Washington, D.C

Review | Maggie Michael may be D.C.’s most vital, volatile painter

Published

1 hour ago

July 17, 2024

Review | Maggie Michael may be D.C.’s most vital, volatile painter

To understand Maggie Michael’s paintings, start from the bottom.

The lower third of “Heavy Tree, Funneling Heart” (2024) shows where the artist is coming from. This section features pours of paint that form glossy pools on the surface of the canvas, much like the latex paintings she first showed 20 years ago. Yet from these placid ponds, the painting funnels upward and outward, in an ecstatic shower of mixed-media abstraction, to point where she’s going.

In “Understory,” a show of Michael’s recent works on view near Union Market, motion is always key. Tall vertical paintings such as “Boulder Monument (Orange)” (2020/2022) and “Moon Fall (Mt. Hood, Mt. Sopris, Clay)” (2024) evoke the volcanic action of an idea rising to the surface and spilling over. The latest works by Michael — perhaps the most vital and visible D.C. painter since Sam Gilliam — unfold as a series of volatile discoveries.

Michael’s lyrical painting is a reminder of the power of pure abstraction as a lens for finding the world, as it is and as it could be. That Michael’s first major solo show since 2016 arrives at an all-time nadir for abstract-expressionist painting only makes the show more riveting.

Ten years ago, things were different. An overheated market was fixated on highly abstract post-minimalist painting, inviting a craze by collectors for “zombie formalism.” But abstraction is no longer top of mind for curators and dealers. Instead, museums and galleries across the country are deeply engaged with figurative painting, tackling urgent issues about identity and representation. Some critics say the rebound has gone too far, subbing a fad for abstraction with a fever for “zombie figuration.”

Michael’s style recalls mid-century ideals about the value of painting. Objects make frequent appearances on her canvases. A small grid-like device shows up in “Pink for Kiefer, Homage to Midgard” (2023-2024) and other works, a way of mentioning the hard-edge geometric tradition in abstract painting while also toying with the notion of the surface. The snakeskin that Michael pins to “Night Studio” (2024) is a casual quotation of Robert Rauschenberg, whose sculptural combines stretched the notion of painting with taxidermy and tires. She has an arsenal of abstract-expressionist strategies at her disposal, but as a stylist, she makes them all her own.

Michael produced 15 of the paintings in “Understory” while working as an artist-in-residence at the Joan Mitchell Center in New Orleans. During her residency, Michael says, she tried to produce a diptych or triptych in tribute to Mitchell, the New York School artist who relished large-format paintings, but it didn’t happen. That’s not so surprising. Michael is a tighter painter, and her style is much more densely plotted. For “Understory,” which occupies a space that once served as a Lululemon store, Michael uses the former fitting rooms to showcase a rotation of more than a dozen small paintings, some as little as 10 inches square — small in scale but not in scope.

With its epic sweep, “Chagall’s Horse Lands in Utah” (2021-2022) could easily take up an entire wall. In the painting, the loosest figure of a horse charges under an ocher orb that might signify a setting sun. Michael frames this circle with a stencil from player-piano print roll, another one of the artist’s signature marks. This painting summons the vast reaches of a twilight dreamscape, but the actual production is quite condensed. Michael delivers novellas that read like myth.

“Chagall’s Horse Lands in Utah” could be a fitting title for Michael’s entire project. Her approach to drafting abstract sagas draws on a rich and distinctly American painterly tradition. One of her own paintings tests the rule: “American Seance for CoBrA (Malachite)” (2022) stands apart from the others, with a muddled, primitive, almost Crayola-like brushstroke. Both the title and style nod to CoBrA — a collective of postwar European painters from Copenhagen (Co), Brussels (Br) and Amsterdam (A) — and specifically within this group Karel Appel, the founder from Amsterdam. Nestled within this very non-American and un-Michael-like piece is a section of painting that resembles malachite, a mineral whose radial copper banding is prized by Navajo and Hopi tribes in the Southwest.

These vivid undercurrents bubble up in one painting after another, although the sheer size of “Understory” means that viewers might miss such moments. The show, assembled by Michael herself, features nearly 50 paintings staged on multiple levels. At 3,000 square feet, the space is vast enough that it doesn’t feel cramped or forced; in fact, only an especially prolific artist could hope to fill it. But “Understory” risks being overwhelming. Two or three subsets of paintings in this show could easily stand on their own.

