I love this guy. He always plays Bob Dylan for me. Sadly, he doesn’t have a regular slot at Columbia Heights Coffee (11th Street b/w Monroe and Park.) The owners said he is welcome to play whenever he’d like. I chatted with him for a few moments. His name is John Carter or JC and he lives in the neighborhood (Columbia Heights). He told me he likes to play at Columbia Heights Coffee from time to time to relax and give a little something back to his neighborhood. Super nice guy.

I also spotted one super cool dog outside. (This dog will be tough competition for this Summer’s coolest pet in PoPville contest…)


Sorry for the limited picks this week but I was out of town and wasn’t able to organize my emails. Continue to send your picks for next week. Even though it’s only one pick, this sounds phenomenal.

DATE/TIME: Saturday, April 11, 8 pm – 2 am.


LOCATION:
The Warehouse Arts Complex, 1021 7th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001, 202.783.3933

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From a reader:

“Thursday nights at the Nori restaurant (14th and Park) down in Columbia Heights. I plan on hosting DJs, producers, and artists to do what they do best — mix tunes, paint, project graphics on the wall, play along with their iPhones, shake maracas, whatever. Oh yeah, and eat mad sushi.

I’m calling the night Komori-uta, and I plan on starting April 9th. I’ll post more information about it on my music site, along with free song links and tutorials about how to find your next favorite beats for free.”


This Friday, the National Press Club will put the FUN back into fundraiser with Commedia dell Media, an evening of comedy hosted by WTOP’s ‘Man About Town’ Bob Madigan and featuring performances by a roster of DC’s most respected journalists.

Pessimism and economic doom may dominate the headlines, but on April 3 these reporters will cast off that pall of gloom by voraciously scratching the comedic underbelly of their industry. McClatchy’s Nancy Youssef will tell the audience what it’s really like for an Arab woman to cover the Pentagon. Newsweek’s Mark Hosenball will sing an ode for the scoundrels of Wall Street. Anna Mulrine of US News will expose the humorous side of military embeds. Conde Nast’s Matt Cooper and David Corn of Mother Jones will exercise their notorious comedic chops as part of a line-up that also includes radio personality Jamila Bey, Bloomberg’s Scott Lanman, UPI’s Shaun Waterman, long-time WUSA anchor Mike Walter, and the Washington Post’s Delphine Schrank.

Proceeds from the event will help support the important work of Reporters Without Borders and the Eric Friedheim Memorial Library. Tickets are $15 in advance, or $20 at the door, and are available for purchase at http://www.press.org/comedy/. A pre-show reception will open the doors at 7 pm, with the comedy beginning at 8.

Lettie Gooch moves from 9th Street to 1517 U Street and will celebrate it’s third anniversary Friday and Saturday.

From an email:

We will be celebrating our grand opening and third anniversary. The event is Friday April 3, 2009 from 6-9pm, as well as Saturday April the 4, 2009 from 11-8pm. Friday we will be serving champagne and cupcakes provided by Live Love Life. We will also have a small fashion that starts at 8pm presenting our new spring collection as well as our new “Boyfriend Corner.” Equipped with a seating area and men magazines, as well as denim from Fresh Ink and and new long sleeve and short sleeve shirts for men.

More picks after the jump. (more…)


I’ll be sponsoring tonight’s show at Velvet Lounge (915 U Street, NW) with three great bands playing. I’ll be giving out some free PoP t-shirts and there is supposed to be a really good emcee for the show as well. So if you weren’t able to make the happy hour at Solly’s last Thursday, come say hello at the show this Friday.

Here are the bands:

mittenfields

www.myspace.com/mittenfields

crimes of paris

www.myspace.com/crimesofparisdc

dangerosa

www.myspace.com/dangerosa


From an email:

Vintage vendors, local crafters, artists, photo booths, cupcakes, fortune cookies, dancing, gift bags and drink specials!

FREE to enter, all ages

Event is being held at 18TH and RED.
2436 18th street in Adams Morgan

April 1st.      6:00pm

$3 draft beers, rail drinks, and house wines

Vendors accept cash, check, kisses. ATM inside bar.

THE LINE UP  after the jump. (more…)


I’ve always been a fan of El Torogoz located at the 4000 block of 9th Street (around the corner from Domku). Thanks to a reader for sending an announcement stating that El Torogoz is looking to add karaoke. Anyone think this is good idea? I think it could be awesome. I used to be a regular at a Korean karaoke place downtown, back in the day. I’m not sure if I’ve asked before, but where are your favorite spots for karaoke in the city? Full notice after the jump. (more…)


I have always had two loves of my life – music and tropical fish. Since I’m no longer allowed in the National Aquarium (a story for another time) I’ve decided to support the local DC music scene. Like my food posts, I’ll be the first to admit I’m not an aficionado. I simply know what I like and recommend it to others. Plus I always enjoy taking the advice/suggestions of those who know far more than I (which should be very obvious from this blog). I’ve noticed that DC’s local music scene often gets no respect in certain circles. But I’ve heard some great local music at Velvet Lounge, DC9, Rock and Roll Hotel etc. So I figured I’d try and start supporting some local up and comers.

