Capital Swamp: The DC Resource Thread

So Artisphere is ok. Maybe a little more than ok.

Interesting Post magazine article on Sunday re Fight Club in Blagden Alley.

I don't see how Artisphere is possibly going to get the 250,000 visitors a year they're expecting. I wonder if the company that did the projections for that was the same one that did them for the City Museum?

Wow is that what they're expecting. You're right. While I hear the BYT party was crowded, Sunday afternoon (admittedly during a Redskin game) was not that crowded at the 1st day of the open house, and the CP blog post re yesterday says it was not that crowded either.

They've got a top NY salsa band, La Excelencia, there tonight but I'm not sure how well they've gotten the word out to the local Hispanic community. Some of the Saturday night at 11 events will draw a decent indie-rock crowd, but nothing huge. The local salsa bands on upcoming Tuesdays and the swing dance bands on Wednesdays probably won't draw huge crowds. It's a nice big sprawling space, but it's in desolate Rosslyn.

1800+ through the door made for a magical night and vibe. Chris Burns e-mail re BYT party at Artisphere. Nothing else currently scheduled is gonna draw that kind of crowd.

Hmmmm, thinking out loud here--I see they're charging $15 for local salsa bands and dance lessons on most Tuesdays and the same for swing dance bands on Wednesdays, I wonder what Glen Echo charges for the same?

And other places? They're also charging $15 for most of the indie-rock Saturday at 11 gigs (a mixture of local, national and international artists)

chris richards mentioned that la excelencia was doing pretty well on stage but that the crowd vibe was "weird"

Was that a tweet? Wonder what he meant. I was not able to make it to either the Monday night demo or the Tuesday night gig.

I don't think the Post has had a review of a salsa gig since um, they dropped me and others when they cut back on the number of reviews (for financial reasons).

yeah, 'twas a tweet

Not sure if the La Excelecia gig was advertised in DC's Spanish newspapers or on radio. It was added the day before to the kesta concert list. Eileen Torres mentioned it in her mailings of course, and I did a CP blogpost. It was a $20 show. So, I still wonder what was "weird" about the crowd vibe?

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/clicktrack/2010/10/in_concert_la_excelencia_at_ar_1.html

Ah, Jenkins reviewed La Excelencia and Richards tweeted it. Not sure why Richards was surprised by salsa dance lessons beforehand. That's often done (just like at zydeco shows). By the looks of the photos, there were not many people there. The Salsa Room gets much bigger crowds. I'm guessing Artisphere did not get the word out to the local Latin community.

I just learned what ILM was (is?) which explains why I don't know anybody. -Chris Richards Sept. 29 tweet

Wish I had been able to make the U Hall gig with Wale's pals, the Board Administration and UCB.

François Kevorkian at U St. Music Hall tomorrow (Friday) night. Anyone going?

want to, but no. also desperate to go to Tim Sweeney, but probably won't do that either.

woah, apparently a guy threw a brick through the window of DC9 after the Agnostic Front show last night and several people came out and beat him to death (at least according to preliminary reports):

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/local-breaking-news/crime-and-public-safety/man-shot-killed-near-9th-and-u.html?hpid=newswell

bad news

Jesus Christ, that's awful.

Statement from Graham's office:

Dear Friends, there was tragedy last night in the vicinity of 9th and Florida.

I have spoken to various people this morning and there are questions unanswered.

But, according to MPD information, here are what appear to be the basic facts:

An intoxicated person was put out of DC-9 at 1940 9th St. He returned and somehow managed to gain admittance. And was put out again. He then returned and threw two bricks (perhaps at one of the employees?) which broke the window. (Earlier that night, another patron had punched and broken a window, he was arrested for that again earlier in the evening.)

Bar employees chased the man down to the 2000 block, caught him and beat him. MPD arrived and he was transported to the hospital where he died.

Five DC 9 employees have been arrested and charged, some—at this hour-- with homicide. Arraignment is this afternoon.

There are questions unresolved in this matter. But MPD is now considering using the emergency police powers of the MPD Chief to shut the establishment for up to 96 hours, allowing the ABC board hold a hearing to consider possible suspension of the alcohol license.

More as additional information is released. Bests Councilmember Jim Graham

REALLY fucked up

ugh, there's a few people that work there i'm hoping this wasn't

http://www.tbd.com/articles/2010/10/man-found-dead-in-northwest-21726.html

But DC9 manager KT Robeson says that the victim was not in fact beaten, but merely restrained. "Whatever he died from had to do with something pre-existing," Robeson says. "He was not beaten, that is a lie." Another DC9 employee told ABC 7 a similar tale, saying DC9 employees were holding down the man, waited for police to arrive, and watched police put him into the back of a cop car.

