MONDAY: How does a record label grow huge and stay hip? Mac McCaughan answers that question in the book "Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records, the Indie Label that Got Big and Stayed Small."
McCaughan will visit Crooked Beat Records on Monday to read from the book and perform some songs from bands mentioned in it.
» Crooked Beat Records, 2318 18th St. NW; Mon., Oct. 5, 6 p.m., free; 202-483-2328. (Woodley Park)
Photos courtesy Merge Records
SATURDAY: This year's Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair presented by the Washington City Paper promises to be an impressive celebration of handmade crafts, with food, entertainment and prizes thrown into the mix.
All vendors are handpicked by a jury to keep mass-produced or imported goods far away from items like plush cupcakes, wooly baby slippers and books made out of LEGO pieces. Many vendors will be selling environmentally responsible crafts such as necklaces made out of old zippers and fawn rings made out of recycled metals.
More than 300 vendors didn't make the cut for a booth, which should make gawking at the ones that did quite an outing. All you have to do is try to stop yourself from spending too much money.
» Marie Reed Recreation Center, 2200 Champlain St. NW; Sat., Oct. 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., free; 202-332-2100. (Woodley Park)
Written by Express' Janice Leary
Photo courtesy Heidi Kenney/My Paper Crane
GETTING INJURED wasn't part of Adam Berg's weight training plan. But busting his knee in a boating accident turned out to be not such a bad move for the personal trainer at Mint Fitness (1724 California St. NW; 202-328- 6468). That's because in rehab three years ago, he met Bodyblade.
The device looks like a giant slap bracelet with a grip in the middle that you hold so you can get the sides to flap. Even inventor Bruce Hymanson, the physical therapist who developed it nearly 20 years ago to work with patients, admits it can appear underwhelming. "I embrace that first response of, 'Come on, you're telling me this stick is going to do something?' All it takes is to try it," he says.
To hold on while propelling the ends of the blade to bounce regularly is much more difficult than it looks, because whatever force you create, you must also control. "It turns your body into an exercise machine that's trying to push you down and rotate you. The mass of your body becomes the challenge," explains Hymanson, who boasts that users experience 270 muscle contractions per minute. The other challenge is it demands every muscle get in on the action. If some are being lazy, the blade won't oscillate properly, so perfecting form trains greater activation. As Hymanson says, "It's like an orchestra learning to play together."
Continue Reading "Shake Up Your Routine: The Bodyblade Strengthens All of Your Muscles" »
IN THE MIDST of Adams Morgan, Mt. Pleasant and Columbia Heights, a new taco shop opened in July. But does an area already packed with nachos, fajitas and pupusas really need Pica Taco? The answer is found in the tender chicken torta and the wallet-pleasing prices.
"Pica" is owner Maria Villalta's slang for the Spanish word "picante," which means hot. Pica Taco is tiny, with just a few tables inside and outside. The menu is equally limited in size, although it's still difficult to chose among the tacos ($2.25), served open-face with sliced radishes; burritos ($4.95-$6.50) stuffed with a choice of braised beef, chicken pastor (pig) and beans; or enchiladas ($7.50), sitting next to a side of rice and beans.
For a non-tortilla experience, try Mexico's equivalent of a sandwich, the torta. Imagine all of your favorite burrito fillings — fried pinto beans, ranchero-sauced chicken, sliced avocado and queso fresco — spread in between a white sub roll.
HARD TRAINING CLUB (1726 Kalorama Road NW; 202-234-4273; Hardtrainingclub.com) isn't like other gyms. Instead of boasting about fancy name-brand equipment, founder Mark Schuler brags he has "a guy" who hand-welded the machines himself. Rather than tout a state-of-the-art entertainment system, Schuler stiffens up with pride when he declares, "We don't have any TVs." There are also no locker rooms, no group fitness studios and no membership staff.
So, what does it have "A family" says Schuler, who believes the fitness industry has taken a wrong turn in the past few years as health clubs have become more about pampering than pumping. With this small, two-story, "no frills" facility in Adams Morgan, he hopes to get back to the old days of weight training. The sort of amenities you can expect here are homemade medicine balls (made out of a basketball, sand, liquid nails and duct tape) and barbells. There's a rope to climb and a tire to hit with a sledgehammer. "You can bang stuff as much as you want. We're open-minded," Schuler says.
Continue Reading "The Hard Way to Get in Shape: Hard Training Club" »
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: This weekend marks the 18th anniversary of Asylum's opening, so of COURSE it's the place to be.
