Happy Funtime Friend Service

My favorite local Celtic music played by Ukranian boys - otherwise known as Scythian - are the Thursday night regulars at Fado in Chinatown.  And they draw a regular crowd each week.  But this week marks their third anniversary at Fado, so try to get out and raise a glass with them.  And if you can remember “a flea on a feather, a feather on a bird, a bird in a nest, a nest on branch, a branch on a limb, a limb on a tree, a tree in a bog, and the bog down in the valley-o, you might win a prize.

(Just a hint - they are a lot of fun if you buy them a round of shots.)

I’m just back from Iota and the Autism benefit - my esteemed co-author joined me as well and we had a nice dinner and enjoyed some live music.  One of the things I like best about going out to see the local bands I’ve come to enjoy is also seeing who else is playing that night and learning about other local artists.  After all, Honor by August playing at the State introduced me to Daniela Cotton.  And tonight, we were introduced to Eva Castillo.

I don’t know why I don’t usually listen to girls (musically) except jazz but I admire anyone who gets up on stage with just a guitar and sings words they wrote themselves.  And Eva has a good stage presence and good words - as she said 80% about boys she couldn’t have for one reason or another and 20% about world peace.  We’ve all been there.

Eva’s at Chief Ike’s on 18th Street in DC on Thursday if you’d like to catch here there later this week.

Okay, this gets complicated so you have to pay attention - there’s a lot good stuff going on this week.

Justin Trawick is at Iota tonight in Clarendon.  That’s where I’ll be.  If you can’t see him there tonight, catch him at the 930 club on Friday.  It’s a big deal for him, and if you like supporting local artists (and if you’re here I’m guessing you do), he’s definitely worth listening to.  Buy a t-shirt, it was designed by a friend.

Unfortunately, I won’t be at the 930, because I’l l be back at Iota for Honor by August (with Crash Boom Bang opening).  But if you choose to go to the 930 on Friday, I forgive you, as long as you present yourself at Iota on Saturday evening for the second night of Honor by August. 

I gotta talk to Iota about a season pass…

Sorry for the late notice but tonight (and it’s a beautiful day, and I think it will be a lovely night) is Right Round (as in you spin me right round baby, right round) at the Black Cat (14th & S, NW), hosted by our very favorite DJ - Lil’ e.  Starts around 10, gets hoppin’ around 11, stays fun til 2.  I always have a blast and the only people who don’t just don’t like fun and you don’t want to be on that list, do you?

And mark your calendar now for July 20th and a special night at the Black Cat with Lil’ e - a special dance party of her own design.

That’s One Ton Wonton and while I admit I don’t understand the name of the band, I do like the funky / jazzy / rock thing they’ve got going on.  They’ll be at Ragtime at 1345 North Courthouse in Arlington on Wednesday (June 20).  I’ll be there with some past and present coworkers and as many of the Happy Funtime Crew as I can convince to come along.

Whether you want to plan to go or stay as far away from the Mall as possible, the Folklife Festival run from 27 June through 1 July and 4 July through 8 July on the National Mall.  This year the highlighted cultures include Northern Ireland, the Mekong River, and Virginia.  There are a variety of crafts, demonstrations, concerts, exhibitions, etc. planned for the week.  Check the schedule for any events you’re particularly interested in.  Related events will be taking place at the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center (inside in the air conditioning).  Take Metro to the Folklife Festival, pack a lunch or be prepared to deal with the vendors (or try to go to the National Museum of the American Indian - that’s where the best food court is), and dress for the weather.  It always seems like the Folklife Festival is the hottest and unrelentingly sunniest time of year.

If you are so inclined, they are still looking for volunteers.  It’s a great way to get a different perspective on the event.

There’s a special screening of the first in a new documentary series - Out of the Book.  This first installment features Ian McEwan.  Tickets are available from Olsson’s Books (the event sponsors) with the purchase of McEwan’s new book, On Chesil Beach.  There will also be live music and a panel discussion with three local authors.

The event will be held at the Warehouse Theater, but you can call the Penn Quarter branch and have your book and ticket held in advance - 202-638-7610.

Another event I didn’t realize it was time for already is Silverdocs.  If you’re not familiar, it’s a film festival hosted by the American Film Insitute focusing on documentary films.

Dry material you say?  Last year I saw Air Guitar Nation about the International Air Guitar Championship that is held in Finland every year.  And the year before I saw the Aristocrats - the dirtiest and dumbest joke in the world told 150 times (it’s the singer not the song and Bob Saget is a bad, bad man).

This year’s special honoree is Jonathan Demme, so they will be featuring several of his films including Stop Making Sense - the Talking Heads concert movie that taught us all what a concert movie really could be, and the Neal Young film Heart of Gold.  He will also be debuting his new movie - New Home Movies From the Lower Ninth Ward.

I also want to see First Saturday in May about horses preparing for the Kentucky Derby, and Note by Note (The Making of Steinway L1037).  And the AFI is a beautiful theater to see a movie and you’ll be surrounded by people who love movies too.

Discounts are available on passes for ITVA-DC members as well as Women in Film & Video members (alas, not for DC Film Society), and I won’t be able to go enough to make it worth it to buy a pass (curse that day job that pays my bills), so I’ll be looking over the schedule this weekend and buying individual tickets (that don’t conflict with Romeo and Juliet at Millennium Stage of course).

I have to admire a man who saw a bunch of tiny plastic toys in vending machines and thought to himself, “I can put on a Shakespearean play with those fellows.” And Tiny Ninja Theatre was born.

I saw MacBeth a few years ago over at the Warehouse Theater and always hoped he’d be back, but alas. Then I saw the list of activities for the Shakespeare in Washington Festival and who should be coming to the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center?

On June 11 & 12, they’ll be performing MacBeth at 6 p.m. On the 13th & 14th, it will be Romeo & Juliet. Check it out - even if you think it’s not your style, Millennium Stage performances are free. Just be there a little before 6 to get a good spot. Take the free red shuttle from Foggy Bottom Metro.
And I think of it as the perfect revenge for anyone who was told “You can’t make a living playing with that.”

I can’t believe I totally missed the start of Jazz in the Garden. But after the lingering cold and lack of spring like weather (other than the raging pollen count), it just escaped me that it could be that time already. But here we are, so it’s time to skip Friday happy hour, grab a blanket, and head over to the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden to listen to some great local jazz artists. If you’re not a bring a picnic and sit on a blanket kind of person, the cafe stays open until 8:30 on jazz nights. Tonight is Frank LoCrasto Group and coming up soon is one of my favorites - Thad Wilson.