Embassy Series: Your Musical Passport around the World
by Chrysoula Economopoulos
Continuing on the “around the world” theme from my latest post, music enthusiasts and those who are just plain curious to peek inside some of the almost 200 embassies and foreign representations in Washington, take note: the Embassy Series may be just the thing for you.
The Embassy Series opens the doors of embassies and ambassadors’ residences to the public by hosting concerts featuring American and international artists therein. Ultimately, these events aim to promote international understanding and global cultural diplomacy by featuring a country’s music or musical contributions.
According to the Embassy Series’ web site (www.embassyseries.org), “Such a backdrop allows the audience to ‘get a feel’ for the nation being represented, which is key to promoting and celebrating the diversity of both a host embassy and Series patrons.” In addition to the musical aspect, events provide guests with the opportunity to mix and mingle with the featured artist, other guests and embassy staff at a reception hosted after each event.
Since making its debut in 1994, here are some impressive statistics about the Embassy Series:
- Worked with over 100 ambassadors
- Hosted over 300 concerts at 46 different embassies
- Featured more than 500 artists
Preview of Performances
While the Embassy Series’ next performance at the new Chinese Embassy is sold out, celebrate Schubert’s Birthday at the Embassy of Austria on January 29, 2010 with acclaimed pianist Matthias Soucek. Soucek is the first Austrian and youngest winner of the International Brahms Competition in Hamburg, and has released seven CDs to date.
Next, welcome the beginning of spring a tad early on March 12, 2010 at the Ukrainian Embassy with pianist Inna Faliks. Faliks debuted with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at the young age of 15. She has since given recitals in Carnegie Hall, Paris’s Salle Cortot, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Hall, and more.
Jumping ahead a few performances and down to South America, enjoy An Evening of Tango at the Embassy of Argentina on June 12, 2010. This event and recent events at the residence of Syrian Ambassador Imad Moustapha, and at the Embassy of Bahrain demonstrate the many cultures and musical genres the Embassy Series spans in its very special version of cultural diplomacy.
Browsing through the list of other upcoming performances, you have a veritable musical passport around the world at your fingertips. All you have to do is book your ticket!
Holidays from around the World at Your Doorstep
By Chrysoula Economopoulos
The holiday season is here… time for some holiday cheer!
Washington can’t typically claim snowy landscapes peppered with sleigh bells ringing, children sledding, and extravagantly decorated storefront windows. But it does offer something that few places around the world can offer: a microcosm of holiday celebrations.
Beginning in late November and throughout December, several foreign embassies and the U.S. government celebrate the holiday season each in their own festive way.
AMERICA, AMERICA!
The U.S. National Christmas Tree on December 4, 2008, during the 2008 Lighting of the National Christmas Tree Ceremony.
Why not kick off the holidays with a good old American tradition – visit the National Christmas Tree on the White House’s Ellipse (aka. the south lawn). The tradition began under President Calvin Coolidge in 1923 and has come a long way, baby: This year’s tree is the most energy efficient and brightest in history, powered by LED technology. If you missed the lighting ceremony on December 3 – fewer than 10,000 tickets were available by lottery – the tree will stay up until January 1, featuring free nightly performances (downloadable program in PDF) and other activities.
The National Christmas Tree will soon be joined on the Ellipse by the National Chanukah Menorah on December 13, with a special lighting ceremony that day at 4:00p.m. A quick drive down the street to the Capitol Building’s West Lawn (Constitution & Independence Avenues), the Capitol Christmas Tree will be lit on December 8 at 5:00p.m., with the ceremony open to the public.
ROYAL NORWEGIAN EMBASSY
For the 13th year in a row, the Royal Norwegian Embassy decks the halls with a Norwegian Christmas at Union Station, featuring a 32-foot Christmas tree and train exhibit, as well as a series of events and concerts in various venues around the city. Visit Union Station (50 Massachusetts Ave NE) between December 3, 2009-January 3, 2010.
EMBASSY OF CANADA
This Saturday, December 5, the Embassy of Canada (501 Pennsylvania Ave NW) hosts its Winter Gala. From 8:00-9:00p.m., guests will sip complimentary champagne then watch the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at 10:00p.m. Tickets go for $75 (includes music, hors d’oevres, cash bar), with proceeds benefitting the Government of Canada’s United Way Campaign. R.S.V.P. is required – email Kandice.Zeman@international.gc.ca. Photo ID required for security entrance.
