A Weekend Is More Than Two Days
Weekend Staff
The Washington Post Weekend Section
Friday, May 26, 2006
11:00 AM
The staff of Weekend , The Washington Post's weekly entertainment guide, covers what's happening in the Washington area. We'll field your questions on everything in the
The Weekend staff was online Friday, May 26, at 11 a.m. ET to take your questions and comments.
Read about the
A transcript follows.
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Curt Fields: Hello everyone and welcome to this week's chat with the Weekend staff. We're glad you've joined us with a busy holiday weekend coming up. A couple of our regulars aren't here (they're doing the holiday travel thing) but we have most of our chatters present, including Richard Harrington, Michael O'Sullivan, Eve Zibart, Scott Vogel and Ellen McCarthy, who wrote today's cover story on date ideas.
We solicited some suggestions for great dates in today's issue, but do you have others? Let us know!
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Anacostia, Washington, D.C.: Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens really should have been included as a wonderful location for a romantic nature date
Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens
Ellen McCarthy: I agree. This is a fabulous spot for a summer afternoon date. Thanks for the reminder.
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Baltimore, Md.: This is for Michael O'Sullivan:
I find your interviews with the movie stars more compelling than the average fodder found in the celebrity obsessed publications that surround the grocery check out.
I was wondering, how do you work writing the interviews?Some of your articles make it seem like you meet them in person while others you talk to over the phone. Do you make a tape recording of the interview and then transcribe it?If so, do you have an assistant or secretary that does your transcription work?
Michael O'Sullivan: I have to say that this is the most amusing question I have EVER seen. Thank you, sincerely, for giving me a huge belly laugh this morning. And thanks for the compliment too.
Do I have an assistant or secretary? Hard to keep a straight face, but no.
About half the movie interviews I do are face to face, half done over the phone. It depends mostly on the availability of the actor/director/screenwriter, and to some degree on my own availability. My upcoming interview with Meryl Streep, for instance (for "A Prairie Home Companion," which opens June 9), was conducted by cell phone in my car from the parking lot of a Starbucks in Newport News, Va. I record them all, formerly on tape, now using a digital recorder. I download them to my laptop and use a foot pedal to transcribe them, the old-fashioned way, with blood, sweat and tears.
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Washington, D.C.: For Ellen -- it's sad that you didn't mention the Walter Reed Pathology Museum as an excellent date! What better way to get to know someone than to talk about what it must be like to have to walk around with your giant testicle in a wheelbarrow? Or how much hair one would have to eat to form the largest human hairball!
It's a hidden D.C. date treasure for sure!
Ellen McCarthy: I like it. I mean, why not jump right into the deep end and see what your date's really made of. Then, when you find one who makes it through the whole museum and still wants lunch after, you'll know it's true love.
(A bit of Googling, btw, shows that this place does exist but is now known as the National Museum of Health and Medicine.)
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Washington, D.C.: For Mr O'Sullivan:
"Sounds like some Junior X-Men didn't do their homework."
That is pretty unbelievable that none of them stayed for the very end of the film and seem to know nothing about a sequel ... do you believe they were telling the truth? or just acting?
Michael O'Sullivan: I do believe that none of these four stayed until the very end of the credits to see the second teaser, probably for the reason Shawn Ashmore stated, which was that he already knew everyone in the cast and crew. Although he hadn't seen the scene in question himself, Aaron Stanford (alone of the four) said that he thought he remembered director Brett Ratner telling him something about it. That said, all four of them said they would gladly do a sequel, even though none of them had seen the teaser.
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Stafford, Va.: I am taking three kids (ages 6, 5, and 20 mos) to the National Zoo tomorrow to see the baby panda. Can you recommend a kid friendly and reasonably priced restaurant near to have lunch?
