Washington City Paper: Contents for Jan. 15

Filmstrip
Documentary filmmaker Deborah Rowe insists that women are most powerful with their clothes off.

Cover Story

In private, Natasha (just Natasha) confides that she is a smart and savvy woman. Because she knows that neither trait is particularly bankable when advertised, she keeps them a secret most of the time. Around her workplace, intellectual dishonesty is lucrative. Credible stupidity is a sign of utmost professionalism. People appreciate Natasha's naiveté—and show her as much by padding her wallet and sending her on shopping sprees. Some people fall in love with Natasha. These people, she says, don't understand that she's "a character that has been created for the sole purpose of making money." These people are stupider than she's pretending to be.

Knowing how Natasha works makes her a little unnerving to be around. She's easier to trust, though, if she's not gunning for your wallet, and tonight at Joanna's Gentlemen's Club on M Street NW, there are a couple of reasons why I know she's not on the make. First, she introduces herself as Deborah Rowe, which, unlike Natasha, is really her name. Second, her clothes: They're on.

"I got kissed!" Rowe half-squeals, showing me the lipstick stain that a friend just planted on the breast of her form-fitting white shirt.... Continued

Issue of Jan. 15 - 21, 1999

News and Features

Filmstrip
Documentary filmmaker Deborah Rowe insists that women are most powerful with their clothes off.
Cover Story By Brett Anderson
To Serve and Forget
Chief Charles Ramsey says that for D.C. cops, what's past is past. A look at his new court liaison suggests he means it.
Feature By Jake Tapper
Indy Crock
Tony Williams wants to learn from the mayor of Indianapolis. Let's hope the lesson plans don't include that city's track record on accountability.
The City By Jason Vest
Questionnaire: Paul Jaffe
The City By Amanda Ripley
Hair to the Throne
Nathaniel Mathis' styling career is enshrined in the Smithsonian. He'll also cut your hair for $7.
The City By Paul Ruffins
Baptism by Fire
When he wandered into a D.C. neighborhood skirmish, fundamentalist minister James Ahlemann didn't stand a snowball's chance in hell.
The City By Colin Bane
Kissing Lips
The Mail By Joe Downey
LL Cool
The Mail By Daniel Blum
Dreaded Destruction
The Mail By Aree Plunkett
Morning Constitutional
The Mail By Greg Rynne
Lawyering Up
The Mail By Paige Conner Totaro
Corps Constituency
The Mail By Douglas Garman

Columns

The Family Tradition
Hank Thomas, at 52, just took his first real baseball job. You could say he was born into it.
Cheap Seats By Dave McKenna
Blade Runner
City Desk By Eddie Dean, Elissa Silverman and Jake Tapper
TAKE YOUR POSITIONS
Loose Lips By Erik Wemple

Eats

Iota Tell My Friends
Young & Hungry By Brett Anderson

Movies

The Road to Redemption
Film Review By Mark Jenkins
The Mind's Eye
Film Review By Joel E. Siegel
Something Naked This Way Comes
Videocrity By Dave Nuttycombe

Music

It's a Beautiful Thing
Music Review By Neil Drumming
This Year's Eclipse
Music Review By Colin Bane
Postpunk Chronicles
Music Review By Jason Cherkis
That Skinny Motherfucker
Music Review By Joe Gross
The Everywhere Diva
Rene Fleming is the most adventurous soprano of her generation. But when does prolific become overexposed?
Music Review By Trey Graham
Down in Smoke
Music Review By Joshua Green