For nearly 50 years, “Doonesbury” has been more than a comic strip: It’s a satirical, hilarious, and often unsettling examination of American political and cultural life through the eyes of Garry Trudeau. He takes a look at the world he invented—and the wider one today—in a conversation with Michael Cavna of the Washington Post’s Comic Riffs blog.
The extraordinary world that J.K. Rowling created in the first Harry Potter book in 1997 has expanded into a universe that millions of readers and moviegoers have embraced. Curator Cristian Petru Panaite reveals the roots of that world, which reach far deeper in time to cultural traditions of magic and folklore that have captivated imaginations for centuries.
Author and cocktail expert Philip Green and author Noah Rothbaum celebrate the spirit—and the favorite spirits—of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Dean Martin, Joey Bishop, and other members of the swingin’, high-living clan who came to symbolize ’60s-style cool onstage and off.
One of the latest cooking crazes has its roots in French culinary history. Author and travel writer Ann Mah traces how the traditional pressure cooker morphed into the Instant Pot, and how dishes that French home cooks make in their beloved cocotte-minute can deliciously translate into versions that take advantage of the multifunctional electric pressure cooker.
As the awards race approaches its conclusion, join Washington City Paper film critic Noah Gittell for an evening that focuses on all things Oscar, from Academy Awards history and trivia to discussions of this year’s nominations and behind-the-scenes stories.
