LISTEN, D.C., we know you love your jumbo slices, Big Macs and Subway sandwiches. But for the safety of your arteries and the sake of your palates, try adding another fast food option into the mix: the almighty empanada. This tasty Latin American treat is a healthy, affordable meal that can really spice up your diet — literally and figuratively.
We know the first thing some of you are probably wondering — and it's pronounced "em-pah-nah-dah." Moving on to your second question, the word usually refers to a mix of veggies, spices and often meat (or sometimes desserty fillings), all stuffed neatly into a pastry pocket.
This turnover-type food likely originated in Spain, but as settlers and colonists spread it throughout the Spanish-speaking world, it morphed into a host of regional variations. Empanadas might be fried or baked, sweeter or more savory, a carnivore's dream or a vegetarian's delight.
Continue Reading "Put It in the Pocket: Discover Empanadas" »
AFTER SURVEYING THE FULL HOUSE from a back room at the DC Improv Comedy Club's Lounge, Chris White heads toward the stage and introduces himself. Then he starts cutting himself down. Next come the stories about his dysfunctional family: "Parenting is a job. My mom treated it like a job. Every day at
5 p.m. she would stop working and go to happy hour."
Just as the crowd teeters on the brink of deciding whether the 32-year-old comedian is funny-funny or crazy-funny, White switches gears, closing with a terribly off-key sing-along (folks chimed in on the chorus) of the Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That Way."
And the audience knows: Whatever White's deal, they just spent an hour laughing.
For White and other local comedians, that's the ultimate employer feedback. Nine-to-5 isn't really in comics' vocabulary — unless they're talking about their day jobs, which many keep to earn a living. Prep time is short — usually a few hours per week — and performances can clock in at a whopping three minutes, but most funny folks aren't in the business for the big bucks. They're in it for the big laughs.
Continue Reading "Secrets of the Funny Business: The Pursuit of Laughter in D.C." »
Jessi, 31, is an education manager. Paul, 34, is a financial analyst. They live in Arlington.
» The Main Event: On Nov. 20, they'll wed at the D.C. temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A less private, but still small, ring ceremony will follow on Nov. 21 with brunch for 70 family members and friends.
» Honeymoon: New York City.
» How They Met: Through mutual friends, but he first noticed her when she laughed at an off-color joke.
FRIDAY: There's more to bluegrass than twangy guitars — just check out what wafts from the speakers when The Infamous Stringdusters play.
Known for their complex arrangements and lengthy instrumental solos, the Nashville newgrass and bluegrass sextet is blowing into town on their Nor'Easter tour to play at Iota, joined by special guest the Junior League Band.
Check out some videos below.
» Iota, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; Fri., Nov. 6, 9 p.m., $15; 703-522-8340. (Clarendon)
Written by Express' Anne Polsky
Photo courtesy Infamous String Dusters
Continue Reading "Bluegrass Boys: The Infamous Stringdusters" »
DONATE CALORIES to the Gold's Gym Burnathon for diabetes awareness this Saturday. Ballston (3910 Wilson Blvd.) is holding special Spinning classes, and all gyms are open to the public as they attempt to burn 180 million calories in one day.
Photo by Pete Martin for the Washington Post
Paul, 26, is a systems administrator. Virginia, 23, is a recruitment manager. They live in Arlington.
» The Main Event: A Nov. 21 wedding at an old Masonic temple in Baltimore. Their pastor will officiate in front of 150 guests.
» Honeymoon: A Caribbean cruise. "We're excited to go scuba diving in the different islands," Virginia says.
» How They Met: On move-in day at St. Mary's College of Maryland. He was a junior and she was a freshman.
» First Impressions: "I was afraid she wouldn't like me." "I thought he was annoyed by freshman girls following him around."
DAVE MASON MAY BE one of classic rock's unsung heroes. As a teenager in the 1960s, he co-founded Traffic with Steve Winwood and recorded with Jimi Hendrix, the Stones and George Harrison. In the '70s, he scored a handful of hits as a solo artist, and two decades later, he joined Fleetwood Mac.
"I was fortunate to be around and get next to some significant people," the guitarist says of his career. "It was a learning experience."
Despite an impressive resume, Mason says it has become difficult for older musicians to get material out to new fans. "In the media, they're not exactly clambering for 63-year-old Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guys, no matter how good the music is," he explains.
Continue Reading "Classics, Straight Ahead: Traffic Co-Founder Dave Mason Tunes Up for a New Tour" »
THAT COLLEGE TRIP to San Juan may have convinced you that Puerto Rican cuisine consists mainly of flan washed down with umbrella-laden pina coladas. But there's more to the cooking of the U.S. territory than just rum drinks (more about those later) and fried plantains.
Indeed, when you drive around Puerto Rico, you'll see signs for "cocina criolla," which literally translates as "Creole kitchen" (but has nothing to do with the Creole cuisine of Louisiana). Rather, it refers to typical Puerto Rican fare, with its influences from both Spanish colonizers and Caribbean Indian natives: the prevalence of plantains and rice; the rich flavor base called sofrito; and adobo, a combination of spices used to perk up meats and add tang to sauces.
Continue Reading "A Taste of San Juan: Cook a Puerto Rican Feast" »
MOST KIDS LOVE to dress up, but going door-to-door begging strangers for candy is a lot of work. There's the walking and, worse, the wait: All that sugary sweetness screaming your name, and there always seems to be a few more houses to go. (Not to mention enduring the endless Mom-dictated candy inspection.) But many local eateries offer a chance for little and big sweets fans alike to get their treats now with Halloween-themed foodie events. No trick.
The Horror: Rock Out at EatBar
At EatBar, dress as you are — unless you want to win the best costume contest — to jump to the left and step to the right at a screening of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." This one-night-only event features cocktails such as the "Poisoned Apple" and "The Zombie Punch," and chef Barry Koslow will be stirring up scary eats including deviled eggs, blood sausage and tongue tacos.
» 2761 Washington Blvd., Arlington; Oct. 31, 8 p.m., free; 703-778-9951. (Clarendon)
Continue Reading "Ghoulish Goods: Halloween Treats to Die For" »
SATURDAY: If this picture doesn't make you ecstatically excited for the Red Elvises gig this weekend, then either:
a) You don't realize that these leopard print-clad insane people are, in fact, the Red Elvises.
or b) We don't want to be friends with you.
These Russian rockbilly stars have an energy and a weirdness that, well, you might expect from a Russian rockabilly band. Take a listen at their Myspace page, then head out to Arlington for the concert.
» Iota, 2832 Wilson Blvd., Arlington; Sat., Oct. 17, 9 p.m., $15; 703-522-8340. (Clarendon)
Addison Road