Admittedly, though, especially as I’ve gotten older, I’d be much more likely to take a train to New York or a plane anywhere really than explore the highways and byways of the Old Line State. After all, we all know the song. A few weekends ago, however, I found myself in Easton, Maryland, for a wedding. I was quite taken with the small-town charm of the area, particularly the quiet breezes and picket fences found in the “downtown” of Historic Easton and nearby Oxford. It seemed like a perfect setting for some weepy young adult novel about summer love. In fact, when the time comes, I could definitely see myself renting a pretty little house with a porch to write my book without any distractions.

Oxford, Maryland

This holiday weekend, I’ll head back to Easton, primarily because I purchased two antique nightstands but could only fit one in the tiny city-sized sports car. I also plan to take a couple good books to read on a bench somewhere before what I expect will be another phenomenal dinner at the Bartlett Pear Inn.

On the Road in Maryland

If you’re sticking closer to Washington, however, you may join in any number of activities like a ballgame or barbecue. Or, perhaps, you will head back to Rockville for a blast from the past. Find out all the details about these events and more in my Washington Times column, and have a pleasant holiday.

P.S. It’s been a busy few weeks to say the least, but I have a few columns I forgot to post here, here, here, and here. In case you missed it, I also wrote a story previewing the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner and the accompanying celebrity mania. Whew!

The Americans

And just as you find yourself rooting for the calculating, ambitious-to-a-fault Underwoods in “House of Cards,” even Reaganites might inexplicably hope the likable spies come out okay in the end.

If the Cold War interests you, you’ll want to check out a party happening tomorrow night at Arlington’s Artisphere in honor of the 53rd anniversary of the first human space flight. On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin completed an orbit around Earth in Vostok 1, and lit the fire under our butts to take that next leap for mankind by being the first to successfully land a man on the moon. The United States won the space race, and ultimately, the Cold War, so it’s a good occasion to put aside our differences with our favorite frenemy and celebrate all that the space race achieved for science. You can read more about “Countdown to Yuri’s Night,” featuring space-themed art, performances, and more, as well as other hot weekend happenings, in my Washington Times column published today.

The Washington Times

GET OUT: This Week’s Pocket Picks by Samantha Sault

April 12, 2013

Pick of the Pack: Festival: National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade & Blessing of the Fleets

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you already know that the cherry blossoms are in full bloom—so you’ll want to take your antihistamine and get to the Tidal Basin this weekend for a final look at spring before the summer heat sucks the life out of our swamp. On Saturday morning, the National Cherry Blossom Festival will culminate with the annual parade along Constitution Avenue, featuring blossom-inspired floats and costumes, marching bands and performers including Grammy-winning pop singer Mýa and “American Idol” runner-up Elliott Yamin. After the parade, head to the U.S. Navy Memorial for the 22^nd annual Blessing of the Fleets, a traditional ceremony to guard the crews and ships from the dangers of the high seas. The event will feature musical accompaniment from the Navy Band and the Washington Revels Maritime Voices, as well as an opportunity to taste the famous Navy bean soup prepared by the White House Mess. Parade Saturday, starts at 10 a.m. at 7^th Street & Constitution Avenue Northwest. Blessing of the Fleets Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Navy Memorial, 701 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 877/44-BLOOM. Web: nationalcherryblossomfestival.org.

Exhibit: JFK

Nearly 50 years after President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, his legacy lives on both in his only living child, Caroline Bouvier Kennedy, who is rumored to be the next U.S. ambassador to Japan, and in Washington’s Newseum, which will open two new exhibits on Friday commemorating his life and death. “Creating Camelot: The Kennedy Photography of Jacques Lowe” features a behind-the-scenes look at the Kennedy family from the 1958 Massachusetts Senate campaign to their life in the White House, through photos taken by their personal photographer. The second exhibit, “Three Shots Were Fired,” will give visitors a concise history of Kennedy’s assassination on November 22, 1963 and the events that followed, featuring CBS anchor Walter Cronkite’s historic television announcement as well as a number of artifacts including the 8 mm movie camera that captured the assassination, Lee Harvey Oswald’s clothing, and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s personal schedule for the day. On Wednesday evening, Newseum members are invited to a viewing and reception with the curators. Through Jan. 5 at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 888/NEWSEUM. Web: newseum.org. 

