Barenaked Ladies at the Merriweather Post Pavilion

For those of you that never knew or have forgotten the music of the 90's, hearing that Barenaked Ladies recently performed at the Merriweather Post Pavilion may inspire images far different from reality. Instead of nude women, we're talking fully clad, middle-age, goofy Canadians famous for songs like One Week and Pinch Me.

Now that we have that cleared up, let me address those of you who do remember them. Yes, BNL is still together. Yes, they are still making music. Yes, they still put on one of the most entertaining live shows you'll ever see... with one major exception. They're now touring without co-front man Steve Page.

Since it was one of the first concerts we ever enjoyed as a couple, J and I are big fans of the Barenaked Ladies (see the picture below) . However, we were worried that the experience would be incomplete now that they had parted ways with Steve. Thankfully, those concerns were completely unfounded. This is not to say that there wasn't a noticeable difference, because there was, but the group still has all of the magic that it originally did.

Ed Robertson (the other lead singer in BNL's original lineup) carried a much heavier load of the singing and playful banter that the group is known for. Kevin Hearn was also noticeably more involved. But like I said, the roles had changed but the fun remained. Never was this more apparent than during the end of show mash-up that featured half a dozen current pop hits done in typical BNL silliness. (I would encourage some time on YouTube for anyone interested in a good laugh)

This is not to say that the show didn't display some serious musical chops. As much fun as the guys have on stage, they are still accomplished musicians who tackle complex and very serious topics. It is this contrast of the serious and the silly, the traumatic and the tender, that keeps their portfolio prominently played in our home.

J Says

The Merriweather Post Pavilion is located in Columbia, Maryland, about 45 minutes from D.C. I like to think of it as a hippie version of Wolf Trap. Like Wolf Trap, the parking is free (!) and the venue is open air, but Post Pavilion feels like a little gem you stumbled across in the woods rather than a huge, polished venue. As you enter, you pass a mossy pond and signs that tell you Post Pavilion facts like that Jackson Browne recorded portions of Running on Empty here in 1977.

Like Wolf Trap, Post Pavilion has both a huge lawn and covered seating area. With the lawn seats you run the risk of sitting in the mud if a summer thunderstorm strikes. The covered seats are a safer bet, but it was a bit stuffy under the awning. We were pleased with the amount of room between the rows and the sightlines from the seats. Two large video screens in the covered seating area bring you up close and personal. The video screens also provide a forum for text message thoughts before the show (see B's text message above).

You can bring along one sealed or empty water bottle per person (no other outside beverages allowed) and food in "clear, disposable, non-glass containers." While a picnic would've been fun, this wouldn't be a Two DC post if we didn't check out the available food stands. After finding the BBQ stand to be closed, B opted for a gyro which was surprisingly flavorful and served on thick, soft pita bread. I went with the standard chicken tenders and Boardwalk Fries option which was not interesting but tasty. Because this is Maryland, they have large Old Bay containers sitting around so you can douse your food in salty, orange goodness.

Ever since I read an Express article about Maryland Snowballs last summer, I've been dying to try one. I finally got the opportunity at Post Pavilion. For the uninitiated, a snowball is a shaved ice treat topped with marshmallow cream. It was just as creamy and delicious as I hoped it would be. We also snacked on a bag of fresh-popped kettle corn that lasted us through the show and made a fun snack to bring to work over the course of the next week.

While the food options weren't particularly unique, we did appreciate that they were reasonably priced (at least as far as concerts go). Also, when parking is free, it's much easier to fork out some cash for food.

As Labor Day is fast approaching, the opportunities for seeing music outdoors are slipping away. Lucky for you, a musical secret garden is waiting just up the road.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company - Free for All: Twelfth Night

Being the only members of our family that live on the East Coast, J and I often find ourselves advocating for our beloved adopted city. Call it a reaction to the pervasive (at least in our circle) West Coast bias, if you will.

When trying to convince someone to come and visit, one of my go-to lines is, "Once you're here, everything you'll want to do is free," and it is true. Name the most popular tourist attractions for which DC is famous - the monuments, Capitol Building, White House, Smithsonian, and Arlington - and each one of them is free.

