Weekend Now

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 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.

Today's Topic: It's time to plan for the beach and we're here to help. Our Annual Beach Guide looks at dining, art, music and nightlife and more.

Read about the staff of the Weekend section.

Weekend Now Discussion Transcripts

A transcript follows.

Read about the staff of the Weekend section.

Weekend Now Discussion Transcripts

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Amy Joyce: Good Friday morning, all. Okay, so it's not sunny and taunting us to get outside for the weekend just yet, but a girl can dream, right?

We have lots and lots for you to do this weekend and, as always, we want to hear from you: What are you up to? What fun weekend tips do you have for all of us? We are here (as always) to prove there is more to life than the BlackBerry and Power Points!

Have at it...

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20009: This might be an impossible task -- I'm looking for a brunch reservation for 5 on Sunday in Dupont, Georgetown, or the U Street area. Have been calling around but striking out so far -- any thoughts? Thank you!

Eve Zibart: Agraria has a nice brunch, as does Hook. Or what about the Peacock Cafe? Bombay Club on K Street? Bistro du Coin? Cafe L'Enfant for crepes (that might be tight seating). There are always the hotels (the Four Seasons and the Monarch have very nice buffets, if that would do) or Blue Duck in the Grand Hyatt. And there's always Clyde's or J. Paul's....Bistro Francais...more?

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Georgetown, D.C.: Hello! Tonight I'm going to a string quartet at the Library of Congress and since the show doesn't start until 8, my friend and I wanted to grab a light dinner and a drink first. We wanted something on nicer side, preferably with a good happy hour, but that isn't a complete necessity. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Eve Zibart: Sonoma wine bar is right across Pennsylvania; you could have cheese or oysters and split a pizza. Alternatively, either Montmartre or Bis would be a short walk.

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Gaithersburg, Md.: So which beach should I lobby for if I'm non-beach person but the rest of my family always gets psyched about going at the first sign of 80 degree weather?

washingtonpost.com: Sun, Sand & Surf ( Weekend, May 16)

Eve Zibart: I'd go for Rehoboth; there's plenty to do for non-beachers (the famous no-tax shopping, dining and high-class lounging) and you can always escape to Lewes or a quieter reading area.

Ellen McCarthy: Yeah, I'm kind of with you -- not a huge lay-on-the-sand-for-hours kind of girl. And I agree that Rehoboth is the best spot for folks like us. Great window shopping, galleries, etc. The Rehoboth Beach Film society also has screenings of indy films up for consideration for their film fest throughout the summer, so that's a great evening option. Visit rehobothfilm.com for a full schedule.

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Washington, D.C.: Boyfriend wants to hit a jazz club this weekend. The only place I know of is Bohemian Caverns. I've been before and enjoyed it. Is that "the" place or should we try somewhere else?

Eve Zibart: It's certain among "the" places, but other good choices would be Blues Alley and HR-57. But you might start at the Mall tonight -- the outdoor jazz (and wine bar) at the National Gallery of Art's sculpture garden or the Jazz Cafe at the Museum of Natural History.

Jenny Abella: I like Twins Jazz too. And the Jazz Cafe at the Museum of Natural History is pretty fun (and affordable).

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Washington, D.C.: What's happened to the theater and dance page? Been looking kinda thin. I like to know about hte top choices and the off the wall stuff happening around town, even if I can't get to every show.

Amy Joyce: Hi D.C. I hope we're doing what you want. Things on the scene have been a little thin lately (shows are ending their runs, it slows in the summertime, etc.)

We're trying to branch out and cover pieces and performances not covered by Style so you can get a wide range from the entire paper. We also aren't writing about things that are sold out, figuring it's cruel to tell people about shows they can't attend! But they are still written about and listed elsewhere in the paper. We've started to run more than one thing on the Stage Page, including dance, and we list theater and dance performances right after our Stage Page, so I hope that helps, as well. Please let us know anytime you want something you're not seeing--we're listening. (You can email me directly at joycea@washpost.com or Weekend in general at weekend@washpost.com.)

