Posts Tagged ‘DC’
Where D.C. United Players Are Hanging Out This Week
Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Thursday, May 17th, 2012
Najar, in action. / Photo credit: Shutterstock/Photo Works
Catch up with the awesomely talented dudes of D.C. United who are coming off a nice win over the Colorado Rapids and a three straight Ws at home as they make quite a few public appearances this week.
Here’s a breakdown of who-where-when:
Celebri-Author Betty White Is Headed to The Zoo
Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Wednesday, May 16th, 2012
The Queen of Funny. / Photo courtesy: Shutterstock/ s_bukley
Forgot Cleveland. This week, Betty White will be heating things up by heading to the National Zoo for a book signing. On Friday, May 18, the eternally youthful 90-year-old will be promoting “Betty & Friends: My Life at the Zoo“ and “If You Ask Me (And Of Course You Won’t.”
Trebek Talks Mustaches, One Direction, the Buzzer Secret & ‘Jeopardy’ in D.C.
Posted by Rebekah Lowe / Tuesday, April 24th, 2012
Going to a live ‘Jeopardy’ taping has its perks.
You get to improve your acting skills by clapping and yelling as loudly as you did the first time when little slip-ups need re-recorded. The audience gets to ask Alex any question they want during commercial breaks, which proves to be rather entertaining (read on). You discover that the contestants run through a complete rehearsal game before starting the real game that will be aired. And the secret is revealed that it’s not Alex who hosts these practice rounds—it’s a mystery man who I like to call ‘Rehearsal Alex.’
Side view of the illusive Rehearsal Alex! Yep, that's all you get. (Photo: Steve Stratton)
On the down side, there’s a certain theme song you may have heard before that gets stuck in your head. And you have to stop yourself from yelling out the answers when you’re so excited that you actually know one.
(Photo: Steve Stratton)
‘Jeopardy’ brought their 100-ish-person crew to Constitution Hall on Friday to film the Teen Tournament and Saturday to film the Power Players Tournament. NoVA Mag was there on Saturday to see some of the country’s leading politicians and media members test their knowledge against one another’s in the name of their favorite charities.
The Power Players were Anderson Cooper, Lizzie O’Leary, David Faber, Chris Matthews, Kelly O’Donnell, Chuck Todd, Chris Wallace, Dana Perino, Katty Kay, Dr. Mehmet Oz, Lewis Black, Clarence Page, Thomas Friedman, Robert Gibbs and Kareem Abdul-Jabar.
Kareem Abdul-Jabar & Dana Perino chatting with us before their game.
I won’t tell you who wins each game though. You’ll have to watch the ‘Jeopardy’ Power Players series the week of May 14 at 7:30 each night on ABC 7 to find out! (Look for me doing the wave very enthusiastically when they pan to the audience!)
Here’s a quick snippet of one of the rehearsal games:
Who is… Alex Trebek?
Alex Trebek (Photo: Steve Stratton)
Alex Trebek says he’s watched ‘Glee,’ but that he doesn’t know who One Direction is. He scored 50 percent on his pop culture quiz from the tween girls in the audience.
After spending some time with Alex in between tapings, I would argue that he’s funnier off-screen than on. He says he lives a “quiet life,” enjoys the occasional glass of white wine and likes hanging out with his dog Willie (the only dog they have left after Scammer was eaten by a coyote—the tweens cringed at this). Alex revealed that the only way we’d ever see him on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ is if it were renamed ‘Dancing with the Old Timers.’ And if he weren’t hosting ‘Jeopardy’ he would want to host ‘Hollywood Squares’ because he thinks it’s “easy.”
Our much loved TV host is in his 28th year of ‘Jeopardy’ now. That’s more than 6,000 episodes! Unlike most game show hosts who are used to asking the questions, Alex is accustomed to giving the answers, so we asked him for a few.
On the secret to the buzzer:
Alex: “Really it depends on what you know, and how good your reflexes are in terms of ringing in. Quite often contestants get a little too excited, and they’ll ring in a fraction of a second early and they’ll lock themselves out. So we try to advise them to pay attention to the clue and as soon as you see the lights go up on the side of the big board, then ring in.”
On bringing Jeopardy to D.C.:
Alex: “Well, we haven’t been here for a Power Players tournament in about eight years … We’re like the presidential run, except in reverse. People are elected president, and they come to Washington, D.C., and if they are re-elected, they have to leave here after eight years. We come here; we leave for eight years and then we come back.”
On the politics of Jeopardy:
Alex: “A couple days ago we had Vice-President Joe Biden do some clues for us. That’s going to be interesting because his clues will run in the Teen Tournament. The Teen Tournament is one of the tournaments that will be re-run this summer that will probably be in the middle of the election campaign, and we’re wondering if we can get a waiver or if we will have to give equal time to the Republican vice-president. But I recorded the same clues he did just in case we aren’t able to use the Vice-President’s.”
