Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw

From a press release:

On August 24th and 25th, 2012, the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities (DCCAH) will host its 9th annual Dance DC Festival – a festival which highlights the folk traditions of the world through live music and dance. The events will be held at various locations throughout the city and are free and open to the public. This year, the DCCAH will celebrate the foundation of rhythmic expression in every culture around the world – the drum.

“Dance DC Festival is one of our signature events each year,” said Lionell Thomas, Executive Director of the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. “It’s a great reflection of the diversity of Washington, and gives our residents a chance to celebrate one of the common threads that all cultures share – the art of dance.”

Beginning Friday, August 24th, the festival begins at the Atlas Performing Arts Center with an event entitled, The Drum. The opening will feature performances by the Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company, Grufolpawa, Flamenco Aparicio, Fiddle Puppet Dancers, Lesole’s Dance Project, Just Tap, and Nana Malaya

An interactive workshop series highlighting several dance forms, including Tango Bharatanatyam and Capoeira, will be held at the Atlas, followed by Dance Asia: Asia in Maskquerade at the Kennedy Center. This performance will present Asian masks and their roles in folk dance, traditional ceremonies, rituals and traditions.

The closing event, Move N’ Groove, featuring hand dancing, will take place at Twelve Lounge at 1123 H Street, NE. Hand dancing is a form of swing dance that can be traced back to the 1920s, from Lindy Hop, to Jitterbug and to the 50’s when D.C. developed its own version and named it “Hand Dance”. It is characterized by gliding footwork and continuous hand connection/communication between the partners, hence its name.

Schedule of events after the jump: (more…)



Photo by PoPville flickr user pablo.raw

From the Adams Morgan BID, CityPaper Publisher Amy Austin writes:

It is with great disappointment that we are announcing that City Paper will not be able to host Crafty Bastards at Marie Reed this October. The challenges of producing an outdoor festival on school property have gotten progressively steeper, which led us to a decision to look for an indoor venue. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find an indoor space in Adams Morgan that has the capacity the festival needs.

For those not familiar with Crafty Bastards, you can read about it here. It’s been a consistently great event for Adams Morgan. Though, back in 2010 I wondered if the festival had gotten too large for Marie Reed.

For fans of Crafty Bastards – do you think having the event in an indoor venue is a good idea?



Photo by PoPville flickr user schmiddi

From the Washington Post:

“Fiesta D.C. will be held this year [Sept. 23] on Pennsylvania Avenue after city leaders and event organizers agreed that the event has grown so large it can no longer be held in Mount Pleasant.”

You can see photos from previous year’s Fiesta here, here, here and here.

We first spoke about the possibility of the Fiesta moving from Mt. Pleasant back in Aug. 2009.

Do you agree that the festival had gotten too big and needed to move to a new location?



Photo courtesty of PAUL bakery

From emails:

What: BASTILLE DAY BAGUETTE RELAY RACE at PAUL Bakery and Café in Penn Quarter

To commemorate France’s National Holiday, PAUL – France’s leading bakery – invites the public to come have some fun and participate in our 2nd Annual “Baguette Relay Race” which will take place in front of PAUL in Penn Quarter, where relay team members will take turns fast-walking a lap around the plaza of the US Navy Memorial with a baguette in hand, in lieu of a traditional baton.

We’ll divide up racers into four teams of six people. (And this year, we’ll even have a Kids race!) Each team will be led by a PAUL employee. Each racer will quick-walk one lap around the circle of the US Navy Memorial and then hand off his/her baguette (baton) to the next teammate. All members of each winning team will get a $25 gift card to PAUL. We’ll be encouraging relay racers to sign up in advance on our FB page: Facebook.com/Paul1889.usa

When: Saturday, July 14, 2001 at 10:30am (Kids Race), and 11am (Adult Race)

Where:
PAUL Bakery and Café in Penn Qtr. (at the US Navy Memorial)
801 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC

and

L’Enfant Cafe & Bar’s 2012 Bastille Day French Maid Races and Masquerade Ball

In celebration of their 8th Annual Bastille Day Block Party and French Maid Race, L’Enfant Café Bar announces it has added an animated appearance by celebrity DJ Lady Miss Kier (of Dee-Lite) and a raffle for two round-trip tickets to Paris, France courtesy of U.S. Airways to its popular Bastille Day street party and masquerade ball. The annual party, DC’s largest annual July event after A Capital Fourth celebration is so popular, the café-bar will again close an entire city block. Co-hosted by King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette – who bear a striking resemblance to L’Enfant’s co-owners Jim Ball and Christopher Lynch – the Bastille Day Block Party will take over Vernon Street, NW, between 18th and 19th Streets. Gates open at 3p.m. and the street party concludes at 11p.m. Newcomers need look no further than the corner bar at 18th Street Northwest (at Vernon Street) decorated with an Eiffel Tower and a dead giveaway, a guillotine.

Entry to D.C.’s most revolutionary summer party is $5 for commoners. Guests are invited to chill to DJs and enjoy street bars serving Stella Artois and Leffe, red and white wine and vodka cocktails. A food truck pavilion and beer garden be available, including popular purveyors such as Adams Morgan Wine Shop, The Cajunator, Cap Mac, DC Slices, Localat and P.O.R.C.