Lecture: Italian Masters at the Head of the Class

If you can’t make it to the Venice Biennale, the massive art exhibition held every two years that kicks off in early June, you can get a taste of Italian art this weekend at the Italian Embassy. John T. Spike, an expert art historian and author who teaches at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va., will be on hand to discuss Michelangelo and Mattia Preti, two of the most influential artists in history. Sponsored by the Italian Cultural Institute, Mr. Spike’s illustrated presentation will explore the two artists’ unique styles, which are currently on display in two competing exhibits at the Muscarelle Museum of Art at William & Mary: “Michelangelo: Sacred and Profane” and “A Brush with Passion: Mattia Preti (1613-1699).” The event is part of the 2013 Year of Italian Culture, a yearlong initiative in the United States to promote the culture of Italy, including art, music, theater, architecture, fashion, and food. Friday at the Embassy of Italy, 3000 Whitehaven Street NW. Web: iicwashington.esteri.it.  

Party: Countdown to Yuri’s Night

While the United States won the space race by being the first to land on the moon, we can’t ignore the fact that the Soviet Union might have pushed us to work a little harder by being the first to put a human into outer space. On April 12, 1961, exactly 53 years ago, the Soviet pilot and cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin completed an orbit around Earth in Vostok 1.On Saturday, celebrate Mr. Gagarin—who tragically died in a training jet crash only seven years later—and our now somewhat-friendly relationship with Russia. Taking over Rosslyn’s Artisphere, Countdown to Yuri’s Night is sure to be an out-of-this-world evening for 21+ space geeks with live music and DJs, acrobatic and burlesque performances and robot-themed art. If you ever wanted to be an astronaut, you won’t want to miss other space-themed activities like a space cadet training seminar and moon bounce—and costumes are encouraged. Saturday at Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703/875-1100. Web: outofthisworldparty.com. 

Concert: DCJCC Spring Showcase

In this era of YouTube celebrities and Auto-Tuned stars, “The Great American Songbook” lives on thanks in part to Michael Feinstein, the Emmy and Grammy-nominated performer known for his interpretations of American musical theater’s greatest hits. Now the lead conductor of the Pasadena Pops following the death of “A Chorus Line” composer Marvin Hamlisch, Mr. Feinstein once worked for Ira Gershwin, which he recounts in his recently published memoir, “The Gershwins and Me: A Personal History in Twelve Songs.” On Tuesday, Mr. Feinstein will headline the Washington, D.C., Jewish Community Center’s annual gala to discuss his book (and hopefully sing a few tunes), and be available to sign books after. The gala benefits the WDCJCC’s programs, and will also honor local philanthropists Trish and George Vradenburg, founders of USAgainstAlzheimers. Tuesday at the Carnegie Institute for Science, 1530 P Street NW. Web: washingtondcjcc.org.

After reading about Japanese manga this week for my Washington Times column, I realize that the comics on the subway were likely manga or manga-influenced works. The Japanese word for “comics” or “cartooning,” “manga” now refers to the black-and-white comics published in Japan, or now, frequently, comics in the same style of manga that are published all over the world in a variety of languages. These comics have their roots in ehon, woodblock-printed picture books used to disseminate news and stories in Japan as early as 1618. Today, there is not one manga genre; in fact, manga includes superhero stories and science fiction, as well as romance, horror, suspense, even non-fiction. Since manga is now a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide, it’s no wonder I saw it everywhere on the subway in Asia.

Japanese manga newspaper, via Wired

If comics, or perhaps global communication methods more generally, strike your fancy, the Smithsonian’s Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery just opened a new exhibit on ehon and manga, which I featured in this week’s column. In case you didn’t pick up a print copy, I’ve pasted the column below.

The Washington Times

GET OUT: This Week’s Pocket Picks by Samantha Sault

April 5, 2013

Pick of the Pack: Filmfest DC

Washington, D.C., has often been called “Hollywood for Ugly People”—but increasingly, with the constant stream of celebrities in town to cavort with the first family or promote their causes on Capitol Hill, it’s just “Hollywood.” This week, Washington will again roll out the red carpet for film industry insiders—though this time the industry is here for serious film lovers and critics, not a photo op at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. The 27th Filmfest DC will showcase over 80 feature films, documentaries, and shorts from around the world, along with discussions with the films’ directors, producers, and actors. The festival opens Thursday at the Regal Cinemas Gallery Place with the American premiere of “Underground,” an Australian thriller about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange’s teenage years, followed by a party at Bar Louie. The festival has something for everyone, from a number of international comedies, to screenings of Web series produced in the Washington area, to three films from Washington’s sister cities Beijing, Paris, and Seoul. Through April 21 citywide. 202/234-FILM. Web: filmfestdc.org.