But there are plenty of things to do that charge admission and are well worth it. Chief among them would be the plentiful options for the performing arts, but if you play your cards right, even some of these lesser-known Washington institutions are free. Is this a great town or what?

In addition to the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, which puts on free daily performances at 6pm, the Shakespeare Theatre Company partners with "community-minded" sponsors to present a series of free performances each year. Last weekend, J and I entered the online lottery (new this year, replacing the physical line) and got tickets to see Twelfth Night in the new Sidney Harmon Hall.

Having been a Shakespeare geek in school, this was a real treat. The last time I'd seen Shakespeare on stage was over 10 years ago in Stratford-upon-Avon (Shakespeare's hometown) and then at the reconstructed Globe Theatre (a recreation of Shakespeare's theater) in London. I told you I was a Shakespeare geek...

Needless to say, it would have been easy to turn up my nose at a "lesser" free production, but that was far from the case. Everything was first class. The theater was beautiful, comfortable, and despite sitting 3 rows from the back, had great sight lines. The acting was very good, the set design was minimal yet beautifully done, and the overall artistic production was top notch.

I love the idea of exposing Shakespeare to the non-traditional theater-going crowd via the Free for All and judging by the diversity of attire, it was working. Helpful hint: the t-shirt, basketball shorts, and flip-flop ensemble that was sported by more than one attendee is not the preferred dress. That said, being theater-appropriate is far from the point of this exercise. Rather, the goal is to get people in the door who would not normally spend a Saturday evening in iambic pentameter.

Hopefully newcomers saw that experiencing Shakespeare live is such a different experience than seeing it on the page. What is often perceived as high-brow culture is littered with crass innuendo and complete silliness that even appeals to those of us who don't understand every last antiquated word. Whether you're a Shakespeare geek or not, I bet you'll like this performance. And even if not, the price is still right.

J Says

I am unequivocally, most definitely, NOT a Shakespeare geek. While I love to read and have read quite a bit of Shakespeare thanks to a great high school English teacher, I just never got along very well with the great Billy S. Needless to say, B was much more excited about the prospect of free Shakespeare tickets than I was. Mostly, I was thinking about what fun dinner options surround the theater. But I put on my big girl pants and we made our way to the show.

While we waited for the doors to open, I sipped a specialty Twelfth Night cosmopolitan ($7) and had a good time watching the people stream into the lobby. As B said, there was quite the variety of outfits to check out.

We settled into our seats in the gorgeous theater, and, after a welcome from Kwame Brown (the DC Council member, not the Washington Wizards' biggest flop), the show began. While I couldn't understand every word, thanks to a helpful synopsis in the program, I found myself following along and (gasp) even enjoying myself. The acting was terrific and there were enough jokes and costume changes to keep things moving along nicely. The fact that 3 hours passed without me nodding off or making up songs in my head is proof that it was a good show. I read that Ruth Bader Ginsburg was at the show last weekend. If it's good enough for a Supreme Court justice, it is good enough for me.

The Free for All runs through September 5th so log on and try your luck before time runs out! It might even make a Shakespeare geek out of you.

Huong Viet

As District dwellers, we've made our share of jabs at the suburbs. While I still love living and working downtown, I do recognize that there are valuable parts of Virginia and Maryland that we shouldn't overlook. Recently we ventured into the wilds of Virginia to check out Eden Center.

Eden Center is a Vietnamese shopping center also known as the DC area's Little Saigon. It is a bustling collection of shops, restaurants, video stores (yes, they still exist!), and a grocery store.

I've read so much about the restaurant Four Sisters and I wanted to check it out. Unfortunately, I didn't pay enough attention to realize that it moved out of Eden Center to a new location. B was starting to give me the "are you sure you know what you're doing?" look so I ushered him into Huong Viet for lunch. It had a lot of framed reviews in the window, so I figured we couldn't go too wrong. The skeptical B commented, "Nothing says authentic Vietnamese food like Corinthian columns." I think they add a classy touch!

