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Recent Entries
Syndicate Monthly Archives Yea, I’m a Documentary Dork
Karen Newton
September 29, 2008 11:03 AM
I’ll take a well-made documentary over a four-star blockbuster any day of the week. There’s something about watching a work of non-fiction with real voices and actual events that I find fascinating. That’s how I ended up seeing “Man on Wire” over the weekend. If you’ve been around since disco was king, you have to remember the artistic crime of the century…when a French street performer walked a cable strung between the recently-completed World Trade Center buildings for almost an hour without a safety net. Luckily, Phillipe Petit and his co-conspirators were all still alive and willing to talk to the filmmakers about the planning and execution of their act of derring-do. There’s footage from the months of planning that went into the event and interviews with them all about why they got involved and how it all went down in the last few hours before Petit set out to stun the world. There is film from that morning as New Yorkers set out to begin their day, only to be riveted by a man effortlessly walking, sitting and lying down on a 3/4” cable high in the sky. The images of him on that wire are so powerful that I got tense watching them, even as I knew intellectually that he survived to tell the story. You don’t even have to be a documentary dork like me to appreciate this film. If you like a good suspense story or thriller or even a bank heist/caper kind of plot, you’ll be sucked into this completely engrossing film. These guys were 20-somethings in 1974 when they made history with their youthful bravado, enthusiasm and energy…and no corporate sponsor or Plan B. It’s an amazing story to witness. Man Meat and Vegetarians
Karen Newton
September 29, 2008 9:41 AM
The Man Meat Dinner involved so much meat I lost count. I remember the cheese and sausage course and then the sweetbreads over bacon and lentils and then there was the quail and I think next were the shanks and then maybe the grilled lamb. I left before the standing rib roast came out, but not before I tasted more meat in one evening than I usually do in a month. This is what happens when you combine a butcher, a bunch of wine sellers and a group of people who cook for a living (I am none of those…there were a few of us who brought nothing to the table other than our inadequate appetites). Luckily, I was able to temper this meat extravaganza with a few hours afterwards celebrating Ipanema’s 10th anniversary; I only hope I didn’t reek too strongly of animal, but I’m guessing I did. I love Ipanema… the food, the ambiance, the location. No surprise, really, that rva has supported it for 10 years. So to Kendra and her perfect little restaurant, I wish another decade of success….I personally intend to continue eating there (and the grilled gouda sandwich…and the cobb salad…and the black bean burrito…and…) as long as they’re willing to serve me. Watching Hitchcock in the Rain
Karen Newton
September 26, 2008 9:42 AM
Last night’s showing of “Vertigo” in the Enchanted Garden of the Poe Museum was enhanced by the Poe-like weather. Dry and comfortable under the canopy in the garden, the audience was surrounded by the rain, wind and occasional lightning that never quite touched us. We were watching the restored version of the film , so the color was better than I remember and the audio just superior. Given the raging weather, it could have been tough to hear every nuance of the film, but it wasn’t and I have to think that had to do with the restoration and reworking of the audio. For those of us who braved the weather for the outdoor screening, we were rewarded with an occasional ripple of the screen when the wind swirled just so. Every now and then there was a flash of lightning behind the screen. And the driving rain was sort of the perfect white noise accompaniment to the classic psychological thriller. Hitchcock said it was because he liked Poe’s stories so much that he began making suspense films. I’m inclined to think the great director would have found last night’s setting as ideal a place for watching his film as I did. Leaving the museum around 11:30, my sense was that I had found the perfect way to spend a rainy evening outside and enjoy every single minute of it. Only in Richmond. Not So Deadly After All
Karen Newton
September 22, 2008 11:29 AM
John over at Buttermilk & Molasses jokingly predicted “A Deadly Mixture: Urban Planners, Bluegrass and Booze” for yesterday’s Smart Growth Tour of Richmond (aka the River City Saunter). Luckily the combination wasn’t anywhere near that lethal, and I’m willing to bet a good time was had by most, if not all, of the participants. The bus tour was enlightening and the local eats afterwards a fine representation of locally grown and sourced food. I can’t speak to the 3 Legend beers each participant enjoyed since I’m not a beer drinker, but they seemed to be going down easily enough. Probably one of the most satisfying parts of the event was the diverse group who attended…my guess would be that all ages from 20-something to 70-something were represented. And there was much discussion amongst the group of smart growth, the downtown master plan, the bicycle master plan and the future of our fair city. People were into it. No square dancing seen anywhere, though…whew! Dodged that bullet.. Mogwai: Post-Rock Bliss
Karen Newton
September 17, 2008 8:55 AM
Last night’s Mogwai show at the National attracted the kind of rapt fans who were there to listen, rather than chat and socialize. It’s always a pleasure to be in a room full of people who actually came to hear the music at a show. I’m a big fan of post-rock, that genre-defying classification referring to bands who use rock music instruments to produce chord progressions, harmonies, rhythms and melodies not found in traditional rock. And rarely are there lyrics in post-rock; when a voice is used, it’s just another instrument and not about any words (can you say Sigur Ros?). Like one of their influences, the Pixies, they’re big on the loud/quiet contrast dynamic. I saw more than a few girls with their fingers in their ears. For this listener, though, the evening was a pleasure as the band repeatedly built up soundscapes and pulled the audience along with it. Of course, since I was at the National, I ran into plenty of local musicians….the lovely Kerry, Marshall (with no more curls!) and Kevin of Marionette (actually Kevin was performing with opener Tulsa Drone), and Steven from At the Stars. And since I can’t go to a show without running into John, my evening was complete when I ran into him just before Mogwai’s last song. My post-rock experience was complete. Mezzanine was Delightful
Karen Newton
September 16, 2008 8:27 AM
Quick, before everyone reviews it and the hoards find out about it, go to Mezzanine. This new Carytown spot replacing the old coffee shop in the 3400 block is a worthy addition to the local dining scene. Or maybe just to the local scene in general. The casual coffeehouse vibe has been replaced with a sleek interior highlighted by that massive glass window in front. The menu is ever-changing, so they use a big chalkboard to list the day’s choices The food is almost completely locally sourced and they’ve got plenty of wines by the glass. I consider both of these good things. Tried and found most tasty: Caprese Salad, Fried Green Tomatoes with Crabmeat, Scallops with Pea Shoot Potatoes and Hunk ‘o Red Meat with Lobster Potatoes. Fair warning, however: at the moment, they have no chocolate choices on the dessert menu. I think I’ve made my feelings on this matter known (and with any luck, they’ll have the sense to correct that soon).
