Taste, Tour and Explore the Eastern Shore

August 10, 2012

With summer upon us, many District dwellers will participate in their annual early summer excursions. On long weekends—such as our gone-too-soon Memorial Day—Washington area residents retreat to their preferred fair-weather getaways. Resorts and B&Bs throughout Maryland and Virginia play host to those reveling in the year’s most vibrant and blooming weather.

When making plans, finding less conventional avenues and avoiding throngs of tourists is a recurring trend. The Eastern Shore is less than a two-hour drive from DC and promises some of the season’s best activities. Spending the weekend on the Eastern Shore is an unconventional yet unparalleled experience, one sure to enliven your season.

Talbot County, Maryland is a great escape—a world apart on less than one gas tank’s distance. The setting is rich with history and offers some of the best cuisine, family activities and outdoor activities to be found. What’s more, Talbot County presents visitors with several distinctive towns to choose from, each with a personality all its own. Guests to the area may choose to intimately explore one or town-hop for a taste of the entire area.

Oxford
Founded in 1683, Oxford is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Few towns have endured the marked phases of change that Oxford has. The landscape, once dominated by tobacco plantations and home to famous figures of the Revolution, later gave rise to oyster harvesting and packing industries. Despite the increase in tourism to the area, Oxford retains its small-town feel. It is a town that lets you feel at home almost as soon as you arrive.

Perhaps the biggest draw to Oxford is the world-class cuisine. Those looking to dine in town would do right to give Pope’s Tavern, or else the Robert Morris Inn, a try. Both restaurants provide impeccable service and dining ambiance while affording incredible views of the water.

At the Robert Morris Inn, Chef Proprietor and British Master Chef Mark Salter, brings a modern British sensibility to the kitchen combined with classical feeling. A Bay resident since 1993, Salter has immersed himself in the region’s cooking and seafood bounty. A friend to local farmers, artisan producers and the seasons, Salter turns to sustainability and the richness of Maryland’s local bounty of herbs, fruit and vegetables at every opportunity. His signature dishes go well with the wide array of vintages the inn has stocked. Dine in Salter’s Tap Room & Tavern or one of two 1710 dining rooms, a few feet from Oxford’s ferry dock.

As an after dinner treat, The Scottish Highland Creamery is a choice find, offering premium handmade icecreams—some of the best and freshest you’ll ever taste. The creamery sources local ingredients, fresh milk, cream and flavorings imported from Italy. And with over 600 flavors to choose from, there’s sure to be one that suits everyone’s fancy. The Mexican vanilla, double Belgian chocolate, fresh crushed strawberry and pumpkin pie are all must-haves.

Perhaps no other event captures the spirit of Oxford like the annual Cardboard Boat Races staged each June since 1988. Launched from the shore of the Tred Avon River, the festive and colorful event begins at 11 a.m. and continues until all five races are complete. Boats are intended to be inexpensive and biodegradable, and contestants are strongly encouraged to be creative in their designs.

The Oxford Picket Fence Project is another annual treat. Begun in 2009, the process begins with 18 unpainted red cedar wood picket fence segments. Local artists decorate the posts, reconfiguring and reinventing the fence in the process. Completed fences are then placed on display from Memorial Day to mid-September., scattered throughout town in fun and surprising locations, the locations designed around a town-wide treasure hunt. This is a unique event that showcases local artists, town history, charm and beauty.

St. Michael’s
St. Michaels rests along the “Bay Hundred” stretch that runs to Tilghman Island. In its heyday, St. Michaels was a major shipbuilding center that produced such models as the Baltimore Clipper, which served as privateers during the Revolutionary War and War of 1812. Thus, it should come as no surprise that the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is one of its premier attractions.

Founded in 1965, the Maritime Museum occupies 35 buildings across 18 waterfront acres and features 10 exhibits that explore the geological, social, and economic history of the Chesapeake Bay. The museum also houses the largest collection of indigenous Chesapeake Bay watercrafts in existence.
Ava’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar and The Crab Claw Restaurant are two popular local eateries. Ava’s is complemented by its diverse selection of beer and wine. The Crab Claw has served steamed Maryland blue crabs since 1965. Also worth a look is Bistro St. Michael’s, which rounds out the town’s wide range of restaurants.

Not far off is the Inn at Perry Cabin. An elite escape, the Inn’s waterfront property offers a gorgeous panorama of the Shore at its finest. Though the inn has lost some of its exclusivity with an expansion to 78 rooms, the lavish accommodations and amenities make this less noticeable. In addition, the inn’s convenient location makes it the perfect place to stay if you plan on seeing the sights around “The Town that Fooled the British.”

Easton
The most urban of Eastern Shore towns, Easton just celebrated its 300-year anniversary, adding historic flavor to the vibrant atmosphere. But nestled just outside the town are family-owned farms, such as Chapel’s Country Creamery. Dairy cows graze its sprawling fields, attesting to Easton’s pastoral grandeur. The farm itself sells its all-natural produce on site. Additionally, many of the Shore’s best chefs use local creamers and farmers as their purveyors, strengthening Easton’s communal bonds.

