Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Washington

Catching el clasico soccer game in DC?

uk_giffo — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:50:59 -0800

Where in Washington DC will I be able to watch el clasico (Barcelona v Real Madrid) this Sunday afternoon at 1pm? I don't have cable so I want to get out to a good bar or cafe to watch the soccer game. Can any locals recommend somewhere? Anywhere metro-accessible I suppose, but the more central or NW the better. The Washington Redskins and a ton of other American football teams are playing at exactly the same time so I don't think I'll have much luck seeing it at the traditional sports bars.

As a cheeky bonus question (sorry!), are there any useful DC-centric general forums? I'm looking for an online space where I'll be able to ask these kinds of local questions and others. The forums I've found seem to lean quite heavily towards discussing politics on the hill (understably so).

Quinoa help me out with this dish?

oflinkey — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:45:45 -0800

Quinoa salad at Mitsitam Cafe in DC--where can I find the recipe? I was in DC last week and hit up the Mitsitam Cafe for a glorious lunch. I had the quinoa salad and fell in love. I am not sure if it changes, but the version I had was fruity and vinegary and had blue sweet potatoes in it (I am pretty sure). I asked about recipes, and I was referred to a book, but I wonder if anyone has any knowledge of if the quinoa salads change... and if anyone knows this recipe (or if it is in this book). I have found the wild rice with watercress recipe online (wee!), but the quinoa eludes me.

Working abroad? Sweet. LDR? Not so much.

azuresunday — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:19:47 -0800

Visafilter: I've been hitting a brick wall with the Japanese consulate regarding same-sex partners and dependent-visa eligibility. Any Mefites have experience with this sort of thing? I'm a guy in my mid-twenties with a same-sex partner about the same age, and we've been together for six years. I've just been hired to teach English in Japan this spring, which I'm really excited about, and my SO has an interview lined up with the same company this weekend. I'm fairly confident he'll be hired as well (he's got much more teaching experience) but just in case, we're applying elsewhere and researching alternatives, including visa options.
I've found several unofficial websites like this one which mention it's now possible for a married same-sex partner to sponsor their accompanying spouse.
I've tried calling the local Japanese Consulate in Seattle to confirm or deny this, but the visa officer was out, and it seemed like no matter how I phrased the question, all I got back from the woman I spoke to was "Japan doesn't have a domestic partnership visa," which felt like a canned answer and didn't actually address my question.
What I want to know is whether a married (or in Washington State, domestic-partnered) couple is eligible to apply for the already-existent dependent visa, or perhaps some other type of visa I'm not aware of.
The SO and I aren't married - we've discussed getting hitched but we've held off due to R-71, and given the general lack of information from the Consulate, we aren't sure whether becoming domestic partners in Washington would do anything for my partner's visa eligibility anyway. Maybe a state offering full-on Marriage would be better?
I'd really appreciate any advice from Mefites who have either Japan-specific experience or those who have successfully negotiated similar problems before. Anything helps, really. Please let me know if you need more information, and thanks in advance.

Where can I go to type for a day in DC?

l33tpolicywonk — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:36:54 -0800

Diner, coffee shop or other not-too-crowded space I can go to write for a day in Washington, DC? I'm at the tail end of work on a thesis, and I want to be able to put in 6 hours or so of solid work on it on Saturday. I think a change of scenery will help me stay focused. I need somewhere that's open throughout the day, where I can get food / beverages when needed, where no one will bother me if I stay for that length of time (as long as I keep buying drinks every hour or so), that's not too crowded (a place like Tryst is definitely out - way too many people tripping over you all day), decent power outlet and table access for laptops, and is metro-accessible in Washington, DC. Any good ideas?

Alaska dork needs help! Cool things to do in DC Oct. 27-Nov. 2?

Alaska Jack — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:29:09 -0800

Woohoo! Several idle days in Washington DC! I desperately need wise counsel; Please please please tell me about cool things to do! I'll be attending a conference just outside DC (Leesburg, VA, to be precise) from Oct. 27 to Oct. 29.* Then, from Oct. 30 through mid-day Nov. 2, I will have FOUR WHOLE DAYS with absolutely nothing to do in our nation's capital! I would LOVE to get ideas!!!