EMBASSY OF GERMANY
Celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall and get your holidays in gear with the German Embassy’s Black Tie Holiday this Saturday, December 5 (limited space remains), hosted at the embassy (4645 Reservoir Rd NW). The gala’s theme is “Saluting 20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall”. Festivities kick off at 7:30p.m. and include music from the band Suspicious Package at 9:00p.m., include an open bar, German holiday food and desserts, a Berlin Wall presentation, DJ, and dancing. For additional information and to purchase tickets ($70/ticket), see the ThingsToDoDC.com site.
EMBASSY OF SWEDEN
The Annual Swedish Christmas Bazaar will take place on December 5 at the House of Sweden (2900 K Street NW, Washington), the building that is home to the Swedish Embassy and a number of other organizations. The bazaar begins at 11:00a.m., offering traditional Swedish baked goods, crafts, crystal, textiles, food, books and more. The event culminates with a Lucia procession at 5:30p.m. Suggested donation: $2 at the door.
Santa Lucia After Dark Ball is next up for Sweden on the evening of December 12. Also taking place at the House of Sweden, this “holiday cocktail gala and celebration of lights” will feature the Singco Rhythm Orchestra, an open rooftop winter bar serving glögg, Swedish hors d’oeuvres, desserts, and images of Swedish winter landscapes and the aurora borealis. Tickets start at $40 (general admission).
EMBASSY OF FRANCE
Eiffel Tower, Paris
La Maison Française (4101 Reservoir Rd, NW, Washington), the Embassy of France’s cultural home, will host “Holiday Party in Paris 2009!” on December 11 from 7:00p.m.-11:00p.m. Guests will be transported “passport-free to Paris for an evening of celebration, effervescence, and early holiday shopping” with a silent auction, Parisian-inspired buffet, champagne, live music and DJ beats. Tickets available for $60 ($30 tax deductible) at InstantSeats.com.
RUSSIAN EMBASSY CULTURAL CENTER
On December 19, the Russian Embassy’s Russian Cultural Center (1825 Phelps Place NW) beckons you to “add a unique touch to your Christmas, Chanukah or Kwanzaa celebrations this year… with a unique Russian experience – without ever leaving the District.” Russian food, cocktails, film, a special “Nutcracker” ballet presentation, diplomatic greeting, and late-night DJ are all on the evening’s roster of the center’s Russian Evening and Holiday Nutcracker Celebration. Tickets and additional details are available through ThingsToDoDC.com.
Catch a Flick at the Uptown Theater
The Uptown Theater in Cleveland Park
By Elisabeth Grant
At the Uptown Theater in Cleveland park (also known by its less romantic name: the AMC Loews Uptown 1) the selection is limited. Limited to one. One screen. One movie. But what the theater lacks in variety it makes up for in personality, style, and experience. Seeing a movie at the Uptown Theater means sitting in a theater (either on the first floor or in the balcony) looking at a 40 by 70 foot screen, surrounded by (potentially) 849 other movie goers.
It’s a great place to see a movie opening night, whether it be a new James Bond film or one of the Twilight movies. Ticket holders queue up outside until they’re let in right before the movie. There’s often a sense of camaraderie in line since everyone is there to see the same movie at the same theater at the same time.
To be fair, the Uptown Theater is not flawless. It’s a historic building with some beautiful accents, but its 1996 renovation is showing its age. The seats aren’t the cushiest and throughout the interior things are well worn. Restrooms are also in short supply resulting in long lines even when the audience doesn’t come near full capacity. But despite its imperfections the Uptown Theater is a D.C. landmark and worth at least a visit.
The Uptown Theater is a historic building, open since 1936.
Through this week they’re showing the Twilight movie New Moon at 1:30, 4:30, and 7:30 pm. And let me tell you, teen angst is even angstier on a 40 by 70 foot screen.
…[Uptown], things’ll be great when you’re
[Uptown], no finer place for sure,
[Uptown], everything’s waiting for you
([Uptown])…
Calling All European Film Buffs!
by Chrysoula Economopoulos
For all you Euro-film fans, it’s not too late to catch the last week of the 22nd annual AFI European Union (EU) Film Showcase at the AFI Silver Theater and Cultural Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. Running for a total of three weeks from November 5-24, 2009, moviegoers can choose from a selection of festival award winners, box office hits and American premieres from the EU’s member states.
According to Todd Hitchcock, film programmer at AFI Silver, this year’s lineup of films is the largest ever for the festival. It includes 39 films representing 25 (out of 27 total) EU member countries, all made possible by sponsors and supporters the likes of the European Commission Delegation in Washington, D.C., the Embassy of Sweden, and the EU member states’ cultural counselors in the city. As a point of interest, Sweden currently holds the EU presidency for that next random bit of trivia you’d like to throw out.
