Beltway Pundits Hits the Headlines

Beltway Pundits Hits the Headlines: From DCist

Masters of Pun Compete For Laughs (And Groans) At D.C. Improv

BY MARK LIEBERMAN IN ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ON AUG 19, 2016 11:50 AM

Aaron Schwartzbaum’s jokes, heavy on wordplay and delivered with a wink, inspire much groaning among his friends and family. “I’ve been pissing off all my friends for years,” he says.

When he saw on Facebook that DC Improv was hosting a pun competition back in March, he signed up immediately. He enjoyed the first experience so much that he returned for the second iteration several months later, where he took second place with a prepared speech. And last night, he returned again — and won, not once but twice, on the strength of puns like these, centered around Europe:

“I don’t want to kiss and tell here, but I did see her Netherlands.”

“Her roof was leaking water and I actually used her pet rodents to plug it — yeah, I made a hamster dam.”

“I hope I was able to Sweden your evening.”

Schwartzbaum sparred with a handful of other pun wizards during two rounds of competition at last night’s DC Improv event, part of a recurring series that organizers hope will become a bi-monthly tradition.

The “Beltway Pundits” event, which includes a round called the “Punger Games,” focuses squarely on a brand of humor that some comedy snobs dismiss as lazy or lowbrow. But for the event’s founder Laura Powell, whose business card describes her as “pundit-in-chief,” puns represent a performance style that holds untapped potential.

“It’s kind of like this underground form of humor,” Powell says. “It’s often called the lowest form of humor, but I find that offensive.”

Powell, who’s competed at the international level in the O. Henry Pun-Off World Championships, created the event after taking a few comedy classes at DC Improv and realizing that she could put her longstanding love of puns to productive use at the venue. She’s been pleased with the turnout so far: The 60-seat DC Improv lounge area has sold out for all three performances, and the later events have brought a mixture of returning competitors and fresh faces.

The two-part event begins with a series of prepared speeches of two minutes or less from registered competitors. Each speech has a theme — last night’s included the election, cars, Donald Trump, short people, math and dating. Some speeches tell a coherent story with puns scattered throughout; others place the jokes front and center.

Powell awarded a score from 1 to 10, as did her fellow judge Brian Agler, the champion of the first speech round back in March. Both were looking for dazzling wordplay, and they also took the performers’ timing and confidence into account, according to Powell. “We try not to be too harsh because we realize people aren’t professional performers,” Powell says.

After a short break, participants are joined by competitors from the audience for a bracket challenge. Two or three contestants at a time stand on stage and take turns delivering puns from a given topic. If you flail, you fail. The person left standing moves on to the next level of the bracket until only one remains.

Last night, that one was Schwartzbaum, already glowing from his first-round win. He told DCist before the second round that he thinks improvising puns on the spot is harder than delivering them in a pre-written statement.

“Normally it involves a bunch of giggling to myself in the shower thinking, ‘That’s a good pun,’” Schwartzbaum says. “Then I’ll keep it in my head and see if a theme emerges.”

Not twenty minutes later, he eked out a win on the strength of puns like “Go puck yourself!” Competition was fierce, though. Several competitors who appeared to struggle with nerves in the prepared round came alive in the second half, while others appeared more comfortable with paper in hand.

The enthusiasm for the event within the room wasn’t hard to miss. Competitors laughed, joked and hugged each other throughout the night. High-fives were exchanged, friendships forged. One particularly eager competitor told the event’s sound manager Chris White to keep the tradition going.

“This is a great event,” he told White. “Please keep doing more of these. It’s so much fun.”

Probably, though, he meant to say "so much pun."

#TravelTopics on Twitter is Back

August's #TravelTopics on Twitter focused on Florida. Here are some things we learned about the state during the chat, which was co-sponsored by Red Coach USA. If you want more information, visit #TravelTopics on Twitter and check out posts from August 11.

Let’s talk about Florida’s lesser-known towns and beaches.

Jim Byers ‏@JimByersTravel  I love Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island; old-school, charming Florida!  #TravelTopics @VISITFLORIDA #OnlyinJAX

Paradise Coast ‏@ParadiseCoast   Florida’s Gulf Coast sunsets always leave us in awe. #TravelTopics #LoveFL Photo by @MarkJGPhoto

Kerry ‏@LFCandTravel  A2:  This is Mexico Beach in the Florida Panhandle.  Beautiful white sands & very peaceful!  #TravelTopics #travel

Paradise Coast ‏@ParadiseCoast  

Ways to Get Around the State

By Motorcoach

Red Coach USA has luxury buses that whisk passengers around Florida.

Caroline Eubanks ‏@cairinthecity  

A4: Good price, efficiency, & multiple routes. And I’ve taken almost all of them! @RedCoachUSA here: http://bit.ly/2b1Heou  

Laura Powell ‏@dailysuitcase A4: Remember that there are often drop-off fees if you rent a car in 1 place  & drop in another. Consider a bus between cities #TravelTopics

By Boat

Photo by @KyleKeiser courtesy @paradisecoast  

Kerry @LFCandtravel

I recently stumbled across this great place providing air boat rides on the east coast of Florida!