Here's some things to get started -

(1) I'm way more interested in seeing cool, quirky metropolitan-type stuff than I am in the usual monuments, etc. I love trying new things and expanding my horizons. I love music, I like meeting people, but I'm also perfectly happy doing things by myself.

(2) To that end, I won't be staying in a Holiday Inn etc, but lining up a room or even just a couch through a website I found. I should be able to get a place pretty close to downtown.

(3) I am used to doing a lot of walking -- and really looking forward to it! I doubt if I'll have any other transportation aside from public transit.

(4) I'll be there over Halloween.

(5) Hmm... should I worry about being mugged? Don't have to worry about that in Alaska. Now that I think about it, I guess things to avoid would also be helpful.

So how 'bout it? Festivals? Art shows? Tai Chi at dawn? Awesome little places to eat? (I esp. love street vendors, unusual ethnic foods, etc.) Should I make a sign and go protest and/or support some random government policy? Demand to see my legislators? I've never had a martini before -- who makes a great one? What should I bet on if I see one of those street guys with the cups and ball? Should I carry a can of spray paint in case I feel the uncontrollable urge to "tag" something? Get drunk and start a fight between Republicans and Democrats? Listen to some crazy speaker and subscribe to his intriguing newsletter? Anything to see at sunrise? How about midnight?

Sorry to sound so excited! But what can I say, I am! Help me fill every waking moment with memorable awesomeness!

- AJ

* Even during the conference, I'd love to know about awesome things to do in the evening.

Cheap Bus NYC-DC

mixer — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 15:48:43 -0800

Cheap buses from NYC to Washington D.C.? The question's been asked and answered in the past, but I'm wondering if that information is outdated. Thanks!

Experience with Sprint / Nextel MiFi?

bamassippi — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 11:04:59 -0800

Experience with Sprint / Nextel MiFi? Moving into an area of Seattle with a cable/Internet provider with a poor reputation and performance. My wife and I are considering the MiFi 2200. We both work from home and I wanted to ask the MeFi-ers first to see if anyone has had any experience with this device/service.

We need something that can handle everything from running reports through VPNs, to watching videos, to downloading large files. What should we need to know (or be concerned) about? How does it compare to a top-of-the-line high-speed broadband service?

I'm moving to Beacon Hill in Seattle -- need assistance getting adjusted.

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:42:07 -0800

I'm moving to Beacon Hill in Seattle -- need assistance getting adjusted. Been living in Queen Anne for my 3 years in Seattle. I'll be about 2 blocks south of Amazon's building. Quite the different neighborhood.

Looking for insight and suggestions from others who've made the transition into this neighborhood that everyone keeps claiming is the "next big thing!". I'm not quite convinced, though my rent is $650 less, and I've tripled in rooms and storage.

- Who are the cable/Internet options in the area? (Your reviews of said service.)
- Bars/restaurant suggestions.
- General "things you should know" before moving to Beacon Hill.

Miss Sofia Goes to Washington

fijiwriter — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:36:32 -0800

What's good for a toddler to see and do in Washington, D.C., in early summer? The Writer Family is looking to travel to Washington, D.C., for an early summer vacation, and bringing our (will be then) 3.5 year old little girl. But we need your hope!

I haven't been to D.C. in 5+ years, and my last trip was certainly not geared for a toddler's itinerary. What are the best museums that she'd enjoy? She loves science and animals and fish. I can see us strolling the Mall and getting over to Georgetown or Alexandria for a few hours.

But what else is there?

Bonus points for kids stores, besides the mall/chain kind. Extra points for kid friendly eateries.

The plan is early June, about three days up there.

(I know D.C.'s been covered before, but I'm looking for a kid perspective.)

Where is a good spot to take pictures of a car in Seattle?

