SEARCH: Advanced Search

How the Law Got Past ‘Separate but Equal’

Feb. 9, 12 a.m.

The landmark Brown v. Board of Education case is rightly looked at as a turning point in civil rights history. But as author Rawn James Jr. describes in his new book, so much happened before that decision was handed down.

Jefferson's Early Days Reveal a Different Leader

Feb. 9, 12 a.m.

Virginia Gov. Thomas Jefferson was out for a morning stroll in his garden on New Year’s Day of 1781 when he got the news — a fleet of 27 ships, origins unknown, had sailed through the Virginia Capes.

Gonzo Journalism’s New Heir

Feb. 9, 12 a.m.

The first thing you’ll notice about Matt Labash’s first book — that is, apart from the cartoonish scowl of a fly-fishing Dick Cheney flanked by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Al Sharpton and Donald Trump’s ridiculous quiff — is the quote by P.J. O’Rourke situated neatly atop the jacket: Labash “is Hunter S. Thompson on acid.” Wait, wasn’t Thompson already on acid? Never mind.

Members Retrieve Haitian Orphans

Feb. 8, 12 a.m.

Of the many grim images broadcast in the aftermath of the massive earthquake that devastated Haiti four weeks ago, Robert and Sarah Gammons-Reese found one particularly disturbing: the sight of their adoption attorney’s collapsed law office in downtown Port-au-Prince.

Georgia Is Always on Our Minds

Feb. 4, 12 a.m.

Trying in 1976 to explain her tendency toward abstract art, Georgia O’Keeffe said, “The abstraction is often the most definite form for the intangible thing in myself that I can only clarify in paint.”

Illustration To Enhance The Book

Feb. 4, 12 a.m.

If you’ve ever made a scrapbook or created a video mash-up, you probably didn’t realize you were practicing a 19th-century illustrative technique.

Power Lunch: Friendly Bistro

Feb. 4, 12 a.m.

It’s best to approach Zest American Bistro, the new Barracks Row eatery, like any recently arrived neighbor: Focus on the good and try to overlook the flaws.

Prosperity Caucus Stays Faithful to Its Conservative History

Feb. 3, 12 a.m.

Founded in 1986, the Prosperity Caucus has a simple purpose: to gather libertarian-minded economists, Hill staffers and academics over beer and pizza to hear someone talk about the burning policy issues of the day. Rep. Paul Ryan, who spoke at a recent meeting, is one of their shining stars.

Writers, Artists Work Out Imaginative Interaction

Feb. 3, 12 a.m.

Written word and visual art have been inextricably linked since early Mesopotamian scribes etched pictographs on clay tablets and Egyptians decorated their temple walls with hieroglyphs. So the latest installation at the Hamiltonian Gallery (1353 U St. NW) really plays into a long-standing artistic norm. Still, “Call + Response” has an air of freshness about it.

In Death, Salinger Gets the Spotlight

Feb. 2, 12 a.m.

For decades prior to his Jan. 27 death, J.D. Salinger had not been seen in public. The author, equally famous for his reclusiveness as for his 1951 literary masterpiece, “The Catcher in the Rye,” stopped giving interviews in 1980.

Why Many Nations Opt For Security

Feb. 2, 12 a.m.

Dogged by controversy for most of his career, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has never had trouble accumulating wealth and earning popular support from the electorate. His charisma, unpredictability and capacity to convince people he is the right man for the job transformed him from a small entrepreneur to a global leader worth billions of dollars.

Washington’s Confederate Belle

Feb. 2, 12 a.m.

Most of us, when waxing historical, usually invoke only big names: Benjamin Franklin or Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. The average people who years ago trudged the same unpaved streets in the nation’s capital seem long forgotten.

Friends in Wartime Need

Feb. 2, 12 a.m.

Not all Americans waited until Pearl Harbor was attacked to intervene in World War II. In her new book, “Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood With Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour,” author Lynne Olson focuses on those who made London their home even before 1941 and did their best to persuade their own country to intervene.