Country and Eastern Music ...excuse me, what???
Karen Newton
September 12, 2008 8:31 AM
Last night’s HuDost show at the Camel defies any convenient musical stereotypes. They band has been called Alternative World Music but prefer their own term: Country and Eastern fusion. To this listener, it was more of an atmospheric, experimental sound. This is probably a result of them blending traditional Sufi music, Bulgarian, Croatian, Macedonian and Balkan folk music, Farsi, Turkish, Arabic, Folk, Pop, Rock and Southern Gospel. Critics have said that HuDost has a folk quality yet is quite post-modern, sort of a cross-cultural hybrid transcendental chill-out music, BUT with an edge. But don’t think New Age, because it was so much mroe soulful than that. Singer Moksha Sommer had an amazingly big voice that wrapped itself around the intricate variations of guitarist Jemal Wade Hines’ and sometimes you heard those Eastern underpinnings and sometimes you just heard a screaming guitar (always a good thing). A couple of songs even evoked Country…but with an Eastern twang somehow. It was a stellar show (albeit with too few in the audience to appreciate it) and a perfect example of just how broad the term World Music is. This would be a perfect band to play the Richmond Folk Festival and expand some cultutural horizons.
A Really Bad Idea
Karen Newton
September 11, 2008 2:38 PM
Is it possible Richmond’s Mounted Police Squad will soon be a thing of the past? It never fails to impress me when I spot the mounties…which I did today downtown on Grace Street and, later in the afternoon, in Jackson Ward. Richmond has had a mounted squad since the Civil War era and I can’t think of a more appropriate city to still maintain one. But the unit I just saw was only three members strong, down from a high of eight. It seems that current departmental policy is not replacing members of the squad when they retire or move on. It would appear then that once these last three members are gone, RVA will no longer have mounted patrols. And what a shame that would be. Picaresque value aside, police officers astride very large animals can be a surprisingly effective crime deterrent in the city. Richmond has a vocal contingent that speaks up every time an historic building is threatened with demolition. I hope just as many voices will speak out to our Acting Police Chief and, ultimately, his replacement and let them both know that the city’s mounted squad is as much a part of the historical and cultural integrity of this city as cobblestones on Monument Avenue and trains at Main Street Station. Horses have always been a part of life in Richmond and the mounted squad continues that tradition in the new millennium. We can’t allow this Richmond institution to fade away while no one is paying attention. Who Cares About Bike Lanes?
Karen Newton
September 09, 2008 12:12 PM
Mayoral candidate Paul Goldman does…or so he told me last night when I ran into him in Carytown. He introduced himself and I immediately asked him what he’s going to do about bike lanes in RVA if he becomes mayor. He said that he is the only mayoral candidate running who has a stated green agenda. That’s great, I said, but we need to start the process to make this city more bike-friendly and that means bike lanes. He agreed wholeheartedly, saying that the car-centric model of the 20th century just isn’t going to fly in the 21st and that part of that means allowing for more bike commuting. Our next mayor has to make this a priority. And we need to ask all the candidates how committed they are to making Richmond a safe and convenient place to bike. Greening cities is not a fad, it’s a necessity and bike lanes are a key step in that process. For a change, let’s not be last to jump on this important issue. RVA deserves better. Eating and Drinking as Entertainment
Karen Newton
September 09, 2008 11:43 AM
When there’s no music or art calling my name, I can be satisfied with food and wine to occupy my time. I can recommend a couple of recent activities that provided both…and even a little learning in the process. Friday night I went to the European Market for its monthly First Fridays Wine Tasting. They provide 6 wines and 6 taste delights paired with them, all of which are served family style. The lovely blogger GenevelynSteeleSwallows was the guest host (and has the best-ever named blog, IMHO) and shared her encyclopedic knowledge of wine with us as we sipped and chowed through a lot of delicious food and drink. Fair warning, though: these events have a hardcore group of regulars who sign up quickly, as well they should, given what a bargain it is and the high tastiness factor of everything poured and served. The market’s owner Jason was a most hospitable host and knows how to show off his kitchen staff’s obvious skill. It was a fine way to wait out the rain before heading over to Broad Street and the InLight extravaganza. Monday night meant Cheese Class at River City Cellars and while I definitely learned plenty, it was the combination of wine and 7(!) absolutely delicious goat cheeses that made this such an enjoyable evening. As with wine, we started delicate and moved on to heartier and eventually to barnyard stinky (a personal favorite). A guy once told me on a second date that he didn’t care for strong-flavored cheeses; I knew at once it would be our last date. And it was. We tried some cheeses last night that were so pungent they left a tingling in your mouth; those are my kind of cheeses. The wine flowed throughout the evening, sometimes enhancing the cheese and sometimes just cutting through the stink. They can call it a class…but it was really an awesome way to spend a Monday evening drinking wine and tasting some superior cheeses. Both events have a fee and require reservations and both are so completely worth it that I’m probably an idiot for sharing. |
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