One such chef is Jordan Lloyd, whose Bartlett Pear Inn recently received the second highest Zagat rating in all categories for the East Coast. Lloyd owns the inn with his wife Alice, his fourth grade sweetheart reunited by fate 10 years later. The two embarked on a journey that led from Mason’s, another local favorite, to Michel Richard’s Citronelle here in DC, New York, Atlanta, Miami, and back again. Along the way, Lloyd apprenticed with four-star chefs at five-diamond and five-star enterprises, including DC’s Four Seasons Hotel. The end result is his upscale American bistro, where classic French techniques meet contemporary plate design, in an impressive 220-year-old establishment. You can easily spend a long weekend in the warm embrace of the Bartlett Pear Inn.

Poplar Island
Known as “the island that almost vanished,” Poplar Island amounted to around 1,000 acres in the 1800s. By 1990, erosion had cut the island into three separate chunks of land and squeezed it to less than 10 acres. Today, thanks to a successful restoration effort led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, it has returned to 1,140 acres and may grow by another 570 acres before the project is finished.

For now, it’s a unique destination for eco-tourism, where visitors can charter boats around the premises, viewing wildlife and a burgeoning ecosystem in its infancy. The island is already drawing scads of wildlife—almost too much for biologists to keep track of. Ospreys, egrets, terns, herons, eagles, double-breasted cormorants, black ducks and other wild fowl have already been discovered on the island, unfazed by workers and heavy equipment that move and shape the dredge material that is bulldozed onto the island from barges. Diamondback terrapins are nesting in large numbers on the island, predominantly along the sandy beaches of the southeast.

The Eastern Shore is an often overlooked and underutilized travel alternative. Add to this its breathtaking vistas and insulated townships, and the Shore might just be among the most well-guarded vacation secret in the country—for now. Now is a great chance to see it before it inevitably catapults into the national tourism limelight.

Weekend Roundup August 2, 2012

August 6, 2012

Old Fashion, New Look

August 8th, 2012 at 06:00 PM | rsvp@streetsclotheir.com

Streets Of Georgetown cordially invite you to “Old Fashion, New Look” on Wednesday, August 8, 2012.

Join us for a distinguished evening of bourbon, antiques, and shopping- along with a fine tailoring, timeless style, and the finer things in life. To RSVP, email rsvp@streetsclothier.com

Cocktails and Hor d’ oeures will be served.

30% Discount on Made to Measure Tailored Clothing Additional 10% Discount on Sale Merchandise.

Address

1254 Wisconsin Ave, NW (Georgetown)

Blues Alley: Freddy Cole

August 2nd, 2012 at 08:00 PM | Tel: 202.337.4141

This week at Blues Alley (1073 Wisconsin Avenue, NW), from Thursday, August 2 through Saturday, August 4, jazz and music lovers alike are in for a treat with performances by Freddy Cole.

Address

Blues Alley (1073 Wisconsin Avenue, NW)

BrickFair – Family fun at the largest LEGO fan festival in the United States

August 4th, 2012 at 11:00 AM | $10 | Event Website

Be inspired by original LEGO creations covering 100,000 square feet! Sat & Sun, August 4-5, 2012 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. Get creative yourself in the Stay & Play area. Vote for your favorite creations.
Play LEGO-themed games and win prizes. Check out some of the newest LEGO sets! Shop for unique souvenirs and original LEGO artwork and collectables. $10 at the door. Cash is recommended. Advance tickets are not available. Sorry, strollers are not permitted inside BrickFair.

Address

Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly, VA

Signature Open House

August 4th, 2012 at 12:00 PM | Tel: 703-820-9771 | Event Website

Free shows every 15 minutes on 4 signature stages! Featuring the best of DC and broadway. Including SIGNATURE IDOL, FAMILY CABARETS, BROADWAY ON THE PLAZA, and ALL THAT JAZZ. One day ticket sale! 50% off select shows for next season. Available at the box office only.

Address

Shirlington Village Plaza, 4200 Campbell Ave. Arlington, VA

“Go for the Gold” celebrates competition, history surrounding the Olympics

August 4th, 2012 at 01:00 PM | abibb-carson@ncm.museum | Tel: 216-926-3911 | Event Website

National Children’s Museum Teams Up With Former Olympian To Get Opportunity in the Summer Games Spirit. Olympic athlete and local resident Tiombe Hurd will join the National Children’s Museum in celebrating the 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

Address

National Children’s Museum’s Launch Zone
112 Waterfront Street, National Harbor, MD 20745
(street and garage parking available)

Sports Zone: Meeting Jessica Brown

August 4th, 2012 at 07:00 PM | Tel: 240.277.0620

On Saturday, August 4th, from 8 p.m. until midnight, join Sports Zone (3140 M Street, NW) for an all-in-one night event. From 7 to 9 p.m., come out and meet Jessica Brown (MTV’s Daddy’s Girl), buy a pair of her new Piro TabloidKiss shoes and get them autographed. At 10 p.m., the store will reopen for a BTS Fashion Show with terrific models and great musical and comedian performances. You will not want to miss this fantabulous event!

Address

Sports Zone (3140 M Street, NW)

The Dandelion Patch: Summer Soiree

August 5th, 2012 at 12:00 PM | Tel: 202.333.8803

Please join The Dandelion Patch for their Summer Soiree in their new Georgetown location. Joining to help cut the ribbon will be Page Stationery for a special stationery trunk show. While mingling with fellow Georgetown neighbors, sip sparkling beverages, sample tasty treats, and shop with a 20% discount store-wide. Enter to win a $200 shopping spree and receive a swag bag full of coupons, samples and goodies from fellow Book Hill retailers: Sassanova, Urban Chic, Sherman Pickey and more.

