Georgetown Boutiques Cater to Regulars on Black Friday

Georgetown's small businesses compete with the malls and chain stores in their own way.

I was determined to get the best deals on Book Hill between 9 and 10 a.m. on Black Friday. There may not be as many stores here, but 25 to 30% off throughout the store is a great bargain. At 9 a.m. I was outside Sassanova when they propped open the door. But I was not the first customer. The store was offering great deals Friday morning:  30% off from 9 to 10 a.m., 25% off 10 to 11 a.m., 20% off starting at 11 a.m. and there is already one customer. Co-owner, Sarah Cannova, said she hoped for a "second bump" after customers go to the early morning sales. She expected to see familiar faces during the day as her regular clients stream in for the deals on shoes, clothes and gifts. Up Wisconsin Avenue at Sherman Pickey, customer Sarah Dahgren …

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'Breaking Dawn, Part 2': A Finale for the Fans

Fifth and last in the blockbuster film series debuts, based on novels by Stephenie Meyer. Rated PG-13.

The big finale of the Twilight Saga needs no help from anyone beyond their fans, thank you very much. You need but look to the scores of Twihards who lined up at movie theaters around the world over a week before the premiere.  These fans can rest easy.  [AMC Loews Georgetown is showing the film practically around the clock Friday and Saturday, starting with a showing at 9:15 a.m. with 15-plus showings until midnight on multi-screens. It debuted there — and everywhere else — Thursday night to large crowds.] Director Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters, Dreamgirls) gives them exactly what they expect. For the rest of the planet, it feels cliched and fangless until a rousing last act climbs so over the top it makes it almost worth the price of …

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'Skyfall': This Bond Lands Beautifully

Review of latest James Bond film.

In its 50th year, there is much at stake for the Bond franchise. So many great movies, producing such a cultural icon, they want to create a movie worthy of release in the anniversary year. Something mediocre or forgettable just wouldn't do (ahem, Moonraker, I'm talking to you…). They have their past and their future to think of. They don't want to be asking "Will Bond live to die another day?" By showing due respect to its pedigree, adding some exciting new elements, featuring a great script, acting, and production design, Skyfall rises to the top as one of this year's best films, Bond or otherwise. Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes (American Beauty) helms the story wherein a madman (of course) winds up with the hard drive that reveals …

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Fifth Graders Offer Hope for Better Governance

A local teacher, disgusted by the 2012 campaign, hopes his students' newly formed government are a sign that a "future generation can sort [our government] out."

Why is Shanahan Talking Evaluation? Blame RGIII

The Redskins’ coach odd-timed talk of looking toward next season might have something to do with him ensuring another season for himself.

Today it seems like the D.C. area has collectively turned into an episode of CSI. Only rather than analyzing DNA for clues, we're parsing over Mike Shanahan's postgame quotes to determine whether the Redskins coach just declared the 2012 season dead. There has already been some backtracking out at Redskins Park, how saying "now we get a chance to evaluate players and see where we’re at" is not an admission that this year's playoffs are out of reach. Regardless, they are his words so we should really look at what the statement means. Mike Shanahan is setting the stage for another season, for him to be here another season. Why would he feel the need? Blame RGIII. Let's go back to the narrative before the Redskins dramatically moved up in the…

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Ask Dr. Mike

Dr. Mike: The Psychology of Your Vote

This month, the doctor takes a look at how our brain affects our vote.

Patch contributor Dr. Mike takes a break from reader questions this month and ponders the psychological basis for our voting decisions. Polls show President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney neck and neck in their race for the presidency. And with the election just days away, both gentlemen are working hard to secure your vote and a victory. The economy. Obamacare.  Foreign policy. Medicare. Education. Social Security. But what if these political issues, or at least how you feel about them, are actually not entirely in your control? What if the vote you cast on Nov. 6 turns out to be influenced more by your gray matter than by campaign ads, debates, career records or bus tours? Scientific research over the past several years has …

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Top 10 Zombie Movies You've Never Seen

Time for a living dead history lesson.

So you say you love zombies.   Maybe you routinely use the quote: "They're coming to get you, Barbara," and you've dressed up three years in a row for the local Zombie Walk. And yet…you've never heard of Lucio Fulci, the Italian director who made three of the best zombie movies ever. When I saw the new Angelika Mosaic Theatre featured an onscreen viewing of The Walking Dead season premiere, I figured it was time for a living dead history lesson.   Welcome to the "School of Rot."  For the first time in Cinema Siren column history, I asked a zombie expert, my friend Douglas E. Winter, to help pick 10 movies that are perhaps less known by late-coming fans of the undead, yet required viewing for any true zombiephile. Doug is the horror critic …

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'Argo': Affleck's Exceptional Offering Is Well Worth Seeing

Thriller based on CIA plot during Iran hostage crisis has local ties.

Cinema Siren stumbled off a plane from Paris and stumbled into a darkened movie theater Saturday afternoon to see actor/director Ben Affleck's great new fall release, Argo. This highly entertaining movie was made all the more fun by being in a sold-out theater with a crowd entirely made up of people over 30 at 1:50 in the afternoon. When was the last time any of you have seen that? Our thanks go to Ben Affleck, who has turned into quite a force in Hollywood, offering a smartly entertaining movie that is both fast-paced and extremely exciting. You'd think anyone in Hollywood who got the phone call with the storyline of  this movie would jump on it. The elevator pitch is amazing: A CIA operative convinces his higher-ups to support his …

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