MOST KNOW HER as Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the 2006 blockbuster soul-searching memoir "Eat, Pray, Love." But when Gilbert, 40, accidentally calls two weeks before a scheduled interview, she simply leaves a message to call back "Liz." It's this friendly familiarity that draws in readers and will make her March 27 PEN/Faulkner talk at the National Cathedral (Massachusetts and Wisconsin avenues NW; 8 p.m., $10; 202-537-6200) all the more compelling.
» EXPRESS: Thanks for being uber-punctual.
» GILBERT: I am so sorry! [Laughs] You know what? I've got so much going on right now and I just got back here yesterday! Would you prefer we talk later? I'd be happy to call you back.
» EXPRESS: Not at all! So it's been a whirlwind ever since "Eat, Pray, Love"?
» GILBERT: It's been a bit of chaos, but it's also removed a bit. ... I used to spend months a year traveling and working on magazine stories. I haven't had to do that since "Eat, Pray, Love." It balances out in a funny way. It took time away, but [also] put it back.
» EXPRESS: What did you gain with this time?
» GILBERT: A bit of domestic stability, which is something I've never had. I have a really nice man I'm married to — We started this retail business because we travel together and buy strange things overseas. We have this warehouse in New Jersey we sell from. If you want to look it's called Twobuttons.com.
It's wonderful for me because it's so different from what I do for my normal life. What I do is so ephemeral, and this is so supremely material. I can be working on a book and having trouble with it, and I can go down to the warehouse and the big question is, "Should the Buddha be in this corner or that corner?"
Continue Reading "Breezy & Brilliant: Author Elizabeth Gilbert" »
IN THE MOOD for some good, old-fashioned liberal rage? Thomas Frank, who authored "What's the Matter With Kansas?," will be at Politics and Prose tonight reading from his new book. It's called "The Wrecking Crew," and it's about the alleged sacking and ruination of the federal government by Republicans. Fun!
» Politics & Prose, 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW; Tue., Aug 5, 7 p.m., free; 202-364-1919. (Van Ness)
THE AREA NEAR THE INTERSECTION of Wisconsin and Idaho avenues on the border of Cleveland Park and McLean Gardens is a dangerous place for pedestrians. There's an uncontrolled crosswalk a half block to the south at Norton Place, adjacent to the neighborhood Starbucks, where cars whizzing by on busy Wisconsin Avenue rarely yield to pedestrians who have the right of way. And it was in that crosswalk where a 70-year-old was hit by a Metropolitan Police Department cruiser in September.
This morning, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, Metropolitan Police Department Chief Cathy Lanier and D.C. Department of Transportation Director Emeka Moneme are scheduled to gather at the intersection to launch a new crosswalk safety campaign that will target drivers and pedestrians. The gathering will also feature a live enforcement exercise — so drivers, be on your best behavior.
Continue Reading "D.C. to Target Drivers Who Don't Yield at Crosswalks" »
AS IF THERE WASN'T ENOUGH to do this weekend already, here's an event of note for those who love big stone Gothic structures: The National Cathedral is celebrating its centennial on Saturday. There'll be cake, music, arts and other festivities that go along with a 100th anniversary. For a full list of events, click here.
Meanwhile, just down the hill is the Greek festival at another cathedral, St. Sophia at Massachusetts Avenue and 36th Street NW. There's nothing more enjoyable than snagging a bottle of Retsina and a gyro platter and relaxing on a bench during a beautiful weekend.
» "Cathedral Day: Celebrate the Cathedral's 100th Birthday!" [National Cathedral]
» "St. Sophia Cathedral" [Official Site]
» EARLIER: "2 D.C. Spots Celebrate Big Birthdays" [Free Ride/Express]
File photo of the late President Ronald Reagan's 2004 funeral at the National Cathedral by Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post
LAST WEEK, our own Melissa McCart wrote that "D.C.'s wine-bar trend is hitting its peak." Now we've got more details on the scene's two newest entrants: the yet-to-open Vinoteca in the U Street corridor and Enology on Wisconsin Avenue near the National Cathedral.
» VINOTECA: Later this fall, Vinoteca will open at 1940 11th St. NW, just south of U Street. The two men behind the wine bar are Paul Carlson and Diego Cerezo, who were childhood friends in Guatemala 15 years ago. The two grew apart, randomly reconnected last year and became roommates in New York City, where they decided to move to D.C. and open a wine bar. Like many bars that specialize in vino, Vinoteca will have wines by the glass, plus cheese and charcuterie options.
Continue Reading "Wine Time: More Details on D.C.'s New Vino Bars" »
Addison Road