We'll link to a recent story we did asking local theater artistic directors what one thing they would want to see this summer that isn't on their own stage. I thought they had some interesting answers.

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washingtonpost.com: At Studio, the Playwright Has Complete Say ( Weekend, May 16)

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washingtonpost.com: 'Hamlet' to Be Free at Carter Barron ( Weekend, May 16)

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Arlington, Va.: Which beach has the best surf for surfing, boogie boards and body surfing? See you beach guide is incomplete for newbies!

Eve Zibart: Well, we've done a lot in previous years, so something we feel as if we're repeating ourselves. But watersports city is Dewey Beach, although OC is scrambling to catch up.

Amy Joyce: And I think Rehoboth is good for boogie boarding your day away. Nice beach there.

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Bethesda, Md.: Is not writing about sold out events related to the recent SRO run of Macbeth at Folger?

Amy Joyce: Sorry, I'm not sure what you're asking here.

If you're asking if Macbeth's sold out shows were the impetus for us not covering performances that are sold out? No. We figure Weekend is here to help you plan out your weekends, so it wouldn't serve you well for us to do a big feature on a performance that is sold out. But MacBeth wasn't the start of that...

But if you're suggesting we didn't cover MacBeth, that would be incorrect, too! Style did a few things and we (I believe) ran a piece of the Style review in our pages.

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Inside the Beltway: What's a good movie to start with for a Godard beginner? What or where do you think his greatest influence has been?

washingtonpost.com: Godard: A Revolutionary In More Ways Than Onel ( Weekend, May 16)

Michael O'Sullivan: Since the two Jean-Luc Godard films reviewd on DVD this week ("La Chinoise" and "Le Gai Savoir") are probably not the best place for beginners to start, you might want to turn to the AFi Silver Theatre's "Jean-Luc Godard in the 1960s" (May 22 through July 3 at 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring). In addition to "La Chinoise" (June 22-26) and "Le Gai Savoir" (June 7-8), the Silver will be screening a few films that are probably better places for Godard newbies to get their feet wet: "Breathless" (May 22-26); "Masculine Feminine" (June13-14); "Band of Outsiders" (May 31, June 1 and 4).

Godard, who began as a critic, had diverse influences. In 1963, his top ten list included: "The Birds"; "The Chapman Report"; "Donovan's Reef"; "The Nutty Professor" (what is it about Jerry Lewis and the French?!?); "Irma la Douce"; and "Two Weeks in Another Town." He would gradually become more and more disillusioned with American cinema, however, as his politics and aesthetics became more radical.

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Ellen McCarthy: Okay, can we get a little help this debate? What's the quintessential beach song? The one you want playing at dusk while you sip something fruity after a long day at the ocean? Margaritaville? Something by the Beach Boys?

Amy Joyce: Sitting on the Dock of the Bay? That always reminded me of summer when I was small.

What else?

Jenny Abella:"Beach Blanket Bingo"? Heh. Beach Boys say beach to me: "California Girls," "Surfin' USA," "Surfer Girl"...

Eve Zibart:"Summertime" still moves me. "Summer in the City" is great, but a little more hyper, as is "Hot Fun in the Summertime." Not quite the same emotion, but have to mention "Boys of Summer" -- love the riff into "Out on the road today I saw a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac."

Michael O'Sullivan:"Rockaway Beach" by the Ramones. "Chewin' out a rhythm on my bubble gum/The sun is out and I want some."

Amy Joyce: any others?

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South Riding, Va.: I want to go to the air show at Andrews this weekend? I have heard about the track work on Metro, should I drive there instead? The Metro has been single tracking trains between Vienna and West Falls Church and on the Yellow/Green Lines. What do you recommend?

Eve Zibart: You can't drive to Andrews, or at least you can't park there...I'd take advantage of the free shuttle and head for either Branch Avenue Metro or FedEx, whichever's closer.

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Brunch spot: I've always enjoyed the brunch at The Front Page at Dupont Circle.

Eve Zibart: Thanks -- more helpers out there?

