No shirts, but full service
The staff at P.J. Clarke’s restaurant downtown had a good laugh Thursday afternoon, when two men chose to dine shirtless on the patio for lunch.
“We just let them dine out there. It was so hot, and they were our only patio guests,” said Emily Hines, the restaurant’s director of private affairs. “It made me laugh.”
A photo was taken of the men and posted via Equinox restaurant’s Twitter account.
The men each had a steak lunch, Hines said, and tipped very well.
Power stripping
Heat-dazed Washingtonians still without power have been looking for any cool spot to take shelter from high temperatures. But these days an even higher priority is finding a spot to charge up those devices that make life run.
In past blackouts, it was common to see crowds scanning the walls of cafes looking for an outlet to power up their iPhones. Now, it’s not unusual for someone to carry a phone (or two), a laptop and a tablet all in one pack. They’re all out of juice after another dark, sweltering night, and one dinky little wall outlet won’t bring them back to life.
At the Panera Bread on Wisconsin Avenue in Tenleytown, a reporter spotted resourceful locals bringing their own power strips to the sandwich shop, allowing them to recharge five devices at a time from just one plug.
Pretty soon, the writer was hauling his own strip — and full supply of gear — to the local Cafe Ole for lunch and a recharge.
In power-mad Washington, people will always find a way.
Hot and hotter
At the scorching-hot Nationals game on the Fourth, one couple’s drink order in the center-field seats caused a buzz. Though it was only 11 a.m., the high heat had most fans clamoring for ice-cold beers, water and fruit cups.
But this couple? Their first order of the day was two steaming-hot coffees.
The order created a big stir among all those who could see them being passed down to the fans apparently in dire need of caffeine.
The commotion was only topped later by a chant for Nats employee Larry, who brought the section ice-cold washcloths to help cool off in the blazing sun.
Parades vs. fireworks
A D.C. resident elected to join a party of patriotic college students atop a George Washington University roof for an up-close view of the fireworks on the National Mall when she overheard one young woman, aided by alcohol and expletives, waxing lyrical about the oppressive nature of parades and the democratic virtues of fireworks.
In parades, you’re stuck behind people and can’t see, the woman explained. With fireworks, “All you have to do is look up. Everyone can see them. Fireworks are the most American thing. Parades are for communists.”
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