Events

From Emails:

“It’s been a famous December for the Junior League band. Having just returned from the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones (see picture!), and a Lissy solo opening show (and solo EP release) with the Grammy nominated Rosanne Cash (see picture!), the Junior League Band returns home to the 9:30 Club this Saturday evening with pals, Justin Jones and the Driving Rain for a Dixieland swinging, gal fronted banjo/fiddle/harp rockin performance.

Doors are at 8pm, tickets are $15”

and

Suspicious Cheese Lords Christmas Concert, Sat Dec. 19, 2009 7pm

“This coming weekend SCL will present “In dulci jubilo: Music for the Christmas Season” on Saturday, December 19th, at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center.

The program will consist of seasonal works spanning over 500 years from the Renaissance to modern day. There will be songs from Poland, Spain, and Germany, works by Renaissance masters such as Palestrina and Victoria, the premiere of a new setting of the nativity text O magnum mysterium (by Cheese Lord, George Cervantes), and carols for all to sing.

Saturday, December 19, 2009, 7pm
Pope John Paul II Cultural Center
3900 Harewood Road, NE

Free and open to the public. – $20 requested donation, includes post-concert reception.”

After the jump some more props for MPD. (more…)

“The highly anticipated Downtown Holiday Market opens on December 4, 2009 with an abundance of local merchants selling eco-friendly goods, artisanal crafts, funky art, holiday accents, tasty treats and much more.  See the full list online for specific dates and booth location.

The market runs from noon to 8:00pm through December 23, 2009, and has live daily entertainment to keep shoppers entertained as they peruse the vendors for that special gift.  It is produced by the Downtown DC Business Improvement District in partnership with Diverse Markets Management.”

Ed. Note: Past Tense is a PoP advertiser. If you have events you’d like listed please email princeofpetworth (at) gmail (dot) com.

PAST TENSE BRINGS AREA YOGIS AND RESIDENTS THE GIFT OF FAB

Who: Just in time for the holidays, Past Tense yoga studio brings residents The Gift of Fab, a spectacular holiday sale featuring unique gifts from local vendors.

What: The Mt. Pleasant yoga studio will be set up with booths featuring great holiday gifts made by local artists. In addition to Past Tense’s booth where interested yogis can buy mats, T-shirts and gift certificates for yoga classes, the sale will also showcase the following local vendors:

* Stacey Vaeth Photography, an Adams Morgan based photographic company specializing in lifestyle profiles, food photography, weddings and family portraiture, will showcase their fine art and nature photography. Stacey will also have gift cards, albums, ornaments and other holiday products for sale.

* Skincando a local green/organic skincare company will be selling their handmade combat-ready balm, lip balm and soap as well as holiday gift bags.

* For sweet stocking stuffers, local pastry chef Josh Short will be offering homemade granola, jams and baked goods. A few gluten-free goodies will also be available for purchase.

* Yinibini, the “pop-art chic” clothing and jewelry line for women, will showcase their sterling silver and gemstone jewelry, screen-printed clothing, baby clothing and accessories.

* Other items will include hand-lettered note and holiday cards from Michele Hatty Fritz of Meant To Be Calligraphy, handmade gifts like woven hammock and wool bags made by artisan designers at Calamarie: Traditional Art Reinterpreted, photography, notecards and magnets by local photographer Jill Golden and one-of-a-kind jewelry from Dina Vatcha.

When: Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 1-5 pm.

Why: Past Tense is committed to supporting local artists and designers and looks forward to introducing the local Mt. Pleasant community to these talented young vendors.

Where: The Past Tense studio, located three blocks from the Columbia Heights Metro, at 3253 Mt. Pleasant Avenue, NW in Washington DC. For more information, please call (202-462-YOGA) or visit the website at www.pasttensestudio.com.

Event: Portrait 2.0 Closing Reception
“Curated by Michael Pollack and as part of FOTOWEEK DC. Artists – Chan Chao, Matt Dunn, Victoria F. Gaitán, Nicholas Pye & Sheila Pye, Paul Vinet and Josh Yospyn.”
What: Exhibit
Start Time: Tomorrow, December 5 at 6:30pm
End Time: Tomorrow, December 5 at 8:30pm
Where: Pyramid Atlantic Art Center, Main Gallery, 8230 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910-4511

http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=203702762880&mid=1832301G4abc9d6aG131c1deG7

DC’s INAUGURAL NERD NITE AT DC9

When: Saturday Dec. 5th 2009

Where: DC9, 1940 9th Street, NW (between T and U Street)

Washington DC, 20001

Upstairs room

http://www.dcnine.com/portal/

Time: 6pm – 9pm

Cover: $10 at the door

What has become a wildly successful event in New York City and Boston is now taking DC by storm. If you love Judd Apatow movies, Freakonomics and all things random, you MUST attend Nerd Nite DC.