Address

The Dandelion Patch 1663 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

The Bump Bring Your Baby Matinee

August 7th, 2012 at 12:00 PM | Event Website

The first Tuesday of each month, parents can enjoy movies in a baby friendly environment without worrying about baby making too much noise, no place to breastfeed or room to park the stroller. The featured movie is The Amazing Spider-Man. This month, we’re giving away a Little Pim Spanish Playtime DVD to the first 10 moms or dads in the theater!

Address

AMC Theatres across the country

U.S. NAVY MEMORIAL CELEBRATES THE U.S. COAST GUARD’S 222ND BIRTHDAY

August 7th, 2012 at 08:00 PM | Free | mweber@navymemorial.org | Tel: (202) 380-0723 | Event Website

In celebration of the U.S. Coast Guard’s 222nd birthday, the U.S. Navy Memorial will host the United States Coast Guard Dixieland Jazz Band for a special birthday performance during the 2012 Concerts on the Avenue series. The five-member group was organized in 1970 to perform classic jazz, blues and rags with a “New Orleans” flavor and has since entertained audiences across the globe.

Address

United States Navy Memorial
Naval Heritage Center
701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20004
www.navymemorial.org

Concert
Outdoor Plaza
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at 8:00pm

Weekend Roundup July 27, 2012

July 30, 2012

L2 Lounge: Let the Games Begin

July 27 at 9 p.m. | events@l2lounge.com | Tel: 202-965-2001

In celebration of the London Olympics Opening Ceremony, L2 invites you to its opening ceremony party, “Let the Games Begin,” on Friday, July 27 at 9 p.m.

Address

L2 Lounge, 3315 Cady’s Alley, NW

Drink the District: Beer Edition

July 28 at noon | $30 | ilovebeer@drinkthedistrict.com |Event Website

An outdoor craft-beer event with unlimited tastings of more than 40 craft beers. Featuring ten of DC’s best food trucks and live entertainment all day. Tickets are available for one of two four-hour tasting sessions (noon to 4 p.m. or 5 to 9 p.m.); tickets are limited.

Address

500 New York Ave., NW

CAPCS Online Summer Concert Series

July 30 at noon | free | Tel: (866) 339-9912 | Event Website

Online students don’t just hang out with their computers. They enjoy summer fun with their classmates, too. Students, families and staff from Community Academy Public Charter School Online (CAPCS Online) will be grooving to everything from funk rock to New Orleans jazz this summer during a series concerts throughout the summer. Interested families are also invited to see how the CAPCS Online community likes to have a good time and to get their questions answered by knowledgeable staff members.

Address

Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Urban Chic: An Afternoon Tea with Author Emily Giffin

July 30 at noon | katherine@urbanchiconline.com

Join Urban Chic for an afternoon of tea and book signing celebrating the release of favorite author Emily Giffin’s latest novel, “Where We Belong.” Guests who purchase the book at the event can also take 20 percent off all Urban Chic merchandise. The first ten guests to make a $100 purchase during the event will receive a print of Inslee by Design’s custom Emily Giffin/Urban Chic illustration.

Address

Urban Chic, 1626 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

The Bitter

July 31 at 07:15 p.m. | $37 | Info@LibationsBarSchool.com | Tel: 2026421256 | Event Website

Libations Bar School owner Jesse Dean teaches participants to blend their own cocktail bitters from various spices, herbs, barks, and roots available at The Spice & Tea Exchange, where classes are held. After tasting their concoctions, participants leave with their own recipe book so that they can make their own digestifs at home.

Address

1069 Wisconsin Ave., NW

Blues Alley: Freddy Cole

August 2 at 8 p.m. | Tel: 202.337.4141

This week at Blues Alley (1073 Wisconsin Ave., NW), from Thursday, Aug. 2, through Saturday, Aug. 4, jazz and music lovers alike are in for a treat with performances by Freddy Cole.

Address

Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Old Fashion, New Look

August 8 at 6 p.m. | rsvp@streetsclotheir.com

Streets Of Georgetown cordially invite you to “Old Fashion, New Look” on Wednesday, August 8.

Join us for a distinguished evening of bourbon, antiques, and shopping — along with a fine tailoring, timeless style, and the finer things in life.

RSVP to rsvp@streetsclothier.com

Cocktails and hor d’ oeures will be served.

30-percent Discount on Made to Measure Tailored Clothing; Additional 10-percent Discount on Sale Merchandise.

Address

1254 Wisconsin Ave, NW
Georgetown

Weekend Roundup July 19, 2012

July 23, 2012

Sounds of Hope Concert for Haiti

July 20th, 2012 at 06:30 PM | By donation | MAWestley@gmail.com | Tel: 347 886 0105 | Event Website

Sounds of Hope Concert for Haiti. By donation. Come blow off work week steam. The loss of my own leg (got hit by a bus 9 years ago & almost died) inspired me to take the support I got & pay it forward. Musical guests will open our hearts with uplifting beats. All ages! Food at extra cost. It’s inexpensive & delicious. Donations support relief efforts via the Prosthetics Outreach Foundation (www.pofsea.org) and rehab for the 14,000 people who lost limbs due to the earthquake. Come have a ball!

