Happy Funtime Friend Service

If you’re looking for something cultural to do after work, don’t have a lot of money to spend, and are just hot, more sympathetic I could not be.  But I’m all about solutions.  The Kennedy Center’s Millenium Stage has free shows every night at 6 p.m. ranging from jazz to kabuki to participating in the Fringe Festival.  They had the Polyphonic Spree back in 2004 before anyone knew who they were, so go see who you’ll be hearing about in a few years.  And if you’re looking for something to eat or drink afterwards, check out the KC Cafe up on the Terrace level.  It’s cafeteria style with one of the best views in Washington.

If you missed Honor by August’s 2 nights at Iota in June, or it was sold out before you got there, then you have another chance when they play on Saturday, July 28.  If you want to be sure to get there in time, go to the Cafe side of Iota for dinner - the chef is great, the beer selection is solid, and they come around to make sure you get a ticket for the show.  Again, I’ll be out of town, but say hi for me.

Speaking of good local restaurants (especially my favorite - non-chain restaurants), Vermillion in Alexandria is hosting Justin Trawick on July 25th.  The food at Vermillion is just great, the staff and atmosphere are welcoming, and Justin sings a good song so get there early and enjoy.  (Unfortunately I’ll be out of town otherwise I’d be there.)

If you’re not good at making friends, trying a new restaurant together is a great way to get a conversation going. And Restaurant Week (August 6 - 12) is designed for trying new places - it’s a promotion designed to bring in business during their slow times. Participating restaurants offer 3 course lunches for $20.07 and dinner for $30.07. Many (but not all restaurants) use Open Table for easy reservations. In the past we’ve tried and really enjoyed Agraria, TenPenh, Rasika and Cafe MoZu. Invite someone out for lunch or dinner - it’s easy. “Hey, it’s Restaurant Week - any place you’ve been wanting to try?”

So there are the people who read Happy Funtime Friend Service and hopefully find some fun stuff to do around town.  Then there are those who have availed themselves of the higher level of service - calendar planning and ticket acquisition.  Those are the lovely people who let me do things like this:

Me:  I did something while you were away.

AMK: Did you buy tickets for something?

Me:  Yeah.  If you can’t go, that’s okay.
AMK:   What?

Me:  The Pogues

AMK:  I like the Pogues.  We had a great time.  (Look of puzzlement)  Where are the Pogues playing?

Me:  San Diego.

AMK:  Is it a weekend?

Me:  Yeah, it’s a Friday night.

AMK: Oh, Okay.  That’s all right then.

I love my friends.

Why I do what I do and live where I live. I work in Georgetown and live in Clarendon, so I take the 38B bus a lot. It goes straight through Georgetown and up Wilson Boulevard, leaving me a mere block from my apartment and also very close to the grocery store so I can pick up something for dinner on the way home.

The other night I was on the bus, contemplating the beautiful evening and the people eating outside at the restaurants in Clarendon, wondering what to cook for dinner and not having any brilliant ideas when I saw two of my friends walking down the sidewalk. Having a pretty good idea where they were going, I jumped off the bus, caught up to them and joined them for a lovely dinner in Clarendon.

In DC, the best house tour to score is the White House. And while the rules on getting to tour the White House are more complicated, they still do the occasional open tour. This weekend is the second of three summer garden tours at the White House. The last scheduled dates is  August 11. There will be two tours each day at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Everyone (even small children) must have a ticket. Tickets will be distributed (one per person) beginning at 8 a.m. at the Ellipse Visitors’ Pavilion until they are gone, so everyone who wants to go on the tour must be in line for a ticket.  In case of inclement weather, the tours will be canceled.

If you want a regular White House tour, the National Park Service has compiled a very handy list of information including how to get a tour (through your Congressional representative), how far in advance (up to 6 months and in plenty of time to provide all the necessary security information, etc.).   And if you have friends living in DC that you’re visiting, it’s much easier for you to call your Congressional representative than for the local folks up here - the local reps here are slammed with requests so you have a better chance with your own.

It’s time for the Capital Fringe Festival - a 10 day art festival for fringe artists - not quite the mainstream, but who needs mainstream art anyway.  All the fun kicks off Thursday night at Avenue Night Club and runs through the Wrap party on the 29th at R&R Bar & Lounge.  In between see exhibits and attend events at Busboys and Poets, Warehouse Theater, Atlas Performing Arts Center, Source Theater, the Goethe Institute and other arts locations around the city.  See the Festival Guide for details on events, locations, panel discussions, and the like.  How can you miss Ninja Motorcycle Babes and Reefer Madness, the Musical?  You can buy tickets online or at the Launch Pad.

I know it’s only the middle of July but you’re already starting to see those back-to-school ads, and that makes me think “fall tickets.”  Okay, that’s probably just me, but that’s why I have tickets to the show, and you want to be my friend.  Tickets for the Cure at the Patriot Center on September 19th and Maroon 5 at Verizon Center on October 16th are now on sale at Ticketmaster - both come with free samplers from iTunes, and I actually really like some of the new music I’m hearing.  Nice touch and good use of a marketing partnership.  Right now it looks like the Police, Interpol and Smashing Pumpkins are only in the area at Virgin Festival so don’t delay if any of those are important to you.  Anyone else coming to town that shouldn’t be missed?

Speaking of films, the National Gallery of Art has put together quite a collection of art films including a festival of films dedicated to “little-known, rediscovered, and restored cinema from the world’s most innovative archives,” as well as a “Journey through the Russian Fantastik.” They also have art films such as “Paul Mellon in his Own Words” and “Image Before My Eyes” as well as a selection of films for children. Best of all - it’s free. I have to say - it’s exactly this that makes me love DC - there’s so much to do - things that aren’t even available anywhere else and certainly not for free (have you seen what it costs to get into museums in other places?)