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Georgetown brunch spot: Nolan's has a nice brunch and great bloody mary's, and they are usually not crowded and can seat a group of 5 pretty quickly. It's my old reliable

Amy Joyce: Great. Thank you.

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Alexandria, Va.: Husband has to work tomorrow morning and we have a family function on Sunday. So, we have from about 1 p.m. to late Saturday to do something fun, since it looks like it might be nice. Any afternoon/evening suggestions for a couple and their intrepid pooch? We're up for anything.

Amy Joyce: Hmmm. This situation is the exact reason we're doing our relatively new feature called "The 3-Hour Weekend" on page 5. This week's piece by Moira McLaughlin is so interesting, and I absolutely want to do it. (A nighttime bike tour.)

But I don't think your intrepid pooch can join, unfortunately.

That said... Are you up for a little hike? Maybe try the Great Falls Gold Mine Trail. Amy Orndorff can tell you a bit more about it. (The Billy Goat trail is also a good one.)

You could do that then go get a bite to eat somewhere. And I bet Eve will have a suggestion about where you can eat while your pooch hangs out table side.

Amy Orndorff: The Gold Mine Trail is a great Washington secret and as far as hiking with the dog, it might be a bit safer than the Billy Goat trail.

Hope you have fun!

Eve Zibart: Old Town is notoriously Pet Friendly, and almost any of the restaurants with outdoor seating will let you bring Pooch along. Jackson 20, the restaurant at the Hotel Monaco in Old Town, has a dog-friendly patio for lunch, though not dinner (and hosts doggie happy hours Tuesday and Thursday, incidentally). And the Georgetown waterfront is, too -- if you decide to stroll down the C&O from Fletcher's way, you could stop there. If you do go up more toward Great Falls or the wide water, you could sit on the patio at Old Angler's or the Irish Inn at Glen Echo.

Amy Joyce: One other quick thought for an outdoor afternoon with your pup: Mount Rainier is having its day with a parade and entertainers, crafts, children's activities from 11 to 6. It's always nice to explore a new neighborhood.

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Summer songs: In The Summertime by Mungo Jerry

Amy Joyce: There ya go... (I'm going to have a hard time getting that out of my head.)

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Georgetown: Nathan's, not Nolan's.

Sorry about that. Corner of Wisconsin and M.

Amy Joyce: Oh!

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More summer songs: Summer Rain -- by Johnny Rivers, has a great line about listening to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Amy Joyce: Niiice.

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Georgetown, D.C.: Any thoughts on these three new restaurants I've noticed?

Coco Sala in PQ

Darlington House in DuPont

Bodega in Georgetown (which just kind of appeared one day!)

Eve Zibart: Coco Sala is really a chocolate bar -- chocolates and alcohol -- with a few nibblies such as crab cakes and cheese. By me this is heaven, but it might not suit you. (So far it's only open in the evenings.)The chef upstairs at Darlington House -- nee Childe Harold, for us oldtimers -- came from the Modern in New York (that's the upscale restaurant at MoMA) and is doing pasta and upscale but not too cutesy Italian. Downstairs is more pubbish, pizza charcuterie, etc. Haven't seen Bodega yet, sorry -- anyone?

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Falls Church, Va.: I want to see Chita Rivera at Signature, but am hesitant to spend a lot of money right now. What do you think? Is it worth the expense?

Eve Zibart: I think Chita Rivera is a force of nature -- one of the five or six great ladies of the music theater. AND she's sort of a local girl, which is fun. That said, this is not a major dance role (in fact, she wears a "wooden leg") but a dark comedy. But you could call the box office and ask about some of the special $20 tickets, perhaps?

Amy Joyce: Our reviewers say you should go, as does Ari Roth of Theater J (check out the link earlier in our chat for what he has to say about it.)

And really-- if you can see Chita, you should see Chita, right? Let us know what you decide...

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Amy Joyce: Alrighty, folks, that does it for us this week. We won't be here next Friday, figuring many of you will be long gone for your long weekend. Enjoy!

Don't forget to let us know what you want to do, have done and would like to know more about. You can email us at weekend@washpost.com.

Have a great weekend.

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