Weekend Now

A Weekend Is More Than Two Days

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 section from performances and new DVDs to weekend getaways and kids' activities. We write about all kinds of fun things to do and we're happy to talk to you about it.

Join the Weekend staff online this Friday, Dec. 15, at 11 a.m. ET to take your questions and comments.

This week meet the winner of our annual Holiday Wrapping Paper Contest plus hear from DJ duo Thievery Corporation and Sly Stallone, who's bringing Rocky back. Other highlights include Michael O'Sullivan checking out "Holding Our Own: Selections From the Collectors Club of Washington, D.C.," an exhibit at the University of Maryland University College and the annual stop-over of tundra swans heading south for the winter.

Read about the staff of the Weekend section.

Weekend Now Discussion Transcripts

A transcript follows.

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Curt Fields: Welcome one and all to our weekly online chat about entertaining things to do in the DC area. Most of the Weekend staff is in place and ready to talk about everything from Thievery Corporation to Stallone and anything in between. So ask away and we'll start answering ...

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Washington, D.C. : I like the gift wrap. Maybe you should do a contest for adults!

Curt Fields: Funny you should mention that. I suggested the same thing just the other day in a Weekend editors meeting.

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We may be having a different sort of contest after the first of the year so keep watching the section for word on that.

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Alexandria, Va.: So what's Sly Stallone really like?

Ellen McCarthy: You know, I found him to be really sweet. Surprisingly humble and quite articulate. I also think he's really self-aware, which I didn't expect. Also, those are some enormous hands.

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washingtonpost.com: Young Artists Draw on the Holiday Spirit ( Post, Weekend, Dec. 15)

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Rockville, Md.: Anything fun -- and free -- going on this weekend?

Jenny Abella: Maybe the question should be: When is there not?

There are a few things (besides the Mall museums), actually. It's the second weekend of the Christmas Pageant of Peace down on the Ellipse, with performances nightly at 6, 7 and 8, and you can see the star of the whole show, the National Christmas Tree. Sunday at 4 is the lighting of the National Menorah with the Army Band and more (tickets required for reserved seats, but all are welcome to stand). And, as always, check out the Kennedy Center, where there's free music daily at 6.

If you count people-watching as free and fun, there's a Holiday Market outdoors on F St. NW between 7th and 8th streets daily from noon to 7. Warning: It might be hard to stick to your budget there.

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Baltimore, Md.: I love their recorded stuff but what's a Thievery Corp live show like?

Richard Harrington: Surprisingly full, with a semi-big band and a gaggle of guest singers featured on the albums. The shows have gotten good reviews, but the ones at the 9:30 should be special: it's a home game, so to speak, and a 10th anniversary, and a celebratory mood seldom hurts any occasion.

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Silver Spring, Md.: My boyfriend and I are looking for a romantic getaway for New Year's Weekend. We are funds-challenged graduate students. We are willing to drive up to hours hrs away. Any suggestions? Thanks!

Ellen McCarthy: That sounds like a lovely idea, escape the crowds and whatnot. In January we'll have a story on the winter beach scene, which has definite romantic possibilities. You might want to think about scouting out some deals in your favorite beach town. And what about a B&B, maybe near Charlottesville? You could go hiking during the day and curl up by a fire at night. Any other suggestions out there for a New Years getaway?

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Washington, D.C.: Since you guys know "Last Train Home," I have to make a comment about the way your brethren over at Sunday Source described them last week in the "DateInTheBox" feature. I agree that the weekends when LTH holds court at Iota are the best, but to say they play a mix of "country and bluegrass" is way wrong, don't you think? This is a rock band. They're great players, so they pull from lots of different sources over the course of a show, but it isn't "country" and it isn't "bluegrass." If you go to Iota when they're playing there, you should be prepared to be rocked.

Richard Harrington: The catch-all term would be Americana/roots rock. You can pretty much thrown anything in there and, with Eric and Last Train Home, it's likely to fit. That's always been one of the band's charms, and gifts: an ability to turn down any side road and explore musical tangents with grace,wit,enthusiasm, respect and, most importantly, knowledge. Gathering together a lot of terrific musicians, and drawing from the great merican songbook (and adding to it along the way) lets you do that.

Curt Fields: Indeed. The band's versatile enough that along with its originals it can, when the mood strikes, toss in a tune from Barry White, Steve Miller or the Louvin Brothers. Ah, eclecticism. Very fun.

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Alexandria, Va.: Hey guys,

I'm going to see "A Christmas Carol" at Ford's Theatre this Saturday with my girlfriend and parents who are coming from out of town. Where is a good place for an early-ish dinner, like 4-6 near the theater? I'd like to stay away from the chain restaurants in Chinatown. I'm looking for something nice but not insanely expensive ... like 15-25 bucks a plate. Thanks!

Scott Vogel: Not too far away, next door to the Spy Museum, is Zola, a sleek and elegant restaurant that specializes in American cuisine. Other ideas?