An Eye for a Masterpiece

Feb. 1, 12 a.m.

Art collectors Gwendoline and Margaret Davies were trendsetters. The two reclusive Welsh sisters fell in love with modern French art in the early 20th century, long before most people had even realized who Claude Monet was.

Photographic Display Tells Us ‘What We Look Like’

Feb. 1, 12 a.m.

When was the last time you visited a good old-fashioned county fair? It’s probably been a while if you live in D.C. full time.

Zoo Will Toast the ‘Butterstick’ On Saturday

Jan. 28, 12 a.m.

Have you ever wanted to party with a panda? If so, this weekend might be your last chance.

Revisiting the Collection of a Lifetime

Jan. 28, 12 a.m.

Not every museum benefactor is honored with his own exhibition at the National Gallery of Art, complete with a special cafe menu prepared by acclaimed chef Michel Richard. But then again, Chester Dale was no ordinary benefactor.

Art Project Encourages Disabled Adults

Jan. 27, 12 a.m.

Down a muddy stretch of New York Avenue Northeast, a pedestrian will find a place with a little more color than the other storefronts. Art Enables, a nonprofit that works with mentally and developmentally disabled adults, provides the brightly lit studio space for budding artists. They create what’s known as outsider art, the raw kind of work produced by people who are not formally trained.

For Some, SOTU Is Party Time

Jan. 27, 12 a.m.

As President Barack Obama prepares to take the stage to deliver his first State of the Union address tonight, supporters on the left — and the far left — are organizing public watch parties in Washington, D.C., to try to whip up support for policy issues, publicize their organization or even just meet their neighbors.

His Northern Exposure

Jan. 27, 12 a.m.

Today is the 30th anniversary of the 'Canadian caper,' Canada's covert rescue of six Americans trapped in Iran following the seizure of the U.S. Embassy. It's just one milestone the Canadian embassy in D.C. will celebrate in 2010 — ambassador Gary Doer also is planning a huge bash when the Olympic Games open on Feb. 12 in Vancouver.

Fight to Change All Fights

Jan. 26, 12 a.m.

The Battle of the Marne changed everything. In “The Marne, 1914: The Opening of World War I and the Battle That Changed the World,” Holger Herwig, a history professor at the University of Calgary, reveals the historical importance of “the most significant land battle of the twentieth century.”

Finding the Gray Areas in the Politics of Race

Jan. 26, 12 a.m.

Politicians, by nature, are a stealthy bunch. Although much of their careers are spent in the limelight, it’s no secret that they also spend ample time maneuvering behind closed doors, too

One Intern’s Clinton Moment

Jan. 26, 12 a.m.

In her new book, “Government Girl: Young and Female in the White House,” Stacy Parker Aab, a White House intern during the Clinton administration, gives us some insight into what it was like to be the focus of unwanted attention from the commander in chief.

Congress Is All Atwitter

Jan. 25, 12 a.m.

Since the microblogging Web site Twitter launched in 2006, tens of millions of people have logged on and churned out billions of 140-character messages called tweets. And Congress has certainly embraced the trend. In fact, by early last year, some 20 Members were using the site, according to Tweet Congress, which monitors Members’ Twitter use. The current count, the group says, is 162 (plus 16 committees and seven caucuses).

Still-Life Paintings Are Moving

Jan. 25, 12 a.m.

The term “still life” is probably a bad way to describe Maggie Siner’s paintings. Perhaps “passing by” is a more apt characterization of her work, which also includes landscapes and portraits.

Films Focus on a Persian Perspective

Jan. 21, 12 a.m.

An Iranian-Afghan romance, a re-creation of a Persian theatrical experience and Anton Chekhov — a little bit of everything is covered in a series of upcoming film festivals.

A Filmmaker’s Story

Jan. 21, 12 a.m.

