John Metcalfe's "The Hunger Artists" in the current edition of the Washington City Paper is one of the most readable and funny articles that I have read in ages.

It describes a couple who makes a living out of dining out at art openings.

I had always heard that they "bought" work, but in over 100 shows between the two Fraser Galleries, they've eaten a ton of food and drank gallons of Sangria, and yet never, ever even feigned remote interest in any of the artwork - now I know why: we don't show colorful abstraction.

But they still come to every opening, devour whatever is on the plate, and head straight out to the gallery next to us.

And let me tell you: These guys know this city's art scene (as long as there's food) better than anyone else! They could give even the most seasoned of gallery goers and every art critic in this town a lesson on art spaces and where they are and what food they serve.

And I don't know how they do it, but they are also at every embassy, restaurant opening, etc. I've seen them as far south as Virginia Beach.

In Canal Square we call them "the grubs." There are several others in the locust pack besides the ones mentioned in the article.

Worst story I've heard allegedly about them: A now defunct gallery in Leesburg actually had some of Coxe's works in a group show (she's a stained glass artist); the whole gang was there, and apparently it was the daughter's birthday.

To the gallery owner's dismay, he discovered that once all the food and drinks had been devoured in the main gallery, and before he noticed, the grubs all went to the backroom area, and ate all the food that was stored inside the refrigerator there plus two cases of beer.

When he took them to task for doing this, they responded that they were celebrating the daughter's birthday!

I was told that he was so upset that he had her remove her work from the show and threw them out!

It takes all kinds to make a city's art tapestry: Even the grubs!