So if you feel like taking a trip to Europe sans passport this weekend, the EU Film Showcase will get you there. All films are screened at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center (8633 Colesville Rd., Silver Spring, MD ~ phone: +1.301.495.6700 ~ directions and parking).
Upcoming Weekend Highlights:
Special movie highlights this coming weekend include “Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Inferno” from France, a documentary about a 1964 film project titled “L’Enfer” by Clouzot – the French Alfred Hitchcock – that never came to fruition. This movie is tagged as a “must-see” for fans of French cinema, and was an Official Selection at the 2009 Cannes, Toronto and New York film festivals. Showing on November 21 at 4:00p.m. and November 22 at 7:45p.m.
Emily Blunt as Queen Victoria in "The Young Victoria" (2009).
The closing night film from the United Kingdom titled “The Young Victoria” promises an “energetic, sensitive and smart retelling of the romance between Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.” The movie was produced by Martin Scorsese, Graham King and Sarah, Duchess of York, and written by Julian Fellowes. Film shows on November 21 at 7:00p.m. and will be immediately followed by a reception. Follow this link to view the film trailer.
Quick List of Remaining EU Films ~ November 18-24:
(arranged alphabetically)
Ander
Spain, 2009, color, 128 min. In Basque and Spanish with English subtitles. Showing November 18 at 9:00p.m.
The Boneman
Austria, 2009, color, 117 min. In German and Russian with English subtitles. Showing November 20 at 9:30p.m. & November 21 at 10:00p.m.
Citizen Havel
Czech Republic, 2008, color, 119 min. In Czech with English subtitles. Showing November 22 at 3:30p.m. & November 23 at 7:00p.m.
Henri Georges Clouzot’s The Inferno
France, 2009, color and b&w, 94 min. In French with English subtitles. Showing November 21 at 4:00p.m. & November 22 at 7:45p.m.
I Am Not Your Friend
Hungary, 2009, color, 100 min. In Hungarian with English subtitles. Showing November 19 at 9:00p.m. & November 24 at 9:00p.m.
Klucis: The Deconstruction of an Artist
Latvia/France/Greece, 2008, color, 88 min. In English, Latvian and Russian with English subtitles. Showing November 22 at 9:45p.m. & November 23 at 9:00p.m.
Low Lights
Lithuania/Germany, 2009, color, 92 min. In Lithuanian with English subtitles. Showing November 21 at 2:00p.m. & November 22 at 1:30p.m.
Police, Adjective
Romania, 2009, color, 115 min. In Romanian with English subtitles. Winner of the FIPRESCI Prize and the Un Certain Regard Jury Prize, Cannes 2009. Showing November 20 at 7:00p.m.
Shameless
Czech Republic, 2008, color, 88 min. In Czech and Slovak with English subtitles. Showing November 18 at 7:00p.m.
Silent Wedding
Romania/Luxembourg/France, 2008, color, 87 min. In Romanian with English subtitles. Showing November 19 at 7:00p.m.
Small Crime
Germany/Greece/Cyprus, 2008, color, 85 min. In Greek with English subtitles. Showing November 22 at 6:00p.m. & November 24 at 7:00p.m.
The Young Victoria
UK/US, 2009, color, 100 min. In English and German with English subtitles. Showing November 21 at 7:00p.m.
Download the full program guide
List of films by country
List of films by date (downloadable PDF)
Tickets:
$10 General Admission
$9 Seniors (65 and over), Students with valid ID, and Military Personnel
$8.50 AFI Members
$6 Children (12 and under)
Free Events from the Washington National Opera
By Elisabeth Grant
Is the Washington National Opera sensitive to the current economic crisis? Or are they looking for new (more frugal) viewers? Whatever their motive, the Washington National Opera keeps rolling out free performances, making wallets happy all over D.C.
Earlier this year they threw the second annual Opera in the Outfield, a free simulcast of their opening night performance, this year The Barber of Seville, at Nationals Park. And now from November 13th through the 22nd they will celebrate “National Opera Week” (who knew that existed?) with a series of free performances and events.
1. Open Orchestra Read: The Marriage of Figaro
Saturday, November 14, 2009, 6 pm
Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
Hear selections from The Marriage of Figaro performed by the Washington National Opera Orchestra and coupled with narration by Maestro Ken Weiss “explaining the art of rehearsal and answering questions about the process of preparing a score.”