Address

The Potters House, 1658 Columbia Road, NW

Overtures Summer Concert Series at Evermay Estate

July 20th, 2012 at 06:30 PM | $50 | Event Website

Relax and enjoy summer evenings listening to world-class performing artists at the gorgeous Evermay Estate. Overtures is a unique concert series that presents award-winning, world-class performing artists who are emerging in their musical career. Socihi Muraji on classic guitar will be performing. Tickets are $50 each and includes complimentary on-site valet parking.

Address

Evermay Estate 1623 28th Street, NW

Blues Alley: Shanice

July 20th, 2012 at 08:00 PM | $35 | Tel: 202-337-4141 | Event Website

On Friday, July 20 and Saturday, July 21, soul, pop and R&B singer Shanice Lorraine Wilson is performing live at Blues Alley. Remembered for the popular hit single I Love Your Smile, from her 1991 album Inner Child, Shanice’s career has spanned from a Soul Train Award nomination for Best New Artist in 1987 to a signed record deal with Motown Records in 1991. Her rare coloratura soprano talent remains a favorite in R&B. 202.337.4141

Address

Blues Alley 1073 Wisconsin Avenue, NW

Belgiam National Day : Stella Artois “Taste of Belgium” Celebration

July 21st, 2012 at 12:00 PM | Free | Lauren.zaner@mosaic.com | Tel: 312.526.3126 ext 3205 | Event Website

In celebration of Belgian National Day, Stella Artois is bringing classic Belgian culture to the people of Washington DC.

As a outdoor festival it will have the chance to enrich themselves in Belgian culture.

There will be Belgian food (mussels, fries and more) and Belgian beer for purchase, Boule (Belgium’s version of baseball), and Belgian music. There will also be Local restaurants and chefs that will compete in Stella Artois’ annual “Mussel’s Throwdown”.

Address

The Yards Park : at the East Lawn

10 Water Street SE

(Intersection of 3rd St SE and Water St SE; Three blocks from the Navy Yard Metro: New Jersey Ave Exit)

Gallery Showing: Kimberly Iles Multiverse

July 23rd, 2012 at 11:00 AM | Tel: 202-234-8344 | Event Website

Abstract/contemporary works. Mixed media used to prodice a range of effects on canvas and panel. This exhibition is availabe for viewing Monday through Saturday from 11am-7pm and Sundays from 12-5pm

Address

Vastu, 1829 14th Street, NW

TTR Sotheby’s International Realty Artist Showcase: Brian Petro

July 24th, 2012 at 06:00 PM | Free | media@artseedc.com | Tel: 703-216-7298 | Event Website

TTR Sotheby’s International Realty of Chevy Chase will open its doors on July 24th at 6pm to feature local DC artist, Brian Petro. The work that will be on display comes from two of his latest collections, Supermarket Series and Roman Series. Petro’s mixed media paintings and photographic thermal transfer monoprints will create a diverse and interesting show in the office space. We hope to see you all there! Light hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served.

Address

5454 Wisconson Ave NW, Chevy Chase, MD 20815

Outdoor Film Festival at Dumbarton House sponsored by Georgetown Long & Foster

July 25th, 2012 at 07:00 PM | FREE | Info@­Dumba­rtonHouse.­org | Tel: 202-337-2288 | Event Website

Movie for July, 25: “Pride & Prejudice”

Long & Foster’s Georgetown office, an Exclusive Affiliate of Christie’s International is proud to host Sandy Lerner at Dumbarton House as part of a Jane Austen Film Series.

Address

Dumbarton House, 2715 Q St NW, Washington, DC

Lawn and site space is limited by occupancy restrictions, which is why reservations are encouraged (reservations will receive priority entry until 7:30pm, at which time any available space will be released to at-the-door guests.

The film will start at sunset, approximately 8:30pm.
Lawn/blanket seating only, please (if you need to utilize a chair, please set it up at the back of the audience).

Weekend Roundup July 12, 2012

July 17, 2012

Independence Day has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t tons of things to do in D.C. this weekend.

No one can resist a thriller. Marvel at the dancing machines of Circue du Soleil as they perform its adaptation of Michael Jackson’s greatest songs at “The Immortal World Tour.” For $53 a ticket, grab your fedora, loafers and glittery glove to dance the night away this Friday or Saturday, June 13-14, 8 p.m., at the Verizon Center. On Sunday, June 15, the show starts at 4 p.m. For more information, visit verizoncenter.com.

This Friday and Saturday, June 14 and 15, are the last days to view the Sculpture Now 2012, a juried exhibition that is hosted annually by the Washington Sculptors Group. Here, you can view the different forms and transformations featured in this gallery, including shapes, textures, materials, and contrasts. This exhibition is located on 702 8th St., NW, at Edison Place Gallery. For more details, call 202-872-3396.

Interested in a free mash-up dedicated to the art of hip-hop? Join the Hip-Hop Theatre Festival in its celebration of hip-hop with its premiere of “Fat Boy,” a D-Project’s breaking/dubstep dance theater mash-up, July 13 and 14 at 8 p.m., at Dance Place, 3225 8th St., NE. Written and directed by Teo Castellanos, this mash-up portrays the variety of rice rituals in contrast with a variety of art performances to portray conflicts such as scarcity within the world. This event is free to the public and is on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more information, visit www.hhtf.org.

