ONGOING: What better time than Halloween weekend to sink your teeth into Synetic Theater's dark, sexy and dramatic "Dracula"? The local company uses its signature blend of theater and dance to tell Bram Stoker's eternally resonant story of the bloodsucking count, his adversaries and his victims.
» Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre, 1611 Kent St., Arlington; through Nov. 15, $40-$45; 800-494-8497, Rosslynva.org.
Photo courtesy Graeme B. Shaw
SATURDAY: Feel like classing up your Halloween this year? Look no further than Synetic Theater's Vampire's Ball in Arlington.
Following a performance of "Dracula," this theater is throwing a gala at the Rosslyn Spectrum Theater which will feature a vampire-inspired fashion show, drinks and a DJ set by resident composer Konstantine Lortkipanidze.
Prizes will be given out for the most macabre and daring costumes, so bring your A-game.
» Rosslyn Spectrum Theater, 1611 N. Kent St., Arlington; Sat., Oct. 31, "Dracula" at 8 p.m., Vampire's Ball follows; $75; 800-494-8497. (Rosslyn)
Written by Express' Sarah Mimms
Photo courtesy Graeme B. Shaw
THIS WEEKEND: Synetic Theater is drawn to the darker edges of literature and stage for its striking dance-theater adaptations, but this season, the troupe tries something on the lighter side. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is the latest in Synetic's series of wordless Shakespeare productions, and we're certain its lovers, fairies and fools need no amplification.
» Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre, 1611 N. Kent St., Arlington; 703-824-8060.
Written by Express' Arion Berger and Nathan Martin
Photo by Raymond L. Gniewek
YES, YES; a certain Oscar-winning actress who tends to play royalty will grace D.C. stages this fall, but only for a limited time — if you don't have a ticket, best of luck. Local theaters are putting on a bevy of works classic and modern, musical and, uh, music-less — from girls playing Shakespeare to guys being replaced by machines.
Continue Reading "All the World's a Stage: Theater Events" »
FRIDAY: Watching "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" evokes a particularly acute pang of nostalgia. Not just for big-shouldered jackets and pleated jeans, but for that blissful feeling of freedom, indulging in rampant naughtiness amid a sea of responsibility.
The back-to-school bell tolls for thee, so catch the late John Hughes' ebullient hit before hitting the books.
» Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival, Gateway Park, 1300 Lee Highway, Arlington; Fri., Sept. 4, dusk, free; 703-522-6628. (Rosslyn)
Photo courtesy Paramount Home Entertainment
SATURDAY: Saturday, at 9:32 a.m., Dark Star Park's physical elements create a shadow alignment. How does this mysterious event happen? Heck, ask the sculptor when Nancy Holt and others gather for the food, music and performance at the Dark Star Park Day Festival.
» 1655 Fort Myer Drive, Rosslyn; begins Fri., July 31, with dusk screening of "E.T.," through Sat., Aug. 1, free; rosslynva.org.
Written by Express' Rue Khalsa
Photo by Erik Battle
IF YOU BUILD IT, they will bike it — or walk it or jog it. Trailblazers are always hungry for a new route, and they got a beaut in the new 1.1-mile stretch alongside the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, which connects Old Town Alexandria to the National Harbor development in Prince George's County. Here's our spin on the trip:
» Getting There
The Virginia side is a cinch to access from the Mount Vernon Trail. Just head south from Rosslyn. When you arrive in Old Town, follow the bicycle signage along North Washington Street that leads you to a half-mile path that winds to the mouth of the bridge. (Currently, no trails connect to the Maryland side.)
» The Ride
Whether you're on foot or wheels, don't rush the trip. As you're headed into Maryland on the wide lanes (enough room for riders to zoom two abreast), a mesh-style wall lets you scoff at cars on your right, and a chest-high railing at your left makes it safe to gaze at the Potomac without toppling into it. Three overlook locations offer resting spots for an extended gander. Bonus: Free telescopes let you spy on passing boats.
As you reach your destination, the packed gravel morphs into seashell bits, and a sign directs riders to dismount and pull over at two large temporary bike racks. Then you're free to show off your glorious helmet hair.
Continue Reading "Be a Bridge Commander: The New Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail" »
IT'S BEEN 24 HOURS since Remy Munasifi uploaded his latest video on YouTube. And if you've got a Twitter feed or a Facebook page or a Gmail account, you've probably already seen it: It's a rap lauding the 28-year-old's Starbucks-laden, Whole Foods-hoppin' 'hood: Arlington, Virginia.
"Arlington: The Rap," which sings the praises of Crate & Barrel and notes the ubiquity of brown flip-flops, has jumped from 300 to 30,000 YouTube views in less than a day. We caught up with Munasifi to quiz him on his, uh, Clarendon street cred.
» EXPRESS: What makes Arlington so hardcore?
» MUNASIFI: It's populated by straight-up thugs. Really, seersucker is a fabric, but it's really a fabric that holds the town together. I was on the Metro and I saw a guy with brown flip-flops and seersucker shorts and I said, 'Yes! This is a video that needs to be made.'
It's a unique place — that's why I moved here. I like it a lot. There are a lot of individuals, unique personalities, creative people. It's kinda artsy. Everybody's real nice, too. It's not something that happens completely up and down the East Coast.
» EXPRESS: The video has gotten a lot of traffic in just 24 hours. Has response been crazy?
» MUNASIFI: That's cool. Now I'm just worried that folks are going to get sick of it; it's only been a day. I'm just happy that folks liked it. I put other videos out there — about something general. But this [song] was about a two-mile radius, so I didn't think it was really going to do [well].
» EXPRESS: Where did the idea come from?
» MUNASIFI: I live in Clarendon now, just a couple blocks from the Metro. I just moved here a few weeks ago and I thought that would be kinda cool to introduce everybody to my new 'hood. I really like Clarendon; I didn't land here by accident. It was like a celebration. I got a couple e-mails yesterday that folks liked it, and I was content with that. So far today it's been more of the same.
NOW THAT THE decade has been deemed nostalgia, '80s film festivals are catching on. AFI has one coming later this summer, but in the meantime, enjoy the I (Heart) the '80s Rosslyn Outdoor Film Festival every Friday at dusk through Labor Day. (Leg warmers not required, unless there's a cold snap.)
This is a public space, so expect teen comedies such as "Meatballs" (Aug. 28) and blockbusters like "Footloose" (June 26).
Aside from their popcorn value (it's BYOP), it's possible to enjoy these films as cultural touchstones, particularly now that the John Hughes/Gen-X crowd is approaching middle age. Instead of goodbye, "Big Chill," hello, "Breakfast Club" (June 12) it's goodbye, "Sixteen Candles" (May 22), hello, "Superbad."
Continue Reading "A Time to Remember: '80s Outdoor Film Fest" »
FRIDAY: It's summer, which always makes people want to go outside and play. We've got you covered with an outdoor return to childhood that won't make you sore the next day. Rosslyn's Gateway Park is showing some of the 1980s' best movies (and we're not talking about "Sophie's Choice" here) every Friday night all summer.
This week, you can watch Keanu Reeves before he was a star — well, before he was Neo — in "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure." If you've seen it, you know why it's awesome. If you've never had the chance, we won't waste your time discussing plot details. Just go see it, mind unfettered, and take in the brilliance of two young men and their never-ending excellence. Bonus: the late, great George Carlin is in it too.
» Gateway Park, 1300 Lee Hwy., Arlington; Fri., May 8, dusk, free; 703-247-9290. (Rosslyn)
Photo courtesy MGM
Addison Road