Arts
Weekend Roundup: Holiday Magic Incoming
Farm Dogs
• November 3, 2011
In the morning he would explode from the stable doors, a chaff-colored blur of lolling tongue and drumming footpads and ears all aflutter. As he ran he flung little clods of grass in every direction, meandering through the field as if it were an airy forest of his own design. Behind, the wood barn, light brown, stained with rain and standing in the shadow of quiet limestone mountains. Below them, the coal shelves and the strange subterranean reaches of mystic Appalachia.
But none of that was on Peanut’s mind. The sun was out, he was free, and if you thought it impossible for a Labrador to smile, you’d have been mistaken. Five years later, the Georgetown pooch has since graduated to more celestial pastures, but the Shenandoah Valley barn remains with a standard roster of around 25 canine guests. The boarding facility is the property of Country Dogs, started by Mark and Victoria Cave, who found their first customer in Peanut. The lab now graces the front page of the company’s website. “I spoke with [Peanut’s owner, a Georgetown resident] a year ago or so and said, ‘You know, we’ve never taken down that picture of Peanut. He was our first boarder.’ She was tearing up … We still have those real solid relationships with our old customers,” Mark Cave says.
It isn’t surprising. After all, it’s not always easy for vacationing dog owners to find a place to stay for their best friend, let alone a door-to-door service that carts dogs between the Washington
metro area and the 17-acre farm just south of Front Royal, converted in July 2004 to accommodate dogs. Cave and his wife — both former teachers at the Maret School in Woodley Park — got the idea from Josh Tuerk of Puppy Love Petsitters, who mentioned the high demand among dog lovers for boarding that wasn’t, well, dungeonlike.
That’s the draw of Country Dogs. After the shuttle ride from the city, boarders are led to spacious,
oversized stalls in what was once a barn for horses. Each dog is let out, off leash, into a giant fenced run for four to six hours a day and is free to explore the pond and fields with other furry guests.
Sounds like summer camp, only without the cafeteria food.
For the Caves, that’s exactly what makes their business unique. They eschew the concrete
paddocks and noisy corridors of traditional kennels in favor of a healthier, more peaceful setting, one that affords their boarders some freedom — and a chance to shake off the stress of being away from home.
“I don’t try to cut people down who are in the industry who are doing it other ways,” Cave says. “But we do believe strongly in the idea of fresh air and exercise.”
It’s catching on. Although the Caves count Washington as their original target market, they have since expanded to serve New York and Philadelphia with a 69-acre farm in Bethel, PA. Another facility serving Boston is in the works.
Both farms are designed for long-term boarding, with an average stay of 13 days. Some canine companions drop in for only a weekend, but Cave says the farms have hosted canine companions for six months or more.
He warns that customers can expect limited availability during the holidays— the D.C./Northern Virginia farm is booked for Thanksgiving and Christmas — but says last-minute spots do open up occasionally. Naturally, reservations are more easily obtained during the post-holiday lull.
Which, as any smart traveler knows, is the best time to leave town anyway. But don’t forget
your dog just might be having more fun.
Country Dogs charges a boarding rate of $35 per night, with a $22.50 transportation fee each way. Find out more at [www.country-dogs.net](www.country-dogs.net).
2010 Summer Camp Guide
•
-Ah, summertime — the apogee of every kid’s year. The quarter-long punctuation of an existence measured in semesters and three-day weekends. The annual big kahuna of all vacations.
Adults living in Washington think of it as something of a dreadful time. You still go to work, you pay bills, you race around — just the same as any other season, only sweatier, and perhaps with a twinge of bitter animus that you, too, could once clear your schedule from Memorial to Labor Day, and you thought it endless.
But that is the great allure of summer: that children, who in many ways are always wise beyond their years, somehow convince themselves with astonishing zeal that it will never end, which is maybe what makes the experience so formative and special.
With the innocence of youth in mind, we’ve selected some of our favorite summer camps around the city and region. They have a funny way of making these hot three months fly by, but you can be sure the memories will endure.
Audubon Naturalist Society
www.audubonnaturalist.org, 301-652-9188
Where: Headquartered in Chevy Chase, MD; the Society operates two other camps in Leesburg and Clifton, VA.
When: The first programs begin June 21 and extend through mid-August. Full-day (9-4) or half day programs are available, depending on the child’s age and schedule. Overnight trips are available for older students.
How much: Classes start at $165.
Offering unique programs for children aged 4 to 15, Audubon’s camps are designed to foster environmental awareness among the nation’s youth. They feature direct experiences with our natural world through hands-on activities, games, crafts, experiments, and explorations. Campers can expect to spend most of their time outdoors, but every camp has an indoor classroom to use as a home base.
