Category Archives: Events

Famous Authors and Food Writers at the National Book Festival

This year’s National Book Festival is almost here. It’s one of my favorite events, and another thing I love about living around here. Continue reading

Posted in Events, Reporting | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Cultural is Culinary: Review of Braided Heritage

Jessica B. Harris’ new cookbook is both intensely personal and broadly encompassing, a fine addition to our understanding of American culinary traditions.  Continue reading

Posted in Cookbook Review, Events | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Presents From the Past: Little Beasts at the National Gallery of Art

Little Beasts: Art, Wonder, and the Natural World is on view at the National Gallery West Building Here’s an opportunity to see three-dimensional specimens juxtaposed with representations of them by curious minds of the 16th and 17th centuries, when the study of natural history was just beginning to be codified. Continue reading

Posted in Events, Reporting | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Right Words Can Change The World: Review of Bad Books at Round House

Wit and irony sparkle from the start of Bad Books, as Kate Eastwood Norris and Holly Twyford engage in a face-off about control of children’s reading. Continue reading

Posted in Events, Media Review, Reporting | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Happy Pie Day!  Celebrate With Not One But Two Contests

Yes, in honor of that unique mathematical relationship and MIT cheer (Cosine secant tangent sine, 3.14159), not to mention the tastiest of round desserts, we present: the Olney Theatre Center Pie Eating and Baking Contests! Continue reading

Posted in Cooking, Eating, Events, Reporting | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Plaster on the Corn: Review of Shucked at the National Theatre

You want to do a musical comedy about corn? Are you worried about being accused of writing folksy, hokey humor and groaner puns? Here’s the answer: lean into it! Continue reading

Posted in Events, Media Review, Reporting | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Pie in the Sky: Review of “Waitress” at Olney Theatre Center

If the singing and acting weren’t so enthusiastic and entertaining, this play might be upstaged by the hydraulics. Continue reading

Posted in Events, Media Review, Reporting | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Review: What the Constitution Means To Me at Round House Theatre

Before I saw Round House’s production of What the Constitution Means To Me, I was only vaguely aware that this play was about a teenager debating the Constitution. I hoped that it would not be tedious, or tendentious, as that description suggests – but it’s only ninety minutes long, so how bad could it be?

I was totally unprepared for how energetic, funny, poignant, timely, and engaging this production is, with its fine performance by Kimberly Gilbert in the part originated by the playwright Heidi Schreck. Continue reading

Posted in Events, Media Review, Reporting | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Interactions and Reactions: Two Exhibits, and a Welcome Development

The NGA’s blockbuster exhibit is showcasing Impressionists – everybody’s favorite painting school – and the Phillips has an intriguing set of artworks drawn completely from their permanent collection. Continue reading

Posted in Events, Reporting | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Food and Roving in Scotland: Our Trip to Glasgow and Edinburgh Part 3: The Other Festival

While researching the Fringe, I discovered another event in Edinburgh that gave me a severe case of FOMO. The Edinburgh International Book Festival. Continue reading

Posted in Events, Reporting | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment