Mary Borowiec
Unbuilt Washington: A new type of rejection
People sometimes take Washington D.C. for granted, but it’s beautiful—the manicured grass lawns surrounding the mall, the minimalist Washington Monument, the simple yet dignified White House, and the famed cherry blossoms bordering the tidal basin. But what if the grassy plane of the national mall were flooded with water à la Venetian canals, and Congresspeople were carried in paddleboats to the different federal departments? Or if walking across the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial Bridge, bookended with two gothic towers straight from Medieval England, you were met with a pyramid-shaped version of the Lincoln Memorial, seemingly plucked out of Egypt?
By Mary Borowiec January 19, 2012
Wheatgrass shots, limes, and carrotinis
At Georgetown, we live on a campus where most beverages are either caffeinated or alcoholic (or, in the heyday of Four Loko, both). So D.C.’s latest food truck, Juice Revolution, can offer Hoyas a new, healthy and refreshing drink option—live juice. Instead of prepackaged juice, which is inevitably pasteurized, Juice Revolution offers its patrons a series of live juices packed with vitamins and antioxidants made from fresh fruits and veggies.
By Mary Borowiec December 1, 2011
These are some bad balls
Outside of Penn Quarter’s newest eatery, passers-by cannot help but do a double take at the window front of 626 E Street NW, which exclaims “BALLS” in bold-set type. It... Read more
By Mary Borowiec November 17, 2011
Dim sum at Ping Pong pleases
Though it’s not in the heart of Georgetown, Ping Pong Dim Sum in Dupont Circle offers the District the best of traditional Chinese cuisine, with its modern twist on dumplings. Reinventing the ancient Chinese staple, Ping Pong doesn’t disappoint in its aim to fuse Eastern and Western flavors in their contemporary take on these “tiny parcels of deliciousness.”
By Mary Borowiec October 20, 2011
Critical Voices: Future Islands, On the Water
It is not often that a title perfectly captures the sound and feeling of an album. However, On the Water, the newest release from Future Islands, does just that. A brilliant collection of 11 tracks that ebb and flow between the band’s characteristic electronic sound and its more recently developed minimalist rhythms, On the Water showcases this Baltimore trio’s best collaboration yet.
By Mary Borowiec October 6, 2011
Mr. Warhol goes to Washington
Andy Warhol, the king of pop art, once asked, “Isn’t life a series of images that change as they repeat themselves?” This query perfectly captures Warhol’s revolutionary take on the... Read more
By Mary Borowiec September 29, 2011
Georgetown gone Vogue
It seems every day brings another story of natural disasters or global economic catastrophes. While world leaders may be stalling and losing sleep in search of solutions, what better way is there to combat the looming unemployment reports or the ripples of the debt crisis than to engage in the time-honored and therapeutic tradition of shopping? This Thursday, Georgetown will host D.C.’s Fashion’s Night Out, designed by Vogue magazine and the Council of Fashion Designers of America “to celebrate fashion, restore consumer confidence, boost the industry’s economy, and put the fun back in shopping,” according to the event website, with sales and special promotions taking place at over a hundred D.C. stores.
By Mary Borowiec September 8, 2011
Beirut, The Rip Tide, Pompeii
Considering that Beirut’s Zach Condon once described himself as a musician in search of an “epic melody,” it might seem odd that his band’s third album, The Rip Tide, clocks in at a decidedly non-epic 33 minutes. But despite its brevity, the album once again showcases Condon’s continuing development as a songwriter and the brooding, lyrical instrumentation that has been the band’s hallmark.
By Mary Borowiec August 26, 2011
Nomadic gets Hot in Walsh Black Box
As its racy title suggests, Jose Rivera’s References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot abounds with passion, sex, and allusions to everyone’s favorite mustachioed surrealist. But while advertising those elements may pique the audience’s interest, the play, which Nomadic Theater chose for their final production of the season, achieves far more than sexy overtones. It explores the complexity of human relationships and the pertinence of political tensions with Nomadic Theater’s fiercely talented cast executing witty, impassioned dialogue, and the play succeeds in both entertaining and touching its audience.
By Mary Borowiec April 13, 2011
Let’s get it poppin’
The popsicle is the epitome of childhood summertime nostalgia. From Push-pops to flavored ice, nothing captures those lazy days when summer meant neighborhood games and swimming pools rather than internships quite like a good old-fashioned popsicle. In effort to recapture those days of minimal responsibility, Pleasant Pops, a company that has reinvented popsicles for the adult palette, is sponsoring the Popapalooza this Saturday, Apr. 9. This spring kickoff event will feature Pleasant Pop’s highly sought-after popsicles, performances by local musicians, and free face painting and magic shows. Through its co-sponsorship with the Mount Pleasant Business Association, Popapalooza is being held at Lamont Park in Mount Pleasant.
By Mary Borowiec April 7, 2011