-harlequin- — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:00:39 -0800

What's a good place in or near the greater Seattle area, to park and photograph a car? I'm looking for somewhere which is a nice area or has a nice backdrop, has space to stop a car, and which is generally fairly deserted (so that camera etc. can be set up without constantly being the path of people/cars, and pictures can be taken without having to wait for people to leave the frame, etc). To make things harder, this would most convenient during the day on a weekend, but if a good place is most empty during office hours (or whatever), it might be worth the inconvenience.

Appealing a Property Tax Assessment - need advice in King County WA

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:45:20 -0800

Property Tax filter: In August I bought a house in King County WA. The county's assessment of the property is very high. I would like to appeal for a review of the assessment. The desired result is a lower tax bill. I would be grateful for any strategy or advice. Details:
- The house is in the City of Shoreline, WA (north of Seattle).

- The August 2009 sale price of the property was over $200k less than the 2009 assessed value, and $40k less than the 2010 assessed value.

- The bank's appraisal, done prior to sale, estimated the value as just slightly higher than the actual sale price.

- House and yard are in good clean condition.

- The County's "parcel viewer" assessor information database states that the house has 4 bathrooms. Not true. It has 2 full baths, 1 half bath, and 1 water closet without sink. There is also a "roughed in" bathroom without any fixtures.

- The assessor database states that we have half a finished basement. Not really true. The basement has four small rooms. Three rooms are unfinished with concrete floors and no finishing over the wall and ceiling framework. The fourth room has ancient carpeting, a couple sheets of old wood paneling, one wall covered in old wallboard, no finish on the ceiling.

QUESTIONS:

If I understand it right, I can appeal either to the King County Dept of Assessments or to the Board of Equalization . Which one is likely to give me better results?

Apparently I just missed a July 31st deadline for 2010 appeals with the board of equalization. Is there any lee-way for me to get an appeal in, since I didn't own the house until August?

Would it help my appeal to remove the old carpet in the basement and expose the concrete floor? Should I take down the wood paneling?

Is there an easy way to measure the square footage of my house?

Any other tips on get them to re-evaluate in my favor? Is there a way to get it done quickly? TIA.

Help me Find Out More About my Musical Neighbors

bluefly — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 07:58:08 -0800

Can you recommend some blogs that focus on the music scene in Washington, DC? I'm interested mainly in hip-hop/funk/soul and indie rock (but not rap). I've been going to some local music concerts this summer mainly by accident, and I've always enjoyed chatting with the other concertgoers about the musicians which they always seem to know so much about. I'd like to know a little bit more about the musicians living among us, so I can intentionally go to some shows this fall.

I read DCist sometimes, but I find it overwhelming to find what I want because of the amount of posts.

MD in Washington that specializes in sleep problems

queseyo — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 13:54:16 -0800

Recommendations for an MD who can help with long-term sleep problems, (SE) WA state I'm asking for my mom, who has had serious sleep problems (insomnia, inability to sleep through the night) for about a decade now. She has been to a sleep clinic, and does not have sleep apnea; however, they apparently were not terribly helpful beyond that diagnosis. She is on several medications that I would imagine are contributing in some way to the issue, but none of the doctors she has seen have been able to find a solution. I don't know specifically what she has/ hasn't tried, but I do get the sense that she needs someone who would be able to tackle the issue from various angles, ie, what medications is she on, and how are they impacting the problem; what is her lifestyle like, etc.

Her sleep has been getting worse, and she is wearing herself down. She lives in the Tri-City area but can travel elsewhere (Seattle or Portland), if need be. Does anyone know of any doctors who specialize in sleep disorders?

Any Arabic-speaking, food-loving Puerto Rican Bando fans in DC?

metajc — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 08:30:07 -0800

Any advice for a friend moving to Washington, DC, who is an ex-Air Force Puerto Rican (kickboxing) fighter studying Arabic at Georgetown? Dude has very specific interests, doesn't drink. He asked me if there was an Arabic part of town where he could live. I don't think so, right? He loves Puerto Rican food but I don't know of any around here -- just Cuban? He's a fighter and probably capable of hiring on as a trainer somewhere, judging by his physique. Any fighting institutions he should look into? Is Bando still a thing in DC?