If philanthropy is more your style, then you’ll love the “DC Cruise For A Cause.” Sip on delicious wine and snack on delectable hors d’oeuvres as you voyage along the Potomac. At just $65 a ticket, all proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life. With live entertainment and a silent auction, you’re in for a night of elegance, while giving to a great cause. Find out more at dccruiseforacause.webconnex.com

Looking for a laugh? Check out The Capital City Showcase this Saturday at The D.C. Arts Center in Adams-Morgan at 10 p.m. Featuring comedian Adam Dodd (of MTV and VH1 fame) and D.C. comedy venue veterans Jeff Hysen, KD the Comic and Tom Myers, you are in for a gaggle of giggles. D.C. native René Moffatt will also provide a musical interlude amidst the hilarity. Tickets are $15 at the door and $10 online. More details about the show are available at capitalcityshowcase.com.

This Saturday, July 14, the United States Marine Chamber Orchestra will be hosting a summer concert series at 7:30 p.m. This concert, great for music lovers around the area, will be conducted by Capt. Michelle A. Rakers and take place at the Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall at Northern Virginia Community College — 3001 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, Va. 22311. Admission is free; no tickets required. For more information, visit www.marineband.usmc.mil.

Here are some other events to check out this weekend:

Nritya: Rhythms of India

July 14th, 2012 at 09:30 AM | Free | information@nationaltheatre.org | Tel: (202) 783-3372 | Event Website

The legends and folktales of India are exposed through classical dance featuring rich imagery and stunning costumes. Intricate choreography, facial expressions and movement tell fascinating stories that bring to life the dynamic culture of this magical land.

Address

The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Corcoran Presents Anima: Charlotte Dumas

July 14th, 2012 at 10:00 AM | rcothran@corcoran.org | Tel: 202- 639- 1833 | Event Website

For the first one-person museum exhibition in the US by Dutch artist, Charlotte Dumas, she displays portraits centered on the majestic burial horses of Arlington National Cemetery. These Army horses, which belong to the Old Guard, carry soldiers to their final resting place in traditional military funerals.

Dumas recently received widespread acclaim for her photographs of the surviving search and recovery dogs of 9/11.

Address

Corcoran Gallery of Art, 500 17th St NW

WHUR 96.3-FM’s All-White Dinner Dance Party Cruise

July 15th, 2012 at 06:00 PM | $96.30 | Tel: 866-302-2469 | Event Website

Join WHUR and Spirit Cruises on the Spirit of Washington for a special All-White Dinner Dance Party cruise. In partnership with the National Hand Dance Association and the Metropolitan Steppers Association, Spirit Cruises is hosting a dinner cruise featuring great music, delicious food and, of course, lots of dancing. DJs Lady JC and Dr. Nick will be spinning all the best tunes for Hand Dancing and Stepping, and guests can learn the hottest new Step and Hand Dancing moves on all decks.

Address

Spirit of Washington, 600 Water Street SW

Weekend Roundup July 05, 2012

July 9, 2012

Volta Park MPD Meet & Greet

July 7th, 2012 at 09:00- 10:00 AM | Free | Tel: (202) 282-0380 | Event Website

Come by this Saturday and meet Meet Officer Atkins and strengthen ties with the community & our local MPD representatives! Join us to share strategies to improve neighborhood safety! Sponsored by : CAG’s Public Safety Program. Meet at picnic tables on the lawn and in Case of Rain, meet at the Safeway Cafe.

Address

Volta Park Recreation Center and Pool

1555 34th St NW,

Quest: Road Signs

July 7th, 2012 at 09:30 AM | Free | information@nationaltheatre.org | Tel: (202) 783-3372 | Event Website

A talented cast of deaf, hard of hearing and hearing performers celebrates deaf culture in an entertaining performance featuring a mixture of story theatre, mime, A-B-C stories, poetry and songs- all performed in American Sign Language.

Address

The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Castleton Festival at the Hylton: Grand Opera in Concert: Puccini’s “La Bohème.”

July 7th, 2012 at 08:00 PM | $30, $45, $60 | hylton@gmu.edu | Tel: 888-945-2468 | Event Website

Unencumbered by sets and elaborate costuming, this spectacular concert version of Puccini’s “La Bohème” conducted by Maestro Lorin Maazel allows the audience to be mesmerized by the Castleton Festival Orchestra and singers performing the beloved music of this heartrending opera.
Address

Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA 20110

CAPCS Online Summer Concert Series

July 11th, 2012 at 12:00 PM | free | Tel: (866) 339-9912 | Event Website

Online students don’t just hang out with their computers – they enjoy summer fun with their classmates, too. Students, families and staff from Community Academy Public Charter School Online (CAPCS Online) will be grooving to everything from funk rock to New Orleans jazz this summer during a series concerts throughout the summer. Interested families are also invited to see how the CAPCS Online community likes to have a good time and to get their questions answered by knowledgeable staff members.

Address

Woodrow Wilson Plaza
Washington, DC

NSLM Art Exhibit Chukkers: The Sport of Polo in Art

July 12th, 2012 at 10:00 AM | free | hreuter@nsl.org | Tel: 540-687-6542 | Event Website

Chukkers: The Sport of Polo in Art

July 12 – September 30, 2012

Museum Hours: Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.

