On April 5th, 1987, a charity exhibition game between the world champion New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies brought baseball back to Washington, DC after 16 years. Read the story of the cold and wet game at RFK Stadium and Washington's desire for a team.
Explore the history of Washington's red light district in the 1970s and 80s, and the rise of development that eventually drove out the unsavory sex shops. Featuring an article from the Washington Post in 1978.
This week, the blog has a fresh new look and the Boss is rocking out at the Verizon Center. But let's not forget the old Capital Centre in Landover, MD - where many GoDCers have fond memories of great concerts. Get psyched listening to Hungry Heart and have a great show!
The Takoma Theatre opened in 1924, but the rise of the multiplex and its response with adult cinema saw it close its doors in 2006. Read the 100-year story of this DC movie house.
Watch and read Ronald Reagan's first State of the Union address to Congress, given on January 26th, 1982. The best part is about 50 seconds into the clip. Original speech found on Wikipedia.
Sonoma interior
Last week’s winner of the “If Walls Could Talk” poll was Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar. They altered the look and feel of the tavern-heavy block of Pennsylvania between 2nd and 3rd St. SE and have been satisfying discerning palates with sophisticated wine and charcuterie since the fall of 2005.
I’m excited to branch out to a different neighborhood for this next IWCT and judging by the popularity of this place, I’m hoping this will be a well-liked...
U2 played an emotional show in Toronto on December 8, 1980, hours after Mark David Chapman shot John Lennon in New York City. Still reeling, the band returned soon after to play small venues in Washington D.C. like The Bayou and Ontario Theater. This meta description highlights the tragic timing of Lennon's death coinciding with U2's fledgling U.S. touring days as they built towards later superstardom.
Ron Paul hit a double during the Congressional baseball game in 1983 - see the full video here! Plus, find out why the game was banned in 1914 and how it came back in 1962.
I came across a great idea while reading Prince of Petworth’s post on LivingSocial yesterday. The DC-based company just opened up their “live events center” in a building at 918 F St. NW, which was the former National Union Building. It’s a magnificently beautiful Romanesque building, six stories tall. This one certainly has a colorful history, so it’s going to make for a great “If Walls Could Talk.”
The building was originally built in 1890, designed...
