When the puck drops for the Winter Classic at centre ice on New Year’s Day, give a thought to what was on that exact spot just a few years back. Where on Thursday, the best hockey players in the world will face off, many gay men of Washington will remember it as the place where back door looks and odd man rushes had very different meanings.

That’s because the old neighborhood around Nats Park was once home to some of DC’s most notorious gay nightlife. The Pier, Lost and Found and Tracks were some of the more boisterous dance clubs. But there was far more to the scene than just dancing.

La Cage (aka the Petting Zoo) was a favorite spot to watch (or touch) the go-go boys, and the DC outpost of the Club Baths chain was where one went for… well, bathhouse sex. And then there was the Glorious Health & Amusement Company (aka the Glory Hole). The locus of the action, O Street, Southeast, was razed and removed for the ballpark. As best we can tell, that’s exactly where the player benches will be for the game. Those old joints are just memories now, displaced by the ballpark, soulless office buildings, cookie cutter condos and progress. The old cruise bars are vestiges of the past as well, displaced by Grindr, Scruff and soulless hookup apps. Progress? The sporting life.

To get a feel for what the area was like, DC’s Rainbow History Project did a nice walking tour map of the old gayborhood. Click to enlarge (if we had a nickel…) the pages below.

Actual Arlington skyline, seen from the District

Out-of-towners often ask about the District’s unusual history; something along the lines of ‘Are you a state or a city or what? Does your mayor still do crack? And why is it shaped so weird?’ Meaning, we assume, the District, not our mayor.

Pass on the first two. But true story! The District was once nearly almost completely diamond-shaped, straddling both sides of the Potomac, until some fancyboys in the Commonwealth got a little snippy and took back their side, turning it into Arlington.

Today it’s home to over 200,000 people, and notably features many many little group homes where underpaid Capitol interns share their sad nights. But this is a good thing, because many underpaid interns equals many fun places to hang out, sample local cuisine, build friendships and drink. Who are we kidding…it’s just the drinking part.

Today’s tour guide is the amazing Jason Rogers – world traveler, captain of the now defunct Arlington Sperm Whales, and, as he explains, “can recite Sartre in three languages just as fast as he can put a puck past your ear.”

Congratulations on your purchase of tickets to the 2014 Bridgestone Winter Classic, and welcome to Washington D.C.! This great city is home to our nation’s capital, the seat of power of our mighty government, the environs of some of the most exquisite civil architecture in the world, and the address of many of the finest restaurants, hotels, nightlife, and cultural landmarks on earth.

For some reason, this is a thing in Arlington. Don’t do this thing.

Oh, wait. You’re staying in Arlington?

I have a dirty little secret, Washingtonians: I live in Arlington. That’s right, the cubic zirconia of cities. Some people buy fake Shelby Cobra replicas; I live in Arlington. Some people wear clip-on bow ties because they can’t tie the real ones; I live in Arlington. Some people lie and tell out-of-towners they live in D.C.; so do I, because I live in Arlington.

But if your Winter Classic experience involves bunking down in A-Town, you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained on this side of the Potomac. So grab your four-dollar cigarettes and your concealed carry license, because we’re going to Virginia!

WHERE TO EAT

Pedro and Vinny’s Burritos; 2559 Columbia Pike

You know what makes America great? Our god-given and constitutionally-guaranteed right to cram potentially questionable meat stuffs of dubious and possibly clandestine origin into our face holes from structures ranging in code-compliance from “Maybe” to “Surely you jest.”

Pedro and Vinny’s operates out of a shack so small, it sits within a CVS parking lot and is technically registered as a food truck. Don’t let that fool you, though. This admittedly dusty diamond serves the highest-rated burrito in D.C. on Yelp, and represented the region when Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight blog did a comparison of the best burritos in America.

Open until 3AM and happily catering to the inebriated, intoxicated, elevated, and otherwise cognitively compromised, Pedro and Vinny’s offers burritos the size of well-swaddled toddlers that taste ridiculously delightful, all for less than Chipotle charges for their Tex-Mex á la afterbirth.

Bob and Edith’s Diner; 2310 Columbia Pike

Located just a block from Pedro and Vinny’s on Columbia Pike is Arlington institution Bob and Edith’s. This plucky little diner has been in the same spot for forty years now – we’re talking the kind of place where they sell t-shirts and have framed photos of LBJ eating a BLT with the owner.

The food at Bob and Edith’s is just fine. It’s diner food, you’ve probably had it. From the same culinary braintrust as Messrs. Denny and Shoney, the real joy of B&E’s is the clientele. You see, Bob and Edith’s never closes. Ever. And peak hours for this little mom and pop diner are 1AM to 4AM.

So if you want some old-school corned beef hash slung onto a plate by a crocodilian cocktail waitress with cigarette paper skin, while commiserating with a clamoring diner of dozens of similarly sauced and jolly patrons, get on over to Bob and Edith’s.

WHERE TO DRINK

Yes, this is really a thing

Freddie’s Beach Bar; 555 South 23rd Street, Crystal City

If you decide you need a break from the strictly buttoned-down hetero hockey crowd, then boy, is this bar for you.

Freddie’s Beach Bar is the only gay bar in Arlington, and their address is listed on their website as “Virginia (YES, honey, Virginia!)” Really more of a cursed drag queen reverse-anthropomorphized into a bar in a cruel Faustian irony than a place I can believe actually exists, Freddie’s currently has the following events penciled into their December calendar: “12/24: Xmas Eve Drag Pajama Bingo; 12/31: NYE 2015 feat. Steven Andrade as CHER and Karaoke.” This is the kind of bar a betweeded Capitol Hill paralegal would describe as “a total freakout.”

And that’s why it rocks. Because, dammit, if you’re going to be a gay bar in Virginia, then BE a GAY BAR in Virginia! Freddie’s does it right, too, with their staff being universally praised as some of the most friendly, professional, and fun in the business.

Also, they do brunch, with bottomless mimosas. Can you say, “post-Winter Classic recovery meal”?

Hunan Number One; 3033 Wilson Blvd.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Arlington’s Hunan Number One. The term “dive bar” is thrown around too often today, but if your local watering hole is a standard dive, Hunan Number One is the Olympic ten-meter.

“Number One Hunan In All of Arlington!” their slogan (should) say, and…well, I suppose they live up to it. A comical anomaly of post-grad popular kid angst, Hunan Number One is the surest place to spot backwards hats, since-traded jerseys of favorite players, and boisterous, nonsensical sports-centric chatter. Part frat party, part stern Chinese uncle, this bar is weird.