Chukkers: the Sport of Polo in Art, curated by the NSLM and researched by H.A. Laffaye with loans from the Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame, explores the game and its history with over fifty paintings and watercolors, twenty sculptures and medals, and a selection of antique trophies.

Address

National Sporting Library and Museum

102 The Plains Road

Middleburg, Virginia 20117

Weekend Roundup June 28, 2012

July 2, 2012

Castleton Festival at the Hylton: Gershwin and Company: An All-American Evening

June 28th, 2012 at 08:00 PM | $30, $45, $60 | hylton@gmu.edu | Tel: 888-945-2468 | Event Website

The young artists of the Castleton Festival perform “Gershwin and Company: An All-American Evening,” a musical celebration of the American spirit, under the baton of world-renowned Maestro Lorin Maazel. Pianist Kevin Cole joins the orchestra for a riveting performance of George Gershwin’s most popular work, “Rhapsody in Blue.”

Address

Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA 20110

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

June 28th, 2012 at 11:00 AM | Free | Tel: 202-633-1000 | Event Website

Wednesdays-Sundays, June 27-July 8

The Festival is held outdoors on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., between the Smithsonian museums. Admission is free.

This year’s theme includes:

Citified: “Arts and Creativity East of the Anacostia River,” “Campus and Community” and “Creativity and Crisis.”

Address

The National Mall (Between the U.S. Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial) Washington, DC

Community Class at Down Dog Yoga

June 29th, 2012 at 04:00 PM | 6-10$ | Event Website

Every Friday, Down Dog Yoga offers a community class at a discounted rate to encourage new yogis to sweat it out. The reduced drop in rate is $10 per class or $6 for students. Register online beforehand to secure a spot!

Address

Down Dog Yoga, 1046 Potomac St NW

Georgetown Group Runs

June 30th, 2012 at 09:00 AM

Join Georgetown Running Company with a few friends a weekly weekend run. Every week, the community is welcome to join a group that leaves from the store.

Address

Georgetown Running Co., 3401 M St NW, Washington, DC

Penguin Bob Reading and Drawing

June 30th, 2012 at 09:30 AM | Free | information@nationaltheatre.org | Tel: (202) 783-3372 | Event Website

Artist, author and illustrator Joe Jamaldinian enthralls the kids with an exciting adventure featuring his children’s book character, Penguin Bob. With some help from the audience, Joe sketches a colorful story in which Bob follows his quest to teach children to pursue their dreams in a multi-cultural world of fascinating people.

Address

The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Great American Festival

June 30th, 2012 at 03:00 PM | $39.00-69.00 | Tel: 877-628-5427

Ozomatli and Eve 6 are among the dozen bands and DJs taking over National Harbor’s piers, pavilion and beach area for a day-long pre-July 4 blowout. Local acts the Dance Party, See-I and Hot 99.5 DJ Chris Styles are also featured. Expect the usual mix of food vendors, beer tents and games, capped with fireworks over the Potomac River. Special VIP tickets include unlimited beer and access to a private area with acoustic sets by Ozomatli, the Dance Party and See-I.

Address

National Harbor, 150 National Plaza, Fort Washington, MD

GUATEfest

July 1st, 2012 at 08:00 AM | $10 pre event, $15 at the door, Kids under 12 are free | guatefest2012@gmail.com | Tel: 703-587-2720 | Event Website

GUATEfest is a Guatemalan Festival featuring cultural activities, music, food, crafts for kids and much more. Featuring bands- Radio Viejo, Giovanny Pinzon, Osman Broody, Sonora Concepcion, Invasores Musical, Banda FM zacapa, Tormenta Musical, Raibales and more. Come and join us to support the Latin Community on July 1st 2012. 8am-8pm. Please purchase tickets from Megamart, RIA/Bancomerico, Ticketlatino.com

Address

Gunston Middle School, 2700 South Lang Street, Arlington, VA 22206

Independence Day Ice Cream Social

July 3rd, 2012 at 01:00 PM | $5-10, Military Free | mkatz@tudorplace.org | Tel: (202) 965-0400 | Event Website

George Washington loved ice cream, and the founders of Tudor Place loved and revered their forebear George Washington. We’ll start with a special, family-friendly mansion tour focusing on its many George and Martha Washington connections. Then, make your own ice cream sundaes in the garden, and enjoy children’s games and crafts. All participants will receive a special copy of a rare, personal letter from Washington belonging to the Tudor Place archives.

Address

Tudor Place Historic House and Garden, 1644 31 Street NW

Our Once and Future Oyster Capital

June 29, 2012

Eating an oyster is like putting the history of mankind on your tongue. Within its fluted shell, a single bivalve holds chronicles of gastronomy, culture, mythology, religion, evolution, royalty, geography and love. That and a bit of seawater.

“The Delmarva region is the keeper of much of North America’s oyster history,” says chef and restaurateur Ris Lacoste, whose restaurant in Foggy Bottom now offers fresh local oysters on the half shell throughout the weekend. A century ago, she reminds us, there were more than 150 oyster bars in the District, and the Chesapeake Bay was the largest oyster-producing area in North America. Washington was an oyster mecca.

