Interviewing strangers over a meal since 2008 (as featured in the Washington Post)
My publishing schedule has been thrown for a bit of a loop due to coronavirus and switching to doing the day reporting job entirely from home, but there are three new interviews on the way, with the next either late this week or early next week. For today, here’s the…
Here’s a much-needed good news story: DC-based steak frites restaurant Medium Rare is offering free dinners to people aged over 70 in the District who are self-quarantining as a result of the coronavirus. “The meal consists of steak, fries, salad, bread and desert free of charge during this pandemic,” according…
The 52nd Throwback Thursday took place in January 2014, when I met jazz musician Aaron Myers for dinner. Over a pleasant meal at (now closed) Mediterranean Spot on U Street in Washington, DC, Aaron shared how he turned a childhood love of music into a full-time career. He’s a wonderful…
Netflix has released a new limited run documentary series, “The Pharmacist,” which starts with a father’s attempt to solve his son’s murder and evolves into a critique of Purdue Pharma and the OxyContin opioid crisis in the United States. Among those interviewed in the documentary is New Orleans Dr. Brobson…
The 51st Throwback Thursday is my November 2013 dinner with actor Richard Kiel, best known his role as the menacing metal-mouthed bad guy Jaws in two Roger Moore James Bond movies. At 7 feet and 1-and-a-half inches tall he was an imposing figure but incredibly friendly and eager to talk…
It’s very short notice but the highly entertaining drag singer-songwriter Matt Yee is returning to New York City to perform for one night only on Friday March 6. He’ll be bringing his truly unique show to The Triad at 9.30pm, and tickets are either $25 bought in advance via the…
I could almost cut-and-paste a blog post on this topic from last year, but the fantastic Creole restaurant Brigtsen’s in New Orleans has once again been nominated for a James Beard Foundation award. For 2020 the venue is up for the Outstanding Hospitality award, and after several visits to the…
Here’s the 128th dinner with a stranger! A few weeks ago I met Monika Pickett for an evening meal at Neramitra Thai Cuisine in Arlington, Virginia. The main topic of our conversation was her decision to try writing erotic lesbian fiction novels, but after spending more than an our with…
The 50th Throwback Thursday is my August 2013 lunch with Josh and Natalie Harvey at Coquette New Orleans. We talked about their t-shirt company Storyville, launched in 2009 featuring a host of city-specific designs. The company was in business for roughly 10 years, but rising rent and slowing sales led…
Sampson McCormick, a DC-born comedian featured as the 124th dinner with a stranger, is returning to his home city next month for several gigs at the Comedy Loft. He’ll be performing on Thursday March 5 at 7.30pm, on Friday March 6 at 8pm and 10pm, and on Saturday March 7…