Dance: DC Tango Festival

For 16 seasons now, “Dancing with the Stars,” the dance competition show featuring professional dancers paired with celebrities, has inspired would-be dancers of all ages. If you fancy yourself the next Cheryl Burke or Derek Hough, practice your moves during Washington’s seventh-annual tango festival, the largest such festival in the nation. Hosted by the Pan-American Symphony Orchestra (PASO), an organization devoted to promoting Latin American music and culture, the festival provides an opportunity to explore the art of one of the most romantic dance forms in the world. Throughout the festival, the Embassy of Argentina will host free weekly tango dance lessons with local instructors Arnaud Lucas and Corinne Merzeraud, as well as two dance parties to show off your skills. Other events throughout the month include dance and music performances, film screenings, and an art exhibit featuring works by Argentine ex-pats, which opens at the Embassy on Wednesday with a reception. Through May 4 at the Embassy of Argentina, 1600 New Hampshire Ave. NW. 202/884-9008. Web: panamsymphony.org.

Exhibit: Hand-Held: Gerhard Pulverer’s Japanese Illustrated Books

Watch out, Superman—the latest craze in comics is manga, the black-and-white Japanese comic books covering all genres and comprising a multi-billion dollar industry around the world. In Japan, and elsewhere in Asia, people of all ages read manga or manga-influenced comics on their smart phones on the subway—and the genre is growing in popularity in the United States, too. The modern-day comic books were inspired by ehon, the woodblock-printed picture books used to disseminate news and stories in Japan from 1615-1868. On Saturday, the Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery will debut an exhibit exploring the ancient black-and-white paperbacks and the roots of modern manga. Whether or not you enjoy comics, the exhibit is sure to provide insight on how information is distributed in various cultures and time periods. The exhibit opens just in time for the tail end of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which is devoted to exploring Japanese culture and the special relationship between the United States and Japan. Through Aug. 11 at the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. 202/633-1000. Web: asia.si.edu.

 Culture: Festival des Artistes

With over 180 embassies and diplomatic missions in Washington, D.C., our city is home to a lot of diplomats. Even busy diplomats need some hobbies outside of schmoozing the city’s power players, however, and in fact many of them are talented artists who contribute to the capital’s exciting cultural melting pot. This weekend, THIS for Diplomats (formerly the Hospitality and Information Service), an organization devoted to helping new diplomat families get settled in their new home, will host a cultural festival to promote diplomacy and greater understanding through the arts. The fifth Festival des Artistes will feature art, music, and food from diverse diplomatic missions to Washington, including Australia, Brazil, China, France, the Gambia, Haiti, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mongolia, Peru, Spain, and Switzerland, among others. The festival opens Friday evening with a reception, and will remain open through the weekend, with an opportunity to participate in diplomacy first-hand and meet the artists on Saturday afternoon. Saturday & Sunday at the Duke Ellington School for the Arts, 3500 R Street NW. 202/232-3002. Web: thisfordiplomats.org.

Theater: Monty Python’s Spamalot

With the ever-more depressing budget debates, Washington could use a little comedy. And even if Broadway show tunes aren’t necessarily your thing, you’ll find it difficult not to laugh during “Monty Python’s Spamalot.” The winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2005, the show is based on the 1975 film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and uses the British sketch-comedy group’s surreal brand of humor to parody the story of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. If you plan on attending, you’ll want to unbutton your button-down and be prepared for dancing knights, killer rabbits, and bawdy jokes—the usual absurd humor found in a Monty Python-style performance. After three runs to sold-out crowds in Washington, the show returns to the National Theatre on Wednesday for a final, one-week run. Through April 14 at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 202/628-6161. Web: nationaltheatre.org. 

