Leisure

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

Books

In Half His Age, Jennette McCurdy is twice as candid

Rather than building toward a clear moral thesis, the book accumulates fragments of shame, thrill, self-justification, and humiliation.

By and March 29, 2026

In the District

Safety Not Guaranteed: Signature Theatre’s newest musical guarantees a good time

Safety Not Guaranteed introduces audiences to a magically realistic depiction of friendship and time travel in the Pacific Northwest.

By March 28, 2026

Leisure

Curtains rise on No Pressure Creatives’ Out of Sync

No Pressure Creatives is currently performing Out of Sync, a completely student-written musical, in Gaston Hall.

By and March 27, 2026

Leisure

On Cloud 9, Megan Moroney sings an all-too-familiar tune

While her Moroney continues to please her fanbase, her failure to evolve artistically risks an ever-shortening fuse. 

By March 22, 2026

Leisure

Hilary Duff hit the jackpot. Must be luck…or something

Luck… or something (2026) is a comeback and a rebirth, proof that time can both soften a pop star’s image and sharpen her pen.

By March 15, 2026

Leisure

The Chimes go big on Desperate Chimes, Desperate Measures

Desperate Chimes, Desperate Measures (2026) features a daring tracklist, but the Chimes always make the risk worth the reward.

By and March 14, 2026

In the District

Meet Malikat al Dabke, the all-women troupe keeping dabke alive in D.C.

What began as a dance workshop open to dancers of all skill levels has become Washington, D.C.’s first all-women dabke troupe—a cultural anchor for the five Arab American women who... Read more

By February 22, 2026

In the District

Three days, two exhibitions, and one community at the DC Arts Center

The exhibits attracted a ragtag team of menders, artists, and appreciators who, without trying, filled the missing role in the collection.

By February 21, 2026

Leisure

Cherry Tree Massacre is a night of a cappella tradition

The Georgetown Chimes rang in 2026 with the 53rd annual Cherry Tree Massacre, the group’s long-running a cappella showcase that brings groups from campuses across the D.C. area together on one stage.

By February 20, 2026

Leisure

“Wuthering Heights” descends to wuthering lows

Fennell has unequivocally built a sumptuous film of texture and eroticism—but an adaptation must answer its source’s questions.

By February 19, 2026

Leisure

Don’t Be Dumb: Listen to A$AP Rocky’s staticky new album

From start to finish, each song is a fundamental representation of who Rocky is, what he has accomplished, and where he’s going next.

By February 7, 2026

Leisure

Talking whales and sexy aliens: Avatar: Fire and Ash

In director James Cameron’s latest film, Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025), an esteemed 10-foot-tall blue humanoid shouts “He’s a loose cannon!” about a whale who speaks in papyrus font—a moment... Read more

By February 1, 2026

Leisure

Wicked: For Good (& not so good)

Thank Goodness! Whether you’ve eagerly waited a full year for the continuation of the Wicked story or you’re ready to stop seeing pink and green everywhere you look, the wait... Read more

By December 1, 2025

Leisure

Is romance dead? In Eternity, the answer is yes and no.

“’Til death do us part” is a familiar vow of loyalty between married couples, but what happens after death? In Eternity (2025), Elizabeth Olsen plays Joan, a widowed woman who... Read more

By November 27, 2025

Leisure

On West End Girl, Lily Allen bares her teeth and her soul. And it’s bloody brilliant!

In a 2023 interview on The Jonathan Ross Show, Lily Allen commented on her hesitation to perform with pop it girl Olivia Rodrigo as her Glastonbury guest in 2022. “I... Read more

By and November 19, 2025

Leisure

Georgetown, open the door! Heathers is meant to be yours!

On a freezing November night, I had the pleasure of warming up during Nomadic Theatre’s latest spectacle: Heathers: The Musical. Directed by Daniel Tomas (SFS ’26) and produced by Alec... Read more

By November 14, 2025

Leisure

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere and the fight for novelty in a world of biopics

Our society has an obsession with retelling the stories of icons, desperately trying to dramatize their lives and explore the depths of what makes them unique. We’ve entered an era... Read more

By November 14, 2025

Leisure

Eli is the next Stage Girl

I’ve spent most of this year trying to act normal, but the truth is… I’ve been stalking Eli. Not in a scary way (yet), but in the only way that... Read more

By November 12, 2025

In the District

A gorl’s guide to dining in Georgetown

Looking to impress an out-of-town visitor? Desperate to dine with your latest situationship? Wanting to take a class friendship to a new level?  Welcome to our guide to dining in... Read more

By and November 1, 2025

Leisure

You still don’t have a costume?

’Twas the night before Halloween, and you had nothing to wear. You begged your friends for their hand-me-downs, yet not a single pair of animal ears survived last year’s blackout. ... Read more

By October 31, 2025