On Tuesday, Israel’s long-serving ambassador to Washington officially stepped down after a term that witnessed the Arab Spring uprisings and most of President Obama’s first five years in office. During his tenure, Michael Oren presided over periods of unusual strain between top U.S. and Israeli officials, as well as moments of close cooperation in defense and counterterrorism. In between, the telegenic, U.S.-born historian and author was a faithful spokesman for Israeli interests on op-ed pages, Sunday talk shows and even Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report. Read More...
I was happy to hear the interior of the 2000 Pennsylvania Ave. NW building is becoming a food hall, calling itself Western Market in honor of the marketplace that formerly existed nearby. I’ve visited Eastern Market over the years but never realized it was part of L’Enfant’s original plan that also included Center Market and Western Market. But before I get too excited about the upcoming Western Market revival, please tell me: Were these locations ever used as slave markets or were they historically just a place for buying food and other consumer goods? Read More...
This article contains brief spoilers for “The Acolyte.”
The proper viewing order for the Star Wars franchise has been a source of contention among fans (and new parents) for decades. Do you watch everything in release order, starting with the originals, then the prequels and then the sequels? Or do you watch chronologically, starting with Anakin Skywalker’s downfall through Luke Skywalker’s hopeful defeat of the Empire and on to the most recent trilogy? Read More...
