Yearly Archives: 2010

Entertainment, The Features, We Love Arts
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We Love Arts: Women Beware Women

Caley Milliken as Bianca in Constellation Theatre Company's production of "Women Beware Women." Photo credit: Daniel Schwartz.

The very walls seem to ooze misogyny in Thomas Middleton’s Women Beware Women. But strip that tacky wallpaper away and you’ll find a Jacobean-era playwright keenly aware of the plight of women in his day, no matter how harshly he seems to treat them at first glance. Basically sold at market, their only value virginity (for a proper wife) or beauty (for a proper whore), the few roles available to women in the 1600’s were fraught with danger and boredom.

It’s a world Constellation Theatre Company relishes, their epic ensemble style boldly walking the line between grand guignol scenery chewing and magical hyper-surrealism. And in a month where zombies lurch and vampires stalk, this is the perfect theatrical outing for Halloween.

The play’s anti-humanist self-loathing is deeply rooted in a Calvinist world view that may not be so alien to our own. The fear of the inevitable decline of the body, the perversion of purity into decay, love to lust, flesh to disease… what a great time to live! These fears were daily concerns to people who saw their world laid waste by bubonic plague and civil war. Constellation has cleverly chosen to shake up this grotesquerie with a Tim Burton flair. Though it takes a bit for that creepiness to blossom, when it finally does it’s twisted sick fun.

Of course nothing is creepier than a theremin… Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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The Onion says something funny involving DC. News flash, right?

Photo courtesy of
‘Shoeshine, Lady?’
courtesy of ‘Kevin H.’

One of my enduring pet peeves is the pejorative use of Washington, DC as a political metaphor. It drives me right up the wall when my home-of-choice is used as an epithet to accuse a political opponent of being out of touch, or when partisans from across the country cheer for natural disasters to befall it due to their opposition to whatever government happens to be in power at the time, apparently completely unaware that federal jobs are only a quarter of the jobs here. (Don’t believe me that this happens? Run a Twitter search for “washington” next time there’s a Snowpocalypse headed our way.)

The Onion skewers this phenomenon pretty effectively today. A quote: Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Q&A With Official White House Photog

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

As Chief Official White House photographer, Pete Souza has an entirely unique perspective on the president. Now, you can ask him what White House life looks like from behind the camera. Leave your questions in flickr’s comments section, and he’ll answer them (or at least the interesting ones) this Thursday at 7 p.m. during a live webcast on the White House website.

Mythbusting DC, The Features
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DC Mythbusting: Obscure Monuments and Memorials

Photo courtesy of
‘Albert Einstein’
courtesy of ‘afagen’

Having lived in the District for several years, and considering myself pretty knowledgeable about how to get around the city, I’m always happy to point tourists in the right direction when they’re wandering around lost.  But this past weekend, I was stumped– I was asked for directions to the Titanic Memorial, and I had no idea that such a memorial even existed in the District.  If I hadn’t heard about that one, what else was I missing out on?

If you know where the obscure Albert Einstein Memorial (above) is located, it’s easy to think you know where all of the monuments and memorials in the District are.  But would you believe that there’s a monument dedicated to Maine lobstermen here?  Or a park dedicated to Sonny Bono?  Or a memorial showing a fireman being run over? Let me just go ahead and confirm the myth– all these things exist.  Read on to find out what you’re missing!
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Adventures, Entertainment, Getaways, Music, We Love Music
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Getaways: MoogFest 2010, Asheville North Carolina

If you are looking to get out of town this Halloween weekend to avoid the crush of Colbert/Stewart fans, Marine Corp Marathon runners, and trick-or-treaters (have I left anything out?) then might I suggest that you hop on a bus, train, or plane down to scenic Asheville, North Carolina for MoogFest 2010. Trade the Comedy Central rallies’ rumble for the large-scale trip-hop of Massive Attack. Leave those marathon runners behind for an evening with Thievery Corporation. Pull a trick this year instead of giving out treats and head to North Carolina to witness the large-scale weirdness of MGMT.

