Volkswagen is moving its U.S. headquarters to DC.

This is not one of my lame jokes. Volkswagen is REALLY moving its U.S. headquarters to DC. Ok, they are actually moving to Herndon, and it’s not just limited to the Volkswagen, but also Audi. VW’s argument is that most of their customers are on the coasts, and not in middle America. (Duh.)

I actually think this great move. DC is geographically a small city with sprawling suburbs and exburbs, which means there are lots of people owning cars. Of those, most folks own either Asian or German. Let’s face it… there is a good chance that the car mowing you down in the crosswalk will be a Volkswagen or an Audi (or a BMW, Toyota or Honda). You don’t find many Malibus outside of the rental car lots at National Airport.

More importantly, the proximity to government would be beneficial for automakers to monitor, and provide guidance on regulations and new legislation. Considering the mood that Congress has been in lately… it would be VERY beneficial.

Now, the question is: Will other automakers follow suit? Auto manufacturing is no longer concentrated in Detroit. German, Korean and Japanese companies have never had manufacturing in Detroit. It only follows that most if not all automakers should have a substantial presence, if not be headquartered, in the DC area.

The bigger question is: Can an auto-obsessed homosexual find a little occupational car-love at VW in DC?

Today was my friend Jeff Shewey’s funeral. I have known Jeff for almost 15 years, and I still can’t comprehend that he is really gone. I have lost many friends due to a variety of causes, and every loss affects me deeply.

I met Jeff shortly after graduating college. At that moment, I was naive, and not sure what real adulthood would hold. I was immediately drawn to Jeff’s sense of humor and zest for life. In the years after, Jeff introduced me to many of the things that I hold dear. Jeff’s enthusiasm for all things fun and fabulous inspired me not just to live, but to live life like it is meant to be lived.

Most importantly, Jeff had fabulous taste in cars, and always drove cars that reflected that taste.

There are so many moments with Jeff that stick with me, among them:

• - Sitting in the backyard of the Buchanan Street rental on the perfect spring day after the perfect spring brunch
• - Riding in Jeff’s car at 90 mph on the 14th Street Bridge
• - Freaking out when Jeff was painting his dining room hours before a surprise birthday party for our friend Sean at Jeff’s place
• - Shopping at the Dollar Store in Rehoboth for theme party props, after too many cocktails
• - Getting over being dumped by my BF by sleazing around the Eagle

Jeff has left so many people who loved him now and throughout the years. If the measure of a man is how he is loved, Jeff is giant among men.

Throughout today, there is one vision that I can’t shake. Those who know Jeff understand:

This is not a post where I’m going to debate in my own head whether or not to continue this so-called blog. It will continue, despite the fact that I seem to accentuating the erratic part of it these days. This is an accounting how this came about, how I have come to this point, and what may be coming in the future.

Few people know that what is here is the third incarnation of this blog. I wiped clean two previous attempts. The first attempt was about 10 months after I first met Scott. Like it or not, I have to admit that he had a lot to do with the failures of the first two, and the fact that this one lived on. (Warning: This is going to get long.)

Read the rest of this entry »

Rowing season is coming up in about a month, which should make everyone excited: I’m excited because I enjoy it so much… everyone else is excited because it will whip my scrawny butt back into shape.

I’m also working on the Stonewall Regatta, which DC Strokes will host on June 2, 2007. So any of the auto manufacturers are out there who may be interested in being a presenting sponsor, let me know. We’re are a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization, and we’re cheap… some of us more than others.

The Strokes will also be having a little fundraiser at JR’s on Sunday March 4th from 7pm to 10pm selling jello shots. So, come on out if you want to see cute, fun guys in Lycra.

If I decide to sell shots that night, it should be easy to pick me out. I’ll be the one who looks like he hasn’t rowed in months, and will be jiggling as much as the Jello.

Today, the DCist has a posting about the 11th Street Bridge renovations. Thankfully, many folks commented on the need to save the Anacostia Community Boathouse. Three of the four designs for the new 11th Street Bridge would destroy the boathouse, just as the second building is being realized.

As I mentioned, I’ve been rowing this summer. The Anacostia Community Boathouse is where we row. As the name implies, the boathouse is run and maintained by the community. Member organizations volunteer their time and dollars to keep this resource on the Anacostia River running day to day. The boathouse in return has given back to DC’s residents, through rowing camps and learn to row programs aimed towards those who might not otherwise have the opportunity.

Many clubs and schools call the Anacostia Community Boathouse home (notice, lots of schools and lots of dot-orgs):

• American University
• Bishop Ireton High School
• Capital Rowing Club
• DC Strokes
• Gonzaga High School
• Holy Cross High School
• National Capital Area Women’s Paddling Association
• Wakefield High School

So, you may ask, why not just move it? Ummm… where? With what money? And who is responsible to create a facility as well realized as what has taken almost 2 decades? A quick visit to the boathouse any morning or evening during the week will show how irreplaceable it is. In the short time I’ve been hanging around the boathouse, I’ve seen how central “Community” is to the Anacostia Community Boathouse, both literally and figuratively.