The most difficult painting on view might also be the most figurative. The composition of “Olympia’s Odalesque” (2017/2018) speaks directly to Édouard Manet’s “Olympia” (1863), the reclining nude Venus whose hand rests on her thigh like a tarantula. In Michael’s composition, a hard-edge rectangle intersected by a chevron conveys the thrust of a chaise longue within a frame. But the figure-ish shape inside that frame is cramped, its head missing, with only a nipple-like protrusion to suggest any feminine identity — a bleak reading of the original.

It may take another biennial or two for expressionist paintings to come back into vogue. Abstraction has lost its place, perhaps, but none of its power. Swoops of texture and gesture in a painting such as “Antelope Falls, Nude Descending” (2024) can unlock a primal feeling, as poetry or music manifests goose bumps or heart palpitations. Michael’s paintings dwell in that rush of blood, that sense of sensation.

If you go

Maggie Michael: Understory

1256 Fourth St. NE. unionmarketdc.com.

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Washington, D.C

Delays in Washington D.C. sports betting expansion: BetMGM, Caesars, and FanDuel in limbo

Published

8 hours ago

July 17, 2024

Press Room

Delays in Washington D.C. sports betting expansion: BetMGM, Caesars, and FanDuel in limbo

The anticipated launch of BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook in Washington D.C. has hit a significant snag due to unresolved budget approval issues. The situation remains unchanged as of early Wednesday morning, July 17, 2024, with both platforms restricted to their respective brick-and-mortar locations and FanDuel halting its citywide online operations.

Budget Approval Issues Stall Sports Betting Expansion

FanDuel, currently the only online platform offering citywide sports gambling in D.C., stopped accepting bets on Tuesday. The halt came because Mayor Muriel E. Bowser had not signed the city’s budget for the 2025 fiscal year, which includes provisions for the continuation and expansion of sports betting. “FanDuel will resume sports betting operations in the city upon final approval of the FY2025 DC Budget,” the company stated to The Washington Post.

Mayor Bowser’s office clarified that she had returned the budget to the D.C. Council without her signature or a veto, effectively allowing the sports gambling provisions to take effect immediately. Despite this, FanDuel had not resumed its online operations by Tuesday evening, leaving bettors and industry stakeholders in a state of uncertainty.

Impact on BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook

The budget delay has also affected BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook, which were set to launch district-wide on July 15. BetMGM’s app continues to restrict bets to within a two-block radius of Nationals Park, where the company has a physical sportsbook. A planned promotional event for BetMGM’s expanded D.C. offerings was canceled, and the company stated that the initiative is “in a pause.” Similarly, Caesars Sportsbook, which operates a brick-and-mortar location at Capital One Arena, remains limited to that area.

Legislative and Market Dynamics

The confusion stems from the complex legislative and contractual dynamics involving the D.C. sports betting market. GambetDC, the city’s initial attempt at a mobile sports betting app, was a dismal failure, bringing in only $4.3 million over four years—well short of the projected $84 million. In April, FanDuel replaced GambetDC, generating $1.9 million in its first 30 days alone (Yogonet).

The new budget, which allows up to seven licenses for sports betting, was supposed to create a more competitive market. However, in a letter to Council Chair Phil Mendelson, FanDuel President Christian Genetski expressed concerns about the market opening to other companies, hinting that FanDuel might terminate its contract with Intralot and operate independently under the new framework.

Statements and Reactions

Kenyan R. McDuffie, a D.C. Council member, criticized the Office of Lottery and Gaming for prematurely releasing Intralot from its sports betting responsibilities, adding to the confusion. “Once again, the Office of Lottery and Gaming has created unnecessary confusion by prematurely releasing the contractor from their responsibilities. The Mayor is reviewing the budget, and we expect this to be resolved soon,” McDuffie said in a statement to The Washington Post.

Current Status and Next Steps

As of early Wednesday morning, July 17, 2024, the situation remains unchanged. FanDuel’s brick-and-mortar sportsbook at Audi Field continues to accept wagers, but its online operations are paused. BetMGM and Caesars Sportsbook have not provided timelines for when their citywide mobile betting services will commence.

