Sue Conley, co-founder of Cowgirl Creamery
@ National Harbor
Q:What's your favorite food TV show or host?
A:"John Shields of 'Chesapeake Cooking.' He was a deep appreciation for local foods."
TUESDAY: Like Coldplay but couldn't get tickets? Try Keane. They work the same side of the street with their heartfelt rock and emo-indie vibe, but they're less overexposed so you can still feel cool for liking them.
Oh, and tickets are a lot cheaper. Not to say they're bad Coldplay clones — in fact, Keane's songs are well-written and often improve on their schmaltzy rock model.
» Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW; Tue., May 19, 6:30 p.m., $45; 202-397-7328. (Farragut West)
Photo by Joe McGorty
MONDAY: Art Spiegelman brought the comic book to maturity with his stunning, upsetting "Maus," which won him the Pulitzer Prize. He's gone on to pen funny, strange, fearless comics about his own childhood and 9/11, among other things.
He'll be speaking about the history and importance of comics — we predict he'll name check Pogo, Krazy Kat and Calvin and Hobbes — at the Corcoran tonight.
READ AN INTERVIEW with Art Spiegelman here.
» Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th Street NW; Mon., May 4, 7 p.m., $25; 202-639-1700. (Farragut West)
Photo by Helayne Seidman/The Washington Post
"I WANT A paternity test," declares the father of the graphic novel, Art Spiegelman. It turns out that the artist, writer and editor — world famous for (take your pick) creating the Garbage Pail Kids, drawing a series of arresting New Yorker covers, writing the Holocaust allegory "Maus," etc. — is highly critical of the form he is said to have created.
"When I come to the Corcoran [on May 4], I don't know what the lecture's being called, but in my head, it's called, "What the %@&*! Happened to Comic Books?"
"And what happened to them," Spiegelman continued, "was an escalating set of ambitions on the part of comix artists — and that I very much identify with — and some very good marketing. That baffles me, because merely by changing the name, one was able to get a situation where I can sit on an airplane, read a comic book and somebody will come over and say, 'Is that graphic novel any good?' And I'll say, 'Who's the dope in aisle C?'"
Spiegelman, editor of a long series of magazines and children's anthologies, is an unabashed advocate for the comic book form, whether in its most traditional sense or in its most fiendishly bizarre extremes. Characteristically outspoken, witty and insightful, Spiegelman is — with wife Francoise Mouly, the New Yorker's longtime art editor — part of one of America's great power couples. They have shared credit on many of Spiegelman's most prominent projects and are currently putting the finishing touches on another edition of "The TOON Treasury of Classic Children's Comics."
FRIDAY: The commanding and internationally renowned tenor Placido Domingo steps away from the opera and stops in at Constitution Hall for a one-night-only performance of "Placido Domingo: From My Latin Soul." Domingo will perform alongside special guests from the D.C. area for this Latin-themed musical event.
» DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW; Fri., May 1, 8 p.m., $45-$200; 202-295-2400. (Farragut West)
Written by Express' Eric Anderson
MONDAY: If you don't know who these guys are, you haven't been watching "Flight of the Conchords." And in that case, we're going to take a moment of silence to feel sorry for you.
But then we'll shake you by the shoulders and tell you to go see Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement — the New Zealand comedy duo whose songs prove that every joke is twice as funny when it's sung in a kiwi accent.
» Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW; Mon., April 13, 7:30 p.m., $38.50; 202-397-7328. (Farragut West)
Photo by Nicole Rivelli
MONDAY: A group of young artists takes the broadest of concepts — space — and delivers a series of smart, witty pieces.
"Space, Unlimited" indeed does not limit itself in any way — these works use everything from clothing to video as a conduit for their messages.
If you're disappointed that something called "Space, Unlimited" isn't actually about rockets and aliens — well, so were we, until we realized that great art by young minds is even better than that.