Eve Zibart: Depending on the age, of course, there are restaurants both up and down from the zoo's entrance on Connecticut that have outdoor seating (always a good bet for kids) and that would give you access to either the Woodley Park Metro or Cleveland Park station. How about pizza at either Sorriso or Cleveland Park Grill (with a rooftop view, too) or Open City down at the corner of Connecticut and Calvert. Murphy's Irish pub in Woodley Park has good burgers and such; and there's a branch of California Tortilla in Cleveland Park where the Pizzeria Uno used to be.
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Washington, D.C.: I just have to say this, the Sheeler exhibit really gives a reason to paint and proves that painting and drawing are very much valid endeavors today when video seems to dominate
When I looked at the way Sheeler used photography as a basis for the much better image rendered in paint, I got the very same rush that I did when looking at Joe White's videos and the much better rendered result in paint that he had exhibited a couple of years ago at Edison Place gallery.
This is a quiet little show that most people will probably ignore, but it should be required viewing of all art students.
Michael O'Sullivan: I agree. But if you like Joe White, you should check out a two-person show he's having (with partner Renee Butler) at Osuna Art.
It's at 7200 Wisconsin Avenue, in Bethesda (301-654-4500). The show opens June 6 with a reception from 6 to 8, and runs to July 7.
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Fairfax, Va.: Do you know of any Memorial Day activities that would be good for children? (4 years old) Someone mentioned a fair/festival in Ashburn, Va., w/fireworks, rides, etc. but I can't seem to find any addtl info on that either.
Eve Zibart: There will be kids' activities at the Rockville Hometown Holidays both Saturday and Sunday, for one.
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washingtonpost.com: National Museum of Health and Medicine
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Potomac, Md.: I always think it is a shame that Michael O'Sullivan's art reviews seem so buried or hidden way in the back of the Weekend section. Why can't they be pushed up more towards the front?
There is probably some reason based on movie advertisement placement, (as that seems visually to be the chief concern of the section) but it just seems a real shame to have to search so hard for such eloquent writing.
For a painter, these words are life affirming poetry ...
"their power doesn't lie in the stillness of photography, which often embalms its subjects, making them seem more dead than they were to begin with. Rather, it lies in the stillness of something hidden, something holding its breath for fear of being discovered, and that can be seen only by those willing to watch long enough to paint them"
Michael O'Sullivan: Life-affirming poetry?
Wow. I'm blushing.
Here's a tip on finding my art reviews more easily: If you start at the BACK of the section, and page FORWARD, you'll find them without having to wade through all those pesky articles on restaurants, music and movies. For example, my review today of the Charles Sheeler show at the National Gallery of Art is on Page 47, a mere five page in from the back of the book! Enjoy!
Curt Fields: You can also check out page 4 where we have an index to make it easier to find whatever you're looking for, be it Michael's reviews or stories about theater, music, etc. It also makes it easier to find the listings as well as the stories.
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washingtonpost.com: Osuna Art
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Rockville, Md.: Cuban Corner Restaurant has the "Cuban Hall of Fame" on its walls, which is always a surprise to me in the "I didn't know that such and such was Cuban!" (like actress Cameron Diaz, or Amazon's Jeff Bezos).
Anyway, their "Ropa Vieja" is my favorite, and I was told that this dish's title literally means "Old Clothes" ... any idea why?
Eve Zibart: It's said to be because it's braised to the point that the meat falls into shreds, like rags. It might also suggest that it used to be a sort of second-day dish, like leftovers re-stewed.
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Washington, D.C.: I need a great idea for a fun day trip tomorrow, preferable no more than two hours away from D.C. Have done Annapolis and Baltimore but totally open to ideas beyond those.
Eve Zibart: Some nice combinations available at that distance, such as a tour of Middleburg (horse-country antique shops, old buildings turned into inns) and a couple of Virginia wineries; Antietam National Battlefield and Harper's Ferry; Charlottesville . . .
Curt Fields: Fredericksburg can also be a fun day trip. Lots of fun shopping (of the vintage variety) and enjoyable dining options.
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Washington, D.C.: Can I park at any Metro's parking lot for free this weekend? I want to go to Springfield Mall.
