HEMPHILL FINE ARTS pays tribute to versatile artist William Christenberry, whose depictions of the rural South document with poignancy but no sentimentality that oft-mythologized swath of Americana. His photography, drawings and sculpture are included in this show.
Photo by William Christenberry
JAZZ IS AN American national treasure. Not just in my opinion, but in the opinion of Congress circa 1987. It was then that House Resolution 57 was passed to ensure that Americans will always be able to experience "the indigenous American art form" that is jazz.
The idea relies on Centers for the Preservation of Jazz and Blues, such as HR-57 on 14th St. This intimate club frequently has professionals perform, but also hosts jazz jam sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays each week. The drinks and food (southern comfort delights) are reasonably priced, the music is soothing and if you want to BYOB, you can, for a small corking fee. It's great for a group or a romantic, post-dinner drink.
» HR-57, 1610 14th St. NW; Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m.-midnight, $8; 202-667-3700.
Photo by J. Carrier for the Washington Post
THE WRANGLING WITH THE broker is over, the contracts are signed and the bank loan has finally gone through. Hurrah! You have your own rad pad. Now how to make it purdy? Lure some good buddies over for a painting party with the promise of food and camaraderie — and perhaps a promise of future household favors. But how does one throw a successful bash without making too much of a splash?
First off, Logan Hardware co-owner Gina Schaefer recommends assigning one guest per wall. "You don't want them running into each other," she says. "Also, people tend to get bored fairly quickly." Even if pals brag about their no-mess painting prowess, take the time to cover furniture with drop cloths, remove outlet covers and tape around windowsills and baseboards before they arrive. It's also worth springing for one roller and tray per person, says Schaefer — that way, there's less of a chance of stray paint drops hitting the floor.
Spring is ideal, as windows and doors can be left open for cross-ventilation, getting rid of fumes and speeding up drying. Start early enough in the day (noonish, perhaps) to let each coat dry before sunlight runs scarce. Since that can take one to two hours, take a lunch break and order pizza. "By the time everyone is done goofing off and cleaning up, it would be OK to start again." Save blasting Bon Jovi tunes and brew for later, though — if people aren't seasoned painters, loud music "might throw off their concentration." And while a cooler of Coors might be tempting, Schaefer learned the hard way when a friend had a few too many: "Our white blinds ended up with blue polka dots."
Photo by iStockphoto
THE CENTRAL UNION MISSION is facing a logistical quandary. Two years ago, the homeless shelter sold its building at 14th and R streets NW, pictured here, to condo developers and used the $7 million from the sale to purchase a four-story building on redeveloping Georgia Avenue where it would have enough space for 100 beds.
But residents in the Park View, Petworth, Pleasant Plains and Columbia Heights neighborhoods have vowed to stop the move, saying it isn't a good fit for their revitalizing community. While Central Union has not yet decided to turn its back on the Georgia Avenue space — a special zoning hearing has been postponed until fall — The Post's Paul Schwartzman reports that the mission is starting to work with D.C. officials to find a new space downtown, where there is the most need for such a facility. D.C. Council member Jim Graham, who opposes the Georgia Avenue location, tells The Post that there are several possible locations downtown for the shelter, but declined to name them.
The clock is ticking. Central Union has until October 2009 to vacate its 14th Street building.
» "Central Union Mission in Talks For New Site in Downtown D.C." [WaPo]
Photo by Linda Davidson/The Washington Post
WHILE THE BRICKSKELLER might claim to have the largest beer selection in all the land, a new restaurant venture slated for 14th Street NW near Logan Circle is angling to have the best slate of brews in the city.
In April, the yet-to-be-named sixth restaurant of the Northern Virginia-based Neighborhood Restaurant Group — which owns Tallula in Arlington's Lyon Park and Rustico in Alexandria — is scheduled to open its doors in the space formerly occupied by Dakota Cowgirl near Rhode Island Avenue, as The Post's Tom Sietsema reports.
Rustico's Frank Morales will helm the kitchen of the new restaurant, while his beer director, Greg Engert, plans to offer 500 labels, 100 styles and 50 draft beers there. Engert tells The Post: "It won't be a cattle call of beer." Translation: "No Miller Lite" and the like. One lambic beer will even be served from a champagne cart.
With the opening of the wine-centric Cork a few blocks to the north last week, that stretch of 14th Street is rapidly developing into a destination for drinks of all stripes.
» "Dish" [WaPo]
IF YOU MENTION the words "P Street" and "streetscape" near each other, you're likely to send business owners into shock, considering the hardships endured by those who lived through the construction between Dupont Circle and 22nd Street NW. With work to the west of Dupont Circle pretty much wrapped up, crews are turning their attention east to the stretch between Dupont Circle and Logan Circle.
But the bulk of the construction is scheduled to wrap up by the end of March, so the pain will be limited. According to the D.C. Department of Transportation, there will be repairs to damaged sidewalks, gutters and bus stop concrete pads, as well as upgrades to wheelchair ramps. The work, which starts Tuesday, will take place on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The roadway is set to be resurfaced later in the spring.
» "After a Year of Construction, P St. Looks Forward" [Free Ride/Express]
THE 14TH STREET NW CORRIDOR in the District has seen periods of decline and revitalization over the past few decades. Within the past few years, though, the trend has been toward new additions, including the introduction of a Whole Foods market, galleries and new retail.