Dizzy Miss Lizzie’s Roadside Revue’s The Bronte’s (Credit: getdizzywithlizzie.com)

The best show I’ve seen in a long time, however, was Mike Daisey’s The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs, which he’s performed at the Woolly Mammoth for two runs during the past two years. You’ve probably heard of the monologue about life inside Apple/Foxconn factories in China, which was discovered to be partially fabricated when This American Life passed off excerpts as “hard news.”  Perhaps he should have been more forthcoming with the radio show to protect his reputation. When I saw it, however, I knew I wasn’t reading a newspaper article; I was at the theater. It was clear to me that this sensational storyteller probably took some creative liberties for the sake of a good show, but that didn’t change the overall message. At the time, I didn’t even own an iPhone, yet his performance was so compelling that it has stuck with me for years–and I’m returning to the Woolly Mammoth this week to see his latest show, American Utopias, which I previewed in my latest Washington Times column.

Mike Daisey (Credit: http://mikedaisey.blogspot.com)

Whatever else you’ve got going on this week, I highly doubt anything will be as good as Daisey’s performance. And that’s the honest truth.

The Washington Times

GET OUT: This Week’s Pocket Picks by Samantha Sault

March 22, 2013

Pick of the Pack

Theater: American Utopias

The monologist Mike Daisey found himself embroiled in controversy last year when his monologue “The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs,” about Apple’s supply chain in China, was found to be partially fabricated after portions aired on public radio’s “This American Life” as news. While some details in his story turned out to have been made up, his entrancing one-man show nonetheless made sold-out audiences across the globe think about the impact of consumerism. On Monday, Mr. Daisey’s latest monologue, “American Utopias,” will open at Penn Quarter’s Woolly Mammoth—and if you think there might be something better to do with your evening than listen to a man talk for two hours on an empty stage, well, there isn’t. After taking audiences inside the factories of Shenzhen, Mr. Daisey now brings us on a tour of “the new American dream,” from Disney World and Burning Man, the week-long festival of art and self-expression in Nevada, to Zuccotti Park, where the Occupy Wall Street movement began. It’s sure to be part journalism, part theater, and completely sensational. Through April 21 at the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D Street NW. 202/393-3939. Web: woollymammoth.net.

Exhibit: The Gettysburg Address

The phrase “four score and seven years ago” is perhaps one of the most well-known phrases uttered in American history, and this November will mark 150 years since President Abraham Lincoln said it at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery at Gettysburg. The Gettysburg Address—a mere 270 words and three minutes—urged the preservation of the Union, and with it, the principles of equality and freedom in the Declaration of Independence. Starting Friday, the Library of Congress will display the John Hay copy of the address for a limited time. This particular copy—thought to be the second draft of the speech, which Lincoln gave to his secretary John Hay for safekeeping—is just one of five known copies in existence. The display is part of the Library’s ongoing “Civil War in America” exhibit (just extended until January 14), which features 200 documents, maps, photos, and other items from the era. Through May 4 at the Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street SE. 202/707-5000. Web: loc.gov.

Culture: La Grand Fête

Your high school French skills will certainly be helpful if you’d like to order a croissant in Paris. However, they may also come in handy in the dozens of diverse francophone countries throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East in which the language is either the official one or at least widely spoken. On Friday, the French Embassy will welcome fellow francophiles from Embassy Row for La Grande Fête, highlighting the culture and cuisine of over 35 nations who share the language of love. The party will feature a performance by Bastian Baker, a Swiss pop-folk star whose French-language songs have topped European music charts, as well as a dance party. The fête is part of the month-long Francophonie Festival, a series of concerts, plays, lectures, film, and more in Washington celebrating the diversity of the world’s 220 million French speakers. Friday at the Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Road NW. Web: francophoniedc.org.  

Exhibit: Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition

These days, everyone thinks they’re the next Richard Avedon or Annie Leibovitz thanks to photography apps like Instagram. But automatic filters don’t equal talent. A new exhibit at the National Portrait Gallery, however, will unveil the results of the Smithsonian Institution’s search for the best of emerging portrait artists. The Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition was founded by an endowment from the late Virginia Outwin Boochever, a former art student and officer in the U.S. Navy’s WWII WAVES division for women, and later, volunteer docent at the National Portrait Gallery. Now in its third year, the competition is open to professional artists ages 18 and over and welcomes individual portraits, group portraits and self-portraits in any visual arts medium, from paintings and drawings to photos and videos. Opening Saturday, the exhibition will include the jurors’ favorite 50-60 portraits. The winner will take home a $25,000 award and have the opportunity to complete a work for the gallery’s collection. Through Feb. 23 at the National Portrait Gallery, F Street & 8^th Street NW. 202/633-8300. Web: portraitcompetition.si.edu.

