Hooray for our hopefully final farewell to snow and chill! Yes, it's still a lot chillier than I'd like, especially as I have my eye on my shiny-new season pass for paddleboarding in the Potomac... We went for a stroll round Roosevelt Island this weekend (always exceptionally delightful) and saw not even one hardy soul on the water as yet. Maybe next weekend...
In the meantime, I'm entertaining myself with warmer pursuits. I went to hear Kazuo Ishiguro speak at Sixth and I on Sunday. He was outstanding. I have to say, whenever I go to a Politics and Prose-organized author event at Sixth and I, it has always been amazing. I'm not even a massive fan of Ishiguro's books (except for Never Let Me Go, which I love), but I entirely fell in love with him and will likely read his new book at some point. Except I'm busy with coming of age books in anticipation of a class on the subject at Politics and Prose on Monday. But I digress...
We were excited to try not one but TWO new Jose Andres restaurants this weekend. Beefsteak, in Foggy Bottom opposite Wholefoods, is a vegetable-focused upgrade of the Sweetgreen/Chop'd experience. The same sort of price, but stratospherically different. I had the Frida Kale salad. It was both punny and remarkable. It's an informal, studenty sort of place. Okay, I admit it: I went twice. At the other end of the Jose Andres experience, we went to China Chilcano, a far more formal and glam affair near Jaleo. It's a Peru/China cuisine mix and it worked very well. I had an excellent dinner, with a special shout out to the dessert list and the cocktails. Jose Andres, I love you.
What's coming up that sounds cool in DC in the coming week
Tue 24th March - Combine SpeakeasyDC with NerdsInNoma and what do you get? The event happening tonight!
Wed 25th March - I'm off to the Angelika in Fairfax to perform in a SpeakeasyDC show, 'From Marx Brothers to Coen Brothers', at a Jewish Film Festival. Wish me luck. If you're feeling gay and desiring to stay in DC, GLINT (the group for LGBT people who work in embassies) are hosting a happy hour at The Brixton, open to all.
Thu 26th March - There's a Swiss-themed art night at Hillyer Art Space including a drawing class, short film, wine and cheese, all for free.
Fri 27th March - It's a comedy extravaganza tonight. Start with Mike Lawrence free at the Kennedy Center's Millennium stage. Next up, hooray, Science comedy at the Bier Baron is tonight. The last one was outstanding. I loved it except it was ridiculously overcrowded. This time they're selling tickets - phew! In the north corner, Don't Block the Box comedy, mostly women comics, is also on tonight. Who's going to win your custom? Don't like comedy? Try the latest Smithsonian at 8 event, which sounds very French! The Pigeoning is also on tonight - see Saturday for details. Want even more? Well, the Cherry Blast arty DJ party is back!
Sat 28th March - Pop up to Politics and Prose for a free afternoon talk on the first American tourists in Egypt. Then everyone with their finger on the nerdster-hipster pulse knows the place to be this weekend is Artisphere, to see The Pigeoning. Quirky location. Japanese puppetry. Live music. Lo-fi special effects. Mild comedy. Bring on the whimsy. I'm there.
Sun 29th March - On Friday, Satuday and Sunday, if you've never seen Catch Me a Magic Duel, you may enjoy this charming parlor magic show. Affordable tickets on Goldstar.
Thinking ahead
Earlier this year we saw Taylor Mac in New York and he was remarkable - an absolute essential performance experience for anyone who sometimes thinks it would be nice to see something truly original. He's coming to The Clarice on 11th and 12th April. You'd be a fool to miss it - even if you don't like it, you'll still be a bit intrigued and inspired, I think.
In the meantime, I'm entertaining myself with warmer pursuits. I went to hear Kazuo Ishiguro speak at Sixth and I on Sunday. He was outstanding. I have to say, whenever I go to a Politics and Prose-organized author event at Sixth and I, it has always been amazing. I'm not even a massive fan of Ishiguro's books (except for Never Let Me Go, which I love), but I entirely fell in love with him and will likely read his new book at some point. Except I'm busy with coming of age books in anticipation of a class on the subject at Politics and Prose on Monday. But I digress...
We were excited to try not one but TWO new Jose Andres restaurants this weekend. Beefsteak, in Foggy Bottom opposite Wholefoods, is a vegetable-focused upgrade of the Sweetgreen/Chop'd experience. The same sort of price, but stratospherically different. I had the Frida Kale salad. It was both punny and remarkable. It's an informal, studenty sort of place. Okay, I admit it: I went twice. At the other end of the Jose Andres experience, we went to China Chilcano, a far more formal and glam affair near Jaleo. It's a Peru/China cuisine mix and it worked very well. I had an excellent dinner, with a special shout out to the dessert list and the cocktails. Jose Andres, I love you.
What's coming up that sounds cool in DC in the coming week
Tue 24th March - Combine SpeakeasyDC with NerdsInNoma and what do you get? The event happening tonight!
Wed 25th March - I'm off to the Angelika in Fairfax to perform in a SpeakeasyDC show, 'From Marx Brothers to Coen Brothers', at a Jewish Film Festival. Wish me luck. If you're feeling gay and desiring to stay in DC, GLINT (the group for LGBT people who work in embassies) are hosting a happy hour at The Brixton, open to all.
Thu 26th March - There's a Swiss-themed art night at Hillyer Art Space including a drawing class, short film, wine and cheese, all for free.
Fri 27th March - It's a comedy extravaganza tonight. Start with Mike Lawrence free at the Kennedy Center's Millennium stage. Next up, hooray, Science comedy at the Bier Baron is tonight. The last one was outstanding. I loved it except it was ridiculously overcrowded. This time they're selling tickets - phew! In the north corner, Don't Block the Box comedy, mostly women comics, is also on tonight. Who's going to win your custom? Don't like comedy? Try the latest Smithsonian at 8 event, which sounds very French! The Pigeoning is also on tonight - see Saturday for details. Want even more? Well, the Cherry Blast arty DJ party is back!
Sat 28th March - Pop up to Politics and Prose for a free afternoon talk on the first American tourists in Egypt. Then everyone with their finger on the nerdster-hipster pulse knows the place to be this weekend is Artisphere, to see The Pigeoning. Quirky location. Japanese puppetry. Live music. Lo-fi special effects. Mild comedy. Bring on the whimsy. I'm there.
Sun 29th March - On Friday, Satuday and Sunday, if you've never seen Catch Me a Magic Duel, you may enjoy this charming parlor magic show. Affordable tickets on Goldstar.
Thinking ahead
Earlier this year we saw Taylor Mac in New York and he was remarkable - an absolute essential performance experience for anyone who sometimes thinks it would be nice to see something truly original. He's coming to The Clarice on 11th and 12th April. You'd be a fool to miss it - even if you don't like it, you'll still be a bit intrigued and inspired, I think.