2. Community In Bloom, A Ward 7 Community Project
Sunday, November 15, 2009, 3:30 pm
Kelly Miller Middle School
301 49th Street NE, Washington, DC, 20019
The Washington National Opera teams up with the Humanities Council of Washington DC and the Ward 7 Arts Collaborative to present performances and art focused on the lives of Ward 7 community members.
3. So You Want to Be a Singer? An Opera Career Talk
Monday, November 16, 2009, 6 pm
American University Katzen Arts Center, Abramson Family Recital Hall
4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC
Hear about how to start a career in opera from Christina Scheppelmann (WNO Director of Artistic Operations), Elizabeth Bishop (mezzo-soprano), and Brandy Hawkins (mezzo-soprano). Free, but to reserve seats, call (202) 448-3465.
4. Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists Recital
Friday, November 20, 2009, 12 pm
The Russell Senate Office Building, Rotunda
Constitution Avenue and 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Enjoy arias performed by members of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program.
5. Hola Opera! An Introduction to Opera
Friday, November 20, 2009, 11 am
Lamond-Riggs Neighborhood Library
5401 South Dakota Avenue NE, Washington, DC, 20011
Children 5 to 10 and their families are invited to a bilingual event, where Peter Burroughs and Anamer Castrello will perform arias and zarzuelas.
Ah free, music to one’s ears.
Feel the Power of Photography at FotoWeek DC
by Chrysoula Economopoulos
Washington is gearing up for FotoWeek DC 2009 (www.fotoweekdc.org), a week-long festival running from November 7-14, 2009 that will showcase the art of photography at numerous locations throughout the city. In its second year running, FotoWeek DC has already become one of the largest international photography festivals in the world.
The non-profit organization behind the festival – synonymously known as FotoWeek DC – was founded in 2008 “to celebrate the power of photography.” The organization has capitalized on Washington’s unique position as a magnet for talented photographers and a host for important collections of photography.
The result last year was a resoundingly successful festival that welcomed upwards of 20,000 people to the Nation’s Capital. In addition to 71 exhibitions throughout the city at galleries, embassies, and even projected onto building façades, FotoWeek DC 2009 will also present 36 lectures, 34 openings and receptions, as well as 31 workshops and reviews of photographic work.
NightGallery DC will project images onto building façades - this image from last year's festival. Photo Credit: Paul Fetters Courtesy of FotoWeek DC.
Best of all – the great majority of these events are free and open to all who register (Free Registration for entrance to FotoWeek DC events).
FotoWeek DC Launch Party
With such a great selection to choose from, why not kick off FotoWeek DC with the opening night launch party on November 6 (6:30p.m. to late) to orient yourself and get a taste for what the week ahead has in store? Tickets are $15 in advance (register and pay online), $20 at the door.
The launch party centers around FotoWeek Central, the nucleus of all exhibits and programs throughout the city. The five locations which comprise FotoWeek Central are all within walking distance of each other in the heart of lively Georgetown.
During the launch party, attendees can catch a first glimpse of work from winners and finalists for the FotoWeek DC Awards competition and the Youth Contest, and a number of other exhibitions (see highlights by location below).
To set the mood, DJ Donald Syriani will be spinning an international mix of beats at FotoWeek Central 1 (3338 M Street NW), while guests can mingle with participating photographers and other attendees. If last year was any indication, hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and lively conversation were all plentiful.
The five locations below which comprise FotoWeek Central are all open during the launch party:
Bird's eye view from last year's launch party. Photo Credit: Paul Fetters Courtesy of FotoWeek DC.
FotoWeek Central 1 (3338 M Street NW)
This is the main hub of all festival activity. View the 2009 Awards exhibition, the DC Youth Contest exhibition, exhibitions featuring images from the United States and Northern Uganda, NightGallery DC with images projected on the building’s façade, an autochrome display from National Geographic’s immense photo archives, and much more.
FotoWeek Central 2 (3306 M Street NW)
View the “My Cuba” and the “InsideOutside: New Images from Russia” exhibitions, both curated by Pulitzer Prize winner photographer and FotoWeek DC curator Lucian Perkins.
FotoWeek Central 3 (3307-D M Street NW)
In the “Iraqi Voices” exhibition, ten renowned photographers put a face to the people of Iraq. The “Brother’s Keeper” exhibition highlights people who have endured intolerable conditions, encouraging the audience to “take greater responsibility to ensure that the conditions under which our fellow citizens live are humane on all levels.”