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Arlington, Va.: Hey Ellen,

You've talked to some really big names, Nicholson, Stallone, and several other stars. Who has been the two or three most fun to gab with?

Ellen McCarthy: Fun gig, huh? One of my favorites was definitely Kathy Griffin. By the end of that conversation my stomach hurt and my face was bright red from laughing so much. Nicholson was great too--didn't seemed rushed or put out, didn't have a publicist on the line.

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Farragut North, Washington, D.C.: A few friends at different offices are meeting for happy hour today. What's a good central location for in the Farragut area that won't be too crowded, but plays good music (classic rock)?

Curt Fields: The "classic rock" requirement has us stumped at the moment. So while we continue to ponder we're throwing this out there in case any chatters know of a spot that meets your needs.

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Gaithersburg Md.: Is there anything showing at National Portrait Gallery right now that you recommend?

Michael O'Sullivan: A show about the Jazz Age entertainer Josephine Baker recently opened last month, but I haven't had a chance to see it. I can enthusiastically recommend "Portraiture Now," featuring four contemporary artists (I especially like the scale-distorted sculpture of Nina Levy); "Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition 2006" (also featuring a piece by Levy); and "Americans Now." Yes, as you may have surmised, I'm more interested in the contemporary stuff, but there's an interesting historical show on the U.S. presidency as well.

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Boston, Mass.: Did you have Stallone swear on his AARP card that this is his last "Rocky"?

Ellen McCarthy: Ha ha ha. Didn't even think of it! He does seem to insist that this is the final chapter, but you never know.....

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Re: Dinner before ""A Christmas Carol" at Ford's Theatre": Cafe Atlantico has a pre-theater dinner menu which includes an appetizer, entree, and dessert for about $28, and their food is amazing.

Scott Vogel: There ya go -- nice suggestion.

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Washington, D.C.: Any suggestions for non-holiday related things to do this weekend in D.C.?

Love the chats!

Michael O'Sullivan: I'll plug an artist whose work I really like. Amy Lin has a show at the DC Arts Center in Adams Morgan (2438 18th Street) that's opening tonight with a reception from 7 to 9. Afterwards, you can eat at one of the neighborhood's many restaurants or grab a drink a nearby bar. Other ideas?

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Washington, D.C.: Babysitting this weekend. What's a better movie for 10-year-olds (boy and girl)? "Eragon" or "Charlotte's Web"?

Jenny Abella: I'd vote for "Charlotte's Web." Great voice acting and a wonderful story. The boy hopefully won't be too bored. "Eragon" contains come battle violence, and plus it got a bad review from our Stephen Hunter, who says "Too bad the acting is so lame, the story so derivative and the thing so long." Eeeek.

You can also check out "Happy Feet," which has been a hit with families. I didn't care for it, but, hey, I'm not a kid.

Curt Fields: Or rent the Cars DVD. It's a hit with every kid I know from age 3 to age 12.

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Washington, D.C.: Have any of you gone to Murphy's Irish Pub in Old Town? I've heard they have live Irish music ... any good for a fun night out?

Ellen McCarthy: I may have been there a time or two. They do have live Irish music. It'll be all the old favorites, very much a good time, sing-along scene. The place gets really crowded Friday and Saturday nights, so arrive early if you want a table.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Can you recommend anything festive and Christmas-y to do this weekend, suitable for kids, that isn't the "Nutcracker"? I love the ballet and all, but it might be time for a change.

Twila Waddy: There is the Messiah Sing-along at the Kennedy Center this Sunday. The performance includes an orchestra, a 200-voice choir and a professional soloists. The event is free, but tickets are required. They will hand out the tickets on Saturday starting at 10:00 a.m. at the Kennedy Center. Only two person. Just keep in mind the line to get tickets will start early.

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Bethesda, Md.: So my girlfriend is a pop culture fiend (we kill at trivia games, mostly because of her). Is there a hot gift out there this year that's perfect for pop culture fans like her? Don't worry, I'm getting her some other stuff too.

Jenny Abella: Oooh. Lucky you! Maybe you guys should try out for VH1's "World Series of Pop Culture" like a few of us here want to do...

Have you heard of Cranium's Pop 5 game? It's all pop culture questions with the Cranium twist (you have to hum, act or sculpt, etc.). Actually, forget her -- buy it for me! Ha.

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washingtonpost.com: The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

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The Burbs: I haven't been to the Renwick Museum. Is it worth Metro-ing in some weekend?

Michael O'Sullivan: Abso-flippin'-lutely! If you like craft, that is. The Renwick Gallery is the part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum devoted to American craft. Great permanent collection. I"m not so crazy about its current special exhibition on sculptor Ruth Duckworth though. It's the kind of abstract "modernism" that feels very dated. If you do come down to the Renwick, please stop in at the Corcoran (couple of blocks away) and check out "The Paradise Institute," an immersive virtual-reality theater with a cool 13-minute film. That closes 12/31.