How do I prioritize cost/budget, commute, amenities, and neighborhood cool-seeming-ness?

NikitaNikita — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 22:16:52 -0800

Deciding-where-to-live-filter: How do I prioritize cost/budget, commute, amenities, and neighborhood cool-seeming-ness? (sorry: long, personal, and northwest DC/Maryland-based.) (sorry for the long, personal/specific question here... asking my question to a internet-full of strangers seems to be the only way to silence my brain tonight):

I'm relocating to DC/MD for a year-long (possibly longer) fellowship program in policy work, and looking to turn over a new leaf for my finances (mainly, building up some savings, and not living paycheck-to-paycheck). Using the 33% of take-home pay as my guideline for rent, my rent budget allowance is... tiny. I found an older (non-pet-friendly) rental condo in a fairly walking-friendly area, near the train/buses and work, but a relatively unhip-seeming 'hood. It does however fit within my 33% rent budget, including utilities.

I'm comparing this to a new, modern, pet-friendly condo further away from work, but in the District. The rent sounds do-able (43% of take home), but overall living will be more expensive given the nature of DC (taxes, car insurance (I got markedly higher quotes with a DC address), etc). But it seems like a younger, more lively neighborhood.)

I'm stuck between these options (the cheapest/most convenient I've found, thus far) and am wondering if the hive-mind has some ideas about how to prioritize/balance a budget against general lifestyle-type happiness.

Thanks y'all...

(PS: I'm the person who posted this, if that helps. And it's Friendship Heights MD vs Cleaveland Park/Vaness-ish))

(PPS: I throw in the pet-stuff since I'd really like to have a dog, but again, cost has been an issue.)

(PPPS: I have only one piece of 'equity', my car, which I not only really like but am not ready to sell in a rush, in case I need it.)

Forlorn Lakes WA

Jsn7821 — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:57:38 -0800

Has anyone been to the Forlorn Lakes in WA? Looking for hikes, etc. to do. I will be up at the Forlorn Lakes Saturday (camping with some friends) and Sunday. I've never been there - and would like to find a decent hike, or some place to explore, etc. I have a SUV that I will go up there in so I can drive on rough roads.

For a hike, probably stick in the 6 to 10 mile day hike range. I'll come back and camp at a campground (haven't picked a spot yet).

Any information about the area - or links to websites would be GREAT! Thanks!

Wheelchair-friendly dentists in DC area

LobsterMitten — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:05:21 -0800

Wheelchair-friendly dentist in the Washington DC area (Montgomery County MD if possible)? A dear friend of mine is in his 70s and uses a power wheelchair. He has some arm strength, but he has no leg muscles and has a big belly, so he's easily thrown off balance when transferring from the wheelchair to the dentist chair. Recently he had a really bad fall when the dental assistant tried misguidedly to "help" him transfer -- she basically shoved him off balance and he fell full force. No apology from her or the dentist, who he's been seeing for 35 years.

He's looking for a different dentist's office where they may be more aware of wheelchair issues. I don't know if there are special arrangements where he could stay in his chair? Or just any office where they are more with-it about this.

Inexpensive Picture Framing in DC

fancypants — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:00:30 -0800

Inexpensive, quality picture framing shops in the DC metro area? I have a variety of items (mostly campaign memorabilia) with extremely high sentimental value that I would like to have framed for preservation and display. This includes traditional items, such as posters and newspaper front pages, as well as some slightly non-traditional stuff like ticket stubs and vinyl yard signs. I'm hoping not to spend a fortune getting these items framed, but I want it to look good and I want it to last. Is there any place in DC or the surrounding area that fits the bill? I'm willing to drive out to the far reaches of suburbia to accomplish this mission, but I'd prefer something in the District.