“Chinese restaurant by day, college bar by night – lots of fakes [IDs] and underage Arlington trust fund kids. They serve massive beers that are dirt cheap – ten bucks for 32 ounces – and sometimes they serve Chinese food when they remember to. Bartenders are not friendly and mostly Chinese. They seem annoyed that the place is a hit.” Such was the description of Hunan Number One offered by an anonymous expert, a wanton wonton wunderkind.

“The only positive thing is the size and price of the beers,” but hey, isn’t that life, man? Snaps.

WHAT TO DO

Let’s Go Caps!!

Kettler Capitals Iceplex; Balston Common Mall

Part Manhattan Project bunker, part Kremlin-cum-shopping mall, Kettler Capitals Iceplex is the home of your beloved Washington Capitals hockey team. I think it’s between the L.L. Bean and the Cinnabon.

That’s right: in a world where NFL teams maintain no less than seventy-five potential practice fields and a dozen weatherproof bubbles at a time, the Capitals practice on the roof of a mall.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice mall. I think there’s a Gucci in there.

But aside from the crushing reminder of the financial realities that govern life, Kettler is great for fans. Practices are open, and fans can get right up against the glass to watch their favorite Caps practice the very skills they’ll fail to execute that night! Want to see Mike Green misplay a puck? See it at Kettler first! Wonder what Brooks Laich looks like gingerly leaving the ice after an injury? Wonder no more after a practice at Kettler!

But seriously: you can take in a practice, get autographs from your favorite players, and tour the very offices where they say the ghost of George McPhee still lingers, softly wailing “Forsberg…Erat…whyyy…”

Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse; 2903 Columbia Pike

You know those insufferable “vintage” movie houses, with their craft beers on tap, and their full kitchens, and…their super comfortable seats, and….okay yeah, they’re sort of awesome. And Arlington has a sweet one.

Resplendent in vertically arranged incandescent letters, the sign for the Arlington Cinema is a landmark of Columbia Pike. In addition to showing select first-run films and beloved cult classics (seriously, how many times can you show Rocky Horror?), it is also a great low-key place to see stand-up comedians and other various acts.

But seriously – did I mention the beer? Because waiters will literally bring you beers while you watch a movie or see a comedian. Like, lots of beers. More beers than they should bring you without gently putting a hand on your shoulder and asking if you need to talk. Enough beers that it really doesn’t matter what movie they’re showing – you’re quoting Caddyshack and loving it.

So if you’re looking for some entertainment of the Sitting and Boozing variety, swing by Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse.

Tell them beer sent you.

See? Life in Arlington isn’t so bad. It may not be Dupont Circle, but it ain’t Anacostia, either.

Enjoy the Winter Classic, and as always, Go Caps.

Like many neighborhoods in DC, 8th Street SE has seen its share of tough times – but these days, most of that is in the rear view window. The center of the entertainment district runs from Pennsylvania Ave down to I Street SE, right next to the Marine Corps barracks and parade ground – the oldest active post in the Corps, and source of the neighborhood’s nick-name.

Barracks Row may be a short four or so, but it packs in some of the best restaurants and most easy-going bars to be found in town. Hill staffers abound, but so do just plain folks.

Our tour guide is Michele Johnson, the pride of northern North Dakota, and hockey aficionado. She’s got a sharp eye for bad penalties and great restaurants, so we’re thrilled she’s sharing her neighborhood love with us. Take it away, Michele!

8th Street SE, aka Barracks Row:

A short walk (or Circulator bus ride) from Nationals Park, is historic 8th Street SE, occupied by everything from a U.S. Marines base to Bon Appetit’s best new restaurant of 2014. The following is a guide to the many bars, restaurants, and stores that call 8th Street (and Pennsylvania Ave SE) home. They are listed in order, starting at the intersection of 6th and Pennsylvania Ave SE, walking southeast to 8th Street SE, then taking a right and walking south down 8th Street SE. Beuchert’s Saloon; 623 Pennsylvania Ave SE: On Pennsylvania, between 6th and 7th. When this restaurant first opened, I recall reading a review that said walking into this place was like walking into a Mumford & Sons video. That’s a very accurate description. You get the picture: Bison heads above the bar, hipster owners, servers and bartenders, amazing food and atmosphere, outdoor patio in back. The owners source all their food from a local farm in Maryland. Really, really good. Be warned: no television. But you may need a break from hockey coverage and these guys play cool music.

Hank’s On the Hill; 633 Pennsylvania Ave SE: On Pennsylvania, between 6th and 7th. Hank’s is an institution in the metro area. Other locations in Alexandria and Dupont Circle. Come here for a strong cocktail and seafood. [Ed note: Hank’s has also been voted “Best Chef” by the Washington Blade’s ‘Best of Gay DC’]

Peregrine Espresso; 660 Pennsylvania Ave SE: At 7th Street SE and Pennsylvania. Often named one of the best espresso places in the city… and the country. Be prepared for the attitude that comes along with that distinction. But still worth a visit for a life-changing cappuccino.

Hill’s Kitchen; 713 D Street SE: At 8th and Pennsylvania. Great specialty kitchen supply store, owned and operated by a local woman for the past five or so years. Come here to get plates, cookie cutters, and dish towels with designs from your state or Washington, DC monuments. You’re going to like this place.

The Sweet Lobby; 404 8th Street SE: On 8th Street SE. Local cupcake and macaroon shop. They won some type of competition on Food Network. Great flavor combinations. You know how some cupcake places have great cake or great frosting, but never both? Not here. In my opinion, best in the city.

You can down a lot of these at Banana Cafe

Banana Cafe & Piano Bar; 500 8th Street SE: From my perspective, Banana Cafe is the oldest dining and drinking establishment on Barracks Row. Twenty years ago, it was the only place to go on this street, and now, it’s one of many. And while it may show it’s age (don’t go there for ambiance), it is a D.C. institution. Most residents and natives have fond (or fuzzy) memories of one too many margaritas at Banana Cafe. Try the mango margarita. While you are distracted by the luscious fruit, the tequila will sneak up and slap you across the face. Awesome. Also, the traditional Cuban fare is the real deal. [Ed note: I can attest to the fuzzy memories there!]

