Articles

Washington City Paper •

What Does Ugly Produce's Newfound Popularity Mean for Food Banks?

Within the last five years, so-called ugly produce has become the darling of the socially conscious food industry, and the D.C. region has in large part been the birthplace of the trend. Ugly produce goes by other terms, too—imperfect, flawed, off-grade, seconds, even the politically correct “aesthetically challenged.” They all describe fruits and vegetables that traditionally would go to waste because grocery stores and consumers wouldn’t buy them because of blemishes or bumps.
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Book Reviews

Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women’s Anger | Washington Independent Review of Books

No matter your political leanings, there's a lot to be mad about as a woman navigating America in 2018. But wasn’t there always? At the start of the 20th century, women had to fight for the vote, and even when that right was granted, black women were still rendered powerless at the polls due to Jim Crow laws that lasted more than 50 years beyond the ratification of the 20th Amendment. And how about as a working woman, in the years both before and after the term “sexual harassment” was used for

Review: Who Thought This Was a Good Idea? And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House

A former Obama staffer dishes on what it was like being the youngest female higher-up in the Oval Office. Political memoirs are often intimidating behemoths, and despite considering myself a civic-minded woman who follows politics, I tend to avoid them. The sometimes 400-plus-page tomes can be unappealing in their self-righteousness, with their black-and-white jackets featuring photos of the knowing, closed-mouth smiles of this former world leader or that ex-secretary of state.

Recommendations

Washington City Paper •

Best Local Hip-Hop Anthem

D.C. has long suffered a reputation as a second-rate hip-hop city, lagging behind places like New York and Atlanta that are well known for producing legends of hip-hop who rap with a distinctly regional sound. “Crew” may just rebuff that notion and be D.C.’s coming out. The song propelled local rapper GoldLink, who has long been beloved by hip-hop heads, all the way to the 2017 Grammys (it was nominated for Best Rap Song) and solidified the reputation of the DMV rap scene—it’s past booming; it h
Washington City Paper •

Best Homecoming Concert

Oddisee made a name for himself as a rapper in the DMV hip-hop scene but, as many local musicians have unfortunately been wont to do, he left the area and moved to New York City. His local pride never left his music, though, and he makes frequent visits to D.C. to perform—like on April 20, 2017 at the 9:30 Club in support of his most-recent album The Iceberg. There’s something special about performing songs that celebrate the DMV in front of a DMV crowd, like the track “NNGE (Never Not Getting E
Washington City Paper •

Best Italian Import

The Washington Post’s classical music critic Anne Midgette had some biting words for the National Symphony Orchestra in 2015: “Why,” she wrote, “is the National Symphony Orchestra so lackluster, haunted by the curse of mediocrity?” And while critics, as their job title suggests, can lean toward the over-critical, often to a hyperbolic degree (a negative review generates more of a response than a positive one, after all) her question rang true. Despite the international prestige of the Kennedy Ce
Washington City Paper •

Best Public Neighbor Battle

In politically engaged D.C., almost anywhere can become the breeding ground for a political debate, from the standard places like bars and community meetings to the less-common places like apartment building balconies. Since its opening in 2013, residents of the 11-story Camden South Capitol building took advantage of their location (within the sightline of fans at Nationals Park) to express themselves through signs they hung from their balconies. Things remained relatively conflict-free—a Natio
Washington City Paper •

Best Way To Feel Like a Kid While Getting A Workout

Bouncing on a trampoline is kind of like skipping—it’s really hard to do without laughing. Why would you even try? Because you’re at TRAMP class at Fuel Body Lab, and giggling through a 45-minute workout is not the best way to get your money’s worth. Instead, follow the instructor’s movements as she guides you through choreographed and precise bouncing movements on your individual trampoline (with some core and arm exercises too). The class takes you back to childhood, jumping on the backyard tr
Washington City Paper •

Best Late-Night Eats That Doubles as Hangover Breakfast

Imbibing on U Street NW can mean consuming a diverse compilation of alcoholic beverages. After a margarita at El Rey and a whiskey drink at Service Bar, you might move on to a mystery shot at Desperados. Good thing the neighborhood offers numerous late-night food options to soak up some of that liquor before you head home. Oohh’s & Aahh’s stands above the rest. Hungry visitors line up along the wall of the narrow restaurant, which serves some of the city’s best soul food cooked right in front of

Q&As

The Kojo Nnamdi Show •

Park View's Colony Club May Symbolize Gentrification, But Its Owner Hopes It's The Positive Kind

During a recent Kojo Show conversation about the ripple effects of D.C.’s gentrification, guest host Jen Golbeck asked local experts if rising housing costs were leading to deeper poverty in Wards 7 and 8. During the show, guest Kymone Freeman, a co-owner of We Act Radio and contributor to Anacostia Unmapped, singled out Colony Club, a coffee shop and bar on Georgia Avenue, for driving gentrification.
The Kojo Nnamdi Show •

Bill Cosby Muralist Responds To Vandalism At Ben's Chili Bowl

Since 2012, a large mural has adorned the side of the popular dining spot Ben’s Chili Bowl that features the faces of four men: President Barack Obama, musician Chuck Brown, radio legend Donnie Simpson, and, most controversially, comedian and actor Bill Cosby. The mural was painted before dozens of women came forward with accusations of sexual assault against the comedian. In the months after, many have called into question whether his face should remain on the side of the building.
The Kojo Nnamdi Show •

Virginia Felon: "I Can Vote This November. It's A Miracle."

In a controversial move, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe restored voting rights to more than 200,000 felons in the Commonwealth. Joshua Cagney is a Loudoun County resident whose voting rights were restored through the governor’s order. He operates a strength-training studio and works for Opportunities, Alternatives, and Resources, an organization that helps felons with re-entry into life outside prison.
The Kojo Nnamdi Show •

How An Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony Sparked Conversation About Changes in Shaw

Today marks the last day in business for Zenebech, one of the most popular and longstanding Ethiopian restaurants in D.C. The closing is a loss for those who visited the spot for affordable, authentic Ethiopian food. It also speaks to the changes happening in the Shaw neighborhood, where the restaurant’s building has been sold to developers who plan to turn the space into an apartment building and retail complex.
The Kojo Nnamdi Show •

"It's Bad Public Policy": How Tom Moore Plans to Defeat Term Limits for Montgomery County Council

In early July, outspoken political activist Robin Ficker and Bethesda Beat reporter Aaron Kraut joined the Kojo Show to discuss Ficker’s efforts to impose term limits on Montgomery County’s executive and council members. At the time, Ficker said he had already gathered enough signatures to get the measure on the ballot and up for popular vote come November.