Looking for a hotel in Washington, D.C.

mwark — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 20:46:16 -0800

Looking for a reasonably priced hotel in Washington, D.C. for a trip we are planning to take this August. Any thoughts on the possibility of commuting downtown from the burbs each day to visit the sites?

Tell us everything you know about the San Juans!

amanda — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:47:54 -0800

The Mister and I are planning to head to the San Juan Islands in Washington for an extended outdoor adventure in September. Tell us what you know about visiting the San Juans! We are pretty avid hikers and campers and bikers. We'd like to get on the water, too, though we've only been on a kayak once or twice. We're considering doing a multi-day guided kayak tour. This seems a little namby-pamby for diy backpackers but, well, it is open water and there may be whales and they do all the bivouacking and cooking for you. Has anyone done a kayak tour either with or without a guide? Any recommendations on a company -- there's at least 6 to choose from.

Also, we're torn between camping and lodging and may try to do a bit of both. I love the idea of waking up in the early morning and being able to wander out of my tent, make some coffee on my little stove and look out to sea. The lodging there is very expensive so we may do one or two nights lodging as a splurge and camping the rest -- any advice on either of those options. Right now, we're thinking of staying on either San Juan or Orcas island.

Lastly, we're having a bit of a conundrum as to whether to bring our own bikes, rent bikes and/or bring our car with us. The upside to the car is simply hauling our gear around and if we get a crazy ass rainstorm (crossing my fingers that this does not happen) it would be nice to decamp and head to the car. September is usually glorious here in Oregon -- total paradise -- but the coast is something else. If we were just planning to stay at a hotel the whole time, I'd totally bring my bike and leave the car because we could just ditch our stuff at the hotel, take a cab or two as necessary and head out. But, because we're thinking of mixing it up, a car just sounds so much... easier.

Oh, lastly lastly, should we bike on Shaw Island? Is it awesome or would we be better off hiking around somewhere else?

We're moving out west!

Fifi Firefox — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 13:09:17 -0800

Where can we live (in the US) that has both pleasant summers and awesome snowboarding? My boyfriend and I plan to move in the next year or so, and we’re having lots of fun picking out potential dream cities to live in. My Metafilter searches have turned up some great options and several really helpful threads along similar lines, so I thought I’d throw our requirements into the mix.

My boyfriend’s goal in life is to have easy access to awesome snowboarding, and I’m cool with that as long as I can still have summer - I don’t want to be wading though snowdrifts year-round, and I want sunshine and milder temps for at least a couple months. I also want to be in a decent-sized city - nothing huge (or really expensive), but I like being near restaurants, concerts, art/culture, festivals, shopping, bike trails, and so forth. My boyfriend will be attending grad school down the road, so proximity to a university would be nice.

That’s our wish list. So far, we like Denver, Fort Collins, Seattle, and Portland (and we’re open to more suggestions). We also need some help narrowing our choices so we can plan a trip to visit some of these places, so I’m putting the gist of what we’ve found about each city below, and any comments from people who have actually lived there would be helpful.

Denver - Large city so better job prospects (I‘m a graphic designer), weather similar to where we are now (Wisconsin, which actually seems to have harsher winters). Right by Vail, Breckenridge, et al., so obviously the snowboarding would be great. What’s the downside? Is it expensive to live there? (We’ve already nixed Boulder because it seems pricey.)

Fort Collins - Sunny with mild winters, college town, smaller than Denver so less expensive and less traffic. Further from snowboarding - looks like 3-4 hours to the big resorts - but are there smaller hills nearby? Is it kind of sleepy and suburb-y there?

Seattle / Portland - Both look like awesome cities with great culture - what are the differences in size, cost of living, general feel, etc? Seattle has Mount Ranier and Olympic National Park, and Portland is right by Mount Hood - how does the snowboarding / skiing compare to the big Colorado resorts? I’ve read varying reports of the weather in this area, from “it’s always gray and rainy” to “it’s always gorgeous and mild” - what’s the truth?

h8 renting.

tmcw — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 06:35:11 -0800

All signs point to illegal activity on the part of my landlord, and paying the rent in cash certainly isn't helping the situation. What are our options (in DC?) So, we finally found an apartment in a less-crimeridden (but still pretty crimeridden) part of town, and the rent ($2750 / 3 a month) has been requested in cash this month.