FotoWeek Central 4 (3333 M Street NW)
This location presents “Flash Forward 2009,” featuring the work of top-ranked emerging photographers from Canada, the UK and the US for a juried contest. Also on view is an exhibition of recently-released photographic books.
FotoWeek Central 5 (1209 31st Street NW)
The “Eyes of History” exhibition showcases award-winning photojournalism images selected by the White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA).
Additional Weekend Tips:
Official Opening Reception: Check out the official opening reception on November 7 at the House of Sweden (2900 K Street NW, Washington). The event is co-hosted by the American Film Institute and features “What Lies Beneath: Nature & Urban Landscape in EU Photography.”
NightVisions: For the hidden photographer in you, jump on board for the NightVisions all-night photo shoot. From 6:00p.m. on November 7 to 6:00am on November 8, participants can “shoot the city, people, your neighborhood, whatever you choose” with a digital camera. Then go to FotoWeek Central 1 to download your photos. Nationally-recognized photo editors, art directors and gallery curators will select one image from your shoot for display on location.
Celebrating Native American Heritage Month in D.C.
By Elisabeth Grant
National Museum of the American Indian
November is National Native American Heritage Month and all month long the museums of the Smithsonian Institution in D.C. are featuring exhibits, performances, talks, and special events in celebration. Most events are free and offer entertainment, education, and hands-on experiences for all ages. Read on for a selection of Native American Heritage Month events going on this month.
National Museum of the American Indian
Naturally, the majority of Native American Heritage Month special events are taking place at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). The NMAI has put up press release (PDF) with a complete description of what’s available and when, and the Smithsonian Education page also has a complete list. Here are some highlights:
- Featured Event: “From Deer to Dance”
Nov.14 and 15, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Head over to the Potomac Atrium of the National Museum of the American Indian to see “demonstrations of deer-hide tanning and painting, bead working and moccasin making,” as well as performances by the White Oak Singers (Saturday at noon) and the Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble (Sunday at noon).
Other National Museum of the American Indian Events:
- Chamber opera: “El Conejo y el Coyote/The Rabbit and the Coyote”
Nov. 6 (10:15 a.m. and 12 p.m.), Nov. 7 and 8, (2 p.m.), Rasmuson Theater
- Short Documentaries: “Answering the Call: Veterans Day Short Film Contest”
Wednesday, November 11, Rasmuson Theater, 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. - Forum: “IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas”
Friday, Nov. 13, Rasmuson Theater, 3 p.m. - Behind the Scenes: Meet the curators from the “IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas” event, discuss and explain this project
Saturday, Nov. 14, 10:30 a.m., Room 4018 - Drama, dance, and drumming: “The Drum is the Thunder, The Flute is the Wind”
Saturday, Nov. 14, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Rasmuson Theater
Tickets: www.residentassociates.org or (202) 633-3030. - Saturday Morning Cartoons: Cartoons “Wapos Bay” and “Raven Tales”
Nov. 7, 14, 21 and 28, 10 a.m., Mitsitam Café
Main floor of the National Museum of the American Indian
For more information on these and other events see this press release (PDF) from the NMAI and the Smithsonian Education page.
Events are also taking place at these other museums:
National Portrait Gallery
- Exhibition: Faces of the Frontier: Photographic Portraits from the American West, 1845 – 1924. Sept. 25, 2009 through Jan. 24, 2010. Second Floor, National Portrait Gallery
National Postal Museum
- Stories and Activities: Based on Sequoyah: The Cherokee Man Who Gave His People Writing. Sequoyah appeared on a stamp in 1980. Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Atrium, Lower Level, Postal Museum
National Museum of Natural History
- Native Pride Dancers: American Indian Dance, Drum, and Song
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Baird Auditorium, National Museum of Natural History. Tickets: Children, $5 (children under two, free.); adults, $6. Call 202.633.8700.
Walking for a Cause in D.C.
Participants in the 2009 Alzheimers Walk cross the finish line
By Elisabeth Grant
Last Saturday, October 17th was cold, rainy, and all around miserable. It was the kind of weather that makes you want to hit the snooze button, curl up in bed, and nix any plans of leaving the house. But the gloomy sky and constant precipitation was no match for the dedication of the walkers at the 2009 Alzheimer’s Memory Walk. Walkers donned layers of tee-shirts, fleeces, ponchos, and rain gear and trudged on down to the National Mall to show their support and commitment to fighting Alzheimer’s disease.
