January 11, 2008 18 THE METRO HERALD
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT January 11, 2008 ESSENCE magazine now pronounces you man and wife! In the second edition of Will You Marry Me, six men from six different cities will share their love with more than 8 million readers by proposing to their girlfriends in the pages of ESSENCE magazine. <strong>The</strong> men will pop the questions, the women will give the answers and hidden cameras will capture it all for viewers to see and vote for their favorite couple on essence.com! On February 14th the announcement of the winning couple will be nationally televised on ABC’s “Good Morning America”! <strong>The</strong> couple to receive the most votes by Valentine’s Day will receive a lavish destination wedding aboard a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship, courtesy of ESSENCE and Royal Caribbean. <strong>The</strong>y will then sail away on an extravagant seven-night Caribbean honeymoon cruise. ESSENCE received more than 300 responses from men wanting to propose in the magazine, tripling the amount of responses from last year, after publishing an ad in the September issue. <strong>The</strong> six chosen couples are Davon and Nerisse from New York City, Clyde and Charity from Washington, DC, Demetrius and Chrissy from Knoxville, TN, Greg and Carmen from Dallas, TX, Albert and Myla from New Orleans, LA and Eugene and Kendra from Atlanta Georgia. “ESSENCE’s Will You Marry Me is a celebration of romance and real people; extraordinary love stories that begin in the magazine,” says Angela Burt-Murray, editor in chief, ESSENCE. “However, online is where the magic happens. This year we’re taking it to the next level, adding more content, and more ways to engage the reader. From the creative proposals brilliantly conceived by our editors, to the couples featured, experiencing Will You Marry Me on essence.com will be truly amazing.” This year, the proposals became even more ingenious! Find out what happens when one woman is taken to a darkened theater for a “movie”, only to WASHINGTON, DC RESTAURANT WEEK— WINTER 2008 By Rachel Cooper, During Washington, DC Restaurant Week, January 14 through 20, 170 of Washington, DC’s finest restaurants offer 3- course lunches for $20.08 and 3- course dinners for $30.08. Washington, DC Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to experience Washington, DC’s best restaurants at affordable prices. Cuisines include Contemporary American, Mexican, French, Mediterranean, Italian, Southern, Seafood, Spanish, California, Pan-Asian and more! A complete list of participants is posted at opentable.com. Be sure to make your reservation early. Please note that not all restaurants participating in the DC Restaurant Week, offer the Restaurant Week menu at both meals. When you make your reservation you should confirm with the restaurant that they are participating in Restaurant Week. Washington, DC Restaurant Week is produced biannually by the Washington, DC Convention & Tourism Corporation and the Restaurant Association <strong>Metro</strong>politan Washington. <strong>The</strong> event is usually held in January and August. ESSENCE MAGAZINE PRESENTS WILL YOU MARRY ME 2008 find her boyfriend pop up on the screen with an ESSENCE cover in hand asking her to marry him in front of what she learns is a theater filled with friends and family, or when another woman is surprised with her marriage proposal during an “ESSENCE karaoke party” featuring her husband singing her favorite tune, “Endless Love”. <strong>The</strong> clever and unconventional wedding proposals will be featured online at essence.com. <strong>The</strong> online component will provide behind-the-scenes footage from the men’s photo shoot, video of the actual proposal and her reaction via a hidden camera and an interview with the couple immediately following the surprise. <strong>The</strong> romance doesn’t end there. <strong>The</strong> men’s proposals from the magazine as well as a responsive love letter from the woman will also be revealed on essence.com. Plus, readers can enjoy photo galleries of the couples that will include pictures of the engagement ring, a guestbook, wedding and honeymoon tips, and share their own proposal stories with other essence.com readers. TV One, an entertainment and lifestyle television network for African-Americans, will feature a one-hour special on Will You Marry Me on February 3, 2007. Last year when Corey Vandiver, Kerry Mackey, Jr., Daryle Murrell, Harold Jordan, Louie Myers, and Fasil Haile proposed to their girlfriends in ESSENCE, the innovative acts of romance made magazine history with the first-ever magazine marriage proposals and catapulted a multimedia, interactive experience that drove millions to the online home of the pre-eminent magazine for African-American women, essence.com. Readers voted for their favorite couples, and the close polls resulted in ESSENCE and the South African Tourism Board sending all of the couples to South Africa for a lavish honeymoon vacation. Find out how the couples are doing now in an update on essence.com! Go to www.essence.com and start voting now! LIVE FROGS HOP INTO NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MUSEUM Frogs—A Chorus of Colors, a traveling exhibition featuring live frogs, will be on display at the National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall from Friday, January 25, through Sunday, May 11, 2008. Visitors can watch these fascinating amphibians in custom environments that replicate their habitats in the wild. <strong>The</strong> exhibition explores all aspects of these adaptive creatures including their biology and history, their importance to ecosystems, their role in human cultures and their disappearance around the world. Some of the frog world’s most intriguing species are featured in the exhibition, including poison dart frogs; American and African bullfrogs; tree frogs, including the Chinese gliding frog, dumpy tree frog and waxy monkey frog; the Vietnamese mossy frog and golden mantella frog; the fire-bellied toad and smooth-sided toad; clawed and horned frogs; and tadpoles. Interactive components allow visitors to listen to frog calls, watch footage of frogs in action and test their THE DUKE ELLINGTON SCHOOL OF THE ARTS PRESENTS “THE WIZ” frog knowledge on subjects from basic to bizarre. Visitors can also view a skeleton of the world’s largest frog, the African goliath frog; examine metamorphosis with specimens at various life stages; and test their hopping skills against those of various species. A companion exhibition, “Face to Face with Frogs, Photographs by Mark W. Moffett,” will