Curt Fields: As much as Michael has been plugging Paradise Institute in print, online, on the street, wherever, I'm starting to suspect he's on the payroll! Nah, I know, he's just serious about touting worthy pieces. And he's right. Saw it when it first showed a while back and it's a definite must-see.

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Tenleytown, Washington, D.C.: so what movie is your movie person going to see this weekend?

Michael O'Sullivan: I've already seen "The Pursuit of Happyness." Like Stephen Hunter, I quite liked it.

Scott Vogel: I'm intrigued by a little movie at Landmark's E Street called "Unknown," a crime thriller with an interesting premise: a man wakes up in a warehouse surrounded by 4 other men, all of whom don't know how they got there. It's a film by Simon Brand that the Post's Ann Hornaday calls an "impressively taut debut."

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Washington, D.C.: I'm intrigued by the Folger Shakespeare Library. They seem to have stuff going on all the time. What should I try first? The theater shows? The music concerts? The exhibits?

Michael O'Sullivan: Well, the exhibit is free, so you don't risk anything there while you're getting your feet wet. "Technologies of Writing in the Age of Print" looks at how folks in early modern England used pen and paper (you know, that stuff people had to use before PDAs and laptops).

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Madison, Wisc.: Until a few years ago I traveled to Washington so often that it got pretty ho-hum for me, what could you direct to that will just make me go wow on an upcoming trip?

Michael O'Sullivan: If your trips to DC predate the National Museum of the American Indian, you should be sure and visit that new Smithsonian museum, if for no other reason than the stunning architecture. It also has the best museum food on the Mall.

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At the cinema: Why is Hollywood so bereft of ideas that it keeps doing sequels and inferior remakes of older movies? Isn't there any young, new blood filmmaker with INNOVATIVE ideas to make movies?

Christina Talcott: I feel your pain. I've found, in talking with directors and screenwriters, that there are a lot of great, innovative filmmakers out there, more and more of whom are working outside the Hollywood/studio system. They find funding from private investors (or they max out their credit cards) to make their films their own way, and then they find distributors on the festival circuit. Luckily, DC's a great place to see original films - try the Avalon, Landmark, AFI and many AMC/Lowes theaters - or catch some of our homegrown festivals.

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Washington, D.C.: Will Lewis Black be comming back into town anytime soon?

Scott Vogel: According to the comedian's web site, he is not scheduled to make any appearances in DC through at least June of next year. But would you consider traveling a bit? Black has upcoming shows scheduled in both New York City (Feb. 22 and 23) and Atlantic City (March 9 and 10).

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Worker bee: Looking for a new place for after-work drinks. I like Helix, Topaz, that sort of place. Any suggestions for some place I may not have tried?

Ellen McCarthy: How about Lima, on K Street? Or the bar at Tabaq on U Street--not as lounge-y as the others but still sophisticated and fun, with some good cocktails. Firefly is also worth considering, especially during winter--you'll feel perfectly cozy at the bar.

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Washington, D.C.: For the Ford Theatre group, the French restaurant Bistro D'Oc is right across the street. I don't know what time they open for dinner.

Scott Vogel: Another nice suggestion, thank you! I've just called the restaurant, by the way -- they begin serving dinner at 5:30 on Saturdays and reservations are strongly suggested.

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Clarendon, Va.: Aimee Mann, Miss Depression, singing Christmas Music? That's a joke, right?

Richard Harrington: Well, it's certainly out-of-character, but who says character has to be so narrowly defined? Elvis wasn't the first to take note of a "Blue Christmas," and in the Christmas album fields, there's a virtual sub category of sad, melancholy, bummed-out Christmas songs. In fact, Rhino has a classic compilation titled "Bummed Out Christmas" with the Everly Brothers' "Christmas Eve Can Kill You" and the Staple Singers' "Who Took the Merry Out of Christmas." There is much precedent--and Aimee's record is actually more cheery than you'd think.

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Arlington, Va.: Where can a group of early 30-something girls go dancing on Sat. night? We're looking for a place that has music you can sing along to, top 40, etc.

Ellen McCarthy: In your neighborhood, I would definitely consider Clarendon Ballroom. It's big, so you'll get a variety of people and the music should be totally recognizable. Ri Ra is another option along that stretch, if the line at the Ballroom is too long. Have a great night!

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Washington, D.C.: Bob Mould is doing electronica? What's it sound like?

Richard Harrington: Well, it's surprisingly melodic (and there's plenty of that influence on his recent solo albums and in his performances),

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Bethesda, Md.: Granted this isn't for this weekend.. BUT do you guys know of any soup kitchens or things of that nature in the Metro area that will be opened and ready for holiday do-gooders on Xmas eve/day?

Christina Talcott: DC Cares has a number of opportunities listed on their Web site. Happy holidays!

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washingtonpost.com: Greater D.C. Cares/Volunteers

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Curt Fields: Well that wraps up this week's chat.

Because of the holidays, we won't be back for a while. Our next chat will be on Jan. 5.

(Cue music) Don't you, forget about us...

Until then, we hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday season.

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