St NW Washington, D.C., DC 20009 | https://wbaylddc.eventbrite.com/ | Speed Networking with the Young Professionals and Young Attorneys of DC |
| 5:00pm-8:00pm | Donovan House Rooftop (1155 14th Street NW) | http://www.nblsa.org/cbcregistration/ | |
| 5:30pm-10:30pm | Opera DC 1400 I Street Northwest Washington, D.C., DC 20005 | http://cbcalckickoff.eventbrite.com/ | Last year at Opera they had over 500 Professionals come out to Network. This year promises to be even larger. |
| 6:00pm-9:00pm | Darnell's Mocha Lounge (944 Florida Avenue NW) | http://reelcbc.eventbrite.com/ | The lively event brings r.e.e.l. members and the greater community together to celebrate Washington, DC’s Ward 7 and 8 neighborhoods affectionately known as East of the River. In years’ past, guests included local residents, business owners, media, elected officials and CBC conference attendees. |
| 9:00pm- Until... | Recess Lounge (727 15th Street NW) | ||
| 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (Networking Reception and Awards Program); 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM (Afterglow featuring DJ Biz Markie) | Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square (Historical Society of Washington, DC, 801 K Street NW) | http://cbcambassadors.eventbrite.com/ | VIP $50, General Admission $20, Afterglow only $15 |
| 7:00pm-12:00am | Josephine's (1008 Vermont Avenue NW) | https://texascbcreception2013.eventbrite.com/ | Please e-mail shekira.dennis@gmail.com for more information and/or concerns. |
| 8:00pm-12:00am | National Museum of Women in the Arts (1250 New York Avenue NW) | http://cbcfsojournerreception.eventbrite.com/ | This reception, an outgrowth of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Women's Annual Sisterhood Congressional Reception, provides a platform to celebrate and recognize the leadership provided by the women of the CBC. |
| 8:00pm-10:00pm | The International Spy Museum (800 F Street NW) | RSVP to Jenny Feuer at jfeuer@aipac.org or 202-639-5373 | |
| 8:00pm-11:00pm | Newsuem - Freedom Forum Entrance (555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) | Invite Only | |
| 10:00pm-2:00am | Kabin (1337 Connecticut Avenue NW) | Register at http://www.nblsa.org/cbcregistrationand RSVP at http://cbcnblsakabin.eventbrite.com | Free to the public until 11:00pm, Free to NBLSA Members until 11:30pm; Advanced General Admission $15. |
| 4:00pm-5:30pm | ReedSmith LLP (1301 K Street NW) | http://www.nblsa.org/cbcregistration/ | |
| 5:30pm-8:30pm | 101 Constitution Avenue NW, 10th Floor Terrace | http://alcprudential10friends.eventbrite.com/ | |
| 7:00pm-8:30pm (Networking Reception); 8:30pm-10:30pm (Formal Program); 10:30pm-2:00am (Motown Live Afterglow) | Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square (Historical Society of Washington, DC, 801 K Street NW) | RSVP LINK | Celebrity VIP Ticket ($100) provides access to the 7:00pm reception and 8:30pm performance; Motown Live Afterglow General Admission ($20) and Motown Live Afterglow VIP ($50) provides access to the venue AFTER 10:00pm. |
| 8:00pm-2:00am | Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill (400 New Jersey Avenue NW) | http://kappacbc.ticketleap.com/2013/ | $25 in advance, $30 at the door. |
| 9:00pm-1:00am | The Howard Theatre (620 T Street NW) | Registration/Tickets: www.CBCINC.ORG/ALC |
Additional Congressional Black Caucus Events
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Our resident anonymous hill staffer returns this week to provide sage advice to the men and women on how not to be a Capitol Hill douchebag. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/09/unofficial-guide-to-not-being-a-douchebag-on-capitol-hill/
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Sunday, September 15, 2013
The average price for a house in D.C. you ask? How about $763,877. Up 14.8 percent year over year. http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2013/09/the-steep-price-of-dc-housing.html
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Friday, September 13, 2013
Is this the greatest campaign ad ever made? Jeff Wagner for Mayor!
We have to ask, is a half-naked Jeff Wagner really running for mayor of Minneapolis? Damn right he is. And he's fine with taking $100k salary, but he wont take money from developers or special interest. Wake up Minneapolis!
Jeff Wagner for Mayor!
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Thursday, September 12, 2013
In the market for a (new) job? Here are 16 positions we've collected this week. Some are even on capitol hill. A good list for those looking to change things up! http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/09/jobs-collected-week/
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NCAA Football Week 3: Don’t Be Shocked
I am SHOCKED at this week’s Sports Illustrated and Yahoo reports. I can’t believe investigative journalists were FINALLY able to crack open the dark and dangerous world of big-time college football!
SPOILER ALERT: famous college football players get special benefits for being famous college football players.
Did it really take impeccably detailed reports to reveal that college athletes get extra benefits? Of course not. Will this change the world of college athletics? Of course not.
