Washington City Paper: Contents for Apr. 21

Puppet Show
Is it any surprise that we like our anarchy well-planned in D.C.?

Cover Story

Photographs by Darrow Montgomery

Washington, D.C., April 16

We all know how things turned out--or didn't turn out. Yes, angry, dedicated people showed up to--well, there never was a list of demands, but they showed up. And yes, angry, dedicated cops showed up to occasionally douse them with pepper spray and club a few who were particularly out of line. But the meeting went on, and so did the show.

And that is what it was. Everybody, including the protesters, ended up playing themselves on TV. Once the cameras swung into view, the leaders of this leaderless movement revealed themselves--and declared victory. Nothing, save a few blocks of city street, ended up getting shut down.

What else were we expecting? Was the protest a failure just because most of the plate-glass windows protecting global evildoers were preserved? The protest didn't meet expectations because it couldn't have. Seattle was a big deal because nobody saw it coming. Everybody saw A16 coming from a mile away.

It was a hyperorganized, hyperorchestrated show on all sides. There were promises to shut down the meetings. There was tear gas, there was broken glass, and, at times, there was even a little rain. But it wasn't Seattle. For a few months or so, it was like old times again on the ramparts of the political left. Despite the dayslong siege in Washington, it was business as usual at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. All the planning in the world won't yield chaos.

Gray Panther Office, April 5... Continued

Issue of Apr. 21 - 27, 2000

News and Features

Puppet Show
Is it any surprise that we like our anarchy well-planned in D.C.?
Cover Story By Kevin Diaz
Still Magnolias
Amidst crumbling buildings, stray bullets, and toxic runoff, a rare ecosystem blooms in far Southeast.
The City By Samantha Levine
This Week in D.C.
The Washington City Paper's weekly look at the WB network's weekly look at our fair city. We watch it so you don't have to.
The City By Michael Schaffer
Phantoms of the Park
How do you turn a plain strip of grass into a civic treasure? In Takoma, you plan a new town-house development.
The City By Holly Bailey
More in the Same Vein
The Mail By Yolanda Herring
Critical Distinction
The Mail By David Chaim Alan
Ads Nothing
The Mail By Sheara A. Reich
Easy as 1-2-3
The Mail By Stephen J. Melman
Hip-Hopper Than Thou
The Mail By Frank Cunat
No Doubt
The Mail By Robert Vinson
Conceived in Liberty
The Mail By Amy K. Frey

Columns

Just a Gigolo
Cheap Seats By Dave McKenna
Soft Porn
City Desk By Laura Lang
Genetic Protest
City Desk By Annys Shin
Treed Off
City Desk By Laura Lang

Eats

Taco-Dependent
Young & Hungry By Brett Anderson

Movies

Two for Tuva
Talking Pictures By Mark Jenkins
British Roulette
Film Review By Joel E. Siegel
East Side Stories
Film Review By Mark Jenkins
One Hull of a Time
Film Review By Arion Berger

Music

Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy
Acts Locally By John Dugan
There Goes the Neighborhood
Music Review By Sean Daly

Theater

Three Men and a Canvas
Theater Review By Bob Mondello
Sword in Cheek
Theater Review By Trey Graham

Arts and Events

The Medium Is the Messenger
Art Review By Glenn Dixon
The Vicarious Life
Ladies and gentlemen: Frank Higgins--bank teller, public muse, clean slate. Or just Frank.
Arts By Jessica Dawson
Blood-Curdling Dream
Artifacts By Andrew Katz
To the Barricades
Artifacts By John DeVault
The One World in His Hands
Artifacts By Louis Jacobson