Join Washington National Opera for the 2008-2009 Season Opening with a FREE live simulcast of Marta Domingo’s production of La Traviata featuring Elizabeth Futral. Saturday, September 13, 2008, 7:00 p.m at Nationals Park. Sounds awesome!
Find more information here.
I checked out the Chix tailgate party Sunday afternoon and it was pretty fun especially given the phenomenal weather. I think an event like this is one of the best parts about U Street. Having a dj and beer (tecate is quickly becoming a new favorite) and good food is not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon. They also had a table with the t-shirts of local artist Billy Colbert. Colbert runs the clothing line Policy. It was a pretty cool story of how Colbert hooked up with Chix. Basically one of the owners of Chix ran into Colbert at the recent dog days outdoor sale and really liked his stuff. So they decided to cosponsor this event. Sweet. Photo of Colbert after the jump.
Domku, located on the 800 block of Upshur will be hosting it’s first karaoke evening this Sunday. Starts at 7pm and there will be drink specials.
I remember being a little kid and spending nearly every weekend in Manhattan with my grandpa. The city was always full of excitement and there was always something to do. But, my favorite activity of all was an afternoon spent in Central Park, and my favorite thing to see was the roller skaters. There was loud music, dancing, people dressed in crazy outfits, and just an overall vibe of fun and excitement. On a recent trip to New York, I stopped by “Skaters’ Road” and was happy to see that they were still there – just as I remembered.
So, what does this have to do with DC? Well, on hot summer days I sometimes find myself lamenting that I chose to live in a city that doesn’t have a “Central Park,” but I do have a pretty nice alternative pretty much in my backyard – Meridian Hill Park. And lucky for me, Meridian Hill Park also has the closest thing I’ve been able to find to the roller skaters in our fair city – The Meridian Hill Park Drum Circle.
Around 3pm every Sunday in the warmer months drummers begin gathering at the southern edge of the parks upper level. Slowly they trickle in, and by 6:00 the circle has usually grown to include about 30 drummers, dancers, and as many as a hundred onlookers. At its height you can hear the beat throughout the entire park. And it’s been like this for more than 40 years, with beginnings tracing back to Malcolm X’s death – when drummers began to play together in celebration of his life.
The crowd changes weekly, but there are some drummers who have missed only a few weeks here and there over the course of 10, even 20 years. It’s a pretty fluid event, but there is clearly someone in charge – barking orders to quicken the tempo or slow things down. Through the years it’s become so much more than just a circle of drummers and dancers. These days you’re likely to find impromptu dance classes, hula hoopers, a yoga session, and even tight rope walkers. Story continues after the jump with pictures and a video. Make sure you watch the video! (more…)
From a reader:
“The Fed and Caracara will be playing at Adams Mill this Thursday. I’m the singer/songwriter for Caracara and would love it if you guys would put something up on your calendar or even send someone out to see the show. It’s free and we can guarantee a hell of a rock and roll show. Here’s our myspace if you want to check it out: www.myspace.com/caracarainflight and I’ve included a flyer if you’re so inclined to post it. Thank you kindly for helping out some local bands!”
It’s guaranteed and it is a pretty sweet flyer…
Well, he didn’t go down but he looked like he might. This was pretty random as he was by himself outside a church on 16th Street. But how can you not love bag pipers?
Sometimes I sing when I’m listening to the I-pod. So I was at lunch, absentmindedly, singing and this woman looks at me with the oddest expression on her face. So I laugh and say, “I’m sorry was I singing?”. She replies, “no it was more like howling”. Ha! Beautiful. For the record I was “howling” Tear Stained Eye by Son Volt.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERABloombars’ entire feel could be summed up by the two people, both in their mid-twenties, of different ethnicities, standing together playing the guitar on the sidewalk out front. It was an impressive scene to see, even before I entered the small room that comprises the venue, which had people milling about observing the art hanging on the walls.
I was there to see the Makepeace Brothers, and get my first taste of what Bloombars was all about. Inside, upbeat Afro-Caribbean music almost seemed to marry with the stage, which appeared to me as an African jungle scene with a touch of exposed brick, as though DC was trying to break through.
There were three acts on Saturday night – impromptu performances by dedicated and inspired individuals who all left their mark that night in the shape of good vibes and camaraderie amongst the patrons, who were spilling out onto the sidewalk before the second set was through. Individuals (including myself) in the first few rows were sitting, whereas most others were standing.
The owner of Bloombars, John Chambers, came up to me and introduced himself – it was something I then watched him do with a few of the other patrons he had not met. It really impressed me to see how many of the people at the venue he already knew, though – probably because he made it a point to meet everyone who had come through, making mental notes of faces and names. It’s a characteristic I hope to enjoy someday. Continues after the jump. (more…)
Ed. note: I’m going to milk this Maureen Bunyan photo for as long as possible.
From an email:
Bloombars
3222 11th street, Washington, DC 20010 US
(right next door to Wonderland Ballroom)
Saturday, August 2, 9:00PM
The Makepeace Brothers – With an unclassifiable eclectic mix of bluegrass, jazz, Brazilian, African world rhythms and Celtic, their sounds are as worldly as their messages. Just ask the thousands of Jason Mraz’ fans they played for during the “Music Magic and Make Peace” tour. You have got to check a song on their site: www.myspace.com/
BloomBars – Don’t be surprised if you haven’t caught word. BloomBars is Columbia Heights’ new decidedly underground, spontaneous and inspirational space for local and global art, music and film you more than likely haven’t seen or heard. It’s raw. It’s organic, and slowly rising from a seed–offering an opportunity for guests to say, “I watched it grow when it looked like it was going to be a weed.” And did we mention that it’s free? Well, it’d be nice if you threw in a $5 donation to keep the lights on. Sneak a peak: www.bloombars.com (vids are up).
Suggested Donation: $5.00 (supports the venue and the musicians)
photo by Edgar Klüsener
I got all depressed over the street harassment and the schools post so I thought it was time for a lighter question of the day. The post about the death of the cassette tape got me thinking. What was the first cassette I ever owned? Then I thought what was the first cd I’ve ever owned? And finally I thought about the first concert I ever went to. And I’m dying to know your answers.
So first cassette I owned – Michael Jackson’s Thriller
First cd I owned was U2 Joshua Tree
First concert I ever went to was Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet Tour – 1986. Oh yeah!
So what was the first cassette, cd and concert you owned/went to?