Ted’s Bulletin; 505 8th Street SE: On 8th. Legend has it that Washington Nationals superstar Bryce Harper comes here for the homemade pop tarts. They are good, so I wouldn’t be surprised. Step inside to get one to go. While the food here is good, the service leaves a lot to be desired.

Matchbox; 521 8th Street SE: On 8th. Sit at the bar. Split a salad and a pizza with a friend. These guys have at least two other locations in the metro area. Very good.

Cava; 527 8th Street SE: On 8th. Greek tapas. Order the saganaki (fried cheese). Your server pours brandy on the cheese, lights the fire table side, and puts the fire out with a squeeze of lemon. Delicious.

Lola’s; 711 8th Street SE: On 8th. Wood-paneled bar, three levels and back patio with fireplace. I must include it on this list for sentimental reasons. Back in the day, our favorite bartenders Nick and Rebecca would welcome us with open arms (and cold drinks) and tune one of the televisions to North Dakota college hockey. Times have changed, people have moved on. But still… I can’t think about hockey without thinking of Lola’s. (Sister bar Boxcar Tavern on 7th.)

The Ugly Mug; 723 8th Street SE: Across from the Marine Barracks. Want to buy a Marine a drink? This is the place. It’s their bar. Think college bar, with the smell of cheeseburgers and pitchers of beer. It will probably remind you of a place in your hometown.

Rose’s Luxury; 717 8th Street SE: Named Bon Appetit restaurant of the year for 2014. No reservations. People begin standing in line at 4:30 pm or so for the 6:30 pm opening. Closed on Sundays. It is exceptional if you want to make it a priority. The lychee salad is my favorite. The menu changes with the seasons. If your friends back home are foodies, they will be impressed if you have a dining experience here.

District Doughnuts; 749 8th Street SE: Opened in September 2014. This is a place where people stand in line for doughnuts. Once the doughnuts are gone, the shop closes for the day. Sure, they’re good, but are they that good?

Rep. Mike Quigley and former Hawk Jimmy Hayes teaching hockey in Chicago

As part of our previews of the New Year’s Day Winter Classic, today we hear from a guy who knows more about Chicago, Washington, DC and hockey combined: Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Illinois D-Blackhawks).

Chicago may be Quigley’s home, and Washington his work place, but hockey’s in his blood. As chair of the Congressional Hockey Caucus – yes, that exists – Quigley can often be found either out on the ice – as when he plays against the USA Wounded Warriors – or working to bring hockey to the children of Chicago. He’s a Hawks fan through and through, but keeps a close eye on the Capitals, and shares his thoughts about this game, and The Game.

What’s the Winter Classic mean for you?

You’re actually talking to someone who’s played outdoor hockey. I moved to Chicago, a village called Carol Stream – back then just a subdivision with ambitions. There was a corn field and lagoons, and the lagoons would freeze over. One year when I was eight my parents bought me a pair of skates and a Northland wooden hockey stick.

It was an incredibly cold winter, and I had no idea what I was doing. I put my skates on in the house with no blade guards, walked all the way to the lagoon on the skates and stepped onto the ice for the first time in an outdoor setting. I could hardly skate, but to the extent you could glide around the ice with a puck and a stick, I was hooked. It was freezing, incredibly bad conditions, the ice was rutted…but all of my early hockey was outdoors.

Rep. Quigley hits the ice

I’m just now reminded there were certain rules. Like, if you shoot and miss, because it was two Folgers cans and a net, you had to go chase the puck which is sometimes a quarter-mile skate, and then you had to dig the puck out of a snowbank. Then after a while there were no lifters; which means that if you lifted it, it would be very hard for a goalie with no pads to stop it, and it kept giong on ice – there were no boards obviously so you had to go chase it and bring it back.

We played because it was just amazing to play; 4, 5, 6 hours, all day. And we had a guy from the park district who did us a favor occasionally. He put his park district jeep headlights onto the ice so we could play a little bit longer.

Congressional Hockey Caucus puck drop

Is that what makes the Winter Classic so special?

I think for most of the people who will step out onto the ice January 1st, like Toews from Winnipeg, Pat Kane from Buffalo – their games were outdoors. That’s how they learned how to play. So for some to say ‘Oh well, you know, conditions are tough…”, that’s what they grew up with! I was on the ice at Soldier Field at a practice and I asked Toews ‘Just like Winnipeg, huh?’ And he made a very emphatic ‘no’ because it wasn’t nearly cold enough.

It’s just so much fun – it’s such a special event. I can’t wait to wait to be there. We’re going to skate on the game on the 30th because I want to keep my string going with Black hawk games. I was on the ice at Wrigley in a game, I was on the ice at Soldier Field with the USA Warriors. I played with Brett Hull at the Park District Rink, YMCA, with the Elmhurst Huskies.

So how are the Hawks doing?

Amazing goal-tending and penalty killing, they have as much depth as any team in the league. They’ve got people who aren’t universally known that are playing at a all-star level. When I talk to my friends, I don’t they they appreciate just how good Hjalmarrson is. They hear of Keith and Seabrook, and Toews and Kane on offense; but this is a shot-blocking machine playing at an all-star level.

How would you rate the Caps?

I was surprised the Capitals still had a team. Just haven’t heard from them very much, eh? They have this problem with the “P” word: playoffs.

They’re always a team where, they may get a little streaky, but do they have enough depth? Do they have leadership at that crunch-time? Do you win this game, do you win this series, do you move on; do you have people who step up at that time? I never doubted they’ve had enough talent to win the Cup. I’m not sure that’s the case this year, but the question still is: who fills that role?

I hear criticism of Kane – ‘Oh, he doesn’t play defense, he doesn’t play 200 feet…’ You know what? In 2010, they were losing by a goal to Nashville and he scores a goal with 1.5 seconds to go, I think. Then he scores a series of clutch goals, and then the Cup-winning goal against Philly in game six. I happened to be there because the Flyer fans were so spectacularly…in order to protect me they had to put me on the ice…

…sounds like Philly…

…so Kane is one of those guys. Toews, Seabrook. Who steps up for the Caps when it really matters? It’s not always when you do something big; it’s when the game is on the line. Do you score when it’s game seven?

If President Obama attends the game, who should he root for? Make the case for Chicago.

There’s no competition here. The hockey that he knew, before the Hawks turned it around, was last, a team that had almost given up, it was not a universally supported team. I’m part of a program to put floor hockey in every school in every district, and an ice hockey program across the city to expand diversity of the game.