By Pedal and Paddle Power

Do Orlando North ‏@DoOrlandoNorth  A4: Play and explore — safely—  with @LimoCycle.  

ParadiseCoast @ParadiseCoast Florida’s Ten Thousand Islands are off Florida’s southwestern coast. It’s a great spot for boating and fishing #TravelTopics

Fun With Funiculars*

Funicular is one of those funky terms that gets tossed around a lot. A hybrid of a railroad and an elevator, the term is often used to describe cog railways or even aerial cable cars. But the only authentic funiculars are those having two cars of equal size connected by a cable looping over pulleys and a drive wheel. As the drive wheel moves the cable, one car goes up the track while the other goes down. Funiculars are used on slopes too steep for conventional railroads. If you’re so inclined, ahem, here are the world’s coolest funiculars.

Switzerland

When it comes to steep slopes, there’s no place like the Alps. That’s why when it comes to funiculars, Switzerland, to mix metaphors, takes the cake. The Alpine nation has dozens. Some of the more popular ones among tourists are the Harderbahn in Interlaken; the Marzilibahn in Bern, connecting the Marzili neighborhood to the Bundeshaus, the seat of the Swiss government; and Ritom, one of the steepest funiculars in the world, measuring 2579 feet in altitude at a maximum 87.8 percent gradient. It’s by Lake Ritom in the Southern Alps canton of  Ticino which borders Northern Italy.

Italy

Speaking of Italy, the funicular fun continues near Lake Como. The Funicular Como-Brunate connects the “metropolis” of Como to Brunate, a picturesque small town located in the mountains. The funicular opened in 1894, coinciding with the early days of tourism in the area. Today’s visitors experience a seven-minute ride offering stunning views along the way.

Canada

In days of old, many funiculars were designed to connect a city’s upper and lower towns. Such is the case in Quebec City. The funicular linking the two parts of this UNESCO World Heritage site dates back to 1879. Located in the historic district, the Old Quebec Funicular serves as a direct link between Dufferin Terrace, located outside the storied Chateau Frontenac Hotel, and le Quartier du Petit Champlain and the Old Port below.

United States

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania sports three rivers and two operating funiculars. The Monongahela Incline was built in 1870 and is the oldest continuously operating funicular in the United States. It is one of 17 that were originally built to carry folks from hillside homes to work during the late 19th century. The other from that era still operating is the Duquesne Incline. If it looks familiar, you might have seen it in the movie “Flashdance”.

The Duquesne Incline

Dubuque, not to be confused with Duquesne, is in Iowa. Its Fenelon Place Elevator is likely the shortest funicular in North America. It’s 296 feet in length, stretches steeply from downtown to the summit of Dubuque’s bluffs. At the top, take in a magnificent view of the historic business district and the mighty Mississippi River.

Fenelon Place Elevator, Dubuque

*A longer version of this article is here.

The Coolest City You've Never Heard Of

This story originally appeared here.

Georgia, the former Soviet Socialist Republic, is coming into its own. More than a quarter-century after gaining independence from Russia, the country is waving the tourism flag. While some of its outermost reaches may not be quite ready for prime time, there’s no doubt that capital city Tbilisi is set for its star turn. A city of about 1.5 million, Tbilisi has a long and winding history, dating back to the 4th century. The layers of history are everywhere including in the architecture, the traditions, the food and the wine. Here are the key things every visitor must do in this fascinating city:

Explore the Old Town

The best way to start a tour of Tbilisi is by roaming Old Town Tbilisi, a mish-mash of architecture and cultures. Its Art Nouveau buildings and neoclassical facades may remind some of a shabby-chic version of the backstreets of Paris. Meandering the cobblestone streets and narrow alleys will lead visitors to hidden courtyards and houses of worship for several religions. With its numerous cafes, this is a good place to sip coffee or enjoy a glass wine (read on!).

Wine about Your Visit

Georgia claims to have the oldest wine culture in the world, dating back 8,000 years. Wines are traditionally made in huge earthenware pots called qvevri. This unique wine-making system is part of UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. So, it is incumbent upon every visitor to partake of the grape by sampling at a restaurant of visiting a wine shop.

Take a Bath

At the edge of Old Town is the Abanotubani district, known for its underground sulphur baths. These baths, built in the 17th century, are topped by brick domes and heated from hot springs below. The blue-tiled Orbeliani Bath is one of a handful that still offer traditional hammam-style treatments.

Study Georgian

Not the language (good luck with that), but the history. The Georgian National Museum covers the entire 40-million year backstory of the country. Don’t miss the Treasury, filled with ancient gold artifacts and jewelry, and the Museum of Soviet Occupation, encompassing an entire floor of the building.