Levine School Music and Arts Day Camp
www.levineschool.org, 202-686-8000
Where: Campuses in D.C. (2801 Upton St., Van Ness), Bethesda’s Strathmore Center and Arlington (Ballston).
When: Full-day (9:30-3:30) and half-day (9:30-1:30) programs available from June 28-July 16 and July 19-August 6.
How much: $1044 for full-day students, $720 half-day.
Levine’s summer camp has a loyal following, with many campers returning each year. Levine nurtures the total musical child in a supportive and stimulating environment. Through singing, dancing, playing instruments and sharing artistic experiences, children develop skills for creative expression and aesthetic awareness that will last their entire lives.
TIC Summer Camp
www.ticcamp.com, 703-241-5542
Where: GWU’s satellite campus at 2100 Foxhall Road. Classes also available in Bethesda and McLean.
When: 8:30 to 3, five days per week. Four sessions are operated throughout the summer, the first beginning June 21. Each lasts about a week and a half.
How much: $800 per session.
Total nerd camp this isn’t: from the beginning, campers are divided into two age groups, juniors (6th grade and younger) and seniors (7th grade and older). Each day, one group takes technology courses geared for kids, while the other is immersed in an athletic program; after lunch the groups switch places, so that each camper gets three hours of technology instruction and three hours of sports each day.
Camp Arena Stage
www.arenastage.org/camp, 202-554-9066
Where: Georgetown Visitation School, 1524 35th St.
When: 9-4, five days a week. The camp offers a four-week intensive session beginning June 28 and a two-week half session beginning July 26.
How much: $1600 for full session, $900 half
Camp Arena Stage empowers young people to express themselves more fully through art by encouraging them to make art that speaks with their own voices. Campers create their own schedules, choosing from a host of classes in theater, music, dance, media and visual art. They can try unfamiliar art forms and/or pursue current artistic interests: it’s up to them.
Camp Shakespeare
www.shakespearetheatre.org, 202-547-5688
Where: STC’s rehearsal studios, 516 Eighth St. S.E.
When: 10-5 daily, sessions begin June 21.
How much: $695. And yes, the T-shirt’s included.
This two-week day camp aims to enhance the understanding of Shakespeare’s language through the exploration of movement, text, improvisation and performance. Young people ages 9-18 will analyze and interpret Shakespeare’s text, create dynamic characters with their bodies, voices, and imaginations and explore the art of stage combat. Camp will culminate with a performance for friends and family onstage at the Lansburgh Theatre.
Georgetown Day School’s Hopper Day Camp
www.gds.org, 202-274-1683
Where: GDS’ lower school, 4530 MacArthur Blvd.
When: Week-long sessions from 8:30 to 3, beginning June 21. Half-day options available.
How much: $395 per week, ages pre-K to 11.
For the youngsters. Start the day with 4 classes (arts, sports, drama, science, cooking & more) & spend the afternoons on water play, talent shows, field trips, Olympics and more. Each group of 5-10 campers will travel with a junior counselor; experienced teachers will lead each class.
Sheridan School’s Shenandoah Summer Camp
www.mountaincampus.org, 540-743-6603
Where: Sheridan Mountain Campus, Luray, VA.
When: All-day sessions beginning early July. Most last five days, but older students may opt for two-week programs.
How much: Sessions start at $565. High school-level “Ironman” programs run around $1300.
For the adventurer in every family, Sheridan’s classic outdoor camp centers on community building, mastering outdoor skills and back-to-nature basics. You also can’t get a more idyllic setting: the 130-acre campus borders the Shenandoah River and Shenandoah National Park near Luray (not to mention its famous caverns). Campers will have their pick of opportunities to view wildlife and woods, and certainly make a few friendships along the way.
Georgetown University Summer Day Camp at Yates Field House
yates.georgetown.edu
Where: Located right on Georgetown University at Yates Field House and Kehoe Field
When: Six weeks offered with the first program beginning June 21 and the last program beginning July 26. Camp hours are from 9am to 4pm. After care is available until 4:30pm.
How Much: Weekly tuition for Yates members is $275. Non-Yates members $375. Register online.
Yates Summer Day Camp is celebrating their 30th year as a comprehensive day-long camp at Yates Field House and Kehoe Field. Campers ages 6-10 years enjoy activities such as arts and crafts, indoor and outdoor games, swimming, movies, talent shows and much more.
A Fabulous Fourth, 2010
•
Let New York City have New Years. Chicago can keep St. Patrick’s Day. No one does the Fourth of July like Washington, D.C.
There is no venue more fitting wherein to celebrate this country’s Independence Day than the nation’s capital. July 4 celebrations in Washington are among the most attended events of the year. The National Mall, swept with national monuments and the US Capitol, is a beautiful backdrop for the city’s all-day event schedule, ending, of course, with a dazzling fireworks display over the Washington Monument.