To remind the President: this is a team universally supported across Chicago with a very diversified base. I took a bike ride a year ago from the Lake to past Wrigley. I went through the Latino section, the Boys Town section, to South Port which is young professional area. Every street, everyone wearing Black hawk jerseys. He’s an eight year resident of DC, eventually he’ll come home to Chicago.

So you don’t think he’s been treated well by Washington?

Ummm…(laughs) Well, he lives in the White House, what can they do? No, he’s still a Chicago person.

Care to announce any wagers with your colleague, Del. Norton?

See, the problem is, normally you trade food. Chicago has great hot dogs, Italian beef, cinnamon rolls from Ann Sathers, the pizza. I’m really not sure what DC has to offer. I’ve lived here almost six years…

…half smokes maybe? Mumbo sauce?

Nah, it’s like even their pizza. It’s like they take their pizza on the street and run a truck over it until the flavor gets beat out of it. You have to really look for good food.

But I’d be willing to wage whatever Ms. Norton finds in they way of decent fare in exchange for Eli’s cheesecake. Ann Sathers’ cinnamon rolls. Pizza from just about anywhere. Hot dogs, bittersweet chocolate chip cookies, Dinkel’s donuts; Chicago is a culinary paradise. If Ms. Norton finds something worthy of competition, then I’d be glad to make the wager.

We’ve repeatedly contacted the offices of Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton to get her view, and perhaps accept her colleagues’ challenge, but so far they have declined to respond.

Soon, the hockey world will descend on our quaint little hometown of Washington, DC: America’s least favorite theme park. Or as JFK once described it, “a city of Southern efficiency and Northern charm.” As 25 year residents of the city, we’re here to provide that charm. Consider us your 2015 Winter Classic Welcome Wagon.

Although visitors come in for the big game, they may find themselves with some extra time to explore some of the city’s sites, dining, entertainment and cultural venues. We’re doing this in part because the official DC visitors’ organization, Destination DC, doesn’t appear up to the task. Their Winter Classic page is meager; the only event site they offer is a link to Stubhub (SRO from $129), which is basically saying, “Good luck, suckers.” Their bigger sin however, was not returning our emails.

We’ve made a career out of writing how 29 other NHL cities smell or have ugly people, or in many cases, smelly, ugly people. DC certainly deserves every disparaging barb that can be hurled at it and we’re more than happy to pile on. Like many fossils in this town, we look back wistfully to a time when this city functioned, had ample street parking, nabes had vibes instead of BIDs and true giants roamed the marbled corridors at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue – not these punk-ass bitches who look like they came out of a central casting call for punk-ass bitches.

The side of DC the tourists never see

It’s a cliché, but Washington is Hollywood for ugly people. It’s cliché for a reason; it’s true. Stick around after the Winter Classic and take a stroll around Capitol Hill or the soul crushing canyons of K Street on a busy workday, and you’ll know what we suffer through. Those shambling cadavers you see are not extras from the Walking Dead; we call them lobbyists. How bad is DC? Even Wyshynski fled.

But when planned wisely, a weekend in DC can be a pretty fulfilling and rewarding way to…visit your squandered tax dollars. Given the spread and diversity of this sleepy southern town, we’re going to publish these visitor guides by geography. First up, our ‘hood, 14th an U Streets, then later this week, H Street, Barracks Row, and Northern Virginia (if you insist on doing this trip on the cheap and want a horrible experience).

First things first, you can’t get there from here: Navigating DC

If you’re driving to DC for the game, park your car at the hotel and leave it. DO NOT DRIVE IN OUR CITY, TOURIST!

DC was laid out by a guy named Pierre L’Enfant in the 18^th Century and the street grid makes no sense to anyone who isn’t a 250 year old French civil engineer. So unless you’re driving a four-in-hand or being squired around in a Hansom, STAY OFF THE STREETS. Number streets run north-south, letter streets run east-west, and Avenues named after states spiral out from un-navigable traffic circles. You will get hopelessly lost, ticketed, booted, or towed. Paid parking is pretty steep, too, but you have alternatives, and many of them safe.

MetroRail: Nats Park is conveniently located on Metro’s Green line, and the station is mere steps from the stadium entrance. Metro also serves just about any neighborhood you’d want to get to during Classic weekend and probably your crappy hotel, too.

Depending on the day, service begins at 5:00am and runs until the wee hours. It’s quiet, a clean system and very safe. That’s the good news. The bad news is that our 40 year old subway system is a bit creaky. Two major lines were shut down just last week due to a water main rupture that flooded several downtown stations. Delays happen often and expect very crowded cars getting to the Stadium on New Year’s Day. Metro may throttle back to a holiday schedule that day and wait times could be long. Be smart, get SmarTrip card and load it up with shekels to cover you for the weekend, so you don’t have to dick around with paper farecards that charge a $1 premium per ride.

Metro tips: Don’t stand around like an idiot looking at the FareCard machines, trying to figure out how they work.

The instructions are in hieroglyphics so ask a friendly local like ourselves to interpret and walk you through the steps. We may steal your wallet so keep an eye on your belongings. When riding the escalators – that are sometimes known to work – do not stand at the top or bottom of them. You risk being trampled, sworn at, or run like Milan Lucic did to Ryan Miller. When you get on a train car, don’t crowd around the doors like a pylon hoping to be first off. That’s what fat ass, self-important lobbyists do when they’re late for a meeting on the Hill with some jerkwad senator to plead for a tax break for some greedy gazillionaire, who probably owns your favorite NHL team.

Taxis: Back in the day, under the zone system of fares, just about any cabbie would rip you off. Taxis are now on meters here, so unscrupulous hacks can’t pull fast ones anymore.

They even take credit cards now. The cabbies are pretty much OK, many even know where they’re going and it’s easy to hail them on the street. Expect the unmistakable aroma of carbon monoxide wafting up through the floorboards in many of DC’s cabs because motor vehicle inspections are merely suggestions to these guys. So is cleaning filth off the backseats. So is speaking English. If he asks you to get in the trunk, just do what he says.

Uber: Don’t use Uber. They’re evil. And it may end poorly.

Biking: If the weather permits, DC is a great bike town with plenty of bike share locations all across the city, including Nats Park. But since we’re expecting near-freezing temps, screw that; save the biking for your springtime visit to DC – WHEN THE CAPS ARE GOING DEEP IN THE PLAYOFFS!