Duane Baughman has always had a healthy sense of adventure. During non-election years, the Democratic direct-mail firm president has gone gorilla trekking in Rwanda and spent time with a tribe in Papua New Guinea.

Hill Talk: Baseball Field Honors a ‘Peanut’

Jan. 20, 12 a.m.

Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells (D) has introduced a measure to rename the baseball field at Rosedale Recreation Center after a local legend.

A Helping Hand to Haiti

Jan. 20, 12 a.m.

The devastating earthquake that affected Haiti last week hit especially close to home for one group of restaurants. The Neighborhood Restaurant Group, which is responsible for local eateries such as Rustico (827 Slaters Lane, Alexandria, Va.), Birch & Barley and ChurchKey (1337 14th St. NW), had recently bid farewell to Rustico server Frank Thorp, who moved to Haiti with his wife, Jillian.

Unbossed After All These Years

Jan. 19, 12 a.m.

There are many black leaders and feminists who have been credited with paving the way for Barack Obama’s and Hillary Rodham Clinton’s runs for the presidency. But there is one who often goes all but forgotten in those conversations, someone who made inroads in both areas and ran for the highest office long before Obama and Clinton had even set foot in the Senate.

So You Think You Voted Rationally

Jan. 19, 12 a.m.

Imagine you’re standing in a voting booth. Over the past months you’ve devoured countless news articles and pored over policy statements. You’re informed and you’re ready. You confidently grab the pencil, tick a little box near your candidate’s name and submit your ballot. As you leave, an overwhelming sense of satisfaction radiates from every pore.

Dragged Through Muck

Jan. 19, 12 a.m.

By now everyone has heard about “Game Change.” It is impossible to avoid. The book has spawned the past few political scandals du jour — including stories of a cadre of powerful Democrats conspiring against Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) “Negro” faux pas and the disclosure of Sen. John McCain’s (R-Ariz.) lax vetting of then-Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R). The book has been both parodied on “The Daily Show” and discussed in detail on every cable news network and warranted its own on-screen graphic. It is, quite simply, a must-read.

Hill Talk: Forum Asks: What Would MLK Do?

Jan. 14, 12 a.m.

That question will be posed Friday night at a forum hosted by Americans for Democratic Action. The group has invited several guests to discuss how civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. would respond to the most critical problems that the country is facing.

A Rivalry For the Ages At Ford’s

Jan. 14, 12 a.m.

In “The Rivalry,” a new play opening at Ford’s Theatre, actor Robert Parsons has the opportunity to play the role of Abraham Lincoln. It’s an honor that is bestowed on very few actors.

Mexican Artist Tamayo Has His Day in the Sun

Jan. 14, 12 a.m.

An out-of-the-way museum concealed behind fortress-like walls hides a treasure in Northwest D.C. The Meridian International Center has on display the vibrant prints of Mexican artist Rufino Tamayo.

Always on Our Minds

Jan. 14, 12 a.m.

We may have lost the man dubbed the King of Pop this past year, but any music purist will tell you there’s only one real King. And ladies and gentlemen, Elvis is back in the building. In honor of what would have been Elvis Presley’s 75th birthday on Jan. 8, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery has opened “One Life: Echoes of Elvis,” a tribute to the pervasive pop icon.

New Cannon Salon Aims to Beautify Capitol Hill

Jan. 13, 12 a.m.

Capitol Hill staffers and Members of Congress will soon have a new option when they need a haircut, facial or manicure. Tides Hair Salon, owned by veteran hair stylist Vince Marvaso, is slated to open in the Cannon House Office Building by the end of January and will offer a wide variety of beauty options.

Former Member Recalls ‘Barrel-Chested’ Therapist

Jan. 13, 12 a.m.

A journey down memory lane prompted an unusual letter to the editor last month. Jim Weaver, who served as a Congressman from Oregon from 1975 to 1987, mailed Roll Call a tribute to a man who served as “House masseur” during his tenure.

Poetry Tour Explores D.C.’s Literary Heritage

Jan. 13, 12 a.m.

