We Are Scientists rock the District for Musicians on Call

There are a lot of reasons to love New York City indie rock outfit We Are Scientists. They've generated a dedicated fan base in the U.S. and across the pond for their catchy dance-punk guitar riffs, thoughtful lyrics, spastic stage presence and a repertoire of witty on-stage banter more reminiscent of a Marx Brothers routine than a rock show. And after their rafter-rocking charity performance at Downtown D.C.'s Hard Rock Café, you can now add "philanthropists with hearts of gold" to the quartet's resume.

Part of Hard Rock Cafe's nationwide March On Stage 2009 series, the Metromix-sponsored event raised a whopping $3,500 for Musicians on Call, a nonprofit organization to bring live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities in New York, Philadelphia and Nashville. The Metromix team was on hand to show their support for the cause, while dancing uncontrollably and passing out free swag along the way.

http://dc.metromix.com/music/article/we-are-scientists-rock/1064530/content

Up close and personal with the Wizard Girls

Just when you thought Hermione Granger was the only female wizard you would ever love...

Perhaps it’s just our unwillingness to shed silly high school stereotypes, but most sports fans would have trouble believing that a professional cheerleader can be a doctoral student. Cheerleaders don't have to wake up for the morning commute the day after a game like everyone else, especially for an accounting job or to work for a Congressman on Capital Hill. They don't have lives beyond basketball games, photo shoots and post-game parties, right?

Not so much. Sure, the Wizard Girls are beautiful and talented. Yes, they make one hell of a pin-up calendar every year. But what most slack-jawed spectators at the Verizon Center fail to appreciate is the Washingtonian behind the pom-poms, short skirt and knee-high boots. Here's your chance to get to know the ladies a little better.

http://dc.metromix.com/events/article/up-close-and-personal/994751/content

Big Bear Café (review)

Maybe it’s the sophisticated espresso menu, or maybe the free WiFi and Sigur Ros-heavy playlists – or perhaps it’s just in the nature of any D.C. hipster to venture a few blocks east of the gentrification line for a cup of coffee and a sandwich. For all these reasons, Bloomingdale’s Big Bear Café has quickly established itself as a major player in the District’s independent coffee shop scene. Owned by a pair of San Francisco transplants, the café gives off a warm, zero-bullshit vibe, effectively avoiding the “hipper-than-thou” aura of similar venues in the city. Big Bear’s dedication to quality will satisfy most coffee aficionados, but those looking to simply grab a cup of joe and hit the road are likely to get a little annoyed. Example: all coffee orders are brewed fresh from a French press, making for a noticeably tastier cup, albeit at the expense of five obnoxiously long minutes. If you can manage to snag enough table space on a weekend afternoon (especially on the outdoor patio when weather permits), Big Bear is a stellar setting for a leisurely and affordable brunch, with a small but carefully designed menu of salads, paninis and breakfast pastries.

For: Bringing a little Pacific Northwest to Northwest D.C.

Tackle Box (review)

It’s no surprise that Georgetown’s Tackle Box is the only “lobster shack” in the District, especially since nation’s capital is a good 100 miles from the nearest productive lobster fisherman. That said, the seafood here is sufficiently fresh and tasty, comparable but considerably less expensive to its popular sibling neighbor, Hook. If you can manage to look past the kitschy New England beachside décor, you’ll find one of the city’s best seafood deals in the $13 “Maine Meal,” with your choice of one fish, two sides and one sauce. Resist the temptation of a fried calamari, coleslaw and mac & cheese combo (all of which are good, but nothing to write home about), and try something a bit more adventurous. The wood-grilled tilapia and crispy bay scallops are both worth trying and no meal is complete without a side of thinly cut sweet potato fries.

For: Cheap seafood beyond dirty Chinese carry-outs.

http://dc.decider.com/restaurants/tackle-box,54637

Soul Vegetarian's Exodus (review)

If you aren’t excited by the sight of quotation marks in the title of a menu item (say, “chicken” nuggets or “pot roast”), then you probably won’t appreciate the concept of Shaw’s Soul Vegetarian. The all-vegan international chain is a citywide destination for seitan and soy cheese addicts, serving up a rotating menu of palatable meatless and dairy-free iterations of soul food classics. Sure, entrees like Bean Curd Roast and Wheat Loaf are acquired tastes, but even die-hard meat eaters can appreciate the unexpectedly creamy Soy Mac & Cheese, flavorful Tofu Yeung patties and crazy-good Sweet Potatoes with organic brown sugar. The meager four-table, reggae-thumping dining area seems to invite all patrons to carry out, and the final tab might seem a tad high at first glance - that is, until you realize that the heaping $10 Double Entrée Plate can easily feed two.

For: Healthy, chewy food for healthy, crunchy people.

http://dc.decider.com/restaurants/soul-vegetarians-exodus,21413

RedRocks Firebrick Pizzeria (review)

Let’s face it – as hard as it seems to screw up pizza, it’s surprisingly difficult to find a good slice in the District. But when it comes to gourmet brick oven pies, a handful of D.C. pizzerias seem to have the art down – and Columbia Heights’ RedRocks is the cream of the crop. The menu boasts a list of “personal” Neapolitan pizzas (translation: too big for one, too small to share), paninis, calzones and small plates, along with a respectable selection of bottled microbrews and imports. Be sure to start off the meal with a plate of warm marinated Italian olives and avoid the boring Marinara and Margherita options (they’re nothing special). Carnivores will appreciate the simplicity of the Salsiccia (red peppers, fennel sausage and mozzarella) while vegetarians will find nirvana in their first slice of Eggplant (roasted with goat cheese and pesto). Even vegans need not fret, as all pies can be prepared with 100% soy cheese for a small charge.

For: A solid pie in a pizza-deprived town.

http://dc.decider.com/restaurants/redrocks-firebrick-pizzeria,51297