Dining and Entertainment at 14th & U

Our ‘hood is home to dozens of restaurants, clubs and bars, some that we actually patronize.

First, a little history: 14th & U was the ignition point of the 1968 riots after the MLK assassination and the once famed Black Broadway fell on hard times. Riot-scorched blocks, white flight, heroin then crack made this area a pretty rough place for decades. After years of transition and gentrification (not all of it positive), it’s one of DC’s premiere dining and entertainment destinations. We’ve been here since 1988 and have seen the evolution up close. The definitive guide to the area is here, but in the interest of space, and your budget, we’ll share some of our favorites, all located steps of the U Street station on Metro’s Green Line.

A Gay Sports Bar? Nellie’s Sports Bar (900 U Street, NW) at the corner of 9th and U, delivers what it promises. It’s like a typical sports bar but the guys are cuter. A lot cuter and in better shape. But it’s not just gymbots; there are plenty of women, too…lesbians, yes, but plenty straight ones, as well. It gets a very mixed crowd and has a good vibe. Nellie’s is our go-to venue when we host Caps watch parties. There are plenty of big TVs, a good menu, and seen here, the bartenders will treat your right. We’re hoping they screen USA v. Canada WJC on New Year’s Eve.

Are Tacos Sandwiches? There are four choices for taco joints in the ‘hood, a few of them are stupid expensive, and we’ll never go to, but two are cheap and authentic. Chilango (1119 V Street, NW) offers exactly two items on the menu: tacos and guac. They prepare both expertly and for mere pesos. What sets Chilango apart is that it’s authentic Mexican. Many of the Latin restaurants in DC are run by Central Americans, and while hearty fare, it’s rare to come across one similar to a southern California taqueria.Located in a narrow townhouse, there are only a few tables and a small outdoor patio. We can’t say enough about this place.

Pica Taco (1406 Florida Avenue, NW), on the other hand seems more Salvadoran than Mexican. The menu, comidas typicas, is much more varied and you’ll find traditional fare including burritos, enchiladas, the usual. Get the Burrito Supreme or fish tacos. Exit stuffed.

A Bon Chat, Bon Rat: According to old-timers, there wasn’t a French restaurant in DC until Jack and Jackie got here. The ‘hood is now represented by two of them; one you can get into if your name is Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, John Kerry or Newt Gingrich, and one for the rest of us.

Le Diplomate (1601 14th Street) is where the street elite meet to eat meat, and while it’s a stunning place, a virtual replica of a Parisian brasserie, it’s tough to get a table and it’s G-d awful expensive. When we want a hearty cassoulet, boeuf bourguignon, a rare onglet or a steamy, fragrant pile of moules, we opt for Bistro La Bonne (1340 U Street, NW). La Bonne has a nice affordable wine list, a great room and friendly service, sans attitude. LOVE this place.

Who’s Your Daddy?

Follow The Tour Buses: Ben’s Chili Bowl (1213 U Street, NW) is an institution. In business since 1958, Ben’s stuck it out during the tough years. It’s now known internationally and is pretty much mobbed night and day..Thanks, Obama! Tourists stand in front of the joint posing for pictures. The dogs are just OK, but the house specialty is the Half Smoke, a hot dog/sausage hybrid, native to DC. We opt for the cheeseburger sub: onions plus chili. The sign over the register at says only two guys eat at Ben’s for free, Obama and Bill Cosby. Both are neck and neck in approval ratings.

DC Pizza Sucks: So true, so very true, but Chicago pizza cake is worse. There are two pizza spots on U Street that do it right. Italian Kitchen on U (1110 U Street, NW) serves the best approximation of New York pizza in the area. We went for years without a pizza by the slice joint and it’s a welcome addition. Down the street, & Pizza (125o U Street, NW) is the spot to go for something a little more fancy, free range and organic. Hipsters flock there and despite that, they do a decent job. Meat eaters should try the Maverick; the Backyard Garden is a pretty tasty vegetarian option. Arugula on a pizza? Yes, they make it work.

At all costs, avoid Jumbo Slice (1344 U Street, NW). We live across the alley from them and are too put off by their overflowing trash dumpsters to ever go inside. The only reason to go to Jumbo Slice is if you want to abuse yourself with a U Street Taco – A Ben’s Half Smoke wrapped inside a slice of their greasy pie. People actually do this.

Best Of The Rest: U Street Cafe (1301 U Street, NW), has the best breakfast in the area. They do a good lunch, too, and close down at 3:00pm. When we want a burger, fries and a beer, The Saloon (1207 U Street, NW) is the spot. Kami runs one of the friendliest places in the city and has a strict policy that keeps out the riff raff/hipsters – no standing, no TV’s no martinis.

Want soul food…authentic soul food? Oohs and Aahs (1005 U Street, NW) has some of the best BBQ ribs, wings, fried chicken, meatloaf, whiting & croakers in town. The sides of mac & cheese, string beans, yams, grits and cornbread are pure comfort food. Oohs and Aahs is what old U Street used to be like. Thank God it remains. Πού θα πάμε για το εξαιρετικό ελληνικό φαγητό? The Greek Spot (2017 11th Street, NW), of course. It’s a nice small cafe that serves up affordable and tasty items: spanakopita, souvlaki, pasticho, mousaka and gyros. Tell them Stavros sent you.

Decent Italian at Piola (2208 14th Street, NW) including their pizzas. DC is pretty weak on traditional red sauce Italian since AV Ristorante closed, so it’s nice having this cheap eats place in the ‘hood. We mentioned Salvadoran, Judy’s (2212 14th Street, NW) is the place to go if you want to eat like a campesino: ceviche, yuca con chicharron, and papusas are the best apps, for mains, try the carne asado, loma salteado or the bistec encebollado. Que sabror!

More ‘hood reviews to come. Have additional suggestions? Add them in the comments. Travel safe, enjoy our fine city, then please, get the hell out.

Ice skating on the newly built Reflecting Pool, 1922 (Library of Congress)

Earlier this year, we met with DC architect Paul Spreiregen to talk about an idea that’s just as good today as when he first proposed it 50 years ago.

Back then in the mid-60’s, DC civic leaders were looking for ways to bring people back downtown all throughout the year. Spreiregen, who grew up in the cold winters of New England, had an idea: freezing the Reflecting Pool and turning it into hockey rinks and skating ponds.

