DC Libary Downloads

The DC public library system has plenty of issues, but it still beats shelling out $25 for a book you'll probably only read once. And even the greatest program in the world wouldn't be able to remove the hassle of actually going to a library, right? No longer! The truck pictured here is the "Digital Bookmobile," which has partnered with the DC public library to raise awareness about the library's digital media collection. On the Digital Bookmobile you can download free audiobooks, ebooks, music, and video to your laptop or some portable music players, including the iPod. It's parked at the site of the old convention center on H and 10th. After it leaves town, you can access the library's digital collection by downloading software from the library's website. You're not going to find every title on your Netflix queue or reading list, but it's worth a look.


Downloadable Media at the DC Public Library

Drama at Mayorga Lounge

So I'm not the only one who's sad about the closing of Mayorga Lounge- turns out Mayorga isn't so thrilled either. A press release posted on the company's blog states "It is unfortunate that Sonic Boom [the company who had the license for Mayorga Lounge] has chosen unilaterally – and we believe in violation of our contract — to change its business from a coffee lounge to a sushi restaurant. We are heartened by the many customers who have expressed their appreciation for and enjoyment of Mayorga Coffee. While we share your concern that the neighborhood is losing an important, locally-owned small business, the simple fact is that we did not operate this store and had nothing to do with its abrupt closing.”


Mayorga Coffee Talk: Mayorga Coffee Comments on Sonic Boom, Inc.’s Unauthorized Closure of Tivoli’s Mayorga Lounge

A Street Car Named Desire

"Stella! Hey, Stella!"

Can't put your finger on the 45th most recognizable quote in film history (according to the American Film Society)?? Well, you should be heading over to the Smithsoniam American Art Museum. That is, if you work in the Penn Quarter area (or for some lucky reason aren't sitting in an office at quarter-to-six). The free film begins Wednesday, September 3rd at 6pm.

Smithosonian American Art Museum
Address: 8th and F Streets, NW
Metro: Gallery Place/Chinatown (Red, Yellow, and Green lines)

Mayorga Lounge closing

Prince of Petworth reports that the owner of Mayorga Lounge, the coffee shop in the Gala theater on 14th and Park, is turning it into into a sushi restaurant. According to PoP, the franchise owner faced high rents, pressure from Mayorga to expand, and stiff competition from the Starbucks down the street. I'm profoundly bummed about this. I'm all for sushi but Mayorga Lounge was a great space to hang out in, had tasty teacakes (has anyone ever seen those outside D.C.?), and was generally a nice locally owned alternative if, like me, you need the occasional break from Starbucks. Let's hope the sushi plan works out better for the owner. I don't want to hate on chains but it'd be a shame if such a lovely location turns into a Subway.

Free Salad at Chop't

I'm inclined to say that Metro Center has all the soup/salad/sandwich joints it needs, but that's no reason to pass up a free salad. To celebrate the opening of its new Metro Center location, Chop't will be giving out free salads there between 11 and 2 today.

Chop't
618 12th Street, NW

Penn Quarter Living: Metro Center Chop’t…There Is A Free Lunch

Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future at National Building Museum

The National Building Museum got some exposure a few months ago when Hillary Clinton conceded to Barack Obama in the museum's cavernous atrium. It's also widely believed to have one of the best museum gift shops in the city- heavy on innovative kitchen utensils and design books, light on umbrellas printed with Monet's "Water Lilies." I highly recommend their Washington: Symbol and City exhibit to anyone who wants to know more about the city; and I still elicit eye rolling when I start gushing about the oddly fascinating exhibit on cement I saw there a few years ago. On my last visit I saw Eero Saarinen: Shaping the Future, which I thought was very well done. The exhibit gave a survey of the structures (which included terminals at Dulles and JFK, and the St. Louis arch) and furniture he designed throughout his short but illustrious career, and conveyed the post-war sense of possibility that his work embodied. I could have been misreading his handwriting, but I'm 95% sure that if you look closely at some of his papers you might catch what appears to be an extremely vulgar anatomical reference.

National Building Museum
401 F Street NW Washington, DC 2000

Mandu Happy Hour

Last night I went to Mandu, a Korean place on S and 18th. My friend and I were both very happy with our meals, but the happy hour- over, alas- also caught my eye. From 4 to 7, their selection of Asian beers are just $2 a bottle (normally $6), and mandu, the dumpling from which the restaurant takes its name, are just $3 for a plate of 6 (also $6). If you can snag a set of the small cold vegetable dishes that accompany meals, you're set for the night. Yelpers have griped about the lack of culinary purity, but if you've got a craving for dolsot bibimbap and can't make it to Annandale or are just looking for a happy hour that goes a step beyond Miller drafts and soggy nachos, this is a good bet.

Charity happy hour at 18th Amendment

Young Consultants of DC is holding a happy hour event tonight at 18th Amendment to benefit Facilitating Leadership in Youth. A $10 donation to this fine cause will get you free apps and drink specials. Specials include $3 Bud Light drafts & bottles, $4 rail drinks, $5 house wines, $10 sangria pitchers and $12 margarita pitchers. There'll be a raffle for free gas cards, dinner at the Park at Fourteenth, tickets to the Comedy Spot, and a one week stay in Bethany Beach, among other things, although it's not clear whether that's included in your donation.

Young Consultants of DC Happy Hour
7-10
613 Pennsylvania Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20003

Correction: Mount Plesant film series

The movie playing on July 12 in Lamont Street Park will be Shrek (in Spanish with English subtitles), not Blanca Nieve. It still starts at 9.

Vapiano Mini Dolce

Sometimes you just need a little bite of sweetness to finish off your dinner, but $7 bucks for a giant slab of cake can be excessive for your wallet and your waistline. Vapiano has rolled out three small desserts for just $2.50 each- tiramisu, panna cotta, and strawberries with mascarpone- that should do the trick.

Vapiano M Street
1800 M Street N.W.