It is important that the Anacostia Community Boathouse survive, not just for my purely selfish benefit (though that should be enough), but for the benefit of all residents of Washington. More information is available at the ACBA’s website, and at Save the ACBA. In addition there is an online petition. The deadline for public comments is August 28th.

When I cabbed it to the Kennedy Center to see Mame this weekend, I ended up in one of the taxis with the new zone meters. I was a little surprised, as I had just read an article about them in the Washington Post last week. Also, I’ve been babbling about the concept of GPS meters to calculate zones for about a year now.

For those who don’t know about DC’s taxis: Taxi cabs in Washington, DC proper do not use a distance-and-duration-based system used by most (if not all) places. Ours use predefine zones and a schedule of charges based on the number of zones you cross. Cab fare will be the same regardless of how bad traffic may be, or what route the driver may choose. The Achilles heel of this system has always been the fare was manually calculated, and sometimes I’m not sure either driver or passenger felt 100% sure the correct fare was charged. The subject of meters versus zones has been contentious. Generally, the local politicians and many citizens seem to prefer the meters… the drivers seem to prefer the zone system.

Personally, I’ve always had a love/hate relationship with DC’s taxi cab fares. On the plus side, I never worry about a driver taking a route that could be faster, but a longer distance… I still pay the same no matter what. I have also gotten pretty familiar with the zones, so I always know what my fare should be. In fact, I occasionally will walk a block or even just cross a street to move to the next zone for a cheaper fare. On the down side, I have occasionally had to “correct” a driver’s fare. Sometimes, drivers innocently miscalculated the fare. Other times, the devilish grin made me think it was intentional. Confused tourists are notoriously taken advantage by less scrupulous drivers.

Overall, I think the zone meters solve the negatives of the zones, while keeping the positives. If the zone meters become the standard (as I hope), it will be too bad all of Jimbo’s work will be unnecessary.

Buried in this Washington Post article is the fact that FlexCar is moving its headquarters from Seattle to DC. Steve Case, probably the best-known DC entrepreneur, is a major owner, so I’m assuming he cracked the whip. Lee Iacocca is another investor, but I refused to think of Lido with anything relating to whips or leather… really… ok, maybe Rich Corinthian Leather if he reunited with Ricardo.

DC is one of very few cities where both FlexCar and ZipCar operate. Car-sharing services have proved to be controversial in DC, as they have designated street parking reserved. It will be curious if relocating here further entrenches FlexCar in DC, and if the head-to-head competition here starts trending away from ZipCar and towards FlexCar.

At the risk of alienating the automotive bloggerati, I’ll admit I’m a huge supporter of car-sharing services. (Hey if Lido can buy into the concept, why not me?) If I didn’t have to drive 20 miles to work everyday, I would use one of these services for the odd times I need a practical car, and replace the daily driver with a fun, impractical, frivolous car… maybe a Lotus Elise.

Yes, I know the point is to get rid of the car, not replace it. I’m pretty sure, though, if I completely extricate automobiles from my life, the therapy bills would end up buying someone else a new car anyhow.

Weekend before last, I attended Capital Pride for the first time in almost ten years. And then, it was only the festival… I skipped the parade for a barbeque on Kent Island.

Granted it had been a while, but I never remember that the Straight 8s had such a prominent place at the festival. (For those who don’t know, the Straight 8s are the gay car club in DC.) Believe it or not, even though I’m such a notorious car queen in DC, I have never joined the Straight 8s. Yes, I, who celebrated my 2nd anniversary with Scott at the Chicago Auto Show, has not felt worthy to join. After all, I have one parking spot that is not covered, so had to compromised and buy a daily driver with the soul of a fun weekend car.

Seeing the ‘31 Pontiac and the pink Dodge Coronet, and chatting with some of the members, I’m thinking of joining. The project car bug has once again bitten me, and getting to know folks whom I can bounce this stuff off of would be great. I might even consider sharing in the project with someone else, though that could get messy.

I’ve actually been playing around with this idea a number of times, most recently after the Carpundit got his 2002. I’ve got it narrowed down to a late 60’s Mercedes SL or an early 70’s Porsche 911. I’ve checked out prices of cars in decent condition, and I think I can swing it. The biggest problem now, is where to store my li’l baby. My parking is not covered, and there is no way I’m storing anything that dreamy outside. A garage space would be optimal, preferably with water and/or electricity available.

If anyone has any ideas, let me know.