A group dedicated to advancing poetry in American culture has started a new D.C. poetry tour in hopes of bringing attention to the District’s historically vibrant, yet often-overlooked, poetry scene.

Washingtonians and visitors can download the Poetry Foundation’s free mp3, print out an accompanying map and guide themselves through a rediscovery of the District, exploring the city’s poetic past and bringing to life landmarks in the way only a bard’s verse can.

A Diamond-Hard Ceiling

Jan. 12, 12 a.m.

In her comprehensive new book, “Notes From the Cracked Ceiling: Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, and What It Will Take for a Woman to Win,” Washington Post writer Anne Kornblut asks whether women’s lack of groundbreaking achievement was caused by sexism.

Tactics Even Abramoff Wouldn’t Try

Jan. 12, 12 a.m.

Awash with insider stock tips, crates of booze, lavish dinners and expensive gifts, the over-the-top tactics of 19th-century lobbyists would make contemporary K Street bad guy Jack Abramoff blush.

A Treasure Hunt for D.C.’s Lost Symbols

Jan. 12, 12 a.m.

There was plenty of hype in Washington last year when author Dan Brown released “The Lost Symbol,” his latest cryptology-laced thriller following the conspiracy-filled adventures of fictional Harvard University professor Robert Langdon.

New Book Has Political Tongues Wagging

Jan. 11, 3:53 p.m.

Much has been made lately of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) race-based comments about then-Sen. Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign. But “Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime,” written by reporters John Heilemann and Mark Halperin and on bookshelves Monday, is packed full of similarly salacious revelations from the campaign trail and beyond.

It Takes a (Hill) Village to Age in Place

Dec. 21, 12 a.m.

An English basement a block from the Eastern Market Metro stop is an unexpected hub of activity on a recent Friday afternoon. Gail Kohn, executive director of Capitol Hill Village, welcomes a string of visitors and answers a constantly ringing phone.

Hill Moms Take Play Groups to a New Level

Dec. 21, 12 a.m.

Modern parenting can be a stressful, taxing experience — so it’s sometimes nice to know that you’re not alone. The Capitol Hill group Moms on the Hill, the recent recipient of D.C. Councilman Tommy Wells’ (D) Livable, Walkable Community Organization award, aims to make being a parent on Capitol Hill just a little bit easier.

Hill Talk: Carjackings Disturb Neighborhood Calm

Dec. 21, 12 a.m.

A community meeting is planned for 6:30 tonight at the Options Public Charter School to discuss a spate of carjackings that has some Capitol Hill residents concerned. Ward 6 Councilmember Tommy Wells (D) will attend, as well as Advisory Neighborhood commissioners and First District Metropolitan Police Department Commander David Kamperin.

Gifts for the Politically Minded

Dec. 17, 12 a.m.

With just a few days before Christmas, the pressure to find the perfect gift intensifies. To ensure that this season’s giving will pass muster with the political junkie in your life, start with a visit to the Political Americana memorabilia shop (with stores at 1331 Pennsylvania Ave. NW and 701 15th St. NW).

A Celebration of Stradivari

Dec. 17, 12 a.m.

Every year in December, the Library of Congress has a secret to tell, one that few veteran Washingtonians even know about. This Friday, the Library will again tell that secret.

Shaheen Chief Takes Family Legacy to Senate

Dec. 16, 12 a.m.

Maura Keefe, chief of staff to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), owes her career to her father, but not in the way one might immediately expect. It’s true that she’s the second chief of staff in her family. From 1962 to 1967, her father, James Keefe, served as chief of staff to New Hampshire Sen. Tom McIntyre (D). But her father also helped pave the way for his daughter’s success — not through nepotism, but through legislation.

Speechwriter Aims to Ramp Up the Panache

Dec. 16, 12 a.m.

The word slick often gets applied to politicians, but career speechwriter and American University adjunct professor Robert Lehrman thinks that many Members of Congress could actually use a little more panache and polish.