Leisure

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

Leisure

Deadbeats: Festivus for the rest of us

A lot of people I know lose it over summer music festivals. Whether it’s Coachella, Lollapalooza, Oozlelolooza, or whatever the latest trendy festival is, there’s a ton of excitement surrounding... Read more

By March 20, 2014

Leisure

Critical Voices: La Dispute, Rooms of the House

If every band painted a picture to go along with their work, La Dispute would paint a family van flying off a bridge into an icy river for their third... Read more

By March 20, 2014

Leisure

Critical Voices: Skrillex, Recess

Love him or hate him, you know his name, and you’ve made fun of his haircut. Three years after dropping his debut EP, Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites, Skrillex’s first... Read more

By March 20, 2014

Leisure

On the Record: “Passing Out Pieces” with Mac DeMarco

Mac DeMarco, down-to-earth Canadian rocker dude (with a tendency to get a little weird), agreed to discuss his upcoming album Salad Days and his thoughts on the music industry with... Read more

By and March 6, 2014

Leisure

A sad, honest look at the promised land

You wouldn’t be wrong to immediately associate the film Bethlehem with the birthplace of Jesus Christ. But Bethlehem’s namesake is instead the site of violence—cold, calculated and endemic violence that... Read more

By March 6, 2014

Leisure

Lupo Verde howls into the District with authentic flare

At first glance, because of the cheesy Italian music and the complimentary warm homemade bread with cheese, Lupo Verde appears to be just another mediocre American take on the Italian... Read more

By March 6, 2014

Leisure

Under the Covers: A conversation with Ben Marcus

Ben Marcus was a philosophy major at NYU grappling with Wittgenstein and Hegel, planning on continuing his studies at the graduate level. Somewhere in between, he found his calling in... Read more

By March 6, 2014

Leisure

Day Tripper: Do you want some candy?

People often ask me how I ever feel safe as a young woman traveling to such “interesting” places. They remind me to always keep my guard up, to be careful... Read more

By March 6, 2014

Leisure

Critical Voices: ScHoolboy Q, Oxymoron

Oxymoron is not an album that goes down easily. From the hook of the first track, where Quincy Hanley, known as ScHoolboy Q, repeatedly screams “Gangsta, Gangsta, Gangsta,” to the... Read more

By March 6, 2014

Leisure

Critical Voices: Real Estate, Atlas

Real Estate has finally waded out of the shallowness of beer-drenched suburbia. While their previous efforts laid the foundations for the dissonant genre of suburban surf rock with flawless instrumentals... Read more

By March 6, 2014

Leisure

Nomadic Theatre’s pool (no water) quenches creative thirst

In the posh living room of a townhouse on 37th Street, an insistent bass shakes the alcohol stained cups littered on the floor and resonates up to the colonial crown... Read more

By February 27, 2014

Leisure

Roofer’s Union is a total knockout

I learned two things after eating at Roofer’s Union Restaurant. One: I really like restaurants with big, arresting windows. Two: This place’s brussels sprouts need a P.R. agent because they... Read more

By February 27, 2014

Leisure

Photographs guide an Unintended Journey

The world is a delicate place. No matter how hard we try to manipulate its resources to our own advantage, there are short but potent moments that remind us of... Read more

By February 27, 2014

Leisure

Eating Out: The importance of being cultured

As an SFS student, I pride myself on my perceived cultural sensitivity and awareness. Having grown up in a multicultural household, I was always the one who brought “weird” food... Read more

By February 27, 2014

Leisure

Deadbeat: Don’t cry over neutral milk

I need some fresh air and a break. I’m run down and I can’t keep going on like this. It’s not my schoolwork that’s got me feeling overwhelmed, though. It’s... Read more

By February 27, 2014

Leisure

Critical Voices: Beck, Morning Phase

On its first track, “Cycle,” Beck’s new album Morning Phase begins like its namesake part of the day: very slowly, but then all at once. A gentle orchestra holds two... Read more

By February 27, 2014

Leisure

Critical Voices: St. Vincent, St. Vincent

Watching videos of Annie Clark, better known as, St. Vincent, move her fingers up and down the frets of her guitar so effortlessly, almost transiently, gives me chills. Truly one... Read more

By February 27, 2014

Leisure

Human Rights Watch Film Festival looks at injustice through film

Movies are instant. They happen quickly and they feel immersive. Talking about human rights, meanwhile, can be heavy and draining. When the two were combined, something bigger happened. The Human... Read more

By February 20, 2014

Leisure

D.C. Indie Film Fest

Since 1999, the D.C. Independent Film Festival has graced the District with a diverse selection of shorts,  documentaries, and features from all over the world. Hosted at theaters and conference... Read more

By and February 20, 2014

Leisure

Anderson’s volcano film fails to erupt

Guy is bad. Guy likes girl. Girl is in trouble. Guy becomes good so he can help girl—pretty much every rom-com you’ve seen this year, or ever. It seems counterintuitive... Read more

By February 20, 2014