Washington City Paper: Contents for Mar. 22

The Red Zone
In a town of imported celebs, Red Auerbach is the District's real deal.

Cover Story

In a town of imported celebs, Red Auerbach is the District's real deal.

The lobby of the New Mexico Avenue office building in Wesley Heights has an exotic aroma: a mixture of delicacies from the adjoining upscale food emporium and the redolence of a Hoyo de Monterrey. None of the building's occupants complain about the notorious habit of tenant Red Auerbach, ranked by Cigar Aficionado as the eighth most famous cigar smoker in history. (Winston Churchill was No. 1, Groucho Marx No. 11.) The menu of Legal Sea Foods in Boston says, "No cigar or pipe smoking, except for Red Auerbach"; the 84-year-old legend appears to have been granted a similar de facto exemption from D.C.'s anti-smoking ordinances.

Auerbach's second-floor office consists of one modest-sized room. His name is on the door. There is no secretary: If you knock on the door and Auerbach is in residence, you are greeted by the man himself.

The walls are crammed with pictures of Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, Tom Heinsohn, Sam Jones, and other Boston Celtics, the team he coached to eight National Basketball Association championships in a row between 1959 and 1966--a record that will never, ever, be broken. In a corner is a replica of the statue of a seated Auerbach (with cigar) that greets visitors to Faneuil Hall, the Boston market built in 1742.

Auerbach's memory seemingly is intact. He sees and hears just fine. His handshake is firm. He chooses his words carefully, speaking each slowly with a scratchy Runyonesque voice that retains his native Brooklyn. And he does not suffer fools.... Continued

Issue of Mar. 22 - 28, 2002

News and Features

The Red Zone
In a town of imported celebs, Red Auerbach is the District's real deal.
Cover Story By Patrick T. Hand
The Soft Cell
A decade after its debut, cellular technology finally has us all speaking the same language.
Feature By Jandos Rothstein
Jersey City
On one downtown block, shoppers have tired of hurdling barricades.
The City By Christina Larson
Stroke of Yuck
Anacostia River swimmers are in over their heads.
The City By Joe Dempsey
Best Laid Plans
Nimby Tribunal By Dave Nuttycombe
Subtle Thoughts
The Mail By Martin Morse Wooster
Up With People
The Mail By David Schneider
Soap Opera
The Mail By Richard Camer
Spoonful of Sugar
The Mail By Deborah S. Olin
Prescription Plan
The Mail By Jan Berger

Columns

The Fight Club
Cheap Seats By Dave McKenna
Curtain Calls
City Desk By Joe Dempsey
Scenester
City Desk By Jason Cherkis
Pennsylvania Avenue Freeze-Out
Loose Lips By Elissa Silverman

Eats

Movies

The Sharper Image
Film Review By Arion Berger
A Kiss Before Trying
Film Review By Mark Jenkins
Scotland, PA.
Film Review By Mark Jenkins
Resident Evil
Film Review By Tricia Olszewski

Music

Manic Pop Thrill
Music Review By Shannon Zimmerman

Theater

No Men on an Island
Theater Review By Robert Lalasz
Triple Play
Theater Review By Bob Mondello

Arts and Events

Mind Over Manners
Books By Arion Berger
Small Faces
Books By Michael Little
Shots in the Dark
Photographer Forrest MacCormack takes aim at the color of night.
Arts By Shauna Miller
Exit Strategy
Books By Glenn Dixon
Runaway Brides and Grooms
Books By Garance Franke-Ruta
Less Is More
Books By Tricia Olszewski
Craft and Might
Art Review By Glenn Dixon
Bungle in the Jungle
Art Review By Louis Jacobson
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold
Artifacts By Andrew Curry
Construction Boon
Artifacts By Garance Franke-Ruta

City Lights

This week's best in Arts and Entertainment.

Dressy Bessy
City Lights By Arion Berger
Bobby Knight
City Lights By Felix Gillette
Options 2002
City Lights By Garance Franke-Ruta
Approaching Chaos: Visions From the Quantum Frontier
City Lights By Louis Jacobson
National Acrobats of Taiwan, R.O.C.
City Lights By Joe Dempsey
Slamdance 2002
City Lights By Mark Jenkins
Rosebud Film and Video Festival
City Lights By Tricia Olszewski
Anti-Flag
City Lights By Christopher Porter
Steamboat Bill, Jr.
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Mike Livingston
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Debra Band
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Flying Luttenbachers
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Stefania Lucamante
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Allan Havey
City Lights By Dave Nuttycombe
Herbie Hancock
City Lights By Christopher Porter