MoogFest 2010 is a three-day music festival taking place in multiple indoor venues in downtown Asheville on October 29, 30, 31. This unique festival is designed to celebrate the life, inventions, and influence of sonic innovator Robert Moog by inviting over 20 world-renowned, electronic music acts to perform over the course of this weekend. Robert Moog was the inventor of the Moog keyboards and synthesizers, a true music pioneer whose inventions have enabled thousands of musicians to push the boundaries of sound for decades. Asheville, NC is where Moog based his business and his home for the last 30 years of his life.

Every year, there are many Moog Fests around the world dedicated to Moog and his instruments. These specialized events are usually smaller and intended for die-hard Moog enthusiasts. This year the Moog Institute in partnership with AC Entertainment (the organizers of the Bonnaroo Music Festival) have decided to combine all of these smaller Moog festivals into one gigantic celebration of electronic music and sonic exploration. MoogFest 2010 is a high-profile gathering of electronic artists and musically innovative Pop acts that is going to prove to be one of the most interesting, large-scale festivals of the year.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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EagleBank Bowl Gets a New Name, Supports USO

Photo courtesy of
‘_MG_6253’
courtesy of ‘dbking’

Entering its third season as an official bowl, Washington DC’s college football postseason game will be kicking off this December with a new name. According to the Washington Post, an announcement is expected that will change the name of the EagleBank Bowl to the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman. EagleBank will remain on as a sponsor of the game, but the other news is that the USO will also be a beneficiary of the game and associated events.

This year’s contest will be held on December 29th at RFK, and it will likely feature a low ranked ACC team against a school from Conference USA.  The military tie-in to the game is also a part of the bowl’s history. Each year, the opponent an ACC school faces alternates through several conferences, but in certain upcoming seasons, Navy or Army, if bowl eligible, are automatically given bids.

News, The Daily Feed
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Slain Professor’s Jeep Recovered

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

American University professor Sue Marcum’s murder is still more mystery than anything else, but the police are one step closer, having recovered her stolen car as part of a chase ending at New Jersey and M St NW, and ending with the vehicle crashed into a utility pole.  The driver is not currently thought to be the killer, and faces charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle, according to the AP.

Marcum’s body was discovered in her home in Bethesda yesterday, when her boyfriend went to check on her after not hearing from her.  Marcum taught Taxation at the Kogod School of Business at AU after a career working for the Ringling Bros., Barnum & Bailey circus in their taxation division.  Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.

Featured Photo
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Featured Photo

Photo courtesy of
‘DC Streets: The Cathedral’
courtesy of ‘pnzr242’

High contrast black and white photography should be a genre onto itself. Not all pictures look good with that treatment, especially ones with people in them. The high contrast tends to add a sense of mystery and even undertones of evil.

But the best pictures amp the contrast while still retaining detail and without making the image too sinister. Flickrite pnzr242 seems to have hit the mark with this shot. His composition and treatment make this a standout photo. And, of course, it’s in a Metro station.

The Daily Feed
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Local CEOs Bring Home the Bacon

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’

The Washington Post released a list of CEO earnings at 100 of the area’s largest public companies yesterday. Coming in at number one was Strayer University, whose top dog brings in a whopping $41 million per year (this includes bonuses and stock awards; Robert Silberman’s annual base salary is “only” $646,000). Last week, Strayer also ranked number 14 in Forbes’ list of America’s 100 Best Small Companies, so I guess the Arlington-based university is doing something right. Although if they stopped sending me copious amounts of junk mail, they would be doing more things right.

Rounding out the top 10 highest paid CEOs are the heads of Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Coventry Health Care, United Therapeutics, General Dynamics, Discovery, Danaher, Rosetta Stone and AES. Coming in at number 100 was Leslie Goldberg, head of Bowl America, who earns a cumulative $154,183. However, he probably deserves a raise based on his quality products: I still own — and wear — my “Happy Birthday from Bowl America” T-shirt, circa 1988. Thanks for the memories, Mr. G.