Everyone this side of the equator knows of Washington’s infamous fireworks celebration, but there is also a wealth of activities going on throughout the day. Public access to the Mall begins at 10 a.m., so get your sunscreen and get ready.
11:45 a.m. marks the start of the Independence Day Parade, featuring marching bands, military and specialty units, floats and VIPs. Running along Constitution Avenue, the parade usually draws a sizable crowd, so get there a little early to secure a good view.
The Airmen of Note will perform at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in the Kogod Courtyard from 1 to 3 p.m. The band will play Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman and other classics from the American Big Band era. The event celebrates the opening of a related exhibit, “Telling Stories: Norman Rockwell from the Collections of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg.”
Once again, the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival will be celebrating the cultures of all the lands that helped shape this country. Though the festival runs in two weekend segments, it culminates around the 4th. Music, food, crafts and performances will take place at this year’s event, focused on Asian Pacific Americans and the “Smithsonian, Inside Out.” Visitors are invited to look at how things work at the institution in four areas of concentration: “Unlocking the Mysteris of the Universe,” “Understanding and Sustaining a Biodiverse Planet,” “Valuing World Cultures,” and “Understanding the American Experience.” The festival also focuses on Mexico and will hold a special tribute to Haiti. The event begins at 11 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m.
The W Hotel presents Boom With A View at 7 p.m. Music will be provided by The Honey Brothers, D.S. Posner, DJ Sky Nellor, a premium open bar, hors d’oeuvres and a great view of the fireworks. The event will take place on the P.O.V. Roof Terrace and Lounge on top of the W.
The National Archives will host its traditional family programming, celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This year, NBC News National Correspondent Bob Dotson will be the MC. Including a dramatic reading of the Declaration by historical reenactors and free family activities and entertainment for all ages.
At the White House Visitor Center, National Park Service rangers and volunteers will give people the opportunity to sample the sights, sounds, activities and personages that helped finalize the Declaration of Independence. Then, at 6 p.m., the US Army Concert Band and the US Army Band Downrange will play on the southwest corner of the grounds of the Washington Monument.
Leading right up to the fireworks, a live concert by the National Symphony Orchestra and several pop artists, “A Capitol Fourth,” will perform patriotic music on the West Lawn of the Capitol Building. The concert is free and open to the public. No tickets necessary. The annual event will also be broadcast on PBS and National Public Radio on WAMU 88.5 FM.
And then, of course, the fireworks. Throughout the day, beginning in the early morning, families toting coolers and lawn chairs stake out prime real estate on the Mall’s lawn for the best views of the fireworks. And it is quite a sight. A smorgasbord of colors and light at the apex of dusk, the Capitol Building being the only other thing in sight, every dazzled eye gets lost in moments of transient patriotism. On top of the memorials lining the Mall and the US Capitol, there are other sites to enjoy the fireworks. East Potomac Park is a wonderfully fun semi-secret, and if you’re willing to ante up for tickets, the Southwest Waterfront 4th of July Festival, the Rooftop of the W Hotel, or a cruise along the Potomac River are all premier venues.
Weekend Roundup, Oct. 6, 2011
•
Dixie Liquor Beer Tasting
Dixie Liquor is hosting a tasting of New Belgium Beers on Friday and Saturday Oct. 7 and 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. Sample Fat Tire Amber Ale, perhaps one of the most anticipated beer arrivals in recent memory, Ranger IPA, Trippel, and Hoptober, a seaonal Octoberfest beer among others. For more information, visit www.dixieliquordc.com. Dixie Liquor is located at 3429 M Street, NW.
The Washington Harbour: Pet Adoption Event
The Georgetown office of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is partnering with Operation Paws for Homes to host Pet Adoption day at the Washington Harbour outside the Coldwell Bander office Saturday, Oct. 8 from 12 to 4 p.m. Dogs of all ages and breeds will be brought out to find new homes. To see many of the dogs that are up for adoption, visit www.ophrescue.org and go to the “Adoptable Dogs” section, then request to meet it at the event. For more information, call 202-333-6100.
Downtown NY Film Series: screening of Downtown 81
On Oct. 9 at 4 p.m., the Corcoran Gallery of Art and College of Art + Design will be presenting a screening of Downtown 81 as part of The Downtown NY Film Series curated by local DJ Adrian Loving. The event is inspired by 30 Americans, which begins on October 1 and showcases works by many of the most important African American artists of the last three decades. For more information, visit www.corcoran.org 500 Seventeenth St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20006.
