Dec 28, 2007
Smithsonian Can’t Keep its Coffers Shut
You didn’t think we could get through the last few days of 2007 without one more Smithsonian scandal, did you? The Post has a lengthy report today on National Museum of the American Indian’s retiring director Rick West and the whopping $250,000 of Institution funds he spent on travel and luxuries. Although West can account for some of the travel — going to visit Indian reservations, meeting donors — much of it is vaguely characterized…
Oct 10, 2007
Past, Present, and Future of Native Cultures @ NMAI
Written by DCist contributor Morgan Hargrave Museum exhibits are usually necessarily limited in focus, attempting depth rather than breadth. The few that are not so restrained tend to overwhelm their patrons, losing them in an ambush of Too Much Information. Yet the National Museum of the American Indian has managed to avoid this pitfall in three exhibits that aim to define the entire histories, cultures, and guiding philosophies of indigenous people in the Western Hemisphere….
Sep 21, 2007
Morning Roundup: The Last Picture Show Edition
We’ve arrived at another Friday, Washington, so welcome to it. Some sad news to note off the bat, however, as the Post brings word that the last movie theater left in the Dupont Circle neighborhood, the AMC Loews Dupont 5, will go the way of Visions and the Janus 3 before it and close its doors forever in January. We can certainly attest that the last few times we went to see a film…
Jul 19, 2007
Go Home Already: The Famous and the Infamous
>> CNN White House Correspondent Ed Henry spotted Dave Chappelle hanging out outside the White House this morning. He’s reportedly feeling good despite his recent hospital visit, and joked about going after Tony Snow’s job. [CNN Political Ticker] >> The former mayor of the town of Dumfries, VA has been charged with running a brothel out of a sports therapy clinic he owns in a Prince William County strip mall. Melvin Bray lost his…
Jul 06, 2007
Live Earth Concert Comes to D.C. After All
Hope for a last minute hail mary. After the highs and lows of almost getting an installment of Live Earth in our town, then having Congress stomp all over it, Al Gore’s figured things out in the final hour and is adding the District to the globe-crossing concert. Live Earth will take place tomorrow, from 9 locations around the world. The purpose of the massive undertaking is to raise worldwide awareness of climate change. Musical…
Jul 03, 2007
This Week in Jazz
It’s a slow week in jazz land because of the holiday, but there’s still some great music happening. Happy 4th of July, everyone! >> Smooth jazz saxophonist Walter Beasley comes to Blues Alley for a four night stand, beginning this Thursday, with daily 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. sets. $35. >> This week’s top pick is legendary drummer Andrew Cyrille (pictured), who brings a group to Twins Jazz this Friday and Saturday. This man has…
May 21, 2007
About Tonight
>> As we mentioned earlier in Reader, Meet Author, Vanity Fair editor Cullen Murphy will be at Politics and Prose tonight to read from and sign copies of Are We Rome? As long as we can ruled by Simon Woods, I’m all for saying, yes, please, let’s be Rome. 7 p.m. >> Tickets are still available for tonight’s performance of Leoš Janáček’s Jenůfa at Washington National Opera. Our critic called this production WNO’s “best…
Feb 21, 2007
National Air and Space Museum Sad, Lonely
Our friends over at the Associated Press have dug deep into a story that’s weighing heavily on all of our minds today: Why is it that the National Air and Space Museum, once the proud champion of the Smithsonian’s annual Awesomest Awards for Attendance, has fallen from favor with the museum-attending set. Air and Space’s attendance fell below that of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History for the first time in recent memory last…
Dec 18, 2006
Reader, Meet Author
Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the city, not a lot of authors are stirring. Give them a break! They have family and friends to see at this time of year, too! But if you have a mind to celebrate letters on the local level, head on out to the Warehouse tonight for a special Christmas edition of the F.W. Thomas Performances. Tonight’s edition features comic collagist Clarke Bedford, writer Molly Woods, songwriter…
Oct 19, 2006
Fashion Events
By DCist Contributor Morgan Hungerford. DC is not a city of sample sales and trunk shows, so when we have one fashion-related event worthy of attendance it is Very Exciting; when we have two it is a Big Deal. And three? Well, you lucky, things, let’s just say you’d better take advantage. Tonight is the Third Thursday MidCity Shopper Social; shop the U Street Corridor and 14th Street for special deals at Junction. Wild Women…