Eve Zibart: All of them are free on weekends, and federal holidays as well, so shop away.
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Bethesda, Md.: Ellen ... Great story today, but I was a bit surprised that my old stand-by date idea -- Dave and Busters or ESPN zone (or some variation of game-playing, even board game playing)-- wasn't included. I've found that a friendly game of just about anything is both a good way to break the ice and a fun prelude to foreplay. Any thoughts?
washingtonpost.com: Dates to Remember (Post, May 26)
Ellen McCarthy: Well, what can I say?? I love a good game of Trivial Pursuit as much as the next girl--we just wanted to focus on activities that would bring you outside a little more for this issue. But you're in luck, 'cause we did a whole issue on games a few weeks back.
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washingtonpost.com: The Play's the Thing (Post, April 14)
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Washington, D.C.: Michael, I am a writer and I often think that many people do not view writing (or any art making for that matter)as a legitimate profession. I am often asked to contribute writing for all sorts of community projects, and rarely anyone thinks to offer any compensation me for my efforts.
I have several friends who are artists and I often get emails directing me to check out an artists Web site. I have been noticing how many artists have your name embedded on their Web sites.(usually in a resume)
Has any artist ever asked you to write for their Web site? Have any commercial galleries asked you to write for them?
How much effect do you really think your writing has on an artist's career?
How does it make you feel if people ask you to donate your time and talent for their promotional efforts?This totally aggravates me, especially when it is a community member who makes money as a doctor or lawyer. I know they would probably not even think to ask a fellow lawyer or doctor to donate their career services.
Michael O'Sullivan: So many questions. Lets take them one at a time.
Has any artist ever asked me to write something for their Web site? Yes, but I haven't done so. Anyone, of course, is free to cite something I wrote about them in the paper.
Have any commercial galleries asked me to write something? I assume you mean for an exhibition catalogue or something like that. No.
How much effect do I think my writing has on an artist's career? Less than they might think. I often find that artists think that a good review will "make" them into an art star overnight, and this is not the case. By the same token, I find that artists will occasionally get upset by a less than glowing review out of all proportion to the criticism. Bad reviews can sometimes hurt a show, but more often the artist (or gallery) is upset because the negative review cannot then be cited in the bibliography section of the artist's resume.
As for donating one's talents without pay: In principle, I believe that people should be compensated for their work, but there are sometimes causes to which it is appropriate to donate one's services. It's a judgment call.
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Tale, Ireland: Ms. McCarthy,I am planning a trip to Washington this summer to visit an American girl I have a crush on, and your tips will be helpful. Do you think taking my beloved to an Irish bar would be over the top? We met in Ireland last year and she thought the pubs were grand, but we'll be on her turf, so I might just pick stuff from your list. Thanks!
Ellen McCarthy: Well, come now, why not let her take the lead since you're making the trip across the pond?? But if you want to be able to make suggestions, a lovely bike ride along the IC&O Canal or a trip out to one of the beaches would both be fun.
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Creston, Va.: The "beach issue" was a great idea ... how about an issue focused on Greater D.C. area art galleries, where they are located in pockets, what sort of work they exhibit, when their art walks are, some of the local artists who show where, etc. ... I recall a few years ago (maybe 10-12 years) that O'Sullivan did something like that ... sorta a Greater D.C. area Gallery guidebook ... any chance of focusing a future issue of Weekend on that subject area?
Michael O'Sullivan: Your suggestion is not without merit. (How's that for a political answer?)
The story you refer to ran nine years ago, but it feels like only yesterday to me. It's true that the gallery scene has changed a lot since those days. Some have closed. Many new ones have opened. Several have moved location. We'll take your idea under advisement, and form a subcommittee to do a feasibility study. I'll put my assistant/secretary right on it.