Let's start with the important thing first: the bubble tea. Bubble tea, or boba as we called it in on the West Coast, is one of my all-time favorite things to drink. Some people are repulsed by the gooey tapioca balls (a.k.a. pearls) in the bottom of the cup, but I adore them. From the oversized straw to the cool machine they use to seal the cup, bubble tea is my idea of a good time. Speaking of a good time, have you ever shot the tapioca balls through the straw? They stick to things, like B's forehead. I'm not going to be held responsible for damage you inflict from attempting it, but it is really fun.

Imagine my disappointment when I moved to DC and realized that bubble tea was almost non-existent. Thank you Eden Center for fulfilling my needs! Huong Viet's coconut version was a little on the sweet side, but the tapioca was the perfect texture.

Despite the fact that I was born in Southern California's Little Saigon, I know close to nothing about Vietnamese food. I had a Vietnamese college roommate who cooked amazing dishes, but I never learned the names of them so am pretty clueless when ordering in restaurants. In this case, we just told the waiter that we like spicy stuff and asked him to choose two dishes.

First, he selected the BÚN THỊT NƯỚNG CHÃ GIÒ – Rice Vermicelli with Grilled Pork & Spring Rolls. I'm not sure if we ate this properly, but it was really good. It didn't come with any sauce so we doused it with fish sauce and mixed it all together. I loved the bbq flavor of the grilled pork and the crunch of the spring rolls. The vermicelli were a little bland, but the fish sauce added a tangy flavor. Next time, I think I'll add some of the hot sauce that is provided on each table.

Second, was the BÚN BÒ HUẾ – "Famous Hue Beef Spicy Soup." Like a spicier cousin to pho, the soup was served with thai basil, bean sprouts, and lime wedges to top it off. I absolutely loved the spicy broth. It had a hint of lemongrass, but not so much that it overpowered the dish. I could see this being the perfect soup for when I'm sick. The drawbacks for me were the unidentifiable nature of the meat items floating in the dish and the rather wimpy noodles. The meat tasted very good, but if you're particular about what cut of meat you're eating, this probably isn't the dish for you. The flavor of the broth, however, was enough for me to keep slurping long after I was feeling full.

The best part of this adventure? It was so cheap! Most dishes on the menu are under $10 and they are huge. If you're a dedicated credit card user like me, be warned that Huong Viet is cash only.

Second Thoughts From B

I also must plead ignorance as we placed our fate in our waiter. Thankfully, when things taste good, it doesn't matter what they are called or what conglomeration of meat, bone, fat, and skin is floating in your bowl.

But the lesson here is to be adventurous and go outside your box. When I was in grad school, many of my colleagues were from China. When we were lucky enough to get out of the lab and splurge on a meal, it was often Chinese food. This was a treat for me but I often thought it was a shame that my friends came so far yet would be so opposed to experiencing the culture that surrounded them. In fact, I remember being at a conference in Maui and trying to hunt down what had to be the only Chinese joint on the island. I understand that someone like me who has never lived and worked in a foreign country shouldn't be pointing fingers or judging my friends for wanting a taste of home. Still, I think an occasional emergence outside the safety of Chinatown would have been ok.

Keeping that in mind, J and I have tried to expand our horizons and this includes remembering to go outside of the 10 by 10 mile "box" that defines the District. You just never know what you might find!

Art and Soul

Fat Pants (Noun): Stretchy garments that you must change into after indulging in Southern cooking at Art and Soul in the Liaison Hotel on Capitol Hill.

Art and Soul is celebrichef Art Smith's homage to good old Southern cooking with a modern twist. On a side note: congratulations to Chef Smith and his partner on their wedding which they celebrated at the Liaison this past Saturday.

I'm always skeptical about hotel restaurants, but was pleased that Art and Soul didn't have that generic hotel restaurant feel. While there were cozy booths along the back wall, we were seated at one of those undesirable two tops that is crammed so close to other tables that you have to awkwardly slide into your chair hoping that your butt doesn't knock over your neighbor's water glass. Fortunately, I avoided the butt-meets-water glass disaster. However, since the diner at the next table was eating alone (and therefore not talking to anyone), it felt as if we had a third wheel with us.