Concert: Tchaikovsky Discovers America

In 1891, Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky visited New York City to perform at the grand opening of Manhattan’s Carnegie Hall. You’re undoubtedly familiar with his iconic compositions, which range from ballets like “Swan Lake” and “The Nutcracker” to the “1812 Overture,” a staple of Fourth of July fireworks displays across the United States. But, do you know anything about the man behind the beautiful music? On Sunday, the National Symphony Orchestra and actors will perform “Tchaikovsky Discovers America,” chronicling his life and trip to New York through the eyes of an American child, who gets to know the composer as he prepares for the concert and even visits Niagara Falls. Based on a children’s album of the same name (beloved by this writer as a young girl), the show will feature more than 25 excerpts of Tchaikovsky’s greatest hits. Arrive early for a hands-on demonstration of instruments in the Kennedy Center’s Atrium, and plan to stay after to meet the musicians. Sunday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW. 800/444-1324. Web: kennedy-center.org.

Sheryl Sandberg (courtesy of “Vogue”) and Claire Underwood

I’ve gone so far as to say “What Would Claire Underwood Do?” whenever I have to make a decision, whether at work or shopping,  but that’s for another post.

It’s only fitting, then, that my latest Washington Times column featured another gutsy woman: Elizabeth Keckley, the former slave who survived abuse and became the seamstress for First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln and founder of a charity that provided assistance to freed slaves and wounded Civil War soldiers. It’s worth mentioning that Ms. Keckley did all this while reportedly suffering from severe headaches, too, which so many women, myself included, know is no easy feat. This past weekend, Washington’s Arena Stage debuted a new play, “Mary T. and Lizzy K.,” about the relationship between the seamstress and her famous client, which is just one of the many area productions I’m eager to see this spring.

Mary T. and Lizzy K., courtesy of Arena Stage

The column is not posted online, but you may still be able to find a print copy or read it below.

The Washington Times

GET OUT: This Week’s Pocket Picks by Samantha Sault

March 15, 2013

Pick of the Pack

Theater: Mary T. & Lizzy K.

Between the 150^th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and Daniel Day-Lewis winning the Academy Award for his portrayal of the top-hatted president, this year has been Abraham Lincoln’s year. Yet, behind every good man is a great woman—and it’s time for Mary Todd Lincoln to get her share of the spotlight, too. On Friday, Arena Stage will debut a production about Mrs. Lincoln and her relationship with Elizabeth Keckley, a freed slave who would go on to work as the First Lady’s personal seamstress, creating the fashion-forward dresses in her famous wardrobe. The play tells the story of the deep friendship between the two women, which culminates when Ms. Keckley dresses her client for what should have been an ordinary evening at the theater. “Mary T. & Lizzy K.” is written and directed by Tazewell Thompson, whose 2000 New York City Opera production of “Porgy and Bess”—broadcast on PBS—received Emmy nominations for best director and best classical production. Through April 28 at the Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. 202/488-3300. Web: arenastage.org. 

Concert: Dublin: Celtic & Art Music

Sunday is St. Patrick’s Day, the feast day honoring Ireland’s patron saint said to have expelled snakes from the country—and the holiday that has become an excuse to indulge in green beer all day, all over the world. If you’re looking for something different than the usual shamrocks and shenanigans that overtake Washington’s bars this weekend, head to the Folger Theatre for a celebration of Irish and Celtic music and culture. Sponsored by Culture Ireland, which celebrates Ireland’s European Union presidency by showcasing Irish arts and culture worldwide, the concert will feature bagpipes, harps and fiddles playing music from Ireland, Scotland and the English courts. Performers include soprano Molly Quinn and harpist Ann Heymann, who is credited with spearheading the revival of the Gaelic harp. Friday’s performance will be preceded by a free pre-concert discussion. Friday through Sunday at the Folger Elizabethan Theatre, 201 East Capitol Street SE. 202/544-7077. Web: folger.edu. 