However, because of massive overfishing, over-industrialization and disease, the Chesapeake oyster population had dwindled to about 1 percent of its population from the late 19th century, and Washington area oyster culture was nearly lost. Thankfully, due to population restoration efforts, the bay is once again home to around 180 million native oysters, and populations are on the upswing. With the help of devoted and knowledgeable oyster farmers, the history, abundance and flavor of Chesapeake oysters are once again filtering back into our culinary consciousness. The oysters that are now being farmed here are milder in complexity than their more northern cousins but wonderfully plump and meaty – perfect as they are, as well as in recipes that call for cooked oysters.

“The trick with an oyster’s flavor profile is where it lives in the water,” says Jed Foxx, sous chef and resident oyster authority at RIS. “If it lives in the ocean, it’s going to be salty. If it lives in a nutrient-rich environment, it’s going to grow fat quicker. If it’s surrounded by seaweed, it will pick up those flavors. There are almost infinite factors.”

Chesapeake Bay oysters typically come from fresher water, so they tend to have less salinity than those from other regions. “That’s an issue some people often have with them: less flavor,” says Jed. “But there’s more to look for in the flavor than how briny it is. Bay oysters can be delicious on the half-shell, but their milder, delicate flavors — sometimes woody, with hints of cucumber and sweetness — are great for cooking. You wouldn’t want to dump a cup of ocean water in your seafood stew. You just want that sweet oyster flavor.”

The other great pleasure with oysters, as we all know, is pairing them with choice libation. “Ideally, you are looking for something light, crisp and cleansing, with good minerality — qualities that compliment the flavor of oysters,” says Leah Cheston, wine director at RIS. “Rich and oversaturated drinks tend to muddle them.”

For wines, Leah recommends a good Chablis, Muscadet or Champagne. But the Chablis, which comes from the very north of Burgundy, is her favorite pairing. “The wines from that area have the natural richness of a good Chardonnay with crisp acidity and a flinty quality from the soil.” The Simonnet-Febvre is her personal pick, which is available by the glass at the restaurant.

For a beer selection, you may also be looking for lightness and crisp texture. A German Kolsch, for instance, fits this profile, with a clean yeastiness like fresh baked white bread that compliments the cool freshness of an oyster. Schlaffy’s Reissdorf, a German brew, does this expertly.

Then there’s the dry Irish stout. “Something magical happens when you mix an Irish stout with an oyster,” Leah says. “You’ve heard of an ‘oyster stout’ — that’s not an accident. It’s because they go so well together.” A stout is the fresh cracked pepper to the salt of the oyster, she explains. The contrast is remarkable. Bell’s, Murphy’s, Beamish and, of course, Guinness, all make fine stouts that pair well with oysters.

Buying Local

While there are some phenomenal oyster bars in the city — Pearl Dive, Kinkead’s, Hank’s Oyster Bar and the historic Old Ebbitt Grill are favorites of Ris and Jed — there are also great places to pick up oysters to shuck in the comfort of your home kitchen. (For a how-to shucking tutorial and a flat-out great guide to oysters of the world, pick up a copy of “Consider the Oyster,” by world champion oyster shucker Patrick McMurray. “The Big Oyster” by Mark Kurlansky, and “A Geography of Oysters” by Rowan Jacobson are also good bets.)

Wagshal’s, on Massachusetts Ave., NW, has oysters in stock every day and can special order oysters from around the region. River Falls Seafood in Potomac, Md., and Cannons Fish Market in Georgetown are also good bets. At BlackSalt Fish Market & Restaurant in Georgetown, you can take oysters home or eat them at the bar.

”To cook with oysters, you need to be respectful of their natural flavors and be sure not to overcook them,” Ris says. “If you’re using them in seafood stew, don’t add them until the last couple of minutes. Let them retain their texture and flavors.”

Jed’s fried oysters are just the ticket. The corn-based masa flour is lighter and has brighter flavors than bread flours, matching texturally and palatably with something as delicate as an oyster. Use them to make a New Orleans-style po’ boy sandwich, oyster salad, or just stick ‘em with toothpicks and dip them in homemade tartar sauce. You can’t go wrong.??So go out there and enjoy some local oysters. And as you do, please thank all those involved in the restoration of the Chesapeake for their huge effort and dedication in bringing back this gift to us and to our waters.

Jed’s Masa-Fried Oysters with Homemade Tartar Sauce
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For the oysters

Fresh oysters, shucked, removed from shells, left in their liquid
Masa flour
Semolina flour, or cornmeal
Cayenne pepper (optional)
White pepper (optional)
Salt (see below)
Oil (canola, vegetable or peanut)
Lemon, cut into wedges

For the tartar sauce

Mayonnaise
Dill pickles or butter pickles, finely diced
Capers, chopped
White onion, finely diced
?A few drops of Tabasco sauce
?Squeeze of lemon
?Pinch of sugar
?Salt and pepper

Mix the mayonnaise with a balance of the ingredients to suit your palate, and salt and pepper to taste. Cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Season the masa flour with cayenne, white pepper, salt and other spices to taste. Arrange two platters, filling one with the seasoned masa and the other with the semolina. Remove oysters from liquid, lightly toss in the masa and then the semolina. If the oyster is smaller and less plump, delicately clump it into a loose ball with your hand to give it extra bulk so as not to overcook.

In a skillet or frying pan, heat a quarter inch of oil on medium high. When the oil is very hot, fry the oysters for about ten seconds or less on each side, depending on the size, using tongs to flip. Don’t put more oysters in the pan than you can reasonably deal with at one time. The process is fast and you need to stay in control to prevent overcooking.

