Washingtonian After Hours Blog

Jay Pharoah on Meeting Obama, Understudying Jay-Z, and What’s to Come on SNL

Alison Kitchens — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:20:01 -0500

Photograph courtesy of NBC. Jay Pharoah might have wrapped up his third season with Saturday Night Live this past weekend, but the 25-year-old Virginia native isn’t stopping to catch his breath. Pharoah, who took over playing President Obama from outgoing cast member Fred Armisen this season, performs May 24 through

WashingTelevision: Veep Recap, Season Two, Episode Six, “Andrew”

Tanya Pai — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:10:17 -0500

Normally, as the 100-or-so regular readers of this column will know, we like to start with the winners and finish with the losers in a particular Veep episode but in last night’s offering, “Andrew,” there was only one winner, and his supremacy was crystallized by his name being the

What to Do This Week: May 20 to 23

Tanya Pai — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:25:51 -0500

Monday, May 20 ART (SORTA): After a couple years of hiatus, Artomatic made its triumphant return to DC last year, and things apparently went well enough that it’s happening again this year. No details yet, but maybe you can get some at the planning happy hour at Old Dominion

WashingTelevision: Scandal Recap, Season Two, Episode 22, “White Hat’s Back On”

Alison Kitchens — Fri, 17 May 2013 12:20:11 -0500

I think my colleague Sophie Gilbert summed up this episode best when she tweeted, “Nobody does a twist like Shonda.” No matter how implausible, the plot curves she throws out are thrilling in all their soapy glory. A few beginning thoughts before we get to the recap. At the risk

Washington Museums Go Free This Weekend for Art Museum Day

Alison Kitchens — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:20:00 -0500

Yes, we’re spoiled with free museums in Washington, but that doesn’t mean this weekend’s Art Museum Day isn’t worth celebrating. Saturday, May 18, area institutions such as the Phillips Collection, the Corcoran, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and the Hillwood Estate are opening their doors with special

Washington Billionaire Mitchell Rales Sells Painting for $58.3 Million

Alison Kitchens — Thu, 16 May 2013 13:08:50 -0500

Looking for a clue that the recession might be over? A sale of contemporary and postwar art at Christie’s last night raised $495 million for various sellers, including $58.3 million going to Washington billionaire and art collector Mitchell Rales for the purchase of his “No. 19, 1948” by Jackson Pollock.

What to Do This Weekend: May 16 to 19

Alison Kitchens — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:30:39 -0500

Thursday, May 16 GO-GO: It’s only been a year since Chuck Brown died (feels like longer, doesn’t it?). Celebrate the go-go legend’s life and career at the Howard Theatre, where a tribute band will play all his hits. Tickets ($30) are available online. 10 PM. COWBOY UP: You’re not

Theater Review: “The Winter’s Tale” at Shakespeare Theatre

Alison Kitchens — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:45:00 -0500

When you’ve had more conceptual makeovers and reboots than a Barbie doll (rodeo Shakespeare! Hedge funder Shakespeare!), sometimes a little simplicity can be bracing. The Winter’s Tale, currently playing at Shakespeare Theatre in a transcendent co-production with the MacArthur Theatre Center by Rebecca Taichman, is an example of how

3 New “DC” Shows Coming to Network Television

Alison Kitchens — Wed, 15 May 2013 09:50:33 -0500

It’s that time of year again, in which we trawl through the wreckage of pilot season to analyze which shows live (Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), which have died (CBS shockingly passed on a TV version of Beverly Hills Cop about Axel Foley’s son), and which will set themselves in “Washington”

Theater Review: “The Three Musketeers” at Synetic Theater

Alison Kitchens — Tue, 14 May 2013 11:40:41 -0500

Synetic Theater’s take on The Three Musketeers has vivid costumes, sexy dance routines and a surprising sense of humor, but it’s the sword fighting that truly dazzles. Fueled by the fast-paced, intricate fight choreography from star Ben Cunis, the production has the same thrilling sense of adventure that pervades Alexandre

Theater Review: “Twelfth Night” at Folger Theatre

Alison Kitchens — Mon, 13 May 2013 16:05:41 -0500

As the cultural zeitgeist dizzies its way round and round Baz Luhrmann’s Gatsby adaptation like water circling a toilet bowl, it’s as good a time as any to ponder historically creative stagings of Shakespeare plays. Luhrmann himself moved Verona to SoCal in his 1996 Romeo + Juliet, while Orson

WashingTelevision: Veep Recap, Season Two, Episode Five, “Helsinki”

Alison Kitchens — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:40:31 -0500

Last night’s episode of Veep was the best of the season so far, and not just because of an exceptionally funny cameo from Sally Phillips as the Prime Minister of Finland. “Helsinki” was directed by Becky Martin, which is probably why it dealt with Selina’s groping at the hands of

The 2013 Sweetlife Festival: Mud, 1; Salad, 0 (Photos)

Alison Kitchens — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:30:00 -0500

Sweetlife, the day-long festival hosted by salad chain Sweetgreen, returned on Saturday with headliners Passion Pit, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and Phoenix, and food by trucks such as Pepe and the Big Cheese, a Toki Underground/13th Street Meats collaboration, and, of course, Sweetgreen. As appears to be traditional now at

What to Do This Week: May 13 to 16

Alison Kitchens — Mon, 13 May 2013 10:10:37 -0500

Monday, May 13 COMEDY: How I Met Your Mother’s Josh Radnor will be at Sixth & I to talk about the show and about how Judaism influenced his acting and directing life. Afterward, Estadio’s Adam Bernbach will teach you how to stir up cocktails and Pleasant Pops’ Roger Horowitz

WashingTelevision: Scandal Recap, Season Two, Episode 21, “Any Questions?”

Alison Kitchens — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:50:32 -0500

Well. With just one episode left in season two, we finally find out who the mole is—and I can honestly say I did not see that coming. Then again, that’s because the mole turned out to be a character I thought was killed off in season one, so maybe I