During my recent trip to Italy, I had a night alone in Milan. That meant I was looking for a stranger to dine with me. I posted an ad online asking if anyone would join me, and waited. Thankfully, along came Federico Leidi for a meal at a decades-old restaurant…
She’s Good At Cooking Crumble
The mistress of melody Lorraine Bowen is finally getting the recognition she deserves! Lorraine, a delightfully outgoing woman, is a singer-songwriter from England whose hits take on unusual topics. She’s written ballads about waiting in a queue at a post office, or opining about the mysteries of what burger meat…
The Primary Instinct
Stephen Tobolowsky is a great actor, and an equally great storyteller. He’s getting ready to promote his upcoming film The Primary Instinct, a Kickstarter-funded “concert” movie featuring him telling his unique brand of anecdotes. Nothing else. Just Stephen, a camera, and his stories. And I already know it’s going to…
Interview 73: Dating In DC
After four years and almost 100 first dates, Craig Schattner is still single. So he decided to try and answer the question of whether the inability to find a long-term girlfriend stems from a problem with him, or with the District of Columbia where he lives. Craig — an experience…
The Trip To Italy
Just back from a trip to Italy (insert joke here about arms being tired). As expected, the food was great in the three places I visited: Milan, Lake Garda, and Venice. Below is a picture of the very first meal I had in the country, a pizza at the fantastic…
Visiting The Lincolns
April 14-15 marks the 150th anniversary of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth during a performance of “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC. But you probably know that factoid, so what’s the connection between that tragedy and Dining With Strangers? Back in February…
Interview 72: In Christy’s Shoes
Jacki Barnett never intended to be a fashionable fundraiser. But after her best friend Christy passed away from brain cancer at age 33, Jacki and two other friends launched a fashion-focused charitable organization in Christy’s honor. In Christy’s Shoes hosts shoe fashion shows to raise money that the group then…
Next Step Realty: NYC
Great news for former dinner interviewee Matt Bauman — the New Yorker will be appearing in an upcoming ABC reality television show about Next Step Realty, a firm that works with college graduates moving to New York City to pair them with realtors. Matt was one of the founding real…
Interview 71: Searching For Louise
Maryland resident Dr. David Sherer has fond memories of the African American maid Louise that helped raise him as a child. But the two lost contact in the 1980s. A few decades later, David decided that he needed closure and wanted to reunite with Louise — and to chronicle his…
Ukelele Joy
Ukulele-playing singer-songwriter Louisa Hall — dinner stranger #57 — was on stage at Washington DC’s Kennedy Center recently playing her instrument, singing her songs, and generally appearing to have a great time. You can watch her performance by clicking here. She starts out with her cover of The Decemberists’ “Shankhill…