As such, I’m proud to announce that I’ll be sponsoring this Friday’s show at Velvet Lounge (915 U Street, NW) with three great bands playing. I’ll be giving out some free PoP t-shirts and there is supposed to be a really good emcee for the show as well. So if you weren’t able to make the happy hour at Solly’s last Thursday, come say hello at the show this Friday.

Here are the bands:

mittenfields

www.myspace.com/mittenfields

crimes of paris

www.myspace.com/crimesofparisdc

dangerosa

www.myspace.com/dangerosa


Image Above:
Artist: CHI Peng
Title & Date: Why Should I Love You?, 2008
Medium: C-print

The hidden gem, Meridian International Center, has a new exhibit. From an email:

Meridian International Center, together with the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) in Beijing, and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Washington, DC, has created a groundbreaking exhibition of Chinese contemporary art entitled METROPOLIS NOW! A Selection of Contemporary Chinese Art. It will open to the public in Meridian’s Cafritz Galleries in Washington, DC on Wednesday, March 25, 2009.

METROPOLIS NOW! is the result of a long-standing partnership that grew out of past artistic and cultural exchanges between Meridian and China. To identify artworks for this exhibition, Meridian’s Vice President for the Arts, Dr. Curtis Sandberg, and Director of Exhibitions, Terry Harvey, traveled to Beijing and Shanghai to collaborate with NAMOC Director, Fan Di’an, a renowned figure in the world of Chinese art, and his senior staff.

This compelling selection of 52 paintings, sculptures, mixed media, and video installations by 31 artists addresses the enormous changes taking place in China’s cities – specifically, the major art centers of Beijing and Shanghai. Visitors to the exhibit will gain new insights into aspects of urbanization and globalization in China, experiencing this through the eyes of 31 extraordinary artists.

I am interested in your editorial schedule and look forward to speaking with you about potential coverage of this exhibit. METROPOLIS NOW! will be on display at Meridian from March 25, 2009 – July 26, 2009. For latest updates, visit www.meridian.org.

Tonight!

Curtain Call

The exhibit includes images spanning a 20 year career as a Washington DC photographer documenting the political scene as well as recent work from a new project featuring dancers.

www.sardari.com

Opening Reception at Caramel
1603 U Street NW
Friday, March 27
6 – 9 PM

www.caramelfashion.com

Free Concert at American University Sat. Doors 6:30pm

From the Washington Post:

“We could not contain our squeal (the free part doesn’t hurt) when we heard Baltimore’s latest It band, Ponytail — a quartet of atonal art-rockers that made us feel alive and simultaneously disoriented when we caught them last year — is playing a free show tomorrow night at American University. The all-ages show, part of Internet radio station WVAU’s Capitol Punishment series, also features the Screaming Females and local indie-rock act Mittenfields.

Free. Doors at 6:30 p.m. American University, Kay Spiritual Life Center, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW. For details, http://www.wvau.org.”

Ed. Note: The following report was submitted by Christopher.

This month, the PoPville bookclub read ‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane and Other Plays’ by Martin McDonagh. Set in rural Ireland, the plays lead you through petty squables, a couple of murders, some grave robbing, and an old lady being scalded with hot grease. What’s not to love?! The book was successful in setting a depressing mood, and I think the one thing that we all walked away from it with was a new found appreciation for our own families and friends. The plays are pretty short and easy to read (once you get through the irish slang), so check it out if you’re ever in the mood to feel better about your own personal relationships!

For April, the PoPville bookclub will be reading ‘The Heart is a Lonely Hunter’ by Carson McCullers, as part of the nationwide Big Read program. Your friendly Petworth neighborhood library has plenty of copies in, so swing by and grab one so you can look cool on the metro with it too! Our next meeting will be at the Red Derby on April 6th, 7:00pm for discussion on the book and a possible move to the Looking Glass Lounge for future non library meetings, followed by a wrap up meeting on April 20th, 7:00pm at the Petworth Library to have final discussions and pick a book for May.



Ed. Note: If you have events you’d like included in the weekend picks please email [email protected].

The closing weekend of Please Take A Number written and performed by Nia Orms
Atlas Performing Arts Center
1333 H Street, NE

During these times of contentious legislative activity, bankers running amok, jobless rates soaring and broken promises we could all certainly use a laugh. And whats funny during times like these you ask?

Welfare. Thats what.
Thats right I said it, welfare. Nia Orms one-woman-seven-personality performance “Please Take A Number” is a thought-provoking, laughter inducing homage to everyone’s favorite “entitlement” program. Better than a therapy session or an episode of In Living Color, Nia’s quick hour & a half play tells stories behind the lives of seven people waiting in a welfare office that will entertain and enlighten. I know It sounds like heavy content for a Friday or Sat night but believe me, you have no idea what you are in store for.

This award winning play has toured the country for three years and has one final weekend in Washington DC at the Atlas Theater, before hitting the road again. More info about the play and the characters is at www.niaorms.com

World Water Week
Next week is World Water week. Here is DC, participating restaurants (over 100) will ask their patrons to donate $1 or more for the tap water they usually enjoy for free and all funds raised would support UNICEF’s efforts to bring clean and accessible water to millions of children around the world.

There is also an art component and gallery opening next Tuesday to highlight artists rendentions of a water glass.

Visit http://www.tapdc.org for more information.

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