For the past six years, one festival has been bringing the District’s short film lovers their heart’s desire: The DC Shorts Film Festival. Moviemaker Magazine praised the festival as “one... Read more
I hate horror movies. If you asked me to explain, I’d probably offer all kinds of reasoned explanations as to why most straight-up “horror” films are generally lacking any merit,... Read more
Waltz with Bashir, an animated documentary, follows director Ari Folman’s poignant journey to retrieve his lost memories as an Israeli soldier during the Israel-Lebanon war of 1982. Folman brilliantly taps... Read more
“Orchids Through Darwin’s Eyes,” the Smithsonian’s 15th Annual Orchid Exhibit, brings a fresh perspective to the horticulture of the most diverse flowering plants in the world. Their beauty and boundless... Read more
Tackling the Klu Klux Klan, marriage, manipulation of religion, and emotional insecurity is ambitious. Trying to make the audience laugh at the same time is an even greater undertaking. Though... Read more
Now that everyone is poor, recessionistas have discovered something cheapskates have known about for a long time: libraries. Even Carrie Bradshaw saw fit to snuggle up with a library book... Read more
I had a Russian teacher in high school who told the class that in Russia, the fool proof home remedy for any ailment was a big ol’ shot of vodka.... Read more
The exhibition “Looking In: Robert Frank’s The Americans” at the National Gallery couldn’t have come to D.C. at a more appropriate time. The Americans, one of the most important photography... Read more
Zion-I has always been one of the more schizophrenic California hip-hop groups, as their albums jump from Cali-hyphy style raps to self-righteous hip-hop ballads. On their newest effort, The Take... Read more
My first run-in (or rather, almost run-in) with Telepathe was this past fall, when they were part of the oddly assembled Mad Decent Tour (dance DJ Diplo, tropical noise-punksters Abe... Read more
Last week, the sixth season of 24 made its long-awaited debut after being off the air for over 18 months. Much of the talk surrounding the show’s return centered on... Read more
Some musicians refer to their guitar as an “axe.” I dislike that term because it implies a certain bluntness the instrument simply does not have. Sure, the guitar can produce... Read more
If Andrew Bird had lived in the middle of the 20th century, he might have been an American folk legend. Either that, or he would have traveled the countryside wearing... Read more
Franz Ferdinand used to be my favorite band. Hell, theirs was the first concert I ever went to (Electric Factory, Friday, September 10, 2004). To my 14-year-old self, they offered... Read more
Alone, facing a wall, a man sits in a state of palpably deep introspection. All we see is professional wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson’s back, his face buried in emasculate... Read more
D.C. has lost its edge. A mere three decades ago this city was a hub for the clashing of discordant guitars and politically charged lyricism. This was the city that... Read more
Thanks to television shows like “The Wire”, many people hear “Baltimore” and think, “murder capital of the world.” Back in reality, that title actually belongs to Caracas, Venezula, and Baltimore... Read more
Over a decade after his death in a drive-by shooting, Christopher Wallace (better known as the Notorious B.I.G.) maintains his storied place in the hip-hop lexicon. His feud with friend-turned-rival... Read more
As the season for high-end Inauguration balls arrives, the District’s art scene reminds us of both its contribution to the presidential race and the harsh economic reality that leaves most... Read more
With the Inauguration less than a week away, a plethora of issues press on everybody’s minds—where to go to the bathroom, how to get around the city, whether or not... Read more