Harvest Celebration Weekend at Willowcroft
As the grape harvest comes to a close, the Harvest Celebration Weekend at Willowcroft is a two-day wine and dine event not to be missed. Tour the breathtaking vineyards and feast on local fare. Willowcroft Farm Vineyards will also feature complimentary wine tastings. The festivities will run Saturday, Oct. 8, and Sunday, Oct, 9 from 12 to 5 p.m. For more details, visit www.willowcroftwine.com. 38906 Mt Gilead Rd., Leesburg, Va., 20175.
Weekend Roundup, Oct. 27
• October 31, 2011
Friday, Oct. 28
L2 Lounge in Cady’s Alley is hosting the Wizard’s in the Kitchen cookbook launch party. Learn dozens of magical recipes while getting your fortune read and enjoying specialty cocktails and “potions.” Come dressed in your best wizard inspired costume as prizes for best costumes will be awarded. Tickets are $25 in advance online or $30 at the door. Ticket includes one complimentary cookbook per guest. Call 202-965-2001 for more information.
Saturday, Oct. 29
Carve a PAUL Pumpkin
PAUL is inviting patrons to come carve a PAUL pumpkin in their soon-to-open store. But here’s the twist: they’re not carving pumpkins, they’re carving delicious bread. Cost is $15 per person plus one child. Refreshments will be served, and everyone gets to take their prized “pumpkins” home. Pumpkin carving sessions will be held Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. To reserve a spot, email paulb03@paul-usa.com.
Gustafer Yellowgold’s “Stripe Of The Sock” Fall Tour
“The show is a cross between ‘Yellow Submarine’ and Dr. Seuss.” – The New York Times
Groovy Gustafer Yellowgold is a small, yellow, cone-headed fellow, who came to Earth from the Sun and has a knack for finding himself neck-deep in absurd situations as he explores his new life in the Minnesota woods. Equal parts pop rock concert and animated storybook, Gustafer Yellowgold concerts are a truly different multimedia experience that entrances children and adults alike. Jammin’ Java?227 Maple Ave. E?Vienna, Va. 22180. Event begins at 10:30 a.m., tickets are $10.
Artomatic SurrealDC Halloween Masquerade
Artomatic’s SurrealDC Halloween Masquerade will be held at Washington Harbour in Georgetown (3050 K St NW) on Saturday, Oct.29, 2011 from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Admission to SurrealDC 2011 is $25 which includes open bar, beer and wine only, from 8:00 PM-10:00 PM and Halloween treats. The event will only accept patrons age 21 and over. Tickets can be purchased online at www.surrealdc2011.eventbrite.com and will not be sold at the door. For more info, please visit www.artomatic.org.
Sunday, Oct. 30
Choral Benediction
Choristers from Saint Luke Catholic Church, Saint Francis Episcopal Church, Reston Chorale, and the Amadeus Community Singers join together under the baton of A. Scott Wood. Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem, op. 9, a 20th-century masterpiece with Gregorian plainsong as its source. The Amadeus Orchestra also takes a solo turn in Bach’s Suite No. 3, a triumphant celebration with the exquisite “Air on the G String” at its center. 7001 Georgetown Pike McLean, Va. 22101. Event begins at 4 p.m., tickets are $25 for general admission.
Weekend Roundup October 20, 2011
• October 27, 2011
NOW at Night
October 21st, 2011 at 08:00 PM
Pre-sale: $100, after September 19: $150
Tel: 202-639-1873
Join fellow art lovers and philanthropists at the second annual fundraiser for NOW at the Corcoran—an exciting program of exhibitions presenting new and site-specific work by emerging and mid-career artists. All proceeds support upcoming NOW at the Corcoran programming.
Address
500 Seventeenth St. NW
Washington DC 20006
Palestine Film
October 22nd, 2011 at 06:00 AM
Tel: 202-333-7212
Showing of the award-winning film Budrus will be followed by a reception and a conversation about what United Methodists are doing in pursuit of peace with justice for all the people of the Holy Land.
The film is the compelling story of a Palestinian leader, his courageous 15-year-old daughter and the movement that saved a village from destruction.
Address
Dumbarton United Methodist Church
3133 Dumbarton Ave. NW
Walk Now for Autism Speaks
October 22nd, 2011 at 08:30 AM
$20 registration donation | DCWalk@AutismSpeaks.org | Tel: 202-955-3111 | Event Website
Autism now affects 1 in 110 children and 1 in 70 boys. Please join National Walk Now for Autism Speaks and help raise money to fund research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism. This fun-filled day is our single most powerful event to raise funds for critical research and awareness. Register today and help make tomorrow a better day for all who struggle with autism.
Address
The National Mall, 9th Street NW and Madison Drive NW,
Washington, D.C. 20006
Miss Sinergy 2012
October 22nd, 2011 at 07:00 AM
Tel: 703-533-8027
Third annual Miss Sinergy competition benefiting the Libby Ross Foundation.