Lecture: Expert Witnesses: Senator Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson, the former U.S. Senator from Tennessee and “Law and Order” star, has largely stayed out of the spotlight since his failed bid for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. On Monday evening, however, the both real-life and small-screen lawyer will serve as an “expert witness” in the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s new lecture series featuring discussions with people who have “bridged the worlds of law and theater and the arts.” The discussion is sure to cover the many facets of Mr. Thompson’s life and career, from serving as minority counsel to the Senate Watergate Committee in 1973, to his extensive film and television career, to his eight years serving in the U.S. Senate and, of course, the 2008 GOP primary campaign. The lecture will be followed by a reception at Sidney Harman Hall. Monday at Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F Street NW.  202/547-1122. Web: shakespearetheatre.org.

 Circus: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Present “Dragons”

Washington often feels like a circus—after all, the clowns in Congress seem more concerned with putting on a good show than passing meaningful legislation. This week, however, a more exciting circus comes to town when Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey will raise the tents for their latest show “Dragons,” which celebrates the lunar calendar’s Year of the Dragon by combining dragon legends and Kung Fu martial arts with traditional circus acrobatics. You can catch the action starting Wednesday at the Verizon Center, followed by the 1^st Mariner Arena in Baltimore later this month and the Patriot Center in Fairfax County in April. Be sure to arrive one hour early to all performances to meet the performers, try on circus costumes and get a feel for life under the big top. Through March 24 at the Verizon Center, 601 F Street NW; March 27 through April 7 at the 1^st Mariner Arena, 201 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore; April 10 through April 21 at the George Mason University Patriot Center, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax. 800/745-3000. Web: ticketmaster.com. 

Festival: Pink Tie Party

For more than 100 years now, Washington, D.C., has been blessed with a pink and white landscape every spring, thanks to Tokyo Mayor Yukio Ozaki’s gift of 3,000 cherry trees to our city in 1912. The National Cherry Blossom Festival, and spring, officially starts Wednesday, and though the peak blooms aren’t expected for another week or so, you can kick off the celebrations with pink cocktails and pink cocktail attire. Wednesday evening’s seventh annual Pink Tie Party will feature cocktails and canapés inspired by the beautiful blossoms from over 30 local restaurants, led by tapas chef Lorena Garcia, who has been a judge on “America’s Next Great Restaurant” and “Top Chef All-Stars.” Proceeds from the party, which includes a silent auction, benefit the National Cherry Blossom Festival and its year-round programs that celebrate nature, culture, and our nation’s continuing relationship with Japan. And, yes, gentlemen, pink ties are encouraged. Wednesday at the Renaissance Washington DC Downtown, 999 9^th Street NW. 877/44-BLOOM. Web: nationalcherryblossomfestival.org. 

So, this week, I was excited to learn about an important piece of Middle Eastern history–and a piece that’s important to understanding the Middle East today, too. In the 6th century B.C., the Persian Empire–which covers modern-day Iran and much of the Middle East, Western Asia, and Eastern Europe–produced what could be one of the earliest known declarations of religious freedom and human rights in world history. Named for Cyrus the Great, the Cyrus Cylinder not only tells the story of how he overthrew the Babylonians and founded the First Persian Empire, but also proclaimed his policies of religious freedom and tolerance. The words on the baked clay object explain how the benevolent Cyrus the Great helped his new peoples restore their temples and return to their homelands, regardless of their faiths.

The Cyrus Cylinder

You can’t really see Ahmadinejad doing the same, can you?

This special object has rarely left its home at the British Museum since it was  discovered in 1879, but for a limited time, will be on display at Washington’s Sackler Gallery. I covered it in this week’s “Get Out” column, which unfortunately is unavailable online today, but I’ve posted below for your reading pleasure.

My Washington Times column this week, plus my pretty new little computer.

The Washington Times

GET OUT: This Week’s Pocket Picks by Samantha Sault

March 8, 2013

Pick of the Pack

Exhibit: The Cyrus Cylinder & Ancient Persia

Iran today isn’t exactly a beacon of religious freedom and human rights. Yet, in the 6^th century B.C., the Persian Empire produced what could be one of the earliest declarations of such ideals in world history, a baked clay cylinder proclaiming Cyrus the Great’s conquest of Babylon in 539 B.C. Dubbed the Cyrus Cylinder, the artifact’s cuneiform inscription not only tells the story of the new king’s military triumph, but also proclaimed his policies of religious freedom and tolerance. After being on display at the British Museum since 1879, the Cyrus Cylinder and additional items from the Persian Empire have traveled to the United States for the first time, with the first tour stop at the Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery starting Saturday. Through April 28 at the Smithsonian’s Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, 1050 Independence Ave. SW. 202/633-1000. Web: www.asia.si.edu.