The D.C. sports betting community eagerly awaits the resolution of these issues, hoping for a swift implementation of the expanded sports betting services promised by the new budget.

Stay tuned for further updates as this situation develops.

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Washington, D.C

D.C. heat hits 104 degrees as people seek shelter and AC

Published

15 hours ago

July 16, 2024

Press Room

D.C. heat hits 104 degrees as people seek shelter and AC

The District hit a sweltering record-tying high of 104 degrees Tuesday afternoon — the third straight 100-degree-plus day — as health providers reported an uptick in suspected heat-related illness and some summer programs for kids were moved inside.

There have been only 12 other days in Washington weather history with temperatures of 104 degrees or higher, the Capital Weather Gang reported. The all-time maximum of 106 occurred in 1918 and 1930.

Temperatures are expected to remain high again Wednesday, before returning closer to normal on Thursday.

Capital Weather Gang reports the District had gone nearly eight years without reaching 100 until June 22, when it again touched the century mark. The recent heat wave has prompted local governments to take action.

D.C. Public Schools, which hosts several academic programs and camps during the summer months, canceled outdoor activities due to extreme temperatures, a district spokeswoman said. Surrounding school districts — including those in Arlington and Fairfax County — also moved to cancel outdoor programs, such as recess and team practices.

Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) on Saturday activated an Extended Heat Emergency through Wednesday, opening cooling centers and homeless shelters around-the-clock.

Despite health warnings, urgent care centers affiliated with Inova have seen an uptick in heat-related illnesses this month and have sent several people to emergency rooms for IV fluids and testing, said Meredith Porter, the medical director for the 22 GoHealth locations in Northern Virginia.

Mild heat-related illness can begin with swelling in extremities and muscle cramping and progress to heat exhaustion with dizziness, headache and fatigue, both of which can be treated at most urgent cares. But heat stroke, with neurological symptoms, such as confusion and agitation, requires rehydration at an emergency department.

Porter stressed that anyone, regardless of age and health status, can be sidelined by the high heat and humidity our region and East Coast are experiencing.

“Most of these heat-related illnesses are largely preventable,” Porter said. “Anybody can be affected by a heat-related illness so having that awareness is the most important part of this.”

Anyone who works outside, such as athletes, construction workers, firefighters and medics as well as members of the military, should take extra precautions, she said.

High risk groups include people who are under 15 and above 65, pregnant, have chronic medical conditions like heart and lung disease and diabetes, are taking certain medications and have experienced heat exhaustion or heat stroke in the past, Porter said.

People experiencing homelessness or anyone lacking access to shade, air conditioning or water also need extra attention at this time, she said.

She urged residents to check on elderly neighbors and make sure to stay hydrated with water, not caffeine or alcohol, wear light loose clothing and a hat, use sunscreen and even an umbrella. It’s never safe to leave children or pets alone in a car, but that’s critical in a heat wave, she said.

Monday was so hot that piece of the Blue and Yellow Line metal track near National Airport bent sideways, causing what is known as a “heat kink.”

Metro spokeswoman Whitney Nichels says the bent rail was fixed overnight and the rail was fully functional as of Tuesday.

Any time outside temperatures rise above 90 degrees, Metro workers check the rail lines for kinks, which can happen when the heat has made the metal expand beyond its cross ties. If the rails are 135 degrees or hotter, trains have to slow down on outside track to 35 miles an hour to avoid a catastrophe caused by deformities in the rail line.

The extreme temperatures made Carla Brewster think twice Tuesday afternoon when she walked across Montello Street in Northeast Washington and found a man unable to respond.

Brewster, 40, of Trinidad, cautiously jostled him and tried to give him food and water, but ultimately called 911.

Paramedics, unsure whether drugs, alcohol, the high temperatures or some combination of factors were to blame, moved him to a cool ambulance where they tucked ice packs around him and rushed him to a hospital.

“His head was under the tree, his body was hanging out in the street, if somebody decided to park they probably would have run over him,” she said. “I know it’s hot out here.”

Ian Livingston, Jason Samenow and Rachel Weiner contributed to this report.

