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Friday January 1, 2010
Week of December 28, 2009
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The Lambda Rising book store in Dupont Circle has been at the center of gay life in the region for 35 years. Its owner, Deacon Maccubbin, has been fighting for gay rights in the city for even longer - since the Vietnam War.
His was the first gay book store in the area, and he opened it at a time when most things gay weren't welcome. This January, it will close. Sabri Ben-Achour speaks with Maccubbin and takes a look back.
For more on the closing of Lambda Rising we speak with Kevin Naff, the editor of DC Agenda.
Lambda Rising
Courtesy of: Sabri Ben-Achour
DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton says this has been a busy year for the District - and claims that victories in '09 have paved the way for congressional voting rights and budget and legislative autonomy in 2010. She speaks with Kavitha Cardoza about achievements, disappointments and what she hopes to see in 2010.
Flying in the face of the 'Buy Local' movement, the first day of Twenty-Ten finds commentator Fred Fiske strengthening his resolve to buy... Canadian.
Signature Theatre in Shirlington won this year's Tony Award for Best Regional Theater. The playhouse is known for staging major musicals, reinventing sprawling shows on one of its two relatively small stages.
The current production is the beloved musical Showboat - a show that had its Washington debut back in 1927. The theater's artistic director, Eric Schaeffer and actress Terry Burrell speak with Stephanie Kaye about Showboat - then and now.
Showboat runs through January 17th at Signature Theatre.
Show Boat
Courtesy of: Signature Theatre
In November and December fifty DC-area men raised over $40,000 for Children's National Medical Center. They didn't hold a $100-per-plate dinner party or ask holiday shoppers for cash, they... grew mustaches.
For this annual fundraiser organized by the DC chapter of Mustaches for Kids, the men went four weeks without shaving their upper lips. Ginger Moored joined them on their final day of fundraising - a big contest to see who has grown the 'Sweetest Stache.'
Growers Eric "Spanky" Means and A.J. Bownas
Courtesy of: Mustaches 4 Kids
You'd think we'd need a break from obsessive thoughts about food. After getting past Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's... this is, supposedly, the time for resolutions and cutting back. But no. Joining us to look back on DC dining in 2009 and to look ahead to what's coming this year is food writer Tim Carman. He's the food critic at the Washington City Paper.
And finally - we take one last look in the rear view mirror as 2009 fades in the distance. Writer and videographer Jessica Piscitelli didn't lose her job last year. But as one of many business owners struggling to find that next client, that next booking... she DID feel the economic pinch. And it led to some year-end soul searching.