On Friday night, get there between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. for 18-cent beers — yes. Between 10 p.m. and midnight, you'll pay $1.80 per beer, which is still hilariously cheap. The music will be metal, of course. It's Asylum.
If you can't make it on Friday, relax there later this weekend with the ongoing John Hughes tribute screenings. This weekend will boast showings of "Sixteen Candles" (pictured) and "The Breakfast Club," starting at 4 p.m. — and all movies are free.
» Asylum, 2471 18th St. NW; various times, free; 202-319-9353. (Woodley Park)
Photo courtesy 1991 Universal City
YOU MAY NOT be able to swing a $5 foot-long in the Dupont Circle and Adams Morgan areas without hitting a lunch spot, but what happens when you take Chipotle, Subway out of the picture? The dining results might not always be safe and predictable cuisine, but take away the big chain restaurants and you can still find a week's worth of exciting and rewarding lunches. Even if Michael Phelps doesn't eat there.
» Day One: Meskerem
Even in a neighborhood full of Ethiopian food, Meskerem stands out, making it a logical choice for dinner out on the town. But at lunchtime, when the crowds tend to stay small, it's a mini-vacation from the office. With a relaxing, brightly painted interior and the option to sit around small tables, there are few better places to share platters of the beef Kay Watt or the vegetarian Yimisir Watt with companions. The lack of silverware — dining is a hands-on experience — only enhances its ability to serve as a break from the workday.
"Our lunch menu is pretty much the same as our dinner menu, although we might have some special lunch items in the future," said co-owner Nafisa Said.
They needn't bother — what's on the menu already combines the satisfying with the slightly exotic, and mostly stays in the $10 to $15 range.
Continue Reading "Let's Grab Something: Non-Chain Workday Lunch" »
AS THE HEAT and humidity in the District reach rainforest levels, the thought of a steaming cup of coffee matches the appeal of pulling on a sweater.
The solution? Ice it down. And for a small but growing group of java enthusiasts, the best way to do that them keep heat out of the picture entirely.
Cold-brewing is a method of making coffee that involves steeping coarse grounds in water for hours before straining them to create a concentrate. When thinned down and combined with milk and sweetener, they result in a smooth drink with hints of chocolate and vanilla, and a remarkable absence of the bitter kick iced coffee can sometimes carry.
While most coffeehouses still use the more prevalent technique of making hot coffee, chilling it and serving it over ice, cold brews can be found in a few local spots.
"We don't sell many iced drinks in the winter, but during summertime, we just can't keep up with the demand," said Connie Lee, owner of Jolt'n Bolt Coffee and Tea House, a small cafe in Adams Morgan with a funky, purple-trimmed alleyway entrance. "We have to make it in a big 5-gallon container."
Continue Reading "The Coolest Beans: The District's Top Iced Coffee" »
WEDNESDAY: Free shows are becoming harder and harder to find lately. Back in the D.C. punk scene's heyday, one couldn't throw a stick without hitting a free D.I.Y punk show. These days, not so much.
Of course, there are a few exceptions — the Fort Reno summer series or the Petworth house show circuit among them — but it looks like the trend of ponying up $20-$30 to see your favorite band will continue.
Fear not, though. On Wednesday, Crooked Beat Records in Adams Morgan will be throwing a free, all-ages show featuring Baltimore drum-and-bass punk rockers Double Dagger. They don't rely on the electronically tweaked guitars endemic to most punk; their sound sticks to crashing drums and thumping bass.
They are fast, rude — everything a good punk band should be. You won't even miss the guitars.
» Crooked Beat Records, 2318 18th St NW; Wed., June, 17; 7 p.m., free; 202-483-2328. (Woodley Park)
Written by Express' Brian Austin
Photo courtesy Bruce Willen
WITH WARM WEATHER on its way, barbecue season can't be far behind. Be the star of the picnic with delicious homemade macaroni and cheese. Express took to 18th Street NW, a place known for bar crawls where there also happens to be a trove of excellent mac and cheese spots to find tips.
Whether you're starting from scratch or want to update your recipe, chefs offer advice for creating a master side dish.
At Madam's Organ, the buttery dish is served as a side, though it's filling enough for a meal. Chef Alvin Trice's secret is to make sure the macaroni is cooked "just right — definitely don't overcook it or undercook it." He also seasons the boiling water with salt and olive oil before cooking the pasta, for extra flavor.
Addison Road