He deserved it. DC9 is a great place to hang out, good music, easy going people. I can see why they beat him. I mean, it's apparent this thug had no respect for other people or property. And it wasn't the bouncers, they don't have bouncers. They have a guy at the door that checks ID's. It appears that it was the patrons sticking up for the place---- One less welfare recipient not getting my taxes if you ask me.

Posted by: Aimhigh2000 | October 15, 2010 8:22 AM

someone also posted this on that tbd site (are they tabloid?)

Photo from intersection of 9th & U St shows blood on the crosswalk (via @rkearney)
http://yfrog.com/j1guurj

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/crime-scene/homicide/club-owner-employees-charged-i.html

Details slowly filling in now with different stories from the police and those affiliated w/ DC9. Whatever the true story, it's tragic at best, nearly unimaginable at worst.

is the stage upstairs? i think i saw om & six organs of admittance play here

yes, smallish bar you walk through downstairs and then a larger upstairs with an odd layout, stage in the corner, holds 150-200 for shows.

Tragic story no matter who's version is true. Washington Post newsprint version Saturday has this on the front page front and center, with two photos--the blood-stained street crossing and the taped up window front next to Etete.

Hey Amon, tbd is the new online news outlet found by the folks who own newschannel 8 tv, abc local tv affiliate channel 7, and the centrist to conservative politico website.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/15/AR2010101506351.html

That is totally fucked up.

They've been released for the moment with one charge of aggravated assault each, we'll see where this lands. There's a good chance there's video of the incident, with all the nearby businesses having cameras.

Etete has video cameras aimed out front? Just asking, not disagreeing. The Post story mentioned a witness who wanted to stay anonymous.

Any further developments from this story?

And not to de-rail frivolously, but did The Points break up? They posted "THANKS FOR THE GOOD TIME. OVER AND WAY OUT. THE POINTS." on their Facebook page.

There was a vigil held at 9th and U for the late Ali Ahmed Mohammed and DC9's liquor license was revoked.

The Points were scheduled to appear at DC9. I think they were down to the 2 original members, who I think were living far apart (as in 1 not near DC).

http://dcist.com/2010/10/graham_hints_that_murder_charge_in.php

Unrelated to that...wish I could go see an ilxer perform tonight at Black Cat. His main group is the Mountain Goats but he's appearing tonight with another band

Did anyone go? How was it?

3rd anniversary Brazilian Rhythms dj party at St. Ex tonight (also tonight Greil Marcus at LOC, School of 7 Bells at RnR Hotel and more stuff)

tomorrow 8th anniversary of Taking the P dj party at the Marx Cafe

my first time hearing of this http://reroutedc.com which seems to aim to bring world music shows to dc

Thanks. They did a lousy job of promoting the DJ Tudo gig, and did slightly better for the Tijoux one. I am going to contact them. Their events so far have not been cheap. It would be nice seeing someone else bring some international stuff to town that's not advertised last-minute and/or taking place at 1 am somewhere on a weekday.

Kind of a holy grail for 2000s DC post-punk nerds:

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2010/10/27/catching-up-with-no-kill-no-beep-beep-day-8-no-lie-relaxer/

yeah, been enjoying these. i still put we heart our hive on rotation.

I actually meant the No Lie Relaxer track - though the articles have been really cool to read; and a fitting tribute to a great album.

NLR played shows with everyone back then (Make Up, Q and Not U, All Scars, Black Eyes, etc. etc.) but never released anything - I didn't know they had recorded a full length at Trans Am's studios. This is the first thing that I've ever heard from them.

Nice track. I was busy with parenting and such around 2000 and never saw too much then. Saw everyone but NLR, but only once or twice.

2 more Q & not U posts and now its done. Nice.

comment re Nicki Minaj at DC Star

The “concert” was a horrible expereince. After being advertised as a show to start at 7, they didnt even start letting people into the DC star till ten, multiple hours after the event was said to be started. I do not see how its a good idea to get everyone angry before you give them alcohol and put them in a confined space, thats asking for problems. Then after the bouncers where being very rude they were saying you could upgrade to VIP for an extra 20 dollars which was a lie. They took your money and put you in the VIP line but you did not gain VIP access inside, they gave you the regular admission wrist band. Different bars in the same venue where charging different prices for the exact same drink. After then waiting in the club at 1 o clock nobody had performed. We were listening to the DJ who at this point is starting to repeat songs he had already played because he was playing songs for so long. If it was going to be a late concert they shouldn’t have advertised for a 7 o clock start time. I feel that DC starr tricked people into coming to their club advertising for a concert when it wasn’t a concert, it was an appearance at a club. Waste of time and money and I would never support that venue again

someone posted that comment on rapradar.com

To be honest that's pretty much the way every rap concert I've ever seen in D.C. goes (except for long ago Cap Centre multi-act bills)

930 club ones don't start that late though usually

Is there a general time that 930 Club gigs start? And more importantly, end?

oh wait, the gig I want is at the Black Cat. Never mind.