Happy Funtime Friend Service

Everything’s better with sour cream (I actually made this into a bumper sticker). But you know what’s especially good with sour cream? Pierogis. And say what you like, Mrs T’s frozen pierogis will never come close to those pinched by the hands of little old Ukranian ladies (god bless them). This is why you must attend the Baltimore Ukrainian Festival running September 8 and 9th.

Four dance groups, Ukrainian Easter Eggs demonstrations, musicians, pierogi/pyohy eating contest, traditional crafts, Ukrainian beer garden and children’s activities. I’m totally in it for the food.
Saturday noon-10 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Patterson Park at Linwood and Eastern Avenues
FREE (I’m wagering the food and beer isn’t free)

You know there’s nothing I love more than free concerts. And good concerts in places built for outstanding musical sound - all for free… this is why I love Washington. The Library of Congress has announced their 2007 - 2008 series of concerts, and I’m impressed. The 50th birthday of West Side Story, Allen Toussaint and Henry Butler, the Beaux Arts Trio and the Orion Quartet. If you don’t know the drill, tickets are free, you just have to pay Ticketmaster service fees. You can reserve a maximum of two tickets in advance and they go quickly - sign up for Ticketmaster alerts. If you don’t get there in time and it’s sold out, go anyway. The Library of Congress is right by the Capitol South metro station and they release all unclaimed seats about 15 minutes before the show begins. I’ve seen amazing concerts here and people that I’ve paid much more to see at the Kennedy Center at other times including Jimmy Scott and Joshua Bell. This is a great resource for anyone who likes good music of all kinds (classical, jazz, chamber, etc.) on a budget.

I keep forgetting that the Carter Barron Amphitheatre is in my backyard (well, if my backyard were really, really, really big). But there it is, and with a Schedule of Events no less - a schedule which is culminating with this Labor Day weekend’s 19th Annual DC Blues Festival on September 1 from noonish to 7:30. Man, am I a sucker for fests or what?
So grab a blankie, some snacks, doctor up a bottle of lemonade with a little something-something, and head on over to listen to Clarence “The Bluesman” Turner and Band, Mary Shaver and the Smokin’ Polecats, The Orioles, The Nighthawks, and more.

Can you resist a band called the Smokin’ Polecats?

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.

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.

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?)

You might even say there’s a whole festival of Shakespeare going on in town (and really there is in case you haven’t noticed).  And the Library of Congress Pickford Theatre is in on the act, showing some of the best adaptations of Shakespeare on film. This Friday is the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Macbeth with Ian McKellan (Gandalf), Judi Dench (before she was a Dame), and Ian McDiarmid.  Filmed for television, the production received rave reviews.

On Tuesday, 24 July, the rarely seen or produced Two Gentlemen of Verona will be screened.  One of Shakespeare’s earliest works, the play has  only been produced twice on film.  This production by the BBC is from 1983.

Other films in the series include The Dresser with Albert Finney and Comedy of Errors.  The series concludes at the end of the month with Jean Luc Godard’s King Lear.

As always, call 202.707.5677 up to 7 days in advance to reserve seats.  But it’s almost always worth showing up even if you don’t have reservations as unclaimed seats are released 10 minutes before showtime (and that’s a reminder to be on time if you have a reservation).

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.”

What if someone else found your cell phone?  What would they learn about you?  And what if they started answering your calls?

That’s the premise of the new Woolly Mammoth play Dead Man’s Cell Phone by Pulitzer Prize finalist Sarah Ruhl.

I’ve heard good things about the show, but I also think it’s funny that they’ve created a site to point out that conversations that used to be private aren’t anymore.  And they are asking everyone to submit their most surreal overheard conversations.  Their favorites will be played in the theater, and you can get a discount on tickets just for participating.  I’m not sure I want to know what a “horse divorce” is quite frankly.

Show opened this week and runs through the beginning of July, so don’t wait if you want to see it.