As long as college football remains a multi-billion dollar industry, as long as millions of fans obsess over the game, and as long as coaches are paid top-dollar for constant success, the sport will continue to have more Oklahoma States, Tennessees, Alabamas and Mississippi States.
Stop acting shocked.
Bar to Spend 11 Hours of Your Saturday
Penn Quarter Sports Tavern, home of the Texas A&M Aggies and the Miami Hurricanes. With game day drink specials all weekend long, two levels, an outdoor patio and wall-to-wall flat screen TVs, fans are sure to catch all the action and enjoy PQST’s not-your-average-sports-bar menu.
Three Must See Games
UCLA (16) vs. Nebraska (23)
ABC, 12 noon.
Taylor Martinez has been the QB at Nebraska for roughly eight seasons, and it has come to the point where I am more impressed when he doesn’t turn the football over on every other snap. Yet, somehow Nebraska still wins with him at helm. I have no idea if UCLA is a good team. I know they have a nice ranking, but I feel like if this team wasn’t UCLA they’d be just another middle of the road afterthought. I’ll take the Huskers at home.
Alabama (1) vs. Texas A&M (6)
CBS, 3:30 p.m.
Nothing would make me happier than seeing A&M beat Alabama for the second straight season. Losses absolutely crush Nick Saban. Alabama could go 13-1 and win every national championship from here until eternity, but all Saban will ever care about is that one loss. It won’t happen this week though.
Tennessee vs. Oregon (2)
ESPN, 3:30 p.m.
I’m still stinging from the Redskins’ loss to Oregon’s former coach Chip Kelly, did not expect the Ducks offense to work so well from the start in the pros. Evidently while Kelly left for Philly, his offense remained in place as the Ducks are scorching the earth in 2013 (memo to UVa: don’t schedule Oregon). Ducks win big.
Season Prediction Record: 3-3.
Games to Watch Just Because It’s College Football
Louisville vs. Kentucky ESPN, 12 noon
Ohio State vs. Cal FOX, 7:00 p.m.
Wisconsin vs. Arizona State ESPN, 10:30 p.m.
Specialty Drink of the Week
Alabama Slammer— Bama vs. A&M is the biggest game of the month, maybe of the year, honor it with this southern classic.
Alumni Chapter of the Week
The DC Badgers go all out for local Wisconsin alumni with a host of events, happy hours, and watch parties, as well as active (and competitive) involvement in the Capital Alumni League (CAN). And with a new mentoring program, the DC Badgers makes sure all new UW-Madison grads have access to professionals in their field and other networking opportunities.
GIF of the Week
Credit to BuzzFeed Sports.
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My Recent Visit to Napa Valley
When you think about wine country travel, there are many options that (hopefully) come right to mind. We are lucky in the DC Metro area to have the option to make the short 30-60 minute drive to the vineyards of Northern VA where the quality and options have gotten dramatically better in recent years. Even a day trip to Charlottesville isn’t an arduous trek, and one that’s well worth it for wine nerds of newbies alike. Feeling a bit more adventurous? The Finger Lakes Region in Upstate New York is still drivable and doable in a weekend. But honestly, real wine country travel in the US involves a longer trip west to one destination that still trumps all others- The Napa Valley.
Napa really has it all- world class wine, world class dining, incredibly nice people, unreal beauty and if you go at the right times it maintains a small town feel. First, the wine. There really is something for everyone, its more than just big Cabernets and oaky Chardonnays. As such one can find dozens upon dozens of varietals planted in the dozen +sub- districts in Napa, both red and white. I’ve found that often, it’s some of the obscure, harder to find varietals that winemakers plant to experiment with that make the best wines, think Gruner Veltliner from Rudy Von Strasser’s Diamond Mountain property or Riesling (best drank while enjoying one of the best views of the valley possible) from vines originally planted in the early 70’s at Smith and Madrone on Spring Mountain. Even the sparkling at the gorgeous, old world styled Chateau at Domaine Carneros (the American property of Champagne giant Tattinger) will blow your mind. This isn’t to say that Cabernets and Chardonnays, Napa’s bread and butter, are to be overlooked; they aren’t. Visit Robert Sinskey Vineyards right on the legendary Silverado Trail in the Stags Leap District and sample the 2007 (they’re pouring the 08’s now, sorry!) SLD Estate Cabernet. It is simply the best Cab I’ve ever tried and words simply wouldn’t do its quality and life altering taste justice, you have to try it (or the 08!). Chard heads, hop back on the Silverado trail from Sinskey and make the short drive to ZD for the Carneros Reserve Chardonnay. The buttery vanilla flavors mix well with its stone fruit and mineral notes with just the right amount of acidity to make this one of Napa’s quintessential Chards.
Photo credit: millwoodinn.com
Want history and bigger names? Cut west from the Silverado trail back to Hwy 29 and find the likes of Mondavi, Opus One, Heitz, Grgich Hills, BV and Nickel and Nickel all within a few miles of each other.