Everyone in DC loved the idea – it rocketed all the way up through the Johnson Administration – until it hit the classic DC roadblock: bureaucracy. He tells the story better than I can, but when we first posted, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis shared this:

“Here is a well researched article in PuckBuddys on our federal government and fun and big idea to freeze the reflecting pond in winter to allow for ice skating on the Mall.

I had heard about this effort before but had never seen the details such as presented here. A great read.

It is very difficult to get things done in DC as this article details.”Delay is death”. And it is also very expensive, as there are many layers of government to negotiate with and get approvals from and budget as it relates to any new development in downtown DC. Coordinating Federal departments, and local auspices is a challenge.

Would this be a national effort, a local effort? Local tax dollars? Federal tax dollars? Who pays for maintenance? Insurance? Upkeep? And on and on.

As a small for instance on the unique character of DC, I have been trying to find a way to improve traffic flow out of Verizon Center for more than three years – and simply would like to see how we could coordinate lights and traffic patterns for more efficient egress for our fans.

Some of our wisest and most powerful political leaders locally have signed up to help. One simple request was asked as a test, could we time synch the lights on one avenue to allow for a quicker and less interrupted trek from our city to the suburbs? Could local police play a role in helping to get our fans out of the building and on their way home in a selected hour period of time – say from 930 pm to 1030 pm, sometimes a bit later for concerts. Many buildings around the NHL and NBA offer such services, and I thought it would be smart and safe to do likewise for our fans.

Sounds simple, right? I envisioned one master control panel where an individual could reprogram the lights, and one set of meetings with all the folks that touched this decision and this would be an easy request, as after all, our community has the most technically advanced infrastructure in the world!

But it is more difficult than you think, as the Park Department, Homeland  Security, Department of Transportation, Department of Interior, Secret Service, local DC Metropolitan Police, the City Council, and some differing tech infrastructure, with old software code seems to get in the way. In fact, in some cases, literally, no one can figure out who is actually in charge and can deliver on said request and test.

Whenever you touch the National Mall, or Constitution Avenue – in any way, add  lots of complexity on just finding the answer to, “who is in charge?”.

We keep at it – we continue to meet. Perhaps one day we will deliver. It wont be for a lack of trying. Everyone is helpful, everyone agrees that we can do better. I remain hopeful.

Also – at Georgetown University, there has been work underway regarding its boat house and a permit and land swap, I am being serious here, the work is active and enters its fourth decade of meetings, more than 40 years of work, without a final decision! I have attended several of the meetings to try to help, “Delay is death”.

I really enjoyed reading this article, 50 years seems like a long time, but in DC, on some matters, it is a blink of an eye. Click to read.”

A Capital Idea Whose Time Has Come…Again

Don’t expect this January 1st…but you never know!

It’s tempting to begin this piece with “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody ever does anything about it.” And I guess I just did.

Jason Samenow doesn’t so much do anything about the weather. But when he talks about it, people listen.

Samenow is the founder of what eventually became the Washington Post’s Capital Weather Gang, probably the best-written and nerd-smartest commentary on all things meteorological in the DC area. Whether he’s writing about Derechos or La Niñas or just trying to tell everyone to chill the F out about an inch of snow, Samenow is the man in the know about weather.

A few days back he published his look ahead to a typical January 1st, and what we might expect next Thursday. We got him on the phone recently to see what else he might be forecasting:

Jason Samenow

“So a typical January 1st day is highs in the mid-40’s, lows in the upper 20’s, so for an afternoon game you’re probably looking at temperatures 40 to 45 degrees or so.  That’s an average year, but you have a lot of variability. It’s been as warm as almost 70 degrees on our hottest January 1st day, and as cold as, back in 1881, 14 below zero, but that was an anomaly. But you can certain have days with highs in the 20s to near 30 and lows in the single digits, so that gives a sense of the range.”

Is January 1st traditionally a wet or dry period?

“It all tends to average out. Precipitation, when you average it out over a long time, it tends to just all be the same day by day. What I can say is that if I look at January 1st in particular for snowfall, we’ve never had a block-buster snowfall on the first day of the new year. The biggest snowfall is 4 1/2 inches; compare that for some days later in the month or early February where we’ve got more than a foot. It’s not normally a time when we see crippling snow storms.”

What are the models suggesting about what we might expect January 1?

“We’re definitely looking at a colder pattern toward the end of this month and into early January. Now, does that mean that January 1st is going to be a cold day? Not necessarily. Some of the computer model guidance we’re looking at is that highs will struggle to reach freezing that day, whereas some of the other models are indicating something more season in the low to mid 40’s. So based on what we’re looking at now, we’re looking at a near-normal to below-normal day temperature-wise. Now there’s low confidence with that because if we get a storm that tracks to the north on that day it could push up some warmer air; on the other hand if a cold front comes through it could be downright cold. We’ll just have to see based on the weather systems at the time.”

Are there times of the year where the weather is just more unsettled and difficult to predict, and if so, is early January one of those periods?

“The last time we had snow in DC on January 1st was 1989, which is a long time to go without snow in January. It’s almost like we’re due. But in terms of the blockbuster storms and extreme events, we tend to see those more in the second half of January and early February. That said, we have had a couple big rain events in recent years on the 1st; in 2003 and 2007 we had over an inch of rain – we definitely want to try to avoid that if we can. But in terms of early January being any more extreme than other times of winter, I’d say no.”

Are you a hockey fan, and have you followed the Winter Classics in the past?

“Just a little bit. I’m kind of a band-wagon Caps fan; if they make the playoffs I start to pay attention. But I did pay attention to the Classic in 2011 when the Caps played, and was doing some forecasting for that.”

The weather has played a big role in some Classics. What’s it like as a meteorologist to be trying to forecast around such a big event?

“This is different, because most of the hockey games are played indoors, so with hockey and basketball weather is never a factor. This is the one time of year where weather plays a pivotal role and so the forecast looms large. Worst case scenario, like we saw in Pittsburgh in 2011, is we have rain and warm temperatures because that makes the ice surface awful. Obviously if you’re having heavy snow, or freezing rain or sleet, that’s going to affect the game. So there’s pressure on forecasters; pressure on the NHL to make the right decisions based on the forecasts leading up to the event.”

Do you love CSN’s Caps coverage? It takes a team of 25 to bring us the games, and it’s all helmed by Bill Bell.

