I went to the mall tonight, Pentagon City Mall. I rarely go to the mall but after a heavy dose of 80′s nostalgia upon re-watching the immortal film Heathers and recently finishing the Tricia Sullivan novel Maul – in which a gang of Sailor Moon types run rampant in one with Uzis – I guess I got the subconscious hankering to subject myself to the shopping mall hustle-n-bustle that I loathe so much.
So tonight I went – in search of two things. A couple of everything dog’s at Frank-n-Stein and a few overpriced DVD’s at SunCoast Video. Much to my dismay both establishments are gone.
These store changes are probably old news to all you Mallrats reading out there, but I haven’t been to P.C. in over a year. SunCoast is now some kind of puzzle store – as in “we sell puzzles only” – which leaves me puzzled. Can a puzzle store really exist in Pentagon City? Isn’t there already a bitchin’ game store on the third level? Seems more like Landmark Mall fare to me.
Meanwhile Frank-n-Stein is now a mom-n-pop Texas BBQ place run by Koreans. Which I decided to try. Hoping for some kind of Austin Brisket/Pul-Kogi hybrid – I instead got a platter of mediocre fatty roast beef, dry rice, and drowned corn. Food received only after an ordering ordeal reminiscent of that russian roulette scene from Deer Hunter - with the gruff Korean granny shouting non-sensical orders at me, whilst the woman in line behind me is screaming for some “gawd-damned hot sauce”, and the grill chef is waving around a rib and laughing like he just poisoned Dr. Jones.
Now that SunCoast and Frank-n-Stein are gone I really don’t have any reason to return to Pentagon City Mall. And I can’t really say I’m going to miss it. This parting between me and the mall has been a long time coming.
I never forgave Pentagon City for kicking out The Wall music store – whose famous “replace any damaged album adorned with a Wall sticker” policy I never got to cash in on. I still have that scratched copy of Ministry’s Twitch and everytime I look at it, the now-defunct Wall sticker mocks me.
Then there was that time I almost died on a bench on the second floor of Pentagon City, when my mono fever dehydrated me so bad that I collapsed and laid there unconscious for who knows how long (I guess that one isn’t really the mall’s fault).
But the worst offense Pentagon City is guilty of – was closing the smelly old Loews Movie Theater. That old theater rocked the secret advanced screenings circuit. I got to see all the good ones there before their release. But alas no more. It was a gravy train with biscuits wheels and I guess it couldn’t last forever.
PS – to any Frank-n-Stein fans – you can still get your Frank’s fix down in L’Enfant Plaza if you don’t mind eating with the morlocks.
Originally published on September 20, 2006.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Ummm...some of you may want to see this film
"American Hardcore"
This is a documentary made by my buddy Fred Dann's old college room-mate. These guys were knee-deep in the shit back in the day. They've traveled all over interviewing the legends of the original American Hardcore punk scene and now they are taking their movie around the country one city at a time.
Look on the web-site for a showing near you.
Originally posted on September 19, 2006 on Myspace.
This is a documentary made by my buddy Fred Dann's old college room-mate. These guys were knee-deep in the shit back in the day. They've traveled all over interviewing the legends of the original American Hardcore punk scene and now they are taking their movie around the country one city at a time.
Look on the web-site for a showing near you.
Originally posted on September 19, 2006 on Myspace.
Coup de tat
I am oddly obsessed with the current coup going on in Thailand. People seem to be reacting with humor mostly - which I find annoying. There are frigging tanks on the streets of Bangkok, all kinds of foiled terrorist bomb plots in the last few weeks, and an elected Prime Minister being ousted by the army.
Democracy failing is nothing to joke about.
Originally posted on September 19, 2006 on Myspace.
Democracy failing is nothing to joke about.
Originally posted on September 19, 2006 on Myspace.
Coup de Blog
Hop over to Metroblogs Bangkok for a taste of blogging from inside a military coup. Best wishes to all our authors over there – hope the coup is of the bloodless variety.
The army has taken over most communication and broadcasting channels but Metroblogging marches on.
Originally published on September 19, 2006.
The link to the Metroblog Bankok's real-time coverage of the coup has unfortunately gone inactive after all these years.
The army has taken over most communication and broadcasting channels but Metroblogging marches on.
Originally published on September 19, 2006.
The link to the Metroblog Bankok's real-time coverage of the coup has unfortunately gone inactive after all these years.
Top 25 Fictional DC Resident: #17 Josh Lyman
Name: Josh Lyman
Occupation: White House Chief of Staff
Josh Lyman is the quintessential DC-transplant, politico success story. After Harvard and Yale law school, Josh moved to Washington D.C. where he served several years in various positions with both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
In 1998 Josh left Capitol Hill to work on John Hoynes’ presidential campaign. However after hearing Jed Bartlet, Hoynes’ competitor, speak at an engagement Josh was so inspired that he immediately resigned from Hoynes’ campaign to work for Bartlett. After Bartlett’s presidential victory Josh was hired as Deputy White House Chief of Staff.
After seven years with the Bartlett Administration, Josh resigned to run dark-horse Matt Santos’ presidential campaign. Josh’s masterful campaign strategies secured the presidency for Santos. The new President rewarded Josh’s dedication and drive with the position of White House Chief of Staff.