For food, well if the best restaurant with the most coveted reservation in America (think months in advance if you want a reservation), Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry doesn’t indicate the class of Napa dining I don’t know what will. Just down the road from The French Laundry in Yountville is Redd. Although not as well-known as its neighbor, Redd can certainly more than hold its own in the land of celebrity chefs and haute cuisine. It’s wine country creations have European and Asian influences and its prices are more than approachable. I recall the Caramelized diver scallops, with cauliflower, capers, almonds and golden raisins being one of the best meals of my most recent trip. Looking for something closer to the newly revitalized accommodations in Napa City? Oenotri can’t be missed. With a homerun of a wine list, chef’s table right by the kitchen and an ever changing menu of fresh local ingredients Oenotri is walkable from virtually everywhere in downtown Napa. Need a lunch before your trip to the wineries? Head north into St. Helena and try the burger at Mustard’s Grill or the Ribs at Rutherford Grill, complete with sauce that makes Kansas City jealous. Both are right on Hwy 29 amidst the wineries. Picnic? Dean and Deluca in St. Helena has you covered with cheeses, charcutterie, fresh baked breads and produce as well as a fully stocked wine shop.
napcopaintinginc.com
When you travel most don’t pick unattractive destinations to visit, although I did have a friend just go to Haiti recently. Napa is gorgeous. I could stare at rows of grape vines all day, but Napa is a lot more than that. The Napa river runs right through the middle of the valley and the Mayacamas Mountains loom as a border between Napa and Sonoma on the west with the Vaca Mountains on the east which are snowcapped for much of the year. Part of what makes Napa the ideal place to grow grapes is the geography. There are hills and rolling terrain throughout, plenty of beautiful complimentary foliage like the brilliantly colored mustard plants and ample trees and forestation across the valley.
Its rather simple, if you’re pining for wine centric travel, Napa is a must. The wine alone would be worth the trip, but coupled with the incredible dining, genuinely nice and wonderful people and the natural beauty of the area, Napa is a destination unlike any other in the US and you would be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t make at least one visit during your lifetime; likely one will lead to many many more!
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We've noticed the fall interns have arrived in the DC area. Here's a recent post of the 14 rules every intern should know. Rule #5 - Have Fun, but Not Too Much Fun. Don't blow it by showing Jenny you can out drink the Legislative Director. Earn that letter of recommendation and a shiny gold star. http://www.clotureclub.com/2013/06/15-rules-every-intern-should-know/
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Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Catoctin Creek Opens New Distillery
Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, the first (legal) distillery in Loudoun County since before prohibition, moved into a fabulous new pad at the end of August. The Distillery’s glorified storage unit in an industrial park is now a thing of myth and legend; their new home on Purcellville’s historic main street is ready for visitors. Move over, wine tastings – it’s time for tastings of locally made, small batch whisky, gin and brandy. It’s time for a field trip.
The building – whose life for the past hundred years includes time as a car dealership and a furniture factory – is newly emerged from a $500,000 renovation. It has also been tastefully modernized: the solar panels on the roof offset about 85% of their electricity usage.
The tasting room is spacious, and the exposed brick walls and wood beams provide a rustic ambiance. The distillery is in the next room, and tours are available daily (or you can just press your face against the windows). They still run their popular ‘bottling workshops,’ where you get to milk the ‘whiskey cow.’
In addition to tasting Catoctin’s products directly, the Distillery now offers cocktail flights. Shown here (l-r) are the Negroni (using Catoctin’s uniquely peppery Watershed Gin, Campari, sweet vermouth), the Horse’s Neck (Roundstone Rye, ginger ale, garnished with lemon peel), and the Bloody Mosby, which features Catoctin Creek Mosby’s Spirit aka moonshine (and lemon, Worcestershire, Cholula, Old Bay, pepper, horseradish, clam juice).
There were more cocktails. They were delish.
Cactoctin’s award-winning spirits start their lives in these giant blue drums, where the rye mash ferments. Think of oatmeal, mushily sitting in your cereal bowl for a few days. And then a few more. Except it’s rye.
Once fermented, the mash goes into one of two stills. Co-owner Scott Harris is leaning against his original still; the much bigger one on the left is a new addition (as you can tell by copper’s brightness). The custom-made hybrid pot column stills are made to order in Germany. Starting this month, the large still will allow Catoctin Creek to double its production to meet the region’s thirsty demand.
After distillation, the spirit goes into a barrel for aging, and emerges as whiskey.
The spent rye mash is given away for free to local farmers, who feed it to livestock. It’s also available in the tasting room gift shop in the form of gourmet dog treats.
Catoctin Creek spirits are both organic and kosher – and they’ve made it easy for you to announce this at your local synagogue.
Why are you still reading this? Go get a drink.
Catoctin Creek Distillery, 120 W Main St, Purcellville, VA; 540-751-840; http://catoctincreekdistilling.com/
Tastings are $5; specialty cocktail flights and season offerings are $10; the distillery has an ABC license, so bottles can be purchased on-sight.
First photo by Rick Martin courtesy of Catoctin Creek Distillery; all other photos by author.
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