On the D.C. fans:
Alex: “Obviously we have a lot of fans in the D.C. area, and they have been most generous with their applause. Yesterday morning when I came out for the very first taping, the applause was so loud I had a tear in my eye. I was just touched.”
On D.C. traffic:
Alex: “The other day after our tour of the White House, the players—the teens—decided they were going to walk back to the hotel from the White House, and my legs were bothering me a lot so I said, ‘I’ll ride back.’ They got back to the hotel about half an hour before I did.”
On the mustache:
Alex: “It’s in a drawer in my dresser in Los Angeles, so I can put it on at any time. But I don’t know if I’m gonna grow it again. If I grow it again it will come out a lot whiter than it used to be.”
And lastly, on knowledge v. intellect:
Is There ‘Blood In The Mobile’?
Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Tuesday, April 17th, 2012
At this year’s Filmfest DC, more than 80 films from across the globe are being screened now through April 22. This international event is celebrating its 26th year of showcasing some of the year’s best features, documentaries and shorts.
And, action! / Photo credit: Razumovskaya Marina Nikolaevna
A full schedule of films can be found here, and include some comedic, Caribbean and social justice-focused series.
Speaking of social justice, you will not look at your cell phone the same way after watching filmmaker Frank Poulsen’s “Blood In the Mobile.“
Filmfest DC doesn't shy away from difficult topics, like social injustice. / Photo courtesy: Danish Film Institute
This 82-minute documentary follows Poulsen as he attempts to answer the following: Is my cell phone financing war? With tips that the minerals used in Nokia phones could possibly be traced back to trade in Congo, Poulsen treks to the Nokia headquarters and to Goma, Norther Kivu, seeking answers.
Thru April 22, times vary; various theatres; www.filmfestdc.org
– Lorin Drinkard
Migrating Coconuts and A Very, Very, Very Round Table: The Sensationalness of ‘Spamalot’
Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Thursday, March 15th, 2012
The possible migration of tropical fruit is just one of the laugh-out-loud conversations heard from Warner Theatre‘s stage during the Tony-award winning show “Spamalot” this week in DC.
If ‘fisch schlapping’ (just what it sounds like), dancing knights in tights and infectious British accents are your thing, you will love, love, love the stage version of “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”
"All for one, some for some ... and slightly less for people we don't like," declare King Arthur's knights. Photo credit: Scott Suchman
DC Fashion Week Lets Its Hair Down
Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Friday, February 24th, 2012
In the midst of a bustling, fashion-filled week, District area fashionistas, photogs, bloggers, stylists [hair and makeup], models, agents and more holed up in Dirty Martini last night for a trendy good time. Up several flights of stars, the typical lounge was converted into a runway for local designers to showcase their latest and greatest bedazzled bling and other accessories. Before and after the show, the room was abuzz as DMVers networked hard. Convenient white name tags revealed each guest’s field of work (“Oh, you’re a blogger?”) and colorful typeface business cards went flying.
A floral piece from Bernice Morgan's runway collection. / Photo credit: Amol Pandit
We caught up with the one and only Ean Williams, a fashion legend in the city, the main man behind DC Fashion Week and all-around stellar guy, to get his thoughts on local fashion and why he loves our lively capital city. He expressed how DC is unlike other cities because “of the nightlife. After 5, the city comes alive.” Sure, we’re all buttoned up and business professional during the day but that doesn’t mean we’re not all trading out power suits for fashionable alternatives after hours. We couldn’t agree more, Mr. Williams.
The man himself, Ean Williams, with NoVA Mag's Jolleen Tran. / Photo courtesy: Amol Pandit
Also spotted: the Glam Squad, The Cheeky Style interviewing guests all night, Hadley Moore‘s Robin Hunt, designer Kelly Tang, Olivia Gossett of ILWYW and stylist Ujjib were mingling among the fashionable crowd.
–Lorin Drinkard
Del Ray’s Pork Barrel BBQ Opens Today!
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, November 29th, 2011
Image: Rebecca Armendariz/TBD
In 2008, Pork Barrel BBQ founders Heath Hall and Brett Thompson released their company’s first product – the All-American Spice Rub. The brand has grown and, since 2009, Hall and Thompson have entered a competition barbecue team in contests, beginning with the Safeway National Capital Barbecue Battle in D.C. They even have their own fragrance – “Que.”
The Alexandria restaurant, which opens today, is another first for the company.
The first Pork Barrel BBQ restaurant opens today at 2300 Mount Vernon Avenue in the Del Rey neighborhood of Alexandria. It’s been over two years since the venture was first announced in August 2009.
