Vivian Chen
Burger out of Hell: Ray’s raises the stakes
My meal, the Soul Burger Number One, was a small skyscraper, consisting of two fluffy toasted Brioche buns, a large leaf of romaine lettuce, a thick slice of tomato, three slices of Applewood smoked bacon, grilled rings of red onions, a pile of Cognac and sherry sautéed mushrooms, a half melted slice of Swiss cheese and, sandwiched in between it all, a 10 ounce patty of hand trimmed, freshly ground, premium aged beef.
By Vivian Chen September 4, 2008
Campus Theater worth Falling for
Clean House
Nomadic Theater, October 8-12, Walsh Black Box. Tickets are $9.
While this house may be clean, it is filled with emotional baggage. With everything from depression to an affair to an identity crisis, there is much for Matilde, the new Brazilian live-in maid, to do. The only problem is she hates to clean and is on a quest to find the perfect joke. With a comedic spin on the usual dramatic struggles, expect equal parts smart and serious from this Pulitzer Prize finalist play, as well as a number of monologues in Portuguese.
By Vivian Chen August 28, 2008
Pride of the People’s
In the last two weeks I have heard the Chinese national anthem more times than I have in the rest of my life put together. Although I’m sure any avid Olympics viewer is starting to become familiar with the song, being in Beijing this summer means that those notes follow you everywhere. Not only is every television in the city tuned into the Olympics, but the new buses, subway stations, and subway cars are all equipped with TV screens so you won’t miss a single moment. Montages of gold medal moments air in between all programming, so in a given day I could see the same flag rise at least twenty times. It’s gotten to the point where I saw a group of inebriated Germans singing the Chinese national anthem on the Olympic Green and wasn’t surprised that they hit all the right notes.
By Vivian Chen August 22, 2008
Georgetown students making art: Senior Studio Art Majors Group Exhibition
Looking for an art exhibit to check out during study days? Art lovers and the broke alike should find just what they’re looking for in the Class of 2008 Senior Studio Art Majors’ Group Exhibition held in Gallery 101 in Walsh. From drawings and paintings to photography and pop art, there’s something for everyone, as the styles, perspectives, and forms are more diverse than Georgetown itself.
By Vivian Chen April 24, 2008
Fountains, belly dancers, and finger food, oh my!
Whether it’s a drive-in, a draft house, or a serenading mariachi band, the elusive combination of food and entertainment is dying out. Dupont Circle haunt Marrakesh, though, masters the art of bringing entertainment straight to the dinner table by pairing hypnotizing belly dancers with delectable Moroccan cuisine.
By Vivian Chen April 24, 2008
Smart People, stupid movie
Smart People really should have been called “Arrogant and Socially Inept People”—all of the characters have chips on their shoulders proportionate to the sizes of their IQs. Characters in a film like this one should fall into one of two types: either delightfully dysfunctional (see: Little Miss Sunshine) or delightfully malicious (see: The Squid and the Whale). The problem with Smart People is that writer Mark Poirier (COL ’91) can’t seem to decide which type he wants his characters to be, so their constantly bizzare behavior comes off as disingenuous. And because its characters are at the heart of the film, Smart People falls flat.
By Vivian Chen April 17, 2008
D.C.’s Fashion Scene
When people think of New York and L.A. fashion, distinct styles immediately come to mind. Walk the streets of Manhattan and you’re bound to run into super skinny dark wash jeans, flats, and oversized bags. On Sunset Boulevard, you’re going to find brighter colors, more shorts, and flip flops galore instead. Unfortunately, the District’s most memorably contribution to the fashion world is probably still Monica Lewinsky’s little blue dress.
As far as the D.C. fashion scene is concerned, “it is definitely lacking,” according to Robin Levine, a co-buyer at We One You Two.
“ Fashion here is a lot more corporate, you can’t get away with much here. What you’ll find is a lot more classic work wear than the trends,” Levine said.
By Vivian Chen April 15, 2008
Some Powerful Stuff
The premise of “Stuff Happens” is terrifying: a dramatic reenactment of the build-up to the Iraq War, it could easily have turned into an overdone farce. Instead, the play is more of a thought-provoking documentary than a satire, weaving together detailed research with remarkably unbiased and restrained speculation about what happens behind closed doors. “Stuff Happens” is a powerful and intricately choreographed commentary that is still shocking despite the topic’s familiarity.
By Vivian Chen April 10, 2008
Salt Water Moon: a night in Irish Newfoundland
Everything about “Salt Water Moon” is minimalistic: the two-actor cast, the one-night-only timeframe and the plot’s straightforward love story. The no frills approach works; it strips the play down to its core, honing in on an intricate relationship between two people, and gives them the space and time to develop all the facets of their characters. “Salt Water Moon” depends completely on the performances of the two leads, who manage to create a quaint and hopeful tale of love, set during harsh times.
By Vivian Chen April 3, 2008
Penang: Malay-okay
Chain ethnic restaurants like Panda Express and Star of India usually serve up cringe-worthy cuisine with less than stellar service. Luckily, Penang in Dupont Circle is a chain franchise with a refined take on Malaysian cuisine.
By Vivian Chen March 27, 2008