Katie Tobin
@ Tattoo
Q:How do you keep your life clean?
A:"I don't own any cars and I do almost all my shopping from farmers markets."
MONDAY: The National Theatre provides a cool breeze in the middle of sweltering heat with its free, six-part summer cinema series honoring Elizabeth Taylor. The films in "Who's Afraid of Elizabeth Taylor?" include 1958's "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," above, screen on Monday nights.
» National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW; through Aug. 8, 6:30 p.m., free; 202-783-6854.
Photo courtesy The Washington Post Archives
Bargain Redemption
An edgy stop-motion animated feature that explores the meaning of life is not kiddie fare, unless your toddler has been asking what it's all for. "$9.99" takes audiences on a wild ride with a 28-year-old slacker who finds an ad that promises a booklet that will explain his reason for being. The cost? $9.99. The angel that comes with it? Priceless.
» E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW: opens Fri., June 26, 202-452-7672, (Metro Center)
Hold the Martini
The International Spy Museum screens the film debut of the popular kids' book series "Stormbreaker" as part of its KidSpy program on Thursday. The film follows Alex Ryder from prep-school lad to super-spy when his uncle disappears. The $7 ticket price includes a debriefing from a former spy.
» International Spy Museum, 800 F St. NW; Thu., June 25, 1-3 p.m., $7; 202-393-7798. (Gallery Place-Chinatown)
Continue Reading "Indies & Arties: Meaning of Life Comes at a Price" »
IF YOU HAVE ever visited the Regatta Bar at the
Washington Marriott at Metro Center, you'll see right away that Fire and Sage, which opened in the space in March after an extensive renovation, is a big step up. The airy space features an open kitchen and tall tables along the left wall.
The menu is new, too. One of the signature dishes, a short rib ciabatta sandwich topped with sweet caramelized onions and Muenster cheese, requires a knife and fork to eat. Besides sandwiches, there are several flatbreads like the calabrese, topped with calabrese sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, arugula and buffalo mozzarella, and entrees such as jumbo lump crab cakes and tea-smoked halibut.
Of the soups, the three-onion soup gratin is topped with Gruyère and Parmesan, with croutons and a generous amount of onions floating under the surface. Appetizers range from a crab and artichoke dip to sliders, while the fries, which are served with roasted garlic aioli, sparkle with flakes of sea salt. The side of homemade macaroni and cheese is dotted with red peppers and topped with bread crumbs.
Leaving It Behind
When cellist Daigo Kobiyashi (Masahiro Motoki) loses his job with an orchestra, he is frustrated at loose ends. So he moves back to his hometown and takes a job, unwittingly, as a "nokanshi," one who prepares the dead for their journey to whatever is next. "Departures," last year's surprise Oscar winner for best foreign film, tracks Daigo's own journey into finding peace and compassion in his death-drenched job and whole new life.
» E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW; opens Fri., June 19; 202-452-7672. (Metro Center)
THE RAIN HAS struck again, and it doesn't feel much like summer at the moment. Nonetheless, Fox Searchlight is promoting their new movie, "(500) Days of Summer," with free ice cream. And we can't say no to that.
The first 500 people who show up to each Gifford's location on Sunday, June 21, will get a free sundae and an unspecified piece of movie swag. The promotion starts at noon, so get there early.
» Gifford's Ice Cream, 555 11th St. NW; 202-347-7755. (Metro Center)
» Gifford's Ice Cream, 7237 Woodmont Ave., Bethesda; 301-907-3436. (Bethesda)
» Gifford's Ice Cream, 21 Wisconsin Circle, Chevy Chase; 301-652-8965.
» Gifford's Ice Cream, University Town Center, 6504 America Blvd., Suite 101, Hyattsville; 301-403-8890.
GABRIEL IGLESIAS IS like a human cartoon. He switches among characters he's met at a breakneck speed — anyone from racist Southern cops, mean Irish bartenders, his lively Mexican-American friends and family, California Valley Girls near his hometown of Long Beach, and suave D.C. tour guides. He also sports loud Hawaiian shirts and even has nicknames like Picachu and Fluffy. Oh, and he's easily excitable, letting out his trademark high-pitched squeal at the sight of a dozen Krispy Kremes, and sensually discusses chocolate cake over the phone with his girl (disturbingly similar to phone sex).