The Libby Ross Foundations mission is to make significant difference in the lives of women afflicted with breast cancer through unique support programs. Through these initiatives the Foundation fosters a community of fighters, survivors and supporters. More information on can be found on their website at www.libbyrossfoundation.com.
Address
La Maison Francaise
4101 Reservoir Rd NW
Washington, DC 20007
Smithsonian Craft2Wear Show
October 22nd, 2011 at 10:00 AM
$5 | austrpr@si.edu | Tel: 888-832-9554
A show and sale of wearable art clothes, jewelry and accessories. Representing the finest of American wearable-craft artists, all 40 exhibitors have been juried into previous Smithsonian Craft Shows, and 20 percent of their Craft2Wear sales will support the Smithsonian Institution. The exhibitors will offer items for men and women in all price ranges, from one-of-a-kind jewelry and shearling coats to many under-$100 items.
Address
National Building Museum
401 F Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Hyman S. & Freda Bernstein Jewish Literary Festival
October 23rd, 2011 at 12:00 PM
Tel: (202) 777-3251
The 13th annual Hyman S. & Freda Bernstein Jewish Literary Festival celebrates the year’s best in jewish writing. Opening night is Oct. 23 and the festival runs until Nov. 2.
The festival features a variety of themes and authors. The Opening Night Event; “United by Faith; Divided by War: Jews and the Civil War,” includes readings from texts telling the story of jews during the Civil War. Other highlights include authors such as Ursula Hegi and Lucette Lagnado, and a panel discussion lead by Marvin Kalb.
For the full program and ticket information, please visit www.washingtondcjcc.org/litfest.
Festival passes are $94 or $75 for Washington DCJCC members, students with IDs and seniors. Purchase of a Festival Pass will save patrons 30% on the cost of the entire Festival and guarantees admission to all events
Address
1529 16th Street NW
John Blee’s ”Orchard Suite” Opening Reception
October 26, 2011
John Blee can be considered a lyric poet. The Washington painter, whose solo exhibition will be seen at the Ralls Collection from Oct. 26 through Des. 31, produces abstracts lit with the sheen of a summer sunset. The opening Reception is from 6 to 8 PM on Oct. 26th. Please visit RallsCollection.com for more information.
Address
The Ralls Collection
1516 31st Street NW
Washington, DC 20007
Bonhams Auction Appraisal Event
October 27, 2011
Bonhams offers a full range of appraisal services designed for the Trusts & Estates community. On October 27th, Bonhams specialists will be available to offer complimentary valuations at our new Georgetown office in the office in following categories:
Paintings & Sculpture
Jewelry
Books, Maps, & Manuscripts
Furniture & Decorative Arts
Silver
By appointment only: 202 333 1696
martin.gammon@bonhams.com
Weekend Roundup, Oct. 13, 2011
• October 17, 2011
Oct. 14
Fall Tasting / Open House
J. Chocolatier will host a complimentary fall tasting at their shop on 33rd St. at 7 p.m. Taste samples of their seasonal fall truffles while drinking chocolate and freshly baked cookies. J. Chocolatier, 1039 33rd St. NW. 202-333-4111. Click Here for more info.
Oct. 15
Spooktacular Halloween Costume Tea
Traditional Halloween Treats will be served as children get to try on traditional outfits and bake their own treats this Saturday at Tudor Place, 1644 31st St. NW. The event will take place at 1 p.m.; children’s tickets are $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Tickets for accompanying adults are $10. Click Here for tickets.
FILMPROV Rewind, The 80s
Party like it’s 1985 with FILMPROV Rewind, The 80s in Alexandria, Va. This show will feature locally-produced independent short film Beta to the Max written and directed by Chris Sheridan, followed by an 80s music DJ Dance Party. The event will take place at 7 p.m. at Alley Cat Restaurant, 2 S. Whiting St., Alexandria, Va. 22304. Tickets range from $7.50 to $12.50. Click Here for tickets.
Oct.16
Acumen Solutions Race for a Cause 8k and 1-Mile Fun Run
The Acumen Solutions Race for a Cause is another example of our commitment to maximize the impact of our community initiatives. This year’s race will benefit 10 local non-profit organizations. Participants are encouraged to become more aware of each of these worthwhile organizations and their contributions to the community. Each racer gets to select the cause they wish to support. The race will begin and end on North Quincy Street, near the intersection of Wilson Boulevard in Arlington. It begins at 8 a.m. and costs $20 to $35 to participate. For more information, call 703-600-4032. For more information Click Here
Oct. 19
A Roast & Toast of Councilman Jack Evans
Roast & Toast of DC Council member Jack Evans featuring an Original Hexagon Performance
To Raise Money to Support Hexagon, A Roast & Toast of Councilman Jack Evans will be held at the Four Seasons Hotel located at 2800 Pennsylvania Avenue NW. $50 Per Person (Hexagon/GBA Members) $60 Per Person (Non-Hexagon/GBA Members). Includes Open Bar Reception & One Reserved Show Seat. For more information:Email friendsofhexagon@aol.com or call 202-333-SHOW (7469) Ext.8.