Schedule of events:

3 p.m. Bastille Day Block Party Kicks Off

5:45 p.m. Can-can dance performance on Stella Artois main stage

6 p.m. Arrival of King Louis XIV and French Maid Race on Vernon Street

6:30-8:30 p.m.DJ appearance by Lady Miss Kier of Dee-Lite

8:45 Can-can dance performance on Stella Artois main stage

8:50 p.m. Drawing for two round-trip economy class tickets courtesy of
US Airways from Washington, DC go Paris, France

8:55 p.m. Arrival of Queen Marie Antoinette and her courtiers

9 p.m. DC’s largest annual masquerade ball (Vernon Street NW between
18th and 19th Streets)

10:55 p.m. Last dance.

New this year, an appearance by the inimitable DJ and personality Lady Miss Kier (Dee-Lite) between 6:30-8:30 p.m. and a raffle, courtesy of U.S. Airways, at 8:50 p.m. for two economy class, round trip tickets from Washington (DCA) to Paris (CDG).

French maid race will start at 6 p.m. L’Enfant will provide costumes for up to 40 competitors. Racers must don the short, frilly black and white lace apron dress to participate. The winner of the race will be the first to fill a Champagne glass with soup spoons of water by running back and forth between the coupe and a bucket. The champion will win prizes including a magnum of Champagne. Says co-owner Jim Ball, “Liberté! Egalité! Insanité!”

After the race, DJ booths will be rolled into Vernon Street and Queen Marie Antoinette will gift all attendees with a mask. The dancing on the street will conclude at 11p.m.

L’Enfant Café Bar, 2200 18th Street, NW

and from Mintwood Place:

Bastille Day weekend celebration at Mintwood Place [1813 Columbia Rd NW] taking place on July 13th – 15th. In addition to French foods already included on the menu like flammekueche and steak frites, Cedric and team will also be featuring items like: gougeres, warm Provençal quiche, country pate, soupe au pistou, frisee salade au lardon, moule mariniere, French cheese plate, chocolat mousse, and peach melba vacherin. We will also be offering French wines at 15% off and some classic french cocktails like the Rose: french dry vermouth, kirschwasser and Chambord.


From a press release:

The Miss United States Pageant has moved its national pageant from Las Vegas, NV to Washington, D.C.. The multi-day event with contestants from all 50 states, four territories and the District of Columbia begins on July 3rd and concludes with the finals competition on Sunday, July 8th.

Contestants will compete for the titles of Miss Jr. Teen United States, Miss Teen United States, Ms. United States and Miss United States in the categories of runway, personal interview, swimsuit, evening gown and on-stage question.

In addition to the four areas of competition, contestants will also participate in a number of holiday events throughout the greater D.C. area: On July 4th, contestants will march in the Capitol Hill Parade and later that day, all 55 Miss contestants will attend the Washington Nationals Game where the reigning Miss United States, Ashley Smith, will sing the National Anthem and during the 7th inning stretch – America the Beautiful. That evening, contestants and their families will enjoy the fireworks at Long Branch Park. Other planned events include a shopping spree at the Shops at Crystal City and lunch at the Hamburger Hamlet and King Street Blues on July 5th & 6th followed by another shopping spree at Pentagon City Mall and lunch at Harry’s Smokehouse on July 7th.

Runway Competition will be held at the Sphynx Club DC Thursday, July 5th at 8PM. Preliminary competitions begin on Friday July 6th (swimwear) & Saturday July 7th (Evening Gown). Both Prelims are to take place at the Synetic Theater in Crystal City. The finals will be held on Sunday, July 8th in Arlington at the Washington & Lee Performing Arts Center.



Postcard via Friends of the Soldiers’ Home

This sounds great! Thanks to all who sent emails:

A July 4th Celebration

Family Fun* Local Food Vendors* Children’s Fishing* Hiking* Biking*
Picnicking* Jogging* Soccer* Touch Football* Kickball* Tug of War*
Balloon Twisting*

Watch the fireworks on the National Mall from one of the best vantage points in Washington, D.C., on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home!

Wednesday, July 4, 2012, 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., on the southern grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home, Washington, D.C. (Entrance at Rock Creek Church Road and Randolph Street)

Continues after the jump. (more…)



Photo by PoPville flickr user ep_jhu

From an email:

It’s that time of year again for the Smithsonian’s 46th annual Folklife Festival. The 10-day free festival runs June 27–July 1 and July 4–8, 2012 on the National Mall. This year’s festival features live music, group dance parties, demonstrations, local food and much more!

Be sure to check out this year’s festival programs:

Campus and Community celebrates the 150th anniversary of the founding of two institutions that touch our lives every day: public universities and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Citified: Arts and Creativity East of the Anacostia River presented in collaboration with the Anacostia Community Museum, highlights the connections among residents of urban communities as expressed through arts and creativity.

Creativity and Crisis: Unfolding the AIDS Memorial Quilt features the remarkable artistry, inspiration and impact of the largest community art project in the world.

Wondering where the funk has gone? Look no further than this year’s Festival! The National Museum of African American History and Culture will “Bring Back the Funk” with a free opening concert on the National Mall, Wednesday, June 27, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The free concert will feature music legends George Clinton, Meshell Ndegeocello and Ivan Neville and Dumpstaphunk.


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