Exhibit: Searching for the Seventies: The DOCUMERICA Photography Project

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency is devoted to regulating carbon emissions via the Clean Air Act, a mandate that has been hotly debated by government and industry. In the 1970s, however, shortly after the agency was founded by President Richard Nixon, it was engaged in a slightly less controversial project: building a collection of photos capturing America’s environment. From 1971 to 1977, the EPA sponsored DOCUMERICA, which recruited some 70 photographers to document important environmental issues, life in the diverse landscapes of our vast country, and with it, the changing social climate of the 1970s.The result is a time capsule of color photographs capturing everything from urban junk yards and pollution, to everyday life for Appalachian coal miners and Colorado migrant workers, to the beauty of the national parks, along with the changing fashion trends, hair styles, economy and social norms of the era. The National Archives will display the photos in a new exhibit, which opens Friday with a lecture about another 1970s relic, “Free to Be…You and Me,” the popular children’s record and book encouraging a rejection of gender stereotypes. Through Sept. 8 at the National Archives, 9^th Street NW & Constitution Ave. 202/357-5000. Web: www.archives.gov.

Concert: Connor Christian & Southern Gothic

If you have a yearning for some roots-rock country this weekend, head to the Hamilton on Friday evening for Connor Christian and Southern Gothic, a band making a name for itself for its well-traveled sound yet distinctly American spirit. When he was 14 years old, Connor Christian left home with his guitar and a backpack to travel the world and learn about music. He ended up in Atlanta, and met his bandmates Shawn Thacker, a drummer inspired by both Kiss and the southern sounds of the banjo and fiddle, and Joe Abramson, a Washington, D.C., native who plays bass. Today, the band also includes Elena Martin, a classically trained violinist from Soviet Siberia who plays the fiddle, and Jeff Spirko, who plays a variety of instruments to round out the sound. The band, which has played with everyone from Tim McGraw and Willie Nelson to STYX and ZZ Top, led the Billboard Heatseeker Chart last week, so catch them while you can. Friday at Hill Country Barbecue, 410 7^th Street NW. 202/556-2050. Web: www.hillcountrywdc.com. 

Travel: Travel & Adventure Show

If the sequester threatens to stall your travel plans indefinitely, then this weekend’s Travel and Adventure Show could provide the perfect staycation as you’ll be able to travel around the world, see exotic performances and even take a scuba diving or fly fishing lesson without ever leaving the Washington Convention Center. If you are planning a trip, you’ll have the opportunity to peruse hundreds of travel exhibitors, from Atlantic City and Alaska to Zara Tanzania Adventures, which specializes in African safaris and treks up Mount Kilimanjaro. The show will also feature lectures by travel experts like Rick Steves, Arthur Frommer and Sucheta Rawal on topics ranging from budget travel to volunteer vacations to how to better understand a culture through its cuisine. Saturday and Sunday at the Washington Convention Center, 801 Mount Vernon Place NW. 203/878-2577. Web: www.adventureexpo.com. 

Gala: Molls, Mobsters, & Mammoths

Washington’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, founded in 1980, continually produces some of the most exciting performances in the country. With its devotion to developing young playwrights and groundbreaking plays, the Woolly Mammoth’s premieres have received over 200 Helen Hayes Award nominations and been performed in 39 states and 12 countries. On Saturday, you can give back to the company by attending its annual gala. Join the theater’s leadership for a swinging good time featuring music by local swing band the Blue Crescent Syncopators, prohibition-era cocktails and a silent auction. If you have enjoyed Woolly’s performances, you’ll want to bid on the opening nights package, which includes tickets to all opening-night performances during the 2013-2014 season plus pre-theater dinners. Saturday at the Fairmont Georgetown, 2401 M Street NW. 202/289-2443. Web: www.woollymammoth.net.

The Lost in Translation feeling is real. It doesn’t matter what the clock says; your body will sleep when it wants to sleep when you cross a dozen time zones. And after 24 hours of flight time home only to leave again for a frenetic business trip in New York, it’s been tough to find the words for much of anything.

Truthfully, though, it’s not just the jet lag. How do I write about Hong Kong? I’ve only spent 13 days there, ever, but in some ways, it feels more comfortable than even Washington, where I’ve lived my entire cognizant life. I’ve learned my way around too easily. I have my streets, my shops, my restaurants–even my cocktail bar, a bar I crave when I have yet another uninspired drink in Washington, a bar where we made friends.