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Washington, D.C.: I'd like to go out to Wolf Trap for the Marine Band concert on Sunday. I've never been there before, and I assume the fact that it's free will mean big crowds. How long does it take to get there from D.C., and how early do you think I'd need to get there to still be able to park and find a seat? Thanks.
Richard Harrington: Wolf Trap is 13 miles from DC, which translates to about 25 minutes travel time--without traffic. Easiest way is to go out 66 and take the Beltway to the Dulles toll road, getting off at the second exit after you pass the toll plaza (it says Wolf Trap, which helps). The gates open about an hour before the concert and people start lining up around 6;30 for a good spot, so get there by six. Last year the crowd was overflowing and they expect another big crowd this year.
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Washington, D.C.: Okay, I will look at page 4 from now on -- but this is a bugaboo of mine -- I hate picking up magazines -- and I'm calling the Weekend section a magazine and seeing section heads without the page numbers ... well my bugaboo about the Weekend section is that On Exhibit is rarely ever on the cover.
Why can't the art reviews be on the cover -- On Exhibit with a bold 47 inside a red circle?
Then I don't have to stumble on to page 4 -- I'm telling ya I'll probably forget even though I am trying to put this in my mental file cabinet.
Michael O'Sullivan: We plugged the art review (The Phillips Collection's "The Renoir Returns") on the cover on April 14.
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Hunt Country Stable Tour: Don't forget the Hunt Country Stable Tour this weekend -- Hunt Country Stable Tour
Lots of fun for a family or date weekend.
Curt Fields: A good suggestion.
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Rockville, Md.: Where are the best places to go to hear music for free?
Richard Harrington: Summertime is the best time for free concerts and if you check next Friday's big summer concert issue, you'll find a substantial number of them listed, most of them outdoors. Not knowing what kind of music you're looking for,I won't start listing them all but I'll certainly recommend the Weekend's Weekend concerts June 16, 23 and 30 at Carter Barron Amphitheater, featuring Latin music, reggae and classic soul, respectively.
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Philadelphia, Pa.: Hi all. I'm down for the weekend and will be babysitting while the 'rents go see The Boss on Sunday. Checked the City Guide and it appears that every Sunday there is slam poetry at the Teaism in Penn Quarter. Would this be 12 y.o. and 22 y.o. friendly? Any other stuff going on Sunday night that would be worth checking out (and not terribly crowded)? Thanks!
Christina Talcott: I'm afraid I've never been to the poetry slam at Teasim. Are there any chatters out there with a report? However, I can vouch for the "Hometown Holidays" event in Rockville. It's right at the Rockville Metro, free to get in, and wasn't too crowded when I was there last year. Blues Traveler's playing Sunday night, and tons of Rockville restaurants will have booths with tastings for relatively little $$. Check out the item on it in Weekend's Best or go here for more info. Have fun!
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McLean, Va.: How can the Weekend section give out a little more info on gallery shows, etc.? It seems like a lot of space is used to list page after page of museum shows (a lot of which are static and never change) on every issue ...
How about a once a month museum listing like you do now, and the other three weeks only list those museum shows that are new or opening (like you do with galleries).
That would free up additional space to discuss (maybe mini reviews) more art gallery shows ...
Bottom line is that the static museum listing, issue after issue ... seems a little "dusty" and that whole part of Weekend may need to re "re-freshed" -- We're starving for more art reviews out here ...
Aficionado de Arte
Curt Fields: More art reviews would be nice. We also hear from people who want more on Classical music, theater events, etc. And we'd love to write more on all those topics. Unfortunately the amount of space we have is not unlimited. It's a tricky juggling act.
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Montgomery Village, Md.: What are the best Indian restaurants in the Montgomery Village/Gaithersburg area?
Eve Zibart: I don't like to say "bests," but among those that come to mind are Bombay Bistro in Rockville, Tandoori Nights in Kentlands and Woodlands vegetarian in Gaithersburg.
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Arlington, Va.: What ever happened to Eric Brace?
