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Ris Richards is, at this point, a DC institution. Since “Q AND NOT U” disbanded in 2005, the man has kept busy: releasing his own album, forming “BULLETS” with Dave Nada, DJing away (next up-Dec. 15th with the Brazilian Girls at Garutachi) and being everywhere anyone worth their salt in DC wants to be.
He is opening for Ted Leo at 930 club this Saturday and so we figured, WHY NOT ASK HIM TO WRITE HIS OWN WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU, DC column.
He extra kindly obliged.
So, enjoy some inside info, because you know you want to:

Inspired by that Papoose song where he raps the alphabet, (except hopefully not as lame), here’s my list of D.C.’s greatest persons, places and things……A-B-C-D.C…….

“Ask Bob” – I check the City Paper every week for fresh counsel from Bob Mould: punk-legend-turned-alterna-legend-turned-DJ-turned-advice-columnist. Real talk.

Best song on Ben’s Chili Bowl jukebox – Patrice Rushen’s “Haven’t You Heard.”

Commonwealth – So glad these Va Beach dudes decided to open their amazing streetwear boutique in our humble town. Fresh!

Dahlak – My favorite bar in the world. Live, mind-melting Eritrean dance music on the weekends.

Eddie’s Hair Creations – Best place to get a tight fade whilst watching Earth Wind and Fire concert DVDs.

Farmers markets – Mount Pleasant (never crowded, heavenly bok choy) and Dupont (grillable apples, buskers jamming).

Gravelly Point – You’re chilling on a placid soccer field between the river and National Airport when – “WHRROOOOSSHHH” – a 747 comes ripping 100 feet over your pretty little head. Cheap thrills in the post-industrial age.

“honi soit qui mal y pense” – An exhibition of paintings by the brilliant Ian Whitmore that kicked my ass earlier this fall.

Identifying D.C., Maryland and Virginia as “the DMV” – Slang-as-incredibly-apt-metaphor-2K7.

Juju – Did you know that Washington once produced a totally rad spiritual jazz troupe called Juju? Fans of Art Ensemble of Chicago and that ilk should try and find an old copy of Juju’s “Message from Mozambique” on wax. It’s a killer.

K and 17th NW – The intersection where a food cart peddles D.C.’s best burrito. Get yours any weekday from 11am-2pm.

Little Ethiopia- This stretch on 9th Street NW hosts some dope record stores and the city’s tastiest Ethiopian restaurant, Etete.

Memory Lane – Northwest has more awesome vinyl spots than ever (Som, Red Onion, Smash, Crooked Beat…) but lately I’ve been geeked on this alphabetized-to-the-letter record emporium out in District Heights, MD.

Dave Nada – The best DJ in D.C. and probably THE PLANET EARTH.

“One-Hundred Miles and Runnin” – The latest mixtape by future rap superstar and D.C. native Wale. You can still download it off his MySpace page for free.(Free! And so much better than the Radiohead album).

“Phatty” - Hottest song to come out of D.C. this year. It’s by go-go super geniuses CCB. myspace.com/criticalconditionband

Q and Not U t-shirts – My people, if you make eye-contact with me at the club and you’re wearing your old Q and Not U t-shirt, don’t get all embarrassed and look the other way – say what’s up! Your sartorial pledge to my former gang makes a dude feel good!

Radio CPR – Fuck the FCC. Pirate radio is alive and well in Mount Pleasant.

Soft Focus – Washington’s favorite son Ian Svenonius (author of the so-necessary “Psychic Soviet”) spreads his media tentacles into the televised realm, joining the ranks of Larry King and Charlie Rose with his very own one-on-one interview show. www.vbs.tv/softfocus

Thanh Son Tofu – This counter-service joint at the Eden Center in Falls Church sells mouth-watering slices of deep-fried tofu that you can purchase by the box. I’m signing up for Flexcar just for this shit.

Uggghhhh!!!! - The sound I made when I realized I missed the Alex Ross lecture/signing at Politics and Prose a couple weeks back. If anyone wants to buy me a signed copy of his new book “The Rest is Noise,” and bring it to the 9:30 club show on Saturday, I’ll trade you for as many Ris Paul Ric LPs as you want.

Vegetate - Great food, great DJs, and after much struggle, a liquor license.

Wizznutzz.com – The only way to cope with Gilbert’s all-but-season-ending knee injury.

Malcolm X Park – AKA Meridian Hill Park, home to the only Sunday afternoon drum circle that doesn’t make me want to jump off my roof.

Yazuzu – Absolutely delicious Mediterranean food served cafeteria-style in a room that looks like something out of Kubrick’s “2001.”

Zzzzzzzz – The sound of y’all sleeping on Tabi Bonney, D.C.’s BEST rapper. Get with it! His debut disc “A Fly Guy’s Theme” is in stores.

PS!!!! I’m still looking for a frontwoman for my new crossover band. If you know any ladies in their 20s who can sing, rap, dance and throwthefuckdown, have them email crankdc@gmail.com. We’re going places…..!!!!

And what those places may be?
Catch Chris opening for Ted Leo at 930 this Saturday
and DJing at the “Brazilian Girls” Garutachi at RNR next Saturday
http://www.myspace.com/rispaulric

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