I like the way it looks, with the green space and the colorful streets and the colonial buildings interspersed with skyscrapers. It’s the perfect ratio of green space to concrete, for me, anyway. I yearn to downsize to a microscopic yet modern apartment, with minimalist furniture and contraband Mao kitsch from the stall on Hollywood Road, and look out my window to see Cantonese characters on neon signs, artwork on the ever-changing, exotic sidewalks. I like the way it smells, too, with blooming parks thanks to the mild weather and smoky food stalls and the fragrant harbor and everything.

Even with the fog in my head, I’ve experienced some of my most significant career successes in Hong Kong. Even when the fog refuses to clear, I jump out of bed there, ready to see what I’ll find around the corner on some hidden street, such as a political protest with marching bands, or the best dumplings in the world.

I did find the words, though, because right after I got back, the Hong Kong Dance Company came to town to perform a work honoring Hong Kong’s long Chinese heritage. The show, “Qingming Riverside,” brought to life a traditional Chinese painting depicting life in the Song era, one of the more progressive, prosperous eras in Chinese history, and earned a place in my weekly column. It’s that mix of tradition and modernity that makes Hong Kong so intoxicating–and though I couldn’t get tickets, I’m happy to have any reminder of my 13 fleeting days there.

Matisyahu, meaning “Gift of God” in Hebrew, takes his name from the Jewish priest who, in the second century B.C., led the Jews in revolt against their oppressors in Jerusalem.

This being Washington, I had to ask him about his take on the conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. He had some important things to say about it, as well as the effect of his music on people of all faiths. Click here to read the whole thing.

And, if you’re looking for something to do tonight, tickets are still available! I have no doubt it will be an uplifting evening.

Now, I have an outlet for my obsessive-compulsive research and planning. I’m pleased to announce that I’ve taken over the weekly “Get Out” column for the Washington Times, which covers the best of the best in cultural events, nightlife, and other happenings in the Washington Metropolitan area. It’s published every Friday in the print weekend section as well as online. I’ve been writing it for three weeks now, and I’m excited to see where it goes.

I’m not going to lie. It also fulfills my Carrie Bradshaw fantasies: “Sorry, I can’t. I have to write my column.”

Anyway, this week’s column is especially relevant, with a brief history of Dracula in honor of the Washington Ballet’s new performance, as well as a homage to the bygone days of Edgar Allan Poe and film noir.

The Washington Ballet presents Dracula

Now, stop wasting your weekend drinking a tired vodka soda at a crowded bar, and get out!

P.S. I highly recommend visiting the Hirshhorn Museum’s Ai Weiwei exhibit that I mentioned in my first column. I was lucky to attend the pre-opening party–which, by the way, was a gorgeous party with superb moo shu duck rolls in the opulently decorated Sculpture Garden outside the museum–and I’m eager to go back to explore the exhibit in-depth for a few hours.  It’s an exhibit that’s not only important in the scheme of politics and human rights, but also contains some extraordinary art.

L to R: Beijing’s 2008 Olympic Stadium, 2005-08; Divina Proportione, 2006; F-Size, 2011.
Installation view of Ai Weiwei: According to What? at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington D.C., 2012.

While the party was a chaotic, fire-hazard mess of self-important fashion types and overwhelmed public relations girls–I guess they shouldn’t have listed Samantha Cameron and Bryan Ferry on the invitation on an otherwise slow party night–my makeup was pristine. The lovely Deanne from MAC gave me trendy purple lips and a glowing face that lasted 10+ hours, through cocktails and dessert at Claridge’s Bar. I even ordered the lipstick upon returning home, and plan to make it part of my autumn evening look.

For detailed instructions on how to get the look yourself, check out my post at Verily. An excerpt:

I’m a makeup minimalist. The few times I’ve had my makeup done by a professional, I’ve worried the entire time that I’ll need to run home to my Clarisonic and tinted moisturizer.

Fashion Week, however, is almost as much about beauty as clothing. MAC, London Fashion Week’s official makeup sponsor, was offering complimentary makeovers in the Somerset House press lounge. So, I decided to try some fall beauty trends for my last night in London!

Click here to read the whole thing!

P.S. You’ll rarely see photos of me on this website so, um, enjoy!