When cooked, transfer to a paper towel on a plate and let rest for a minute. The insides of the oysters should still be raw and gooey, not cooked all the way through. Serve immediately with the tartar sauce.

Salt — Before adding salt to your seasoned masa flour, eat an oyster raw and consider its natural salinity. If the oyster is naturally salty enough, you don’t need to add more.

Rose Park Tennis


One quick glance as you walk by and you can see it. They are good. They are really, really good.
The regulars at the Rose Park tennis courts include lawyers, former members of Congress, diplomats, doctors, liberals and conservatives. They are young, or a little creaky, from all parts of Washington—and from all over the world. But they all bow to the altar of tennis. And many of them have been playing pick-up tennis together for decades.

“I’ve only been here three years, they barely talk to me!” says Drew Hodge, a banker and tennis player.

Hodge is sitting in the shade, on a plastic chair bought by the tennis players, watching a heated doubles match. Next to him sits Clarence Lyons, a 30-year regular here and the unofficial boss of Rose’s three courts. He tamps down disputes when they arise and helps organize volunteer maintenance squads to trim back bushes and keep the courts neat. Clarence is locally famous, greeting the mothers and their kids by name— even if they never step foot on the courts.
But it’s the tennis players, racket in hand, who ask for him all the time. “Who’s Clarence?” and “Someone told me to ask for Clarence?” are constant refrains.

After all, he’s their connection to a good game.

“People—its DC, after all—leave to go to other countries. When they come back, they come back here,” Lyons says. He says the concierges at nearby hotels often send players up to Rose. One of them told the regulars that there are only three public courts in the U.S. with a level of play this high—one in Chicago, one in San Diego and Rose Park.

David Dunning lives a block from Rose and spends most of his time there, organizing events, cleaning up, playing tennis, chatting with neighbors or just hanging out. “It’s the best pick-up court for tennis in DC, there are a lot of good players here who come from all over the city,” he says.

During prime time, weekends and week nights, the Rose Park players are clearly a literally slice above the average. People show up and get folded into games, or they sign up and a game comes to them. Usually, a wanna-be comes and hits on the backboard next to the courts for a while. That’s sort of a tryout—if you look good on the backboard, you get to move up to the regulars. Of course, anyone can bring their own game and sign up for a court; this process is only for the hard-core players.
On a beautiful Sunday afternoon, the action is intense. Two ferocious pick-up doubles games flank a gentle grudge match between neighbors. Many of the people on the court played in college, and some are tennis coaches. Only a few, though, are women. The vast majority of the regulars are men, though the few women who do play are impressive.

One of the spectators muses that the good players come to Rose because the courts are build in a slight “V” shape, so the big hitters can slam the ball and it (mostly) stays in. “Everyone looks like a super star,” suggests Hodge.

Another says that good players attract good players. Ville Waites has been a regular for some fifteen years. He identifies himself as “the king of everything around here,” and says players have got to be able to handle the pressure of constant ribbing and a little supportive trash talk.

“They come for camaraderie and they come to hang out, to shoot the breeze,” Waites says, “that’s half of what people come here for.”

Every September, the park hosts a doubles tournament, complete with a cookout and trophies.
The Rose Park courts are such a draw that the occasional celebrity sometimes stumbles upon them. Last year, the actor Owen Wilson came by a couple of days in a row. Carlos Santana, of the eponymous band hit balls there once (which is truly hard to imagine, if you remember the ‘70s). A few years ago, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf warmed up at Rose before a Legg Mason tournament. Of course, they only raised the level of play at the courts a little bit.
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2 Restaurant Robberies on Wisconsin Avenue; Landmark Healy Tower Clock Hands Stolen


There are two kinds of robberies: the ones that are serious and the ones that are not. medium complexions and thin builds.

When a handgun is involved, it’s always serious. When the hands of a clock are stolen, chances are it’s not serious–it’s tradition. (All right, one might fall from the clock tower.)

Handguns were involved in two robberies at or near restaurants Sunday, April 29. An armed suspect, dressed in black, described as light complexioned, robbed the popular Five Guys restaurant on Wisconsin Avenue of an undetermined amount of cash just before midnight.

Earlier that day around 1 p.m., two employees of Serendipity 3 Restaurant on M Street, taking a cigarette break outside the restaurant were robbed by two men who approached them asking for a cigarette. One of the men pulled a gun and demanded the victims’ wallets and phones. According to the Metropolitan Police Department, the two men were described as black males between 25 and 35 years old with medium complexions and thin builds. One man was described as wearing blue pants and a yellow shirt. The second man was described as having brown eyes and brown hair and wearing a black hat.

Elsewhere, a timely crime was visible to everyone, it being an iconic symbol for all of Georgetown. Over the weekend, it was discovered that the Healy Tower’s clock hands were missing, front and back, and not for the first time, either. As these are the end days of Georgetown University seniors, it was suspected that some upperclassmen may have absconded with the hands in a towering act of not quite derring-do. There is a tradition for this kind of dark-of-night theft in which the hands are then mailed to the Vatican stamped “Returned to Sender” — at least, according to Wikipedia– perhaps with a Latinate postmark. The last time the clock hands were stolen was in 2005. (Investigations are ongoing, and offenders can get suspended from school or worse.) Will they ever return? Their fate is still unknown, poor old clock hands.