One of the quirks of DC are the cars you’ll see that are not sold in the U.S. I would guess this is due to the large number of foreign nationals that live in DC while working for embassies and organizations like the IMF and World Bank. Many of them must bring their cars with them.

When I drive to work, I occassionally see a right-hand drive BMW 318i (2003+ E46) with the European white turn signals. With the exception of a Mercedes-Benz A200 I occasionally see at the local Panera, most probably blend into the background for the average American commuter.

Today at lunch, though, I saw one that frankly surprised me… a Nissan Serena from the late 1990’s. First, most cars from overseas that I run into are no more than 4 or 5 years old. Second, it just looked so odd in the middle of Ameirican SUVs, minivans and cars. The image doesn’t describe how skinny the Serena is.

Unfortunately, I did not have a camera handy, so I wasn’t able to snap a picture. The Serena in the image, though, is a doppelganger, including color and trim level, for the one I saw.

I’ve decided Liz Phair is the only woman I will sleep with. Unfortunately, she apparently has a boyfriend.

Her concert tonight gave me tingly feelings where no woman has. She was amazing. Very classy broad, even when she is singing about hot white cum and fuck & run.

I was very happy she sang lots of her old stuff… not that there is anything wrong with the new stuff. (I disagree with my friend Andra, who thinks her stuff was better when Liz lived in Wicker Park… that’s only because Andra lives in Wicker Park.) I was afraid that she wouldn’t do stuff like Mesmerizing and Cinco de Mayo, but she did.

Problem with a Liz Phair concert… she has so many songs that I like that she will never get to them all. I do wish though that she would have been able to get to Johnny Feel Good, Giving It All To You, and Friend Of Mine.

In case anyone was wondering… yes, Johnny was my childhood nickname.

And Ben’s Chili Bowl rocks after too many Wolaver’s.

…Always Piss Me Off!

People, it’s just a little rain.

(Hour and a half commute from DC to Tysons… ’nuff said.)

My dear friends Lisa and Christopher are two of the most creative people I know. They host an 8 hour Christmas brunch. It’s not unheard of to receive a handmade card from them. They were married in a Scottish castle BEFORE Madonna did it. (I wouldn’t be surprise if Madge secretly stalked Lisa for ideas.)

Earlier this year, they started a business, LeMair Handcrafts. True to form, they make EVERYTHING. Their site doesn’t do their wares justice; everything is really beautiful. I own several pieces of their pottery, and will probably end up with a yoga mat bag, if I ever get off my lazy butt. Also, while I don’t (usually) carry a purse, Lisa’s bags are fabulous, with vintage fabrics and buttons.

A couple weeks ago, they had a trunk show. I finally got around to loading the pictures. (Yeah, yeah, work got busy.) They are here.

Oh, Dubya… what a lousy pick in Harriet Miers (a.k.a. Mai-Tai). She’s not exactly a legal heavyweight, especially compared to Roberts. She is proving to be much easier to parody and snark than Roberts (even with the whole gay thing):

• Harriet Miers Blog!!!


• Harriet Miers’s Extreme Makeover


• Bush Appoints 60-Year-Old Virgin to Supreme Court

(Image shamelessly lifted from The View Through The Windshield)

Ummm… wow… anybody else intrigued?
(Seen in Vienna)

This morning I was listening to XM’s DC Traffic Channel, and I hear “blah, blah, blah.. the Cock Sucker Channel.”

I’m thinking: “Wait a minute… did they just say Cock Sucker Channel?!?!?!” I assumed I was hearing things. Next traffic report cycle: “blah, blah, blah.. the Cock Sucker Channel.”

WTF? Was this somebody’s crass idea to let the public know Logo is on Comcast digital now? Had Spice TV branched out to sweaty man-love action? Luckily, they play the same ad every cycle of traffic reports. Next time I listened more closely… “blah, blah, blah… MLS… blah, blah, blah… the Cox Soccer Channel.” OK, Cox needs to rename the station and XM needs to require better sound quality on the local traffic advertisements.

On other notes, I’m kind of lovin’ BPM today. After convincing myself that Comcast wasn’t holding back a channel full of cornholin’ hunks, I switch on BPM. They were playing Milky’s Just the Way You Are (the doo,doo, doo song). This was probably my favorite song on 2003. It was kind of theme song for Scott and me, at least in my head. Since it was such a beautiful day, I decided to drive to eat lunch by the Potomac. (Yes, long haul from Tysons, but it was such an amazing day.) This time it was Be My World (the na, na, na song), which is one of my current faves. Yes, today I’m getting all kinds of Milky love.

UPDATE: I could not find any Cox Soccer Channel… I did find, though, a FOX Soccer Channel. I must be going deaf, or the sound quality on the XM metro traffic stations is comparable to AM radio.