The 2006 Comedy Central comedian of the year has made the late-night television circuit (appearances on "The Tonight Show," "The Late Late Show" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live"), was infamously booted off NBC's "Last Comic Standing" that year (he jokes, "I was the first Mexican deported on national TV"), and his one-hour special "2 Hot 2 Fluffy," debuts on Comedy Central in October.
» EXPRESS: Why "fluffy"?
» IGLESIAS: My mom called me that; sure beats the hell out of "fat." I then created the five levels of fatness and I've adapted that for my online clothing store for plus-sized people [fluffyshop.com]. There, you can get the big, the "healthy," the "husky," the "fluffy" and the "Damn!" I've recently added a sixth level called the "Oh, hell, no!" [size 6XL]. I've lost a few pounds, so I'm between a husky and a fluffy.
Continue Reading "Human Cartoon: Comedian Gabriel Iglesias" »
MONDAY: "Food, Inc." is the latest documentary about the food industry to immediately cause 80 percent of its viewers to become vegetarians for a few weeks, until they drunkenly succumb to Ben's Chili Bowl. It opens June 19, but you can catch a free screening of it tonight if you RSVP. Afterward, there will be a discussion with food writer Michael Pollan (pictured) and filmmaker Robert Kenner.
» E Street Cinema, 555 11th St. NW; Mon., June 8, 6 p.m., free; RSVPFoodInc@yahoo.com. (Metro Center)
Photo by Craig Herndon
TWENTY YEARS after they met and first played together in the London experimental group Automatic Dlamini, Polly Jean Harvey and John Parish's friendship has blossomed into a lifelong musical partnership. Parish, a producer and composer who has worked with Sparklehorse and Eels, has produced or co-produced most of Harvey's albums, starting with her 1995 neo-blues breakthrough, "To Bring You My Love."
"We've always found it really enjoyable working together," says Parish. "We've been able to push each other along and stretch each other a little further than we might be able to manage individually."
In 1996, they collaborated as co-authors of the album "Dance Hall at Louse Point," with Parish writing music and Harvey contributing vocals and lyrics. Thirteen years later, the pair have released a follow-up, "A Woman a Man Walked By."
It's an ambitious and confident album that alternates between abrasive guitar-driven numbers and softer, fragile performances. "We were very careful to make sure the record was dynamically extreme," Parish says. "Each song had to complement the next one and not distract from it, so that it would work as a whole."
The results occasionally surprised them, especially on the visceral title track, which features Harvey delivering an unhinged, obscenity-laden spoken performance that matches the ferocity of Parish's music. "I had no idea what she was going to write," he admits, "and she sent me back this amazing lyrical performance."
» EXPRESS: How does this collaboration work?
» PARISH: The music does come first. I'm writing all the time, so, occasionally I'll be messing on a piece and it'll suddenly occur to me that this would be a good one for Polly to sing on. So I'll put it aside and wait until there's actually an opportunity, and if it still sounds good to me, I'll develop it further before sending it to Polly. By the time she hears things, they're pretty finished recordings, fairly comprehensively arranged and performed.
Continue Reading "A Man and A Woman: PJ Harvey and John Parish" »
BEER MEETS COCOA
Taste for a good cause
Please your taste buds and your inner humanitarian at Brasserie Beck. The restaurant offers a dining experience that pairs Belgian beer and fare with selections from Divine Chocolate while educating guests about fair trade practices.
» 1101 K St. NW; Tue., June 2, 7 p.m., $85; 202-408-1717. (Metro Center)
WINE-SCHOOLED
Learn, drink, feast
Fine-tune your wine knowledge when Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro unites with Patton Valley Vineyards for a heavenly four-course meal with wine pairings. Learn how each wine enhances the savory flavors of the various dishes.
» 11750 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston; Thu., June 4, 6:30 p.m., $85; 703-234-3550.
Continue Reading "Bottoms Up: Belgian Brew, Chardonnay and Earl Gray" »
THIS WEEK: You were a huge fan of "RENT," we know, until you saw that crappy touring production, or that crappy movie or maybe just until you graduated from high school.
This rock-opera update of "La Boheme" follows several self-absorbed characters through the ups and downs of drug abuse, love and AIDS in '90s Manhattan. What's different? This production stars original cast hotties Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp. That noise you just heard was a million fangirls screaming.
» Warner Theatre, 513 13th St. NW; Tue., May 26-Fri., May 29, 8 p.m.; Sat., May 30, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sun., May 31, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., $40-$80; 202-783-4000. (Metro Center)
Written by Express' Nicole Ocran
Photo by Joan Marcus/Carol Rosegg
Addison Road