What exactly is Nerd Nite? Nerds and non-nerds alike gather to meet, drink and learn something new. It’s an informal gathering at which people get together to hear presentations that will blow your mind. Armed with a microphone and their trusty PowerPoint slides, some of the smartest people in DC will prove to be the most interesting. The only requirement is that presentations must be random and absurdly entertaining.

What else would you possibly want to do on a Saturday evening rather than learn about bugs getting it on, Scrabble players duking it out for the title of freakiest Word Freak, and shrimp that are powerful enough to split an unsuspecting human’s thumb. All this and a musical serenade by the Daycare Swindlers.

It’s like the Discovery Channel with beer. Continues after the jump. (more…)

The owners, Meaka and Phil, of Jam Down restaurant on Georgia Avenue asked me to share with you and your readers information about an event they will be hosting this Saturday, November 21 from 9pm until the last jerk chicken is eaten and the last reggae jam is danced!

As you know, Jam Down restaurant has been open now for a few months. Word is spreading in the neighborhood about their authentically delicious Jamaican food and their friendly service. They are having this event on Saturday to raise funds for their private liquor license so they may be able to establish a social club that will offer extra perks to customers who chose to be members. The social club will offer privileges including delicious libations, no cover charge for special music events, and credit points for food purchases. In this way, Jam Down will be able to create a comfortable ambiance for all who want to enjoy good food and good drinks. During the event, customers will be invited to sign up for the social club.

Details about the event:

What: Jam Down “Irie Jambo” Fundraiser/Membership Drive
Music by DJ Soul Doctor
When: Saturday, November 21, 9:00pm until ??
Where: Jam Down Jamaican restaurant
3303 Georgia Ave., NW (at Lamont St., NW), Washington, DC 20010
202-450-2408
Who: All are welcome!!

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Local author Eric Nuzum (and PoP contributor) will join us on Fri, Oct. 23rd at 7:45p.m., after the weekly “Happy Hour” yoga class, for an entertaining reading from both The Dead Travel Fast, his pop culture look at vampires, and his forthcoming book Bring Me To Heaven, where he visits to some of the most haunted locations in the country to find ghosts and understand his own previous encounters with the dead.  Continues after the jump. (more…)

Metro Cell service starts today. From WMATA:

“Expanded cell phone service is now available in 20 of Metro’s busiest underground stations. As of 5:30 a.m. today, October 16, Metrorail riders are able to use three major cell phone providers in addition to the existing Verizon Wireless service to make calls from 20 station platforms. Eventually, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile services will be available from anywhere inside the stations.”

Fundraiser

“My friends at Inkwell Theater are hosting a fundraiser and silent action on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 10pm at the H Street Playhouse (1365 H St NE, DC) to celebrate the closing of the 2nd Annual INKubator Festival-a month long festival
featuring 18 imaginative, thought-provoking plays from up-and-coming playwrights; panel discussions; and educational workshops.

Admission is $10.

• Beer and Wine provided by Smuttynose Brewing Company and DuPont Wine and Spirits

• DJ Sets by Professor Sabino

• Auction prizes include a 2hr set with Northeast Corridor, private yoga session, and more”

If you have events you’d like included in weekend picks please email princeofpetworth (at) gmail (dot) com

 

“Punk Rock is alive and well in the District on Friday as Richmond band Strike Anywhere come to town on the first date of their label package (Bridge 9 Records) tour. Celebrating their 10 year anniversary and supporting their new release (Oct 6, 2009) – IRON FRONT – the band will be supported by Polar Bear Club, Crime in Stereo and Ruiner.”

October 3rd (this Saturday!). Harvest Ride: Bike tour of collective urban gardens

Grab a bike and join your neighbors for a Harvest Ride, a 26 mile randonneuring bike tour of collective gardens and worker-owned food cooperatives in our region.

From the Arboretum’s Washington Youth Garden to Riverdale MD’s Master Peace Community Farm, with Ledroit Park’s Common Good City Farm and Ft Totten’s Neighborhood Farm Initiative in between, there’s plenty to celebrate during the rise of the full moon closest to the Fall Equinox -the Harvest Moon. This event is free. For more info visit Common Good City Farm.

This Sunday (10/4) is…………….THE WASHINGTON DC RECORD FAIR!

