Leisure

Reviews and think pieces on music, movies, art, and theater.

Leisure

Dessert it yourself — The New DIY

Although it’s already mid-October, I’ve declared this fall to be the Summer of George! Although the results were mixed for the oft-chunky George Costanza, my roommate Dan and I are all about gettin’ into being healthy and lovin’ love. The first step on our road to healthy living begins where any bildungsroman should, in the dessert aisle.

By October 16, 2008

Leisure

Two artists, two visions, one landscape

“Natural Affinities” at the Smithsonian American Art Museum marks the first time in history that the works of painter Georgia O’Keeffe and photographer Ansel Adams have been paired in an exhibition, and it seems long overdue. Both icons of the American art scene, they explore and interpret the landscape of the American southwest in their works, drawing parallels between the land and artistic expression, and pointing toward two distinct visions of the natural world.

By October 9, 2008

Leisure

Sure, hop on board another football Express

The Express, Universal Pictures’ latest sports biopic, is guaranteed to please sports and schmaltz lovers of all ages. The story centers on the life of Ernie Davis, the first African American athlete to win college football’s prestigious Heisman Trophy, paying particular attention to the racial barriers he confronted and shattered as a standout running back at Syracuse University.

By October 9, 2008

Leisure

House cleans up

Yet, what Clean House lacks in subtlety and realism it more than makes up for in punchy dialogue, solid performances, and natural chemistry. Their interactions, whether comic or dramatic, are entertaining and compelling to watch. The cast has great comedic timing, especially Joelle Thomas (SFS ’10) as Virginia. Thomas masters her character’s quirks, making someone who could easily be two dimensional and irksome delightful, yet full of pathos. Her rambling, stream of consciousness monologues hop from a peppy punch line to a heartfelt confession without losing a beat or the audience’s attention.

By October 9, 2008

Leisure

For whom the bar tolls

U Street has recently come to rival Adams Morgan as the District’s new happening neighborhood, and Bar Pilar is a must if you are looking to see hip young D.C. at its finest. For a dark, low-key ambience hit up the bar between Monday and Thursday; to be a part of a larger, rowdy crowd, come on Friday and Saturday nights—but get there early to get a seat from which to view the action.

By October 9, 2008

Leisure

Extra, extra!

Instead I calmed down and mostly forgot about Field Music until last week, when the other Brewis, Peter, released his side project, The Week That Was. I didn’t have high expectations going in—how could he make Field Music without Field Music? But, much to my surprise, he pulled it off. And in my joy I started to remember some other impressive side projects.

By October 9, 2008

Leisure

Critical Voices: Deerhoof, “Offend Maggie”

Deerhoof has long straddled the line between experimentalism and straightforward pop, and their latest release is no exception—Offend Maggie finds them gravitating toward their pop side with an undeniable oomph.... Read more

By October 9, 2008

Leisure

Critical Voices: Department of Eagles, “In Ear Park”

In Ear Park, the second effort from Brooklyn duo Department of Eagles, is everything you could hope for from a sophomore album: it’s dense, engaging, and (most importantly) an improvement... Read more

By October 9, 2008

Leisure

Hot live drinks!

Cracked hands, cracked leaves, and now a cracked economy; this autumn is off to a particularly rough start. Add to that the stresses of midterms and a mysterious viral outbreak, and one will come to the rapid conclusion that most Georgetown students could use a little liquid relief—and I ain’t talking about Pepto Bismol. While revenge and fruit salad should be served cold year-round, fall is the perfect season to sample some piping hot potables.

By October 9, 2008

Leisure

40 pictures of D.C.

The exhibit currently on display in the gallery, 20/40, is designed to highlight twenty DC photographers in anticipation of FotoWeekDC, a celebration of photography that will take place November 15-22.

Each of the 20 photographers shown in the exhibit has contributed two pieces, for a total of 40 photographs on display (hence 20/40). The subject matter of the photos vary dramatically, from streetlamps in a deserted parking lot to people rowing in boats down a river in Vietnam.