Also news is that they’ve brought aboard former Evening Star Café chef, Will Artley, as a consultant to share his knowledge of operating a restaurant and even offering tweaks to the side dishes — including what co-owner Brett Thompson calls an “off-the-charts” rendition of mac-n-cheese.
Pork Barrel BBQ Ribs!
Northern Virginia has been waiting a long time for great BBQ, and I, for one, am looking forward to filling that BBQ void with sumptuous pulled pork, ribs, brisket, chicken and special recipe sausage and sides like BBQ baked beans, coleslaw, potato salad, corn salad and mac & cheese!
Opening today! Go get your BBQ on!
Pork Barrel BBQ Restaurant - 2312 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria
Visit their Facebook page or website for more information!
– Jennie Whistler
Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Thursday, November 10th, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Don’t you just love it when a hotel offers a fresh, unique spin on happy hours in the city?
In case you didn't already get the office-wide memo. / Photo credit: Shutterstock/Arcady
So do we. For the rest of the year, Renaissance Arlington Capital View is running a series of f-r-e-e musical shingdigs at their lovely location, each featuring a different, up-and-coming talented guest artist.
This week’s guest performer is Kristina Furey, a DC singer with a “voice like Joss Stone.” Starting at 6 pm, the hotel’s lounge will be host to the evening’s entertainment festivities. With Blue Ribbon menu items, specialty cocktails and live music, it’s our top pick for free entertainment + yummy drinks happy hour.
RLife LIVE Series
2800 South Potomac Avenue
Arlington, VA 22202
(571) 814-4034
www.therenaissancelife.com
HH: 6 to 8 pm
Cost: prices vary
–Lorin Drinkard
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Wednesday, October 26th, 2011
Did you know that this Friday is International Champagne Day?
Image: Ivanova Inga/Shutterstock
In preparation of the big day, here are some facts about champagne:
-Champagne is a region in France (including the towns of Rhiems, Ay, and Epernay) where the first sparkling wine was made.
-Champagne is now synonymous with all sparkling wines, but should technically only be used for sparkling wine made with grapes from the Champagne region of France.
-A 1970 bottle of Dom Perignon sells for around $2,500.
-Basement climate cabinets are the best places to store champagne.
-Champagne contains antioxidants that are beneficial in reducing the risk of heart problems or strokes.
In honor of Champagne Day, Friday, October 28, Marcel’s in D.C. is offering a French tasting of three specialty champagnes paired with three extravagant hors d’oeuvre.
The champagnes are: Jacquesson Cuvee 734 from Dizy-Champagne, Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve from Mareuil-sur-Ay-Champagne, and Michel-Arnould Brut Rose Grand Cru NV from Verzenay-Champagne.
For the food, Chef Robert Wiedmaier will be serving Quail Egg on Toasted Brioche, Kumamoto Oyster with Champagne Mignonette, and Potato Blini with Smoked Scottish Salmon and Crème Fraîche. All of the hors d’oeuvre will also include Osetra Caviar, one of the most prized caviars in the world.
There will also be champagne experts on hand to speak about the champagnes.
Prices of the tastings are $100 for champagne and food, or $29 for champagne only at the bar. Marcel’s also has over 40 different kinds of champagne on their menu, so if you still want more, no worries there. To RSVP, call 202-296-1166.
Marcel’s is located at 2401 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
And if you’re not up for shelling out the cash, please, at least honor Friday’s big day by popping open a bottle of bubbly at home.
-Julia Harbo
October is Virginia Wine Month
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, October 13th, 2011
Did you know that October is Virginia wine month? That means that if you’re looking for something different to do this weekend, look no further because the Virginia Wine Academy’s got you covered!
(Image: Washingtonwineacademy.org)
This Friday (and every Friday in October) they’re offering wine cruises along the Potomac where you can kick back, relax and enjoy some amazing local Virginia wines!
For $55 get 15 tastes (or combine your tastes for full glasses) of some of the best wines this state has to offer. If you’re feeling a bit peckish, there will be a wide array of snack to choose from.
Each cruise is 90 minutes and offers some of the best views of the DC skyline.
Virginia Wine Cruises on the Potomac are offered every Friday in October and depart from the SW Waterfront at 700 street.
Cruise Times:
6:30 – 8:00 PM – Boats board 15 minutes in advance and leave on time.
8:30 – 10:00 PM – Boats board 15 minutes in advance and leave on time.
NOTE: You will be scheduled on the cruise you sign up for and we will not be able accommodate late or early arrivals due to capacity of the boats. These cruises are expected to sell out.
Go here for more information or to purchase tickets.
Founded in 1999, The Washington Wine Academy is the premier wine education center in the Washington DC area and educates more than 1,000 wine enthusiasts a month.
Washington Wine Academy Education Center
1201 South Eads Street, Suite 400
Arlington
(703)971.1525
– Jennie Whistler