Going Out Gurus - D.C. Entertainment Dispatches - July 12, 2009

Free and Easy Events

What could be better than seeing local-boy-made-good Benjy Ferree under the stars at Fort Reno? Seeing Benjy Ferree at Fort Reno with lots of free cake. (Bryan Whitson) Every week, the Going Out Gurus suggest ways to enjoy Washington's...

By Fritz Hahn | July 18, 2009; 9:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Events
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Frank Morales Leaves Rustico

Frank Morales tells me he resigned on Wednesday from Rustico and its parent, the Neighborhood Restaurant Group. "We have parted ways," confirmed Michael Babin, co-owner of the organization, who declined to go into specifics about the chef's departure. "I have...

By Tom Sietsema | July 17, 2009; 6:47 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Restaurants | Tags: Tom Sietsema
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You Have to Try This: Squash Blossom Festival

Squash blossoms make a brief appearance around these parts in midsummer. And when they do, the chefs at the Penn Quarter restaurant Oyamel are ready to celebrate.

By Julia Beizer | July 17, 2009; 4:05 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Restaurants
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At the Fringe: Billy the Kid, Then and Now

If you have a bit of surly gunslinger in you, it might be drawn out by "Billy the Kid: First Exhumation. Directed by Jackson Phippin, this moody experimental piece is based on the legend of Billy the Kid. Using...

By Nelson Pressley | July 17, 2009; 2:48 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Theater
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'Bare Breasted Women' (Really)

To answer the obvious questions about "Bare Breasted Women Sword Fighting," a) indeed they are, and b) yes, they do. Which is why no one under 18 is admitted to this bawdy vaudeville at Source. Not that toplessness is...

By Nelson Pressley | July 17, 2009; 2:33 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Theater
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'GS-14': Close Enough for Government Work

Transplant "The Office" to a government bureau and you get "GS-14," a wonky comedy from Jason Ford that drew a full house to the sweaty upstairs Bodega venue Wednesday night. (And it was even at the wonk-friendly time of...

By Nelson Pressley | July 17, 2009; 1:56 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Theater
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Got Plans? Redux: Different Points of View

In our weekly discussion, the gurus dished about patios and roofdecks, the bar at the new W hotel, Fringe Fest and beignets.

By Julia Beizer | July 17, 2009; 10:16 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Misc.
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At the Fringe Festival: 'Deconstructing the Myth of the Booty'

Body, race, gender: The Saartjie Project dives deep into these fraught issues at the Fringe Festival in "Deconstructing the Myth of the Booty." It's one of those rare shows that is utterly worthwhile even though the performance is sometimes...

By Nelson Pressley | July 16, 2009; 5:58 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Theater
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'Pepe' the Suburban Life Musical

It's pretty amazing that a play called "Pepe! The Mail Order Monkey Musical" could be based on actual events, but such is the life of Washington Glass School founder Tim Tate. As it turns out, when he and his...

By Stephanie Merry | July 16, 2009; 5:44 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Theater
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Best Eats at Eastern Market? You Tell Us.

Since Eastern Market reopened last month, Julia has been eating around to find some of the best dishes. Add to her list.

By Julia Beizer | July 16, 2009; 4:11 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Restaurants
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'May 39th/40th': Back to the Future

According to radio reports, the last of Al Gore's clones has died and Japandia has a new prime minister. Welcome to the year 3009. This is the world where "May 39th/40th" takes place and things have changed quite a...

By Stephanie Merry | July 15, 2009; 3:42 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Theater
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'Bargain Basement Game Show': Come On Down!

Surely "Bargain Basement Game Show" is the most generous event in the Fringe Festival: T-shirts were liberally handed out during the pleasantly interactive 80 minutes, and I won a prize! It's just a flash drive with the show's logo...

By Nelson Pressley | July 15, 2009; 3:33 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Theater
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'Bad Hamlet': The Play's the Thing x 2

Admit it: You've been meaning to compare and contrast the 1623 Folio version of "Hamlet" with the 1603 "bad" quarto for years, right? Rest easy. With "Bad Hamlet," the Adequate Players have done it for you, cutting Shakespeare's long...

By Nelson Pressley | July 15, 2009; 8:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Theater
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Nightlife Agenda

Nigerian singer King Sunny Ade brings four decades of experience and more than 100 albums worth of material to the 9:30 club on Friday. (Robert Lyons) Like the great outdoors? We have multiple rooftop happy hours this week, plus...

By Fritz Hahn | July 14, 2009; 11:59 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Bars and Clubs , Events , Music
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A Tactile Dinner: Whimsicality To Go

During the Fringe Festival's lively, cerebral performance piece "A Tactile Dinner," a theatergoer's most vital accessory is a napkin. When you arrive at the Fringe venue, a Ninth Street NW storefront rowhouse, silent and grimacing waiters supply you with...

By Peter Marks | July 14, 2009; 3:23 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Theater
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'Skywriter': A Twist on the Familiar

"Skywriter" follows the story of an inspirational teacher in a crumbling urban school, so of course my first thought was, "haven't I seen this somewhere before?" Luckily, it becomes clear that there's more to Angry Young Theatre Company's production...

By Stephanie Merry | July 14, 2009; 2:48 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Theater
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Original 'Sin'

Before you continue reading, here's a tip: Open up another tab on your web browser and buy tickets to "The Sin Show" before the thing sells out, because it's only a matter of time. It's that good. Seaton Smith...

By Stephanie Merry | July 14, 2009; 2:43 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Theater
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Carlyle Club and Rock Harper Part Ways

That was fast! Hired in May to boost business at the struggling Carlyle Club in Alexandria, Rahman "Rock" Harper was dismissed -- via e-mail -- on Friday. "They couldn't afford me anymore," says the 32-year-old chef, a season three winner...

By Tom Sietsema | July 14, 2009; 2:34 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Restaurants | Tags: Tom Sietsema
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Free and Easy Events

DJ Dimitris George keeps people moving at the monthly Hipster Overkill party at Steve's Bar Room. (Garai Rice) Every week, the Going Out Gurus suggest ways to enjoy Washington's cultural scene without spending any money. Have an idea for...

By Fritz Hahn | July 13, 2009; 5:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Events
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'Soup!': Serving Up Some Salty Humor

Although this theater company's name may seem less than creative, Trio, made up of Gabrielle Fisher, Noah Kelly and Pardis Parsa, delivered some original fun on Saturday. The sketch comedians took on cooking shows, therapy, baby rental services (!)...

By Stephanie Merry | July 13, 2009; 4:34 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Theater
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Network News

Going Out Gurus: July 12, 2009 - July 18, 2009

Free and Easy Events

Frank Morales Leaves Rustico

You Have to Try This: Squash Blossom Festival

At the Fringe: Billy the Kid, Then and Now

'Bare Breasted Women' (Really)

'GS-14': Close Enough for Government Work

Got Plans? Redux: Different Points of View

At the Fringe Festival: 'Deconstructing the Myth of the Booty'

'Pepe' the Suburban Life Musical

Best Eats at Eastern Market? You Tell Us.

'May 39th/40th': Back to the Future

'Bargain Basement Game Show': Come On Down!

'Bad Hamlet': The Play's the Thing x 2

Nightlife Agenda

A Tactile Dinner: Whimsicality To Go

'Skywriter': A Twist on the Familiar

Original 'Sin'

Carlyle Club and Rock Harper Part Ways

Free and Easy Events

'Soup!': Serving Up Some Salty Humor

On the Fringe

'The Devil's Christmas Carol': A Musical From Hell

Trunk Show: The Elephant Sings!