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| Cast of Duel Reality (Photo: Zemi Photography) |
Romeo and Juliet meets @Cirque du Soleil in @ShakespeareinDC's jaw-dropping Duel Reality, directed by Shana Carroll @The7Fingers. The 90-minute production is light on words, but loaded with acrobatic hula hooping, juggling and a seesaw battle for the ages, not to mention one of the sexiest midair spectacles (Gerardo Gutierrez & Michelle Hernandez) we've ever seen. If this is Shakespeare's new direction, count us in!
Grade: B+
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| Tastee Diner's Open Face Roast Beef Sandwich with Mashed Potatoes |
Bday lunch with my cousin Dean at Tastee Diner. Blitzkrieg (but efficient) ordering, Open Face Roast Beef Sandwich with Mashed Potatoes & gobs of brown gravy ($10.95) & a $2.95 side of Cole Slaw. Arrived quickly but taste wise… meh. Lackluster slaw drenched in a pool of greasy mayo 😩 with to-die-from mash, ice cold, instant and inedible. Passable roast beef with white bread & the aforementioned (cold) gravy. Any way you slice it, (literally) not so hot.
Grade: D
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| Classic Roll & Churro Stick at Cinnabon |
Could someone please explain the “allure” of @Cinnabon? I’m stumped. Their Classic Roll costs a tidy $6.79 and packs a robust 880 calories. Mine was downright cold, with minimal frosting and (remarkably) even less cinnamon flavor. Truth be told, it tasted of nothing. I can only assume it had been sitting there all day. Almost as bad? $3.79 for a skinny Churro Stick that was probably sitting next to my Cinnamon Roll hour for hour. It had some taste, but shouldn’t cost more than 2 bucks. Needless to say, I won’t be back: There aren’t enough airports or train stations in the world to justify it.
Grade: D-
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| Riblets with Fries & Cole Slaw at Applebee's |
Couldn’t wait for @Applebees All You Can Eat, but it didn’t take long to regret going. Surly service, excruciatingly long waits (done on purpose, we believe) and awful food plagued my first and last visit to this soulless corporate entity. Gross Cole Slaw with mystery greens, average fries & boneless wings (meh tenders dunked in buffalo sauce) are utterly forgettable. Sadly, it will be impossible to forget the worst Riblets ever made. Tender as an old shoe with an overly sweet honey BBQ glop & literally unchewable bits that I had to spit out not once, but twice ☹️ Great pretzel (minus 2 sauces) but overall, one of the worst meals I’ve ever had.
Grade: F
Nippy > Fiery
Beef/Lamb Shawarma Pita at taim
Generous portions & fresh/unique ingredients rule the day at @taimkitchen. Ditto for fast & friendly customer service. This visit? Cold 🥶 as in after only five minutes. That hurt, especially since taim’s familiar flavors were still there (in abundance.) Beef/Lamb Shawarma ($13.99) packed a (harissa) kick, but way too many Moroccan carrots 🥕 which aren’t very tender & wound up overwhelming (texture-wise) my cucumber & tomato salads. Also, toppings were sharply sorted, with the meat up front (but nowhere else.) A mountain of (also cold) dirty/well-done fries were better, especially with harissa ketchup. A rare misstep but we’re still big fans.
Grade: B-
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| Brad Pitt stars in F1 the Movie |
Rotten Tomatoes Plot: Dubbed "the greatest that never was," Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was FORMULA 1's most promising phenom of the 1990s, until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Thirty years later, he's a nomadic racer-for-hire when he's approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), owner of a struggling FORMULA 1 team that is on the verge of collapse. Ruben convinces Sonny to come back to FORMULA 1 for one last shot at saving the team and being the best in the world. He'll drive alongside Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), the team's hotshot rookie intent on setting his own pace. But as the engines roar, Sonny's past catches up with him and he finds that in FORMULA 1, your teammate is your fiercest competition - and the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone. Directed by Joseph Kosinski.
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Judges Announced for Events DC Embassy Chef Challenge Featuring More Than 30 Embassies So Far
Events DC’s Embassy Chef Challenge is thrilled to announce that more than 30 embassies have confirmed their participation in the friendly culinary competition to take place July 10 starting at 6 p.m. at Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. This year, the annual event will be hosted by Washington, DC-based restaurateur and former Top Chef contestant, Spike Mendelsohn. The embassies hail from all over the world, with exciting additions such as Cuba, Ukraine and Bolivia.
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| Heatstroke sizzles on the Pepsi Summer Grilling Stage |
Is there such a thing as too hot? Yesterday's official temperature topped out at (just) 88* but it felt much hotter. I admit, it slowed me down a bit, but the Giant Barbecue Battle (celebrating its 33rd edition) is the type of event that draws really big crowds, no matter what the thermostat says. This year was/is no exception. I go to all sorts of events throughout the year, but the Barbecue Battle holds a special place in my heart. Great food, giveaways and music? Sold! Just in case you missed Saturday's non-stop fun, the BBQ Battle returns today along Pennsylvania Avenue, NW between 3rd & 7th Streets. Tickets cost only $20 and can be purchased online or in person. Gates open at 11 AM and don't close until 7 PM tonight.
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| Aaron Taylor-Johnson & Alfie Williams (r) star in 28 Years Later |
IMDb Plot: A group of survivors of the rage virus live on a small island. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors. Directed by Danny Boyle.
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| French Toast bagel with scrambled egg at Buffalo & Bergen |
I’m not a bagel 🥯 “snob” but @buffalobergendc makes a monster 👿 of deliciousness (French Toast bagel with scrambled egg) that is miles above any other bagel in the DMV. Sweet & crunchy, + jumbo sized A+ Not enough? Their $5 French Fries cinch the deal… Generous in number & well-cooked. Our lone complaint? More seasoning please. Solid B.
Grade: B+
The Stoney Burrito at Cracked Eggery
AM Perfection
Amidst average food of late (elsewhere) we’re proud to praise @crackedeggery for its otherworldly The Stoney Burrito, a delicious marriage of spicy Logan Chorizo, Scrambled Eggs, Pico de Galo & crunchy Tater Tots with a to-die-for Tomatillo Sauce on the side (only $12.) Best handheld breakfast in DC!
Grade: A+
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| Fresh Baguette's Petit Sunny Side Up Bacon Cro'gel |
You can always count on great customer service at #FreshBaguette but I’m struggling to find much to sing about (the food.) Petit Sunny Side Up Bacon 🥓 Cro’gel ($6.15) is messy & moist, but bacon is measly & cro’gel… unremarkable. C- Raspberry Croissant ($5.85) looks good, but filling corner takes the cake. Spread it (equally) throughout and it would be a home run. As is, a B- with potential for more.
Grade: C (They're usually better.)