Curt Fields: Eric went on leave from the Post a couple of years ago to pursue success in the music biz with his band Last Train Home. So he's spending a lot of time in Nashville and on the road touring (they had some gigs in Florida last week).
He still very occasionally contributes a music-related interview to the section.
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Washington, D.C.: Is Christine Baranski going to be good as Mame?
Scott Vogel: At this point, your guess is as good as ours, as performances don't begin until tomorrow evening. I can tell you that the show will require terrific stamina from its lead, as Baranski has 19 costume changes and therefore always seems to be either onstage or dressing for the stage. My one source for info -- admittedly not an unbiased one -- is the actress Emily Skinner, whom I've interviewed for next week's Weekend section. She seems genuinely excited about Baranski's performance in rehearsals.
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Beantown: What would be the cultural adaptations in moving from Boston to D.C. as a single guy looking for love? I'm tired of "frigid" New Englanders! Is D.C. becoming more transient?
Christina Talcott: I don't know how DC could get any more transient, especially for 20-somethings. Some months I've got nothing but going-away parties on the agenda... But on the upside, DC's a great place to meet like-minded people, ones passionate about whatever they're into, not just politics. I hear good things about the social groups sponsored by museums, performing arts organizations, the zoo, humane societies, etc., most of them geared to the under-40 set. And, especially in the summertime, nothing about this town is frigid!
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Bethesda, Md.: Where will be the best place to park to see the Godspeed in Alexandria? Any good family friendly restaurants you'd recommend in Alexandria?
Eve Zibart: I think you're probably going to have to settle for a parking lot; I'd just go early and hope to get one near the waterside. Bilbo Baggins is family friendly, and so is Chadwick's. Union Street Public House has very popular burgers. A little more of a walk away are the South Austin Grill and Hard Times. But while you're in the historic mood, what about Gadsby's Tavern?
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Washington, D.C.: Mr O'Sullivan:I have a mature second grader who is dying to see X-Men. Is he too young for this
Michael O'Sullivan: It's PG-13 for a reason. Three reasons, actually: Violence, sexual content and profanity. The "Parental Guidance" part is where you come in, but I don't think I'd let a second-grader, even a mature one, see it alone. I know a kid in kindergarten who saw the new "King Kong" and seems to have survived it okay. Who knows if he'll turn into an ax murderer though? In "X-Men," the thing that I found the most inappopriate for little kids is not the violence but a very sexy scene between Wolverine and Jean Gray.
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Eve Zibart: Another idea for Sunday evening is the Godspeed festival on the Alexandria waterfront. If you don't have a car, what about touring the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials by night?
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Washington, D.C.: How could you recommend Marakkesh as one of the best places to take a date? This place has a more than questionable reputation, is ridiculously overpriced, the food is below average and the belly dancing might be okay if you're going with a group (I've had to suffer through it myself) but really not conducive to a date (certainly not with these girls trying to entice men to dance).
Ellen McCarthy: Thanks for your thoughts. The thing I liked about Marrakesh was that it's a very different experience. I agree that true foodies might not be wowed, but it's a very cozy, festive environment and there's a bit of entertainment added to the meal.
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Washington, D.C.: Richard I love your writing and I love T Bone.Who are some of your fav over 50 rock stars?
Richard Harrington: Oddly enough, being over 50 myself, I seldom think about an artist's age. Obviously, I recognize that a lot of people whose music I have been enjoying over the last 20 or 30 years are probably over 50 now, just like me. and (yes, I'm cheating here) they are too numerous to mention. What's more impressive is seeing folks like Ralph Stanley or the late Ibrahim Ferrer or BB King, in their 70s and 80s and still performing with drive. energy and grace. And there's a lot of tweeners in their 60s who continue to do terrific work (like that Dylan fellow!). Hope I evaded your question.
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Curt Fields: Well folks like most people today, we're going to knock off a few minutes early. Check back with us again next week. And, if you follow any of our date suggestions from today's issue, let us know how they turned out.
Have a good, and safe, holiday weekend.
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