Brunch @ Cheesecake Factory

The Cheesecake Factory is known for its large portion sizes, good service, and if being over-hyped and tacky.

But they also have a surprisingly rich Sunday only brunch menu. While most people are flocking to Whitlows and waiting for a table at their breakfast buffet, it is a nice change of pace to be seated immediately for brunch at Cheesecake.

Pictured is their Giant Belgian Waffle with all the optional toppings, which looked deliciously more like desert than breakfast.

Being Cheesecake Factory it is a little pricey, but i recommend it for a special treat brunch alternative.

Middle Distance Runner at Iota tonight

Middle Distance Runner is making another appearance at Iota tonight! They put on an awesome live show at their last trip to Clarendon.

Brightest Young Things just put out an extensive review of their new album The Sun & Earth featuring sound clips of every track!

Its great that such a talented band is getting more publicity, and look forward to seeing them tonight for their record release.

Traffic Advisories for Army Ten Miler Race Sunday

The weather looks amazing for the Army Ten Miler Race tomorrow at the Pentagon. Here are some traffic advisories and road closers via AlertDC:

• I-95/395 HOV SCHEDULE CHANGE, CLOSURES THIS WEEKEND Lanes will reverse a day later to accommodate Army Ten-Miler
  

• CHANTILLY – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will delay reversing the I-95/395 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes this weekend for the annual Army Ten-Miler race Sunday in Arlington and Washington, D.C.
  
  The HOV lanes will remain open to all motorists southbound from 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2 until 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4. The lanes will close to all traffic at 1 p.m. and reopen northbound to all motorists at 3 p.m. (The lanes are usually open southbound until 2 p.m. Saturdays, reopening northbound at 4 p.m.).
  

• The following ramps will also be closed for the race from 5:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Sunday (or until the course is cleared):
  
  I-395 North mainline to Route 27 North/Route 110 South (Exit 8B)
  I-395 North mainline ramp to northbound express lane
  I-395 South mainline to South Parking (Eads Street) (Exit 8A)
  I-395 South HOV ramp to South Parking (Eads Street)
  Washington Boulevard to Route 27
  

• This is to advise the public that from 8 am until approximately 11 am on Sunday, October 4, 2009, streets in the downtown area of Washington, DC will be affected by the 25th Annual Army Ten-Miler.

• This race is scheduled to begin at 8 am along Washington Boulevard (Route 27) in Arlington, Virginia and proceed across the Arlington Memorial Bridge into the District of Columbia. Once the race enters the District, the runners will take the following route before ending the race again in Arlington, Virginia:

• Crossing the Arlington Memorial Bridge around Lincoln Circle to Henry Bacon Drive
• East on Constitution Avenue, NW
• North on 19th Street, NW
• West on Virginia Avenue, NW
• South on Rock Creek Parkway , NW to Ohio Drive, SW
• East on Independence Avenue, SW (runners taking the westbound side)
• North on 3rd Street, SW
• East on Constitution Avenue, NW
• South on 1st Street, NW , Crossing Peace Circle and Garfield Circle
• West on Independence Avenue, SW (runners staying on the left side)
• South on 14th Street, NW to Interstate 395 (HOV Northbound Lane)
• Interstate 395 (HOV Northbound Lane) to the Eads Street Exit Ramp
• Ending at S. Eads Street and Rotary Road in Arlington Virginia (Pentagon South Parking Lot)

U2 @ Fedex Field

U2 graced DC again on Tuesday night with its timeless beats, charitable themes and a incredible UFO inspired transforming stage and light show. The massive stage hovered over the band like an alien spider, changing colors and intensity to match the music. The awe inspiring collapsible and circular LED display overhead could warrant and entire post to itself. Read more about it here at Architect magazine.

European stars Muse warmed the crowd on this chilly night with a sound that was a mix of Queen and Radiohead. I liked their more mainstream songs like Starlight, but their other sets where too distortted for my taste. I did take kindly to some of their heavier bass lines that had a slight industrial tune to them.