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Washington, D.C

Inside the new Amex Centurion Lounge in DC's Reagan National Airport – The Points Guy

Published

22 hours ago

July 16, 2024

Press Room

Inside the new Amex Centurion Lounge in DC's Reagan National Airport – The Points Guy

The credit card airport lounge wars has a new battleground: the nation’s capital.

On Tuesday, American Express took the wraps off of its hotly anticipated Centurion Lounge at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) near Washington, D.C.

The outpost, which was first announced in 2021 and opens on Wednesday, becomes the first credit card-branded lounge at DCA, which will be welcome news for Amex’s most premium cardmembers passing through the airport. (Until now, DCA has only been home to airline-branded lounges.)

Amex’s move is a strong one. The DCA Centurion Lounge measures nearly 12,000 square feet and has a slew of amenities and relaxation spaces, along with a first-ever culinary concept for the Amex club network.

Of course, Amex has also long been the leader in the credit card-branded airport lounge wars. It opened the first Centurion Lounge in 2013 and has since expanded the network across the country and to major cities worldwide.

That said, Capital One and Chase are very much playing fierce catch-up; the former is even planning to open a new dining-focused “Outpost” concept at DCA in the coming months.

Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG’s free biweekly Aviation newsletter.

So, what’s it like inside Amex’s new Centurion Lounge? Read on for all the details.

Amex Centurion Lounge DCA location

Amex’s new Centurion Lounge at DCA is located in a newly built extension to the airport’s Terminal 2.

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You’ll find the lounge in the airside National Hall near the entrance to the pier for the B Gates. The space is located just past the south security checkpoint, so I’d recommend clearing security here if you’re planning to use the lounge after completing check-in and security screening.

It’s hard to miss the entrance once you’re in National Hall. It’s located right opposite Lucky Buns, and the glass-lined entrance couldn’t be more prominent.

Amex Centurion Lounge DCA access

The new lounge opens daily at 5 a.m. It closes on every day at 9 p.m., except for Saturdays when it closes at 7 p.m.

American Express cardmembers with a Centurion or Platinum-branded card such as The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express have access to Amex Centurion Lounges.

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card members also get complimentary access to Centurion Lounges when flying on a Delta-marketed or -operated flight.

You can’t purchase Centurion Lounge access even if you carry another American Express card.

Note that Centurion Lounge guest policies changed last year to clamp down on overcrowding.

Platinum cardmembers cannot bring complimentary guests into the lounge unless they meet a new $75,000 annual spending requirement on their cards. Otherwise, you’ll pay $50 per adult guest and $30 per child (ages 2-17). Children under two can enter for free. Centurion and Corporate Platinum cardmembers can continue to bring up to two complimentary guests into the lounge.

For more about accessing the Centurion Lounge network, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide.

Amex Centurion Lounge DCA layout

The new Amex lounge is located on a newly constructed upper level to the departures hall.

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After entering the space, you’ll need to either take an elevator or climb about 50 stairs to reach the reception desk.

From the moment you enter the space, it’s unmistakably a Centurion Lounge. Between the wood tones, the green living wall and the signature Amex scent, the issuer brought all of its flagship Centurion Lounge elements to the space.

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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

After you’re admitted to the lounge, you’ll turn left and enter the various relaxation areas. The first, located just next to the welcome desk, is a pseudo art gallery featuring pieces crafted by local Washington, D.C.., artists. I particularly loved Maggie O’Neill’s colorful canvas depicting the Capital Building.

The gallery is bookended by a beautiful rendition of the Amex signature watchdog that’s found in every Centurion Lounge. This piece, however, is an updated take on the historical Amex logo and beautifully blends in with the space.

Lining the halls of the gallery are some couches and individual chairs.

As you walk past the gallery, you can continue straight into more of the traditional lounge seating. Here, you’ll find a mix of couches and reclining chairs — all in the same dark blue and deep grey tones that you’ll find across Amex’s newest Centurion Lounges.

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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

There are also some chairs lining the perimeter of this rectangular relaxation area.

As you reach the end of the lounge, you’ll find two open-style living rooms. The first is more of an entertainment area with a TV built into Amex’s signature library wall.

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Behind this library wall is the second living room area; this one likely will be popular with business travelers.