My annoyance at the table arrangement faded as a basket full of cornbread was set in front of me. It was moist and flavorful and hard to stop eating.

I was intrigued by the sno cone cocktails listed on the menu and tried the Savannah: vodka, african nectar tea, and peaches. The pesky "Looksbetteronthemenusapien" struck again with this drink. Because it wasn't served with a spoon and the ice wasn't very soft, it just ended up being a regular cocktail with too much ice in it. For $12, I expect more than a few ounces of liquid.

As I was filling up on cornbread, I decided to start with a lighter appetizer. The arugula salad with its blackberry ale vinaigrette,watermelon pickles, goat cheese, and almonds fit the bill perfectly. The watermelon pickles added a unique tart flavor that took this dish from mediocre salad to star.

B is still raving about the shrimp and grits. The shrimp were cooked on a sugarcane skewer and had a wonderful smoky flavor. The grits were packed with bacon chunks and weren't gummy like so many other grits we've sampled. Vinny Gambini in My Cousin Vinny might have even called these magic grits. If you don't know what I'm talking about, stop right here and add that movie to your Netflx queue. Don't worry, I'll wait.

Ok, welcome back. We went off the Restaurant Week menu to sample the fried green tomatoes and I'm glad we did. They had a perfectly crisp blanket of breading which wrapped each green tomato like a high-calorie hug. If that wasn't enough, it came with a wonderfully tart and creamy remoulade for dipping. I'm not going to tell you to add Fried Green Tomatoes to your Netflix queue but you should add Art Smith's dish to your "to eat" list.

By the time the main course came out of the kitchen, I was feeling pretty full. Once I tasted this juicy chicken and dessert-like squash puree, I forced myself to find more room. So many restaurants serve sub-par chicken, but Art and Soul put a lot of Southern love into this dish.

Since the waitress recommended the pork chop, B ate the pork chop. The delectable risotto resuscitated the somewhat overcooked pig.

We had no business eating dessert after gorging ourselves on the previous courses but it was Restaurant Week and it is against the law to turn down dessert. Luckily, my dessert wasn't very good so I didn't mind leaving most of it on the plate. It was a lackluster bread pudding with a run of the mill berry sauce. Yawn.

B's caramel brownie bar with popcorn brittle and and vanilla ice cream was more interesting but nothing we'd go running back for.

When we got home we tweeted that we needed to change into our fat pants after our meal and Art and Soul replied asking whether that was a good thing. In this case, absolutely yes. While the crowded tables and forgettable desserts were misses, there were enough hits that we'd give it another shot. However, with food this rich, we need to space out our visits or else our fat pants will become our every day pants.

Second Thoughts from B

Crowded table, overcooked pork chop, mediocre dessert... sounds like a recipe for disaster, right? Wrong. When you're served a dish as wonderful as those shrimp and grits, you can't help but see the world as a glass half full.

It is easy to blame Restaurant Week for the other sins of the evening. We understand that the event doesn't always put a restaurant's best foot forward. Instead, we're looking for a few indications that would guide future dining choices.

So let's spend a moment to praise that unforgettable shrimp and grits dish. When we took our first bite, J and I had the same reaction: this was an Iron Chef quality dish. There were so many things going on, yet they were all perfectly married together. The interesting contrast of the sweet, fresh shrimp and creamy grits was only matched by the dueling textures. Add the tang of the chow chow (not the dog, the Southern relish made of chopped vegetables pickled in mustard) and the saltiness of the bacon and all of a sudden, there was a circus of flavor in my mouth. Finally, I have to mention the char on the shrimp. Never have I seen this executed so perfectly that it added a significant flavor profile to the dish. Well done.

With cornbread that sweet and moist, fried green tomatoes that would make Jessica Tandy smile, and shrimp and grits from heaven, Art and Soul showed us enough during Restaurant Week to put in on the list for a return visit... fat pants and all.