Bono lead the "nation state of U2" through a exciting and entertaining night that included a wide variety of songs from their 80s classics to tracks off their new album. Of course charitable causes were central to the show, ranging from freeing Burma (officailly Myanmar ) and supporting the Iranian election protests (the "Green Revolution") in their Bloody Sunday set.

Bono might not be able to save the world, but he will definitely entertain you trying.

Upcoming Can't Miss Bands

I'm upset at not being able to make it to the Ten Out of Tenn show at Iota last Saturday. Here are some other must see bands playing soon:

• Middle Distance Runner
  Iota
  Saturday October 3 9pm
  
  
• The Bravery
  9:30 Club
  Sunday October 11 7pm
  
  
• True Womanhood
  Black Cat
  Monday October 19 8pm
  
  
• Juniper Lane
  Iota
  Saturday October 24 9pm
  
  
• Breast Cancer Benefit Concert with Memphis 29
  Clarendon Ballroom
  Wednesday November 18 7pm
  

Memphis 59 @ Galaxy Hut tonight

Memphis 59 is playing at the Galaxy Hut tonight at 9pm with a great Los Angeles-based songwriter named Adam Marsland and his Chaos Band.

Chris Zogby, formally from Boxcar Collision fame, is Memphis 59's drummer.

It should interesting to see how the tiny Galaxy Hut contains the mix of rock/powerpop/indie soul tonight.

Twitter Convention in DC on October 22

TWTRCON, the traveling convention focusing on the business uses of Twitter, will be coming to DC on October 22. The Grand Hyatt will be hosting the one day event which has 26 guest speakers, including Craiglist founder Craig Newmark.

There should be interesting seminars and workshops, and I'm looking forward to attending. I've been happy with my limited usage of Twitter so far, and will be on the lookout of tips to improve it.

Follow the convention on Twitter here.

Clarendon 3131 Under Construction

One interesting sign that the local housing market is starting to rebound in Arlington is the construction of new condos.

I'm usually apprehensive about talk of new condos popping up close-by, as Clarendon already seems over saturated with dense residential housing like 1021, Station Square, Zoso, Clarendon Reserve, The Clarendon Apartments, and Phoenix to name just a few high rises. Plus with the new 10 story apartment tower going up at Clarendon Center I start to wonder if there is more supply than demand near this Orange line station.

But Clarendon 3131 looks to be different than most new condos. It is several blocks south of the Metro station, which limits its height to only four stories. The proposed layout of the building is two four story townhouses that sandwich 16 single floor condos.

I've been watching the construction continue along with some of my neighbors, and will be interested if the million dollar price tag for the townhouses will hold up at the end of the year.

Clarendon Day this Saturday!

The annual Clarendon Day festival is coming this Saturday September 26! The all day event hosts live music, games for kids, art and crafts vendors, skateboarding and lots of food choices.

The day starts out with a race sponsored by Pacers and continue as Remy Munasifi acts as MC for a number of bands on two stages:

Clarendon Stage: (Clarendon Boulevard & N. Highland Street)
11 am – 11:45 am Taylor Carson
12:45 pm – 1:30 pm Jumpin’ Jupiter
2:15 pm – 3 pm Road Soda
3:45 pm – 5 pm EFG
6 pm – 7 pm Mambo Sauce

Wilson Stage: (Wilson Boulevard & N. Irving Street)
Noon – 12:45 pm Buster Brown
1:30 pm – 2:15 pm Brother Shamus
3 pm – 3:45 pm The Constituents
5 pm – 6 pm Crowded Streets

Car Free Diet Party at Mister Days Tuesday

Come to Mister Days Tuesday night for the kick off of "World Car Free Day"! There should be free food and door prizes, plus a small ego boost that you are supporting something Earth friendly.

I think this is a great event for Arlington residents, especially with all the non-car transportation options readily available. I know I am guilty of not using the so-closeby-I-can-smell-it Orange line Metro.

Arlington's Car-Free Diet Celebration
Tuesday, Sept. 22
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Mister Days
3100 Clarendon Blvd.