Brad Pitt Has Your Secret Shit: Rolling DC

went to the opening of the Ben Tolman show at Flashpoint tonight. I'm mostly out of the gallery scene these days but this show is pretty amazing - overwhelmingly detailed pen drawings.

http://www.culturaldc.org/events/2015/01/ben-tolman-civilized/

Oh, that does look good.

I ended up going to the Mingering Mike panel discussion at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It was pretty interesting (and not as awkward as I thought it might be for Mike). Mike did "outsider" art-- soul and funk album covers and some reel to reel tapes and cassettes of his own music from 1966 to 1977 I think. Mike was dressed as a surgeon in gown and mask as he wants to keep his identity secret. The panel included the guy who found Mike's work at a flea market;plus an outsider art author; an old-school WOL AM DC soul dj; and the museum curator. Images of Mike's artwork were projected behind them. They then had free wine, beer, cheese, and dip afterwards as dj Harry Hotter spun soul and funk vinyl in the enclosed courtyard there. But the exhibit itself had closed for the evening so I will have to go back. I had seen a smaller showing of Mike's work at the Hemphill Gallery awhile ago.

Reminder (to myself) that the Tolman drawing exhibit at Flashpoint runs only through the 28th and from Wednesday – Saturday, 12 – 6PM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/style/2015/03/12/d-c-s-most-essential-dishes-of-2015/?hpid=z1

W. Post Weekend section compiled from readers and Post writers

Anyone ever figure out best choices for Eden Center (or if anyone is highlighting such places on the internetz)?

Been just eating Laotian food myself and haven't been back there in a bit

http://dcist.com/2015/03/dc_conflict_cuisines_ethiopian.php

A history of Ethiopian food in DC. Forgetsto mention Red Sea, but gets other highlights.

Saigon Cafe (across the street from the Eden Center) was really good

Post food critic Sietsema was asked in the Post the other week for his fave Banh Mi sandwich in Eden Center. He instead replied with Falls Church located but not in Eden Center place Banh Mi DC, that has been a fave of many since at least 2008.

if you're a Grantland reader you might wanna go to P&P tonight

http://www.politics-prose.com/event/book/grantland-panel-jonah-keri

Alas, working late. Can't make it over there. Haven't read too much of Keri on baseball. Have read some of Pierce on politics

http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/the-exquisite-baan-thai-hides-in-plain-sight-at-tsunami-sushi-on-14th-street/2015/01/08/457c823c-913f-11e4-ba53-a477d66580ed_story.html

Good Thai food here.

May have to try one of these places next. I'm such a sucker for these cultural food trends. Go ahead, make fun of me, I deserve it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/at-long-last-filipino-food-arrives-what-took-it-so-long/2015/04/21/a4674bb0-e153-11e4-905f-cc896d379a32_story.html

street team late posting. This is tonight in Takoma park at 7:30

http://docsinprogress.org/events/280/jeffkrulikat30/

http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/bestbites/food-restaurant-news/new-york-times-washington-dc-cheap-eats-frugal-traveler-100.php

http://dcist.com/2015/05/popcorn_candy_clotheshorse_edition.php

movies

http://www.oxfordamerican.org/magazine/item/548-coding-and-decoding-dinner

Food critic Todd Kliman writing about race and foodie restaurants

in DC

wow, that makes two Kliman pieces in a week talking about what DC area black restaurant patrons are and aren't looking for without interviewing any black patrons

http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/bestbites/todd-kliman-otherwise/how-a-fish-sandwich-became-a-symbol-of-shaws-changes.php

Good point.

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/youngandhungry/2015/05/19/bethesda-condo-buildings-sommelier-in-residence-talks-about-his-unusual-gig/

very rich people

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2015/05/21/a-man-a-plan-a-canard-panacea/#more-39099

CP housing and transportation reporter who is going to Mother Jones magazine offers his ideas for Metro, streetcars, funding development, building height rules in DC , etc

shd i march in the dc pride parade y/n?

y

HRC's headquarters is 1640 Rhode Island Ave NW, so stop by and cause a ruckus

v y

For a lot of reasons, just moved to Arlington near Rosslyn/Courthouse -- any recs on good Metro-accessible food down here or other hidden gems? Galaxy Hut seems promising and there seems to be lots of decent Pho places (plus all that stuff going on in Falls Church) . . . any suggestions will be greatly appreciated, trying to make this work.