feature stunning images by this award-winning photographer, ecologist and explorer. Moffett has spent years documenting frogs and other wildlife across the globe. National Geographic will publish a children’s book of Moffett’s photography, “Face to Face with Frogs,” in February 2008. As part of the National Geographic Live! lecture program, Moffett will discuss his photographs at National Geographic’s Grosvenor Auditorium on Thursday, Jan. 31. For more information on the lecture, visit www. nglive.org. “Frogs—A Chorus of Colors” was created by Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland. <strong>The</strong> National Geographic Museum is located at 1145 17th Street, N.W., Get your tickets now to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts’ fabulous production of Ken Harper’s “<strong>The</strong> Wiz.” <strong>The</strong> sights and sounds will amaze and entertain audiences of all ages. Talented high school students auditioned before renowned theater professionals for the chance to star in the historic play that won seven Tony awards. <strong>The</strong> Wiz retells the story of Dorothy and Toto’s adventure in Oz, moving the scene from Kansas to today’s urban setting. <strong>The</strong> characters travel through the magical world, encountering unforgettable personalities along the way. It’ll prove hard to sit still as the cast delights the audience with captivating scenes, a stunning set and memorable melodies. From February 7th through February 15th, the DC metropolitan community will have the opportunity to witness this “future-star”-studded performance. Located in historic Georgetown, the Ellington <strong>The</strong>atre rivals most performing arts centers throughout the DC metro area. Online ticket purchases at www. ellingtonschool.org offer a convenient way to secure a seat today. At $20 per ticket for adults and $15 for children under 12, it’s a great deal. Head of School Rory Pullens and his staff raised the bar for the performance, bringing top-notch professionals to lead the production team. “We want the students to understand exactly what it takes to have a successful career in the arts, and this production will help. <strong>The</strong>y’re putting in the same time, preparation, and energy that a professional production mandates, and the results should be just as dazzling.” Producer Ken Johnson describes how the professional team impacts the students. “Our team demands the best from each member of the cast. <strong>The</strong> experience is sure to leave a lasting impression for both audiences and Ellington’s cast and crew.” Director Lynda Gravátt is a founding Ellington faculty member best known for her many performances on multiple episodes of NBC’s Law and Order. Musical Director e’Marcus Harper has worked with top stars in the industry, including Carlos Santana, Michael Jackson, Lionel Ritchie, and Aretha Franklin. Well-known Ellington alumna and artistic director of City At Peace Sandra Holloway serves as choreographer. Reggie Ray, the production’s award-winning costume designer, has designed for Debbie Allen, Maya Angelou, <strong>The</strong> John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Lincoln Center, among many others. Teachers, staff and parent volunteers all spend many hours each week supporting the students as they work on this astounding production. Ellington has a proud, determined student body and famous alumni network. From comedian Dave Chappelle to opera star Denyce Graves, the school’s celebrated alumni pack houses while performing on the largest international stages. Each year, they return to encourage the soon-to-be discovered stars as they work and study diligently through the year. Performance Dates: Thursday, CHRIS BROWN, BOW WOW AND SOULJA BOY LIVE AT THE PATRIOT CENTER Chris Brown is coming back into town with special guests Bow Wow and Soulja Boy at the Patriot Center on Friday, January 18 at 7:30PM. Brown’s sophomore release, Exclusive, features the hit song “Kiss, Kiss”. <strong>The</strong> George Mason University Patriot Center is located at 4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax, VA 22030; (703) 993-3000; www.patriotcenter.com Tickets for Chris Brown, Bow Wow and Soulja Boy at the Patriot Center are $109.75, $79.75, $54.75 and $39.75 (plus applicable service charges) and are on sale now. Tickets are available through all Ticketmaster outlets including the Patriot Center box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com and via Phone charge at 703-573-SEAT, 202-397-SEAT and 410-547-SEAT. Accessible seating is available for patrons with disabilities by calling 703-993-3035. Washington, D.C., and is open Mondays through Saturdays from 9a.m. to 5p.m. and Sundays from 10a.m. to 5p.m. It is closed Dec. 25. Admission is free. For information on the “Frogs—A Chorus of Colors” exhibition, the public should call (202) 857- 7588 or visit www.ngmuseum.org. February 7 and Friday February 8: 7:30PM; Sat., February. 9: 2:30PM, 7:30PM; Wednesday, February 13: 7:30PM;Thursday, February 14 and Friday 15: 7:30PM. Location: <strong>The</strong> Ellington <strong>The</strong>atre, 3500 R Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007 Tickets: Adults $20.00, Twelve and Under $15.00. For purchase and information, call the Ellington Box Office, open 10:00AM–4:00PM, at 202-337- 4825 or visit www.ellingtonschool. org. VISA/MC/ AMEX/DISCOVER cards accepted. WASHINGTON ANTIQUES SHOW By Rachel Cooper, <strong>The</strong> Washington Antiques Show, one of the country’s most established antiques events will take place January 11 through 13, 2008. This year’s theme is “Inspirations from the Garden,” in honor of the memory of Lady Bird Johnson. Proceeds from the show will benefit at-risk children and families in the Washington, DC area. <strong>The</strong> 2008 Washington Antiques Show showcases objects ranging from George Washington’s watering can to a pair of 19th century garden urns. Items are from 14 regional museums and historic houses as well as private collections. <strong>The</strong> show will feature 45 dealers from the U.S., Canada, and Europe specializing in American and European antique furniture, Chinese porcelains, silver, ceramics, jewelry, fine art, books, and other antique collectibles. Hours: Friday & Saturday— 11a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday— 11a.m. to 4p.m. Location: Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street NW, Washington, DC; (301) 351-6619. Admission: $15 one-day pass, $25 three-day pass. For more information, visit www. washingtonantiques.org THE METRO HERALD 19
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