10.12.09 My Top Ten RIGHT NOW

1. EVENT National Equality March

We were blessed with great weather, an amazing turnout and even a rainbow in the sky before the march even started. It was undeniable, the power of all these people coming together to stand up for their rights, to say that we will not be ignored.  On the heels of Obama’s less than stellar speech to the HRC, the March took on an even greater significance, bringing a stronger resolve that these issues cannot wind up on a long to-do list, but need swift and certain action.  As usual, gay wit was abound with fantastic signs, including my favorite “Jesus had two daddies, why can’t I?” But the beauty of this march was the acknowledgement that this is not a gay rights issue, this is a civil rights issue and an issue for all humanity, as when one group is denied freedom, so too is everyone else.  This was a start, a great start, down the long road of progress and change.

2. FOOD Taste of Georgetown

Food is just happiness, especially when you wander down a Georgetown street lined with booths from all the major restaurants just waiting to serve you.  There was an excellent chocolate covered bacon “lollipop” for that perfect mix of sweet and savory, better than any Vosges bar could hope to be.  From Fahrenheit, there was the pork shoulder slider on a brioche bun covered with fresh coleslaw that went down so easy we had to get two.  But it was the BBQ pork ribs from Chadwick’s that had me glowing, that tart sweetness perfectly cooked so that the meat literally falls off the bone.  And to finish it all off, it was back to Fahrenheit for the chocolate tart with caramel sauce.

3. ALBUM I and Love and You The Avett Brothers

You gotta love when you find an old album that amazes you and the following week that same band releases a new complete album… it just makes you feel lucky to have gotten on board.  This new disc from the Avett Brothers is no exception.  The indie-emo-folk outfit crafts a very listenable album of story songs filled with clever wordplay (heard clearly in the title track) and melodies that just bore into your soul.  This album stands apart for its harder edge, including an amazing howl reminiscent of Green Day on the track, “Kick Drum Heart.”  But it is their more winding songs that tap into an emotionalism that seems so authentic.  “Ill With Want” stands out with the forceful piano opening that gives way to Dylan-esque verses and power ballad choruses.  This album is an incredible listen.

4. TV Family Guy

It seems crazy that this show ever went off the air and had to rely on a DVD and Adult Swim following to be resurrected because it is just so good.  From the amazing brain of Seth MacFarlene comes a cavalcade of insanity, hilarious asides and characters that illogically become favorites.  To believe that a matricide-intent British accented baby could inspire such happiness seems improbable.  This season has started strong, especially with the classic Stewie/Brian travel episodes, this time through various dimensions including the absolutely side-splitting entrance into a Disney realm with everyone’s eyes bright and wide, singing a hilarious take off on Snow White.  In horrible taste or not, this show is too funny to not make regular viewing.

5. TV Fringe

Last season took quite awhile to rev up and become must see TV.  This season has continued the success by balancing procedural with a convoluted epic plot about the mysteries that will inevitable destroy the world as we know it.  Thanks to excellent turns by Anna Torv and Joshua Jackson, the show pops and sizzles like it’s schedule neighbor, “Bones,” but with an extra healthy dose of crazy a la X-Files that make you tune in just to see what zany horrifying and yet plausible cases these people will solve.  But the true genius of this show comes from John Noble as a recently released insane asylum patient making good on years of experiments that might have set this whole Pattern in motion.

6. FOOD Chopsticks

Nestled down a side street of Georgetown, this restaurant is serving up delectable Japanese fare, hitting the spot for post-March satiating.  The usual starters were yummy, salted edamame and perfectly pan fried chicken gyoza.  But it was the sushi here that was set to impress.  The standard kappa maki and spicy tuna roll were fresh and tasty, but it was the specialty rolls that really made the mouth sing.  The dragon roll, your basic California roll covered in eel and avocado, was luscious.  And the dynamite roll lives up to its name, filled with crabmeat and covered in crunchy delightfulness that makes eating a joy.

7. SOUNDTRACK Where the Wild Things Are

Walking that fine line between precious, cloying and just plain weird, Karen O has created what I imagine will be the perfect compliment to Spike Jonze’s vision of the classic Maurice Sendak book.  Filled with kids’ voices yelling about love and tribal chants and drums, the energy of this album is captivating.  And the bits of film dialogue make me all the more excited to go on this adventure with Max next weekend at the Cineplex. But the listening pleasure comes in the quieter moments, like “Worried Shoes,” in which subtle melodies play out sumptuously on that unique and striking voice.  I can only hope the film lives up to the promise of this album.

8. SOUNDTRACK Fame

Considering my thorough enjoyment of the film, it is no surprise that the soundtrack has become essential listening.  The handful of tracks from Asher Book demonstrate the natural polish of his voice, but show that you need his face to accompany them to really invest any time.  All of Naturi Naughton’s tracks are serviceable, but lack independent excellence without the film.  It’s actually the tracks not performed by people in the film that really got me going.  “Street Hustlin’” makes anyone listening want to get up and move with the heavy percussion and M.I.A.-esque noises, as does the clubby pumping “Black and Gold.”  But the must here is the remixed Santigold “You’ll Find a Way,” with its sweeping synths and layered melodies combining to create a sonic landscape you just can’t get enough of.

9. TV Brothers and Sisters

I have praised this show before and will continue to praise it in its new season, despite the flare for the overly melo-dramatic.  The season opener tried a bit too hard to garner tears and reactions, but things are calming down to the more regular rhythm, allowing the characters to shine.  Kittie’s cancer plotline provides some real worthy tears, especially Sally Field’s reaction of wishing it were her afflicted with the disease.  There’s promise in Kevin’s quest to adopt a kid and in the continuing ups and downs of Justin and Rebecca’s engagement.  It’s a well-balanced show when it wants to be, creating characters to root and hope for, clearly by the fact that I anticipate every Sunday night with just a touch too much enthusiasm.

10. TV America’s Next Top Model

It’s a guilty pleasure, no doubt.  Sometimes I think I watch just to see what insanity Tyra Banks will do.  This year’s “smize” episode (that would be smiling with your eyes, introduced by a superhero-costume-clad Tyra) was classic ridiculousness.  The fact that the show is trying to prove that short people can be models is an added bonus of absurdity.  But at the end of the day, I have to admit that the deconstruction of the modeling industry is actually quite interesting.  It doesn’t make you appreciate models any more, but it certainly makes you respect that there is a certain talent there beyond being beautiful (or often just how unattractive some of these people are and yet they photograph amazingly).