IT'S NOT OFTEN that a graphic novel gets considered for a major book award. It's pretty much the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Maus" and ... well, very little else.

So it was surprising when Gene Yang's graphic novel, "American Born Chinese" was nominated for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature in 2006.

And nobody was more surprised than Yang.

"When I first started publishing 'American Born Chinese,' it was a mini comic," he said. "I would finish a chapter, take it to Kinko's and Xerox it and sell it at different comic book conventions. My big plan was to just get it collected as a graphic novel and that would be it."

Continue Reading "A.B.C.: Gene Yang's 'American Born Chinese'" »

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CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS, reluctant homeowners and the bleak prospects of getting Montgomery County officials to change zoning laws have all contributed to a developer's decision to not pursue the purchase of a key low-density neighborhood adjacent to Bethesda's downtown core.

As The Post's Miranda S. Spivack reports, Jeffrey Neal of Monument Realty has told residents of the Sacks neighborhood, which centers on Leland Street south of Woodmont Avenue, plotted above, that he has abandoned plans to buy the 60-home neighborhood and replace it with high-density residential buildings. Reports Spivack:

Neal told residents over the weekend in an e-mail that 39 homeowners had agreed to sell but that he needed more to make the deal work. He had offered about $2 million a house, with the amount depending in part on the timing and terms of the sale.

» "Bid to Buy Community Near Bethesda Aborted" [WaPo]

PLANS TO CONSOLIDATE the Washington area's military medical facilities were drawn up before the scandal over conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, documented by The Washington Post, forced officials to take a hard look at the kind of care wounded veterans received when they returned to the States.

Accordingly, plans to shift and consolidate Walter Reed's facilities to new hospital centers in Bethesda and Fort Belvoir in Virginia have been upgraded to deal with the realities of a long-term war, as The Post's Steve Vogel reports.

Let's take a look at the new plans, by the numbers ...

» $2 billion: The number of dollars the Defense Department is spending on the new facilities in Bethesda and Fort Belvoir that will replace the current Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the District.
» 71: The percentage increase in cost to that the effort to close Walter Reed and redeploy its services has seen since initial 2005 projections from the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.
» 120: The number of beds at the new Army hospital planned for Fort Belvoir.

Continue Reading "By the Numbers: Walter Reed's Replacements" »

IN THE END, some sort of tall building will tower above the corner of Woodmont and Bethesda avenues on the southern edge of Bethesda's central business district. But there will likely be more open space around it, thanks to a letter-writing campaign by local residents.

After JBG Associates presented plans for the proposed 540,000 square-foot Woodmont East hotel and condominium high-rise building last year, neighbors were shocked to learn that plans included paving over the modest-sized green space adjacent to the Capital Crescent Trail's tunnel portal near the Landmark Bethesda Row theater complex.

Now, as The Post's Miranda S. Spivack reports, the developers have gone back to the drawing board and refined their plans:

The developer's original concept would have eliminated a green space across from Landmark's Bethesda Row Cinema and Gifford's ice cream shop, which has become an informal gathering spot. The development was to include a plaza between two high-rise buildings, which would have been connected overhead. The new concept puts the open space directly across the street from Barnes & Noble, which has its own small plaza and fountain in front. The two buildings still would be connected by an overhead bridge.

Continue Reading "After Outcry in Bethesda, Developer Changes Plans" »

WARM UP at 7 p.m. at the Wintertime Drink Tasting at the Barking Dog in Bethesda. The Dog is a friendly neighborhood tavern distinguished by hand-carved mahogany on the first floor and a spacious lounge area on the second floor. Professionals in the City is hosting the event, which will feature cold-weather cocktails, seasonal red wines and winter beers, all accompanied by plated appetizers.

» Barking Dog, 4723 Elm St., Bethesda, $40; 301-654-0022. (Bethesda)

A SWITCH REPLACEMENT near the Medical Center station will slow Red Line trips over four upcoming weekends. Although trains will service the entire length of the Red Line, single tracking between the Friendship Heights and Grosvenor-Strathmore stations will lead to the following changes, starting on Friday night:

» During the work periods, trains will run every 18 minutes through the work zone and on to the Red Line's Shady Grove terminal.
» During the day, alternating trains running from Glenmont and downtown D.C. will terminate at the Friendship Heights station before returning to Glenmont. During that time, trains will run at nine-minute intervals between Friendship Heights and Glenmont.
» After 9 p.m., all Red Line trains will run at 18-minute intervals, meaning that weekend warriors on Fridays and Saturdays, and those out on Sunday nights, will likely experience longer wait times for the Red Line.