For more information, Click Here
Oct. 20
2011 KEY TO THE CURE KICK-OFF EVENT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE CHEVY CHASE
Please join us at 06:00 PM for an evening of shopping, entertainment, cuisine from local restaurants and the Key To The Treasure Raffle to kick-off a fabulous shopping weekend benefitting Women’s Cancer Programs at Suburban Hospital (a Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine). $75/ticket; sponsorship levels available. Event Website
Event Co-Chairs Maura Fitzgerald Shannon and Nina Snow
Address
Saks Fifth Avenue Chevy Chase
5555 Wisconsin Avenue
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Weekend Roundup September 29,2011
• October 4, 2011
Rebirth of the Cool
September 30th, 2011 at 06:00-9:00 PM| Event Website
Rebirth of the Cool represents a new incarnation of Kehinde Wiley’s popular annual fish fry from Art Basel Miami Beach. Both extravagant and casually hip, it offers guests the opportunity to experience the city and the artistic subculture in a way that Wiley describes as “a truer example of my lived life.” The event’s title refers to Birth of the Cool, an exhibition of works by Barkley Hendricks, an artist in 30 Americans, and is symbolic of the exciting programming coming up at the Corcoran.
If you haven’t already, buy tickets by clicking Here includes BBQ and two drinks.
The Initiative for Russian Culture-Film, Jazzmen
September 30th, 2011 at 06:00 PM | fedyashi@american.edu | Tel: (202) 885-6381 | Event Website
The founding of the Initiative for Russian Culture (IRC) invites you to come see the award winning and popular Russian film, Jazzmen (1983). The film is based on a music student, Konstantin, who gets expelled due to his love for jazz, which at the time was considered to be frowned upon in Soviet Union 1920’s. The student seeks two street musicians to form a band and together they attempt to make a mark on the Russian music scene. Director Karen Shaknazarov set this film during a time when, despite its widespread popularity, jazz was to be frowned upon as a debased form of capitalist art. The movie showcases great Russian jazz tunes as the band tries to prove that jazz music is a revolutionary and popular form of art.
To start the evening cocktails and a buffet will be served and the screening of the film will follow along with a discussion and Q and A. Afterward, Russian coffee and deserts will be served and Igor Bril will close the event with a live performance. Valet parking will be available and the attire will be business. There will be media availability starting at 5:45 PM and media credentials will be required.
Address
The Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building
10 First Street, SE Washington, DC
Art Code: Artworks by Edurne Esponda
September 30th, 2011 at 06:00 PM | gallery@callowayart.com | Tel: 202-965-4601 | Event Website
Susan Calloway Fine Arts is pleased to present ArtCode, a show by Edurne Esponda, which displays the artists’ colorful, playful, and thought provoking oeuvre. Born in Oaxaca, Mexico, Edurne Esponda has traveled the world as both an artist and fashion designer. Her latest work, ArtCode will be on view at Susan Calloway Fine Arts from September 30 through October 29, 2011. An opening reception will be held on September 30 from 6PM-8PM.
Address
Susan Calloway Fine Arts
Book Hill, Georgetown
1643 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20007
Wine in the Water Park
September 30th, 2011 at 07:00 PM | Free Admission | Event Website
Wine in the Water Park brings the mood-setting, ambient music of DJ Adrian Loving, wine and beer carefully selected by the Washington Wine Academy, and free snacks from Jaleo to the Crystal City Water Park (across from 1750 Crystal Drive). Taking place every Friday in September (September 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th) from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the event gives residents, office workers, and visitors a great place to unwind after the work week.
Address
Crystal City Water Park (across from 1750 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA)
Bowen McCauley Dance at Dance Place
October 1st, 2011 at 02:00 AM | $22 General Admission $17 Members, Seniors, Teachers and Artists
$10 College Students $8 Children (1 | ricki@bmdc.org | Tel: 703-910-5175 | Event Website
Lucy Bowen McCauley, named by Washingtonian as among those “who have helped transform Washington into one of the nation’s liveliest centers for the performing arts,” brings her eclectic musical taste, creative artistic partnerships, and her company of “rising stars” to Dance Place. Audience favorite, Lucy’s Playlist, brings ’80s pop and rock tunes to life with an amped up performance. The energy is infectious!