Almost 500 folks came through the last record fair, and the record selection (bargains and rarities both) was pretty insane.

25+ Record Dealers w/ funk, punk, reggae, salsa, soul, indie, psych, freakbeat, hip-hop, techno, samba, rockabilly and more…
Celebrity DJ’s, great pizza, ping pong, beer/wine and lots of records!
A perfect way to spend a Fall Sunday morning!
Fancy limited edition flyer by Mingering Mike!

Goes down at Comet Ping Pong (5037 Connecticut Ave NW, DC)
Hours are 10AM-4PM. Only $2 admission.

Photo by Bill Crandall

“Sunday, October 4, 2009
8:00pm – 11:00pm

Marvin (on the upstairs patio)
2007 14th St NW
Washington, DC

Photo projection night featuring the ‘East’ series by documentary photographer Bill Crandall. Black-and-white images produced between 1998-2009 in Belarus, Kiev, Kosovo, Serbia, Poland, Prague, and Romania. First-ever showing in DC!

An accompanying magazine-format print catalog is available via MagCloud, free copies will be on hand for the first twenty people who ask.

http://magcloud.com/browse/Issue/35905”

“Old Time Jam this sunday at the Looking Glass Lounge (6:30pm Georgia Ave. at Princeton)”

Library of Congress National Book Festival, September 26, 2009

National Mall in Washington, D.C., between 7th and 14th streets

10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

·       Website: http://loc.gov/bookfest

The Bloodsugars from NYC who are on Engine Room with US Royalty and Middle Distance Runner at the Red and Black Friday Night. They are an awesome dance rock band that is sure to make everyone move. Doors are at 8:30 and cover is $8, should be a fun time and we hope to see you there!

Mt. Pleasant Movie in the Park and Sidewalk Sale– September 26th Mount Pleasant Main Street will present a free outdoor screening of the feature documentary ‘King Corn’ on Saturday, September 26th in Lamont Street Park (Lamont St. NW & Mt. Pleasant St. NW). Movie activities start at 6pm, and include urban gardening demonstrations and live music. Local Mount Pleasant Business will hold a Sidewalk Sale all day! The movie is part of the Mt. Pleasant Movie Series, featuring a movie the fourth Saturday in August and September. For more information go to www.mtpmainstreet.org.

Also in Mt. P:

BOOKSALE: Mt Pleasant Library, Saturday 26 September from 10:00am to 4:00pm. Hundreds and hundreds of books: hardbacks all $1.00, paperbacks all 50¢! The library is located at 1600 Lamont St, NW (just off 16th St, conveniently close to Columbia Heights Metro).

FREE FAMILY PLAY DAY!

We at KaBOOM! (the DC based, national non-profit that works with local communities to ensure that kids have a great place to play) invite you to an exciting, family friendly and FREE event we’re hosting on Saturday, September 26th, from 10 – 4.

It’s the KaBOOM! Play Day in Walter Pierce Park (Adams Mill Rd & Calvert St. NW).

We’re inviting everyone we know over to play some of our favorite outdoor games.  We’ll also have crafts, raffles, and park beautification projects for the whole family – it’s going to be great!  G Wiz from the Washington Wizards and KOOL-AID MAN will be stopping by to say hello and play some games with us too.  We’ll have some food available for purchase on site, but lots of folks are bringing a picnic lunch.  PLUS you could even win some great raffle prizes, like an Alex Ovechkin signed hockey puck, movie passes and MORE!

This event will be one of 1200+ events being held nationwide; we hope you’ll join us at this DC event as we work to SAVE PLAY nationwide!

http://playday.kaboom.org/dc

I’m in DC and at the advanced age of 39, I’ve taken up a new sport: Roller Derby!

I’m a very proud rookie on Scare Force One, and we’re playing this weekend in the opening bout of the season at the DC Armory. $12 for adults, $6 for 11 and under and kids under 6pm free!

DC Armory
Sunday, 9/27
3pm doors/4pm action
dcrollergirls.com

And for Monday:

YPT PRESENTS “DYING FOR RESPECT”

ORIGINAL STUDENT WRITING ABOUT YOUTH VIOLENCE

WASHINGTON, DC (September 2, 2009) Young Playwrights’ Theater (YPT) presents New Writers Now! Dying For Respect in association with the Citywide Coordinating Council on Youth Violence Prevention (CCYVP)

The staged reading, which is free of charge and open to the public, will be presented at 7:00 PM, on Monday, September 28th, 2009, at GALA Hispanic Theatre. GALA Hispanic Theatre is located at 3333 14th Street NW, Washington DC 20010. Pre-reception to begin at 6:15.

