The 2006 High Heel Drag Race on 17th St

Update: 2007 race info on my homepage.

Here are the promised (but somewhat unimpressive) photos from the 17th Street High Heel Drag Race on Tuesday.


A huge turnout! I wasn't able to get a front-row "seat" this time, and should have asked these guys to take photos form me, who are sitting on top of Trio's Fox & Hound's on 17th.


The race included this guy or gal, who's not in drag but apparently comes out every year -- as the Washington Monument.


As usual, the race lasted only minutes, as some of the contenders are unbeleiveably fast. Here's a blurry shot of the runners.

Halloween High Heel Drag Race
Annual on the Tuesday before Halloween
On 17th Street NW near Q Street (map)

Reminder: High Heel Drag Race 2006

Just a reminder, the High Heel Drag Race for 2006 is tonight -- the fun starts 7:30 or 8PM, the race starts at 9PM. I will be there armed only with my RAZR for photo documentation.

Shane Hines and Everyone But Pete at Iota in Arlington

Iota Club and Cafe on Wilson Boulevard is a great local live music venue. They even have good food, even though the portions are small and pricey. The entertainment comes in different flavors, mostly varieties of adult contemporary, rock, indie, folk, or some combination thereof.

This past Friday night I had a killer time there seeing two great local bands, Everyone But Pete and Shane Hines and the Verve. Both dancable rock bands, Everyone But Pete won DC 101's Last Band Standing competition over the summer and plays almost entirely original tunes. The more established Shane Hines plays a lot of rockin' guitar solos, both originals and covers, to a growing and enthusiastic fan base.

Iota Club & Cafe
2832 Wilson Blvd, Arlington VA, 22201 (map)
703 522 8340 | www.iotaclubandcafe.com

Everyone But Pete: www.everyonebutpete.com
Shane Hines and the Verve: www.shanehines.com

Chasing Ambulances on I-66

In the wet and shiny weather Thursday night, we heard a screeching car crash on I-66 near Route 29 (in Arlington). With a few drinks in our bloodstreams, we decided we'd run to investigate. We made it to the scene within minutes with just one minor injury (a scratch that's now healing nicely) to find traffic completely stopped and the scene covered with police, a fire truck, and at least one ambulance. Score one for the DOT.



The driver of the SUV was standing and seemed shaken but unharmed. The other driver stayed in his car, and the emergency workers seemed to have to cajole him out of it. When he emerged, he had a very swollen eye and may have hurt an arm. He was livid about something and was screaming. We watched quietly from the Custis Trail alongside the highway.

I-66 was moving again within twenty or thirty minutes. Watching the first responders clean up the accident was fascinating ... sometimes they're really on the ball.

Intersection of I-66 and US-29, Arlington, VA (map)

A Hybrid Metro Bus at the DC Green Festival

I have yet to see a WMATA gas/electric hybrid bus on the road, but at least there was one on display at this weekend's DC Green Festival.



Thanks, Metro! Now let's see some on my regular bus routes. I hope they're faster than the natural gas models.

Green Festival: www.greenfestivals.org
WMATA: www.wmata.com
Thanks to my mom for taking one of these photos.

Historic White's Ferry Potomac River Crossing - in Loudon County, Virginia and Montgomery County, Maryland

White's Ferry is the last ferry service operating on the Potomac River. Located along the C&O Canal, the ferry carries cars, passengers, and bicycles between Montgomery County, Maryland and Loudon County, Virginia.



In one of the greater DC area's remaining rural areas, the ferry is depended on by locals for transit and is a haven for bicylists and water sports, including fishing. White's Ferry runs all year from 5AM-11PM and costs $4 one way or $6 round trip. It closes in icy and flooding conditions.



I spent a great day on a five hour canoe trip from near Point of Rocks to White's Ferry. Canoes can be rented from White's Ferry, and if you make a reservation a week in advance, they'll drive you upstream so you can drift home. (A bit of paddling may also be necessary.)



Recently the Coast Guard cracked down on White's Ferry for having unlicensed operators. The owners of the ferry and its supporters are concerned for the ferry service's survival, and some say that a major bridge may be imminent here, bringing traffic and urban sprawl to this rural historic area.

White's Ferry
White's Ferry Road, Poolsville, MD / Leesburg, VA (map)
301 349 5200