Address
Dance Place
3225 8th Street NE
Washington, DC 20017
DC Walk for the Animals benefiting the Washington Humane Society
October 15th, 2011 at 10:00 AM | $15-20 | events@washhumane.org | Tel: 202-683-1822 | Event Website
DC Walk for the Animals (Benefiting the Washington Humane Society)
WHEN: Saturday, October 15, 2011
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
WHERE: Marie Reed Learning Center
2200 Champlain St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
CONTACT INFO: events@washhumane.org
202-683-1822
ADMISSION: $20 for adults, $15 for children ages 3-12, Free for children under age 3
Address
2200 Champlain St. NW
Washington, DC 20009
11th Annual Norton Wine and Bluegrass Festival
October 1st, 2011 at 10:00 AM | Admission is $20 per person at the door, $15 in advance |
kkinne@chrysaliswine.com | Tel: (540) 687-8222 ext. 206 | Event Website
Home to the world’s single largest planting of Norton, the Chrysalis Vineyards is hosting the 11th Annual Norton Wine and Bluegrass Festival on Saturday, October 1 and Sunday, October 2, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Celebrate Norton, The Real American Grape!® with tastings of America’s authentic premium wine – indigenous to Virginia. Listen to live bluegrass music, hop on a hayride and shop the food and craft vendors. A variety of Norton blends will be available including Mariposa, Estate Bottled Norton, Chrysalis’ ultra premium Locksley Reserve Norton and more. For more information and details, visit www.ChrysalisWine.com.
Address
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“Oklahoma” Takes a Final Bow this Weekend
• October 3, 2011
As the final days for the production of “Oklahoma” at Arena Stage run down, people are still talking about the show, in some ways as if it were a brand new phenomenon that wound its way through town like a tornado.
The production, directed and selected by Arena Artistic Director Molly Smith, played to packed houses in the Fichandler after it opened Arena’s 2010-2011 season in its new $100 million plus Mead Center for American Theater. Some critics were skeptical of the choice which seemed a little safe, but the show was in keeping with Smith’s exploration of American theater and musicals, proving to be a monster hit with audiences and critics alike. The resurrection hauled in all sorts of honors, at one point being considered for a Broadway production.
The show was so popular that Smith and Arena decided to bring it back for an end-of-summer, start-of-fall run that ends Oct. 2, starting something of a theater recycling trend in Washington.
The other night while attending “The Habit of Art” at Studio Theater, I chatted with a couple sitting next to me, and, after talking about dogs and theater in general, the couple said they had just seen “Oklahoma” for the first time.
“We’d seen the movie,” she said. “You know, Gordon MacRae and Shirley Jones and all that stuff. But we were so surprised and it was so fresh. Having the salesman be a Middle Easterner was a surprise, it sure wasn’t Eddie Albert. And that Ado Annie, she was something. She was delightful.”
That would be June Schreiner, the 16-year-old (when the show opened) Madeira School senior who was bowled over with critical praise for her portrayal as the girl with two suitors who sings “I Can’t Say No,” an enduring highlight tune among many classics in “Oklahoma.” Not to mention she executes some nifty roping moves with Cody Williams, who plays one of her beaus, a cowpoke named Will Parker.
One of the unique things about the production was that even in the process of performance, the company seemed tightly knit, a community of sorts. I got a real sense of that several weeks ago when I sat down with Schreiner and Teresa Burrell, who had just taken over the part of Aunt Eller, the almost totemic matriarchal figure in the Oklahoma community. The part had formerly been played by F. Faye Butler, who moved on to star in Arena’s “Trouble in Mind.”
Schreiner, a thin, pretty blonde teenager, showed up pumped after taking additional roping lessons. Burrell, a veteran actress familiar with the Arena Stage scene, had just made her first appearance as Aunt Eller the previous night.
“You know, you’re replacing a key member of the company, and not just any company, but this one, which is like a family, you could tell that right away,” Burrell said. Burrell looks rangy and vivacious and hardly resembles a matriarch. She is still remembered for her dazzling starring role in Duke Ellington’s “Queenie Pie” at the Kennedy Center a number of years ago, and is also currently working on a show about Ethel Waters, the legendary African American singer and performer.
Schreiner said Burrell “fits right in.” She should. She’s something of an Arena veteran, having starred in their ground-floor musical version of “The Women of Brewster Place” among other productions, and has been seen at Signature in the iconic role of Julie in another American classic, “Showboat.”