Josh is considered by many to be a cocky know-it-all, but no one has ever accused him of laying down on the job. In fact Josh’s passion for achieving great things for his country is so consuming that his only real friends are those who work around him, most notably Donna Moss, Toby Ziegler, and C.J. Craig.
Originally published on September 7, 2006.
This was part of a series the Metroblog DC authors did. Sadly, the link to the other characters is no longer active on Metroblog DC.
Occupation: White House Chief of Staff
Josh Lyman is the quintessential DC-transplant, politico success story. After Harvard and Yale law school, Josh moved to Washington D.C. where he served several years in various positions with both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
In 1998 Josh left Capitol Hill to work on John Hoynes’ presidential campaign. However after hearing Jed Bartlet, Hoynes’ competitor, speak at an engagement Josh was so inspired that he immediately resigned from Hoynes’ campaign to work for Bartlett. After Bartlett’s presidential victory Josh was hired as Deputy White House Chief of Staff.
After seven years with the Bartlett Administration, Josh resigned to run dark-horse Matt Santos’ presidential campaign. Josh’s masterful campaign strategies secured the presidency for Santos. The new President rewarded Josh’s dedication and drive with the position of White House Chief of Staff.
Josh is considered by many to be a cocky know-it-all, but no one has ever accused him of laying down on the job. In fact Josh’s passion for achieving great things for his country is so consuming that his only real friends are those who work around him, most notably Donna Moss, Toby Ziegler, and C.J. Craig.
Originally published on September 7, 2006.
This was part of a series the Metroblog DC authors did. Sadly, the link to the other characters is no longer active on Metroblog DC.
“Never anything to do in this town.”
Thanks to everyone who braved the elements to make it out to “We Fought The Big One” on Friday. I had a blast blowing the roof off Ernesto-style from behind the decks. From the deluge of compliments on my sets I feel pretty safe in saying everyone else had a rip-roaring good time too.
The hit song of the night was definitely when I pulled a Touch And Go surprise with Big Black’s “Kerosene” – much to my surprise that song freaked out about half the attendees most of whom rushed up to the DJ booth to share the fact that they too will be making the trek up to Chicago next weekend for the amazing Touch And Go Records 25th Anniversary Festival.
So now I’m convinced that the DC music geek elite are headed on a giant exodus to Chi-Town for the reunion madness (Big Black, Scratch Acid, Negative Approach, Killdozer, etc.). I know my buddies and I are, and after Friday now know about a slew of DC musicians and DJs who are…so I thought I’d toss it out there – what other DC music lovers will be attending the T&G fest?
Originally published on September 3, 2006.
The hit song of the night was definitely when I pulled a Touch And Go surprise with Big Black’s “Kerosene” – much to my surprise that song freaked out about half the attendees most of whom rushed up to the DJ booth to share the fact that they too will be making the trek up to Chicago next weekend for the amazing Touch And Go Records 25th Anniversary Festival.
So now I’m convinced that the DC music geek elite are headed on a giant exodus to Chi-Town for the reunion madness (Big Black, Scratch Acid, Negative Approach, Killdozer, etc.). I know my buddies and I are, and after Friday now know about a slew of DC musicians and DJs who are…so I thought I’d toss it out there – what other DC music lovers will be attending the T&G fest?
Originally published on September 3, 2006.
Finally…Mushy Peas!
Some time in the night just past walked Michael, that would be me, and me wife, that would be Greta, up King Street to sample rumoured scrumptous vittles at ye olde-style Dublin Chippery, that would be Eamon’s, which happens to be Old Town’s newest restaurant.
Eamon’s Dublin Chippery is the real deal. Opened by the Irish husband and wife team who opened the gourmet Irish restaurant Eve down on Pitt st., Eamon’s is a small take-out fish-n-chips joint with style. The menu is pretty simple: fish and chips (large or small) with a few intriguing extras including the battered and fried “bunless” hamburger, Irish soda in cans, and authentic mushy peas – which I have been dying to have again ever since my trip to London/Dublin 2 years ago.
The mushy peas were excellent, the chips were spot-on, and the battered cod was a pleasure.
Dinner for two costs about $20 at Eamon’s – which is set-up as a take-out but has three very cool looking wooden tables if you choose to eat in – which we did. If you’re going to eat in at Eamon’s don’t be shy about eating with your hands, or sharing your table with the throngs of folk flocking there to try Old Town’s latest buzz.
Eamon’s is on King Street in Old Town across from the Old Town Theater.
Originally published on September 1, 2006.
Eamon’s Dublin Chippery is the real deal. Opened by the Irish husband and wife team who opened the gourmet Irish restaurant Eve down on Pitt st., Eamon’s is a small take-out fish-n-chips joint with style. The menu is pretty simple: fish and chips (large or small) with a few intriguing extras including the battered and fried “bunless” hamburger, Irish soda in cans, and authentic mushy peas – which I have been dying to have again ever since my trip to London/Dublin 2 years ago.
The mushy peas were excellent, the chips were spot-on, and the battered cod was a pleasure.
Dinner for two costs about $20 at Eamon’s – which is set-up as a take-out but has three very cool looking wooden tables if you choose to eat in – which we did. If you’re going to eat in at Eamon’s don’t be shy about eating with your hands, or sharing your table with the throngs of folk flocking there to try Old Town’s latest buzz.
Eamon’s is on King Street in Old Town across from the Old Town Theater.
Originally published on September 1, 2006.
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