By October 9, 2008

Leisure

Dark, delicious Dexter

These days, basic cable television is as depressing as the state of our nation’s economy. Luckily, the fall season of premium cable arrives as a refreshing bailout from the endless slew of reality TV and mindless sitcoms.

This fall, Showtime’s Dexter has the opportunity to become one of the hottest shows on television, The thrilling drama about a sympathetic serial killer kicked off its third season this past Sunday at 9 p.m. on Showtime.

By October 2, 2008

Leisure

Mr. Sohielinia’s neighborhood

At the corner of 34th Street and Dent Place, one block south of Reservoir, Le Petit Corner Store is a half-house, half-storefront whose interior is a homey, welcoming, albeit assorted mixture of a deli, café, and community rendez-vous spot.

By October 2, 2008

Leisure

New Ocean Hall is a whale of a good time

The Sant Ocean Hall marks the largest addition to the Museum of Natural History since it was constructed in the early 1900s, so it is only appropriate that it takes up an extremely large space and contains vast quantities of information. The Sant Ocean Hall is the kind of exhibit that will still be interesting on the third or fourth visit, and its aesthetics make you want to return just for the visual effect. The main hall contains glass display cases that curve around the space, leading visitors around the room in an orderly pattern. Oceanic hues of blue and green emanate from every display, and the entire room’s wavy and luminous quality gives the faint impression of being surrounded by water. A film of undersea scenes playing on panels surrounding the room makes the entire museum feel submerged.

By October 2, 2008

Leisure

With St. Anna, Spike Lee creates a miracle

Directed by the legendary Spike Lee and based on the book by novelist James McBride (The Color of Water, Song Yet Sung), Miracle at St. Anna uses the true story of an African-American soldier during World War II to create a masterpiece that is equal parts mystery, war story, ghost tale and history.

By October 2, 2008

Leisure

Choke the Movie

“All I had to do was answer one simple question: what would Jesus not do?” Choke aims to answer this peculiar question of morality with a 90-minute cinematic rampage through sex addiction, self-discovery, and the realization that the embodiment of a holy foreskin’s DNA may be walking the earth. Chuck Palahniuk’s latest big screen adaptation is a dark comedy, in tune with a foul representation of human motive.

By October 2, 2008

Leisure

Critical Voices: Of Montreal, “Skeletal Lamping”

An open letter to Of Montreal front man Kevin Barnes:

By October 2, 2008

Leisure

Critical Voices: T.I., “Paper Trail”

Over the past year, T.I. has been in the news more for his legal problems than for his music. But apparently, despite being locked up under house arrest for weapons charges, T.I. has been paying attention. Paper Trail is a much better effort than 2007’s T.I. vs. T.I.P. and it re-establishes T.I. as one of today’s most important mainstream rap artists.

By October 2, 2008

Leisure

Hate the hoofs

Shoes have really been irking me lately. In my last column, I directed my grievances at the frumpy footwear of D.C.’s young women, but this week, I’m moving on to the nation at large. While my quibble is with the manufacturers of runaway shoe trends, the real issue is with our nation’s tendency to eat up horrible spin-offs of brand-name shoes that were not so great to begin with.

By October 2, 2008

Leisure

Photographing transitions

Julia Fullerton-Batten may have survived puberty, but she certainly didn’t make it out unscathed. Her photographic repertoire has thus far captured the fragility and instability of adolescence with an eerie, disquieting surrealism.

Her new works, part of the collective “In Between” exhibit at the Randall Scott Gallery, mark a transition, both in those awkward years she remains enthralled with, and in her photography, one which is quieter yet still profoundly disturbing.

By October 2, 2008

Leisure

Critical Voices: Friendly Fire, “Friendly Fire”

It’s fitting then, that St. Albans-based Friendly Fires come at the idea from the other end on their self-titled debut album, mixing rock influences into their more electronic sound. Nowhere is this mixture more clear than on “White Diamonds,” which plays like a T Rex song for the post-disco era, loping guitar riffs, cowbells, and all.

By September 25, 2008