Also, a business card from a government investigator, with a note to our landlord to call him, arrived at the door. Along with several child support checks. And various other documents addressed to various people with the same last name but different first names as our landlord (he doesn't live in the area). He's tough to contact, but we're trying to forward these to him.

And he insists that we either pay the rent in cash or wire it to him - no checks, etc. The overwhelming conclusion is that he doesn't want to report his income via rent so that he doesn't have to pay a portion as child support, and this is certainly digging a deeper hole with his existing legal troubles.

This month's rent has been a fiasco, but it'll be sorted out by tonight. For future reference, though:

Do we have any right to request to pay rent in check, etc? It makes everyone nervous to carry the $900+ back to the apartment every month in cash.

If this jerk gets completely destroyed in the courts and can't keep the apartment, do we have renters rights in DC, or are we kicked out?

Thanks!

New residents of Seattle. Please help us choose a neighborhood to buy a house.

valannc — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:35:59 -0800

Seattle region filter: We are new residents of Seattle, from New Jersey, enjoying our exploration of this wonderful city. We are house-hunting and have narrowed down our choice of neighborhoods. Any opinions or advice? Criteria:
- Commute is less than 30 minutes to South Lake Union.
- Quiet streets and beautiful light. We really like the light in the areas close to Puget Sound.
- Re-sale value. We have no kids, but we prefer good schools and desirable areas -- for resale value.
- Walkable friendly community.

Neighborhoods, in order of preference:
1. Richmond Beach. Wonderful quiet neighborhood seems like a retreat from the city. But not a bad commute. However, there is the Point Wells development looming. It could change the whole character of the community.
2. North Beach. I like the relaxed feel of the neighborhood.
3. Blue Ridge. I think it's a bit too spruce and upscale for us. But there are some beautiful houses.
4. Sunset Hill. What a lovely community! But the lots and houses tend to be small. Houses are selling quickly in Sunset Hill, despite the "buyer's market."
5. Magnolia. Shorter commute to South Lake Union, but homes are more costly, and the area is kind of isolated from the rest of Seattle.

Also, is there any advantage/disadvantage to living in Shoreline vs the city of Seattle?

What did George Washington think of the name of Washington, DC?

Flunkie — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:32:15 -0800

Is anything known about what George Washington thought about having a city named in his honor? For example, perhaps he gave a public speech accepting the honor, or perhaps something can be found in a letter that he wrote to someone, or perhaps a contemporary recorded something that Washington said to him.

I'm mostly interested in actual quotes of Washington on this topic, though of course any related info would be appreciated.

I know, I know, you're jealous.

tmcw — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:14:19 -0800

I just lucked out huge on Craigslist. Sitting next to me is a combo organ and a Fender Princeton Blackface, which I got for free (tried to offer money, but it was refused). Now how to get the two back to working conditions... Question #1 - what can I plug in here? The organ is a Doric combo organ of Italian lineage (has Italian on the inside of the case, even) and I don't know what to think of this power adapter. It was long before the Euro plug design, obviously, 60s area, and I don't know even if it is a power plug, as it might be the plug for a dedicated power supply. I'm going to search through Italian historical plugs, but any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

The Princeton turns on sort of, and has a nongrounded plug, and makes noise, but not music at this point. Plugging it in at one point (well, putting the power plug near the outlet) resulted in sparks, possibly caused by the polarity of the plug, which is not noted at all. As far as this goes, I would be totally cool with paying a hundred or two hundred dollars to get this shipshape - it's a hugely awesome amp which I have a definite use for and it appears to be all-or-mostly original. So, any places in the DC area (preferably not requiring lots of driving, I don't have my own car) which I could bring it to a genius who will hand it back to me sparkling and awesome?

Thanks for all your help!