To Do

photo by tedeytan

Today is the last day of school for DC Public Schools.  As you read this, kids all over the Hill are rejoicing and singing Alice Cooper’s cherished ode to the end of the academic year while they look forward to lazy summer days. Of course most kids on the Hill will be engaged in a variety of camps to keep them occupied, but at least they don’t have homework.

Even those without school kids should celebrate summer weekends, so here are a few suggestions.

Tonight the Hill Center is hosting a reception for the artists whose work is hanging in the center’s galleries. The artists will be on hand to discuss their the genesis of their work, all of which is for sale and will be on exhibit through July 31st. . There are paintings, sculpture, photography, and even birdhouses. The reception runs from 6pm to 8pm.

Friday night the staff of the H Street Country Club is dressing up for a cause.  The bartenders will be dressing in drag to help raise money for The Perry Center, a social service organization devoted to youth development. A $10 donation gets you free mini-golf and discounts of margaritas until 10pm. I for one am hoping to see owners Ricardo or Blair in heels…

Saturday take the kids over to RFK Stadium, Lot 7 for the 5th Annual Truck Touch. Those of you who have never spent time with toddler boys may not understand such a bizarre event. Basically, the city brings together a bunch of service vehicles from various departments and the demonstrate how they work and attendees can get up close.  Neither of my two boy-children were truck guys but my 3 year old nephew is obsessed. I totally don’t get it. In addition to the city trucks there will be food trucks available and some musical entertainment. The event is free and runs from 9am (did I mention it was for toddlers?) until 2pm.

Saturday is also the closing day of the second season for Capitol Hill Little League. The closing day festivities include the AAA championship game between the Orioles and the Giants at Payne elementary at noon. The field is conveniently located to The Pretzel Bakery so grab some soft pretzels and a birch beer and watch some hard working kids.  Fine, one or two of them may belong to me even if they didn’t I’d still take little league over the majors any day. The players are cuter and they celebrate every out and run like it’s the World Series. Sunday the ladies of the CHLL softball league host a tournament at Tyler field.

Do you like ancient Greek stories? Do you like opera? Well then you are in luck. The In Series finishes up it’s very short run of Mozart’s Idomeneo this weekend at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. Mozart penned this little number at the tender age of 25. So while your truck-addled toddlers may never rise to such heights you can still appreciate and enjoy the fruits of the few humans that have. The opera, translated into English, tells the story of King Idomeneo and his soldiers who are returning home from years of war when their ship is engulfed by a storm. Idomeneo offers the gods the sacrifice of the first human being they encounter on shore, in exchange for survival. That person in Idamante, the king’s son, who has meanwhile become a promising leader and is loved by both the Trojan princess Illia and the Greek Princess Electra.  There is an 8pm show Saturday night and a 3pm Sunday afternoon. Tickets are available on the Atlas website.

Sunday is Father’s Day and if you are lucky enough to have your dear old dad close by then why not take him to brunch at Belga Cafe? Yes brunch is usually reserved for moms, while I guess dads are supposed to want burgers in front of the teevee or something?  Yawn. Treat dad to something more fun. Belga’s brunch begins at the toddler-friendly hour of 9am and includes an optional beer pairing. It’s a win for everyone if you ask me.

We have several dads here at The Hill is Home and so Tim, Robert and Jon let me be the first to wish you a Happy Father’s Day!!