Spirits were reasonably high, elevated by a cover band (playing hits of the 80s and 90s); mimes, jugglers, and men on stilts (looking a little more ridiculous in their raincoats); and lots of snacks (coffee and donuts make everything a little better). Participants had the choice of completing a 1 mile walk or a 3 mile walk, both courses keeping close to the National Mall. So far the walk has raised over $470,000 and fundraising will continue until November 15, 2009.
D.C. is a popular location to hold walks for causes. Perhaps it’s the inspiring backdrop of the nation’s capital, or the spirit of activism from the organizations within the city, or maybe it’s just that there aren’t that many hills around here. Whichever reason (or combination of reasons), it is, you’re bound to find a cause to get you out on your feet. Read on for more walking events.
Past Walks
- AIDS Walk Washington (October 3, 2009)
Held the first weekend of this month, participants in the 5K AIDS Walk Washington raised nearly $850,000 for HIV/AIDS programs of Whitman-Walker Clinic. The walk (which could also be done as a timed run) began and ended at Freedom Plaza.
Upcoming Walks
- Walk Now for Autism Speaks (October 31, 2009)
Before you toss on your sexy witch costume or Kate Gosselin wig for a night of Halloween fun, perhaps spend your afternoon on the National Mall walking in the 2.5 mile Walk Now for Austim event (almost $500,000 in donations have already been collected). Registration begins at 8:30 am, followed by a resources fair, speakers, and group photo. Walkers make their way out at 10:00 am, finishing up before 11:45 for the closing ceremonies.
- Heart Walk (November 4, 2009)
The Greater Washington Heart Walk is close to halfway in its efforts to raise $2 million to fight heart disease and stroke. From 8:30 to 11 am partake in “informational tents, health screenings, refreshments and entertainment.” The 2.9 mile walk (or 1 mile short course) begins at 10 am.
- Avon Walk for Breast Cancer (May 1-2, 2010)
Support the fight against breast cancer (and enjoy an opportunity to wear copious amounts of pink) at the 2010 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in DC. Those interested in this challenging walk (26.2 miles on Saturday and 13.1 miles on Sunday) should start training now and may be interested in the training guides Avon offers online.
- Arthritis Walk (May 15, 2010)
Join the Arthritis Foundation in raising money for the fight against arthritis. Since this event is still many months away details are scarce. So check back at the Arthritis Walk website as the date draws nearer.
Rockin’ Out at the Sixth and I Street Synagogue
From the left: Zach Shields and Ryan Gosling of Dead Man's Bones performing at the Sixth and I Street Historic Synagogue
By Elisabeth Grant
Did you know that Ryan Gosling (heart throb from The Notebook) has a band? More importantly, did you know that it’s really good?
This past Saturday, Gosling’s band, Dead Man’s Bones, brought their eerie and soulful sound to the Sixth and I Street Historic Synagogue. Accompanied by a spooky gospel choir (outfitted in white robes and backlit by a haunting blue light), Gosling sang, played guitar, piano, keyboard, and even banged a drum once or twice, along with bandmate Zach Shields, a swanky female bluesy singer (whose name we just didn’t catch), and a drummer and bass player. Playing against a backdrop of a spooky house and graveyard, lighting and effects helped enhance the ghoulish nature of the songs.
Music fans and what looked like every female staffer from the Hill packed the intimate Synagogue, filling the pews and balconies until there was only standing room in the back. The audience bopped along to the beats, clapped when cued (and often just when the moment seemed right), and eventually stormed the front part of the stage to dance around.
Eerie lighting illuminates the gospel choir, and makes it difficult to take pictures
The Sixth and I Historic Synagogue, a “non-denominational, non-membership, non-traditional synagogue” hosts concerts, films, speakers, and comics throughout the year. Upcoming events include a discussion with Ami James of Miami Ink, a night of stand-up and sketch comedy with Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter, and a talk with author Mitch Albom about his new book.
The Sixth and I Street Historic Synagogue presents comedians, musicians, speakers, and others.
A Night at the Museum
2008 Fall Fête at the Corcoran Gallery. Photograph by Denny Henry.
Fall in Washington marks the return of Congress from summer recess, the beginning of a new school year, the kickoff of football season and, at times, hotly contested elections. With this new season also comes a flurry of evening events set in some of the city’s most cherished institutions: its museums.
From black tie galas, to post-work cocktail parties with hip DJ’s spinning world beats, museums welcome residents and visitors alike to mix and mingle in the warm embrace of world-renowned artistic treasures.