The Daily Feed
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Art Gets Political at Cartoons & Cocktails

Photo courtesy of
‘Great Political Cartoon’
courtesy of ‘coneybeare’

In DC, many of our major celebrities are the people who write and broadcast the news. But what about the people who draw it? This Thursday, you can pick up their contribution to the political sphere at Cartoons & Cocktails. The event will auction off the work of notable editorial cartoonists, many of whom have been recognized with Pulitzer Prizes. You can also have your own portrait sketched by caricaturist Rajan Sedalia, or simply knock back a few drinks as you watch cartoonists draw “real time” snapshots of the evening.

The event will be held at 6 p.m. this Thursday at the National Press Club. Tickets are $65 per person. Beneficiaries of auction sales include the Cartoonists Rights Network International and Young D.C., which sponsors an eponymous newspaper written and run by Washington teens.

The Daily Feed
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DIY Metro Tips, just in time for Rally for Sanity…

Photo courtesy of
‘After the Game’
courtesy of ‘Karon’

This is a town that loves both honest sincerity and cruelest sarcasm.  How to Use Metro is a little bit of both.  Just in time for the Sanity Rally this Saturday (and the Marine Corps Marathon Sunday), this site is both honest and deeply sarcastic in its tone regarding what acceptable Metro behavior might be.  So, those of you just coming in for the Rally for the first time and riding Metro, give it a look so that you know what not to do.  And, of course, the same advice that applied for the Tea Partiers applies to you: Pick Up Your Damn Trash.  But you’re coming for the polite rally, so I’m just going to pretend that you knew that already.

Entertainment, Music, We Love Music
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We Love Music: Helmet @ SONAR 10/22/10

On Friday night, I took the MARC train to Baltimore, to meet my brother Marcus at SONAR, where we continued our brothers’ tradition of seeing Helmet in concert together every chance we get. Friday night was our sixth Helmet concert and Page Hamilton put on a casual but kick-ass show of guitar intensity that reminded us both why we’ve always held Helmet’s music in such high regard.*

Friday’s concert also featured two opening acts: Intronaut and Fight Amp. I have been digging on Intronaut’s albums for awhile now and this was my first chance to see them perform in concert. Fight Amp was an unknown element for me going into the show, but I had read some message board love for them that had me interested enough to show up early. To my surprise, Intronaut proved to be a disappointment and Fight Amp put on the more entertaining opening set.

Continue reading →

Adventures, Entertainment, Essential DC, Fun & Games, Life in the Capital, Special Events, The Daily Feed, The District
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DC Drag Queen Race Tomorrow

Photo courtesy of
”
courtesy of ‘erin m’

If Halloween is this weekend, then that means only one thing. The 2010 DC Drag Queen Race is this Tuesday.  The race starts at 9pm, but crowds begin to form along 17th Street around 6pm and the show/parade/pageantry starts around 7pm. Definitely an event a must-go-to DC event.

News, The Daily Feed
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Surprise: Rapper Uses Adult Language

Photo courtesy of
‘William Chang & Wale’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’

This one is from the “Are you kidding me?” department.  Mary Washington College The University of Mary Washington invites Wale to perform as part of Homecoming.  Wale is Wale and uses some language perhaps inappropriate for those who are below the age of ten.  The President of the University issues apologies for those offended.

Really? I mean, I do understand that Mary Washington college is down in Fredericksburg, where you’re a lot closer to Baptist country than up here, but the university is apologizing because a performing artist’s act contains profanity?  Do they apologize before showing movies on campus that contain the F-word?  Do they apologize before inviting comedians to perform on campus who perform blue?

