Leisure

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

Leisure

Blomkamp’s Chappie short circuits on arrival, fails to come to life

Ever since Hal 9000 uttered the immortal words “I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that,” artificial intelligence has been a hot topic for science fiction movies. Chappie, the... Read more

By March 5, 2015

Leisure

Second State celebrates rustic elegance

The new upscale eatery Second State manages to bring the taste and atmosphere of Pennsylvania to Dupont Circle, even without the presence of a single bearded Quaker. Regardless, Second State... Read more

By March 5, 2015

Leisure

Willem de Looper’s paintings blur lines with color at Hemphill Gallery

“I don’t like abstract art,” muttered one of my roommates dismissively after glancing at photos from the exhibition I had just visited. “I mean, yeah, it’s pretty, but it’s all... Read more

By March 5, 2015

Leisure

Out of Control: Say goodbye to griefers, hello teamwork

Some of my fondest gaming memories happened at my local public library. Every so often, my brother and I would bike there to take advantage of its setup of multiple... Read more

By March 5, 2015

Leisure

Reel Talk: 2015 brings the box office back

This can be a sad, dark time of year for moviegoers. With awards season behind us and blockbuster season waiting for warmer weather, your local cinema’s fare may be looking... Read more

By March 5, 2015

Leisure

Critical Voices: AJR, Living Room

Surprise, listeners: the world is, in fact, ready for more AJR. Brothers Adam, Jack, and Ryan Met gained prominence last year with their single “I’m Ready,” using the memorable line... Read more

By March 5, 2015

Leisure

Critical Voices: The Ripples, The Ripples

Skepticism is often the response when a college band promotes their music, but that shouldn’t be the case with The Ripples. The Georgetown band just released their eponymous second album,... Read more

By March 5, 2015

Leisure

Beethoven’s Eroica triumphs in GU Orchestra’s multimedia concert

  Every song has a story, and classical symphonies are no exception. Take, for example, the origins of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, the Sinfonia Eroica (Italian for “heroic... Read more

By February 26, 2015

Leisure

Focus fails to keep audience’s attention

While it certainly is not going to go down as one of the all time greats, or even as one of the all time goods, Focus has some enjoyable moments.... Read more

By February 26, 2015

Leisure

Orange Anchor makes port, calls all on deck for nautical comfort food

“Is it joy? Is it friendship? Is it experience? Is it a means to survival? What is food to you?” These are the kinds of questions my friend, Katherine, posed... Read more

By February 26, 2015

Leisure

BMDT: Truth Be Told

Georgetown’s Black Movements Dance Theatre brings a complex set of issues and experiences to life in their newest show, Truth Be Told. The performance—choreographed by BMDT’s Artistic Director Alfreda Davis,... Read more

By February 26, 2015

Leisure

Under the Covers: Reading is hard, B.J. Novak can help

I was a big reader during elementary school, which probably won’t surprise anyone, but I didn’t start out with a love for literature. The book that left the biggest impression... Read more

By February 26, 2015

Leisure

Deadbeats: Cabaret needs some performance enhancers

Last Friday night, Georgetown Cabaret hosted their annual charity show at the Black Cat. The show was a big success—selling more tickets this year than the previous two years combined.... Read more

By February 26, 2015

Leisure

CV: Big Sean, Dark Sky Paradise

For as long as Big Sean has been a household name in hip hop, it has never seemed that his body of work merits his success. Indeed, the Detroit rapper... Read more

By February 26, 2015

Leisure

CV: MisterWives, Our Own House

Gloomy, devastated love songs get flipped on their head in MisterWives’ debut album Our Own House, which turns tracks about sad upbringings and emotional breakups into lively dance anthems. The... Read more

By February 26, 2015

Leisure

American Masterworks presents a flawed, yet beautiful America

An expensively dressed woman gazes sternly through a portrait at a naked Greek sex slave statute in the center of the room. A black man being chained into slavery on... Read more

By February 19, 2015

Leisure

The Duff is not ugly or fat

The Duff, directed by Ari Sandel and based on the novel by Kody Keplinger, will bring you back to familiar moments of invisibility (and worse, unasked for visibility). The film... Read more

By and February 19, 2015

Leisure

King Hedley II claims its rightful throne

The presentation of August Wilson’s King Hedley II at the Arena Stage is, much like the play itself, daring. Hedley takes place on one stage with no props—save for the... Read more

By February 19, 2015

Leisure

AdMo’s latest Asian joint is full of BUL

BUL, Korean for “fire,” is the most recent in a series of trendy—read: caters to yuppies—Asian restaurants to open in the heart of Adams Morgan. Like other joints along this... Read more

By February 19, 2015

Leisure

Out of Control: It’s dangerous to travel alone through an uncontinous story

Like any self respecting Legend of Zelda fan, my gullet spewed rainbows when Nintendo released Hyrule Historia, their compendium of all things Triforce. And like the rest of my quasi-Kokiri... Read more

By February 19, 2015