Dying for Respect, is the first in YPT’s 2009-2010 New Writers Now! series, featuring professional actors in staged readings of student plays fresh from the classroom, followed by a community discussion about the plays with the playwrights. At New Writers Now!, young writers discover the value of sharing their work and recognize that the community is invested in the stories they tell.

“Our writing process has provided students with a rare opportunity to express their feelings and insights on gang and youth violence directly, in their own words,” says David Andrew Snider, Producing Artistic Director and CEO of Young Playwrights’ Theater. “We’re excited to share their work and proud to provide this opportunity for community dialogue in a safe, open forum.”

The evening will feature original writing created by students in YPT’s programming, as well as students from partner programs within CCCYVP including: Adams Morgan Youth Leadership Academy (AMYLA), Helping Inner City Kids Succeed (HICKS) and Coalition of Organizations and Individuals Nurturing Neighborhoods (COINNS).

Young Playwrights’ Theater teaches students to express themselves clearly and creatively through the art of playwriting. Through interactive in-school and after-school programs, YPT activates student learning and inspires students to understand the power of language and realize their potential as both individuals and artists. By publicly presenting and discussing student-written work, YPT promotes community dialogue and respect for young artists.

Dying for Respect is made possible by support from the Citywide Coordinating Council on Youth Violence Prevention (CCCYVP). “The CCCYVP is so pleased to work with YPT because our youth seldom have creative outlets for their experiences,” says CCCYVP Coordinator Yvonne Doerre. “Giving youth this kind of opportunity to express themselves can prevent them from using violence as an outlet.”

The CCCYVP was created by the Council of the District of Columbia in 2008 with the leadership of Ward One Councilmember Jim Graham. The purpose of the Coordinating Council is to develop a citywide youth violence prevention and intervention movement from the ground up. The mission of the CCCYVP is to enhance the communication amongst youth violence prevention partners throughout the District of Columbia by providing synchronized services and on-going trainings/support. CCCYVP’s partner support strategy is based on the premise that youth-, crew- and gang-related violence are preventable.

For more information, visit www.yptdc.org

“The 2009 H Street Festival will fill four blocks of the H Street Corridor with food, entertainment, sports, fashion, and fun, on Saturday, September 19, 2009, from Noon until 6 PM.

The Festival grounds extend along H Street, NE, from 10th to 14th Streets.

There will be activities and fun for people of all ages from sword swallowers to Scientology, local elected officials, three live music stages with all-day programming, including Step Afrika, indie bands courtesy of the Rock and Roll Hotel, gospel, doowop, funk, blues, and more.

The Washington National new NatMobile will roll onto the Urban Sports Plaza with a Racing President to join Duncan Yoyo experts near a boxing ring and climbing wall for kids. Bring your own jump rope, exhibit your Double Dutch skills, and win a trophy! You go, girl!

Fourteen Art Cars will be displayed in the Urban Arts block in the Atlas District with speed chess challenges, food, food, food, and Baby Loves Disco.

H Street’s commitment to green design will be on display in the Green Street exhibit featuring green roofs, rain barrels, Zipcar, Casey Trees, and the LEED architects who are making H Street the Greenest Street in DC.

DC Fashion Week kicks off with a runway show by local designers on Urban Wear Stage that will close with a Tattoo contest, sponsored by H Street’s own British Ink.

Restaurants and bars along the Corridor will be open for business, offering their regular menus, and many will also feature street-side patios serving specialty dishes and cocktails. Several restaurants that will be opening in coming months, such as Dangerously Delicious Pies, are previewing their menus with booths alongside some of the most creative food vendors of any Festival in DC. New mobile vendor Curbside Cupcakes will be making its Washington debut, along the established On The Fly and the ever-entertaining Fojol Brothers. Vegan to BBQ – you’ll find it at the H Street Festival!

The exciting restaurants and bars, entertainment venues, and merchants in the community will welcome their neighborhood friends and visitors from around the Metropolitan region, as well as artists, exhibitors, and vendors from as far away as Massachusetts, New Orleans and California, as they turn the Festival site into a showcase for the rapidly developing entertainment, retail and dining destination. www.HstreetFestival2009.org” Continues after the jump. (more…)

Photo by Pat Padua, “The Real Mount Dora.”

From emails:

Join Ten Miles Square and the work of Pat Padua and Jennifer Wade in Microscopy at Hounshell (1506 14th Street NW) this Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m.  Continues after the jump. (more…)

A reader writes: