THE LIFE-SIZE CLAY FIGURES are an imposing lot, with intricate armor and solemn faces to indicate their task of accompanying China's first emperor, Qin Shihuangdi, into the afterlife. The soldiers, archers, musicians and generals now stand in the National Geographic Museum in "Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor," which runs through March.
The figures, made nearly 2,000 years ago, were discovered in huge underground pits outside the city of Xi'an in 1974. Shihuangdi's tomb complex was massive, taking 36 years to make, and it's estimated that there are 2,000 soldiers and hundreds of chariots and horses in the pits. The exhibit includes 15 warriors, weapons, armor and coins, among other objects, excavated from the tomb complex.
D.C. is the fourth and final U.S. city to host the "Terra Cotta Warriors" exhibit, and they have also been on display at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, Calif.; Atlanta's High Museum of Art; and the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
Continue Reading "Tough Crowd: China's Terra Cotta Warriors at the National Geographic Museum" »
ONGOING: The Chinese emperor Qin Shihuangdi had thousands of life-sized clay figures sculpted to accompany him to the grave — archers, acrobats, you name it.
The rock stars of his tomb, though, are the warriors, and you can see 15 of them in the exhibit "Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China's First Emperor," which opened Thursday.
» National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. NW; through March 31, $12, children $6; 202-857-7700, Nationalgeographic.com. (Farragut North)
Photo by Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post
ATTRACTING AWARDS like a magnet lures iron filings, Virginia Galloway's "The Music Lesson" screens as part of National Geographic Live on Friday.
The documentary trails 10 classically trained music students from Boston as they travel to Laikipia, Kenya, for a musical, social and cultural exchange none of the participants will ever forget.
Galloway herself will be on hand after the screening to answer questions about this moving and enlightening film and the kids whose newly opened minds starred in it.
» National Geographic Museum, Grosvenor Auditorium, Fri., 7 p.m., $10 non-members, $8, members; 202-867-7700, nglive.org. (Farragut North/Farragut West)
Photo by Virginia Galloway
THURSDAY: While every other comic in the English-speaking universe is yukking it up at the Bentzen Ball this weekend (see our story), Bill Burr will be garnering laughs in an intimate setting.
He's at the Improv through Saturday (there are still tickets for the Thursday late show) hawking his signature rants, the funniest of which have plenty to say about race and women. If you want to buck the crowd, this is the show to see.
Check out our article on the Bentzen Ball here.
» D.C. Improv, 1140 Connecticut Ave NW; Thu., Oct. 22, 10:30 p.m., $25; 202-296-7008. (Farragut North)
WHY MESS WITH EXTRA INGREDIENTS — and calories — when you can enjoy flavorful fish that's been minimally seasoned and simply grilled? That's the ethos of Greek restaurant Kellari Taverna, which opened last weekend.
At Kellari (1700 K St. NW; 202-535-5274), diners choose their meal from a display of a dozen or more fish. The selection varies, depending on what's freshest, but Kellari's corporate chef and partner Gregory Zapantis promises there'll be a range of species imported from the Mediterranean (and many that are hard to find in the area, such as lavraki and tsipoura), and items from local fishmongers. Chefs add small amounts of sea salt, oregano, lemon juice and extra-virgin olive oil to the fish, and then it's grilled.
"The health benefits of this type of cooking are tremendous," says Zapantis, who notes that butter is never used at the restaurant. "The quality of the fish is so high, and every type of fish has its own characteristics and flavors that I wouldn't want to cover that."
So, if you're looking for license to chow down on Grecian grilled fish, eat your heart out.
» Recipe File: Mediterranean Grilled Fagri
Photo courtesy Melissa O'Neal
DURING THE SEVENTH season of "American Idol," Brooke White made a big impression by performing barefoot and admitting she'd never seen an R-rated movie. Her debut CD, "High Hopes & Heartbreak," expands on that down-to-earth character by delivering a bouquet of earnest acoustic pop tunes about life's little ups and downs. But the Arizona native's persona wasn't just an invention for TV's sake.
"Quite honestly, the transition off of 'Idol' is kind of traumatic in a way," said White. "It just changes your whole life, and not to be cliché, but you're never the same again."
Continue Reading "Tween Girls Get an 'Idol': Brooke White" »
CHRISTIAN SIRIANO MAY think that you're a hot mess. But with his new book, "Fierce Style: How to Be Your Most Fabulous Self," he's trying his best to lift you out of the trenches of the badly dressed. Siriano won "Project Runway's" fourth season, and since then, it seems like everything has been going the Maryland native's way. From a shoe and accessory line with Payless Shoe Source to a makeup collection with Victoria's Secret to his clothes' being picked up by Saks Fifth Avenue, Siriano's brand is popping up everywhere a discerning fashionista — or recessionista — could look.
Before he stops by the L Street Borders (technically K Street) Saturday, Siriano chatted about his career and what every woman should stock in her wardrobe.
» EXPRESS: Did you ever think your career would branch out in so many different directions?
» SIRIANO: No, it's been amazing. I've been very busy, but … [the] experience is a dream. I really do feel like I'm living a dream every moment.
Continue Reading "Bringing the Fierce to D.C.: Christian Siriano" »
THIS WEEKEND: Celebrate the end of warm weather for the region by taking in "Polar Obsession," a show of photographs at the National Geographic Museum that depict conditions much more dire than the Metro at rush hour. Paul Nicklen's intrepid snapshots go underwater and into the clouds, across ice through frozen tundra to show us the state of wildlife in the Arctic and Antarctica.
» National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th St. NW; through Feb. 15, Nicklen delivers a lecture on Nov. 11; 202-7588. (Farragut North)
Written by Express' Arion Berger and Nathan Martin
Photo courtesy National Geographic
MONDAY: Like to have a drink with lunch on a particularly hectic workday? Well, hold on to your liver: next week, Smith and Wollensky will hold its 45th National Wine Week here in D.C. We like round numbers, especially this one: 10 wines for $10 with lunch. Good luck working after that.
» Smith and Wollensky, 1112 19th St. NW; Mon., Sept. 21 - Fri., Sept. 25, 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., 10 wines for $10 (with lunch); 202-466-1100. (Farragut North)
Photo by Dana Smith/For The Washington Post
WEDNESDAY: To keep you occupied until the terra cotta warriors show up later this fall, National Geographic is doing a two-part series on the intersection of writing and travel, beginning this week with author Amy Tan ("The Joy Luck Club," "The Bonesetter's Daughter").
Tan, born to Chinese immigrants, has written several novels and adapted them for film and opera. She will chat with Traveler editor Don George at Nat Geo Live about growing up enmeshed in Chinese and American cultures and her favorite global travel destinations.
Be sure and show up early: a reception featuring international beers starts at 6:30 p.m.
» National Geographic Live!, 1600 M Street, NW; Wed., Sept. 23, 7:30 p.m., $20-$25; 202-857-7700. (Farragut North)
Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images
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