The last time we spoke to Bill was when he gave us a tour of the CSN production truck on Verizon’s event level, just ahead of a game against the Habs. We spoke with him on Wednesday afternoon about his planning, prep and programming for the Winter Classic. It’s always the busy season for Bill – besides Caps game he has the Wizards and college hoops as part of his portfolio as well. No rest for the weary, especially in the run up to New Year’s Day.

Because we’re still trying to exorcise shootout demons from Tuesday’s Bataan Death March shootout, we asked him first about his thoughts on that.

It was a long one! I happen to have been a part of the previous longest one against the Rangers – I actually directed that one. This one, it was one of those wild things that you just never knew when it was going to end. It was first time ever that they actually re-shuffled and guys shot twice – it was something else. Tough way to lose an extra point, but it was great TV.

This has to be the busy season for you now…

Absolutely. In addition to watching and following the Washington Capitals I also have to keep my eye and ears on the Washington Wizards as well. We also cover college basketball, so we’re pretty busy. But the Winter Classic is front and center in our focus – meetings with the league, site surveys and the like – and we feel that we’re really going to give viewers some good stuff when the day comes.

Are you involved in producing any of the preview programs like All Access and Growing Up Hockey?

Not much, but some of that material will definitely re-surface on New Year’s Day for sure. In addition, just last week we went out in downtown Georgetown and shot some stuff at an outdoor rink with Craig Laughlin and Alan May. One of the additional features that we plan to have is something that we’re calling Two Canadians On Ice – Craig and Alan are strolling around like two kids would, and talking about growing up outside in Canada. One grew up on the East coast in Toronto, one grew up on the West coast in Edmonton. They get real personal and talk about life and growing up and responsibilities and commitments from their family.

So that’s part of the pre-game show?

Right. We’re on the air at 11:30 that day, 11:30 until 1pm. I mention one o’clock because our brethren at NBC are allowing us to stay on until 1pm; all other sub-rights holders have to be off by 12:30, so we’re benefiting from being in the NBC family. We’re going to have great content as well as the people all involved.

Who will we be seeing on the air?

We have a great cast of people involved in our programing. From Nats Park, we’ll have the obvious – Al Koken, Craig Laughlin, Alan May and Joe Beninati will all work from the stadium. Then back in the studio, I’m going to have Rob Carlin, with Britt Johnson and former Capital Jeff Halpern – he’s a local guy. Jeff’s very interested in working with us January 1st. And with us not broadcasting the game, the pre-game and post-game show take on a much larger role; that’s why we wanted that hour-and-a-half because we want to own the day.

What are your foul weather plans in case the game gets pushed back?

That’s another reason we’re going to have our studio (in Bethesda) hot for just that case. I would think we’ll have some additional programming to go to if the league thinks there’s going to be a significant delay – either one of the programs that’s already aired, perhaps the previous Caps Winter Classic.

Speaking of Pittsburgh, what are your memories of that day.

I was just a spectator in DC. But by that time, I really thought the game really had a good shine on it. Now I still think this game, January 1st, is going to be exciting. But I think we’ve had a lot of outdoor games – it’s been done quite a bit now, and this is just me, but I think the Caps and Pens game first did it, it had a different feel to it. We feel now that first one was huge, and now this one being in our own backyard is going to be huge because it’s in DC.

Your talent at Nats Park – where will they be?

The league controls the venue. They access they are giving us is unprecedented, but having said that, they’re going to control the area where we can be in. We’re considered a sub-rights holder, so they are going to position us along the first base line, almost adjacent to the tarp if you can imagine where that’s positioned. We’re in a gauntlet of other sub-rights holders in that area. But because of our relationship with NBC, the league is really taking care of us and giving us a great position. In addition to NBC, Rogers will be there, the NHL Network will be there, there’s the French network RDS…

What about CSN Chicago?

They’re going to be sharing space with us. The league is giving the sub-rights holders a ten-by-ten area, so we’re going to be beside our brethren from Chicago to make it 20-by-20. So with us having four talent and guests, our Chicago neighbors are sending one talent and doing live and taped stuff.

How big is your crew and what’s that look like?

We’re going to start on the 30th with the build-up. Unlike an actual game, the crew is not as big as it would be if we were actually broadcasting a game. A game is about 25 people, but we’re now looking at around 15 people with support from our news division. We’ll have three cameras on set. So imagine four chairs across and at various times one of our guys will get up and we’ll have Gary Bettman or Ted Leonsis or Rod Langway. We’re going to have people to interview on set most times.

What’s the backdrop?

You’ll see part of right field and part of the ice and boards itself. We are probably 50 yards from the ice and 30 yards from the actual boards, so we’re close. You’ll see some of the ice and what’s in right-center field. Then we’re sending all that back via fiber to our studios in Bethesda. Then when the game is over we’ll have cameras in the locker room area, cameras in the post-game podium. And then the league is also letting us have an ENG camera that can roam around the areas outside the stadium, then feed all that flavor back to incorporate in the show.

Where are you going to be?

I’m actually going to be quasi-producing the show from the site in that 20-by-20 area. My league producer Steve Farrell, he’s going to be on a headset so he can talk back to the studio and directly to the talent. The role I see for myself is helping Steve organize the show, and then on-site being back support and actually tracking down all the guests to bring them to our location. So while Steve is producing segments and directing traffic live, I’m setting up the next thing live. And because this is a two-site show, Steve’s working with another producer, Kevin Santos, back in Bethesda. We would like to have had our production truck there? Absolutely – we could have been a bit sexier. But I think this is going to be a success all the same.

What about the post-game show?

That’s going to be an hour long, and as you can imagine it’s all about the reaction to the game. So really the pre-game is more of an event; you’re not going to see a lot of X’s and O’s. But the post-game, now we break stuff down and typical locker-room reaction and bring players to the set area, with me and Steve and Kevin producing on the fly.

Last question: what do Locker and May think about the alumni game being blown off?

Funny you say that, and this is sensitive to all of us. In the very, very early stages, this was not in the league’s plan at all, and Alan and Craig and not thrilled about that. But last week, news came out there’s going to be a media game with alumni in it. So this is even more interesting because a number of us, including myself, are hockey players. So I’m trying to get a couple of the boys in the game – that’s going to be on the 30th, 6pm at Nats Park. So we’ll have cameras there for that, and mic up Locker and Alan, and that will also be in the pre-game.