It’s interesting to watch and listen to Schreiner and Burrell talking. One moment, Schreiner is exactly the senior in high school that she is, daughter of show biz parents, a young American girl, still excitable, the next she sounds like a theater veteran (which she is) who got a tidal wave of media attention after “Oklahoma” opened. When the talk is about the show, she and Burrell dive in, dissecting, describing, figuring things out. “It never gets old,” said Schreiber, who’s now played the part too often to count. “Every night, there’s something different. It’s like you’re in the group of people the characters, you’re part of something that’s happening to them in the country a new world.”
“I’m so happy to be in this, to take this part,” Burrell said. “It’s such a fresh production. It’s a little darker, and then again not. It’s complicated, more grown-up in a way. Aunt Eller is the rock of the community, she has to have size, but she’s also very human, warm and funny.”
Burrell, next to Schreiber, is so energized she might as well be a teenager too. They talk about Ado Annie as a character. “With Schreiner playing her, and playing her with that kind of absolutely fresh way she has, she’s something different than say an older woman who’s been around a little,” Burrell says. “It’s a little more innocent—she wants things and likes both the young men who like her, but there’s something endearing about that and she gets them going that’s for sure.”
“Ado Annie is a young person in that time, she’s like me, age wise,” Schreiber said. “That makes it a lot more fun, for one thing.”
Schreiber wasn’t nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for her role. It was a major omission to many observers, but not to her. “The whole thing was just so amazing to me, the process, the time spent in a show like this, the people, all those talented people and Molly,” she said. “That didn’t bother me. I’ve gotten so much out of this.”
Daughters of Politics: Kara Kennedy and Eleanor Mondale
• September 26, 2011
The children of American politicians — especially those politicians who loom large in the public imagination and history books — are always bathed in a kind of reflective light that lasts longer than perhaps it should and is more intense than it might be for the children of less famous parents.
When those children pass away unexpectedly and too soon, memories are recalled. When we lose two in the space of a weekend, the memories are larger and thicker. The deaths of Kara Kennedy, oldest child of Sen. Ted Kennedy, and Eleanor Mondale, daughter of former vice president and presidential aspirant Walter Mondale, both at the age of 51, come as a shock and invoke memories of their families, historical and political times, and most of all each of the women’s singular spirits.
Kara Kennedy, who had apparently beaten back the threat of lung cancer with tough, draining treatments, reportedly died after working out at a health club. Her brother, Patrick, acting as the family’s spokesman, was quoted as saying “her heart gave out.” She was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2003.
Kara Kennedy was a filmmaker, a video and television producer, a board member of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, and a director and national trustee of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation.
She is survived by her brothers Patrick and Edward Kennedy, Jr., her mother Joan Kennedy, her husband Michael Allen and two teenage children, Grace and Max, and the rest of the extended Kennedy family.
There is no escaping that part of her story — she was born in 1960 when her father was campaigning for his brother John F. Kennedy in his heated race against Richard Nixon for the U.S. Presidency, and not too long thereafter her father won a tough Senate race. She was born to a life where politics and history were only a breath away. She and her brother Edward helped run her father’s senate campaign in 1988.
Her battle with illness and her deep interest in Very Special Arts, which was founded by her aunt Jean Kennedy Smith, speak to the Kennedy name and its triumphs, tragedies and compassionate efforts.
Ted Kennedy, who had a failed presidential run but was deemed the “Lion of the Senate,” was the last of the four great brothers – Joe, John, and Robert. Joe was killed in World War II, and John and Robert were assassinated while Ted died of a brain tumor. Kara Kennedy accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her father in 2009, shortly before he passed away.
Those facts don’t begin to tell the Kennedy saga: They’re like its sharpened, jagged outline. It seems every time we lose a Kennedy, we mourn them all again and reflect on their achievements and lives as individuals and as part of the family.
Eleanor Mondale was in her twenties, vivid and as sparkling as a glass of champagne when her father, a huge political figure in Minnesota and former vice president under Jimmy Carter, decided to challenge Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1984. Mondale won the nomination and made Geraldine Ferraro his running mate, the first time a woman had been so picked. The choice was a ground breaking event, and enlivened what sometimes seemed like a doomed result, which was a crushing defeat for Mondale.
Eleanor Mondale, blonde, smart, charming and lively, gamely campaigned for her father and in the aftermath carved out her own career in the media as a radio show host and entertainment writer. She also did some acting including small parts in “Dynasty” and “Three’s Company” as well as being a constant focus for paparazzi. She was one of those people who seemed to attract the light without trying too hard — she was witty and photogenic, and more than one media type had dubbed her a “wild child.”
That may have had something to do with her personal life. She was married three times and tended to be attracted to athletes and rock stars, marrying Chicago Bears lineman Keith Van Horne, DJ Greg Thunder and Chan Poling of the rock group The Suburbs. She and Poling, whom she married in 2005, lived on a farm in Prior Lake, Minn.
Eleanor Mondale was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2005.