» Art Museum of the Americas, 201 18th St. NW; through April 12, free; 202-458-6016. (Farragut West)
Photo courtesy Douz and Mille
WEDNESDAY: Can a band really be called "indie" if they are not only on a major record label but, have three Billboard Top 100 albums, Grammy nominations and a gold record? It's debatable. But Death Cab for Cutie is often credited with taking indie music from the underground to the mainstream.
Musical mastermind Benjamin Gibbard's swooning voice mixed with intelligently written, somber songs creates a blend of musical resonance that has defined their genre and given the small Washington state quartet immense fame. Juxtaposing toned-down instrumentation with deeply emotional, metaphoric lyrics is the band's specialty and — love it or hate it — there's no denying that Death Cab for Cutie is a rock-solid indie(ish) band.
» DAR Constitution Hall, 1776 D St NW; Wed., April 8, 7 p.m., $39; 202-628-4780. (Farragut West)
Written by Express' Brian Austin
Photo courtesy Atlantic Records
SUNDAY: If you sobbed when Jennifer Hudson was voted off of American Idol and then again when she zoomed to fame and Oscar-winning glory, we wouldn't be surprised if you avidly listen to her self-titled album, "Jennifer Hudson," and can hit all of the notes in her single, "Spotlight."
Obssessed yet? Combine Hudson with soul singer/heartthrob Robin Thicke, and get ready for a sultry, unforgettable concert featuring a blend of soul and R&B.
So pull out your American Idol gear and maybe even a custom-made "Mrs. Thicke" t-shirt — it's okay to dream! — as Thicke and Hudson make their way to the district.
» Constitution Hall, 1776 D St. NW, Sun., April 5, 7:30 p.m., $64-$74; 202-397-7328. (Farragut West/Farragut North)
Written by Express' Tahirah Hairston
Photo courtesy Getty Images for the NAACP
WHAT DID YOU do do on your last vacation? At 33 years old, Tom Avery, who trained as an accountant, has trekked the North and South poles on foot, climbed innumerable mountains, got his name into the Guinness Book of World Records and met the queen of England. He's also written a book, "To the End of the Earth," detailing his team's attempt to conquer the North Pole using the same dogs, sleds and specifications used in U.S. Naval Cmdr. Robert Peary and explorer Matthew Henson's 1909 climb, more for Peary's glory than his own. Avery discusses his journey at the National Geographic Society on Friday, and on Monday, the 100th anniversary of Peary and Henson's trek, he will head up a commemorative ceremony for the explorers at their Arlington National Cemetery grave sites.
» EXPRESS: Where does this passion for climbing come from?
» AVERY: I don't know. I mean, for me, it really began when I first read about these great characters from the past, these amazing exploreres in history. I guess I was captivated by their stories, and I wanted to experince a bit of what they had.
» EXPRESS: You couldn't just read about it?
» AVERY: It's a combination of that and my passion for snow. Ever since I was a child, I've been infatuated by snow, and I still am. It's quite sad, really. ... I guess I was an adventurous child who liked climbing up bookshelves and trees.
Continue Reading "To the North Pole And Back: Explorer Tom Avery" »
SPRING IS HERE, which means the cherry blossoms will follow. And with the cherry blossoms come cherry blossom-themed food and drink.
Equinox restaurant begins its Cherry Up! Happy Hour this weekend, and it will continue every Friday from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. until June 5. We're a little skeptical of anything claiming to be a happy hour when the drinks cost $10 each, but the cherry-themed cocktails look delicious.
The Cherry Rum & Cola just adds maraschino cherries to a classic, but the Cherry Pie's blend of vanilla vodka, white chocolate liqueur and maraschino cherry juice sounds exciting. Another flowery offering, the Cherry Sphere, is a vodka, vermouth and cherry concoction. But the real draw for starving young professionals will be the free food — spring rolls, chocolate and tempura — that Equinox promises to happy hour patrons.
» Equinox, 818 Connecticut Ave. NW; 202-331-8118.
Photo by Joe Elbert
Addison Road