Galaxy Hut is cool.

Not in Rosslyn and not right near a Metro, but bus-accessible in Arlington: http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/restaurants/la-jarochita-no-2-puts-off-cuts-front-and-center-in-its-tasty-tacos/2015/04/01/60dff96c-d31d-11e4-ab77-9646eea6a4c7_story.html

La Jarochita No. 2
85 N. Glebe Rd., Arlington. 703-243-2545.
Hours: Daily, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Nearest Metro: Virginia Square or Ballston, with a 1-mile trip to the restaurant

*Ravi Kabob 305 N. Glebe St. Arlington (they also have a second place across the street on other side of gelebe0

Peter Chang Arlington (Now Open)
2503-E North Harrison Street Arlington VA 22207

has anyone been here yet?

He's a former Chinese Embassy Chef

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/going-out-guide/wp/2015/03/09/the-wait-is-over-peter-chang-returns-to-northern-virginia-on-saturday/

Thanks, Curmudgeon -- both those spots look great, just what the doctor ordered.

Despite record shopping in DC since 2007, I've also never been to CD Cellar, so planning to check that out as well. And the Arlington Flea, provided that is still happening.

xpost, definitely want to hit the new Chang spot.

NoVa is looking up already.

Peter Chang's restaurants are DELICIOUS

i discovered THE best restaurant in all of DC this weekend, it's a cozy little spot called Quincie's Place u shd lQQk it up

i wish i could've

aw

Lol iirc we mostly ate cake!

should i visit Rehoboth Beach to see the Mekons play on July 18, stay over?

http://www.dogfish.com/community/events/live-music/931386/the-mekons.htm

whoaaa

i was actually thinking about going with some friends that weekend

just by coincidence

well thatd be a plus!

I wanna see that gig too (but have a conflict)

and how does one get a room there on a summer weekend for less than $220-400/night?

Oh yeah. I wonder if priceline or kayak or whatever would list anything? I guess you could stay for cheaper nearby in Ocean City, MD, but that would involve driving there (not sure you can get a cab or uber to go at that time or distance after gig).

Dewey Beach, De might be an option too.

nahhhh, don't drive, don't uber, rent-poor, not goin.

Washingtonian's top 100 "Cheap" Eats list is out. Cheap defined as $25 or less. Here's their top 25 from that 100. They have that Laurel, MD Cuban place on their list every year--Cuba de Ayer; it's ok but not great. I think 3 of these are in DC itself

http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/bestbites/cheap-eats/best-cheap-restaurants-in-washington-dc.php

Amoo’s Restaurant - Persian
Bayou Bakery - Southern
Bob’s Shanghai 66 - Chinese/Taiwanese
China Bistro - Chinese
Cosmopolitan Grill - Bosnian/German
Cuba de Ayer - Cuban
Curry Leaf - Indian
Daikaya Ramen - Japanese
DCity Smokehouse - Barbecue
Eamonn’s - Irish
Enat - Ethiopian
G by Mike Isabella - Italian-American
Haute Dogs & Fries - American
Huong Viet Restaurant - Vietnamese
Jewel of India - Indian
Kogiya - Korean
La Caraquena - Venezuelan
Ravi Kabob House I and II - Pakistani
Rice Paper - Vietnamese
Ruan Thai - Thai
Rus Uz - Russian/Uzbek
Saba - Yemeni
Taqueria el Mexicano - Mexican
Thai Taste by Kob - Thai
Thip Khao - Laotian

Bayou Bakery's Arlington location never wowed me either(they have a DC location now too)

Thip Khao rules tho

http://www.eater.com/2015/6/19/8788487/washington-dc-southeastern-asian-dining-scene

Agree with much of this but was underwhelmed by Purple Patch.

Not SE Asia but if anyone happens to find themselves in Ashburn, 1) I'm sorry and 2) really good Taiwanese food at Yen's Cafe, where I have been a handful of times, including today!

Sounds good. First Merrifield, now Ashburn...You keep going farther out into the state

Changing gears...

DC history, recent and older, here, neighborhood by neighborhood:

http://prologuedc.com/blog/mapping-segregation