Now, the District is taking a closer look at how part of the well-trafficked corridor pictured above, between Thomas Circle and Florida Avenue, can be further improved. Tonight, the D.C. Department of Transportation is holding a public meeting to solicit opinions about transportation and streetscape design along 14th Street — a stretch of road often identified as belonging to several neighborhoods, including Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, Shaw and U Street-Cardozo.
» Source Theatre, 1835 14th St. NW, 6-8 p.m.
THREE DISTRICT CHEFS have recently inherited head positions in new kitchens — new to them, anyway.
Michael Hartzer, 32, faces the task of stabilizing Viridian in Logan Circle after a series of chefs have come and gone. Thirty-year-old Daniel Bortnick confronts the challenge of carrying on in the wake of John Wabeck at Dupont Circle's Firefly. And just this past week, 23-year-old Ryan Wheeler, at left, took on the title of executive chef at the newly opened Mio after John Paul Damato's unexpected departure.
One of Hartzer's tasks is to carve a culinary identity for Viridian after a slew of chef changes. He says he's "creating my own style of food here," since owner Saied Azali has given him "complete and total creativity" with the menu. He also embraces simplicity, as illustrated in the menu's starters, "Sketches," "Elements" and "Major Works"— riffs on the building's other role as an art gallery. Look for spring and summer plates such as new beet panzanella, exotic mushroom with smoked paprika and manchego, and striped bass with celery puree, prosciutto and crab arabiata.
Like Hartzer, Bortnick has paid his dues in respected D.C. kitchens and learned from established chefs. So, when he took over the kitchen at Firefly, he knew that "gaining the confidence of the neighborhood would take a little while."
THE MAN WHO CALLS himself "Mingering Mike" remains a mystery.
The accidental artist started making his expansive collection of handmade cardboard soul records growing up as a District teen almost 40 years ago, then became slightly famous after his collection was found and circulated on the Internet. He has a new book and an art exhibit opening on Saturday — an odd blast of publicity for a man who won't share his real name or allow his picture to be taken.
In his 10 years as an imaginary soul singer, Mingering Mike created dozens of records with names like "The Two Sides of Mingering Mike," "Channels of a Dream" and "Sittin at Home With the Lowdown Blues." He produced a holiday album called "Just in Time for Easter" and an album honoring Bruce Lee called "A Tribute to Bruce." But his records weren't vinyl — they were made of cardboard, with one-of-a-kind painted artwork. So were the sleeves, which mingled the aesthetics of 1960s soul albums with personal messages from Mike like "Peace and power to all man kind and me too."
The records were part of a fully-fledged imaginary music scene, complete with labels called Fake Records, Minger Records and Nations Capitol. Mingering Mike performed with artists called The Big "D" and Joseph War — the alter egos of his cousins — and imaginary backing bands like the Monitors and the Mailavar Dancers.
And then D.C.-area vinyl junkie and criminal investigator Dori Hadar discovered Mike's artwork while digging through piles of records at a local flea market. "It didn't make any sense at all, but it was just so cool that I had to buy them," Hadar told Express. "I wanted them to be real." Hadar bought as many as he could for $2 apiece. He posted scans of the album covers on the Internet, where Mike's work became a phenomenon.
Although Mike never meant for his albums to become public, his work has inspired a new book ("Mingering Mike: The Amazing Career of an Imaginary Soul Superstar"; Princeton Architectural Press) and a deal with Vanguard Squad records to record and release some of Mingering Mike's original songs.
And on Saturday, Mingering Mike will face his hometown fans for the first time.
Continue Reading "Music Fantasy Turns Reality for 'Mingering Mike'" »
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WHEN TALKING SUSHI in D.C., Sushi Ko in Glover Park is always highly rated. During today's Ask Tom chat, The Post's Tom Sietsema confirms the news of the sushi restaurant's expansion to another Wisconsin Avenue location in Chevy Chase. Says Tom:
The new place is expected to weigh in the same menu but more room, about 150 seats plus a bar. Better yet for sushi fanciers, both lunch and dinner will be offered seven days a week.Construction is still underway with an August target opening currently planned. [Ask Tom/WaPo]
» N.Y. STYLE PIZZA IN ARLINGTON: Blogging while eating pizza might smudge your keyboard with grease, but along Crystal City's boardwalk-like 23rd Street South, you can stay connected and get your fill of Arlington's newest pizza joint. In The Post, Nancy Lewis examines Cafe Pizzaiolo, where pizzas "are baked on clay tiles in a gas oven. Though this method doesn't give the smoky taste of a wood-fired oven, it produces the bubbly, slightly charred, thin crust that many know as New York-style pizza." [WaPo]
» SAYETH THE FOODIES: Whole Foods locations in Glover Park and Tenleytown have been renovated in recent months, but the P Street NW location near Logan Circle seems to have some problems. From the eGullet food forum:
A couple of months ago, they started adding what I suppose is cheese to the grits in the breakfast bar — variety however is unknown. It imparts no cheese taste — in fact, it makes it taste starchy — and is a neon orange color other that is decidedly not cheddar. (Not to mention that it's usually too soupy).Hmmm ... [eGullet]
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