Happy Funtime Friend Service

Our friends over at Speak Easy DC have a matching grant from the DC Commission on the Arts & Humanities. The only catch is that it’s a matching grant - they are halfway to their goal but need to raise another $13,000 by September. And while that seems like a lot, if only 300 people each donated $50, they would exceed their goals. Donations are tax-deductible, details are available at the Storytellers DC site, and money spent on their classes and attending events counts toward their goal as well, so plan to attend June 12’s Open Mic night on Teachers, Gurus & Senseis over at Cada Vez (1438 U Street).

Wolftrap, a national park for the performing arts, has just announced their summer schedule for the Filene Center. Most of the shows aren’t to my taste (I think they are programming for an older crowd), but there are a couple that might be worth checking out.

I’ll definitely see Bugs on Broadway where Bugs Bunny joins the National Symphony Orchestra (August 3 & 4), and Common joins Joss Stone on June 13 (check out her new album if you haven’t already).

Last summer, the one show I went to see at Wolftrap was Play - the video game orchestra. And the conductor made a point of thanking the younger audience members for coming out and about how important it was to introduce a new generation to orchestral music. And other than Bugs on Broadway, I see no attempt to reach out to that audience and bring them back to Wolftrap.

Note to the programming staff: Start reaching out to your future subscribers. I have no interest in Celtic Woman and I saw Riverdance 12 years ago - once was enough. There have to be other new shows (but please god not Cirque de Soleil) that you can find to interest an audience. Or are you content to be the fast food equivalent of the performing arts - safe and familiar, but bland and uninteresting. You should want to be better than that.

I always forget to check the schedule, but there are a lot of good upcoming free shows at the Kennedy Center’s Millenium Stage. Shows are at 6 p.m. and no tickets are required. They have several shows as part of the Arts of Japan celebration that coincide with the Cherry Blossom Festival, including tonight’s Masako Ono, a modern and hip-hop dancer. It’s not all dance though, as there’s also a jazz trumpeter and Japanese koto music.

The same people who bring us Jazz in the Garden, Jazz on Ice and Jazz Brunch also nicely provide weekly Sunday evening concerts during the fall and winter. This is the 65th season of concerts in the West Building of the National Gallery - often the programs are matched to a particular exhibition. And they are free (I love Washington). For example, the November 5th concert is English music in honor of the exhibit of Constable Landscapes. The Suspicious Cheese Lords perform Flemish works on November 12th in support of the Neatherlandish exhibit.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Concerts start at 6:30. The cafe will remain open until 6:00 p.m. when there is a concert. Use the entrance at 6th & Constitution.

That’s right, bastards. You heard me. Crafts. But we’re not talking macrame owls and plant holders: This is edgy, counter-culture, hardcore, serious crafts. Time to crank the Christmas shopping into full-on, nitrogen-charged, throttle-busting mode and head over to the Washington City Paper’s 3rd annual Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Festival right in the heart of the Adams Morgan neighborhood this Sunday, October 1st from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The pickings look good with crafters ranging from fiber arts, to pottery, jewelry, paper crafts, and art & photography. If you can’t find something here for those hard-to-shop-for peeps on your list, you weren’t trying hard enough.

Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Festival:
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/craftybastards/

The Washington National Opera is hosting an Introduction to Opera concert on Saturday, 14 October that will feature selections from Puccini and Mozart. I’m guessing that’s to show that yes, you really do know the music. The concert will be conducted by Placido Domingo but it doesn’t seem like he’ll be singing. Tickets are $25 (with a limited number of VIP tickets at $50), which is pretty good if you’ve seen the price of Opera tickets lately. So if you want to check out the talent at the Washington National Opera before committing to tickets for a full production, here’s your chance.

Tickets go on sale Monday, 11 September at 10 a.m. either by calling 202.295.2400 or at www.dc-opera.org.

One of the many things I love about the Kennedy Center (and hey, it’s one of the unique things about living in Washington, so take advantage of it), is that they provide a chance to go behind the scenes and see how works are created, refined and brought to the stage. I’ve attended rehearsals of the ballet and the National Symphony Orchestra. On 5 October, you have the chance to see a Jazz Master Class with Geri Allen. Tickets go on sale today and are $15.

I swear, when I first moved to DC, I went to the Adams Morgan Day Festival along with some friends and we… got… blotto - mainly because the bars allowed us to walk out with beer in plastic cups. I think. I don’t really remember much. I think there was a lot of food too.

Obviously, open container laws being what they are - the street festival is more subdued these days, but it’s still a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon in the city. Stages are set up at various points (the two biggest are at the intersections of 18th & Columbia and at 18th & Florida) with musicians and various performances all day long. Go, grab some Carribbean food, stroll through the art vendors on Belmont and then park yourself at the stage of your choice to take in some bluegrass, reggae, venezuelan drumming, hip hop, chinese dragon dancing and Brazilian martial arts. Myself, I can’t resist the Japanese Komodo dance troupe. Hai!

The Adams Morgan Day Festival, Sunday, September 10 from noon to 7 p.m.
http://www.adamsmorgandayfestival.com

On Saturday, 16 September from noon to 7:00 p.m. the Kennedy Center is hosting an Open House. the list of what they have planned looks amazing including a tour of the arts along the Gulf Coast Highway. The National Symphony Orchestra will perform as will the Blind Boys of Alabama and the Airmen of Note. Local talent Suzanne Farrell Ballet will perform Balanchine and one tent will feature local arts organizations where you can learn about more fun things to do and participate in.

Speaking of participate, they are still looking for volunteers, so if you need a reason to go and want to help make it a terrific day, call 202.416.8301 to request a volunteer application.