The language puritanism that exists in this country, when swearing is a celebrated and decorated artform here, is always astonishing.  Sure, I get noise complaints, and having been near an outdoor Wale concert before, I can attest that their thumping bass was nearly enough to shake RFK apart, but you hire a performer like Wale, or a metal band, or any of the other musical acts who use profanity as embellishment, and you have to know what you’re getting.  This is just silliness. Apologize, sure, but only for the volume, not for the content.

Sports Fix
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Sports Fix: How many turnovers?

Photo courtesy of
‘DSC_5748’
courtesy of ‘bhrome’

Capitals
Record: 5-3
Place: 2nd in the Southeast, 1 point back of Tampa
Last Two Weeks: 4-2

With two losses back to back to the Bruins, to listen to some Caps fans, it was time to throw in the towel. Sanity prevailed Saturday night at the Phone Booth as the Caps put together an overtime victory against Atlanta on a beautiful goal by Tomas “Flash” Fleischmann. Alexander Semin chalked up his fourth career hat trick, as well, giving Caps fans every reason to be happy.

It’s not all sunshine and lollipops in Caps-land, though, and there’s reason to be a little concerned. The Caps were shooting just 4.9% over a three game span, which is about 10% under “normal,” and their puckhandling has left a lot to be desired in the last few starts, with a lot of sloppy play. It’s early yet, and if October hockey is the worst we see, I think we’ll be in for another great season.

The Caps are on a little road jaunt this week, heading down to Carolina, Minnesota and then off West to Calgary before coming home next week to face Toronto, Boston and the hated Flyers of Philadelphia. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed
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Georgetown students arraigned on drug lab-related charges

Photo courtesy of
‘Capturing the Multiverse’
courtesy of ‘Karon’

If you were checking Twitter over the weekend you may have heard that MPD found what appeared to be a meth lab in one of Georgetown’s freshman dorms. And then it turned out to be a lab for making dimethyltriptamine (DMT), which is a plant-originating hallucinogen used in some South American shamanic practices.

The students occupying the room, Charles Smith and John Romano, as well as a visiting guest, John Perrone, were arraigned this morning on illegal drug manufacturing charges.

Sports Fix
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Week 7 Recap – Skins vs. Bears

Photo courtesy of
‘DeAngelo Hall Intercepts Mark Sanchez’

courtesy of ‘Tony DeFilippo’

In what was a very sloppy game, the Redskins overcame some close calls and played opportunistic ball as they defeated the Bears 17-14. Both teams combined for 9 turnovers, 13 penalties, and 4 third down conversions on 23 attempts. Basically, who ever wanted it more would win this game. After trailing 14-10 in the first half, the Skins got two breaks in the 3rd quarter. First, an apparent touchdown sneak by Jay Cutler was not called by the officials and, even more surprisingly, the Bears did not challenge the call. Albert Haynesworth caused a fumble on that play but right after the Skins took possession, Donovan McNabb threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown…except it was called back due to a delay of game on the offense. As bad as McNabb looked at times, Cutler looked worse. He had 281 yards passing, but threw 4 interceptions and lost a fumble. With the victory the Skins improve to 4-3 and get their first road win on the season. Continue reading →

Adventures, Downtown, Entertainment, Essential DC, Fun & Games, History, Life in the Capital, Special Events, The Daily Feed, The Great Outdoors
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Washington Walks: Haunted House Tour

Photo courtesy of
‘Spooky’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’

Running every night through October 31st, Washington Walks is hosting spooktacular tours of the haunted pasts surrounding Lafayette Park.  Hear tales about the eerie navy hero Stephen Decatur, the foreboding pasts of Henry Adams and his troubled wife Clover, and relive the night of April 14, 1865 when the grim reaper stalked Abraham Lincoln. The tour ends at the most haunted home in the city, the Octagon Museum. That is…if you make it through the entire tour…MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Cue Vincent Price.

Be at the 17th Street exit of the Farragut West Metro station at 7:30pm, and for $15 you’ll get a two hour long, insiders look into the ghosts and spirits that haunt downtown DC.