The work periods will be in effect for the following weekends:

» Friday, Jan. 11, 9 p.m. through midnight closing on Sunday, Jan. 13.
» Friday, Jan. 25, 9 p.m. through midnight closing on Sunday, Jan. 27.
» Friday, Feb. 1, 9 p.m. through midnight closing on Sunday, Feb. 3.
» Friday, Feb. 8, 9 p.m. through midnight closing on Sunday, Feb. 10.

Image courtesy WMATA

FOURTEENTH STREET foodies should be getting very excited. Food forum host Don Rockwell announced on his board that Ron Tanaka, current sous chef at CityZen and former sous chef at Citronelle, will be the executive chef of Cork, the wine bar set to open in mid-January on 14th Street NW near R Street in the former Sparky's coffee house space. The restaurant, which will seat 67, will debut with a menu of small plates.
» Cork, 1720 14th St. NW. (Dupont Circle; U St-Cardozo)

UPCOMING IN BETHESDA: In what's shaping up to be a big news week in the upcoming department, Metrocurean reports that Bethesda Row is awaiting two springtime openings: One is the second outpost for Georgetown's Dolcezza gelato shop; the second is Redwood, a new restaurant from the folks who own Sonoma on Capitol Hill and Mendocino Grille in Georgetown. According to Metrocurean:

Redwood will focus on seasonal, local and organic products with a contemporary menu inspired by the mid-Atlantic. The kitchen will be equipped with a wood-burning oven, wood grill and rotisserie. Also look for a large selection of wines by the glass. Redwood is slated for an early April opening.

Continue Reading "Eating Around: Good News Uncorked for 14th St." »

WITH THE NATIONAL NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER in Bethesda predicted to see an influx in the coming years of 2,200 workers and double the amount of patients it serves, officials in Maryland are taking steps to improve transportation infrastructure near the site.

As The Post's Steve Vogel reports, Maryland Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown presented the state's action plan to deal with the upcoming shift in military resources and personnel around the region, including the planned move for the Walter Reed Army Medical Center from the District to the National Naval Medical Center campus.

Reports Vogel:

Concerned about the impact of the Navy's plans to nearly double the number of patients and visitors at the hospital, Montgomery County officials have asked the state to pay for more than $70 million in road projects, including widening Wisconsin Avenue and adding turn lanes at several congested intersections.

Continue Reading "Md. to Pay for Much of BRAC Road Work" »

THERE'S NOTHING MAGIC about Jan. 1 — except for maybe getting the day off from work to nurse your hangover. So, get a jump start on resolution season by checking out D.C.'s newest places to break a sweat.

» RESULTS GYM
Each Results location is known for its vibe — Dupont is gay-friendly, Capitol Hill is family-oriented, and the new downtown space is aiming to be a high-tech paradise. It boasts the latest advances, like Expresso bikes, which provide virtual reality rides, and a Hydroworx Training pool (a tub for one that allows you to swim against a current or walk on an underwater treadmill). A disco ball dangles in the cycling studio, but it's anything but retro. You can squeeze in a workout anytime, thanks to on-demand videos of past classes. Miss your favorite ab workout? With the same technology, you can do it one-on-one with a TV on the lower level. Perhaps the best innovation is that you don't need to go outside to get there. Just sneak in using the tunnel from the Farragut North Metro station.

» Downtown (1101 Connecticut Ave. NW; 202-887-0999; Results thegym.com)

Continue Reading "Fit: Places to Get Pumped" »

PARENTS SEARCHING HIGH AND LOW for adult-friendly, non-red-and-green kids' theater this holiday season can call off the hunt. Then, dust off the old wooden leg, strap on your most intimidating eye patch and set sail for "Treasure Island."

Directed by Blake Robinson, Round House Theatre's version of Ken Ludwig's adaptation of this classic novel is an adventure for the entire family. And chaperones will be happy to know there are no crayon-colored backdrops or giant singing parrots.

Young Jim Hawkins — convincingly played by actress Marybeth Fritzky — is forced to help his mother operate the family inn after his father dies. Here, he meets Billy Bones, an on-the-run pirate who, upon his deathbed, charges Jim with the safety of a treasure map.

Continue Reading "Stage: Pirates Spied In Bethesda" »