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There’s a long coworking table here, along with bar-style high-top seating lining the perimeter of the space, perfect for those looking to catch up on work. This is also where you’ll find the lounge’s shared printer.

One thing that I particularly appreciate throughout the lounge is all of the natural light — the lounge has windows on all sides, providing copious amounts of light throughout the day.

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Finally, there’s a small dedicated lounge area reserved for those with the Centurion card, Amex’s invite-only charge card that’s popular with the rich and famous. This area has no more than 15 seats, but it’s cordoned off and looks like it’ll be the most relaxing in the entire lounge.

All in all, this new Centurion Lounge looks just like most of Amex’s other Centurion Lounges. This isn’t a one-of-a-kind space like the newly opened outpost in Atlanta, but it covers all the basics (and more) in a relaxing and inviting environment.

Amex Centurion Lounge DCA dining

Though the lounge itself may resemble other Centurion Lounges, Amex is debuting a unique dining concept in this lounge.

The menu is designed in partnership with three award-winning chefs who have partnered with other Centurion Lounges nationwide. These include Chef Michelle Bernstein, Chef Ravi Kapur, and Chef Michael Solomonov, all of whom have incredibly successful restaurants in Miami, San Francisco and Philadelphia, respectively.

With this trio, travelers will be able to enjoy a wide range of cuisines on the lounge’s all-day buffet. As with all Centurion Lounges (and unlike the Capital One Lounge and Chase Sapphire Lounge), there is no a la carte dining here.

That said, the dishes that I tried at the media preview were all delicious, especially the Shabazi-spiced salmon.

I’m personally a big fan of Chef Solomonov’s Zahav restaurant in Philly, so getting to sample some of his creations in another Amex lounge is a big win in my book (especially given how hard it is to snag a reservation at his flagship restaurant).

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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

At the bar, you can order from the cocktail menu curated by Centurion Lounge mixologist Jim Meehan or from the wine list designed by Anthony Giglio, the issuer’s wine director. Amex always invests in offering a pretty extensive and elevated drink list, and this lounge is no exception.

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In addition to the buffet and signature bar, there are two drink stations located throughout the lounge. Here, you’ll find Eversys coffee machines, Vivreau water taps and even some delectable chocolate chip cookies.

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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

While the culinary experience is highlighted by delicious food and drinks, you definitely don’t want to miss taking a glance at the dining room, which has a beautiful light fixture hanging from the ceiling. This fixture is a collection of 260 lanterns that are designed to resemble the topography of the Potomac River.

There aren’t many tables in the dining room, though, so during peak periods, I imagine guests will need to take their plates to other areas of the lounge.

Amex Centurion Lounge DCA amenities

Although this space doesn’t offer a spa or an outdoor terrace, it does have all the basics covered (and then some).

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There is one phone booth and one meeting room in the lounge. They are soundproof, and they feature floor-to-ceiling glass windows. I love the design of the walls in these rooms.

Instead of a family room, the lounge features a multipurpose room, which can be used by families and those traveling together as a group. This space is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

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There is one set of restrooms in the center of the lounge. The men’s room features three stalls and a few urinals.

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There’s even a shower in the lounge, located just next to the reception desk. Be sure to reserve a time with the front desk when you enter.

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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

The shower suite is beautiful and look like it might just be the single nicest shower in the airport. After all, it wins by default because it’s the first shower available to travelers at DCA.

Most seats are within an arm’s reach of power outlets and USB-A ports. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any USB-C charging ports here, despite this rapidly becoming the new charging standard.

Wi-Fi is available throughout the space, and download and upload speeds topped a whopping 300 Mbps.

Amex Centurion Lounge DCA bottom line

The long-awaited Centurion Lounge in Washington, D.C., is finally here.

This is DCA’s first credit card-branded lounge, and it sets a very high bar. With plenty of space to relax, delicious food and drinks and thoughtful amenities, expect the location to be a hit with travelers. (So much so that I’d imagine overcrowding will unfortunately be a reality during peak departure windows.)

While this space might not feature special amenities like a spa or outdoor terrace, it fits the bill for what Amex’s top cardmembers passing through DCA likely need most.

As long as you can find a place to relax, this lounge is certainly worth a visit. I, for one, will certainly be back for Chef Solomonov’s salmon.

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