Basically, it’s almost like a Capitals internal person reaching out to the Capitals alum; this is not the Capitals Alumni Association. That’s important to know. But the league/NBC had their own people who wanted to play, too. So last year when they had the New York series, there was supposed to be a media game and Craig and Alan were invited, but then it got scratched. So I think this game will be some NBC bigwigs, some former alums, and guys like me who play the game and are involved.

THANKS, Bill!

The NHL’s ice truck rolled into Nats Park this morning, under just the type of delightful balmy winter weather we’re hoping to avoid on New Year’s Day.

The ice truck turns off South Capitol Street on its way to Nats Park.

A nice crowd of reporters and camera crews were on hand to greet the NHL’s ice man, Dan Craig, an Alberta native and veteran of many outdoor rink installations, and his 53-foot mobile ice plant. The 22-wheel truck left Toronto last Wednesday morning for its nearly 500 mile trip to Southeast DC.

Joining Dan Craig for the photo op were Caps alums Peter Bondra and Sylvain Cote. This particular truck built the sheets for last year’s Winter Classic at the Big House (18° f) and the Kings –Ducks Stadium Series tilt last January at Dodger Stadium (80° f). I’m no good at math or weather forecasting, but if we take the mean from those temps, that puts us right around 50°, the high end of Bill Daly’s sweet spot for an ideal surface.

Left to Right: Sylvain Cote, Dan Craig, Peter Bondra

Craig said his crews would begin the hard work starting later this week: positioning the truck, running the pipes & hoses, installing the deck, cooling trays (that circulate the 3,000 gallons of glycol coolant) then finally the boards. They aim for nearly 2 inches of ice come puck drop. A typical arena rink’s ice is 1 – 1.25 inches thick, but the rigors of outdoor play requires a deeper surface.

Dan Craig shows off the ice truck’s refrigeration plant to reporters

The surface will be built up in wee increments during the evening hours, when the temps around the ballpark start to drop. Water is added slowly in a fine mist, and each inch of ice requires 10,000 gallons of water, DC tap water, to be specific. After Craig’s team builds up the sheet, it gets 350 gallons of water soluble paint, lines and logos.

The surface will be under 24-hour monitoring ahead of puck drop with special sensors placed in various spots around the ice. If one spot gets too warm, more glycol is pumped to it. They hope for a uniform 22° across the entire sheet.

Rain is forecast for this Friday, so it’s obvious that Craig and his crew already have their eyes on the weather.

Briefing the crowd were NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and sports TV impresario, Ross Greenburg, who will be helming the production seen later this month on Epix. Greenburg claims 51 Sports Emmys and if that wasn’t enough hardware for his mantle, he’s won 8 Peabodys (big boy broadcast awards). John Walton moderated the evening.

Greenburg’s last Winter Classic effort was Caps v. Pens [Haagen-Daz, sack grabbing, Hendy’s stitches , Eric Fehr as Santa, and “F*ck you, Geno”]. This year’s production is in very capable hands. He sees the city as very much a character with plenty of nice places to shoot and stunning backdrops. While his crews have already been taping some elements, Greenburg says the production begins in earnest for his staff of 30-40 and 8 cameras, this Friday. He employs “the best shooters in sports TV” as well as 7 or 8 local camera operators and techs because of their familiarity with the city. Camera crews will be embedded with the teams in both cities.

Greenburg’s cameras will be given their typical extensive access, inside locker rooms, training rooms, ice level and in homes. Four edit rooms working round the clock will cobble together the episodes, turning around some of the action in just a day. Greenburg doesn’t expect to see a replay of last year’s unseemly spectacle of coaches (Carlyle and Babcock) kicking crews out of locker rooms. He said that as a directive from the NHL, teams must grant complete and total access to be considered for playing in the Winter Classic; 100% cooperation makes it a good show.

He wants viewers to see to see story arcs that closely track players and coaches over the course of four episodes. Greenburg cited Humangus Big Bryzgalov as a good example of getting a close look at a player, I think describing him as “weird.” The lack of a natural rivalry between the Caps and Hawks didn’t seem to bother Greenburg, and he wonders if we may see one develop over the next 4 weeks.

Greenburg says the story lines will develop. He’s met with players and coaches already and sees Coach Trotz and his family life, as the father of a child with special needs particularly engaging. Greenburg saw Ovi up close and personal in 2010 and said he expects to see a different player this time, one far more mature, and he hopes to showcase the captain’s role as a mentor to the younger players.

One story line may be the weather, as we saw in 2010, with the game being pushed back into the evening. Daly says they’re flexible on puck drop and that NBC is cooperative and has a decent window to get the game in. The ice truck arrives in DC mid-month, one of two state-of-the-art mobile sheet machines that move around the country for the outdoor games. “Weather is the wild card,” Daly said, and that anything above 50 Fahrenheit won’t be an issue. He wants a clear day, no rain. Despite daytime temps in the 80s for last year’s Dodger Stadium game, the cooler nights helped make the sheet, Daly believes, the best yet for an outdoor game.

Greenburg got some criticism from the 2010 24/7. Through league brass he heard that Ted wasn’t all too thrilled about how he looked on camera, thinking that the lighting made him look like Darth Vader. But remember, the Caps were in the midst of a serious losing streak that December, and none of us were looking like Princess Leia during those dark, dark days. Greenburg’s response to Ted, “Dont worry, we’ll put more lights on you. But do me a favor, WIN!” And then the Caps blew up the Death Star, the Ewoks danced and we lived (mostly) happily ever after. Until Adam Oates.

One element that won’t make the final cut is a Caps watch party at Nellies, DC’s gay sports bar. One of Greenburg’s producers told us that was in the mix but the shoot was waved off by Epix brass. In its place they ended up shooting a bunch of dumb ass Hawks fans swilling cheap booze and beers at some dumb ass Chicago sports bar. Must See TV? Musty TV. On the plus side, expect to see Loud Goat featured during the series. That alone is worth the price of admission.

Another letdown was the announcement that there won’t be an alumni game ahead of the Classic. Boo! We expected to be a house divided for that tilt, Team Locker v. Team May, but we’ll be denied. Maybe we try to organize a guerrilla pickup game on the Mall? With wagering, of course.

The episodes air December 6, 23, 30 and January 6. Don’t get your hopes us for Liev Schreiber as the narrator; HBO owns him. But we are promised top-tier talent to handle the voice duties. Daly tells us that announcements for game entertainment and celebrity attendees will be made in the coming weeks. Is Winter Classic party now.