Though the fall event season is well under way, it’s not too late to choose your cup of tea from the assortment of galas and social events going on at museums. Through the end of the year and at a wide range of ticket prices, Washingtonians are gearing up for the following:
Fall Fête: A Nautical Affair
Quickly rising on the city’s social horizon, the Corcoran Gallery of Art’s 1869 Society hosts its annual Fall Fête: A Nautical Affair on October 24, 2009. The event is paired thematically with the John Singer Sargent exhibition, titled Sargent and the Sea, which runs through January 3, 2009. From 8pm until midnight, partygoers will be treated to an evening of dancing, music by DJ Neekola, hors d’oeuvres, desserts, an open bar, and more.
Event proceeds benefit the Corcoran ArtReach program, which provides resources from the Corcoran Gallery of Art and the Corcoran College of Art + Design to underserved Washington-area communities. Your ticket also includes a private viewing of the Sargent and the Sea exhibition, which assembles for the first time more than 80 paintings, watercolors, and drawings of seascapes and coastal scenes by the renowned nineteenth century painter. Tickets: 1869 Society Members $90, Non-1869 Society Members $100; VIP sold out; Captain level $200. Additional ticket and RSVP information for Fall Fête is available at http://www.corcoran.org/fete/. The event sold out last year, so get your ticket soon if you plan on attending.
Hirshhorn After Hours
Location: Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden (Independence Avenue at Seventh Street SW, Washington)Date: October 23, 2009 ~ 8pm-midnight
About: Hosted four times a year, After Hours is a mainstay of museum parties in D.C. Set in the museum’s plaza and within the museum, attendees enjoy extended museum hours (until 10pm), curator-led gallery tours, music from local DJs, cocktails and food. The next After Hours – last one of 2009 – celebrates the opening of the Anne Truit: Perception and Reflection exhibition, and music by Fatback.
Cost: $18 in advance, tickets available online, or by calling 202.633.4629 or toll free at 877. 932.4629
Additional Information: http://hirshhorn.si.edu/afterhours/
International Club of Washington 6th Anniversary Gala and Masquerade Ball
Location: National Museum of Women in the Arts (1250 New York Avenue NW, Washington)
Date: October 24, 2009 ~ 7pm-midnight
About: This “black tie requested” gala kicks off with Viennese waltzes and ballroom dance set to the music of a classical orchestra. The second half of the evening turns to the Brazilian band Origem for salsa, merengue, Brazilian samba and other Latin sounds. Also featured: an international dessert buffet (Viennese sacher torte, lemon citron cake, cappuccino cake, and more), an Argentine tango performance, and a VIP dinner buffet.
Cost: $90 General Admission; $139 Gala Patron tickets; $155 Gala Benefactor tickets.
Additional Information: International Club of DC
Phillips After 5
Location: The Phillips Collection (1600 21st Street, NW, Washington)
Date: First Thursday of every month (5-8:30pm). Next one: November 5, 2009
About: Phillips After 5 features live jazz, DJs, gallery talks, modern art, and a cash bar. The museum has regular extended hours every Thursday (5-8:30pm), but the first Thursday of the month provides an added flair of music and activities for patrons. The museum’s current featured special exhibition is Man Ray, African Art and the Modernist Lens, running October 10, 2009 through January 10, 2010.
Cost: $12 Regular; $10 Students; $10 Seniors age 62+.
Additional Ticket Information: Phillips box office at 202.387.2151.
Falnama: The Book of Omens Benefit Gala
Location: Freer Gallery of Art (1050 Independence Avenue, SW) & Arthur M. Sackler Gallery (Jefferson Drive at 12th Street, SW)
Date: November 21, 2009 ~ 6:30pm
About: The event sponsors beckon guests to “Join us for an evening of good fortune and felicity at a black-tie Gala to benefit programs on Iranian art and culture.” The evening starts off with a reception in the Sackler Gallery, followed by a private viewing of the Falnama: The Book of Omens exhibition, and dinner in the Freer Gallery.
Cost: $500 Individual ticket ($350 U.S. tax deductible); $1,500 Sponsor ticket ($1,350 U.S. tax deductible); other ticket levels available.
Additional Information: 202.633.0450 or e-mail to fsgala@si.edu.
Free Fun in D.C.
By Elisabeth Grant
The Jefferson Memorial is one of the many free memorials in D.C.
Year-round Free Options
1. Museums and Memorials
The memorials around the National Mall and the Tidal Basin are the landmarks that make D.C. recognizable. Most are open-air, and as already mentioned, free to the public. Make sure you check out the Washington Monument (you know, the giant pencil featured in any movie or TV drama set in D.C.), the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the numerous war memorials (Vietnam, Korean, and WWII).
2. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage
The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage presents free performances every day at 6pm. Every day! And the selection offers something for everyone. One night stop by to hear some classical piano, another night enjoy a Hungarian storyteller, or a funk band, or a magic show, or a puppeteer, or an Israeli singer/songwriter/composer. The variety and the talent showcased at the Millennium Stage is staggering. Now that you’ve learned about these daily free events you’re never allowed to say you’re bored and have nothing to do.
3. National Theater
Monday, Monday… Most of the time Mondays get a bad rap. They can be manic, and you can even have “a case of them.” Mondays at the National Theater on the other hand are quite entertaining. Every Monday this fall enjoy a free performance at 6 and 7:30 pm in the Helen Hayes Gallery. Upcoming events have a decidedly international flavor, including Hawaiian music and hula, Indian classical dance, Chinese opera, and more.
4. National Gallery of Art
Throughout the year the National Gallery of Art offers free concerts in its Sculpture Garden and West Building. The music selections are presented “in honor” of current exhibitions at the gallery. For instance, the National Gallery Piano Trio (performing this October 18th at 6:30 pm) correlates with the current exhibition of The Darker Side of Light: Arts of Privacy, 1850-1900, which takes a look at the “discreet world of individual collecting in which prints, drawings, and small sculpture were kept aside in portfolios or stored away in cabinets” in the late 19th century.
5. Free in D.C. Blog
There are so many free events going on in D.C. day to day that it’s hard to keep track of them all. Luckily, the Free in D.C. blog takes care of this for you. Nearly every day of the week this blog tracks free poetry open mic nights, film screenings, yoga classes, book signings, talks, tastings, concerts, festivals, and more.
Seasonal and Annual Free Events
1. Jazz in the Garden
Jazz in the Garden is one category of free concert offered by the National Gallery of Art. It’s worth mentioning again though, due to it’s popularity. Labor Day through mid-November get to the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden early to snag a seat, then sit back and relax from 5 to 8:30 pm to all types of jazz. Hear fusion rock/jazz, a capella, R&B, and more.
2. Screen on the Green
The annual Screen on the Green outdoor film showcase on the National Mall almost didn’t happen this year when HBO dropped their sponsorship of it. Film fanatics rallied together with such a fervor (on Facebook at least) that Comcast, the Trust for the National Mall, and HBO combined forces to allow the shows to go on. Two films in July and two films in August were shown this year, and included “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “Dog Day Afternoon,” “On the Waterfront,” and “Rebel Without a Cause.” Here’s hoping that next year Screen on the Green can continue the summer tradition, and D.C. can enjoy more free films.
3. Nationals Park
This year marked the second annual Opera in the Outfield event at Nationals Park. For the second year in a row the Nationals baseball stadium opened its stands to offer a simulcast of the opening night of the Washington National Opera. Picnic blankets scattered across the outfield, seats were filled in nearly every section, and everyone sat back and enjoyed a free night of arias.
Whether you’re a starving college student, a poor professional, or just a thrifty individual, D.C. has an astounding number of free events at your fingertips. There’s something for everyone, every night of the week.
Those Crafty Bastards
Crafty Bastards 2009
By Elisabeth Grant
I can’t vouch for whether they’re bastards, but the vendors at the 2009 Crafty Bastards Arts and Crafts Fair, held this past Saturday from 10am to 5pm in Adams Morgan, sure were crafty. We’re not talking your grandma’s crafts though. If you’re into doilies, tea cosies, and anything made out of popsicle sticks, this was not the event for you. These crafts were funky, fabulous, and overall very cool.
Looking for a plush cupcake monster? Or nibble-worthy jewelry perhaps? How about art that your mom won’t understand? Well, then Crafty Bastards is right up your alley.
Annually, Crafty Bastards (put together by Washington City Paper) descends on Adams Morgan, which is better known for its shots and shootings than for its knits and purls. This was the sixth year of the event, and brought together 147 artists to hock their wares in an overwhelming sea of tents and people next to the Marie Reed Learning Center at 18th and Wyoming NW. As if that wasn’t enough, there was also food, music, and a doggie adoption drive.
It’s a little unfair to blog about this event in the past-tense, but your disappointment in missing out will lessen thanks to the magic of the internet. Recreate the Crafty Bastards event (sans the crowds, the hot sun, and the sensory overload) by visiting all the participating vendors online either through the Washington City Paper’s Vendor Gallery or the Etsy Crafty Bastards Gift Guide.
Mark your calendar, and check back at the Washington City Guide, for next year’s crafty event (probably to be held again in October).