Visit Mother Georgia

The impressive statue of Kartlis Deda, aka Mother Georgia, watches over Tbilisi from a high vantage point. If you don’t feel like climbing up to her, take the aerial tramway to the top of Sololaki Hill. There, you will note that Ma Ga welcomes friends with a bowl of wine, while fending off enemies with her sword.

Climb a Fortress

As long as you are on top of the hill, you might as well head over to the Narikala Fortress. Walking along its ancient walls provides an apt overview of the city and its history. This behemoth dates back to the Tbilisi’s founding. In the fortress’s lower court is the restored St. Nicolas Church.

Go to Church

Even for the non-religious, Tbilisi orthodox churches are sights to behold. The biggest is Holy Trinity (or Sameba), the main Cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox religion. The oldest is the Anchiskhati Basilica, dating back to the sixth century. Note the ancient frescoes within.

You Won't Believe What These Hotels Used to Be

The original post about hotels that used to be chocolate factories, shoe factories, etc. 
is here.

When is a hotel not just a hotel? When it is re-purposed from a building that used to
to be something completely different. Turning old, oft-abandoned buildings into hotels 
helps developers feed the increasing demand for idiosyncratic travel experiences. 
Meanwhile, many of these rehabs end up playing a major role in the revitalization of 
down-and-out city centers. You’ll never guess what these five hip hotels used to be:

The Charmant Hotel, LaCrosse, Wisconsin

Life is like a box of chocolates at the Charmant Hotel. The 67-room luxury boutique hotel 
has been crafted out of the Joseph B. Funke Chocolate Company, which was in business 
from 1898 to 1933. Charmant was the premium line of chocolates produced by the 
Funke-y bunch. Aside from its name, The Charmant preserves and re-imagines 
architectural details of the original structure, including its wood beams, pulleys, exposed 
brick and maple floors. If you breathe in deeply, you might even whiff the aroma of 
molasses seeping out of those old floors. The rooms are highlighted, of course, in 
chocolate-brown. Remember to make friends at the front desk. The staff there might well
indulge your sweet tooth by doling out handcrafted chocolates.

Brewhouse Inn and Suites, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
A bed in a brewery? That’s what’s on tap at the Brewhouse Inn and Suites. Transformed 
from an abandoned Pabst Brewery  (the largest brewer in the world during the first half of 
the 20th century), the building reflects Milwaukee’s brewing heritage in a heady way. 
Copper brew kettles from the original factory are lined up on the mezzanine, overseen 
by King Gambrinus, the patron saint of beer and brewing. His stained-glass likeness was 
commissioned by Frederick Pabst himself. Speaking of glass, the Brewhouse’s front desk is crafted from 1,550 beer bottles from Milwaukee-based breweries. Reclaimed wood from the factory is used throughout the property, from the headboards 
in the rooms to the tabletops at Jackson’s Blue Ribbon Pub.

Refinery Hotel, New York, New York
Hat’s off to Manhattan’s Refinery Hotel (circa 2013), which originally was a high-end 
millinery factory (circa 1912). Located in New York City’s Garment District (naturally), 
Refinery Hotel’s design draws on the building’s past with a custom installation of
hat-making tools in the lobby. Each guestroom has a slightly raw aesthetic inspired 
by the original factory, such as concrete ceilings, distressed hardwood floors, custom area 
rugs, and sewing machines-inspired desks. The hotel’s event space is called, what else,
The Hatbox. 

Craddock Terry Hotel, Lynchburg, Virginia

There’s no business like shoe business at the Craddock Terry Hotel. The Craddock Terry 
Shoe Company was founded in the late 19th century in Lynchburg, Virginia. At one time, 
it was the fifth-largest shoe company in the world. At its peak, one factory, which opened 
in 1905, produced more than 2,500 pairs of women’s shoes per day. That building is what 
was re-imagined into a hotel by Hal Craddock, the great-grandson of the shoe company 
founder. In 2007, the Craddock Terry Hotel opened, retaining its original industrial feel, 
with exposed wood beam ceilings and nine-foot tall windows. What gives the place even 
more ‘sole’ are that hints of its shoe-making past are everywhere. Whimsical touches
include in-room breakfast served in old-fashioned wooden shoe shine boxes and 
art installations clogged with 100 years of shoes.

Kendall Hotel, Cambridge, Massachusetts
What was once a firehouse is now a fine accommodation. The Kendall Hotel is housed in 
Engine 7 Firehouse, a Victorian-style structure built in 1895. The firehouse closed in 1993 
and re-opened as a hotel in 2002. The building, the oldest in Kendall Square, has been 
restored in a manner befitting its heroic past. Its restaurant, the Black Sheep, is named 
after Engine 7’s self-described Fire Department misfits. Both it and the lobby are filled 
with firehouse memorabilia and Victoriana. Eleven of the guest rooms are located in what 
was once the firemen’s dormitory. But don’t worry. If you stay in one of them, you won’t 
have to exit via a pole.